The greatest investment of 2024 was Bitcoin, despite its typical volatility.

As new exchange-traded funds brought about broader adoption and as expectations for deregulation under a new presidential administration propelled digital assets to all-time highs, Bitcoin was by far the best-performing asset class in 2024.But as this month's trade makes abundantly evident, cryptocurrency ownership also entails the same instability and wild swings. Since beginning the year at around $40,000, the price of bitcoin has more than doubled, and it is currently trading close to $94,000. Ether last traded at over $3,355, and it has gained almost 50% so far this year.

The weeks after the U.S. presidential election were the year's most successful period. Anticipating that President-elect Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris would pave the way for more regulatory certainty and attract fresh investment, the cryptocurrency surged beyond $108,000 for the first time by mid-December. However, prices have decreased since then. The idea that the Federal Reserve's rate reduction will be implemented more slowly than expected has caused Bitcoin to decline for the month. Toward the close of the year, the market has also experienced a period of choppiness and apparent profit-taking.