In 2022, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies may become slightly less volatile

<p>itcoin prices have been on a wild ride this year, and they are on track to end the year significantly higher than they started.</p> <p>One bitcoin is currently trading at just under $49,000, a staggering 66 percent increase over January levels. However, the top cryptocurrency is down nearly 30% from its November record high of nearly $69,000.</p> <p>What does the future hold for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies?</p> <p>There is no doubt that cryptocurrency has entered the mainstream. The combined market capitalisation of all cryptocurrencies in circulation exceeds $2.2 trillion, with bitcoin accounting for approximately $920 billion of that total.</p> <p>Ethereum, or ether, is also closing the gap. Ethereum, a popular cryptocurrency for smart contracts and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), has a market cap of $475 billion.</p> <p>Prices of ether have more than quadrupled this year, rising from around $730 to nearly $4,000.</p> <p>Individual investors can now choose from a variety of bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs investing in other popular cryptocurrencies may also be on the horizon.</p> <p>"The next possible step is the launch of additional ETFs for other coins. In early 2022, there is a good chance that an ether ETF will be launched "Natixis Investment Managers' senior vice president and head of institutional product and ETFs, Nick Elward, stated. "An ether ETF is likely to be launched in early 2022."</p> <p>Significant institutional and professional investors, including top fund managers George Soros and Stanley Druckenmiller, have invested in cryptocurrency. Nonetheless, the recent correction serves as a stark reminder of how notoriously volatile bitcoin and other cryptocurrency prices can be.</p> <p>Are we in for milder crypto winters in the future?</p> <p>Numerous investors rushed into bitcoin in 2017 and witnessed prices soar from around $1,000 per coin to just under $20,000 by December.</p> <p>Then the crash occurred, with bitcoin plummeting to around $3,500 by the end of 2018. Altho