Bitcoin has had a slow and low start in 2022. Most investors started to sell their bitcoin towards the end of 2021, following the coin's all-time high of almost $68,000, and it continued into 2022. This cryptocurrency is battling to stay above $36,000 when writing this article in February 2022. This indicates that it is now trading at a significant discount to its all-time high.

According to experts, the bitcoin price prediction in 2022 is set to range between $100,000 and $318,000. Even though more than 85% of all Bitcoin coins have been minted, the supply in circulation is at a three-year low. This indicates that investors are keeping rather than selling despite bitcoin price prediction.

From its all-time high, Bitcoin has taken a bearish turn
Despite the ups and downs, it is still a long way from the all-time high it reached in November when it topped $68,000. But bitcoin remains a valuable cryptocurrency, despite the current price drop. These types of price irregularities are nothing new for Bitcoin, and its long-term investors know this well.

Bitcoin price inclination has continued to go south this year, with a low of $33,184.06 on 24 January and a high of $38,431.38 on 20 February, for a 17 percent year-to-date loss.

Analysts' bitcoin price prediction bitcoin in 2022 and beyond
Despite bitcoin's price volatility and recent decrease, many analysts believe it is on its approach to breaking the $100,000 threshold; however, there are conflicting opinions on when that will happen. According to a recent poll by Deutsche Bank, approximately a quarter of Bitcoin investors anticipate the price of the cryptocurrency would exceed $110,000 in five years.

Cathie Wood, a fervent crypto bull and fund manager at ARK Investment Management, has repeatedly stated that a $100,000 Bitcoin is achievable in 2022, citing that Bitcoin's settlement volume has overtaken MasterCard. By 2026, Wood believes the value of a single Bitcoin will have risen to $500,000, and by 2030, it will have risen to $1 million. She says that Bitcoin's growth and usability are being driven by recent network enhancements and increased use of the payment software Lightning Network on the blockchain.

Is it possible that Bitcoin will reach $200,000 this year?
Although having a bitcoin price of about $200,000 in 2022 would be a great deal in the cryptocurrency world, it seems unattainable as of now. Especially with the rate of instability in the Legislative body, crypto regulation will not be a top subject when lawmakers return in July for the summer session and begin campaigning for the November midterm elections.

Potential Catalyst of bitcoin price prediction in 2022
Bitcoin price prediction in 2022 can be attributed to its newest technology update known as Taproot technology. This new technology's features enhance privacy, lower prices aids Lightning Network support, and prepare the path for smart contracts. Smart contracts may appear frightening, but they are not so difficult to understand.

Bitcoin smart contracts could have uses in gaming, gambling, insurance, real estate, investment industries, and more, similar to how vending machines enable you to put money in and get a Coke and slot machines to allow you to lose a dollar for a chance at $50,000.

Smart contracts, in particular, have the potential to reduce the risks of doing business in emerging areas that lack the rule of law enjoyed by the United States and other Western countries.

Another important emerging-market puzzle piece for Bitcoin, the Lightning Network, is rapidly expanding. What's amazing about the Taproot upgrade is that it was completed without using a centralized development team, which has a lot of implications for money politics and economics.

There's also the United States Federal Reserve's monetary policy shift, generating some concern among Bitcoin supporters. The Federal Reserve indicated that it would accelerate the winding down of its bond-buying program, causing expected interest rates to rise sharply for 2022, putting downward pressure on Bitcoin in the short term.
Should you buy bitcoin now, with a bitcoin price projection for 2022?

Bitcoin, like other cryptocurrencies, is very volatile, so it is therefore advised that you invest within your risk appetite and do your investigation well before investing. While no one can foresee the future with 100% confidence, we do know that Bitcoin has beaten every other asset class over the last ten years, with annualized returns of over 230 percent.

While it's unlikely that Bitcoin will reach $150,000 this year, it wouldn't be out of the question if macroeconomic conditions become unstable. Given Bitcoin's strong deflationary nature and underlying fundamentals, it's feasible that it may reach a new all-time high in the $75,000 to $90,000 range.