📢 Exclusive on Gate Square — #PROVE Creative Contest# is Now Live!
CandyDrop × Succinct (PROVE) — Trade to share 200,000 PROVE 👉 https://www.gate.com/announcements/article/46469
Futures Lucky Draw Challenge: Guaranteed 1 PROVE Airdrop per User 👉 https://www.gate.com/announcements/article/46491
🎁 Endless creativity · Rewards keep coming — Post to share 300 PROVE!
📅 Event PeriodAugust 12, 2025, 04:00 – August 17, 2025, 16:00 UTC
📌 How to Participate
1.Publish original content on Gate Square related to PROVE or the above activities (minimum 100 words; any format: analysis, tutorial, creativ
Bitcoin breaks through $120,000, revisiting the historical warning of the tulip bubble
Tulip Mania and the Bitcoin Frenzy: A Mirror of Historical Speculation
In the 17th century, the first traceable financial bubble in history erupted in the Netherlands—the Tulip Mania. This trend, initially symbolizing beauty and status, quickly evolved into a speculative frenzy, ultimately leading to the bankruptcy of many.
After several hundred years, the price of Bitcoin has surpassed the $120,000 mark, sparking renewed comparative thoughts among people. A report explores the similarities between tulips and digital currencies, reminding us that being cautious is not because "Bitcoin is definitely a bubble," but because speculative behavior in human nature often tends to repeat itself.
Tulip: From Decorative Item to Speculative Asset
Tulips were introduced to Europe from the Ottoman Empire in the mid-16th century and quickly became a staple among the Dutch nobility. Their vibrant colors and rarity made them a symbol of wealth and taste.
By the early 17th century, tulips had evolved from ornamental plants into speculative assets. People from all walks of life, from merchants to craftsmen, began trading "tulip bulb futures," and most had never even seen the physical flowers.
In 1636, the frenzy reached its peak, with the price of a rare tulip comparable to a mansion in Amsterdam. Buyers no longer paid for the flower itself, but instead bet that someone would offer a higher price the next day.
However, in February 1637, the market suddenly collapsed: demand vanished, auctions were lackluster, and prices plummeted. Prosperity turned into a fleeting illusion, and many fortunes were lost, with the tulip bubble becoming a classic case that warns future generations about speculation.
Bitcoin: The "Digital Tulip" of the 21st Century?
As of today, Bitcoin has once again surpassed expectations, with a market capitalization exceeding $2.4 trillion, surpassing certain well-known technology companies and silver, becoming the fifth largest asset in the world.
So, does it repeat the history of the "Tulip Bubble"?
In fact, they are not completely the same. Tulips are ultimately ornamental plants, while Bitcoin contains transformative potential. It is based on blockchain technology, creating a decentralized currency system—a transparent and immutable ledger that supports peer-to-peer payments; it can serve as a store of value, be used for cross-border transfers, and even combat inflation.
But the speculative mindset is indeed similar: many investors buy not because they understand the technology or value, but out of fear of missing out, expecting quick profits. Social media has replaced the taverns of the 17th century, where rumors and price predictions spread wildly, fostering blind following.
The Uniqueness of Bitcoin
The key difference is that Bitcoin is not a beautiful rarity, but rather "programmable money".
Underlying blockchain technology support:
Institutional investors have begun to position themselves: hedge funds, asset management companies, and even some central banks are incorporating Bitcoin into their reserves. Although Bitcoin's volatility is severe, this is precisely the common "excitement → overheating → correction → integration" lifecycle of technological and financial innovation.
Lessons from History and Warnings for the Present
The tulip bubble is not just a piece of history, but a mirror reflecting human greed and fear, reminding us how easily rational decision-making can be blinded by the "get-rich-quick dream."
Bitcoin may be the "flower" of the digital age, but it is also a test of how we face disruptive technologies. The challenge is not to deny every bull market with "bubble theory", but to combine enthusiasm with understanding.
At the threshold of the decentralized era, one thing remains constant: the market is equally driven by emotions. The greed, fear, and hope that fueled the tulip bubble centuries ago are still playing out in the Bitcoin market today.
Bitcoin may not be a bubble, but it is not invulnerable either – this is the most valuable lesson from history.