- Price volatility. Bitcoin’s price has varied widely since it was introduced in 2009. In just the past year, Bitcoin has traded for less than $10,000 and nearly $67,000. This kind of volatility makes it difficult for miners to know if their reward will outweigh the high costs of mining.
- Regulation. Very few governments have embraced cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, and many are more likely to view them skeptically because the currencies operate outside government control. There is always the risk that governments could outlaw the mining of Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies altogether as China did earlier this year, citing financial risks and increased speculative trading.
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