Key Points

• Bitcoin has a market capitalization of almost $1.5 trillion, making it the world’s largest cryptocurrency by a wide margin.

• Some of the best arguments for owning Bitcoin have been called into question recently, which could hurt its long-term performance.

• History suggests Bitcoin will recover from its recent decline, but investors should proceed with caution.

• 10 stocks we like better than Bitcoin ›

According to CoinGecko, there are more than 17,600 different cryptocurrencies in circulation, with a combined value of $2.4 trillion. The world’s largest cryptocurrency is Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), and it accounts for a whopping $1.5 trillion of that.

Crypto markets are currently in the throes of a sharp…