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At the outset of the year, bitcoin was scorching as speculators and venture capital firms poured money into sophisticated mining operations, service companies and the techno-currency itself.

But the value of bitcoin, while always volatile, tumbled throughout the year. In fact, Bloomberg points out it was the worst-performing currency of 2014, dropping more than 56 percent. The value peaked above $1,100 a little more than a year ago, but is now trading below $320.

So what would have been safer places to park your money this year?

Newspapers

Despite the ongoing troubles of the print industry, New York Times Co. shares have only fallen 12 percent year to date.

Taxi medallions

The meteoritic rise of Uber sliced a mere 24 percent off the share value of Medallion Financial, one of the largest publicly traded taxi medallion financing companies.

Camera film

Shares of Kodak, hammered by the one-two punch of digital photography and smart phone cameras, are off 38 percent in 2014.

The U.S. automotive industry

Shares of GM are down about 15 percent so far.

Under your mattress

What you lose to inflation you make up for with a good night’s rest.