Originally Posted by AmateurFlix

Exactly. There is no reason for bitcoin to do anything but lose market share to superior competing technologies over the long term.
There will be tons of volatility along the way, plenty of money to be made in volatility, hence why all these trading firms are getting in on the action. They'll pump the bubble then pop it, buy in and sell at the top, over and over again, same as the precious metals market is manipulated. They've even referred to it as "digital gold." The lack of price stability will likely have a deleterious effect on long term investors in the coming years.
Scary times for anyone who bought in the last couple years and is planning on holding it long term.