The year is already half over, which means it’s time for our favourite cryptocurrency articles of the year. In our opinion, there were some truly great stories and articles in the past 12 months and we’re excited to share them with you. Keep reading for more information about each story.
1. Bitcoin (BTC)
Yes, we all know what happened in 2018. The whole world woke up one day and realised that all cryptocurrencies are not created equal. Those who invested in Bitcoin in 2017 did extremely well. In fact, if you’re reading this at home, you probably made a few hundred dollars in pure profit. Unfortunately, those who bought in at the bottom (or more likely, sold their whole portfolio and took a loss) took a much bigger hit. Despite the massive price increase in the latter part of the year, it’s fair to say that none of us will ever look at Bitcoin the same way again. However, there are still plenty of reasons why you should consider investing in BTC.
2. Ethereum (ETH)
Many will argue that Ethereum is the #2 cryptocurrency to consider investing in. It’s a similar story to Bitcoin’s, with one important difference: while BTC’s price remained relatively stable in the year 2018 (surfing a small wave of mainstream adoption), Ethereum’s price increased by more than 300% in the same time period. It all started with the launch of the Ethereum Blockchain in January 2018, which introduced the notion of Smart Contracts to everyone. If you’re not familiar, Smart Contracts are computer protocols that facilitate, verify, and/or enforce the negotiation or performance of a contract. Essentially, Smart Contracts make it possible to automate contractual obligations and changes. The demand for Ethereum quickly followed, as the cryptocurrency had more than doubled its value in as many days. Of course, like most other cryptocurrencies, the price went through the roof and crashed more than 70% in the latter half of the year, with many speculating that the bubble was about to burst. While many had predicted this all-time high, it still managed to shock the entire cryptocurrency community. Regardless, like most other cryptocurrencies, Ethereum is now on the path to recovery, as more and more people realise the power of Smart Contracts. If you’re looking for a good investment that provides excellent profit potential and is relatively stable in value, consider Ethereum.
3. Lisk (LSK)
Last but not least, we have Lisk. Like many others, we were extremely excited about the potential of the Lisk blockchain. It combined the best of both worlds: the scalability of ethereum with the simplicity of a Litecoin. The combination provided the perfect recipe for major price appreciation. It really did feel like the Lisk team was working hard to give investors the best possible returns on their investment. Unfortunately, we’re not talking about the luxury industry here. Much like with most other cryptocurrencies, the price of Lisk went through the roof in the latter part of the year, jumping from $2.81 to $13.89 in just a few months. It was a similar story in the beginning of the year, when the price briefly touched the $9.00 mark. Of course, just like with most other cryptocurrencies, this was followed by a sharp drop to close to current levels. While it’s true that Lisk’s fundamentals, as we understand them, are good and it has a highly responsive team, it’s still probably not the best investment option for the average person. The cryptocurrency market can be a bit overwhelming, with so much volatility. If you’re looking to make some quick cash, consider Lisk, but if you want to be able to sleep at night, stick with the more traditional investments.
4. Monero (XMR)
We saved the best for last. Our hands-down favourite cryptocurrency of the year is undoubtedly Monero. It completely reinvented the cryptocurrency industry in 2018, with many referring to it as the Bitcoin competitor that everyone is keeping an eye on. Even still, it’s often overlooked how much impact Monero had in the first place. Its proof of work system is designed to be more energy-efficient and decentralised than its competitors, while its privacy-centric approach to information storage, which is known as Ring Signature, provides complete anonymity to its users. It’s almost as if the entire industry were waiting for someone to come along and disrupt the status quo. Enter: Monero.
5. Ripple (XRP)
Ripple is another cryptocurrency that reinvented the industry in 2018. It’s a hugely popular cryptocurrency among investors, with many referring to it as the Google search ratio of the digital asset world. It’s also one of the most versatile, with experts finding uses for it in almost everything from retail banking to cross-border payments. Essentially, Ripple provided much-needed alternatives to consumers tired of using traditional financial services, all while increasing the overall safety and security of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. It’s almost as if the entire industry were waiting for someone to come along and provide consumers with a safe and simple way to save and spend their money. Enter: Ripple.
It’s clear that 2018 was a banner year for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Not only did we see some of the biggest price increases of recent history, but we also saw the birth of several new cryptocurrencies, the development of existing cryptocurrencies, and more adoption than ever before. These are exciting times, as more and more people discover the benefits of investing in cryptocurrencies and the industry grows by leaps and bounds.