Cryptocurrency is still in its relative infancy but has come a long way since the Bitcoin network first launched in 2009. Mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency and blockchain applications have been growing at a remarkable rate in recent years and months, which ultimately bodes well for the long-term outlook of digital assets. Many forms of cryptocurrency – including bitcoin and Ethereum – experienced all-time price highs in early 2021, which many experts state is a good thing for the future. Bitcoin has begun to be seen as a welcome alternative asset class in investment portfolios, particularly as a hedge against risk similar to the role gold has played for decades. Still, it’s important to acknowledge that we’re in the early stages of crypto, which lends itself to both opportunity and volatility. While the long-term outlook is largely positive, miners, investors, and newcomers should keep this volatility in mind when ramping up operations.