At 8 a.m. Beijing time today, the trading price of Bitcoin ( BTC ) was $81,739.33, which is $1,665.48 lower than yesterday's morning level and also about $25,882 lower than it was a year ago.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the earliest cryptocurrency and remains the most widely followed digital currency to this day. Its market value is approximately 1.33 trillion US dollars, which is significantly higher than that of Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, whose market value is around 233 billion US dollars.
In simple terms, Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency. It is not issued or managed by central banks or governments, but operates on a peer-to-peer network. This architecture allows people to transfer funds directly to each other without going through traditional financial institutions.
Many investors see Bitcoin as a potential tool to hedge against inflation or as another means to diversify their investment portfolios. Over the past decade, Bitcoin has seen remarkable growth, often outperforming major stock indices, which has also fueled investors' interest.
However, like most cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin is known for its sharp fluctuations and rapid price changes.
Bitcoin Price History
Since its inception in 2009, the price of Bitcoin has been quite volatile. One of the most famous early stories is about software developer Laszlo Hanyecz who bought a pizza with 10,000 Bitcoins; at today's prices, these Bitcoins would be worth over $668 million.
Over the past decade or so, Bitcoin has appreciated by more than 15,000%. From any perspective, this is an incredibly astonishing increase. However, such performance comes with significant risks, as the trend of cryptocurrencies can be extremely unstable.
Bitcoin has experienced significant corrections, dropping by tens of thousands of dollars in a short period, but it has also quickly rebounded during strong rallies. By the end of 2025, its trading price was about 30% lower than the record high set in October of that year.
What factors affect the price of Bitcoin?
A variety of factors can drive changes in the price of Bitcoin, including:
- Investors speculating:Like many high-risk assets, Bitcoin is greatly influenced by traders' thoughts and emotions. Short-term price changes often reflect speculative bets and market enthusiasm more than long-term fundamentals.
- Adoption by large companies:When large, well-known companies begin to accept Bitcoin or crypto technologies, it may lead to further growth. For example, after automakers such as Tesla and Ferrari announced their plans to accept Bitcoin payments, the price of Bitcoin rose.
- Economic Situation:The way Bitcoin reacts to inflation data or Federal Reserve decisions is different from that of more traditional assets such as stocks. However, when the U.S. economy is strong, it tends to perform better, as more people with disposable income may be more willing to invest in high-risk assets like Bitcoin.
- Regulatory Progress:As the crypto industry is still developing, the relevant rules and regulations are still being formulated. New regulatory actions may disrupt the market and have either positive or negative impacts on the price of Bitcoin.
How to buy and invest in Bitcoin
If you intend to include Bitcoin in your investment portfolio, there are several options available. Here are some common methods.
Buy Bitcoin at cryptocurrency exchanges
One direct way is to buy Bitcoin yourself. This involves opening an account with a cryptocurrency exchange, linking it to a bank account, and using the funds deposited there to purchase Bitcoin.
Invest in Bitcoin ETF
If you don't want to directly hold cryptocurrencies, you can consider Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) (ETF). These funds are based on Bitcoin as the underlying asset, and their shares are traded on regular stock exchanges. This approach allows you to avoid managing your own cryptocurrency wallet and reduces the risk of losing coins due to forgotten passwords or mistakes in wallet operations.
Purchase crypto concept stocks
Another investment strategy is to buy stocks of companies that are deeply involved in the crypto industry. These companies may include technology firms, listed crypto exchanges, or payment processors that integrate Bitcoin payments. When these businesses benefit from the success of Bitcoin, their stock prices may react accordingly, allowing investors to indirectly gain exposure to Bitcoin.
Open Bitcoin IRA
Retirees saving for retirement may consider Bitcoin IRA. These accounts operate similarly to traditional IRA or Roth IRA accounts, offering tax benefits and the same contribution limits, but they allow you to include Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in your retirement investment strategy.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies
Although Bitcoin is the most widely noticed, it is just one of many cryptocurrencies. When choosing an investment target, it is also worth considering the following options.
- Ethereum:Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market value. Unlike Bitcoin, its primary function is not as a currency, but rather as a decentralized platform that supports applications and smart contracts, which is why it is particularly popular among developers.
- Tether:Tether is classified as a “stablecoin” because it is pegged to another asset, in this case the US dollar. As a result, it usually experiences less volatility than Bitcoin, but it also offers potentially lower returns.
- XRP:XRP is designed specifically for fast and low-cost cross-border payments, enabling the rapid flow of funds between countries with relatively low fees.
Encrypted report on Fortune
View recent reports from this editorial department on the dynamics of the crypto world:
- Microsoft and Alphabet abandon tokenized stocks
- Mural Raises $15 Million to Connect Banks with the Emerging Robot Economy
- Strategy Buys an additional $22 million in Bitcoin and increases the planned scale of stock repurchases
Is now a good time to invest in Bitcoin?
Compared to blue-chip companies with a long history such as Walmart, Procter & Gamble, and Coca-Cola, Bitcoin is still quite young. This makes it difficult to predict its performance in the long term. Nevertheless, its recent performance has been strong. As merchants and businesses begin to accept Bitcoin payments, its price may have room to rise; and as it matures, its volatility may also decrease.
However, Bitcoin should not be regarded as a surefire investment. Only money that will not be needed in the short term should be invested, and it is important to maintain a diversified portfolio to help balance the large fluctuations in Bitcoin prices with other assets.
For many people, Bitcoin is more suitable as a long-term, high-risk asset to hold, rather than for short-term speculation. If you cannot tolerate large price fluctuations, it may not be suitable for you. However, if you are willing to endure such fluctuations and consider Bitcoin as part of a diversified investment portfolio, allocating some funds to it could be a viable option.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will Bitcoin be worth by 2030?
The answer is obviously uncertain, but encryption experts generally hold an optimistic attitude towards Bitcoin's short-term prospects. Some models predict a price of over $700,000 by 2030, while more conservative estimates are close to $300,000.
What is the highest historical price of Bitcoin?
As of the time of writing this article, Bitcoin reached a record high of $126,198.07 on October 6, 2025.
Is it possible to buy a portion of Bitcoin?
Sure. Most cryptocurrency exchanges offer fractional investing, which means you can buy a portion of various cryptocurrencies. With fractional investing, you can start investing in Bitcoin with just a few dollars.
How can beginners start investing in Bitcoin?
If you want to directly hold Bitcoin, you usually need to open an account with a cryptocurrency exchange first. After setting up the account, you can transfer funds from your bank to your cryptocurrency account and place orders to buy Bitcoin as well as other tokens or currencies. You can also indirectly invest in Bitcoin through ETF or companies that use Bitcoin.
What can you buy with Bitcoin?
You can use your Bitcoin holdings in various ways, from selling them for cash to exchanging them for other cryptocurrencies. In some cases, you can also use it to pay for purchases, such as in scenarios related to Tesla and Microsoft.
