Bitcoin is cratering again, showing why people should be cautious before investing in cryptocurrency

Bitcoin is cratering again, showing why people should be cautious before investing in cryptocurrency

Bitcoin's roller-coaster ride has continued, flashing a warning sign for curious investors who may be interested in putting money in the highly speculative cryptocurrency.The digital asset soared to a fresh all-time high, nearing $58,000 per coin on Sunday, according to data from Coin Metrics. But on Monday, the rally reversed after a slew of criticism from high-profile players.First, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted over the weekend that the price of bitcoin seemed high just as the currency surpassed a $1 trillion market value. Then, on Monday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that bitcoin is an "extremely inefficient way of conducting transactions."That spurred a slump, sending bitcoin down more than 10% on Monday. On Tuesday, the fall continued, with the currency sliding another 10% to about $48,000.

The extreme movements up and down are relatively common for bitcoin and are expected to continue."The only thing I can expect for sure is volatility," said David Yermack, a professor of finance at New York University Stern School of Business. "From day one, this has been a risky investment for people."More from Invest in You:The smallest businesses are getting extra PPP help. What to know before applyingBlack small-business owners are being left behind in the pandemic,