Bitcoin has been referred to as a bubble, a scam, a fleeting fad, and even a thing that will never exist again for years.

However, we're here now.

Bitcoin is still here.

It's not only that it was an experiment on the internet that was only talked about in small online communities, but it also has become an asset that is watched by governments, major financial institutions, corporations, and millions of investors from all over the world.

More interesting is the fact that some of the most successful investors and companies in the world are no longer able to completely overlook it.

So, is it possible that Bitcoin remains one of the investments of this century?

I think there are a few reasons why the answer might be yes.

1. Bitcoin Was Built to Be Scarce

Bitcoin's appeal is most popularly due to its limited supply.

Bitcoins will be limited to 21,000,000 in total.

This is a big contrast to conventional money, as the rule is simple. Bitcoin has a maximum supply and governments and central banks can create more money.

But lack of abundance does not necessarily imply value.

Scarcity and international demand is a potent mixture.

Gold was valuable, in part because it was hard to make and scarce. Bitcoin brings that idea to the digital realm.

The scarcity of Bitcoin is gaining significance as more people start considering it as a long term store of value.

2. The Institutions Have Arrived

The most significant shift in the Bitcoin narrative is the change in audience.

Bitcoin was largely a trading platforms for retail traders, early adopters and crypto enthusiasts a few years ago.

Today, the discussion is going to be much larger.

Major financial companies have entered the Bitcoin investment arena. Bitcoin has become part of public companies' strategies, and institutional investors have had a more convenient access to the asset.

This is not to imply that Bitcoin has just become secure.

It definitely hasn't.

However, this has shifted with the involvement of institutions. Bitcoin is no longer the new kid on the block that is occurring on the periphery of the financial system.

It is becoming a more and more prominent financial discussion.

3. Bitcoin Doesn't Need Everyone to Believe in It

This is especially intriguing to me.

Don't expect all people on Earth to all convert to Bitcoin.

It just requires more and more individuals to realize that it is worth their while to acquire even a little bit.

Think about it.

The world has billions of people and thousands of companies, investment funds, financial institutions. Even if it's just a fraction, if investors worldwide choose to put some of their money into Bitcoin, there's potential for continued demand.

At the same time, the maximum supply has remained the same.

That's the simple reason that the long-term potential of Bitcoin is based on.

Growing demand.

Fixed supply.

An entirely new equation of assets which can only be produced in greater numbers.

4. The Network Effect Is Becoming Harder to Ignore

Bitcoin has the advantage of history where many new cryptocurrencies lack it.

It has held up to crashes, bans, criticism, exchange failures, uncertainty and many times predictions of death.

Each cycle has created new sceptics.

And, each cycle has seen the addition of new users.

Bitcoin's network effect can only grow stronger as it survives.

The more users, the more attention.

As more attention comes, more infrastructure comes.

An increase in infrastructure increases the ease of access for new users and institutions.

This does not ensure future success but it does develop a strong momentum that a new player can't easily break.

5. Bitcoin Still Has One Major Advantage: Simplicity

The crypto industry is extremely complex.

Tokens, blockchains, protocols, Layer 2s, DeFi platforms, AI coins, meme coins, and new stories come and go every few months, and there are thousands.

Bitcoin, despite its name, is still quite easy to understand.

It's primarily used for its obvious purpose:

A digital asset that is decentralized, has a limited supply.

Simple, perhaps, is its greatest strength.

For investors, it is not necessary to understand a whole ecosystem of protocols in order to understand the simple Bitcoin thesis.

You think it can be a useful digital asset that can be stored.

Or you don't.

But Let's Be Honest: Bitcoin Is Still Risky

This is not a sure way to get rich.

Bitcoin is still very volatile. It can fluctuate from one direction to the other with a considerable margin within a very short time.

Regulation could change.

Investor sentiment could change.

New technologies may be able to refute current assumptions.

Not to mention, the market could still surprise you.

I believe the most critical thing to keep in mind is to not view Bitcoin as a sure bet in the lottery.

Those who remain in crypto are not the ones with the best-looking up days.

They are the ones who know what they own, manage their risk and think beyond the next few days.

Final Thoughts

Bitcoin has already done something amazing.

It is no longer just a digital experiment, but a worldwide financial asset too important for governments, corporations and Wall Street institutions to ignore.

Does this imply that it will become the 'best investment of the century'?

Nobody knows.

But Bitcoin has already demonstrated itself to be underrated numerous times over.

It is in limited supply.

Its network continues to grow.

And the number of people who take it seriously seems to be far greater than a few years ago.

Perhaps it's why Bitcoin continues to gain believer's.

Not because it doesn't have a chance of failing.

However, it is impossible to overlook the possibility.

So, how do you feel — is bitcoin one of the greatest investments of all time or is the good old days behind?

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