Cryptocurrency in the Mainstream: Who is Winning the Race to be Digital Cash?

in cryptocurrency •  7 years ago 

Digital currencies going mainstream, is a common question in the cryptoverse, and one that has varied angles to analyze. You can look at it from a marketing perspective and say that we are waiting for the masses to know about digital assets, and you would not be wrong. We could mention the volatility in the markets and surmise that Wall Street money has not truly entered the game yet.

The Dash team proposed what the issues are a few months back, and I have yet to find a presentation that explains it better.

”Like it or not, the world still currently runs on government-issued fiat currency. Living entirely off of cryptocurrency, without any method of conversion into fiat, it is extremely difficult at the present time, and not a viable option for most people. The average person will need an easy way to buy and offload a cryptocurrency for it to be a practical option for them. Most cryptocurrencies are only easily accessible through first acquiring Bitcoin. In order to become dominant and widely accessible, that crippling reliance on Bitcoin needs to end.” -Joel Valenzuela 1

Solving the Problem

All digital currencies are in the midst of the chicken and egg problem. Merchants won’t accept what people are not using, and vice versa.

As the video mentions, the three solutions for merchants and consumers to switch are:

• Faster and easier
• More secure
• Switching incentives

So what digital currencies are setting up the best to be the promise of a digital cash? The short answer is Steem, Litecoin, and Dash.

Most of Dash’s ideas are in the video, and I think they are good ones. One item that is not mentioned is the Super Bowl ad they are planning. It may or may not happen this year, and most likely depends on how the rollout of their wallet goes.

I still cite Dan’s article from last year on Steemit’s Evil Plan for Cryptocurrency World Domination for what Steem is doing to reach the masses. A lot has changed technically since that time, but the basic outline presented here has not changed – bootstrap a currency with a community that is willing and able to use it.

My friend, @digicrypt, wrote a great piece on crypto ATMs adding Litecoin last week. Of the crypto ATMs in existence, 90% of them support Litecoin – that is second only to bitcoin. That kind of fiat on/off ramp is part of the reason Litecoin has a great chance to become the king of digital cash.

So what is going to happen?

I believe that we will see these 3 gain market share in the coming months and years from bitcoin. It is too early to make a call on who will be the winner. Although, you could make an interesting case for Steem having a trifecta of real world solutions as it becomes more integrated with bitshares and EOS.


Thank you for visiting.alt text me for more great content.


Image Sources: 1-2-3

Video Source: Dash Video

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

I see this thing a little bit different. Banks will realize the big potential of crypto currencies and they can invest a lot of money. You will be able to upload any crypto directly on a credit or debit card and just pay your bill like now. People will not even know the difference. Bank will exchange it to any fiat in any country. We'll gonna pay fees and exchange like now, and banks will take advantage of fast and simple transactions. We can only benefit if we grab as much crypto while is still cheap. But, hey. What do I know, I'm just a guy on a steemit.

Hmm, I have not thought of it from that perspective before. It makes sense if we keep some semblance of the fiat system

Fiat will be here for ever.

You are a legend on Steemit and we all know it LOL.

3 second blocktimes, no fees......

if we can do away w the politics like there is everywhere, the solutions are ENDLESS here.

I don't know if this makes sense, but I wonder if the Baby Boomers factor in. This generation effects every market it passes through, from baby food to funeral homes. This is also the last generation with the highest percentage of people who don't/won't use computers and smart phones. They still use checks. They are still the biggest market group. Could be when retailers that benefit from them no longer have their business, they will adapt.

Right now many don't have to. Grocery chains for example.

Just a thought?

That is a great thought!

A few economists I follow talk about the wave of spending that occurs when people go through certain stages of life. The Baby Boomers are in their peak spending years, and the next generation is entering it in about 5-7 years.

I'd say in that time frame we will see the transition money from early adopter to mainstream come in. We are still in the innovator stage if you look at the percentage of people using the technology.

I think you're probably right. And until the time gets closer, we'll see digital currencies rise and fall all scrambling for the lead. It may not be until the latter part of the early adopter period that we really start to see which coin(s) ends up on top. When all the businesses start to scramble to accept digital currencies, some standardization will start to happen.

Just wanted to let you know I got here, and leaving this post up, after my UV her for you, it is very late online for me!!!

Love you man, have a good day/nite wherever you are LOL

Lol, thank you for stopping in brother!

Have a great night and rest up for a productive day tomorrow! :)

Upvoted. I'll be resteeming this now :)

Thank you! That is kind of you to do. :)

the adoption of bitcoin is still less it need a perfect boost and people will freak out again and look at this as a potential growth booster

That pendulum swing is not too far off.

Nice one. Soon everything online will be decentralized, just a matter of time.

Just a matter of time is right.

Thumbprint transactions? No thanks. I have enough of Big Brother. However the other features of Dash sound promising.

As a lot of us in crypto have. Dash has a good pulse on what needs to happen moving forward.

I don't know much about this stuff but I'm trying to learn! Thanks for breaking it down so easily.

Read a LOT daily and watch videos, and learn what is crap and what is a good resource, you will be fine.

Steem On my new Crypto friend.

I write stuff daily always remembering all the new people like you.

Thanks for the advice! I try to read as much as I can but once people go into all the technical jargon, they've lost me :-). I appreciate the writers who keep the new people in mind. I will keep an eye out for more great resources like yours. Have a great day!

Thanks for commenting today my friend....

Steem On!

It is so good to hear from you! Thank you for your kind words.

I enjoy this space, but realize it is essential to break it down so people can understand it. We don't reach the masses unless we make it simple to understand.

Simple like my handle...that's the ticket! :-) I have been a little more absent the last two weeks since the big decision was made...enjoying my last two weeks of freedom while I can. I know I've missed some big things happening with the split so I'm trying to catch up and wrap my head around all of it.

Enjoy your freedom. All the noise can wait while you treasure that peace.

I dont pretend to be smart enough to be able to value all those coins. At the end of the day, Steem seems to be attractive because of Steemit to me, yet many would argue its the other way around.

Haha, Steem and Steemit create a nice circular argument for their value - not a lot of use cases for us outside of Steemit for the moment.

For me BTC still remains the king however look out for Steem in the future followed by Bitsahres and EOS. Always a great read from you.

BTC may very well stay the most valuable crypto, and we'll see another take its place as the everyday payment asset. You're right, the Larimer trifecta has some high tech tracks to run on. Thank you, my friend.

For the sceptics of BCC see https://coinmarketcap.com/ its now number 3 and might climb to second position
guess its time to pay more attention

You are welcome, keep steeming to more success.

nobody wants to work hard to learn about a currency they have never used...until circumstances change and it becomes necessary. It's not a matter of ageism that's affecting adoption of digital currency - it's a matter of necessity, IMHO (and yes, I reserve the right to be wrong) ...but that happens so rarely :)

That is a solid point my friend. Why would anyone change when necessity has not invented a reason that they ought to? You are becoming quite adept at crypto discussions IMHO. ;)

you are the master there, my friend - omniperitus :)

Lol, so Abi is more expert at Latin than I, and I had to ask her what omniperitus meant. 😄

yeah, I took it all though high school and two years in university - just covering my bases if I were called to be a priest. My mentor, a priest himself, quashed that.
"You'd be a hoodlum priest. Teach and write. Follow your heart." And so I did :)

And so you did, love it. :)

I was able to boost this about $3 even with lowered power so I am glad.

I wrote at the same time last week about the LTC ATM's lol.

Steem has a lot - a ton of benefits like you mention, and how efficient the blockchain is but man, like everywhere else, the politics at times....

I love love love being able to vote or send someone money in literally 3-second blocktimes and FOR FREE.

I would love Steem to survive and thrive along w the Steemit platform and others plugging in.

And I thank you for that! You are quite generous.

Yes, you did! Lol. My friend is doing a great job with his blog, but doesn't always receive rewards in proportion. Just doing what I can for him.

The technology behind Steemit continues to impress me as well.

I think we are on the right track to see more and more people join the party.

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

There are a few cryptos floating to the top, like you mentioned Dash, Litecoin, of course Bitcoin is there (Now with bitcoin cash) which could confuse people a tad.

My theory is it could be like social media. People use a combo of say 2/3 these days. MSN messenger or ICQ was the first form of social media (Bitcoin) which was followed closely by Myspace which could be likened to say (Ethererum) and then it was followed by Twitter, Facebook, instagram (Dash, Litecoin & others)

My point of this is everyone knows about Facebook, a lot of people use Instagram. so there might not be just one currency people use. My bet is there will be between 5-10 good ones people commonly use. Including Bitcoin.

I agree with you. There will be a menagerie of tokens we use based on the communities behind them.

What could sway the scale for one coin or another, is the sideline money that starts to come in when banks and Wall Street start investing.

There are a lot of coins. But, Bitcoincash coin might win the race.

Yes, there are. Bitcoin Cash is an interesting bird.

thank you for sharing
upvote

Thank you.

Thank you for sharing this valuable information.

You're welcome, my friend.

This post has received a 7.90 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @lydon.sipe.

@lydon.sipe got you a $1.6 @minnowbooster upgoat, nice!
@lydon.sipe got you a $1.6 @minnowbooster upgoat, nice! (Image: pixabay.com)


Want a boost? Click here to read more!

Litecoin!

It has a great shot! :)

Decentralization is becoming a trend! Soon you will see decentralized food :D
Thanks you for your good post @lydon.sipe!

Haha, that will be interesting! :)