At 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time on March 12, 2026, the going rate for one Bitcoin (BTC) is $70,242.45. That’s $29.23 higher than yesterday morning’s level—but more than $13,400 below where it stood a year ago.
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What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin holds the distinction of being the original cryptocurrency and remains the most widely followed digital coin on March 12, 2026. Its market capitalization is around $1.33 trillion, putting it well ahead of Ethereum—the second-largest cryptocurrency—which has about $233 billion in market value.
Put simply, Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency. Rather than being issued or managed by a central bank or government, it runs on a peer-to-peer network. That setup enables people to send money directly to one another without going through a traditional financial institution.
Many investors view Bitcoin as a possible shield against inflation or as another tool for diversifying their portfolios. Its growth over the last decade has been remarkable, frequently beating the performance of major stock market indices, which has helped fuel investors’ interest.
However, like most cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin is known for sharp volatility and rapid changes in price.
Bitcoin price history
Since its creation in 2009, Bitcoin’s price action has been anything but boring. One of the most famous early stories involves software developer Laszlo Hanyecz, who paid 10,000 Bitcoins for pizza; those coins would now be worth more than 668 million dollars.
Over roughly the past decade, Bitcoin has gained more than 15,000%. That’s an extraordinary rise by any measure. Yet this performance comes with substantial risk, as cryptocurrencies can be extremely unpredictable.
Bitcoin has endured steep corrections, with declines of tens of thousands of dollars over short periods, but it has also rebounded with powerful rallies. By the end of 2025, it was trading about 30% below its record high from October of the same year.
What affects Bitcoin’s price?
A number of elements can move Bitcoin’s price, including:
- Investor speculation: As with many high-risk assets, Bitcoin is heavily influenced by what traders think and feel. Short-term price changes often reflect speculative bets and market buzz more than long-term fundamentals.
- Adoption by major companies: When large, well-known companies embrace Bitcoin or crypto technology, it can support further growth. For instance, Bitcoin experienced price increases after automakers like Tesla and Ferrari revealed plans to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.
- Economy: Bitcoin doesn’t respond to inflation reports or Federal Reserve decisions in the same way as more traditional assets like stocks. Still, it tends to do better when the U.S. economy is strong, as people with more disposable income may be open to investing in higher-risk assets like crypto.
- Regulatory developments: Because the crypto space is still maturing, rules and regulations are still being developed. New regulatory actions can unsettle the market and impact Bitcoin’s price, either positively or negatively.
How to buy and invest in Bitcoin
If you’re interested in adding Bitcoin to your portfolio, you have several choices. Here are some popular ones.
Buy Bitcoin on a cryptocurrency exchange
One direct method is to buy Bitcoin yourself. This involves opening an account with a cryptocurrency exchange, linking it to your bank, and using your deposited funds to purchase Bitcoin.
Invest in Bitcoin ETFs
If you’d rather not handle crypto directly, you can look at Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. A Bitcoin ETF holds Bitcoin as its underlying asset, and the fund’s shares trade on regular stock exchanges. This route lets you avoid managing your own crypto wallet and lowers the risk of losing access to your coins through lost passwords or wallet errors.
Buy crypto stocks
Another investment strategy is to buy shares of companies that are deeply involved in crypto. These might include tech companies, publicly traded crypto exchanges, or payment processors that integrate Bitcoin. When these businesses benefit from Bitcoin’s success, their stocks may respond, giving you indirect exposure.
Open a Bitcoin IRA
Retirement savers may consider a Bitcoin IRA. This type of account works similarly to a traditional or Roth IRA in that it offers tax advantages and the same contribution limits, but it allows you to invest in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as part of your retirement strategy.
Bitcoin vs. other cryptocurrencies
Even though Bitcoin gets much of the attention, it’s just one of many cryptocurrencies to consider. When choosing where to invest, it may also be worth evaluating the following.
- Ethereum: Ethereum is the second-biggest cryptocurrency by market cap. In contrast to Bitcoin, its primary function is not as a currency but as a decentralized platform that powers applications and smart contracts, making it especially popular among developers.
- Tether: Tether is classified as a “stablecoin” because it is pegged to another asset—in this case, the U.S. dollar. As a result, it tends to be less volatile than Bitcoin, though it also offers less potential for big gains.
- XRP: XRP is built for fast and inexpensive cross-border payments, allowing money to move between countries quickly and with relatively low fees.
Crypto coverage from Fortune
See our newsroom’s recent coverage of what’s been happening in the world of crypto:
- Exclusive: Accounting startup Cryptio raises $45 million to help big firms keep track of digital assets
- Bitcoin outperforms gold and stocks since beginning of Iran war
- Bitcoin has mined 20 million coins: why the last of the remaining 1 million won’t arrive until 2140
Is it a good time to invest in Bitcoin?
By the standards of long-established blue-chip companies like Walmart, Procter & Gamble, and Coca-Cola, Bitcoin is still fairly young. That makes it challenging to predict how it will behave far into the future. Even so, its recent performance has been strong. As merchants and corporations begin accepting Bitcoin for payments, its price may have room to climb—and as it matures, it could see somewhat less extreme volatility.
That said, you should avoid treating Bitcoin as a sure thing. Only invest money you won’t need soon, and maintain a diversified portfolio so other assets can help balance any large moves in Bitcoin’s price.
For many people, Bitcoin is best viewed as a long-term, higher-risk holding rather than a short-term speculation. It may not suit you if you cannot tolerate big price swings. But if you’re willing to hold through volatility and keep Bitcoin as one component of a diversified portfolio, allocating a portion of your money to it may make sense.
Frequently asked questions
How much will Bitcoin be worth in 2030?
While the answer is obviously unknowable, crypto experts are generally optimistic about the short-term success of Bitcoin. Some models price it at more than $700,000 by 2030, with conservative estimates closer to $300,000.
What is Bitcoin’s all-time high price?
As of this writing, Bitcoin reached its highest price ever on Oct. 6, 2025, pricing at a whopping $126,198.07.
Can you buy a fraction of a Bitcoin?
Yes, you can buy a fraction of a Bitcoin. Most cryptocurrency exchanges offer fractional investing, meaning you can buy portions of crypto coins. Thanks to fractional investing, you can invest in Bitcoin with as little as a few dollars.
How do I start investing in Bitcoin as a beginner?
If you want to invest directly in Bitcoin by owning the currency, you’ll typically open an account with a cryptocurrency exchange. Once the account is created, you can transfer money to your crypto account from your bank and place an order for Bitcoin and other tokens or coins. You can also indirectly invest in Bitcoin via an ETF or a business that uses Bitcoin.
What can you buy with Bitcoin?
You can use your Bitcoin holdings in several ways, from selling for cash to trading it for other coins. In some cases, you can also pay for purchases, such as with Tesla and Microsoft.