Bitcoin's future as revolutionary as the smartphone, according to CoinDesk

CoinDesk's president of indices and data has a message for investors: Don't count out bitcoin. "When I got my first smartphone, which is a great example of a disruptive technology that has been incorporated into my life, I didn't get the smartphone and say, 'This thing is garbage because I can't get a taxi in front of my home whenever I want it.' I was very excited that I didn't have to carry an MP3 player and my cellphone at the same time," David LaValle told CNBC's "ETF Edge" on Monday. LaValle's call comes during a rough time for bitcoin. The cryptocurrency is off almost 2% over the shortened holiday week. Plus, bitcoin is down almost 50% since its all-time high of $126,279 hit on Oct. 6, 2025, as of Thursday's close. Bitcoin crossed over the key level of $65,000 on Monday, but by Thursday it dipped back into the $63,000 range. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Bitcoin performance Despite the losses, LaValle thinks the downturn, which is often referred to as a "crypto winter," won't permanently discourage institutional and retail investors from boosting exposure to the asset. "As it pertains to the future of the digital asset, a lot has transpired, and there have been downdrafts over the past eight years," he said. …