Are Bitcoin & Crypto Now Mainstream? with Mark Biller

A crypto enthusiast once wrote on Reddit, “Bitcoin is like winning the lottery in slow motion.” 

That might be a stretch, but one thing’s clear: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t going anywhere. Today, Mark Biller joins us to unpack how crypto is moving into the mainstream and what that means for investors trying to make wise decisions.

Mark Biller is Executive Editor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Sound Mind Investing, an underwriter of Faith & Finance.

Two Big Takeaways for Crypto Investors

Here are two key insights to help investors make sense of today’s crypto market:

1. Bitcoin Stands Apart – It’s critical to understand that Bitcoin is not like the rest of the crypto world. It has emerged as a unique and dominant force, with widespread adoption, while other cryptocurrencies remain highly speculative.
    
2. Bitcoin Has Reached Critical Mass – Thanks to regulatory shifts and institutional adoption, Bitcoin seems to be here to stay. In just a few years, we've gone from government hostility toward crypto to SEC-approved Bitcoin ETFs and even a pro-crypto administration in the White House.

Bitcoin was the original cryptocurrency, launched in 2008, and today it represents about 60% of the entire crypto market. It’s gained institutional interest and widespread regulatory acceptance. By contrast, the remaining 40% of the crypto universe is fragmented, filled with thousands of projects, many of which will not survive.

Think of most other cryptos not as currencies but as startup tech ventures. That helps frame their high risk and their potential for failure. Bitcoin, meanwhile, has arrived. The rest? They’re still trying to prove themselves.

Bitcoin as an Investment: What’s Changed?

Many early Bitcoin advocates hoped it would serve as a usable currency outside of traditional financial systems. But that vision has mostly faded. Today, most investors treat Bitcoin like digital gold—a store of value designed to hedge against inflation and the devaluation of fiat currencies.

It’s volatile, yes. But its built-in scarcity (only 21 million bitcoins will ever exist) appeals to those who fear government overreach or reckless monetary policy. Bitcoin’s not just for tech enthusiasts anymore—it’s becoming a strategic asset for serious investors.

Generational preferences also shape Bitcoin’s rise. Younger investors, raised in a digital world of apps and virtual marketplaces, are far more comfortable with digital assets. What gold has long been to older generations, Bitcoin is becoming to younger ones: a hedge against inflation and a symbol of financial independence.

In fact, Bitcoin’s correlation with gold has grown significantly in recent years, signaling that institutions are viewing it in similar terms.

Institutions and Even Nations Are Paying Attention

It’s not just individuals diving into Bitcoin. Global events—especially the 2022 freezing of Russian reserve assets—have prompted many nations to reassess their reliance on U.S. Treasury bonds. The result? A surge in gold buying by central banks, and increasing openness to alternatives like Bitcoin among private investors.

While governments aren’t yet buying Bitcoin, there’s reasonable evidence to suggest that gold investors are starting to “skate to where the puck is going,” diversifying small portions of their portfolios into Bitcoin as a forward-looking strategy.

With that being said, should we be concerned about the global shift away from U.S. treasuries?

Not immediately. While a shift away from U.S. Treasuries could eventu