Bitcoin's Shift (Back) To Retail
When bitcoin was first launched in 2009, the cryptocurrency was designed as a means for users to exchange money with other parties on an independent, decentralized network with enhanced privacy and no need for a third party. However, thought of as an alternative to gold as a store of value, bitcoin instead gained mainstream traction and popularity as people began speculating on its future value. From the time of its inception in 2009, it took until Jan. 1, 2017, to cross the $1,000 threshold. By the end of 2017, bitcoin’s all-time high was almost $20,000. Although the price of bitcoin incr...