Forecasts on bitcoin prices for 2019: from $ 0 to $ 36,000, experts make predictions on cryptocurrency

It was a bad year for bitcoins. After the highs of 2017, which saw bitcoin prices rise to $ 20,000 (£ 15,700), the world's most valuable cryptocurrency is currently trading near its lowest point in 16 months.

Bitcoin has dropped 3% in the last 24 hours, adding 5% losses in the last week, 10% in the last month and almost 80% in the last year, leaving few doubts about last year's peak really the result of a too inflated bubble.

There were five main price spikes in the 10-year history of bitcoins, and after every previous incident the market managed to recover at even higher levels. But the size of the 2018 losses left some cryptocurrency experts wondering if the bitcoins will once again see a turning point in the market.

The forecast of bitcoin fortunes in 2019 then divided analysts, with forecasts from high-profile figures in the cryptocurrency sector ranging from full capitulation to a 10-fold increase over the current price of $ 3,650.

The most radical forecasts come from bitcoin fund founder Calvin Ayre and Fundstrat co-founder Thomas Lee. Ayre predicts that bitcoin will become totally worthless and will arrive at $ 0 in 2019, as it has "no use".

According to Ayre, the bitcoin will be replaced by a more technologically advanced cryptocurrency that works better as a real currency, like bitcoin money.

At the other end of the scale is Mr. Lee, whose bitcoin forecasts have proven extremely optimistic in the past. Recently, in November, Mr. Lee predicted that the bitcoin would hit $ 15,000 by the end of 2018, but did not appear to be discouraged by falling prices in its prediction that bitcoin could reach $ 36,000 in 2019.

Those positive on the future of bitcoin indicate the general progression of the industry of cryptocurrency and blockchain in the last 12 months, while an analyst suggesting bitcoin is currently underestimated.

"In my opinion, now is a good time to buy bitcoins," said blockchain consultant Olver Isaacs L & # 39; Independent. "The surrounding Bitcoin infrastructure has never been better: together with Coinbase, Cirlce and Blockchain, huge traditional financial institutions are entering the market".

This is a sentiment shared by Misha Libman, co-founder of the Blockchain Snark.art art lab, which puts bitcoin price volatility at the birth of the industry.

"Ultimately, we are dealing with new technology and a new resource that is highly speculative, illiquid and elusive, and that drivers for its rise and fall are not to be guessed," he said. "But no doubt I think blockchain and cryptocurrency have a place in our future and the volatility of the roller coaster we are seeing today is something we will have to live with for a while until we start using cryptocurrency to buy chewing gum ".

"For those who feel nostalgic about the excitement they felt for the bitcoin boom at the end of last year, keep your trust," added Donald Bullers, who works for the blockchain company Elastos.

"The second half of 2018 has been a critical point of maturation for the industry and 2019 will bring with it valid products on the market, Crypto is all but dead".