A store of value is an asset or form of money that people hold to carry economic value into the future. Its usefulness depends on what it can buy when needed, rather than simply whether the same number of units remains in an account.
Purchasing power over time
Cash can keep its face value while inflation reduces the goods it purchases. Other assets may rise or fall in price. Assessing value preservation therefore requires a time horizon and a reference, such as local living costs, rather than only a chart in one currency.
The crypto argument
Bitcoin's limited supply is one reason holders describe it as a store of value. Scarcity alone does not establish stable demand or protect against sharp losses. A long holding period also provides no contractual guarantee of recovery or appreciation.
Access matters too
Durability, custody, liquidity and transfer costs affect whether stored value is usable. Lost private keys can make crypto inaccessible, while thin markets can make conversion expensive. An asset may serve this function for some holders without becoming a widely accepted payment method or pricing unit.