Fisher Investments Explains | Is Crypto Suitable for Long-Term Investors?

Transcript

Is crypto suitable for long-term investors? Cryptocurrencies present unique attributes that can make them attractive and real challenges that can require careful consideration and risk management. Extreme volatility is one. Since 2017, Bitcoin, the oldest and most secure cryptocurrency, has experienced dramatically more 5% daily drops than stocks. While some embrace this volatility, most investors lack the discipline to avoid panic selling during major drawdowns. In investing, often we are our own worst enemies, and crypto's volatility exacerbates that problem. Second, crypto has a much shorter track record than stocks, which have 100 plus years of data across recessions, wars and market crashes. Since Bitcoin began trading, we've only seen a couple global bear markets both shorter and shallower than average. Yet Bitcoin still fell well over 50% in each of them. A severe downturn like 1929 or the dot-com crash could test even the strongest of believers. Third are basic operational risks. The space has critical dangers, including exchange hacks, lost private keys and even fraud. Investing in crypto long-term requires careful management of those risks for even the chance of success. Now, with all that said, for investors willing and capable of managing those risks, cryptocurrencies offer interesting possibilities. They can serve as an alternative store of value in countries with unstable governments and banking systems, or enabling low-cost cross-border remittance payments, as well as providing access to decentralized finance and prediction markets, along with more. The bottom line: cryptocurrency may suit those who understand the risks, implement proper security measures and can withstand extreme volatility without jeopardizing long-term goals. Although for many investors today, traditional diversified portfolios remain the most prudent foundation for building wealth.