Since the start of 2023, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has been one of the best assets to own. Its price has soared roughly 300% during that time (as of June 14), a better gain than the 69% rise of the Nasdaq Composite Index.
But it's been a roller coaster since Bitcoin hit its all-time high in March. As of this writing, the top cryptocurrency is off 11% from that peak.
Should investors consider buying Bitcoin while it's trading for less than $70,000?
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Bear case**
Perhaps the most obvious argument against Bitcoin is that it may be banned in the U.S., just as it was in China. Others speculate that computational advancements, whether from artificial intelligence or quantum computing, might crack Bitcoin's cryptographic structure.
These are all valid points. And the longer the network is around and gains in popularity, greater those risks might become.
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Bull case**
Understanding the bear case is critical to gaining a thorough perspective about an asset. But I believe that Bitcoin's bull arguments hold more weight.
Spot exchange-traded funds have introduced more capital to the mix by making it easier to buy Bitcoin. But these funds, approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in January, also put a stamp of legitimacy on the crypto. When we look back on this event years down the road, we'll probably see it as a seminal moment when Bitcoin officially arrived.
In April, Bitcoin underwent another halving, an event that happens roughly every four years and that cuts the new supply of coins entering the market in half. This has always been a catalyst for Bitcoin. Bullish investors expect that over the next 12 to 18 months, Bitcoin can reach a new all-time high.
And investors should think about what makes Bitcoin unique in the first place. It is often compared to gold. The precious metal has been viewed as a top store of value for thousands of years. However, Bitcoin's eventual total supply is mathematically capped, and there will never be more than 21 million coins. And Bitcoin is easier to store and transport than gold, while also possessing easier transactional value.
However, Bitcoin's current market cap of $1.3 trillion is just 8% of gold's $15.7 trillion. In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, tech-enabled, and connected, I think it's reasonable to expect that the top crypto can one day fetch the same valuation as gold. This would imply 1,100% upside.
Bitcoin is also special because it's an alternative to the debt-fueled and inflationary fiscal and monetary policies that have characterized the U.S., as well as other countries, in recent decades. Many economists have argued that this path isn't sustainable.