A major shortcoming of bitcoin and most other cryptocurrencies is the way in which their supplies are governed. With a perfectly inelastic supply over the relevant time horizon, a change in demand is entirely reflected by a change in the cryptocurrency’s price. Since demand shocks are relatively common, this means that cryptocurrencies are subject to high price volatility.

Volatility can be a desirable feature for a financial investment that tries to capture capital gains. But it is a major impediment to cryptocurrencies becoming more widely accepted as a medium of exchange. Hence, the observation that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have become financial assets does not mean they are necessarily on the path to becoming new monies.

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