This is the bold forecast by the CEO of the deVere Group, Nigel Green.

Over the last 48 hours, the three biggest digital currencies Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP have climbed 4%, 12%, and 3%, respectively.

Mr Green comments: “The bearish sentiment of the last quarter of 2018 is now, I believe, behind us.

“We can expect the current upswing to continue, albeit with peaks and troughs as in any financial market.”

He continues: “In 2019, the cryptocurrency market is set to radically evolve. We can expect considerable expansion of the sector largely due to inflows of institutional investors.

“Major corporations, financial institutions, governments and their agencies, prestigious universities, and household-name investing legends are all going to bring their institutional capital and institutional expertise to the crypto market.

“The direction of travel has already been on this path, but there is a growing sense that institutional investors are preparing to move off the sidelines in 2019.”

Mr Green goes on to add: “The acceleration of institutional investment is likely to be driven by greater regulatory clarity.

“More and more global jurisdictions can be expected to join the likes of Malta, Hong Kong, Japan and Switzerland in becoming crypto-friendly from a regulatory and pro-business viewpoint.”

Whilst Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, will remain dominant this year, Ethereum and XRP, due to their unique characteristics and problem-solving traits, can be expected to significantly fuel the 2019 upswing, affirms the deVere CEO.

He notes: “The smart contract abilities of Ethereum are already unrivalled. More and more institutional investors will be making use of these capabilities this year. Also, once Ethereum can accept outside data in its smart contract protocols, its price will rocket further.

“When it comes to XRP, hundreds of financial institutions across the world are already working with it and this is a trend that is set to continue and grow in 2019.

“In addition, XRP has been positioning itself to become a leading international facilitator of global remittances and inflows. This is a massive market in the expanding emerging economies.”

Nigel Green concludes: “2019 will be a year of accelerated maturation for the crypto sector due to institutional investment.”

(Source: deVere Group)

In Africa, the want for cryptocurrency is growing, and according to Iggi Vargas at Paxful, this could affect the wider markets.

The interest in bitcoin has continued to grow at a rapid pace. Exchanges are reporting that a lot of Africans, especially millennials, are taking over the platforms.

The “Cheetah generation”

The term “Cheetah generation” was coined by Ghanaian economist and author George Ayittey. It refers to the young and hungry generation of African graduates and professionals. This is the generation that is trying to change the status quo for the better.

“The Cheetahs do not look for excuses for government failure by wailing over the legacies of the slave trade, Western colonialism, imperialism, the World Bank or an unjust international economic system… To the Cheetahs, this ‘colonialism-imperialism” paradigm, in which every African problem is analyzed, is obsolete and kaput. Unencumbered by the old shibboleths, Cheetahs can analyze issues with remarkable clarity and objectivity.” (Ayittey, 2010)

The Cheetahs offer the people of Africa a new way of thinking. Ayittey says that their outlooks and perspectives are “refreshingly different” from past African leaders, intellectuals, and/or elites.

Ayittey compares them to what he calls the “Hippo generation”. This refers to the generation before the Cheetahs.

“ [The Hippo generation] lacks vision - hippos are near-sighted - and sit tight in their air-conditioned government offices, comfortable in their belief that the state can solve all of Africa’s problems.” (Ayittey, 2010)

According to Ayittey, the Hippos are the ones that “are lazily stuck complaining about colonialism, yet not doing anything to change the status quo.”

With that being said, how does the Cheetah generation translate to the Africans’ new-found passion for crypto?

Hunger for crypto

When it comes to cryptocurrency, Africa is a shining star. This is because of one major factor: peer-to-peer finance. Africans have joined the peer-to-peer revolution. It is doing wonders not only for their economy but also their culture. The Cheetahs seem to be embracing this as a good number of African millennials have been joining peer-to-peer marketplaces. This is important for many reasons.

First, it shows that peer-to-peer platforms have an amazing reach. Africa does not have, by any means, cutting-edge technology but they find a way to make a living off of cryptocurrency. Being able to send money around the world without the bank’s high fees are a big deal. Whether it be to a sibling halfway around the world or to your neighbor, being able to send money anywhere is an advantage for Africans.

Second, it shows that peer-to-peer platforms are easy to use. Many non-users will find bitcoin intimidating at first and give up on learning. This shows not only that everyone can use peer-to-peer platforms, but also that it's easy to learn if you’re willing.

Third, it shows that the underbanked aren’t a lost cause. With Africa being so underbanked, bitcoin serves multiple purposes for them. It serves as both a way to hold your money and a way to send out money.

Fourth, it shows that everyone has the power to take control of their own finances. Some Africans actually make a living by trading cryptocurrency, and you can too.

Lastly, it shows that a revolution is in the works; a peer-to-peer revolution. The benefits of peer-to-peer exchanges are being seen all over Africa. The idea of fast transactions and innovation flawlessly aligns with the Cheetah Generation. Clearly cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer finance are the right tools for the new generation of Africans to get ahead and prosper. But it doesn’t just have to be Africa. All over the world, peer-to-peer platforms are showing significant amounts of growth. They are also becoming a popular method to buy bitcoin.

The time is now

It seems like we can learn a lot from the Cheetah generation, including how to make money with bitcoin. If they can have the right set of mind, the world can follow suit. The drive of these young prodigies is something to look up to. They have the attitude that can conquer and inspire the world. Taking control over your own finances is a big deal, and it seems the Cheetahs have figured it out. The peer-to-peer revolution is here and it’s time to get in on it.

Did you know that in 2017 alone, close to $4 billion in startup capital was raised through ICOs? Well, according to info we found out at BTXchange, ever since the issuance of the first ICO in 2013, a lot of hype has been created around this futuristic form of fundraising.

1. Most ICOs Use the Ethereum Platform

A good number of ICOs are established on the Ethereum platform. This comes as no surprise considering the nature of cryptocurrencies generated by the startups who launch ICOs.

The Ethereum network has been known to be offering a lot of essential components for running a crypto project. For example, you can conduct an ICO token presale by using Ethereum-powered smart contracts which have proven to be pretty much reliable.

2. A lot of ICO Projects Get Published On Medium

Medium is one of the biggest publishing platforms for crypto projects. The platform gained fame after BitcoinTalk forum declined in popularity a few years ago. Currently, many ICOs publish their whitepapers and information at this place due to the high traffic associated with the site.

It has a simple interface that’s easy to navigate, which is especially convenient for users who wish to browse through tons of projects on the platform with minimal time and effort.

3. Telegram Is the Core Messaging and Chatting Platform

ICOs are time sensitive; any delay in communication could potentially be damaging to the participants. For instance, if an ICO has a discount within a certain period, information needs to be communicated to the crypto community as quickly as possible.

Telegram provides a chance for the ICO issuers and subscribers to communicate promptly. Users can get timely answers to critical issues including the status of the tokens release, listing on exchanges, pricing, and more.

4. They Are Subject to Regulations

Contrary to the popular myth, ICOs are regulated to at least some extent in most countries. It is not possible anymore to just launch one and wait to collect enough funds to start your business. In fact, if you are a US-based organization and ignore the relevant laws, there is no doubt you will quickly land in hot water.

If you wish to discover more interesting facts about ICOs, how they work, and their history and current state, check out the infographic below.

Blockchain has been synonymous with crypto currencies for some time but its range of applications and roles in the wider digital transformation are now much more fully understood. This is certainly true of the financial industry, which is gradually shaking off its legacy systems and incorporating this revolutionary technology into an ever-growing number of uses.

Blockchain is correctly described as the technology behind crypto currencies, recording transactions made between parties. But its key and unique feature is its capacity to provide an undisputed audit trail. It establishes an incorruptible digital ledger of transactions that can be programmed to record every data item of value.

In practice, Blockchain acts like a single spreadsheet copied thousands of times across a network of computers. This spreadsheet can be updated on a constant, real-time basis and is shared identically across the network.

Using Blockchain, two strangers can conduct business with no need for a third party, while creating a legally-indisputable record of an agreement. As such, there is no point of weakness at which data can be corrupted or hacked. This issue is of growing importance for those players involved in deals in which adding more contact points increases vulnerability exponentially.

Using Blockchain, two strangers can conduct business with no need for a third party, while creating a legally-indisputable record of an agreement.

Transactions are more efficient and secure

Each year the financial industry conducts trillions of euros-worth of transactions and Blockchain has the potential to revolutionise how these deals are executed.

Blockchain streamlines and speeds up transactions, facilitating fast and secure payments with less cost, potentially anywhere in the world. The security that Blockchain provides is also a key element in that it renders the tactics used by cybercriminals as obsolete.

JP Morgan, HSBC and Bank of America Merrill Lynch are already exploring Blockchain to facilitate international payments and trade-related transactions but Blockchain can also be used in the real estate sector, for example, to conduct transactions, including the transfer of properties and escrowing of funds.

Smart contracts can deliver powerful changes

Blockchain can also be used to apply ‘smart contracts’, which are still at a nascent stage of development, but which have the potential to deliver powerful changes in a wide range of sectors.

Smart contracts have the terms of agreements written into computer code and this enables the automation of certain functions, such as authorised parties conducting transactions according to the terms. A simple illustration of this is a vending machine, which enables a consumer to buy a bar of chocolate at a fixed price without the need for any third party.

Blockchain can also be used to apply ‘smart contracts’, which are still at a nascent stage of development, but which have the potential to deliver powerful changes in a wide range of sectors.

Smart contracts have tremendous potential. They provide security and consistency and help to reduce transaction costs, not least by reducing the need for ‘middlemen’. At present, they are far from flawless and work still needs to be done to address the grey areas that, in practice, often arise in contracts and transactions. There is much room for refinement, but such contracts do already have clear applications. In real estate, for example, smart contracts can keep track of leases and monitor payments. Going forwards, smart contracts can only become much more commonplace in the financial industry.

Incorruptible long-term data storage

The technology by which computers store information has gone through several cycles over the decades. Data carriers have seen evolution from punch-cards and magnetic tape to floppy and zip discs, to the more familiar CDs, DVDs, hard drives and USBs. While the latter formats are still widely used, they are clunky and perishable.

Drooms is the first virtual data room (VDR) provider to recognise Blockchain’s potential in the transaction space and incorporate it into its product offering. By using this technology, information that was previously archived using DVDs, hard drives and USBs can be authenticated at the click of a button.

Such documentation is invaluable in the legal guarantee phase of a transaction. If there is a legal dispute, then there can be no argument as to who accessed which documents and data and when. Parties cannot argue that they were misled with regards to what they were buying.

Drooms is the first virtual data room (VDR) provider to recognise Blockchain’s potential in the transaction space and incorporate it into its product offering.

Drooms is also storing the data on its servers for a fee for the duration of a warranty period. Whereas DVDs might be lost or corrupted over time, for example, this issue does not exist if a data room is available for reactivation whenever required and all data has been verified and archived according to a unique Blockchain record. All parties with a password will be able to access the data at any time and without the need for notaries.

Ahead of the technology curve

Drooms’ current goal in relation to Blockchain is to provide tamper-proof, cutting-edge and long-term data storage and protection with quick, secure and unrestricted access for all parties involved. We currently offer all modern formats of storage, but we have no doubt that Blockchain will eventually supersede these, not least because it will not fundamentally alter the costs of a VDR initially and over the longer run it will only reduce them.

Going forwards, financial professionals need to consider the power of Blockchain to disrupt their businesses and industries and to pinpoint ways in which they can leverage this ground-breaking technology to their advantage.

Further ahead, we see tremendous potential in applying Blockchain to the incorporation of digital signatures and improving contract analysis. Enabling clients to sign documents within a data room, thereby avoiding third-party involvement and the need to print and sign documents before re-uploading them to the system, boosts efficiency without creating inferior versions of contracts.

Thanks to Blockchain, future data rooms could enable users to read and pull up previously unsearchable contracts that have been signed by specific parties, thereby automating traditional contract management.

Going forwards, financial professionals need to consider the power of Blockchain to disrupt their businesses and industries and to pinpoint ways in which they can leverage this ground-breaking technology to their advantage. Our plan is to help our partners by staying ahead of the technology curve, finding new and innovative ways in which to help them using Blockchain.

Website: https://drooms.com

Chris Burniske, Placeholder Management partner, discusses the November downturn for crypto assets with Bloomberg's Joe Weisenthal, Caroline Hyde and Romaine Bostick on "Bloomberg Markets: What'd You Miss?"

Investment portfolios are equivalent to financial badges of honor that investors wear with pride! Any investors should have a diverse and dynamic portfolio not only to show that you can handle almost every type of investments as an investor but to have a pretty wide net of investments that have different rates of profits and loss. In fact, since diversity is what you’re aiming for your investment portfolio, why not add bitcoins in the mix?

Understandably, the reception of bitcoins can be a hit or miss when it comes to public opinion—and in terms of investments, diversity can be a good goal for every investor to achieve. In this case, why should bitcoins be included in an investment portfolio for the sake of diversity?

Experts Trust Bitcoin

Bitcoin is one of the world’s most popular forms of cryptocurrencies. The currency, also known as ‘cryptocurrency’, has been a subject of trust and distrust among modern financial experts, including well-known economists from Yale, Aleh Tsyvinski and Yukun Liu. Their research shows that for those investing in bitcoins for their portfolios, it should have a holding of at least 6% for optimal construction on your portfolio.

Other bitcoin experts such as Wences Casares, Chamath Palihapitiya, and John McAfee also offered their own brands of expertise on the cryptocurrency, with all three of them, among others, predicting the rising value of bitcoin in the coming years. With that in mind, the trust that numerous experts have can be essential for your consideration in including bitcoins in your investment portfolio.

Bitcoin is a Viable Option for Investments

Countries like the Philippines, US, Venezuela, Turkey, Italy, India, South Africa, Nigeria, and Argentina are currently some of the many countries that have been undergoing major economic issues, with Venezuela being a massive casualty with an inflation rate of over 25,000%. Because of the various issues that are plaguing these countries, many of them are now looking at bitcoin as a reliable alternative for people to use for future transactions since their national money has virtually no value.

This is something to consider if you’re planning to invest in different companies from different countries, or rather if you’ve already invested in international companies. While it can be a good opportunity for investors to add to their portfolio nonetheless, one can never be too sure about the economic structure of such.

Bitcoins Have a Steady Rise in the Market

One thing that’s good about bitcoins is its steady rise in the market. As of September 2018, Bitcoin has been up 2.82% in a 24-hour period, marking its slow, yet steady rise in the cryptocurrency market.

This is a great thing to consider when you’re looking for diversitySet featured image in your investment portfolio as not only can this ensure (though not always) greater chances for profit for investors, this can also make a great addition to your investment portfolio as a whole.

Investing in Bitcoin is a Challenge

All in all, investing in Bitcoin can be a challenge to many investors. Every investor taking the leap must always be up-to-date with current affairs, trends, and news that can affect the crypto world, not to mention having to study up on cryptocurrency as a whole.

Key Takeaway

When it comes to diversity of an investment portfolio, there are a lot of other things to consider. With these three factors in mind, getting to buy bitcoins, as well as buying tether and other forms of cryptocurrencies, for your investment portfolio can be a great opportunity nonetheless as you, as an investor, can get the chance to relish in the benefits that the cryptocurrency can provide, whether it be for diversification for your portfolio, other forms of investments, or for maximum profit on your end!

Over its 10-year life Bitcoin has been the standard bearer of the new financial revolution. As the baby of the 2008 global financial crash, Bitcoin was launched as a direct challenge to banks and other financial intermediaries – a middle-finger to fiat currency markets. Below Kerim Derhalli from Invstr, provides expert detail on the rise and impact of the prized digital currency.

Enormously popular with those who grew up during that very crash, Bitcoin became an outlet for their anger and rejection of the traditional currency systems. These were people who felt excluded from the club of the global financial elite, an elite who had driven asset prices – stocks, bonds and property – far out of the reach of the ordinary saver. At last here was an asset that they could claim for their own. The early returns were spectacular. A new class of financial investor was born. A digital divide was created.

Bitcoin’s impact has been as much a cultural one as it has been a financial one. The Bitcoin revolution has been defined by self-empowerment and self-direction. Such is the extent of its impact on Internet culture, that there are now entire lexicons dedicated to Bitcoin investing – from ‘HODLing’ (hold on for dear life) and ‘SODLing’ (sell off for dear life) to Bitcoin ‘mining’.

Like many revolutions, Bitcoin’s emergence has resembled a rollercoaster ride. Since its first transaction on 12^th January 2009, it has enjoyed enormous growth and now sits at a current value of nearly £5000. With this growth however has come seismic price crashes. Back in November 2013, a single day saw 50% of Bitcoin’s value wiped out – the biggest single-day crash experienced by the cryptocurrency. Similarly catastrophic crashes and corrections have become near-commonplace on the Bitcoin market. Across only three days of trading in April 2013 Bitcoin’s value dropped a staggering 83%.

Bitcoin’s revelatory impact on both the global fiat currency system and internet culture might never have come to be were it not for the very technology which underpins it. In following the bumpy ride of bitcoin over the past ten years, we’ve also come to learn more about its elusive public ledger - blockchain.

The blockchain may have risen to notoriety on Bitcoin’s coattails, but now we find that the financial and tech sectors are waking up to it more generally. We’re seeing more banks, and industries, recognise its potential as a payments system and we’ve even see the world’s first blockchain-drive smartphone from HTC.

Some people have compared blockchain to the infancy of the Internet in 1996. The major difference however being that in 1996 anyone with a browser had access to an infinite source of information. The Internet’s potential as an encyclopaedic resource gave it a driving purpose. Today that mass use case for blockchain is still missing.

This isn’t the only hurdle which blockchain needs to overcome to forge an identity of its own. To truly divorce itself from the price volatility of Bitcoin and the speculative nature of crypto trading we need to see that it can resolve scalability issues as well as help us to overcome security issues more broadly.

For all is pitfalls though, Bitcoin, and by association blockchain, still represent the next phase of the digital revolution. As people continue to reject the traditional top-down approach to information dissemination and finance, Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies and their associated technologies will take human civilisation towards a more self-empowered future.

Initial Coin Offerings are one of the most tempting investment options for those hoping to profit from the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency. However, the lack of regulation has allowed ICO investors to become targets of sneaky schemes.

Though ICOs have snowballed, with more than 750 being invested in during 2018 alone, the number of scams has also steadily risen, with more victims of fraud falling prey to cryptocurrency criminals.

Following Satis Group’s revelation that approximately 80% of 2017 ICOs were identified scams, new data from Fortune Jack has found that just ten of the most high-profile ICO scams have swindled $687.4 million from unsuspecting investors.

In fact, the notorious Pincoin and iFan scam stole $660 million, with an estimated 32,000 investors falling prey to the money-making plot from Modern Tech.

As cryptocurrency continues to dominate headlines, more investors are pouring cash into ICO schemes in the hope of turning a quick profit. And with more than 150 scams listed on popular website Deadcoins, it’s easy to see how inexperienced ISO investors are being suckered.

The losses have become so prevalent that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched its own ISO scam in a bid to show investors how easy it is to set up such schemes.

The top ten most notorious ICO scams to date

Despite the SEC warning that ICOs “bring an increased risk of fraud and manipulation” due to the lack of regulation, the number of ICOs as well as the amount invested has increased over the past year.

In 2017 $6,240,046,555 was raised across 371 ICOs. However, in 2018 a staggering $20,074,423,238 has been raised across 789 ICOs to date.

This reveals a 222% increase in the amount raised in 2018 so far, compared to the full year of 2017. Additionally, there is a 113% increase in the number of ICOs in 2018 so far compared to 2017.

If Satis Group’s suggestion that almost 80% of 2017’s ICOs were identified scams is correct, 297 ICOs in 2017 may have been fraudulent. If this trend was to continue in 2018, 631 ICOs could be fraudulent.

Despite such shocking statistics, ICOs remain a relatively popular investment in 2018, with $20.1 billion being invested into ICOs so far.

The amount invested in ICOs in 2018 to date

So, what are the red flags that may alert you to an ISO scam? The following were present in the most high-profile incidents:

- Silence from companies when contacted by investors

- Lack of a whitepaper and inconsistencies on the ISO website

- Fake Linkedin Profiles of “the team” with stock images or stolen photos

- Any text humourous or otherwise outlining a scam

- Promise of fixed profit or guaranteed ROI

(Source: Fortune Jack)

As Bitcoin reaches its 10th year since its launch announcement by Satoshi Nakamoto, IW Capital has commissioned a national representative piece of research, from 2,007 respondents, exploring the UK’s attitudes to cryptocurrency as an investment opportunity opposed to traditional and alternative investments.

The data reveals that, fundamentally, Brits do not have enough information or knowledge on the topic of cryptocurrency. In fact, many have no knowledge about the subject whatsoever.

• Nearly 20 million Brits do not understand cryptocurrency at all
• 17.5 million people believe that the cryptocurrency bubble will burst
• Only 7% - 3.5 million - believe cryptocurrency is more valuable than traditional investments (i.e. stocks and shares)

Across the sample of investor and critical mass society, the enlightening body of data unveils the relevance of bitcoin and the wider cryptocurrency arena as an investment opportunity. Launched at a time dominated by the new-age investment form, its momentum filled rise to fame has gained global awareness, today’s research reveals however that the age of bitcoin is seemingly unsupported by the vast majority of money-minded Britain.

Londoner's Value Cryptocurrency Higher than Elsewhere in the UK

A fifth of Londoners believes that cryptocurrencies are more valuable than traditional investments, such as stocks and shares. This is higher than the North East (10%), South East (7%) and Yorkshire and Humberside (5%), which are the following regions that value cryptocurrency more. The South East (29%), Scotland (27%) and the South West (24%) are the largest traditionalists, believing that traditional investments are more valuable than cryptocurrency.

Trial and Error 

Despite a widespread dearth of knowledge surrounding this particular asset class, disconcertingly, one in 20 Brits - nearly three million - have invested in cryptocurrency without fully understanding it, with only 5% having taken advice from a financial adviser when investing in cryptocurrencies.

• Only 5% of those who have invested in cryptocurrency have made financial gains
• 11.5 million have failed to make a financial gain when investing in a cryptocurrency

Old Vs New

More than three times - 12 million - (23%) who have previously invested, prefer to invest in stocks and shares than in any form of cryptocurrency (7%). Equally, three times more prefer alternative investments - 10.5 million - (21%) than to cryptocurrencies (6%).

With only 18% of respondents believe stating that they have an understanding of cryptocurrency, over a quarter of those surveyed - 14 million - (27%) believe that SME investments are a more stable an investment vehicle investment than cryptocurrency and a further 23% value these traditional investments over cryptocurrency. Alternative investments also hold greater weight as over a fifth (21%) believe that they hold more value than cryptocurrencies.
Over a quarter of Britons (27%) hold the belief that cryptocurrencies are a less stable investment than SME investments, however, only 18% agree that they fully understand what cryptocurrency is. Among 18-34-year olds, this rises to a quarter (25%) who believe they fully understand compared to just 13% of those aged 55+.

Luke Davis, Founder, and CEO of IW Capital has responded to the survey results. "With so much advertising and airtime dedicated to cryptocurrencies, particularly over the past 12 months, it is shocking, but not surprising, to see so much confusion around the topic of cryptocurrency. To see that investments have been made without the proper financial advice and a lack of facts is very concerning. With so many high-profile celebrities and business people coming out and supporting cryptocurrency investments, I believe that we will continue to see confusion and a lack of information surrounding them.

It appears to be more accessible to invest into currencies these days, with e-currency and e-trading platforms easily accessible via smartphones and tablets, but there is a lack of information around other, more stable investments, such as SME investments, which can deliver a consistent return when advised upon by a qualified professional. Ambassadors have a responsibility to supply accurate and correct information to potential investments. Many treat cryptocurrency decisions like a bet in a bookmaker, rather than as a serious investment decision like it is.

There is a place for cryptocurrency investment, but there are so many other investment opportunities that are not taken advantage of. My major concern within cryptocurrency investment is the lack of transparency in the investment. There are so many great SME-based investments that have superb tax incentives to build a portfolio upon, but they are undersold against the allure of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a viable investment for the first-time investor."

(Source: IW Capital)

Benjamin Bilski, who’s been named in Forbes 30 under 30 and is the Founder and Executive Director of The NAGA Group AG, a publicly listed FinTech that unites financial, cryptocurrency and virtual goods markets, discusses upcoming trends and predictions for the future of the cryptocurrency sector.

When it comes to virtual currencies, 2018 will go down in history as the year in which experts and renowned economists proclaimed the death of cryptocurrency, yet again, due to the deep plunge of the global market cap from its all-time high of over $850 billion in January to below $200 billion at the time of writing this. Bitcoin has faced a price decline of almost 70% from its peak of $20,000 in December 2017, tech giants imposed bans on crypto ads and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) just suspended ETF trading in two crypto-based securities. The list of negative news goes on.

However, cryptocurrencies have been declared ‘dead’ over 300 times to date and after resurrecting so many times, it is fair to say that “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger”. Pessimists often disregard the fact that cryptocurrencies once again have demonstrated their resilience against volatility and price shocks. To put things into perspective: in 2011, Bitcoin was valued at only $0.23, a year ago - at $2500 and today, it’s worth almost $6000 – despite the plunge. Therefore, it’s far too early to say farewell to cryptocurrencies. Technologies that shift the paradigm often take a long time to be fully understood before they gain real traction. I believe that the recent cryptocurrency bubble burst marks the beginning of a far more interesting era.

4 cryptocurrency trends to watch out for

1.Maturity kicks in after the bubble

The recent burst of the crypto bubble is the result of a rampant ‘gold rush’ and everyone’s fear of missing out. Ventures without strong fundamentals or good tech embarked on unrealistic projects, trying to gain the attention of investors who were driven by the prospect of getting rich quickly. $5,6 billion in 2017, a staggering $6,3 billion in the first quarter of 2018 (or 118% of the total for the previous year) - sums in ICO funding were skyrocketing. However, many of them were scams, and under the pressure of price collapse, over 800 coins went dead.

But this is actually good news. Certainly, the losses many investors had to face are infuriating, but the disappearing of ‘dead coins’ will also sort out the bad apples. As part of a self-cleaning process of the market, remaining projects with real value will have a better chance of showing stable and organic growth. Eventually, naked greed for short-term profit will give way to long-term projects of true Blockchain utility that investors and interested parties can track. This process of maturation with serious players emerging is likely to decrease volatility and increase market stabilisation

2.More regulation to come – though limited on national levels

At the same time, the crypto economy can expect more regulation to come across the globe as a result of the recent bubble and the underlying ICO fraud. Whether we look at South Korea’s decision to recognise crypto exchanges as regulated financial institutions and banks, or the recent legislative developments in Australia: regulators are looking to catch up.

Although one would think that regulation may be detrimental to cryptocurrency, it will eventually be central to its future. Without proper regulation, cryptocurrency investors and those participating in ICOs will have little protection, should their digital wallets be compromised. Recent surveys have shown, however, that 40% of traders see lack of security as one of the biggest concerns. As regulation of cryptocurrencies rises, investors' faith in them will rise, too.

However, the capacity of regulation will not create a panacea for the cryptocurrency sector. Across the world, we will see more regulation on nation-state level but not so much on international. This is likely to maintain some uncertainties for investors since national regulation runs contrary to the global and transnational conception of cryptocurrencies.

 3.Crypto attracts new investors, becoming mainstream

Though cryptocurrency has previously garnered minimal investments from larger institutions and hedge funds due to its volatile nature and non-regulatory framework, the industry as a whole can expect major shifts in the long run. Plans of multinational investment banking giant Goldman Sachs to open a cryptocurrency trading desk have laid out, although there’s no official confirmation that the project will be realised.

However, Goldman Sachs CEO’s comments that it’s too “arrogant to deny cryptocurrencies” signify that even institutional investors see imminent winds of change for the entire financial sector thanks to the evolution of cryptocurrencies. These indications of further mainstream adoption will have an impact on price, even before there is significant institutional activity. Eventually, this will encourage many pessimists to enter the cryptocurrency market which will further lead to a legitimisation of virtual coins as an asset class.

 4. Crypto will create more jobs

As the adoption of cryptocurrencies by start-ups and more established institutions is gaining ground under the new frameworks, the higher demand for Blockchain technology talent will fuel a next generation of engineering jobs across the globe. Even now, Blockchain jobs are the second fastest growing market and the future is promising more. The latest quarterly skills index by global freelancing website Upwork shows that the fastest growing skill in the United States during the second quarter was Blockchain. On the other side of the globe, Asia has seen a 50% increase in the number of roles related to Blockchain or cryptocurrencies since 2017.

Education plays a crucial factor in here. As demand for greater understanding of these technologies grows, business schools and universities are rushing to launch courses on cryptocurrencies and Blockchain. Currently, 42% of the top 50 universities offer at least one class related to Blockchain or cryptocurrencies. And I’m sure there’s more to come.

The Outlook

While the cryptocurrency landscape is still nascent, there are a lot of exciting developments happening. With the market maturing after the bubble burst, growing regulation, the attraction of new investors and the ensuing creation of crypto-related jobs, the future promises a lot of exciting things for the sector. All these trends will pave the way for mass adoption of cryptocurrencies and its acceptability as an asset class.

This CNBC original documentary explores the elusive and controversial world of bitcoin, the cryptocurrency that sparked a global frenzy. Is it the future of finance, a bubble or worse? Anchor Melissa Lee follows a cast of captivating characters to find out.

Bitcoin will lose 50% of its cryptocurrency market share to Ethereum within five years, states an influential tech expert and business analyst.

The comments from Ian Mcloed, from Thomas Crown Art, the world’s leading art-tech agency that he established with renowned art dealer, Stephen Howes, comes as Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, began a price recovery on Friday after being hit hard with a major sell-off in recent weeks.

Bitcoin – the biggest digital currency – had also been in decline, but it bounced back quicker than its nearest competitor.

Indeed, Ethereum had crashed 85% overall this year.

However, Ethereum is regained ground late last week, jumping almost 14 per cent after its most recent plunge, only find itself trading again 10 per cent lower once more in the past 24 hours.

What is happening? And what does the future hold for Ethereum?

Mr Mcloed observes: “Turbulence is a regular, and sometimes welcome, feature of the crypto sector. Therefore, the Ethereum rebound was, and is, inevitable.

“But not only do we think it will rebound considerably before the end of 2018, I believe that over the longer time it will significantly dent Bitcoin’s dominance.

“In fact, I think we can expect Bitcoin to lose 50 per cent of its cryptocurrency market share to Ethereum, its nearest rival, within five years.”

Why is he so confident?

“Simply, Ethereum offers more uses and solutions than Bitcoin, and it’s backed with superior blockchain technology,” says Mr Mcloed.

“This is why we use Ethereum’s blockchain in our art business. It has allowed us to create a system to use artworks as a literal store of value; it becomes a cryptocurrency wallet.

“It also solves authenticity and provenance issues – essential in the world of art. All our works of art are logged on the Ethereum’s blockchain with a unique ‘smART’ contract.”

Last month, Stephen Howes explained: “Using this cutting-edge technology, the art world can eradicate one of its biggest and most expensive problems – forgery – and can protect artists, galleries, and private owners and collectors.”

Ian Mcloed concludes: “Whilst there will continue to be peaks and troughs in the wider cryptocurrency market, due to its inherent strong core values, Ethereum will steadily increase in value in the next few years and beyond.

“Unless Bitcoin does more now to tackle scalability issues, and improves the technology it runs on, we cannot see how it can catch up with Ethereum over the next five years or so, when the crypto market will be even more mainstream.

“Ethereum is already light years ahead of Bitcoin in everything but price – and this gap will become increasingly apparent as more and more investors jump into crypto.”

(Source: Thomas Crown Art)