The future of bitcoin and cryptocurrency: 2025 and beyond

The price of bitcoin reached an all-time high in 2024, according to Statista, partly driven by the approval of bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US.

However, bitcoin has been volatile so far in 2025. The price of bitcoin initially fell to its lowest point this year due to concerns over US trade tariffs before rising again after president Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause for nations hit with higher tariffs.

Bitcoin, similar to other cryptocurrencies, is highly volatile. For example, in 2021, bitcoin crashed from over $60,000 to under $20,000 before recovering.  

Many experts believe bitcoin could soar in 2025, with Nigel Green, head of deVere Group, believing that it could reach $150,000 by the end of the year.

It’s worth stressing how highly volatile cryptocurrency is and that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warns you could lose all your money. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) also doesn’t protect against crypto investments.

In this article, we look at the future of bitcoin and what you can expect in 2025 and beyond. If you’re unsure about bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general, it’s important to know some essential details.

While they can seem appealing to potential investors, they have complexities that are crucial to navigate, and seeking financial advice is worth considering.

What is bitcoin? 

Bitcoin is the largest cryptocurrency by market value in the world. This digital currency doesn’t have any physical kind of exchange.

If you’re new to cryptocurrencies, bitcoin is a payment method that is digital and requires no physical exchange. While many people buy bitcoins as a decentralised payment method, many other people buy and sell bitcoin as a way of making money.  

After 2024 was a bumper year for bitcoin, it’s important to stay on top of the changing environment it currently operates in.  

Is bitcoin a good investment? 

When assessing bitcoin as an investment, it’s essential to remain aware that this cryptocurrency is a very volatile asset to buy. This is always something to remember when considering investing in bitcoin for the future.

While some people experienced substantial value depreciation of their bitcoin assets over the past few years, owners of bitcoin in 2023 and 2024 had considerable growth in the value of their assets.

Short-term future projections look positive, but fluctuations and potential decreases in value are to be expected due to the inherent volatility of bitcoin.

Overall, bitcoin and other digital currencies are very risky investments. Whether you’re buying bitcoin to purchase goods or hope to hold this asset until you sell it for more money, there is no guarantee you will get any of your money back.

If you’re thinking about buying bitcoin, there are some important questions to consider:  

• Where will you store your bitcoin? Is it secure?

• How much risk are you willing to take on? If you lost your money, how seriously would you be affected?

It’s worth considering consulting a qualified financial adviser before investing, particularly if it’s in high-risk assets.

How has bitcoin performed in 2025 so far?

The price of bitcoin initially fell to its lowest point in 2025 due to concerns over US trade tariffs before rising again after president Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause for nations hit with higher tariffs.

It’s worth flagging that the news also positively impacted European stock markets.

Price-wise, bitcoin had a bumper 2023/24. Bitcoin started 2023 at a value of roughly $18,000 and quickly gained value throughout the year trading at around the $25,000 to $32,000 mark. 

The price rose more due to renewed interest from investors and experienced a surge towards the end of 2023 and reached around $42,000 by the close of the year. By the end of 2024, bitcoin reached over $100,000 following Trump’s election win.

There are various predictions over what will happen to the price of bitcoin in 2025, but experts mostly believe it will rise. While some predict bitcoin could hit $150,000, others predict it could go higher – or potentially fall.

According to CNBC, bitcoin fell recently to $74,000 before rebounding, showing how huge fluctuations can happen and how difficult it can be to predict the direction of cryptocurrencies.

Last year, many believed bitcoin pushed beyond its traditional pricing limits and made more people interested in digital currencies. Partly because of this, bitcoin is also being adopted more widely.

Growing interest means that many of the rules, regulations, and guidance around bitcoin may change, so if you’re considering buying bitcoin, it’s important you seek advice from a qualified financial adviser familiar with digital currencies.  

How is bitcoin regulated in the UK? 

Bitcoin is by and large unregulated in the UK. Digital currencies are classified as property, and any website or exchange selling them is regulated by the FCA. Both the FCA and the Bank of England have issued various pieces of guidance, advice and warnings, including that you could lose all your money.

Moreover, if you were to invest in bitcoin and fall victim to a scam, or unfairly lose your money, you cannot take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), unless it’s about how the bank or payment service provider handled the situation relating to the scam.

Due to growing popularity of cryptocurrencies, regulations around bitcoin could change in the future, which may affect the price of bitcoin. For example, when China decided to crack down on digital currencies, bitcoin lost thousands of pounds of value in a matter of weeks.

With the regulatory environment changing all the time, it’s important to continually keep a close eye on the changing picture in order to protect your money as best as you can.  

What will the future of bitcoin look like in 2025? 

Cryptocurrencies are an unpredictable asset class, and nobody knows how high the price of bitcoin could go. While the US government is seen as crypto-friendly, with prices high and governments looking at how best to go about regulating these coins, the risk of investing in bitcoin remains very high.  

As always with investing, it is impossible to tell how 2025 will look for bitcoin, and other digital currencies. However, with certain trends occurring repeatedly throughout the history of bitcoin, there are some reasonable predictions.

Bitcoin future predictions

Firstly, price volatility will likely remain, resulting in drops and surges in price. Secondly, changes to how cryptocurrencies are regulated should be expected, considering many changes are already occurring on a fairly regular basis. 

The mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies will likely continue. Many big companies currently allow customers to pay with bitcoin, with more potentially joining. More people are becoming interested in bitcoin, resulting in banks and companies integrating cryptocurrency services into their operations.  

What is the safest way to invest in bitcoin? 

If you’re looking to invest in bitcoin, it’s more important than ever to exercise safe investing. 

You’ll need to go to a cryptocurrency exchange that allows you to buy bitcoin.

When you are buying, remember to: 

• Only invest what you can afford to lose.

• Spread your investments between different asset classes with different levels of risk. With bitcoin being a very risky investment, consider putting some of your money into an individual savings account (ISA) that is lower risk, for example.

• Have a reliable place to store your bitcoin, such as a digital wallet, and ensure your password is safe and cannot be stolen or forgotten.

With all investments, particularly ones as risky as cryptocurrencies, it’s vitally important to have the right financial advice.

If you found this article helpful, you might also find our cryptocurrency tax guide informative, too.

Get expert financial advice

Cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, are very volatile assets with price fluctuations to be expected, making it a risky investment even with its potential to generate returns.

Unbiased can match you with a financial adviser who can guide you on how to invest in bitcoin, enabling you to grow your money while protecting your assets from the signature volatility of crypto.