Answer: Bitcoin

Questions:

• Bitcoin was once worth almost $20,000 and now it's hovering around $4,000. Any ideas on why the price has declined so much?
• Do you know anyone who has invested in bitcoin? 
• Investors use the term "popping the bubble" in describing an asset that rises quickly and then drops sharply. Why do you think investors get so excited about certain assets like bitcoin while the bubble is inflating?  

Here's the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (from Morning Brew):

Turns out, we're not the only ones asking— bitcoin was the most searched "what is...?" definition on Google in 2018 (in the U.S. and the UK). In fact, more were interested in learning what the cryptocurrency is than exploring the mysteries of DACA, a government shutdown, or Good Friday.

This could be the only award bitcoin's going to win in 2018. It skyrocketed 1,400% in 2017...only to fall 80% this year.

Thanks to Beth Tallman for catching this on the Morning Brew (a great free newsletter that we read daily). 

About the Authors

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.