I already use Bitcoin as a currency and payment method so to my opinion there is no doubt Bitcoin is a currency.
On the other hand some experts think that Bitcoin can't be considered as a currency because it's not issued by central financial institution, so central bank and it isn't under some central control and regulation.
But as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are growing and taking more and more relevant place in everyday use and economy I think such opinion might change in the future.

I would say that is good that you have some fear because for that reason you probably will not make some foolish decisions and take more risk that you can bear.
My advice to overcome the fear would be that you start trading with small amounts to get the feeling of the market and to learn how it's functioning. Also diversify funds on different exchanges and don't push your luck.
But before all that try to learn at least some basics about trading and cryptocurrencies.

We still live in a society where fiat currencies are dominant and all economies in the world are depending on them. With cryptocurrencies alone you can't survive or it's extremly difficult. With global regulation and better adoption this might change in the future but for now combination of fiat and cryptocurrencies is the best option.
I don't think that cryptocurrencies will ever replace fiat but in the future it will be probably possible to find ways for their better coexistance and cryptocurrencies should get more equal place in economy and society in general.

Don't expect too much, it's not very likely that Bitcoin price will cross 10000$ this year or even reach that price.
Although Bitcoin price natters I think that many are too foucused only on price and they are forgetting all other good aspects of Bitcoin.
Anyway, I stoped talking people not to give up, everyone has its own free will to do what they want. At the end, it's their loss.

I'm not so sure about that. Everyone think that whales control the market but to my opinion their influence isn't that big and they can't manipulate price fully, only to certain extend.
People like conspiracy theories very much and of them is that Bitcoin price is fully controled and manipulated whic is an excuse for many for bad decisions and suffered losses.

To my opinion one of the biggest issues in the future is regulation.
Many countries have already started with that process but results are for now very different and with different influence on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
I think that regulation is necessary for further development and acceptance of cryptocurrencies, especialy by businesses but since it's very sensitive area it's not easy to regulate cryptocurrencies in a right way and not to put additional obstacles.

Also, I think there are too many different altcoins that have no value or significance whatsoever and they are just burden to the market.

Here we go again, talking about 20000$ price like it's some majic number.
Yes, I beleive Bitcoin will reach this price again and even more but this will not happen according to our desires but when the market will be ready. And this will definetely not happen this year. Actually it might take another year or two, such a bull run doesn't happen so often, even if Bitcoin is involved.
But instead to be so much focused on achieving 20000$ again let's try to get the most out of current situation at the market and current price.

I think 2018 came as a correction after a huge price growth we saw at the end of 2017. Although it was clear such situation couldn't last, some thought pump will continue and Bitcoin will reach 30000$ at least. Of course that didn't happen and the market went in totaly different direction.
But then we saw too much panic selling and people abandonig Bitcoin, some turning to altcoins.
In 2018 we didn't see too much surprises and we will not see anything spectacular on the market until next year.

Nope, everything besides .onion could be seized. It depends great deal on legislation in each particular country but in general you can't have such domain that is fully protected if you use it for illegal activities.
In this case FBI has seized only the domain but that doesn't mean they will stop on that.  Servers could be another step, so I wouldn't count that this game is over.

It's true that market looks like it's a bit frozen because of investor's fear. Reasons for that could be multiple.
Many have suffered big losses after they invested big sums at the end of the last year when Bitcoin price was at peak and then crushed soon after that.
Also many have expected for market to recover this year but some big price growth didn't happen and many are very cautious, thinking twice whether to invest or not.
Fear is definetely very important factor that can inhibit investors and market and it's hard to prevale it.

Dark web markets are one of the biggest reasons why Bitcoin came on the black list of many. Some people still think if Bitcoin is used for illegal goods and services it's illegal itself.
Also some think in a wrong way that tsking down illegal dark web narkets and putting their creators and runners into jail it's an action against Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. But that isn't so and to my opinion someone who runs places where you can buy drugs, weapons, child pornography and similar deserves to be punished and that will not harm Bitcoin, just the opposite.

I have to say I'm surprised with such claims. I'm using Mycelium for quite a long time now and never, ever had any issue. In fact it's one of the best wallets I have ever used.
I'm not claiming it's not true that some users might have had some issues but I think there must be some reasonable explanation for that.

There is no safe investment, such thing doesn't exist. Risks are always present, some biger and some smaller and you can't escape that.
Bitcoin is risky because of volatility especialy on a short term. Investing in Bitcoin on long term you can mitigate risks better and chances for profit are a bit biger.
Basicly everything depends on your risk apetite and your overall goals but you have to be prepared for losses too so be sure you calculate that in your strategy.

Well, we are waiting for a while now for ETF approval and there are many who expect a lot from it. Some think this is the only obstacle left for Bitcoin to fly again to 20000$ again.
But I'm not so much convinced in that theory.
If ETF approval happens it might influence on Bitcoin price in positive way, so some pump could be expected. Still it will not probably last a long, so I expect more temporary effect.

I first started trading four years ago when Bitcoin price was rather low so a relatively small amount of funds was enough to start trading. If I remember well the first time I put around 100$.
But to my opinion it isn't the amount of funds you invest that matters but your strategy and how smart you play on the market. You can start will small amount just to get the feeling and to get experience. With time you can enlarge the amount but it's important that you don't cross your lines of how much you can afford to lose. And a part of profit always invest further.

I have to say I agree.
It's true, Bitcoin price can change very quickly but current situation on the market isn't showing tendencies for some high jump.
Many are hoping that end of the year will bring some big positive price correction but as months are passing by this isn't looking very likely to happen. Still I think Bitcoin might cross 8000$ in December.

Independency and decentralization are the bigest advantages of Bitcoin or at least were at the begininig.
Price is defined on the market and use and support of users, so individuals, is something that actually keeps Bitcoin alive.
Some are convinced that individuals that posses huge amount of Bitcoin are actually defining the price and driving the market but I don't think their influence is so big.

The answer is quite simple. Cryptocurrencies are at the moment the most profitable investment. They are available to everyone, you don't need some kind of internediate (like broker) that is case with some other types of investment.
Also you don't need some huge amount of funds to invest because there is no lower limit so cryptocurrencies are afordable to everyone. Cryptocurrencies are easily accessible, all you need is internet connection.
So, there are many reason why people invest in cryptocurrencies and they can realy be great source of profit as long as you take care of risks.

Such claims are to my opinion just speculations because so far I have never found any statistics or other data that would confirm that. In cases when than happened it's a product of some other circumstances on the market, not the fact that is the end of the year.
Many expectations are also based on last year experiences but there is no guarantee at all this will happen again. In fact, it's not likely that we will have the last scenario like at last December.

Don't expect too much from the end of the last year. I know that many are expecting similar scenario like last December but this year we have totaly different conditions on the market and although precise predictions can't be made I don't expect another bull run. Maybe some smaller jump compared to current price but nothing spectacular.