With stocks taking such a huge hit over the past few months, we’ve seen just how important it is to have a reliable portfolio hedge in place to protect your money and add some profit.

Now, in past bear markets, investors might have been restricted to cash, gold, and other precious metals.

That’s still true, of course, and it is important that every investor hold some of these assets against volatility.

But in 2016, there’s an entirely new asset class to consider…

It’s high-tech and extremely easy to own. It’s also highly resistant to market volatility and almost completely immune to politics and central banking, which means it offers investment protection.

Even better, the technology that makes it work has the power to revolutionize our entire financial system. Some of tech and finance’s biggest players are falling all over themselves to get behind it.

In fact, there’s so much interest in this asset, and so many catalysts forming underneath this “hedge,” that it’s likely to give some of the biggest gains of the next decade – or three.

Here’s what I mean…

Up from the Underground

I’m talking about Bitcoin (BITCOMP) – the encrypted digital currency that’s been the talk of “underground” tech and privacy circles for years.

I’ve been following Bitcoin intensely during its short history.

I follow Bitcoin news both here at Money Morning and around the web. And I talk about it on my social media accounts with hundreds of cryptocurrency investors and entrepreneurs.

And because of my expertise in monetary economics and cybersecurity, I like to think I have a better grasp on it than most.

Today, I’m going to use that know-how to show you why Bitcoin’s rise really is only just getting started – how it’s become a true “unstoppable trend.”

Besides that, I want to point to several ways to invest in Bitcoin, whether you want to invest in the cryptocurrency as a long-term hedge… or you’re hoping for some of the huge gains I’ve seen batted about.

Now, I have to admit that some of the chat around Bitcoin is pretty negative. There are plenty of folks out there saying this innovative investment is already over – kaput.

I’ve lost count of how many Bitcoin “obituaries” I’ve read, but it’s in the hundreds. And all of them – including this latest one – miss a key point: Bitcoin is a global force so massive in its reach that no one person or event can stop it.