To take a position on a bullish trend or short the latest bubble, you first need to understand the factors that have an impact on bitcoin’s price:
- Bitcoin supply. The current bitcoin supply is capped at 21 million, which is expected to be exhausted by 2140. A finite supply means that the price of bitcoin could increase if demand rises in the coming years
- Bad press. Any breaking news that concerns bitcoin’s security, value and longevity tends to have a negative effect on the coin’s overall market price
- Integration. Bitcoin’s public profile depends on its integration into new payment systems and banking frameworks. If this is carried out successfully, demand might rise which will have a positive effect on bitcoin’s price
- Key events. Regulation changes, security breaches and macroeconomic bitcoin announcements can all affect prices. Any agreement between users on how to speed the network up could also see confidence in bitcoin rise – pushing the price up
- Market capitalisation. The value of all the coins in existence and how users perceive this to be developing will increase or dampen demand. Growing market capitalisation could see bitcoin become a more sought-after investment