Coinbase’s value is based on how many people are using its network, according to John Patrick Lee, CFA, and product manager for VanEck. “Anybody can open up an exchange, but Coinbase is valuable because so many people are using its exchange. But, the network effect is a moat.”
Investors must be ready to differentiate between cryptocurrencies and blockchain, and too often the two get confused by investors who are new to the digital currency space.
“I’ve been in rooms on Clubhouse where there are arguments over the value of a specific cryptocurrency and cybersecurity experts chime in saying that there are applications for cyber that can save certain amounts of money. And, I asked them if you need bitcoin to do those things or blockchain specifically to do it. It’s not so much about the specific cryptocurrency, but more so the blockchain,” said Zev Fima, research analyst with Action Alerts PLUS.
If you’re looking to get into this space and own some bitcoin, then go buy some bitcoin — there are plenty of places to do that. But, if you want exposure to the blockchain technology ecosystem, then you have to be ready to differentiate the two.
“You could have been very bullish on the internet in 2000, but if you bought the wrong dot com then it’s the same as being bullish on blockchain and buying the wrong cryptocurrency now,” Fima added.