There's no single "perfect" time, but the best times to buy Bitcoin often align with major market overlaps (Asian/European/US sessions) for higher activity, or quiet periods like early mornings/weekends for potentially lower prices, with early morning UTC (midnight-1 PM UTC) and late evenings (19:00-20:00 UTC) often cited for volatility and trading volume, but many experts recommend Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) to avoid timing the market.
Cryptocurrencies are most commonly traded between 8am to 4pm in local time. While the crypto market is 24/7, your trades are more likely to be executed when there is the highest level of activity. Outside of these hours, when trading is lighter, it can be more difficult to open and close trades.
One study that analyzed five-minute bitcoin price data from January 2018 to December 2023 found that average overnight returns were 0.093%, better than U.S. trading hour returns of -0.029%. 2 (Crypto markets trade 24/7, with investors across geographies mostly trading during their waking hours.)
Generally Observed Trends
Historically, there are certain times when cryptocurrency prices appear to dip. Based on anecdotal observations and studies, many traders have noted that prices are typically lower late at night and during the early hours of the morning, according to the UTC timezone.
Prices are lower when the market is less busy. Although you can trade cryptocurrencies at any time of day, the market is more active during typical work hours and less active early in the morning, at night, and on the weekends.
The 1% rule in crypto trading is a risk management strategy where you never risk more than 1% of your total trading capital on a single trade, calculated by setting a stop-loss to limit potential losses, helping protect your overall portfolio from significant damage and reducing emotional trading. For example, with a $10,000 account, your maximum loss on any trade is $100, achieved by adjusting your position size based on where you set your stop-loss.
The "crypto 30-day rule" refers to the IRS wash-sale rule, which does not apply to cryptocurrencies, treating them as property, not securities, allowing investors to sell at a loss and immediately buy back the same crypto to realize the loss for tax purposes (tax-loss harvesting) without waiting 30 days, unlike stocks. However, some tax authorities (like the UK's HMRC and Lanop or local interpretations) may have their own "bed and breakfast" rules that match sales and purchases within 30 days, affecting capital gains, so it's crucial to check specific tax jurisdictions.
Yes, someone really did pay 10,000 Bitcoin for two pizzas in a historic transaction on May 22, 2010, by programmer Laszlo Hanyecz, marking the first real-world purchase with cryptocurrency and becoming famous as Bitcoin Pizza Day. At the time, those 10,000 BTC were worth about $41, but now (in recent years, as Bitcoin's price has soared) they'd be worth over a billion dollars, demonstrating Bitcoin's massive growth in value.
Key Takeaways. The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, meaning that when you buy, sell or exchange it, this counts as a taxable event and typically results in either a capital gain or loss. When you earn income from cryptocurrency activities, this is taxed as ordinary income.
Key Points. Michael Saylor's base case puts Bitcoin at $13 million per coin by 2045, which would turn a $100 investment today into $15,115 in 20 years. Even Saylor's most conservative (or least preposterous) $3 million target would deliver a 3,388% return, beating the S&P 500's historical averages by a healthy margin.
$Trump (stylized in all caps) is a meme coin associated with United States president Donald Trump, hosted on the Solana blockchain platform.
The 3 5 7 rule is a risk management strategy in trading built around three core principles: Risk no more than 3% of your capital on a single trade. Limit exposure to 5% of capital across all open positions. Target around 7% profit or maintain a reward objective aligned with that level.
Elon Musk's stance on crypto is complex but generally bullish on Bitcoin and Dogecoin, viewing them as alternatives to fiat currency, though he's criticized Bitcoin's energy use (while also praising its energy basis) and has warned against reckless investing, emphasizing volatility and personal research; he's integrating crypto plans for his "everything app," X (formerly Twitter), while also banning certain crypto-related spam apps. He sees Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and a way to secure value, unlike "fake" government money, and supports Dogecoin due to its meme status and potential connection to his government efficiency initiatives.
The Problem With Crypto
It's wasteful. He's criticized its massive energy consumption and how it facilitates anonymous transactions that can't be reversed. Unlike other digital payment systems, which he sees potential in, Bitcoin and similar assets don't align with his vision for practical financial innovation.
Ramsey's Simple Three-Investment Rule
In a 2024 video, Ramsey said, "I have three investments — that's all I have: my business, paid-for real estate and mutual funds. I don't play single stocks. I don't screw around with gold. I don't mess with Bitcoin."
"We are concerned about rapidly increasing use of fossil fuels for Bitcoin mining and transactions," Musk explained in a tweet, "especially coal, which has the worst emissions of any fuel."