Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (2024)

  • Home
  • >News
  • >Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin?

By holding bitcoin for the long term rather than short term trading, you reduce the risk of losing value to short term price fluctuations while still having the opportunity to benefit from long term price appreciation.

Buying and selling bitcoin over short time periods significantly increases the chance of your bitcoin losing value. Throughout bitcoin’s lifetime, we have seen that a much safer way to store value in bitcoin is to buy it and hold it for the long term. This article shows that if you are buying bitcoin, you should be holding it for the long term rather than trying to trade it to make a fast profit.

Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (1)
Billy Garrison

Written by Billy Garrison Arrow Right Technical Writer

Billy Garrison focuses his research and writing on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. He is interested in the technical details that allow these technologies to survive and grow without the need for a central authority. Billy also loves helping people learn...

  • Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (2)

|Jul 16, 2024

Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (3)

Trading Bitcoin is Riskier

Many people think of bitcoin as an investment because the price has increased so much through time and quite a few people have become rich as a result. Bitcoin’s history of price appreciation and volatility reinforces the idea that to make a profit from bitcoin, you should buy and sell (trade) bitcoin.

However, the reality is that most people who attempt to trade bitcoin end up losing money. For a more detailed explanation on why we recommend most people do not try to trade bitcoin, read our article on bitcoin investment strategies.

Bitcoin is for Saving and Spending

The properties of bitcoin (which we’ll discuss a bit later) make it very well suited for saving and spending. History has shown us that the safest and most reliable way to make a profit with bitcoin is by buying and holding for a long period of time.

Bitcoin was originally created as an electronic cash system and can be used to make payments in ways that are impossible with traditional payment systems. For example, it takes days to send money across international borders, but bitcoin can be transferred globally within minutes.

Some of the properties that make bitcoin good for saving include:

  • There will only ever be 21 million bitcoin, and over 18 million of them are already circulating.
  • Your bitcoin holdings cannot be diluted by money printing.
  • Basic economics states that a constant supply and an increasing demand ought to lead to price increases through time. Bitcoin’s consistent supply is very predictable because of the transparent design of the system. Demand for bitcoin is expected to gradually increase through time because we are still early in bitcoin’s life.
  • Bitcoin is easy to secure with a bit of knowledge. You can securely store a large value in bitcoin quite easily – especially when compared to saving in gold or cash.
  • Bitcoin cannot be easily confiscated in the same way gold or cash can be.

Some of the properties that make bitcoin good for spending include:

  • Bitcoin is purely digital. In the same way that we can send information over the internet extremely quickly, we can send value over bitcoin much faster than sending it using traditional methods.
  • Another benefit of bitcoin’s digital nature is that we can also divide it into much smaller units than traditional money (such as gold or dollars). This means bitcoin can be used for a wider range of applications than traditional money.
  • Bitcoin’s decentralized peer-to-peer design means you can make bitcoin payments 24/7, 365 days a year, without needing to rely on banks or other payment providers.

Bitcoin Price Trends

Here is a chart of bitcoin’s price history, which supports most of this article’s claims:

Bitcoin all-time price. Credit to CoinDesk.

In the chart above, you can see that bitcoin’s price has risen dramatically through time. Other than a few exceptions, if you had bought bitcoin and held it for more than a year or two you would have seen the value of your bitcoin increase. Conversely, you can see that there were many times when trying to time the market would have resulted in a sudden drop in value, such as at the start of 2018 and the start of 2022.

There are some really rough 1-2 year periods but if you pull back to a 5-year outlook than things become much more positive for Bitcoin holders.

History shows that if you were to buy and hold bitcoin for the long term, you would not be subject to these types of sudden losses. Instead, you would see the value of your bitcoin increase steadily through time.

Article Tags

BitcoinBeginnerInvestment

Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (5)

About the Author

BillyGarrison

BillyGarrison focuses his research and writing on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. He is interested in the technical details that allow these technologies to survive and grow without the need for a central authority.Billyalso loves helping people learn about Bitcoin which led him to start the Halifax Bitcoin Meetup.

Learn more aboutBilly Garrison

Latest News

Government
How Will Rising Interest Rates Affect Cryptocurrency?
Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (6)
Simon Chandler

Written by Simon Chandler Arrow Right Contributing writer

Simon Chandler is a journalist based in London. He writes about technology, markets and politics, and has bylines for Forbes, Digital Trends, CCN, Wired, TechCrunch, the Verge, the Sun, the New Internationalist, and TruthOut, among many others.

  • Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (7)

|

September 05, 2024

Memecoins
Memecoins
Why Are Memecoins Popular? A Deeper Look
Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (10)
Evan Jones

Written by Evan Jones Arrow Right Cryptocurrency expert and consultant

Evan Jones was introduced to cryptocurrency by fellow CryptoVantage contributor Keegan Francis in 2017 and was immediately intrigued by the use cases of many Ethereum-based cryptos. He bought his first hardware wallet shortly thereafter. He has a keen and v...

|

July 19, 2024

Tax
Tax
Does KuCoin Report to the IRS?
Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (12)
Evan Jones

Written by Evan Jones Arrow Right Cryptocurrency expert and consultant

Evan Jones was introduced to cryptocurrency by fellow CryptoVantage contributor Keegan Francis in 2017 and was immediately intrigued by the use cases of many Ethereum-based cryptos. He bought his first hardware wallet shortly thereafter. He has a keen and v...

|

April 21, 2024

News
News
Dead Coins: How Many Cryptocurrencies Have Failed?
Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (14)
Evan Jones

Written by Evan Jones Arrow Right Cryptocurrency expert and consultant

Evan Jones was introduced to cryptocurrency by fellow CryptoVantage contributor Keegan Francis in 2017 and was immediately intrigued by the use cases of many Ethereum-based cryptos. He bought his first hardware wallet shortly thereafter. He has a keen and v...

|

April 19, 2024

Beginner
Beginner
How Many Crypto Millionaires are There?
Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (16)
Evan Jones

Written by Evan Jones Arrow Right Cryptocurrency expert and consultant

Evan Jones was introduced to cryptocurrency by fellow CryptoVantage contributor Keegan Francis in 2017 and was immediately intrigued by the use cases of many Ethereum-based cryptos. He bought his first hardware wallet shortly thereafter. He has a keen and v...

|

March 15, 2024

View All News

Ask CryptoVantage: How Long Should I Hold My Bitcoin? (2024)

FAQs

How long should you hold your Bitcoin? ›

Crypto hodling is a long-term strategy that could provide a safer investment option, especially for inexperienced asset owners. “Sit back, relax and go back to your investment in five years' time” is often a mantra in financial markets, and the crypto industry is no exception as this is also the hodlers' motto.

How long is the holding period for Bitcoin? ›

The period during which you held the virtual currency (known as the “holding period”) begins on the day after you acquired the virtual currency and ends on the day you sell or exchange the virtual currency.

How long do you have to hold Bitcoin before selling? ›

How can you minimize taxes on Bitcoin? One option is to hold Bitcoin for more than a year before selling. Because short-term capital gains taxes are higher, you'll pay higher taxes if you sell and realize a gain within a year.

How much Bitcoin should you hold? ›

Most financial experts recommend limiting crypto exposure to less than 5% of your total portfolio. Crypto is considered a high-risk asset class. Limiting allocation helps manage overall volatility and risk. Those new to crypto investing may start with 1% to 2% as an introduction.

When should you pull out of Bitcoin? ›

Most of the time, the key is focusing on the percentage of profits you've already made. People have different preferences depending on how much risk they're willing to take. However, most traders target at least 50% before they take profits. That being said, you can target 100% profits too before you decide to take.

When should I withdraw my Bitcoin? ›

Reasons for cashing out crypto or Bitcoin

The decision whether to cash out crypto or Bitcoin depends on your financial goals and market conditions. You may want to lock in gains, cut or harvest losses for taxes, or simply use your digital assets in the real world.

What is the average hold time for Bitcoin? ›

In most cases, Bitcoin transactions need 1 to 1.5 hours to complete. Bitcoin transactions will usually be confirmed with one confirmation within 10 minutes. If several hours have passed without your Bitcoin transaction being confirmed, just wait.

How long to hold crypto for capital gains? ›

Profits on the sale of assets held for less than one year are taxable at your usual tax rate. For the 2024 tax year, that's between 0% and 37%, depending on your income. If the same trade took place a year or more after the crypto purchase, you'd owe long-term capital gains taxes.

Is Bitcoin a good long-term hold? ›

Bitcoin Has Risen Much Faster Than Other Assets Over the Past 10 Years. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing in cryptocurrency is highly speculative and may result in a loss of the entire investment. An investment cannot be made directly in a market index.

When should I sell my Bitcoin for profit? ›

Avoid trying to time the market perfectly. Instead, set clear price targets for selling your crypto and determine the percentage to sell at each target. For example, if you invested $25,000 in a particular coin, you might sell 20% when your portfolio reaches $50,000, 30% when it reaches $75,000, and so on.

Should I hold onto my Bitcoin? ›

You might want to sell your crypto under some specific circ*mstances. If there is a lack of blockchain development progress or a string of negative news, you might want to sell your cryptocurrency. If you've reached your investing goals or want to reallocate your holding, you might want to sell your cryptocurrency.

Can you just buy Bitcoin and leave it? ›

If you're purchasing Bitcoin, you'll need a place to keep it. Bitcoin can be stored in two kinds of digital wallets: a hot wallet or a cold wallet.

How long should I hold my Bitcoin? ›

There are some really rough 1-2 year periods but if you pull back to a 5-year outlook than things become much more positive for Bitcoin holders. History shows that if you were to buy and hold bitcoin for the long term, you would not be subject to these types of sudden losses.

What will $100 of Bitcoin be worth in 2030? ›

If this pattern continues into 2030, the price could peak around 2029 or 2030, potentially aligning with Wood's price prediction. If Wood is correct and Bitcoin reaches $3.8 million, a $100 investment in Bitcoin today would be worth $5,510 in 2030. This translates to a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 95%.

Is it worth having $100 in Bitcoin? ›

Investing $100 in Bitcoin alone is not likely to make you wealthy. The price of Bitcoin is highly volatile and can fluctuate significantly in short periods. While it is possible to see significant returns in a short time, it is also possible to lose a substantial amount just as quickly.

Is it good to hold Bitcoin now? ›

Unfortunately, it's also incredibly volatile. For that reason, while current market conditions are favorable for anyone considering buying Bitcoin, it is an asset you should purchase only at your own risk. Because while Bitcoin may have the potential for significant returns, you may also lose most of your investment.

When should I sell my Bitcoin? ›

If you've reached or surpassed your investment targets, selling to realize those gains could be wise, especially if you believe the market is at a peak. Additionally, if you require significant capital for immediate expenses or want to reinvest in other opportunities, selling could provide that flexibility.

Is it worth holding Bitcoin cash? ›

A: Whether Bitcoin Cash is a good investment depends on individual investment goals and risk tolerance. It has gained attention for its potential as a more scalable version of Bitcoin, but like any cryptocurrency, it comes with risks, including market volatility.

Top Articles
Coding Workshops for Women
What are token swaps? A beginner's guide to swapping tokens
Creepshotorg
It’s Time to Answer Your Questions About Super Bowl LVII (Published 2023)
Nybe Business Id
Katie Pavlich Bikini Photos
Stretchmark Camouflage Highland Park
4-Hour Private ATV Riding Experience in Adirondacks 2024 on Cool Destinations
Le Blanc Los Cabos - Los Cabos – Le Blanc Spa Resort Adults-Only All Inclusive
Room Background For Zepeto
Professor Qwertyson
Es.cvs.com/Otchs/Devoted
Brgeneral Patient Portal
T&G Pallet Liquidation
Amateur Lesbian Spanking
Osrs Blessed Axe
Slag bij Plataeae tussen de Grieken en de Perzen
Things To Do In Atlanta Tomorrow Night
Craigslist Deming
Flower Mound Clavicle Trauma
Best Forensic Pathology Careers + Salary Outlook | HealthGrad
25Cc To Tbsp
Webcentral Cuny
24 Hour Drive Thru Car Wash Near Me
Nevermore: What Doesn't Kill
Jet Ski Rental Conneaut Lake Pa
11 Ways to Sell a Car on Craigslist - wikiHow
Helpers Needed At Once Bug Fables
Student Portal Stvt
Feathers
Calvin Coolidge: Life in Brief | Miller Center
What Is The Lineup For Nascar Race Today
Autotrader Bmw X5
Rust Belt Revival Auctions
Arcane Odyssey Stat Reset Potion
Waffle House Gift Card Cvs
Keeper Of The Lost Cities Series - Shannon Messenger
Build-A-Team: Putting together the best Cathedral basketball team
How to Draw a Sailboat: 7 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow
The Conners Season 5 Wiki
If You're Getting Your Nails Done, You Absolutely Need to Tip—Here's How Much
The Attleboro Sun Chronicle Obituaries
The power of the NFL, its data, and the shift to CTV
Yale College Confidential 2027
Professors Helpers Abbreviation
15 Best Places to Visit in the Northeast During Summer
How to Connect Jabra Earbuds to an iPhone | Decortweaks
Race Deepwoken
Julies Freebies Instant Win
Craigs List Sarasota
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tuan Roob DDS

Last Updated:

Views: 6701

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tuan Roob DDS

Birthday: 1999-11-20

Address: Suite 592 642 Pfannerstill Island, South Keila, LA 74970-3076

Phone: +9617721773649

Job: Marketing Producer

Hobby: Skydiving, Flag Football, Knitting, Running, Lego building, Hunting, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Tuan Roob DDS, I am a friendly, good, energetic, faithful, fantastic, gentle, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.