Bitcoin's future depends on whether it can prove itself as a true store of value while also transforming into a medium of exchange. AI can facilitate this process, primarily by impacting its scalability and transaction flow. As a decentralized system, Bitcoin is immune to internal political factors, and its operations could be disrupted by human factors. It simply needs to keep pace with new technological developments to remain relevant. No one can predict what will happen in the next 50 years, especially in financial markets, which are influenced by so many external factors. However, by analyzing the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on financial technology sectors like Bitcoin and stocks, we can understand which financial instruments offer the best investment options. This article aims to help you make more informed decisions and understand whether Bitcoin or stocks is the better investment option in the future. Stocks or Bitcoin: Which will survive the AI revolution? Artificial intelligence will accelerate innovation and efficiency across multiple industries, sectors, and all aspects of our lives, undoubtedly driving improvements in efficiency and scale for technologies like Bitcoin. But what about stocks? Is their investment philosophy a thing of the past? Let's explore further. What about stocks? In 1602, with the establishment of the Dutch East India Company, the world's first stock market was established in Amsterdam. Initially a venue for trading company shares, it quickly evolved into a model for financing and investing. By the late 17th century, London had developed its own trading venue, while the New York Stock Exchange didn't emerge until 1792, spreading this model across the Atlantic. Stocks represent ownership in a company, and the stock market is where investors buy and sell them. The value of a stock fluctuates based on company performance and market conditions, including its ability to adapt to technological changes like artificial intelligence. For centuries, the stocks of companies that embraced technological advancements have weathered the economic cycles, wars, and upheavals brought about by technology. In hindsight, it seems likely that companies betting on AI will face the same fate. Specifically, companies that apply AI through automation, data analytics, and new business models are more likely to succeed. Historically, market indices such as the S&P 500 have delivered inflation-adjusted annualized returns of approximately 7% to 10% over the past few decades. The index tracks the performance of the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the United States and is widely used as a benchmark for the overall stock market. Compared to the S&P 500, Bitcoin (BTC) has performed significantly better, as shown in the table below: What about Bitcoin? Bitcoin is a relatively new invention, created in 2009 by an individual using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The project was introduced in a white paper detailing a peer-to-peer electronic cash system using blockchain technology. Bitcoin is much more than just an investment vehicle or a store of value. It represents a true monetary revolution, challenging gold and other financial instruments. Bitcoin's decentralized design resists the centralized control and inflation common in fiat currencies. With a fixed supply of 21 million, its scarcity appeals to those seeking protection against currency debasement. Furthermore, the transparency and security of blockchain align well with the verifiable data needs of artificial intelligence. Over the years, Bitcoin has established itself as a store of value and alternative currency, while still striving towards its original goal of becoming a widely used medium of exchange. How Artificial Intelligence Impacts Stocks and the Stock Market Analyst and investor Jordi Visser predicts that over the next 50 years, "AI will accelerate innovation cycles, making publicly traded companies inefficient investment vehicles," potentially challenging the stock market as an institution. While the stock market has a long history, the disruptive changes brought about by AI are too significant to ignore, and companies that fail to adapt risk falling behind. This is particularly true for tech giants like the FAANG stocks (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google). Despite being among the largest investors in AI, these companies still need to keep pace with the rapid pace of development and effectively apply these technologies. Artificial intelligence will also impact the stock market, from rapidly analyzing vast amounts of data to predicting market trends to automating decision-making processes, enabling faster and more efficient operations. Artificial intelligence will have a significant impact on investors' trading and investment strategies.
Overall, AI may promote corporate innovation, but it may also widen the gap between adaptable companies and those that stagnate.
How AI Impacts Bitcoin
Jordi Visser believes Bitcoin is a better investment option in the future, comparing it to gold, which has endured for thousands of years.
In addition to serving as a store of value, Bitcoin also holds a favorable position in the future of finance.The combination of AI and blockchain has the potential to disrupt the traditional financial system and bring more capital and participants to the digital economy. Artificial intelligence is expected to improve Bitcoin security and trading strategies, and enhance cryptocurrency trading through automated tools, enhanced data analysis, and market pattern prediction. All of these changes could also lead to greater system efficiency. Bitcoin mining will also benefit from AI, improving efficiency and optimizing resource allocation by predicting optimal mining times, thereby reducing costs and increasing output. Because AI can detect existing or impending failures, system maintenance will also be improved, thereby increasing overall reliability. However, Bitcoin faces regulatory risks, scalability issues, and price volatility, which may deter investors who generally prefer more predictable and stable options like stocks. The convergence of AI and blockchain could usher in a new era for Bitcoin, fostering wider adoption by creating a more intuitive and secure ecosystem, giving it an edge over stagnant stocks. Who will survive the next 50 years? Looking ahead 50 years is nearly impossible. Bitcoin and stocks each have unique strengths and weaknesses, and their future ultimately depends on economic, technological, and societal changes. If stocks can adapt to the AI-driven economy, they are likely to endure. Investors can mitigate the risk of individual companies failing by investing in a diversified portfolio, such as an index fund, which appears safer. Stocks in robotics, biotechnology, aerospace, and artificial intelligence are likely to outperform less tech-driven assets. The advent of quantum computing is often discussed in relation to Bitcoin's security model, though most experts believe its risks remain theoretical and unrealized. Combined with AI, its impact could be both positive and negative, depending on the direction of technological development and how the Bitcoin network adapts. Mining centralization could also become a concern if only a few entities are able to gain access to advanced quantum-AI systems. On the other hand, this combination could enhance Bitcoin's security and network optimization through improvements in transaction processing, wallet security, or blockchain analysis, thereby improving Bitcoin's efficiency and user experience. As long as the Bitcoin community remains ahead of the curve on quantum-resistant upgrades, the overall impact is likely to be positive.
As decentralized finance (DeFi) becomes increasingly popular in the investment field, Bitcoin is also gaining an advantage in its competition with gold. As a result, it is becoming a superior means of storing value and prompting traditional markets to shift funds to digital finance.