From November to December 2017, it increased by 223 percent. It fell by 59 percent between January and February 2018, increased by 64 percent from February to March and then dropped again during March by 40 percent.

While this isn't necessarily a reason to give up on Bitcoin, it does serve as a stark warning to those who plan to invest in it.

[ZH: Even though we note that Bitcoin's daily trading range has collapsed to a more reasonable level recently...]

Why does this digital currency have so many ups and downs? Many of the same factors that influence changes in the value of other items affect the price of Bitcoin. Because it's so new and different than other currencies though, many of these impacts are exaggerated.