I've been holding a small amount of Bitcoin and steadily growing it through sporadic trading for over three months now. For veterans of crypto this must seem no time at all, but personally it's felt like forever. My intention was never to be an investor, but rather a trader; regardless, difficulties in that department have left me holding throughout these three months.
Now, just before the end of the year, it seems like a good time to take stock and prepare for the future. One thing that these past months have shown is that Bitcoin is not alone. Ether, Bitcoin Cash, and even Litecoin recently, have all shown promising growth, demonstrating that investors trust in the growth of the crypto markets as a whole, as opposed to one coin. However, the number of coins that have actually shown sustained and appreciable growth is small, owing to the harsh competition. The rising tide seems to carry only some boats, leaving the rest to sink.
Where does this leave Bitcoin? With the highest value of any coin ever, it's easy to be convinced that Bitcoin is "the one to rule them all." However, there are enduring questions about the actual usability of the coin that make its position more tenuous. Add to that the explosive growth of BCH and LTC and it's harder to rest easy.
Ultimately, the answer to what will come next for the crypto markets lies in what the market actually values in Bitcoin. If the answer remains the expected rise in Bitcoin's value, then this is indeed a bubble and it will, as all bubbles must, eventually burst. Let's hope there's more to it than that.