There is no doubt cryptocurrency space has taken the world by storm. All across the globe, everyone is looking for the best way including great apps to mine these currencies. While they are starting to command some real value in the market, the journey is just beginning. More trends in the cryptocurrency world are expected to come up in future.

The cryptocurrency industry is no longer for the selected nerds who have extremely expensive hardware setups. While some cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin require special equipment to mine, others like Monero can be mined using a simple CPU on your Android smartphone using the right application.

When many people come across cryptocurrency mining, they envision a large number of powerful computers stacked in one room with a lot of in-built power supply to run the expensive hardware. But, the crypto revolution has advanced, and for the enthusiastic cryptocurrency miner, mining can be easy and more accessible thanks to the existence of advanced mobile devices.

The main question is, is virtual currency mining on mobile devices really profitable? We’ll take a look at it in detail.

Mobile Mining Versus Normal Mining

The main difference between mobile mining and normal mining is the cost. As altcoins such as Bitcoin continue to rise, more people are looking to join the market, making the virtual currency mining a good option. But when mobile mining is involved, there is no need to spend money on any piece of hardware. All you have to do is to buy a good mobile device or tablet for mining purposes. The higher the quality, the better. The main reason behind this is that mining cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin require a lot of power and can, consequently, damage a mobile phone quite quickly. So, before purchasing a mobile mining device, it is imperative to note its lifespan and usage to choose the most suitable device for the job. It’s also a good way to determine the amount you need to invest in that device.

Still, buying a mobile device can lower the cost of mining compared to the traditional way of mining where you need a set of hardware worth a lot of money not to mention the high cost of electricity that is incurred. Also, it is important to consider the nature of data fees involved if you’re don’t have access to Wi-Fi as well as the energy consumed by the device. Remember, your device will need to be changed almost constantly.

But when mobile devices are compared with the tradition crypto mining, these devices are price friendly and hence more lucrative. Although it is unlikely you will get the same number of altcoins mined using powerful hardware.

Platforms and Devices

Apple users may be unfortunate since there are almost no iPhone or iPad apps available for mobile cryptocurrency mining. Although there are some mining games available in the Apple App Store, they are not that profitable. On the other hand, Android user can enjoy a variety of mining apps such as Electroneum and Droid Miner. Sure, these apps are capable of draining your battery quite quickly, and the reviews are not that good due to the high expectation by individuals using them.

Let’s look at the potential costs of mining with Android apps and their rewards in the long-run.

Android Mining Applications

Recently, there have been some great Android apps for mining cryptocurrencies. The best ones are:

DroidMiner BTC/LTC Miner: This a pretty app that allows you to mine all cryptocurrencies that use SHA-256 or Scrypt. The cost of downloading is relatively low. In this platform, pools are seen as a collection of miners that pull their efforts and resources together to mine cryptocurrencies and share profits. The reviews indicate that miners can expect to reach approximately 1 mega hash using a high-end device such as a tablet. If you have to use this app, you need to be plugged into power constantly as it drains down the battery quickly.

Electroneum ($ETN): It is a cryptocurrency which can be mined, traded, and used to send or receive payment across the globe. Just like Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, the Electroneum blockchain makes use of Proof-of-Work algorithm where miners have to validate every transaction in blocks. Compensation is given for the machine’s work with the $ETN tokens.

It is actually the first crypto project to launch a mobile mining app. Electroneum main aim is to provide a global mobile app that works simultaneously as a wallet, miner, and payment platform. Cryptocurrency enthusiasts might be skeptical about the outcome of mobile mining on a Proof-of-Work algorithm. Of course, the major concern is whether this process would drain the batteries or even overheat the hardware quickly.

While it is possible to mine Electroneum on your mobile phone, it would drain your battery pretty quickly, and the profits might be small. The truth is that the mining feature in Electroneum’s app is relatively virtual mining. In this case, miners play a simple game, and they receive $ETN as a reward. Although mobile phones are not being used for intensive mining on Electroneum networks, the mobile mining feature is intended to allow almost anyone with a smartphone to engage in cryptocurrency mining in a direct way. If you want to engage in the serious mining of ETN, they will need to use the traditional PCs. [

The Mobile Mining Experience

When it comes to mining on apps such as Electroneum, your mobile device won’t perform the real mining like a common computer, but rather a simulation of mining.

Rather than using the smartphone’s CPU to solve some of the complicated cryptographic problems, this app is capable of monitoring the CPU power available on your mobile device. This process allows the user to determine the amount of CPU power that the phone may have used for mining if the device was actually mining.

In the process, the device is issued with a hash rate or the speed of mining, depending on the available CPU power. In most cases, the value will range between 30 and 50 hashes per second. As a reward, your online wallet will be credited with ETN coins based on this hash rate.

Costs

When machines are involved, the question of cost always comes into play. If you plan to start mobile mining, it is important to determine the potential costs involved. The first thing to consider is the amount you need to buy a new smartphone or tablet. This could vary based on the quality and brand. Of course, the cost will be a bit low compared to using a mining rig. However, remember that cryptocurrency mining requires a lot of power which could ruin your devices rather quickly. Unfortunately, there is no data to determine whether or not the amount of altcoins mined over the lifespan of a certain mobile device will outweigh the actual cost of buying a given device.

Another potential cost is the data fees. While it’s easy to keep a smartphone connected to a wireless router to either cut or eliminate data fees. It might not make the device too mobile, because as the miner will be relying heavily on Wi-Fi throughout the process.

It’s also important to consider the level of energy consumption since the mining devices would need to be connected to a charging system constantly or have to be charged frequently.

The major benefit of mobile mining is that there are no major upfront costs to install the mining apps. Although some apps that allow users to mine cryptocurrency could come with some benefits, it’s still difficult to compare the theme with CPU and GPU mining rigs. That said, Electroneum seems to be a good mining option.

Mobile Mining: Is it Worth?

We have seen that mobile mining apps are cost-effective, but mobile mining is unlikely to compete with the traditional crypto mining strategy that involves the use of GPU and CPU mining rigs. Initially, cryptocurrency mining was a hobby for the few experts who understood the industry well. But since the sudden rise of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, mining has become a significant industry.

Considering the high cost of energy, low computing power, and potential data fees, mobile mining proves to be a difficult method to earn cryptocurrency and make profits. While mobile mining is still possible, the only way it will be profitable is through reduced electricity costs.

Conclusion

Mobile mining may never be as powerful and profitable as using GPU or CPU mining. In fact, the CPU unit is unlikely to yield something substantial to count on. It would take decades to mine enough coins to earn you profit using this method. In addition, you will need to replace your cell phone or battery a hundred times.

Sure thing, the crypto market is growing quite quickly. We are likely to see major advancements in mobile computing power as well as the functionality of mobile mining apps. But, it is clear that mobile mining will be no match for traditional mining in the coming future. It still has a long way to go.

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The cryptocurrency world has seen a plethora of unique coins appear during the past few years. It is estimated that the crypto market has over 1000 tokens and a total market cap of about USD 260 billion as of November 2017. This translates to a 1200 percent increase from what the value was worth twelve months ago.

These numbers are quite impressive, and as Bitcoin continues to surpass many other tradition assets, it’s no surprise that investors from all corners long for cryptocurrency exposure. What is the role of cryptocurrency price index?

Cryptocurrency Price Index: What is It?

It is defined as a platform or website that lists information regarding the price and capitalization of several cryptocurrencies. Sites such as CoinMarketCap, CryptoCompare, and WorldCoinIndex are popular examples that provide useful information on multiple cryptocurrencies. They are also great sources of information for monitoring, benchmarking, and comparing the overall growth of several cryptocurrency assets.

The nature of the list of price indexes will determine whether the platform will provide information on all tokens and coins available on the market or only those that meet the standards such as being present on public exchanges with enough trading volume.

In most cases, cryptocurrency price indexes list most of the coins present on the market which is a good way to ensure you remain informed on how the crypto market is doing at a certain time without compiling any data manually from a list of cryptocurrency exchanges.

Cryptocurrency Price Index Vs. Traditional Stock Index

Both of them show the financial health of a given market where investors have invested.

But the main difference is that traditional stock market indexes only list the price details for shares in a given company while cryptocurrency price index list price info for crypto assets of specific block-chain networks.

Similarly, while the crypto price indexes list the information of most virtual currency tokens available on the market, traditional stock indexes only list a limited amount of stocks, with a common denominator such as the size of company or type of sector between them. These indexes help investors to know the overall health of the market they are dealing with.

Details on Cryptocurrency Price Indexes

In most cases, you will find details about the current cryptocurrency price, the market cap (multiple of current price and circulating supply), and the 24-Hour Volume which denotes the total volume of specific coins traded in different markets in the last 24 hours.

To find more information, click on each coin. The info will display the current circulating cryptocurrencies in the market, a list of the exchanges or markets available where each coin is traded, and a detailed graph to track the price performance of these coins over time.

This is part of the information that you will find on these platforms, but every website has a different setting and layout thus you may find different materials based on their client base. For instance, if a certain index is designed for day traders, it is possible to find the highest and lowest price of a certain coin being displayed as a computation of the last 24 hours. On the other hand, another platform that targets serious and long-term investors may provide information on specific features of a specific coin. This includes whether it is a proof-of-stake (POS) or proof-of-work (POW) coin, or if it is designed for payment or tokenization of assets, and so on.

Data Sources for Cryptocurrency Price Index

Cryptocurrency exchanges are the main sources of data for crypto price indexes. These exchanges can be termed as ground zero for the most part of the trade. Once the price of an individual coin is established, depending on the buying and selling price, traders can accept to trade in that specific market. In that case, exchange prices are the key determinant of the achievable value of a coin’s market value as well as the best place to collect data.

The prices of some coins may vary from one exchange to another depending on the market. Therefore, cryptocurrency price indexes will gather this data from different exchanges to come up with the most accurate price.  By navigating to the market’s tabs of a specific coin, you can view the exchanges used by an index to collect data. This will present a list of all the exchanges the coin has traded on. You can gather the information you require.

Bitcoin is one of the most traded coins and has several markets, but a coin like IOTA though popular has less than 30 markets. Using open Application Programming Interface (APIs), the exchanges ensure the trading data is available to make it easy for price indexes to gather the necessary data.

An API is a set of protocols, routines, and tools for building an effective software application. Basically, it allows two application to interact with each other. APIs are commonly used when programming graphical user interface (GUI) components. When using a good API, it becomes easy to develop a new program to provide all the building blocks.

Data Collected by the Indexes

The nature of data used in cryptocurrency depends on the type of information the indexes makes available to users. Apart from the common information related to trade price and amount of some transaction, other elements of data include:

Coin IDs: These are crypto symbols used to recognize specific coins such as XRP or BTC.

Timestamps: They help to record the time a certain transaction occurred, and it’s used to provide the exact pricing information, accurate 24-hour trading volume, and precise OHLC (opening-high low-closing).

Trade IDs: They are trade identifies to help determine the trade volume.

Exchange rates: Maintains updated exchange rates between BTC/USD or ETH/USD as well as other cryptocurrency assets and trading pairs including BTC/ETH, ETH/XRP, and more.

Are the Cryptocurrency Indexes Prices Accurate?

The price assigned to crypto indexes represent the overall condition of the market. But, it is common to see the same crypto coins listed at different prices on different indexes. This is because platforms that deal with individual indexes collect information from a variety of different exchanges.

These exchanges have to trade in different markets using different currencies such as US, GBP, EUR, JPY, and more. The price used for calculation on a specific cryptocurrency index is influenced by different factors such as the nature of the market, liquidity of a coin, the trading volume, the transaction fees charged by a certain exchange and the frequency of requesting and sending information after a specified time limit.

To assign a value for a specific coin at a particular time in the market will not be an easy task and it won’t be necessary provided that the user is aware that the price on the exchange they’re trading on is precise for a certain market.

Risks Associated with Crypto Price Index

The popularity of cryptocurrencies has increased recently. Most investors should be aware of the underlying risks associated with this market. The risks affect any index related to the virtual currency market.

The main risks that affect this market are increased volatility in market prices and liquidity, as well as the uncertainty that comes from the regulatory bodies around crypto coins.

As a result of the supply nature of most of the cryptocurrencies and their unending demand, prices may change randomly. The volatility of crypto coins such as Bitcoin is the result of its inbuilt quantity commitment. The varying demand for Bitcoin is covered by the price variations. When there is an increase in demand for cryptocurrencies, there is almost a zero increase in quantity to help reduce the surge in the price of this coin and vice versa. Issues related to liquidity and volatility can be caused by alterations in prices and in severe cases, investors can be able to either close or open a position. In this case, investors need to choose whether to hold their virtual currencies investment in Bitcoin or build a diverse cryptocurrency index.

Another risk

Another risk is the regulations and interventions by the government. Currently, Bitcoin’s legal status including other virtual currencies may vary from country to country. Although most of the Western countries’ government may tolerate these currencies, a substantial amount of countries hasn’t issued a legal judgment on the issue or placed a complete ban on their use. These regulatory uncertainties could hugely affect the price of these cryptocurrencies.

For instance, when regulatory laws were enforced in China on ICOs where they were declared an unauthorized public financing activity, Bitcoin’s price dropped drastically in less than 24 hours.

A major challenge that may affect the cryptocurrency market price index is potential errors that may occur in data sources or those that may affect the components of the index.

Conclusion

The cryptocurrency space is evolving rapidly. Similarly, the supply of financial products related to cryptocurrency has potential to grow even further. The cryptocurrency price index has set the pace towards achieving an advanced, user-friendly cryptocurrency market. It’s a proven approach that is recommended for investors who are willing to learn more about the cryptocurrency market and use it as an allocation method or as a benchmark for the management of active groups.

 

 

Over the years the stock market has reigned supremacy in generating long-term wealth and standing the tides of business volatility to deliver impressive returns. However, the entry of cryptocurrencies has given these markets a stern test and turned the table in favor of the crypto markets. The digital currencies have steadily risen in popularity and are gradually becoming irresistible to investors looking to take advantage of the price swings.

However, the conversation about taking a plunge into crypto markets is encouraging and confusing in equal measures. While the business world has seen virtual currency investors pursue these trailblazers, many are skeptical, and it’s easy to understand why; sources of authentic cryptocurrency information are hard to find.

Warren Buffet once said, “Never invest in something you don’t understand.”  Although the saying applies to all forms of investments, it sounds perfect for anyone thinking of cryptocurrencies investments. Confused about cryptocurrencies? Are you a seasoned trader or an investor eyeing a deal in the virtual currencies? Here are the pertinent tips and specifics you should know before investing.

1. Understand cryptocurrency terminologies

Before you examine the dos and don’ts of cryptocurrency trading, you must first understand the terminologies used by traders in the arena. You will need to become “literate” otherwise you will dive into a peculiar world where everyone is using jargons and vernacular you’ve never heard before. Here are some of the most prevalent terms that will bring you up to speed with the cryptocurrency trend.

ATH: This the abbreviation of All-Time-High. In the cryptocurrency context, this term denotes the highest price milestone a token or coin has ever reached. When a cryptocurrency hits new ATH investors make profits pretty regularly and makes it difficult for new investors to enter the scope.

HODL: this is a misspelling of the word HOLD. The term refers to holding onto cryptocurrencies without the worry of the flow or the receding price tide in the market. HODL simply means “holding on to your cryptocurrency for dear life.” It is an incredible technique used by amateurs and novices who lack the experience in day-trading.

Shilling: This describes the act of marketing something for selfish gains.

Mooning: This refers to the radical increase in the price chart of a cryptocurrency.

FOMO: This is the abbreviation of “Fear Of Missing Out.” When joining the cryptocurrency trade, you must consider your position. Don’t let the fear of missing out steer you into a world where only those that are a zealous benefit. FOMO can also be described as the impulsive urge to capitalize on a certain cryptocurrency’s unexpected price performance.

Bagholder: when an investor buys a currency at an ATH, then the prices lower, he/she becomes a bag holder. The precise decision in such a scenario is always to hold the currency until the prices are favorable.

2. There are at least 1300 cryptocurrencies

If you have been following the trends in cryptocurrency, you have probably heard a lot about Bitcoin. It’s no surprise given bitcoin was the first tradable virtual currency in the market. Currently, it controls the lion share (about 10%; at the time of writing) of the total $800 billion market capitalization of all digital currencies. However, there are more than 1300 other cryptocurrencies that you can familiarize with and buy.

Take your time and research widely to understand what each cryptocurrency entails. Remember no research is sufficient, keep updating yourself constantly (on a daily basis) because everything about cryptocurrency is changing at a fast pace.

3. Get familiar with blockchain technology

Although trading cryptocurrencies have attracted immense emphasis, it’s actually the backbone (blockchain technology) that holds the real value.

Blockchain technology is an ingenious invention that forms the infrastructure that cryptocurrencies are established on. It’s a digitally decentralized ledger that maintains records of virtual currencies transactions in a way that is efficient and safe.  The decentralization makes this technology more exciting since information is not archived in a central hub. Therefore, there is no unified data center that can be targeted by cybercriminals.

Besides, since “miners” work around the clock to authenticate transactions. The payments and transfers can be completed much quicker than via traditional banking. Better still, Blockchain technology eliminates the need for intermediaries thus bring transactional costs down. This also offers unprecedented control and transparency by allowing members of the digital currency community to call the shots regarding the future development.

However, this is a promising technology that is still a work in progress. For this reason, it’s not perfect and is bound to experience hurdles such as verification slowdowns and transactional speed.

4. Does your country support cryptocurrency trading?

Although cryptocurrencies are the most pursued business investments in the world right now, they are not accepted everywhere. Some countries are hesitant about adopting the digital currency idea because of their decentralized nature and the fact that they are unregulated. So before you make any move, research and determine if your country permits the use of or trading of cryptocurrencies.

In some countries such as Morroco, Nepal, Ecuador, Bolivia, Bangladesh, and Kyrgyzstan, there is an outright ban on buying of goods/services using the digital currencies. In addition, there a high possibility that this list will grow.  Other countries such as Russia have been considering outlawing the use of cryptocurrencies.

What’s more? Different countries impose different taxations when dealing with the digital currencies. In some countries like The United States, all cryptocurrency trades are treated as taxable events whereas the digital currencies are regarded as properties. This means you will have to pay capital gains when converting your cryptocurrency to USD. You will also attract taxes on any transaction made between two cryptocurrencies. For this reasons, it’s wise to consult a legal or financial advisor. You should search help you make informed decisions before you embark on cryptocurrency investments.

5. Miners play a critical role

Ever heard of “miners” in the cryptocurrency world? Even as blockchain continues to enlarge, we cannot ignore the crucial roles played by miners in verifying and accounting for transactions and payments made in cryptocurrencies. Crypto-mining entails the use of high-powered computers that solve the multi-faceted mathematical equations on a highly competitive basis to authenticate and log all transactions.  In return, miners get rewards in the form of cryptocurrency coin or a transaction fee linked with a block. It’s a worthwhile task, but the enormous costs of the hardware and electricity can be the major stumbling block.

6. Crypto markets have low barriers to entry

With the entry of blockchain technology in the financial service industry landscape, it’s expected that some aspects will change. However as things stand right now, there is no barrier to the entry of a new cryptocurrency. If you have the financial muscle and time, you can constitute a team of well-versed coders to write blockchain and deliver a new cryptocurrency to the market. New virtual currencies are hitting the market every month, and the rise is showing no signs to cool off.

7. Follow cryptocurrency social media groups

The cryptosphere is complex, and it can be daunting to stay up to speed with all the happenings. For this reason, if you are planning to invest in any cryptocurrency, it’s always good to be part of a well-informed community. Join Facebook, Telegram, Slack, and subreddit groups. Interact with the community and try to understand what others think about the cryptocurrency. Ask questions and seek help as often as possible. This will keep you informed. Also it helps you gauge the authenticity of the project you have or are just about to invest in.

8. Be wary of market manipulation and PD groups

As aforementioned, the cryptosphere is a free-for-all market, so there are a lot of weird things such as scams, fraudsters, phishing attacks, hacks, and imposters. Therefore it is highly advisable that you take stringent measures to remain safe rather than sorry.

Be wary of the pump and dump (P&D) groups. The P&D is a scenario where a group of investors coordinates and consolidate funds to buy a cryptocurrency at a specified time. The investors then jack up the prices; the sharp spike snares unaware investors prompting them to buy the coin thinking it’s hot. This raises the prices, even more, resulting in what is called the pump. The original group then sells at the increased value, thus leading to a crash or the dump. Some P&D might bring you impressive returns, but although it might be enticing, you should desist from joining these groups especially when starting.

Conclusion

Understanding the facets of cryptocurrency trading is a giant step towards identifying viable projects in the sector. It’s an unprecedented catalyst in you strides to successful investment which aligns you with the modern technological era. We hope that these facts and tips about cryptocurrency will help you embark on a fruitful journey and work your way to the echelon of renowned cryptocurrency investors.

All the best!

The first quarter of 2018 was a bitter one for the whole crypto market with heavy hitters like Bitcoin and Ethereum dropping in value consistently.  The market also faced a series of exchange hacks, scandals, scams, and rumors of government controls. Despite all these challenges, analysts indicate that 2018 may be the most historic year in the adoption of cryptocurrencies.

The crypto space is developing at a fast pace. Acceptance by large companies, improvement in protocols, and promotion of crypto use by various governments. These are some of the main reasons we could see the rise in the value of the cryptocurrency coins. But despite all these rules and regulations, one clear fact about cryptocurrencies is that there a lot of them available, so investors have an easier time to choose a coin for every preference. However, newbies may need to do some research to decide which currency to mine or invest in.

With a variety of cryptocurrencies available in the market, there are those that you should keep an eye on as they are looking to do big things in 2018. Here are the best seven that feature in this list.

Monera

Just like Bitcoin, Monera’s developers remain anonymous. The anonymity feature of this altcoin is beneficial for investors. Because every transaction is recorded and verified on a public ledger, but they are untraceable. When you use Monero, the inventors have designed it in a unique way such that there’s no way anyone can connect the dots on the activities that occur between the sender, receiver, or amount of transaction.

Its adoption will need some of the large business entities that use crypto technologies to invest in it and use it as their means of exchanging value around. Currently, Monera has approximately 15.5 million coins in circulation. Unlike bitcoin, Monera has no fixed coin supply. It is expected to increase in value this year, especially if the press starts to conduct tax crackdowns, check on regulation. Other key aspects –total anonymity will be of great use in surviving from these bottlenecks.

Cardano

Created by Charles Hoskinson, a former member of Ethereum Team, Cardino is a fully open source and decentralized cryptocurrency. In fact, it’s the first blockchain project built on peer-reviewed academic research. It’s a strong competitor for Ethereum. Backed by experienced engineers and IT experts, the force behind Cardano is nothing short of science scholars. They aim to provide the world with a scientific method of breaking down the concept of cryptocurrency. Cardino ensures there is a full application of stake approach to arrive at a consensus. This is another win for investors across the world.

Cardino also aims to create a form of decentralized apps. It can be processed by formal verification to allow the proof the accuracy of the code using mathematical formulas.

Cardano’s ADA token is something to watch out this year. In the past few months, its value has increased steadily, the latest being in late Nov 2017 when the team officially released an updated roadmap. The coin shot to the ninth spot in the market cap rankings. In the first quarter of 2018, the coin is still in the top ten meaning that investors are starting to recognize the value of the project.

Ripple

Ripple is another impressive coin that is loved by some and hated by others. Created by programmer Jed McCaleb, businessman Chris Larsen, and web developer Ryan Fugger, Ripple is a fully licensed centralized private blockchain cryptocurrency to over 100 banks. Ripple along with Bitcoin Cash is one of the most unique cryptocurrencies surrounded by a controversial ecosystem. Ripple provides a means for different businesses to transfer money quickly for a relatively low price. It might be considered a competitor to the interbank and payment system SWIFT.

Ripple is expected to have a good year in 2018, but this depends on a few things including its acceptance in large businesses as a form of exchange. Being one of the cheap coins, it looks attractive, but that shouldn’t dictate whether or not you put your money in it.

Iota (MIOTA)

Created by a team of mathematicians, developers, and entrepreneurs, IOTA is one of those alternative coins that seek to break paradigms. It followed the likes of Bitcoin, Etherium, and Ripple and increased in value over the past couple of months. Now, the thrill has stagnated and IOTA creators are back to grind on to deliver the end platform. That is ideal for Business to Business model of business.

Iota’s big win is that it doesn’t have trading fees or blocks. For each transaction made, the processing power validates two other transactions, thus making every Iota owner and Iota miner too. Its development is based on a distributed ledger structure known as Tangle Protocol, an innovation that is made to achieve key milestones in the crypto market such as offline transactions, zero-cost transactions, as well as unlimited scalability.

IOTA focuses on becoming the medium for secure transactions in the Internet of Things economy. Everything is uniquely identifiable with an embedded computing system that operates on the existing internet structure. The latest is that it has partnered with Microsoft which might be a big boost that will propel it to the top tier of the most promising cryptos to watch out in 2018.

NEO

Formerly known as Antshares, NEO is described as “The Chinese Ethereum,” with a high technology infrastructure that benefits from the cultural roots of the Chinese as a “home made” altcoin.

It is expected that Neo will explode if China eases its restriction on ICOs and Bitcoin. China is one of the biggest players in the crypto market. Its economic structure is filled with restrictions and often prevents emerging and innovative cryptocurrency. In such an environment, it is surprising that NEO has managed to scale through the handles and still succeeded in generating a significant profit for itself and its traders. It offers multiple programming languages including Java, C#, and Go. It’s such a versatile platform that investors are quickly realizing its value.

Noam Lenderson, a blockchain investor, indicated that the objective of NEO is to be the ultimate platform for smart economy.

NANO

Nano, formerly Raiblocks, is an altcoin that has gained ground as a trusted cryptocurrency famous for its efficient architecture. It has increased in its value thanks to the innovative approach it utilizes to process payments and transactions. Rather than settling on one blockchain for all the coins, Nanotechnology allows for a block-lattice structure. It’s also infinitely scalable such that many people can use it at a go.

As the crypto market continues to improve, developers are working hard to developers unique systems to offer scalability and network efficiency. Although most of these ideas go through intensive pitching and years of work, Nano doesn’t have these issues. The zero-cost transaction fees are enough to convince investors to make the move.

Nano’s rebrand may come as a surprise, but the change is worth as the name is friendly and easy to remember. That’s what the Nano team wants. As most crypto coins have to deal with the high-energy consumption issue. But Nano strives to present a light and friendly alternative with great benefits for the customer. The roadmap also features impressive expansion updates that will boost the adoption of this altcoin fast enough.

Stratis

Stratis is another promising crypto coin built as a blockchain-as-a-service platform. It can be done in C# programming language with tools to create customized blockchains. Its main goals are to deliver simple and low-cost solutions for financial, medical, and technological entities that need to deploy apps for their business.

After their latest announcement on a new partnership with Gluon, an automotive platform, and the entrant of Mahesh Chand, Microsoft’s Regional Director, Stratis is set to scale new heights as it strives to address some dissatisfaction within its community. The current roadmap contains some key progress. Including smart contracts, a full node Mainnet beta release, sidechains, and a developed ICO platform. All these to try to improve user experience on their platform. That can entice additional organizations to adopt Stratis as their main decentralized platform. More customers mean more token exchanges which will increase of Stratis.

Conclusion

Blockchain technologies have much to offer regarding reduced transactions cost and a way to conduct business easily. But they are not an overnight success. These cryptocurrencies are not flawless and just like the situation now, the market is so volatile that it’s hard to predict what might happen to these crypto coins tomorrow. Most of the time, it’s just investing time and money to see what works. But with the basic information available on the probable direction some of these crypto coins are headed. It is a great tip to keep you updated on how they might fair. However, no prediction is accurate and there is a variety of different ICOs in the market that you could decide to pick any and hope it hits the jackpot.

So, keep watch of these big movers that are expected to make a huge impact in the cryptocurrency market in 2018?