While its price swiftly dropped to below $65,000 after hitting the new all-time high Wednesday, Bitcoin’s latest new record is an impressive feat considering just a year ago the currency hovered around $15,000 per coin. Ethereum — the next most popular crypto — has seen a recent surge as well, and on Wednesday notched another new all-time high of its own above $4,800.
But, why do individuals mine cryptocurrency? The most obvious answer is that some people seek a second source of income and others want more financial freedom without the interference of governments or banks. For instance, crypto miners verify the legitimacy of transactions in exchange for Bitcoin as a reward for their efforts.

So what happened? And is there any hope for a recovery? To answer both, you have to look at quite a few factors.
Create your FREE Amazon Business account to save up to 10% with Business-only prices and free shipping. Six Questions with Kiana Danial What are cryptocurrencies? Cryptocurrencies are a form of digital asset that are secured by cryptography. The biggest name in cryptocurrency is Bitcoin. However, there are thousands of other cryptocurrencies that have their own unique characteristics and are spread across many different crypto categories. Why are cryptocurrencies so popular? Cryptocurrencies first became popular thanks to the original crypto asset, Bitcoin. A defining feature of Bitcoin is that it is not issued by a centralized authority and is fully decentralized. This means no government or centralized entity can interfere or manipulate it. Many other cryptocurrencies other also decentralized contributing to their popularity. Why invest in cryptocurrencies? There are different reasons to consider investing in cryptocurrency. First and foremost is diversification from traditional asset classes and exposing your portfolio to a new form of capital gains. What is a crypto wallet? A crypto wallet is a device or a service that stores your private cryptocurrency keys, keeping them safe. You can use your crypto wallet to store and retrieve your digital assets. There are different types of crypto wallets you can choose from depending on your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment strategy. How do I protect myself? 1. Educate yourself and fully understand the fundamental value of the crypto assets you are planning to invest in 2. Know your risk tolerance and only invest in cryptocurrency if it matches your risk tolerance What are the current cryptocurrency prices? Cryptocurrency prices change on an hourly basis and investors often seek information from popular websites, media outlets and popular apps. About the author Kiana Danial Kiana Danial, author of Cryptocurrency Investing For Dummies is an award-winning, internationally recognized personal investing and wealth management expert. She is a highly sought-after professional speaker, author and executive coach who delivers inspirational workshops and seminars to corporations, universities, and entrepreneurial groups. She is a frequent expert on many TV and radio stations and has reported on the financial markets directly from the floor of NYSE and NASDAQ. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, TIME Magazine, CNN, Forbes, The Street, and numerous other publications. As the CEO of Invest Diva, Danial’s goal is to help you create an investment strategy that’s unique to you. Identify top-performing cryptocurrencies Understand reasons to invest in cryptocurrencies Create a crypto strategy that matches your goals