"Bitcoin's price is climbing. Should I buy more or sell? What should I do?"
My girlfriend asks me this every time BTC surges. Turns out, she's not the only one with this question. As a WEB3 VC, I hear it daily. So, here's my take—girlfriend included.
As a Multifamily Office Manager, I was taught to be cautious - price and value aren't always the same thing. Price is where supply meets demand value is what people perceive it's worth. This distinction becomes crucial as we navigate the current crypto landscape.
It's early December 2024, and the crypto market is heating up again. Bitcoin is surging past previous resistance levels, and institutional interest is reaching new heights. But beneath the surface of price movements lies a more complex story – one of evolving market dynamics, shifting power structures, and emerging opportunities for sophisticated investors. When my girlfriend asks me about Bitcoin's value, I always start by explaining two powerful analytical tools we use in professional investing. First one needs to understand the model that most successful WEB3 investors use.
One of the most powerful tools for understanding Bitcoin's value proposition is the Stock-to-Flow (S2F) model. As both a WEB3 VC and family office manager, I've found these metrics invaluable for making rational investment decisions. Let me break them down in a way that even my family members can understand.
Think of Bitcoin like digital gold, but with one crucial difference: we know exactly how scarce it is. Bitcoin has a maximum supply of 21 million coins and a predictable issuance rate, determined by its code. This, combined with lost BTC, creates absolute scarcity, making it a deflationary asset by design. Here's a bonus point that often gets overlooked: 1 BTC equals 100 million Satoshi. This will matter in the future for ease of transaction and unit bias. Mark my words: "Satoshi to 1 USD" will become a meme – do the math.
The S2F model is surprisingly straightforward: it divides the current circulating Bitcoin supply by the annual flow of new coins. Higher ratio? Higher scarcity. Higher scarcity? Potentially higher price. It's not just theory – the model's historical accuracy in predicting Bitcoin's price trajectory has been remarkable. Just look at October-end, when Bitcoin was around $70,000. The S2F model was already hinting at Bitcoin solidifying above $100,000. As I write this, we're already seeing Bitcoin cross $98K, while S2F shows $150,000 in DEC.
A second professional tool I use is the MVRV ratio - my go-to chart for identifying market cycles at our family office. Think of it as a thermometer for Bitcoin's market health – it tells us whether the market is running a fever (overvalued) or feeling under the weather (undervalued).
Here's how it works: MVRV compares two key prices:
When I explain this to clients, I use a real estate analogy: Market Value is like today's listing prices in a neighborhood, while Realized Value is like the average price at which current homeowners bought their properties. This comparison can tell us if current prices are reasonable or excessive.
Here's why this matters: when MVRV climbs above 3.7, it's like a fever warning – the market is overheated, and people are paying far too much relative to the underlying cost basis. I've seen this signal help our family office clients avoid numerous market tops. Conversely, when MVRV drops below 1, it's like finding properties selling below their purchase price – historically a great time to accumulate. This approach has helped us identify optimal entry points during bear markets.
From my perspective as a VC, I see a clear pattern: retail investors often buy post-hype, while VCs get in early. It's not about having special powers – it's about having a different approach and better tools.
The typical retail investor faces several disadvantages:
They discover projects only after they're in the public domain
They buy when prices are already inflated
Emotions often drive their decisions
They lack access to sophisticated strategizing tools
Meanwhile, VCs win because they:
In my experience managing my own WEB3 investments, I've noticed that crypto bull markets follow a predictable pattern. Money flows like a cascade: first Bitcoin, then Ethereum (often outperforming Bitcoin due to its broader utility), followed by large-cap altcoins, and finally, smaller altcoins and meme coins experience explosive growth.
To capitalize on this pattern, here's what I tell my family members and clients:
What makes crypto unique is its pure digital nature. While VCs might have certain advantages, the market isn't exclusive to us. Any retail investor can make substantial gains with well-guided decisions and prudent conduct.
Remember, we're not just speculating on digital assets – we're participating in a fundamental transformation of financial systems. Whether you're managing a family office, advising clients, or investing your capital, the opportunity to participate in this revolution is open to everyone. The key is approaching it with patience, understanding, and the right analytical framework.
Remember, this isn't just about making quick profits – it's about understanding and participating in a technological revolution that's reshaping finance. Whether you're a family office, a wealth manager, or an individual investor, the opportunities are there. You just need to approach them with the right mindset and tools.
Editor’s note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex, and involve high risks. This can mean high prices volatility and potential loss of your initial investment. You should consider your financial situation, investment purposes, and consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The HackerNoon editorial team has only verified the story for grammatical accuracy and does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information stated in this article. #DYOR