IInvesting is not a proposition to acquire stocks or cryptocurrencies. It is best to have diversified investments that balance safer bets with investments that carry a higher probability of loss.
A solid investment portfolio should contain a diverse mix of assets. Putting money into different types of investments, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities, spreads risk.
Before the cryptocurrency boom, the acquisition of shares in internet-related companies also exploded.
In order to equate the benefits and risks between stocks and cryptocurrencies, it is necessary to be clear about the difference between them.
Cryptocurrency
It is considered a medium of exchange that has grown in popularity over the past decade.
However, its unregulated nature makes cryptocurrency too risky to support a full financial system, as it lacks government support and its value is determined by the market.
In addition, cryptocurrencies are held in decentralized networks of computers distributed around the world and are only accessible via a password of at least 16 characters that only those who acquire them have access to, because their security relies on strong cryptography.
Another point for investors to consider is that volatility has been a feature of cryptocurrencies, with sharp changes in value over short periods of time, the best example is that last year Bitcoin exceeded $65,000 in value and until a few days ago it didn’t even reach $38,000 per unity.
Now, cryptocurrency gained some legitimacy as an investment vehicle, when the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cleared a Bitcoin-related exchange-traded fund (ETF) for trading in 2021.
Shares
When considering cryptocurrencies versus stocks, remember that stocks convey ownership of part of a business.
Investors benefit when the stock’s value increases, which may be due to company performance. The more sales and profits a company makes, the higher its stock should go up.
Cryptocurrencies and stocks are valid investment options, but they serve different purposes in a portfolio.
It should be noted that, in order to buy and hold shares, the buyer generally must open an account with a brokerage firm and disclose personal information, such as their social security number and address.
In contrast, one of the perceived advantages of cryptocurrencies is their anonymity. No one needs to know who the crypto buyer is. The owner of a cryptocurrency holds their assets in a virtual wallet or on a storage device, such as a USB key.
So, while stocks provide stability; cryptocurrencies are riskier investments which, although they offer the potential for great rewards, they also represent a greater risk.