The One Thing That Could Kill Bitcoin (2024)

FAQs

What could crash Bitcoin? ›

What can cause a crypto crash? Crypto prices can be dramatically affected by major events, such as exchanges or coins crashing. They can also sink with higher interest rates, rising inflation and other macroeconomic factors that can affect how confident people feel investing their money in risky alternative assets.

The answer is, technically, yes. However, any attempts to ban or regulate Bitcoin out of existence are improbable to succeed. Bitcoin itself is decentralized. Any attempts to shut down Bitcoin would mean all the governments worldwide would have to collaborate and shut down the internet at the same time.

Cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin are not quantum resistant. They also rely on cryptographic algorithms that are vulnerable to quantum computing attacks. To attack SHA-2 functions with 256-bit states, using Grover's algorithm, 2593 qubits (error corrected) would be required, according to Richard Preston's paper.

1. Ethereum (ETH) The first Bitcoin alternative on our list, Ethereum (ETH), is a decentralized software platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) to be built and run without any downtime, fraud, control, or interference from a third party.

2017 boom and 2018 crash. The 2018 cryptocurrency crash (also known as the Bitcoin crash and the Great crypto crash) was the sell-off of most cryptocurrencies starting in January 2018. After an unprecedented boom in 2017, the price of Bitcoin fell by about 65% from 6 January to 6 February 2018.

Under really extreme circ*mstances, there are few scenarios that could spell the end of Bitcoin as we know it. For instance, a massive global power outage shutting down all communications and the internet around the globe could prevent nodes in the network from contacting each other, causing the system to fail.

A reasonable assumption that Bitcoin could hypothetically reach the null state of it's value is worth the thought. Even-though such an event is very less likely to take place, there are some factors that could theoretically lead to Bitcoin price crashing to zero.

Bitcoin ATMs are a way to get immediate access to cash using your bitcoins. Bitcoin ATMs do not operate like traditional ATMs. In order to make a cash withdrawal and sell your Bitcoin from the ATM, the machine provides a QR code to which you send your Bitcoin. You simply wait a couple of minutes and receive your cash.

If you invest all your money in crypto, your portfolio will be extremely volatile, which could be stressful. You'll need to figure out a safe storage option so you don't lose access to your crypto. Even if your investments turn a profit, you'll then need to decide whether to sell or to keep going.

Is there an end to bitcoin? ›

After all bitcoins are mined, miners will no longer receive block rewards for verifying transactions but will instead earn transaction fees. It's estimated that all bitcoins will be mined by the year 2140, at which point the last block reward will be released.

Crypto is not regulated like stocks or insured like real money in banks. Crypto's high risks can offer big rewards or huge losses.

It's important to remember that like any other investment, Bitcoin has risks. For example, BTC is highly volatile and has seen dramatic rises and falls in price throughout its history. Still, as long as you are willing to tolerate the risk of a possible downturn, BTC is generally safe!

If you're looking for an asset that you can quickly move in and out of without losing value in a short time (like Bitcoin can), gold might be a better option. However, stablecoins like Tether (USDT) maintain their value over short periods because fiat currency and other cash-like instruments are held in reserve.

Common arguments used are the high electricity consumption, volatility, lack of intrinsic value, regulation, hacking, criminal activities etc... Let's examine these arguments against Bitcoin one by one starting with the high consumption of electricity.

Hacks, exploits, data breaches and scams may have a negative effect on Bitcoin's price and traders' overall confidence in the crypto market.

We show that economic uncertainty displays a negative and significant association with Bitcoin price crash risk, indicating that when economic uncertainty is high, the crash risk of Bitcoin is low. We also find that behavioral factors have a weak association with Bitcoin crash risk.

It is also certain that the vast majority of cryptocurrencies that populate the current listings will disappear. Only digital currencies that have defined business models and clear utility within mainstream society will survive a crash.