Forbes - From Tulips To FTX: The Timeless Tale Of Society’s Speculative Frenzies
Oct 12, 2023
Speculative frenzies have been a part of human history for centuries. From the tulip mania of the 17th century to the dot-com bubble of the early 2000s, people have been drawn to the promise of quick and easy riches. But these frenzies often end in disaster, with investors losing billions of dollars.
One of the most famous speculative frenzies is the tulip mania of the 17th century. During this time, tulip bulbs became wildly popular and prices for some bulbs reached astronomical levels. For example, one bulb was sold for the equivalent of a house in Amsterdam. However, the tulip market eventually crashed and many investors lost their fortunes.
Another famous speculative frenzy is the South Sea Bubble of the early 18th century. The South Sea Company was a British company that was granted a monopoly on trade with South America. The company promised investors high returns, and its stock price soared. However, the company was actually a fraud and its stock price eventually crashed.
In the late 19th century, there was a speculative frenzy in railroads. During this time, many railroads were built in the United States. However, many of these railroads were not profitable and investors lost billions of dollars.
In the early 2000s, there was a speculative frenzy in technology stocks. During this time, many technology companies, such as Cisco and Pets.com, went public and their stock prices soared. However, the technology bubble eventually burst and many investors lost billions of dollars.
In recent years, there has been a speculative frenzy in cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, the most well-known cryptocurrency, has seen its price rise and fall dramatically. In 2017, the price of Bitcoin reached nearly $20,000. However, the price of Bitcoin has since fallen and is currently trading at around $20,000.