Not even the current gloom in the cryptocurrency industry can dampen popular appetite for investments. Hope lives forever, as they say, and after the winter comes the summer. Many people are already buying up their favorite crypto at the current low prices in anticipation of a forthcoming boom.
Before you join the throng and throw in your hard-earned money, you should ask yourself a few questions. Nobody knows for sure when the bulls will come roaring back so it's best to be thoughtful and analytical about what crypto you invest in and how you do so.
Recall that in 2020 and for much of 2021, prices of popular cryptocurrencies soared beyond even the most optimistic forecasts. Thousands of early investors became millionaires as Bitcoin increased 800% to an all-time high of $68,000 in November 2021. Popular altcoins like Ether (ETH), PolkaDot (DOT) and BNB followed suit and everyone was loving it.
If you've paid attention in the crypto space then you should be familiar with what followed next. A cascade of calamities gradually eroded market prospects and investors' confidence. Major events like the global economic downturn and the war in Ukraine led investors to pull out from more volatile investments.
That wasn't all. The crypto world was rocked by several high-profile scandals. Two of them—the collapse of the Terra (LUNA) network, and demise of cryptocurrency exchange FTX—have cost investors billions in losses.
However, it is not all doom and gloom. Industry veterans have noted that things like this have happened before. And each time, the crypto industry bounced back and grew even more. Now, all eyes are on 2023 for a strong rebound.
Many analysts and big investors have marked 2023 as the year to test the crypto waters again. You should ask yourself these questions before you join them.
Thousands of investors put all their money in Terra and Celsius before the former crashed and the latter declared bankruptcy. Thousands more have their life savings trapped in FTX.
Bad idea, Amigos.
Before you jump into crypto, be sure that you won't be financially crippled if things go south. Investment brokers advise to have an emergency fund which is separate from your investment portfolio. In other words, keep enough money in a savings or fixed deposit account first before you make a major investment move.
The world of investing is unpredictable; crypto even more so. Prices can fluctuate up or down against your expectations. A rainy day fund will cushion you against unexpected losses and real-life changes as well.
Imagine having to sell your crypto at 70% loss because you urgently need money. This will rob you of the benefits of the anticipated recovery. If you have emergency funds, you can use those in the meantime instead of selling your assets or taking a loan.
The answer to this question will largely determine your approach towards dramatic dips and Black Swan events. If you're in crypto for quick profits, you will be more inclined to cash in at the first large green candle. In the same vein, you will be more likely to cut your losses at the first sign of trouble. This approach can work with newer altcoins which often enjoy a honeymoon period.
A more long-term perspective will insulate you from making emotional judgements based on momentary market changes. If you believe in crypto and the potentials of blockchain technology, you can handpick individual projects that you believe will perform well in the coming years.
Alternatively, you can stick with the major players like BTC and ETH because of their staying power and room for future growth. Either way, you should conduct in-depth research before you buy your preferred coins and be comfortable with their future yield potential.
There is no doubt that the rise of cryptocurrencies has opened a new investment avenue but it is also fraught with danger. Unlike stocks and treasury bonds, crypto is a relatively unregulated market with lots of bad actors, poorly-managed exchanges, and greater risk of failure.
For this reason, experts recommend making your crypto investments a reasonable part of a diversified portfolio. Rather than going all in, make crypto, at most, 10% of your overall investments. Put the rest of the money in stocks, bonds, real estate, gold, and other less volatile commodities. This way,a prolonged bear market won't make a big dent in your finances.
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket," comes to mind here. Plus, fortune doesn't always favor the brave, no matter what Matt Damon tells you.
A large segment of crypto investors hold coins because of reasons that have little to do with prudent investing. Many invest due to peer pressure, because others are doing the same thing. When Bitcoin and the larger industry went bananas in early 2021, plenty of people bought crypto because of FOMO—fear of missing out. They wanted in on the riches without any idea what they're actually doing. And while some of them got what they wished for, others ended up with bags of devalued crypto as smart investors sold their holdings.
To counter panic selling or buying, you need to have a plan and stick to it. Be clear about your aims in crypto and disciplined when carrying out your plan. Don't let momentary fluctuations sway you from the beaten track. How much are you investing, which coins will you put the money in, and when will you sell off your holdings?
Setting short, medium and long-term investment targets is also crucial. You can plan ahead to sell or buy a certain amount of a coin when it reaches a specific price point. With concrete plans like this, you will make better decisions.
Crypto is like the wild west. The potential rewards are great, but so are the risks. You shouldn't go into any venture without being fully informed about what you stand to gain—or lose. Keep it in mind that, in crypto, you can lose everything.
Whether to buy crypto in 2023 or not should depend a lot on your risk tolerance level. If a 5% drop will set your heartbeat racing, you might be better off investing in less volatile instruments.
There are ways to guard against losses. For example, you can use a regulated crypto exchange with a legal license instead of storing your coins on a shady platform. Studying projects before you invest in them will also help you spot and avoid potential rugs.
After recent setbacks, crypto faces an uncertain future but there are signs that a recovery isn't far off. Governments across the world are now paying more attention and making moves to plug regulatory gaps. This should make the sector more safe for investors who operate on cryptocurrency exchanges.
If you're expecting quick returns, crypto might not be for you right now. Experts project a slow recovery after the bleak 2022 so a 2021-style run is probably out of the question.
Even so, with some savvy research and quick planning, you can spot coins with the potential to yield big gains when the bulls return.