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A candlestick chart is represented visually in this graphic. Traders use them to forecast price movement based on historical patterns. They are important in trading since they display four price points (open, close, high, and low) across the time period specified by the trader.

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This image is a representation of the two trends found within the stock market (applies to both crypto and normal stocks). Bullish, is where the market value is increasing. Bearish, is where the market value is decreasing.

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1. One thing, that I learned the most throughout this project was the intense risk individuals take when investing in the stock market. If charts and data is not looked at properly, you could lose your investment in seconds and not be profitable off that signal stock.

2. This topic is interesting to me, as I am learning new ways to make income, and slowly make savings for my future. A real life example of where I experienced the stock market, was through our class project with fake trading accounts.

3. If I were to pass on knowledge from this topic, I would tell them the different indicators and trends that crypto and stocks follow. This will allow them to understand when to sell and buy.

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In this presentation, we are going to understand crypto and stocks. This will allow individuals to understand the way the market works and what people are investing their money in. It will also tap into the risks and benefits of investing.

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This website is a trading information platform which goes into detail on the big question of “What is cryptocurrency?” There are multiple types of information within this website, such as the definition of crypto currency, how to invest in crypto and differing types that people are interested in. This website is a reliable source of information because of the variety of different questions that can be answered within one link. This website is different from others because it focuses on only cryptocurrency, and not the entire stock market. This allows readers to focus on one concept and fully understand the concept.

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What Is Cryptocurrency?

A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on blockchain technology-a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers.

A defining feature of cryptocurrencies is that they are generally not issued by any central authority, rendering them theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation.

Key Takeaways

Understanding Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies are digital or virtual currencies underpinned by cryptographic systems. They enable secure online payments without the use of third-party intermediaries. "Crypto" refers to the various encryption algorithms and cryptographic techniques that safeguard these entries, such as elliptical curve encryption, public-private key pairs, and hashing functions.

Cryptocurrencies can be mined, purchased from cryptocurrency exchanges, or rewarded for work done on a blockchain. Not all e-commerce sites allow purchases using cryptocurrencies. In fact, cryptocurrencies, even popular ones like Bitcoin, are hardly used for retail transactions. However, cryptocurrency values have made them popular as trading and investing instruments. To a limited extent, they are also used for cross-border transfers.

Blockchain

Central to the appeal and functionality of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is blockchain technology. As its name indicates, a blockchain is essentially a set of connected blocks of information on an online ledger. Each block contains a set of transactions that have been independently verified by each validator on a network.

Every new block generated must be verified by each node before being confirmed, making it almost impossible to forge transaction histories. The contents of the online ledger must be agreed upon by a network of individual nodes, or computers that maintain the ledger.

Experts say that blockchain technology can serve multiple industries, supply chains, and processes such as online voting and crowdfunding. Financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( JPM) are testing the use of blockchain technology to lower transaction costs by streamlining payment processing.

Types of Cryptocurrency

Many cryptocurrencies were created to facilitate work done on the blockchain they are built on. For example, Ethereum's ether was designed to be used as payment for validation work done on the blockchain. When the blockchain transitioned to proof-of-stake in September 2022, ether (ETH) inherited an additional duty as the blockchain's staking mechanism. Ripple's XRP is designed to be used by banks to facilitate transfers between different geographies.

Because there are so many cryptocurrencies on the market, it's important to understand the types of cryptocurrencies. Understanding if the coin you're looking at has a purpose can help you decide whether it is worth investing in -a cryptocurrency without a purpose is likely to be riskier than one with utility.

Most of the time, when you hear about cryptocurrency types, you hear the coin's name. However, coin names differ from coin types. Here are some of the types you'll find with some of the names of tokens in that category:

Utility: XRP and ETH are two examples of utility tokens. They serve specific functions on their respective blockchains.

Transactional: Tokens designed to be used as a payment method. Bitcoin is the most well-known of these.

Governance: These tokens represent voting or other rights on a blockchain, such as Uniswap.

Platform: These tokens support applications built to use a blockchain, such as Solana.

Security tokens: Tokens representing ownership of an asset, such as a stock that has been tokenized (value transferred to the blockchain). MS Token is an example of a securitized token. If you can find one of these for sale, you can gain partial ownership of the Millenium Sapphire.

If you find a cryptocurrency that doesn't fall into one of these categories, you've found a new category or something that needs to be investigated to be sure it's legitimate.

Are Cryptocurrencies Legal?

Fiat currencies derive their authority from the government or monetary authorities. For example, each dollar bill is backstopped by the Federal Reserve.

But cryptocurrencies are not backed by any public or private entities. Therefore, it has been difficult to make a case for their legal status in different financial jurisdictions throughout the world. It doesn't help matters that cryptocurrencies have largely functioned outside most existing financial infrastructure. The legal status of cryptocurrencies has implications for their use in daily transactions and trading. In June 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommended that wire transfers of cryptocurrencies should be subject to the requirements of its Travel Rule, which requires AML compliance.

Japan's Payment Services Act defines Bitcoin as legal property. Cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the country are subject to collect information about the customer and details relating to the wire transfer. China has banned cryptocurrency exchanges and mining within its borders. India was reported to be formulating a framework for cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrencies are legal in the European Union. Derivatives and other products that use cryptocurrencies must qualify as "financial instruments." In June 2021, the European Commission released the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation that sets safeguards for regulation and establishes rules for companies or vendors providing financial services using cryptocurrencies.

Within the United States, the biggest and most sophisticated financial market in the world, crypto derivatives such as Bitcoin futures are available on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In the past, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) took the stance that Bitcoin and Ethereum were not securities; however, in September 2022, SEC Chair Gary Gensler stated he believes cryptocurrencies are securities. This stance implies that cryptocurrency's legal status may become subject to regulation.

Are Cryptocurrencies Safe Investments?

Cryptocurrencies have attracted a reputation as unstable investments due to high investor losses as a result of scams, hacks, and bugs. Although the underlying cryptography is generally secure, the technical complexity of using and storing crypto assets can be a significant hazard to new users.

In addition to the market risks associated with speculative assets, cryptocurrency investors should be aware of the following risks:

User risk: Unlike traditional finance, there is no way to reverse or cancel a cryptocurrency transaction after it has already been sent. By some estimates, about one-fifth of all bitcoins are now inaccessible due to lost passwords or incorrect sending addresses.

Regulatory risks: The regulatory status of some cryptocurrencies is still unclear, with many governments seeking to regulate them as securities, currencies, or both. A sudden regulatory crackdown could make it difficult to sell cryptocurrencies or cause a market-wide price drop.

Counterparty risks:Many investors and merchants rely on exchanges or other custodians to store their cryptocurrency. Theft or loss by one of these third parties could result in losing one's entire investment.

Management risks: Due to the lack of coherent regulations, there are few protections against deceptive or unethical management practices. Many investors have lost large sums to management teams that failed to deliver a product.

Programming risks:Many investment and lending platforms use automated smart contracts to control the movement of user deposits. An investor using one of these platforms assumes the risk that a bug or exploit in these programs could cause them to lose their investment.

Market Manipulation:Market manipulation remains a substantial problem in cryptocurrency, with influential people, organizations, and exchanges acting unethically.

Despite these risks, cryptocurrencies have seen a major leap in prices, with the total market capitalization rising to over $1 trillion. Despite the speculative nature of the asset, some have been able to create substantial fortunes by taking on the risk of investing in early-stage cryptocurrencies.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies were introduced with the intent to revolutionize financial infrastructure. As with every revolution, however, there are tradeoffs involved. At the current stage of development for cryptocurrencies, there are many differences between the theoretical ideal of a decentralized system with cryptocurrencies and its practical implementation.

Some advantages and disadvantages of cryptocurrencies are as follows.

Advantages Explained

Cryptocurrencies represent a new, decentralized paradigm for money. In this system, centralized intermediaries, such as banks and monetary institutions, are not necessary to enforce trust and police transactions between two parties. Thus, a system with cryptocurrencies eliminates the possibility of a single point of failure, such as a large bank, setting off a cascade of crises around the world, such as the one triggered in 2008 by the failure of institutions in the United States.

Cryptocurrencies promise to make it easier to transfer funds directly between two parties without needing a trusted third party like a bank or a credit card company. Such decentralized transfers are secured by the use of public keys and private keys and different forms of incentive systems, such as proof of work or proof of stake.

Because they do not use third-party intermediaries, cryptocurrency transfers between two transacting parties can be faster than standard money transfers. Flash loans in decentralized finance are an excellent example of such decentralized transfers. These loans, which are processed without backing collateral, can be executed within seconds and are used in trading.

Cryptocurrency investments can generate profits. Cryptocurrency markets have skyrocketed in value over the past decade, at one point reaching almost $2 trillion. As of January 2023, Bitcoin was valued at more than $450 billion in crypto markets.

The remittance economy is testing one of cryptocurrency's most prominent use cases. Currently, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin serve as intermediate currencies to streamline money transfers across borders. Thus, a fiat currency is converted to Bitcoin (or another cryptocurrency), transferred across borders, and subsequently converted to the destination fiat currency. This method streamlines the money transfer process and makes it cheaper.

Disadvantages Explained

Though they claim to be an anonymous form of transaction, cryptocurrencies are pseudonymous. They leave a digital trail that agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) can investigate. This opens up the possibility that governments and authorities (and others) can track financial transactions.

Cryptocurrencies have become a popular tool with criminals for nefarious activities such as money laundering and illicit purchases. The case of Dread Pirate Roberts, who ran a marketplace to sell drugs on the dark web, is already well known. Cryptocurrencies have also become a favorite of hackers who use them for ransomware activities.

In theory, cryptocurrencies are meant to be decentralized, their wealth distributed between many parties on a blockchain. In reality, ownership is highly concentrated. For example, just 100 addresses hold roughly 12% of circulating bitcoin and total value.

One of the conceits of cryptocurrencies is that anyone can mine them using a computer with an Internet connection. However, mining popular cryptocurrencies require considerable energy, sometimes as much energy as entire countries consume. The expensive energy costs and the unpredictability of mining have concentrated mining among large firms whose revenues run into billions of dollars. For example, only 98 (2%) of the 4,882 Bitcoin blocks opened from Dec. 29, 2022, to Jan. 29, 2023, were opened by unknown addresses-the other 98% were opened by mining pools.

Though cryptocurrency blockchains are highly secure, off-chain crypto-related key storage repositories, such as exchanges and wallets, can be hacked. Many cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets have been hacked over the years, sometimes resulting in millions of dollars worth of "coins" stolen.

Cryptocurrencies traded in public markets suffer from price volatility. For example, Bitcoin has experienced rapid surges and crashes in its value, climbing to nearly $65,000 in November 2021 before dropping to just over $20,000 a year and a half later. As a result, many people consider cryptocurrencies to be a short-lived fad or speculative bubble.

How Do You Buy Cryptocurrencies?

You can purchase cryptocurrency from popular crypto exchanges such as Coinbase, apps such as Cash App, or through brokers. Another popular way to invest in cryptocurrencies is through financial derivatives, such as CME's Bitcoin futures, or other instruments, such as Bitcoin trusts and ETFs.

What Is the Point of Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrencies are a new paradigm for money. They promise to streamline existing financial architecture to make it faster and cheaper. In addition, their technology and architecture decentralize existing monetary systems and make it possible for transacting parties to exchange value and money independently of intermediary institutions such as banks.

What Are the Most Popular Cryptocurrencies?

Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency, followed by other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Binance Coin, Solana, and Cardano.

Are Cryptocurrencies Securities?

In the past, the SEC has said that Bitcoin and Ethereum, the top two cryptocurrencies by market cap, were not securities. In September 2022, SEC Chair Gary Gensler stated he believes cryptocurrencies are securities and has asked SEC staff to begin working with crypto developers to register their crypto. However, he also clarified that he did not speak on behalf of the SEC; he was only speaking for himself. He encouraged those starting in the crypto space to register their crypto in the spirit of getting ahead because "It's far less costly to do so from the outset."

The Bottom Line

Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that are secured by cryptography. As a relatively new technology, they are highly speculative, and it is important to understand the risks involved before making an investment.

Investing in cryptocurrencies and other initial coin offerings ("ICOs") is highly risky and speculative, and this article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies or other ICOs. Because each individual's situation is unique, a qualified professional should always be consulted before making any financial decisions. Investopedia makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein.

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Cryptocurrency Explained With Pros and Cons for Investment

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A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on blockchain technology-a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers.

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This website is sourced from TD (Toronto Dominion) Bank and gives key concepts and knowledge of the stock market. They describe exactly what the market is, who is a part of it, and the two famous trends found within it (bearish and bullish). Unbelievably valuable information is held within this website explaining the different areas and zones of trading such as TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange) and NYSE (New York Stock Exchange), which will be beneficial to beginning investors. This website is different from others, because all information is given from one of Canada’s trusted banks, so all information is creditable as it is coming from the government.

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Does the thought of investing in the stock market scare you? Learn the basics about how the stock market works and how you can start investing on your own.

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This website gives key tips that you should know when you start investing in different markets. No matter crypto or stocks, they break down five key concepts to keep in mind when trading. This will allow you to keep track of your goals and stay on top of your investments to see the biggest amount of profit. This is a blog type of website, so not all information is creditable, as it could be biased. However, this allows you to start off with some helpful tips and tricks when first investing. This website is different from the others because these first starter tips are useful for more than one market.

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If you're ready to start investing in the stock market but aren't sure which stocks to choose, you've come to the right place. There are a few characteristics of stocks that are good for beginners, as well as some practices beginners should specifically avoid when selecting the first companies for their portfolios .

Here's a rundown of what every beginner investor should look for and stay away from when choosing your first stocks, as well as a few examples of excellent beginner-friendly stocks to help get your search started.

1. Define your investing goals

First off, ask yourself why you are , save for your kids' education, or just collect some money for a rainy day? A general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't invest in stocks with money you'll need within the next three to five years, and investing in the stock market . Do you want to build wealth for retirement longer time horizons are even better. The stock market can fluctuate quite a bit over shorter periods, so before you invest, be sure you understand your risk tolerance and that you're mentally prepared to ride out the ups and downs.

2. Set yourself up for success

Before you start investing in stocks , you'll need to open a brokerage account . You can compare the features of some of the best online brokers to find one that is the best fit for you. Some offer excellent resources for beginners such as educational tools, access to investment research, and more. Also, be aware that while basic online stock trading is generally free at all major brokerages, many have other fees you should know about, and some have minimum investment amounts.

3. Look for a wide moat when investing

You might hear experienced investors talk about the concept of a "wide moat," especially if you're reading anything about Warren Buffett's investment style . Just as a wide moat around a castle makes it difficult for enemies to invade, a sustainable competitive advantage will prevent competitors from stealing a company's market share. That's the kind of moat a great beginner investment will have.

Such an advantage can take many forms, but they aren't terribly difficult to spot if you know what to look for. The majority of sustainable competitive advantages typically fall into one of these categories:

(Network effects: In simple terms, a network effect occurs as more people use a service or product and the product or service itself becomes more valuable and desirable as a result. Think of companies such as Facebook NASDAQ:FB) . As more and more people join Facebook, it becomes more difficult for people not to use the platform in their daily lives.

Cost advantages: A business can have a few different types of cost advantages. For example, an efficient distribution network can make it cheaper for a company to get its product around the country. A well-known brand name can give a company the ability to charge more than its rivals. A proprietary manufacturing process can make it cheaper to produce a product.

(Intangible assets: In addition to a brand name, patents are a great example of an intangible asset that can protect a company against its competitors. For example, its portfolio of more than 44,000 patents is one of the main reasons BlackBerry NYSE:BB) still has quite a bit of value, even though it doesn't sell many phones these days.

Sector leadership: Most of the best starter stocks are either leaders in their respective fields or very close to it.

4. Understand basic metrics

Knowing how to identify great businesses is more important than being able to identify cheap stocks. A great business will typically be a good long-term performer, even at a bit of an expensive valuation. On the other hand, a bad business you invest in at a cheap valuation will seldom work out well.

Once you've learned how to find good businesses, some basic stock investment metrics can help you narrow them down:

P/E ratio: The price-to-earnings ratio is the most widely cited valuation metric. Simply divide a company's current share price by its past 12 months' worth of earnings. You can also use the projected earnings over the next 12 months to calculate the forward P/E ratio.

PEG ratio: The price-to-earnings-growth ratio levels the playing field for P/E shortfalls. Simply divide the company's P/E ratio by its projected earnings growth rate. For example, a company with a P/E of 30 and a 15% expected growth rate has a PEG ratio of 2.0.

Payout ratio: The payout ratio measures the annual dividend rate expressed as a percentage of its earnings, which sheds light on dividend stability. For example, if a company paid out $1 in dividends per share last year and earned $2, it has a 50% payout ratio.

You can learn many other investing metrics, some of which can help you find value stocks and some of which can help you evaluate fast-growing companies or growth stocks .

5. Know which stocks to avoid

The last thing we need to cover is what you should avoid as a beginning investor. Investing in the wrong type of stock can make your portfolio's value look like a roller coaster and can even cause you to lose your entire investment.

With that in mind, here's what you'd be wise to stay away from at first:

Rapidly growing companies: This is especially true for companies that have yet to turn a profit. Growth investing can be a great way to build wealth, but it can be volatile. It's a good idea to wait until you've built up a base for your portfolio and understand stocks better before you try to invest in the next big thing.

Penny stocks: Loosely defined as stocks with a market value of less than $200 million, share prices of less than $5, or don't trade on major exchanges, penny stocks should be avoided by all investors, not just beginners.

IPOs: IPOs, or initial public offerings, are how companies become publicly traded. Investing in newly public companies can be highly volatile and is generally not a good way for beginners to buy stocks.

Businesses you don't understand: Here's a great rule of thumb that works for beginners and expert investors alike. If you can't clearly explain in a sentence or two what a company does and how it makes money, don't invest in it. There are literally thousands of publicly traded companies to choose from, and you should be able to find plenty of opportunities in easy-to-understand businesses.

How to get started investing in the stock market

Once you've decided that you want to buy stocks, the next step is to open a brokerage account, fund the account, and buy shares. After you've done that, it's important to keep a long-term mentality. For example, if your stocks go down, it can be very tempting to panic and sell. Remember how carefully you chose them and avoid selling your stocks without fully exploring the company's situation.

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5 Top Tips on Investing in Stocks for Beginners | The Motley Fool

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If you're ready to start investing in the stock market but aren't sure which stocks to choose, you've come to the right place. There are a few characteristics of stocks that are good for beginners, as well as some practices beginners should specifically avoid when selecting the first companies for their portfolios .

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This article is a theory of what the future of the crypto stock market could look like in the future. It also goes into detail about how the coins and currency will develop at a fast rate. This indicates that since the high popularity in trading and crypto is reaching all diverse types of individuals, we could see a change in the market. This is an interesting article, as we have different perspectives on the future of the new stock market that has made its debut take off. This website is different from others, because this is a creditable source, as this company has affiliations with time magazine. They give professional opinions and hypothesis for the future.

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The first half of 2022 has been very bad for the crypto market.

Bitcoin and ethereum are down more than 50% from their all-time highs in late 2021. While there have been small surges in recent weeks, the crypto market as a whole is largely stalled. While no one knows for sure, some experts say crypto prices could fall even further before any sustained recovery.

Bitcoin hit multiple new all-time high prices in 2021 - followed by big drops - and more institutional buy-in from major companies. Ethereum, the second-biggest cryptocurrency, notched its own new all-time high late last year as well, and then crashed below $900 in June, its lowest level since the start of 2021. U.S. government officials and the Biden administration have increasingly expressed interest in new regulations for cryptocurrency.

All the while, people's interest in crypto remains high: it's a hot topic not only among investors but in popular culture too, thanks to everyone from long-standing investors like Elon Musk to that kid from your high school on Facebook.

In many ways, 2021 was a "breakthrough," says Dave Abner, head of global development at Gemini, a popular cryptocurrency exchange. "There's tremendous focus and attention being paid to [the crypto industry]."
RELATED: Top Crypto News This Week
But the industry is only in its infancy and constantly evolving. That's a big part of why every new bitcoin high can be easily followed by big drops.

So, what's next for the rest of 2022?

It's difficult to predict where things are headed long-term, but in the coming months, experts are following things like regulation and institutional adoption of crypto payments to try and get a better sense of the market.

While exact predictions are impossible, we asked five experts about what they think about the future of crypto:

Cryptocurrency Regulation

Lawmakers in Washington D.C. and across the world are trying to figure out how to establish laws and guidelines to make cryptocurrency safer for investors and less appealing to cybercriminals, so expect continued conversations about cryptocurrency regulation.

U.S officials have shown a particular interest in stablecoin regulation, especially following the recent Terra Luna crash. In May, crypto markets went into a freefall that led stablecoins TerraUSD (UST) to depeg from the dollar, which in turn, caused its linked cryptocurrency Luna to crash as well. As of a result, many Terra and Luna investors saw their investments vanish in a matter of days. Within a few weeks of Terra's downfall, the crypto market plunged again and several crypto companies announced layoffs and froze withdrawals to slash costs due to the extreme market conditions. Some companies like Three Arrows Capital and Celsius have since filed for bankruptcy.

The domino effect of that has given federal regulators even more ammo recently to push for crypto regulation.

"After the catastrophic events that have unfolded in the crypto market over the past few weeks, it is clear that stringent regulation could arrive soon," says Marcus Sotiriou, a market analyst at digital asset broker GlobalBlock. "The collapse of DeFi lenders could be the reason that regulators have been looking for to implement draconian controls over cryptocurrency."

While there's still a long way to go, 2022 has so far seen some progress on the regulatory front. President Joe Biden signed an executive order in March that called on government agencies to study the "responsible development" of digital assets, including stablecoins. The U.S. Treasury Department recently published the first framework to stem from President Biden's executive order on digital assets, which outlines how the U.S. should engage with other countries in regard to digital assets.

In 2021, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that he had "no intention" of banning cryptocurrency in the U.S while Security and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler has consistently commented on both his own agency's and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's role in policing the industry.

Gensler has said on several different occasions that investors are likely to get hurt if stricter regulation is not introduced. Plus, the IRS has an obvious interest in making sure investors know how to report virtual currency when they file their taxes. Powell's and Gensler's comments are consistent with an emerging view among the Biden administration and other U.S. lawmakers that more cryptocurrency regulation is needed.

"More broadly, the public right now would benefit from investor protection around these various service providers ... the exchanges, the lending platforms, and the broker-dealers," Gensler said in a recent interview. "So, we at the SEC, are working in each of those three fields - exchanges, lending, and the broker-dealers - and talking to industry participants about how to come into compliance, or modify some of that compliance."

Like most things with cryptocurrency, regulation comes with hurdles. "There are different agencies that may or may not have jurisdiction to oversee everything," says Jeffrey Wang, head of the Americas at Amber Group, a Canada-based crypto finance firm. "And it differs state by state."

Clear regulation would mean the removal of a "significant roadblock for cryptocurrency," says Wang, since U.S. firms and investors are operating without clear guidelines at the moment.

What new regulation could mean for investors

Cryptocurrency regulation can be a hot button topic, but plenty of experts say it's actually a good thing for investors and the industry.

More regulation could mean more stability in a notoriously volatile crypto market. It also has the potential to protect long-term investors, prevent fraudulent activity within the crypto ecosystem, and provide clear guidance to allow companies to innovate in the crypto economy - as long as it strikes the right balance.

"Sensible regulation is a win for everyone," says Ben Weiss, CEO and cofounder of CoinFlip, a cryptocurrency buying platform and crypto ATM network. "It gives people more confidence in crypto, but I think it's something we have to take our time on and we have to get it right."

Regulatory announcements can also affect the price of cryptocurrency in already volatile markets. Market volatility is why experts recommend keeping any cryptocurrency investments to less than 5% of your total portfolio and never investing anything you're not OK with losing.

Broader Institutional Cryptocurrency Adoption

Mainstream companies across multiple industries took interest - and in some cases themselves invested in - cryptocurrency and blockchain in 2021. AMC, for example, announced last year it would accept Bitcoin payments. Fintech companies like PayPal and Square are also betting on crypto by allowing users to buy on their platforms. Tesla accepts Dogecoin payments and continues to go back and forth on its acceptance of bitcoin payments, though the company holds billions in crypto assets. Experts predict more and more of this buy-in.

"We've seen a tremendous amount of inflow of attention, and that's going to continue to drive the growth of the industry for a while now," says Abner.

Some experts predict bigger, global corporations could jumpstart this adoption even more in the latter half of this year. "What we're looking at is institutions getting involved in crypto, whether it's Amazon or the big banks," says Weiss. A huge retailer like Amazon could "create a chain reaction of others accepting it," and would "add a lot of credibility."

Indeed, Amazon has recently sparked rumors that it's making moves to that end by sharing a job posting for a "digital currency and blockchain product lead."

What more institutional adoption means for investors

While paying for things in cryptocurrencies doesn't make sense for most people right now, more retailers accepting payments might change that landscape in the future. We're likely still a long way off before it'll be a smart financial decision to spend bitcoin on goods or services, but further institutional adoption could bring about more use-cases for everyday users, and in turn, have an impact on crypto prices. Nothing is guaranteed, but if you buy cryptocurrency as a long-term store of value, the more "real world" uses it has, the more likely demand and value will increase.

Future of NFTs

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, have been around since 2014, but it wasn't until 2021 that this novel technology broke through into the mainstream.

NFTs represent digital ownership of a wide range of irreplicable intangible items, and have drawn the attention of celebrities and big companies ranging from American Express to Gucci. Total NFT sales hit $25 billion in 2021, compared to $94.9 million the year before, according to data collected by DappRadar, an app store for decentralized applications.

But there continues to be debate about whether NFTs are here to stay or simply a fad. NFT sales in June fell under $1 billion for the first time in 12 months, according to DappRadar data.

Experts remain split on it, with some screaming "bubble," while others claim it's the technology behind NFTs - the smart contracts on blockchain technology - that offer real value. Meanwhile, creators and artists are claiming this is the next form of monetization.

"I do think that right now they're very trendy, especially the last four months," says Humphrey Yang, personal finance expert behind HumphreyTalks."In 10 or 20 years, I think they'll still be around. How much we use them - that I don't know. People will still always find some value in communities, but the broader applications of NFTs will be more interesting."

Recent data shows the market may be finally cooling off. Almost a million accounts were actively buying or selling NFTs at the start of the year, but that number has since declined to about 491,000, a recent report by Chainalysis found. Some experts expect the NFT market to continue to suffer because of the declining price of cryptocurrencies, along with other macroeconomic conditions like inflation, rising interest rates, and Russia's war in Ukraine.

"NFTs saw explosive growth in 2021, but this growth hasn't been consistent and has leveled off so far in 2022," Chainalysis wrote in the report.

What the decline in NFTs mean for investors

Over the past year, many people bought NFTs as either investments or simply because they are fun or bring them joy. Regardless of the reason, many of those digital assets are now worth a lot less because of the crypto market's downfall in recent months.

From an investing perspective, buying an NFT is "even riskier" than buying crypto because it's "almost like a leveraged bet on crypto," according to Yang. "It's essentially gambling but people don't really know the difference and they buy them because they're fun," he says.

Knowing that NFTs are even more risky and speculative than crypto, you should likely stay away from them, especially while there's a general decline in crypto prices. Experts say most long-term investors will be better served by allocating only a small portion of their portfolio (less than 5%, and never at the expense of meeting other financial goals) to bitcoin or ethereum, two of the largest cryptocurrencies, rather than to an NFT.

Future of DeFi

If you're invested in crypto, you've probably come across the term "DeFi." It stands for " decentralized finance," and refers to an online world of alternative financial services powered by cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

DeFi uses "smart contracts" to replace traditional intermediaries like banks and lenders. Essentially, the businesses that we interact with everyday to manage our finances are replaced by software. Because of this, there's no central authority to report to in the DeFi space.

But DeFi is still in its relative infancy - similar to how the early days of the internet had a "Wild West" feel of basic chat rooms, rudimentary websites, and early online service providers. With that in mind, there are going to be some bumps and bruises along the way with its development, experts say, but there could be an Amazon or Google of the future in the DeFi space in time.

Further refinement is the next important step for DeFi, according to Dr. Merav Ozair, blockchain expert and a fintech professor at Rutgers Business School. "The next step is figuring out how to make good code and kick everything up a notch," he says.

What broader DeFi adoption means for investors

If you want full and total control over your assets, DeFi is where you'll find it.

But that can come at a cost - there are fewer regulatory guardrails to keep your assets safe. DeFi is the "wild west" of banking and investing in many ways, where if you lose your assets to hackers or through other means, there may be no way to recover them.

It's still early for DeFi, so if you're comparing conventional financial products to DeFi products, it's smart to weigh the risks against the potential rewards. You'll take more risks with your money in the DeFi space since it's unregulated, but you'll also have more freedom and control. You'll first need to buy crypto for access, and have a decent amount of crypto knowledge under your belt to get started.

Experts say it's best to have no more than 5% of your overall portfolio tied up in crypto, and only to go that far after you've built up an emergency fund and paid off any high-interest debt.

Bitcoin's Future Outlook

Bitcoin is a good indicator of the crypto market in general, because it's the largest cryptocurrency by market cap and the rest of the market tends to follow its trends.

Bitcoin's price had a wild ride in 2021, and last November set another new all-time high price when it went over $68,000. But then it came crashing down in 2022.

Bitcoin and the broader crypto market have been sinking this year amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty that's mostly been driven by surging inflation, a shaky stock market, rising interest rates, and recession fears. Bitcoin has lost more than two-thirds of its value since last November, and dipped as low as $17,500 in recent weeks. Experts remain conflicted on whether bitcoin has bottomed out yet. Some say it already has, while others says bitcoin could fall as low as $10,000 in 2022.

This volatility is a big part of why experts recommend keeping your crypto investments to less than 5% of your portfolio to begin with.

But how high will bitcoin go in the long term? While it's been a rocky start to the year for bitcoin, but experts still say it will hit $100,000 - and that it's more a matter of when, not if. Bitcoin's past may provide some clues as to what to expect looking forward, according to Kiana Danial, author of "Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies."

Danial says there have been plenty of huge spikes followed by pullbacks in Bitcoin's price since 2011. "What I expect from Bitcoin is volatility short-term and growth long-term."

Ethereum's Future Outlook

Ethereum is the second largest cryptocurrency and most well-known altcoin in the market. Like bitcoin, it can also serve as a good measure of the crypto market. In the last six years, it has grown immensely in value - from $0.311 at its 2015 launch to around $4,800 at its highest late last year.

While it's a ways away from its all-time high, ethereum's price has the potential to climb tremendously for the remainder of 2022.

Experts say that number could depend on the success of ethereum's massive upgrade, which is set for Sept. 19. Ethereum is transitioning its technology to a less energy-intensive version that insiders colloquially refer to as " The Merge." The upgrade also promises to make the network more efficient, faster, and cheaper to use.

If ethereum lives up to its promises with the merge, experts say ether could once again break $4,000 in 2022 and even possibly go as high as $12,000. Investors are closely watching every step leading up to the merge and in some cases taking advantage of the current market downturn by buying the dip ahead of it. Only time will tell if ethereum's price will continue to climb or fall back down to previous lows, according to experts.

"This is going to be a very important year for ethereum, a kind of a make-or-break year."said Henri Arslanian, global crypto leader of the professional services firm PwC.

What bitcoin and ethereum price volatility means for investors

Bitcoin and ethereum's volatility is more reason for investors to play a steady long game. If you're buying for long-term growth potential, then don't worry about short-term swings. The best thing you can do is not look at your cryptocurrency investment, or "set it and forget it." As experts continue to tell us each time there's a price swing - whether up or down - emotional reaction can cause investors to act rashly and make decisions that result in losses on their investment.

The Future of Cryptocurrency

We can speculate on what value cryptocurrency may have for investors in the coming months and years (and many will), but the reality is it's still a new and speculative investment, without much history on which to base predictions. No matter what a given expert thinks or says, no one really knows. That's why it's important to only invest what you're prepared to lose, and stick to more conventional investments for long-term wealth building.

"If you were to wake one morning to find that crypto has been banned by the developed nations and it became worthless, would you be OK?" Frederick Stanield, a CFP with Lifewater Wealth Management in Atlanta, Georgia, told NextAdvisor.

Keep your investments small, and never put crypto investments above any other financial goals like saving for retirement and paying off high interest debt.

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