Most people realize that cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology are here to stay. The question is not if, but how. Below is a list taken from a recent Cointelegraph article of the most promising and lackluster crypto events of 2019.
The Most Promising Events of 2019
Each of the projects and categories listed in this section have progressed well over the year.
Bitcoin and other major cryptos
There were certainly ups and downs in the industry this year. However, when we look at the end of 2018 compared to the end of 2019, we see that Bitcoin doubles. Since other major cryptos still follow the price of Bitcoin, most of their dedicated (or maximalist) investors can feel nearly as excited.
Crypto gaming and decentralized applications (dapps)
Most people outside of crypto do not realize that Bitcoin was the first stage in the development of blockchain technology whose purpose is to transform how we value digital assets. Decentralized applications are a key next step. Games offer excellent use cases.
Binance and Coinbase
Both of these companies play pivotal roles in a large percentage of current crypto users. They facilitate investment, onboard new users, and provide an industry standard of professionalism.
Lackluster Crypto Events of 2019
While this second list is one of perceivably negative events in the cryptocurrency industry, it does not mean that hope is lost for any of these projects.
Facebook’s Libra and Circle
The jury is still out of this one. The main reason is that Facebook is too big to go away quietly. Similarly, the stablecoin Circle is back by Goldman Sachs and Coinbase. This makes it one of the most well funded ventures in crypto.
Bitcoin ETFs
There are ongoing struggles with the U.S. SEC, but many investors see ETFs as an integral part of developing into a mature industry.
Concluding Remarks
There is a good chance that we will look back and see that all of these projects succeeded. Instead of startup companies operating in traditional economies, what we are witnessing is the development of a whole new way of thinking about asset valuation. Financial historians may look back at 2019 and point to things like crypto ETFs as being at different stages in development from faster growing aspects of the cryptocurrencies industry and blockchain technology in general.
Further Reading: https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/bitcoin-and-crypto-guide/looking-back-10-events-that-shaped-crypto-in-2019/
