Bitcoin (BTC -1.84%) continues to remind investors that it's a top asset to own. Its price has climbed 839% just in the past five years (as of Oct. 17), crushing the broader stock market. Bitcoin can no longer be ignored.
The world's most valuable cryptocurrency hit an all-time high of over $126,000 in early October. It now trades 15% below that, with a price that's well under $110,000. Is now the time to buy Bitcoin?
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Look at Bitcoin through a macro lens
From a macro perspective, key tailwinds could support Bitcoin's price not only in the near term but also over the next several years and decades. As a global asset, these factors have an impact on the cryptocurrency in some way, shape, or form. Investors should pay attention to these trends.
When looking at the next six to 12 months, the prospects of lower interest rates can have an impact on asset prices in general. When the Federal Reserve takes a more accommodative stance toward the economy, it incentivizes risk taking by investors who may not get adequate yields when investing in fixed-income securities.
This favorable backdrop can help Bitcoin's price rise. Investors seeking greater returns may be willing to put money in assets that do well when the overall economy gets a boost. This can also help stock prices.
Another variable to consider is overall geopolitical turmoil. This is less of a pressing issue and more of a permanent matter. This year, in particular, the U.S. has embarked on aggressive trade tactics with different countries across the globe. This might be why gold, which is viewed as a safe-haven asset, has done so well. Bitcoin's price has climbed 17% this year, so market participants might view it as a good place to park capital when things are uncertain.
Perhaps no trend matters more to Bitcoin than the massive federal debt burden, which currently is approaching $40 trillion. The U.S. government continues to operate with huge fiscal deficits, something that won't change anytime soon, or ever. Political candidates who choose to cut spending most likely won't get voted into office, so the huge spending will continue.
It might be no coincidence that Bitcoin's price has soared since its launch in 2009. Since that time, which was toward the end of the Great Financial Crisis, government debt and money supply have both skyrocketed across the globe. The ongoing surge in global liquidity should keep propelling Bitcoin.
Is Bitcoin an indirect bet on AI?
In the past few years, there has been no hotter topic than artificial intelligence (AI). Investors have bid up shares in companies they believe will be key beneficiaries of this technological shift. However, a valid argument could be made that Bitcoin might be a winner due to the rise of AI.
Block co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey believes that the internet will need a native currency. And Bitcoin looks like the best candidate for that, as it is global, decentralized, permissionless, neutral, and purely digital. This view is supercharged when thinking about AI's impact on our economy going forward.
There's a lot of talk about agentic AI, which can handle tasks from start to finish on behalf of human beings. It makes sense that these systems will need to transact with each other. Maybe Bitcoin can be the currency that facilitates an AI economy. Time will tell. But if this is the case, it should drive huge demand for the digital asset, supporting a higher price.
It's time to buy the dip
Bitcoin is trading off its all-time high, as mentioned. This presents long-term investors with a great opportunity to buy the leading digital asset. The most favorable characteristic, its hard supply cap of 21 million units, should continue to attract more capital. This means that 10 years from now, Bitcoin should be worth much more than it is today. But as always, keep your own risk tolerance in mind.
