To understand altcoins, it helps to first have a firm grasp on Bitcoin (read up on Bitcoin for beginners). It’s also helpful to know the basics of blockchain technology, on which most cryptocurrencies operate. The World This Week Bitcoin, ethereum and other top cryptocurrencies have been extremely volatile. But they have also performed very well for investors who have bought and held through the many ups and downs of the crypto market. However, the oldest cryptocurrency, bitcoin, has only been around since 2009. So it’s unclear how well cryptocurrencies will perform as investments over a long time horizon.
Much like Wampum and frequent flier miles, in the early days, bitcoin was closed ecosystem. As merchants began to accept bitcoin it took on the characteristics of a currency and more merchants meant a higher price for bitcoin. The value of bitcoin was joined with its growing user base. In fact, many emerging currencies exhibit similar trends—unless it is accepted, it has no value. The first digital currency I created was called the BKoin; it sleeps in my computer and is not accepted anywhere. I tried to send some to my wife, but she barely cracked a smile—it is a dead currency. Other statistics that may interest you Cryptocurrencies As such, it is advisable to look beyond the appeal of bitcoin and ether and consider allocating part of your portfolio to other promising crypto assets.