The worth of the crypto is down 64% from all-time highs seen throughout late 2024.
As cryptocurrency has emerged a preferred various asset class in current years, Bitcoin and Ethereum stay two of probably the most mainstream digital tokens. However some buyers have taken a liking to more-speculative alternatives.
Take Dogecoin (DOGE 3.51%) for example. During the last yr, its value has risen 18.5% as of March 17. That will appear spectacular, however think about that its value had gained as a lot as 228% over the past 12 months, solely to crater by roughly 58% over the past three months.
Clearly Dogecoin has demonstrated some excessive volatility. However with costs beginning to cool, might now be time to make the most of its depressed value motion?
Let’s discover what drove the rise to start with and assess the place the crypto could possibly be headed over the subsequent yr.
Dogecoin’s rise was short-lived
Because the graph under illustrates, Dogecoin’s value did not encourage a lot confidence for many of 2024. Up till October, the cryptocurrency constantly hovered round $0.10.
Dogecoin Price information by YCharts.
All through November and December, the value went parabolic. My suspicion is that the crypto skilled outsize consideration throughout this era because it overlapped with the presidential election.
Extra particularly, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was tapped by the Trump administration to steer a brand new effort known as the Division of Authorities Effectivity (or DOGE). As a part of his obligations, he has been put in cost of figuring out areas of doubtless wasteful spending inside the federal price range.
However so what? What does this should do with Dogecoin? Nicely, my pondering is that some buyers purchased right into a narrative that DOGE and Dogecoin is perhaps associated in some way. The crypto’s ticker symbol is DOGE, and Musk himself has playfully expressed an affinity for Dogecoin in the past.
After a short-lived euphoria following Election Day, I believe buyers started to get up and notice that Musk’s authorities duties are unique of Dogecoin — and the promoting started.
The Dogecoin mascot. Picture supply: Getty Photographs.
Not all crypto investments carry the identical prospects
The chart under compares the value returns between Dogecoin and Bitcoin over the previous couple of years.
Dogecoin Price information by YCharts.
Whereas Bitcoin has handily outperformed Dogecoin, there is a extra refined concept I need to discover. Because the chart above reveals, investing in the crypto realm carries some outsize volatility in comparison with conventional equities throughout the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite.
However even with that caveat, fluctuations seen in Bitcoin look like far much less pronounced than these witnessed in Dogecoin. I believe an enormous cause for that is that not like Dogecoin, it has garnered growing help from institutional buyers, Wall Avenue analysts, and even federal businesses — which performed an instrumental function in the event of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Where is Dogecoin headed from right here?
To me, the rationale Dogecoin has not seen the identical help in comparison with different cryptocurrencies is as a result of it doesn’t have a lot utility in the actual world. Bitcoin is way from a mainstream type of cost, however there was a notable rise in its reputation throughout companies and smart-money buyers.
In contrast, Dogecoin’s value motion tends to comply with hype narratives that join dots that finally aren’t actually there. In different phrases, an funding in it’s akin to a meme-style opportunity. For that reason, it is virtually inconceivable to determine a definitive, concrete catalyst that might drive a rebound in its value.
Over the subsequent yr, I would not be stunned to see that value witness each upward and downward swings. However finally, I believe it should proceed to fall as extra buyers catch on that its worth in the crypto realm pales in comparability to extra mainstream alternatives. I might keep away from chasing any momentum in Dogecoin — the chance of being left a bag holder is just simply too excessive.
Adam Spatacco has positions in Tesla. The Motley Idiot has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tesla. The Motley Idiot has a disclosure policy.