Why you need to invest when the market is down

What You Need to Know When the Market Is Down

What do you do with your stocks when the market drops? If you’re like most people, your first instinct is to sell. It’s human nature, and behavioral finance studies bear this out. When your investments go up in value, it feels great. But when they decline, selling everything can seem like the best way out of a bad situation.

But instinctively selling when stocks drop is often counterproductive, and it may make more sense to invest while the market is down.

Should You Invest When the Market Is Down?

It’s generally a good idea to invest when the stock market is down as long as you’re planning to invest for the long term. Seasoned investors know that investing in the market is a long-term prospect. Stock market dips, corrections, or even bear markets are usually temporary, and, given enough time, your portfolio may recover.

When the market is down, it provides an opportunity to buy shares of stock at a lower price, which means you can potentially earn a higher return on your investment when the market recovers.

For example, in late 2007, stocks began one of the most dramatic plunges in their history. From October 2007 to March 2009, the S&P 500 Index fell 57%. During that time, many investors panicked and sold their holdings for fear of further losses.

However, the market bottomed out on March 9, 2009, and started a recovery that would turn into the longest bull market in history. Four years later, in 2013, the S&P 500 surpassed the high it reached in 2007. While that historic plunge of over 50% was terrifying, if you panicked and sold, rather than employ bear market investing strategies, you would have locked in your losses — and missed the subsequent recovery.

If, on the other hand, you had kept your investments, you would have seen stock values fall at first, but as the market reversed course, you may have seen portfolio gains again.

Consider the recent example of how the markets performed during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. The S&P 500 fell about 34% from February 19, 2020, to March 23, 2020, as the pandemic ravaged the globe. However, stocks rebounded and made up the losses by August. Nearly three years later, stocks are still above their pre-pandemic high, even considering the bear market of 2022.

These examples illustrate why timing the market is rarely successful, but holding stock over the long term tends to be a smart strategy.

It’s still important to keep in mind that the stock market can be volatile and can fluctuate significantly in the short term. Therefore, you must be prepared for short-term losses and have a long-term investment horizon.

Recommended: Bull vs. Bear Market: What’s the Difference?

4 Things to Do During a Market Downturn

When the stock market is down, it can be a worrying time for investors. But it’s important to remember that market downturns are a normal part of the investing process and that the market may eventually recover. Here are a few things to do during a market downturn.

1. Stay Calm and Avoid Making Impulsive Decisions

It’s natural to feel worried or concerned when the stock market is down, but it’s essential to maintain a long-term perspective and not make rash decisions based on short-term market movements.

Buying and selling stocks based on gut reactions to temporary volatility can derail your investment plan, potentially setting you back.

You likely built your investment plan with specific goals in mind, and your diversified portfolio was probably based on your time horizon and risk tolerance preferences. Impulsive selling (or buying) can throw off this balance.

Instead of letting emotions rule the day, consider having a plan that includes investing more when the market is down (aka buying the dip). These strategies involve buying stocks on sale, and the hope is that the downturn is temporary and you’ll be able to ride any upturn to potential earnings.

So, when markets take a tumble, your best move is often to stay calm and continue investing.

That said, any investment decisions you make should be based on your own needs. Just because the market is down doesn’t mean you have to buy anything. Buying stocks on impulse just because they’re cheaper might throw a wrench in your plan, just like rushing to sell. Taking time to consider your long-term needs and doing research typically pays off.

2. Evaluate Your Portfolio

Review your portfolio and make sure it’s properly diversified. Portfolio diversification may reduce the overall risk of your portfolio by spreading your investments across different asset classes, like stocks, bonds, real estate, and cash. Investing in various assets and industries can protect your portfolio during a market downturn.

However, even if you have a well-diversified portfolio, you may also need to pay attention to your portfolio’s asset allocation during volatile markets. For example, during a down stock market, your stock holdings may become a lower percentage of your portfolio than desired, while bonds or cash become a more significant part of your overall holdings. If your portfolio has become heavily weighted in a particular asset class or sector, it could be strategic to sell some of those holdings and use the proceeds to buy securities to rebalance your portfolio at your desired asset allocation.

Recommended: How Often Should You Rebalance Your Portfolio?

3. Take Advantage of Low Prices With Dollar-Cost Averaging

To help curb your impulse to pull out of the market when it is low — and continue investing instead — you may want to consider dollar cost averaging.

Here’s how it works: On a regular schedule — say every month — you invest a set amount of money in the stock market. While the amount you invest each month will remain the same, the number of shares you’ll be able to purchase will vary based on the current cost of each share.

For example, let’s say you invest $100 a month. In January, that $100 might buy ten shares of a mutual fund at $10 a share. Suppose the market dips in April, and the fund’s shares are now worth $5. Instead of panicking and selling, you continue to invest your $100. That month, your $100 buys 20 shares.

In June, when the market rises again, the fund costs $25 a share, and your $100 buys four shares. In this way, dollar cost averaging helps you buy more shares when the markets are down, essentially allowing you to buy low and limiting the number of shares you can buy when markets are up. This helps protect from “buying high.”

After ten years of investing $100 a month, the value of each share is $50. Even if some shares you bought cost more than that, your average cost per share is likely lower than the fund’s current price.

Steady investments over time are more likely to give you a favorable return than dumping a large amount of money into the market and hoping you timed it right.

4. Consider Tax-Loss Harvesting

If you’ve already experienced losses, you may want to consider tax-loss harvesting — the practice of selling investments that experienced a loss to offset your gains from other investments.

Imagine that you invest $10,000 in a stock in January. Over the year, the stock decreases in value, and at the end of the year, it is only worth $7,500. Instead of wishing you’d had better luck, you can sell that position and reinvest the money in a similar (but not identical) stock or mutual fund.

You get the benefit of maintaining a similar investment profile that will hopefully grow in value over time, and you can write off the $2,500 loss for tax purposes. You can write off the total amount against any capital gains you may have in this year or any future year, helping to lower your tax bill. This is tax-loss harvesting.

You can also deduct up to $3,000 of capital losses each year from your ordinary income. However, you must deduct your losses against capital gains first before using the excess to offset income. Losses beyond $3,000 can be rolled over into subsequent years, known as tax loss carryforward.

During major market downturns, this technique can ease the pain of capital losses — but it’s important to consider reinvesting the money you raise when you sell, or you’ll risk missing the recovery. But remember that with investing comes risk, so there’s no assurance that a recovery will occur.

SoFi has built a Recession Help Center
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4 Things to Avoid When the Market Is Down

Feeling anxious when the stock market is down is natural, but it’s important to remain calm and not let fear drive your investment decisions. Here are a few things to avoid when the stock market is down.

1. Trying to Time the Market

Timing the market is the idea that you will somehow beat the market by attempting to predict future market movements and buying and selling accordingly.

However, it’s difficult to predict with certainty when the stock market will go up or down, so trying to time the market is generally a futile endeavor. As they say: No one has a crystal ball in this business.

As a result, timing the market is not a strategy that works for most investors. Even during a down market, you should not wait until the market hits bottom to start investing in stocks again.

2. Selling All Your Stocks

You should resist the temptation to sell all of your stocks or make other rash decisions when the market is down. While it may be tempting to sell all of your stocks during a down market, it’s important to remember that the stock market usually recovers. If you sell all of your stocks when the market is down, you may miss out on the opportunity to participate in the market’s recovery.

3. Chasing After High-Risk Investments

When stocks are down, you may be inclined to try to earn quick profits by investing in high-risk assets — like commodities or >cryptocurrencies — but these investments can be particularly volatile and are not suitable for everyone.

Moreover, riskier investment strategies like options and margin trading may be an appealing way to amplify returns in down markets. But if you are not comfortable using these strategies, you could end up with even bigger losses.

Recommended: Options Trading 101: An Introduction to Stock Options

4. Abandoning Your Long-Term Financial Plan

It’s important to remember that the stock market is just one part of your overall financial plan. Keep your long-term financial goals in mind, and don’t let short-term market movements distract you from your larger financial objectives.

Risks to Investing in Down Markets

While the stock market generally recovers after a decline, there are exceptions to the idea that the market tends to snap back quickly or always trends upward.

Take the stock market crash of 1929. Share prices continued to slide until 1932, as the Great Depression ravaged the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average didn’t reach its pre-crash high until November 1954.

In addition, as of early 2023, the Nikkei 225 — the benchmark stock index in Japan — has yet to reach the peak of over 38,000 it hit at the end of 1989. Back then, the index went on to lose half its value in three years as an economic bubble in the country burst. However, the Nikkei did touch the 30,000 level at various points in 2021 for the first time since 1990.

So, investors need to remember that just because stock markets have recovered in the past doesn’t mean that it will always be that way. As the saying goes, past performance is not indicative of future results.

The Takeaway

Almost everyone feels a sense of worry (or fear) when the market is down. It’s only natural to find yourself swamped with doubts: What if the market keeps sliding? What if I lose everything? What if it’s one of those rare occurrences when the recovery takes ten years?

Rather than succumb to panic, the best investment advice is not to give in to your impulses to sell or scrap your entire investment strategy, but to stay the course. Using strategies like dollar-cost averaging, which allow you to invest in a down market sensibly, can be a part of a balanced investment strategy that helps grow wealth over time.

So put aside what the market is doing today, and remember the long game. If you’re ready to start investing, you can open an online brokerage account with as little as $5 on SoFi Invest®. You can buy and sell stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and fractional shares — all from the convenience of your phone or laptop.

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.


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INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

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Investing Survey: 85% of Investors Plan to Change How They Invest in 2023

We don’t need to tell you that 2022 has been a challenging year for investors — what with interest rates soaring, the stock market plummeting, and the onset of another crypto winter.

What you might be surprised to know: There’s some good news here. In a recent survey, we asked 1,000 investors how they managed their portfolios in 2022, how they’re feeling about the market, and what their predictions are for 2023*.

While you might expect some anxiety or pessimism (and there was some), investors overall remain positive after a difficult year. Here’s what they had to say about stocks, crypto, how they coped with investing stress — and more.

Note: We rounded percentages to the nearest whole number, so some data sets may not add up exactly to 100%.

*The survey was completed on October 5, 2022 and was conducted using a general U.S. population data set of 1,000 adults age 18 and older. Survey did not include known SoFi members or a SoFi member data set.

Key survey facts and findings

2022 SoFi Investing Survey

Before we dig into the details, here are some of the standout results.

•  93% of survey respondents continued to invest, despite the current market conditions.

•  Men were more likely to invest than women, and invest more money as well.

•  78% of crypto investors are generally optimistic that values will rebound.

•  And remarkably: 1 in four (25%) of investors had no regrets about 2022

Last highlight: How did investors cope with stress in 2022? Hobbies!

In general, investors stayed the course in 2022.

While the market hasn’t been kind to investors over the past year, it certainly hasn’t stopped many of them from investing. 93% of our respondents kept invested in 2022.

2022 SoFi Investing Survey

93% of respondents have invested in 2022

When it comes to the amount people have invested so far this year, men were more likely than women to invest — and invest more money when they did:

•  $0 – $499: 24%

◦  Male: 44%

◦  Female: 56%

•  $500 – $999: 23%

◦  Male: 50%

◦  Female: 49%

•  $1000 – $4999: 26%

◦  Male: 57%

◦  Female: 43%

•  $5000+: 21%

◦  Male: 68%

◦  Female: 32%

Many investors are still hoping to cash in on crypto.

It’s no secret that the crypto market has taken a beating, especially with the crash of FTX . Nonetheless, people are still holding on to their crypto investments.

45% of respondents say they have cryptocurrency in their portfolios. 65% of them even said they invested more than $500 in 2022. Most crypto investors (65%) are male and under the age of 55.

45% of respondents have cryptocurrency in their investment portfolio.

Over the past few years, cryptocurrency has become a more widely-accepted investment vehicle. Many investors have invested in crypto this year. Of these investors:

•  65% have invested $500 or more in 2022

•  Less than 3% haven’t invested any money into crypto in 2022

•  Only 7% of respondents aged 55 or older are invested in crypto

•  65% are male

And of those who invested $5000 or more in crypto in 2022, 80% are male.

While the crypto market is currently in a steep decline, most investors with cryptocurrency in their portfolios have invested at least $500 in 2022. Here’s what crypto investing looks like in 2022.

•  $0 – $499: 32%

•  $500 – $999: 23%

•  $1000 – $4999: 26%

•  $5000+: 16%

Only 3% of investors who have cryptocurrency in their portfolio haven’t invested anything into cryptocurrency this year.

78% of investors are either confident or cautiously optimistic the crypto market will bounce back

2022 SoFi Investing Survey
The crypto market remains volatile as rumors of a global recession continue to swirl. Despite this financial climate, most investors are hopeful of the future.

Of the 45% of respondents who have crypto in their portfolio:

•  78% of investors are at least “cautiously optimistic” that the crypto market will bounce back

•  Only 5% of respondents believe crypto is “dead.”

Overall, the crypto market still has plenty of believers. Whether that optimism will pay off remains to be seen.

Nearly 90% of people have invested in non-stock market-related assets.

2022 SoFi Investing Survey

Non-traditional market assets are on the rise due to stock market volatility. In fact, nearly 90% of our respondents invested money into a non-stock-market-related asset. Crypto was the most common non-traditional investment choice.

Certificate of deposits (CDs), Real estate investment trusts (REITs), and gold were the next most popular options. One respondent even told us they invested in Magic the Gathering trading cards—definitely a niche investment choice, but representative of investments that aren’t directly impacted by the stock market.

Here’s a full list of all the responses we received:

•  Certificate of deposits (CDs): 24%

•  Real estate investment trusts (REITs): 20%

•  Gold or other commodities: 20%

•  Crypto: 48%

•  Private equity funds: 22%

•  Government bonds: 19%

•  Other or none: 11%

Here’s what investors’ portfolios look like right now.

2022 SoFi Investing Survey

Nearly a third (32%) of respondents have less than $25,000 in their investment portfolio. Here’s a breakdown:

•  $0 – $24,999: 32%

•  $25,000 – $49,999: 22%

•  $50,000 – $99,999: 21%

•  $100,000 – $199,999: 12%

•  $200,000+: 14%

Most investors (nearly 75%) also invest highly into stocks. Cryptocurrency, mutual funds, and cash were the next most popular investment types.

•  Stocks: 72%

•  Cryptocurrency: 45%

•  Mutual funds: 41%

•  Cash or cash equivalents: 38%

•  Bonds: 31%

•  Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): 30%

•  Real estate: 23%

•  Index funds: 21%

•  Private equity: 14%

•  Other: 2%

Market volatility has impacted investors’ purchase and investment decisions.

Market volatility has impacted investors at all ages and stages, but it hasn’t slowed them down. Not only have many people continued to invest during these uncertain times, market volatility has inspired investors to adjust their strategies and spending.

More than a third of respondents (37%) say market volatility has caused them to make impulsive investment decisions.

2022 SoFi Investing Survey
Market volatility has caused some investors to respond emotionally, with over a third of respondents (37%) saying market volatility has caused them to make impulsive investment choices.

31% of these impulse decisions were made by investors aged 18-24. In fact, the younger you are, the more likely you are to make impulsive or emotion-driven financial decisions. Here’s the age breakdown of those who made an impulse move due to market volatility:

•  18-24: 31%

•  25-34: 23%

•  35-44: 23%

•  45-54: 17%

•  Older than 54: 7%

Of all the people who made impulsive investment decisions, 54% of our respondents say they’re happy with their choice. Specifically, only 20% of them regret them.

Maybe these rash decisions taught investors important lessons about the market. Maybe some are confident they’ll rebound.

One third of respondents (33%) had to cancel or delay plans or purchases in 2022 because of money lost on investments.

Many investors’ finances were impacted by the bear market: 33% said they had to cancel or delay plans in 2022 because they lost money on investments.

Ultimately, these mistakes prevented some investors from going on vacations, buying homes, and starting businesses. When we asked those who had to cancel or delay plans specifically which plans were impacted, here’s what they said:

•  Going on a trip: 27%

•  Making a major purchase (home, vehicle, etc.): 22%

•  Home renovations: 19%

•  Starting a business: 15%

•  Growing my family (getting married, having a baby, etc.): 10%

•  Retiring: 6%

•  Other: 2%

Over half of respondents did not make any major investment changes.

2022 SoFi Investing Survey
Market volatility still isn’t scaring investors away. Over half, or 55% of respondents held on to their assets during this year’s economic crisis.

When we asked investors how they reacted to market swings this year:

•  29% said they bought a lot of investment

•  17% said they sold a lot of investments

•  55% said they did not buy or sell investments

The investors that did sell some of their assets (45%) ultimately relinquished less than half of their portfolio. Only 7% sold 76% or more of their total investments.

Many investors have investment regrets about 2022 and are looking toward 2023.

With 2023 on the horizon, many investors are planning to adjust their strategies based on the lessons they learned this year.

People are split on how inflation makes them feel about their investment strategies in 2022:

Inflation can be a thorn in the side of investors. Our respondents were split in how they approached inflation in 2022:

•  39% of respondents said they want to invest more, despite inflation.

•  33% said inflation makes them want to leave their investments alone.

•  28% said inflation makes them want to invest less.

Of the 39% who want to invest more, Gen Z appears to be the most optimistic (27% of that subgroup are between the ages of 18 and 24).

One thing is for certain — confident investors will continue to engage with the market despite inflation.

In general, people have mixed emotions about their investments in 2022, but the most common feeling was optimism (26%).

2022 SoFi Investing Survey

There was also some variance in how respondents feel about their investments. Most were optimistic, and fewer felt stressed, disappointed, and content.

•  Optimistic: 26%

•  Stressed: 19%

•  Disappointed: 19%

•  Content: 15%

•  Excited: 14%

•  Regretful: 5%

•  Angry: 3%

Very few felt regretful or angry, which could be welcome signs of more market participation in the coming year.

While 5% of respondents feel regretful, a full 25% — or one in four investors — have zero regrets about 2022.

That said, 75% of respondents have some type of investment regret this year. And many have learned major lessons this year. Mainly, many wish they had bought more assets at lower prices.

Some of the most common investing regrets respondents expressed:

•  They should’ve bought more crypto when prices were at their lowest (18%)

•  They should’ve bought more stock when the market started to decline (16%)

•  They should’ve sold stock before the market started to decline (15%)

Not everyone was regretful about their investing activities: As noted, 25% of respondents have no regrets at all. And of those that have no regrets, 60% are 45 or older.

Here’s the breakdown of the investment regrets respondents had this year:

•  I have no regrets: 25%

•  I should have bought more crypto while prices were their lowest: 18%

•  I should have bought more stock when the market started tanking: 16%

•  I should have sold stock before the market started tanking: 15%

•  I should have sold my crypto early in the year: 10%

•  I should have bought gold: 9%

•  I should have held onto stock when the market started tanking: 7%

People use a variety of tactics to cope with the stress of market fluctuations:

We got a lot of interesting responses about how investors have dealt with the stress that came from market fluctuation.

•  41% took their mind off their portfolios by engaging in hobbies.

•  37% did their own investment research.

•  31% of them simply stopped checking their balances.

•  22% of respondents talked with their brokers for reassurance. 17% participated in online forums.

And on a positive note, 14% said the markets simply didn’t stress them out.

Nearly a third of respondents (30%) check their investment portfolios every day. And 75% check at least once a week.

Although one coping mechanism of market stress was to avoid checking balances, 30% of our respondents (65% of whom were male) check their investments every day.

Most respondents check their portfolio’s performance at least once a week. Here’s how often investors are checking their investment performance.

•  Every day: 30%

•  2 to 3 times a week: 29%

•  Once a week: 17%

•  A few times a month: 12%

•  Once a month: 7%

•  Less than once a month: 7%

Looking forward to 2023

2022 is almost over and many investors are already looking forward to next year. Let’s see how our respondents plan to adjust their strategies in 2023.

85% of respondents plan to make some changes to how they invest in 2023.

While most respondents have agreed to change their plans, 21% of them want to invest more into the market.

Here are other ways people plan to change their investment strategies next year:

•  19% plan to do more of their own investment research

•  14% plan to work with a financial advisor

•  10% plan to buy into a new type of investment

•  9% plan to change the asset allocations in their portfolio

•  6% plan to decrease how much they invest overall

•  5% plan to use a robo-advisor or automated investing

•  15% don’t plan to change anything.

If this year has taught investors anything, it’s to adapt their strategies and stay optimistic. When asked how they planned to change their strategies, here is how investors responded.

Key Takeaways

Historically, market volatility tends to even itself out, and investment values typically rebound. Investors’ attitudes and behaviors tend to mirror this pattern. While markets have been low in 2022, there are signs of recovery as the year draws to a close, and people appear to be optimistic about an upswing and plan to continue investing.

If you’re ready to take advantage of buying when the market is low, online investing with SoFi Invest is an easy way to get started.


SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Crypto: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government, are volatile, and involve a high degree of risk. Consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies to the same degree as traditional brokerage and investment products. Research and knowledge are essential prerequisites before engaging with any cryptocurrency. US regulators, including FINRA , the SEC , and the CFPB , have issued public advisories concerning digital asset risk. Cryptocurrency purchases should not be made with funds drawn from financial products including student loans, personal loans, mortgage refinancing, savings, retirement funds or traditional investments. Limitations apply to trading certain crypto assets and may not be available to residents of all states.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Guide to Bitcoin Halving

“Bitcoin halving” refers to an event that happens every four years when the block rewards for Bitcoin miners get cut in half. This reduces the supply of new bitcoins by 50%.

The crypto halving process was built into the Bitcoin protocol to ensure that Bitcoin would be a good store of value by remaining a deflationary currency. Read on to learn more about halving, why it matters, and the effect it has on Bitcoin’s value.

What Is Bitcoin Halving?

Bitcoin halving — also referred to as “the halvening,” in some instances — is a periodic event where the number of new Bitcoins that enter circulation as a result of crypto mining is reduced by half.

Bitcoin halving occurs once every four years, and as time goes on, the potential rewards for mining become less and less — while, in theory, helping to maintain Bitcoin as a store of value.

For example, when Bitcoin was first introduced, miners could mine as many as 50 Bitcoins every ten minutes. But since then, after several halvings, rewards have been reduced to 6.25 Bitcoins. Other types of cryptocurrencies may use other methods for maintaining value, including coin burning.

How Does Bitcoin Halving Work?

Halving Bitcoins is, as mentioned, built into the Bitcoin blockchain network’s protocol. It is, in a sense, a feature of the system, or a critical component to how Bitcoin works.

By decreasing mining rewards every four years or so, the network made it more enticing for early adopters to start mining early. That is, since the rewards were relatively high early after Bitcoin hit the market, more miners were likely interested in getting involved. But as the rewards are reduced with time, more miners compete for those rewards.

This adds more hashing power to the network, and also ensures that the market isn’t flooded with Bitcoin all at once.

Bitcoin Mining 101

To better understand halving, it may help to have a basic understanding of crypto mining — the process by which new Bitcoins are created. The Bitcoin network functions in a way that requires no centralized planning or authority. People can send value to each other peer-to-peer, for a small cost.

On the network, “mining” facilitates transactions. Bitcoin “miners” are computers that process transactions for the network. They verify that transactions are valid and keep the network secure. In exchange, miners receive new Bitcoins as they are created as rewards.

Bitcoin transactions form groups known as “blocks.” Each block gets attached to all the previous blocks, forming what’s known as a blockchain. A new block gets created once every ten minutes or so, and miners compete to “find” the next block and earn its rewards, with the miners who put in the most work rewarded with new coins.

Miners can also team up and participate in mining pools, which effectively means that miners are pooling their resources to earn reward.

The most recent halving occurred in 2020, which set the reward for finding the next block as 6.25 Bitcoins. This won’t change until the next halving, which will happen sometime in 2024. This is critical to know, especially if you’re actively investing in Bitcoin, as it could have market repercussions.

Recommended: How Many Bitcoins Are Left?

When Does Bitcoin Halving Occur?

Bitcoin halving happens approximately once every four years. The first halving occurred in 2012, when the block reward was reduced to 25 BTC per block from the original 50 BTC per block. Subsequent halvings dropped the reward from 25 BTC to 12.5 BTC, and then to 6.25 BTC. The next halving will set the reward at 3.125 BTC.

By constantly reducing the supply of new currency, the theory is that Bitcoin will remain a deflationary currency, rather than an inflationary one.

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Why Does Bitcoin Halving Happen?

Again, the logic behind halving is that it allows the system to have a set schedule for introducing new BTC into the market, and a set limit for new coins (as well as the total 21 million overall Bitcoin limit). By sticking to a set schedule, Bitcoin can avoid an overabundance problem, and retain value.

Given that there’s no regulatory body that can change that schedule, politics or economic pressure have no effect on the overall amount of BTC in circulation — something that differs when discussing fiat currencies.

Who Chose the Bitcoin Distribution Schedule?

In order to retain its value, a new currency must have a limited supply and be difficult to create. Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto – whose identity remains a mystery — made the decision to halve Bitcoin’s block reward every four years, according to the project’s original whitepaper.

Halvings have occurred in the following years, with the block rewards being reduced as follows:

•   2012: 25 Bitcoins

•   2016: 12.5 Bitcoins

•   2020: 6.25 Bitcoins

When is Bitcoin halving next? As mentioned, the next halving will occur in 2024, when the block reward will be reduced to 3.125 Bitcoins.

Is Bitcoin Halving a Good or Bad Thing?

Bitcoin halving has its upsides. It has been said that halving is one of the reasons Bitcoin still has value.

When Bitcoin was created, it was the advent of a form of currency that has been created that is profoundly deflationary, and has a fixed supply limit (only 21 million bitcoins will ever exist).

Some say that Bitcoin is the “hardest” money ever known, meaning that Bitcoin is hard to create and has a limited supply. In this sense, Bitcoin is sometimes compared to gold or other precious metals.

Gold also has to be mined and has a scarce supply. This is why Bitcoin is sometimes referred to as “digital gold,” but Bitcoin is not correlated with the price or supply of gold, nor is it considered a precious metal. There is, however, a crypto on the market called “Bitcoin Gold,” which, again, is not the same as actual, out-of-the-ground gold.

Recommended: Bitcoin vs. Gold

Does Halving Bitcoin Have Any Effect on Its Price?

Historically, the price of Bitcoin has increased in the 18 months following a halving. After the first halving occurred in 2012, Bitcoin hit a record high (for the time) of more than $1,000 in November 2013. In April of that year, before the halving, Bitcoin was trading at less than $50.

The second halving occurred in 2016. In December 2017, Bitcoin prices hit a record high of nearly $20,000, up from less than $1,000 in January of that year. And since the halving in 2020, Bitcoin prices increased to more than $60,000 — though they have fallen significantly since then.

After the price increase there is often a retreat, sometimes resulting in drawdowns as large as 90%. The price then begins appreciating slowly leading up to the next halving, and the cycle tends to repeat. This is an oversimplified version of events but it offers a general sense of how halving Bitcoin has impacted prices historically.

That said, past performance does not always indicate future results. Plus, markets move for a variety of reasons, from geopolitical issues and macroeconomic events. Cryptocurrencies can, at times, be correlated with broader financial markets, so it’s hard to pinpoint whether halving was the exact cause of any price increase.

Recommended: Next Bitcoin Bull Run

The Takeaway

Bitcoin halving refers to an event when the amount of Bitcoins miners receive in exchange for processing transactions is cut in half, occurring once every four years. The most recent halving was in 2020, and the next one will happen in 2024.

Halving is a fundamental part of Bitcoin’s network, and as a feature of that network, is what makes some people believe that Bitcoin is unique as a store of value. But the halving can and does have an effect on its price, too, which is something investors should keep in mind.

FAQ

Does Bitcoin halving increase the price?

Historically, Bitcoin prices have risen after a halving event. But there are numerous other factors that affect Bitcoin’s price, and it’s difficult to say that the halving itself has caused values to increase.

How often is Bitcoin halved?

Bitcoin halving occurs roughly once every four years. The most recent halving event was in 2020, and the next one will be in 2024. They will continue to happen on that schedule until the supply of Bitcoin is exhausted.

Is Bitcoin halved?

Yes, Bitcoin is halved, at a schedule of roughly once every four years. The halving process is built into the Bitcoin network’s protocol, as designed by its creator(s).


Photo credit: iStock/happyphoton

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Crypto: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government, are volatile, and involve a high degree of risk. Consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies to the same degree as traditional brokerage and investment products. Research and knowledge are essential prerequisites before engaging with any cryptocurrency. US regulators, including FINRA , the SEC , and the CFPB , have issued public advisories concerning digital asset risk. Cryptocurrency purchases should not be made with funds drawn from financial products including student loans, personal loans, mortgage refinancing, savings, retirement funds or traditional investments. Limitations apply to trading certain crypto assets and may not be available to residents of all states.

2Terms and conditions apply. Earn a bonus (as described below) when you open a new SoFi Digital Assets LLC account and buy at least $50 worth of any cryptocurrency within 7 days. The offer only applies to new crypto accounts, is limited to one per person, and expires on December 31, 2023. Once conditions are met and the account is opened, you will receive your bonus within 7 days. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate the offer at any time without notice.
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Crypto Tax Guide 2023: How to Report Crypto on Your Taxes

Make no mistake: You need to report your crypto activity on your tax return. Cryptocurrency has become very popular in recent years, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the IRS. If you were active in the crypto markets over the past year, you’ll need to report it on your tax return, or risk being penalized.

Because of this, it’s important that investors know the basics regarding filing and paying taxes on their cryptocurrency investments, which includes reporting their trading activity and income.

How Cryptocurrency Taxes Work

One of the most important things investors need to know before investing in cryptocurrency is how crypto taxes work. Additionally, investors should be aware that classification of cryptocurrencies varies depending on the federal government agency overseeing the investment activity.

The IRS defines cryptocurrencies as digital assets, and that includes non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and stablecoins, too. Despite the fact that crypto is often thought of as a currency, they are not considered currency for federal tax purposes.

Instead, transactions of cryptocurrencies are treated as property, like stocks, bonds, and other capital assets. So, when someone uses, sells, or is paid in a cryptocurrency, they are generally required to pay taxes on their realized gains.

Note, though, that even as the IRS treats cryptocurrencies as property for tax purposes, this categorization is not consistent across all federal government agencies.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), for example, classifies cryptocurrencies as a commodity when regulating a variety of crypto-related trading markets. The CFTC oversees cryptocurrencies when they are “used in a derivatives contract, or if there is fraud or manipulation involving a virtual currency traded in interstate commerce.”

In contrast, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) attempts to regulate different cryptocurrencies as securities and investors can be subject to securities laws.

In all, there’s something of a turf war happening in Washington D.C. over crypto regulation. But for taxpayers, the most important thing to know is that crypto is considered “property” by the IRS, and investors will need to report it as such on their tax returns.

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Crypto?

Investors are required to pay capital gain taxes on cryptocurrency when selling, trading, or disposing of their holdings. Additionally, cryptocurrencies can be taxed as income if an individual receives the crypto as a gift, from mining, or for services rendered. There are different types of income, and crypto income is among them.

So, there are two types of taxes potentially at play.

However, not all crypto transactions result in a tax liability. These nontaxable events include buying crypto with cash and holding it, donating it to a qualified charity or non-profit, or transferring crypto to yourself between wallets or accounts. In effect, investors need to realize a gain or loss.

Situations When You’ll Need to Pay Taxes on Crypto

•   Cryptocurrency is sold for cash: When an investor sells cryptocurrency for government-backed currency (fiat currency) and makes a profit, the investor will have to pay capital gains taxes on the proceeds, just as they would on the sale of a share of stock.

•   Cryptocurrency is used to purchase a good or service: If an individual uses their cryptocurrency to buy a new car or pay for a haircut, they will likely owe capital gains taxes on the purchase. To the IRS, using crypto to buy something is the same as selling it for cash, because the crypto needs to be sold for dollars before it can be used to exchange for a good or service. This creates a “realized” gain.

•   Exchanging cryptocurrencies: Converting or exchanging one crypto for another is comparable to selling the one to purchase the other. As a result, the investor may have to pay capital gains tax on the sale of the first crypto, if it was sold for a profit.

•   Being paid in cryptocurrency: If an individual decides to be paid in cryptocurrency, they will need to pay income taxes on that income (just as if they were being paid in dollars) which will depend on their individual tax bracket.

•   Mining cryptocurrency: The proceeds from mining Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are typically taxed as income. It’s also possible for the proceeds of some miners to be taxed as business income.

•   Crypto is acquired via an “airdrop” or “hard fork”: In the event of a crypto airdrop or hard fork that results in new coins, those new coins are taxed as income.

Is Crypto Investing Taxed as Income?

Crypto investing is taxed more or less the same way that investing in stocks, ETFs, or other securities is taxed. That is, tax liabilities are generated when an investor disposes of their holdings by selling or exchanging them. Only then do they have both a purchase price (cost basis) and a disposal price, which can be positive or negative ( a gain or a loss).

From there, capital gains taxes can be calculated, similar to how things work with traditional investment tax rules.

Crypto is taxed as income under a few select circumstances, as discussed. So, no, crypto investing itself isn’t taxed as income, but that doesn’t mean that crypto itself is never taxed as income.

How Much Do I Owe in Crypto Taxes?

The amount of crypto taxes owed varies depending on an investor’s income, tax filing status, and the length of time that an investor owned a crypto asset before selling it. Additionally, the type of crypto transaction affects what tax rate an individual will be charged. As mentioned above, some situations result in a capital gains tax liability, and others an income tax liability.

Long-Term Capital Gains Crypto Tax Rates for 2023

If an investor owned a cryptocurrency for more than 365 days before selling or using it, the proceeds of the transaction are taxed at the long-term capital gains tax rate. Here are the cryptocurrency capital gains rates on long-term gains for the 2022 tax year (taxes filed in 2023):

Long-Term Capital Gains Tax Rates for 2022

Tax Rate Single Married Filing Jointly Married Filing Separately Head of Household
0% $0-$41,675 $0-$83,350 $0-$41,675 $0-$55,800
15% $41,675-$459,750 $83,350-$517,200 $41,675-$258,600 $54,101-$488,500
20% >$459,750 >$517,200 >$258,600 >$488,500

Source: Internal Revenue Service

Short-Term Capital Gains Crypto Tax Rates for 2023

If an investor owned a cryptocurrency for less than a year before selling it or using it, the gains are taxed as ordinary income. Additionally, if an individual was paid in crypto, mined crypto, or received crypto via an airdrop, they are taxed as ordinary income. Here are the income tax brackets for the 2022 tax year (taxes filed in 2023):

Short-Term Capital Gains and Income Tax Rates for 2022

Tax Rate Single Married Filing Jointly Married Filing Separately Head of Household
10% $0-$10,275 $0-$20,550 $0-$10,275 $0-$14,650
12% $10,275-$41,775 $20,550-$83,550 $10,275-$41,775 $14,650-$55,900
22% $41,775-$89,075 $83,550-$178,150 $41,775-$89,075 $55,900-$89,050
24% $89,075-$170,050 $178,150-$340,100 $89,075-$170,050 $89,050-$170,050
32% $170,050-$215,950 $340,100-$431,900 $170,050-$215,950 $170,050-$215,950
35% $215,950-$539,900 $431,900-$647,850 $215,950-$539,900 $215,950-$539,900
37% >$539,900 >$647,850 >$539,900 >$539,900

Source: Internal Revenue Service

How to File Taxes on Cryptocurrencies

The most important thing for investors to understand is that they are required to report crypto holdings, gains, and losses to the IRS when filing their tax returns. If a cryptocurrency return is generated — positive or negative — or some type of income is realized from holdings, your crypto activity will need to be reported to the IRS. This is why it’s important to keep track of any and all crypto transactions.

Here are the basic steps to take when filing taxes on cryptocurrencies.

•   Determine what, if anything, is owed. If an investor completed a crypto transaction (selling, exchanging, or using to purchase a good or service), it is likely that it generated a tax liability.

•   Record and report transactions. All cryptocurrency transactions will need to be reported on your tax return. Like with stocks and other investments, the IRS requires a paper trail to ensure an individual reports their full tax liability. In some cases, crypto exchange will provide the transaction history for the investor via a 1099 form, or something similar.

•   File the correct forms with your tax return. The IRS requires specific forms depending on the activity an individual has conducted with their crypto. That could include making calculations on Form 8949 , and then reporting the results on Schedule D of Form 1040 , which outlines and summarizes capital gains or losses

Filing Crypto Taxes on Your Own

It is possible to figure out your crypto tax liabilities, and file on your own. But know that many experts may recommend against this, especially if you’re a particularly active crypto investor or trader. That’s because there can simply be so much information that needs to be reported, that it can be overwhelming for the typical person, and thus, hard to keep track of.

There are services that can help you keep track of your transactions, but if you’re using multiple exchanges or brokerages, and even some decentralized exchanges, you may miss a portion of your activity that needs to be reported.

If you only have a handful of crypto transactions to account for, you may be able to file your crypto taxes yourself. But it may be best to reach out to professionals for help.

How to Lower Crypto Tax Liability

If an investor is looking to lower their crypto tax liability (who isn’t looking for ways to reduce income taxes, and other taxes?), there are several options. Many of the same strategies that are used for traditional investments, like stocks, apply to crypto holdings. Here are a few examples:

Buy and Hold

The buy-and-hold strategy can help investors take advantage of the long-term capital gains tax rate, which is lower than the short-term capital gains tax rate as noted above. When an investor holds on to their crypto for at least one year, their tax rate for the crypto will be lower than if they sold within the first year.

Tax-Loss Harvesting

If a loss is realized on a crypto transaction, it can be used to offset the gains made on other holdings. This is called “tax-loss harvesting,” and is a common tactic used to lower tax liabilities on other investments. However, if an investor’s crypto is somehow stolen or lost, they are out of luck and won’t be able to apply the loss against their gains to lower their liability.

Investors can use tax-loss harvesting for their crypto holdings to offset as much as $3,000 in non-investment income. If they’ve incurred losses beyond that limit, they can carry forward those losses to use in future years.

Also, investors who are concerned about triggering wash sale rules in regards to their crypto sales have no reason to fear. Under current rules, wash sales do not apply to cryptocurrencies. (Though it’s generally expected that this will change at some point in the future.)

Charitable Donations

The IRS classifies crypto as property, and property donations are tax-deductible, and not subject to capital gains taxes.

Here’s how this might work in an investor’s favor: If an investor bought a Bitcoin for $10,000 more than a year ago, and it now has a value of $35,000, they would owe capital gains taxes on that $25,000 gain if they cashed out. But by donating it, they can avoid those capital gains taxes and also take a deduction “generally equal to the fair market value of the virtual currency at the time of the donation if you have held the virtual currency for more than one year,” according to the IRS .

Buy and Sell Cryptocurrency in 401(k) or IRA

Some tax-advantaged retirement accounts like a 401(k) or an IRA allow investors to add cryptocurrencies into their portfolios. In these accounts, no annual taxes are assessed on the transactions, since they enjoy tax-free growth. Investors can therefore take advantage of these benefits to trade within the accounts and not be taxed on every transaction.

However, depending on the type of account used, an investor may face taxes upon withdrawal. For instance, if you were to withdraw money from an IRA account prior to reaching age 59.5, you’d be subject to a 10% penalty.

Recommended: Guide to Bitcoin IRA: Pros, Cons, and What to Know

The Takeaway

Investors need to report their crypto activity to the IRS, and pay applicable tax liabilities. Most crypto activity is subject to capital gains taxes, but depending on the circumstances outlined above, cryptocurrency transactions and investments may be taxed as property, like stocks, or as income.

Investors should keep this in mind, remembering that cryptocurrency tax situations are nuanced and complicated. For that reason, it may be best to reach out to a tax professional for help when filing your taxes. But by keeping track of your crypto holdings and transactions, managing your cryptocurrency tax liabilities shouldn’t be too difficult.

FAQ

How much are crypto taxes?

The amount an investor owes in crypto taxes depends on several factors, including how much trading they did, and how much they profited from those trades. Income taxes may also be applicable, too.

When do your taxes for crypto investments need to be filed?

Investors need to report and pay applicable crypto taxes at the same time that they file their tax return. Generally, that’s due by mid-April, on Tax Day. Investors can ask for an extension, or even sign up for an installment plan if they can’t afford to pay their crypto taxes.

What happens if you don’t pay your crypto taxes?

If you don’t pay your crypto taxes (or fail to report your crypto activity to the IRS), you could incur financial penalties, or even jail time. If caught, you could be facing audits of several years’ of tax returns, and even face serious charges, such as tax evasion.


SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Crypto: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government, are volatile, and involve a high degree of risk. Consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies to the same degree as traditional brokerage and investment products. Research and knowledge are essential prerequisites before engaging with any cryptocurrency. US regulators, including FINRA , the SEC , and the CFPB , have issued public advisories concerning digital asset risk. Cryptocurrency purchases should not be made with funds drawn from financial products including student loans, personal loans, mortgage refinancing, savings, retirement funds or traditional investments. Limitations apply to trading certain crypto assets and may not be available to residents of all states.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

2Terms and conditions apply. Earn a bonus (as described below) when you open a new SoFi Digital Assets LLC account and buy at least $50 worth of any cryptocurrency within 7 days. The offer only applies to new crypto accounts, is limited to one per person, and expires on December 31, 2023. Once conditions are met and the account is opened, you will receive your bonus within 7 days. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate the offer at any time without notice.
First Trade Amount Bonus Payout
Low High
$50 $99.99 $10
$100 $499.99 $15
$500 $4,999.99 $50
$5,000+ $100

SOIN1222001

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