I've known bitcoin since mid-2012. Damn. I remember trading back at $13 on Mt. Gox. Unfortunately I didn't see the massive rise to over a $100 within just months the next year.
Since litecoin started in October of 2011, there's been a slew of altcoin software copies of cryptocurrency; reaching to well over 1,000 today. So without further ado, here's the
5 Cryptos I would Love to learn more about.
#1: NEM
Site - Blog - Announcement Post (2014-06-13) - Subreddit r/nem
NEM has rose through the ranks this year to rest at the Top 7th cryptocurrency traded. It literally went from a 1 Million Dollar market cap to 1 Billion Dollars and Over in just 17 months! Just knowing that, there has to be something to it.
Though I first heard about it in 2014, I did not learn much until this year seeing it recommended as a top contender to bitcoin, fighting in the ranks of Dash and Litecoin. Unfortunately everything I learned I have forgot so I must research it at this moment before the next sentence.
FEATURES that Excite Me:
- NEM has zero inflation because the full supply of 9 billion coins was released at launch
- Supposedly energy efficient block reward algorithm (Proof-of-Importance)
- Encrypted messaging system
- Has an API to allow applications to be built on top of it
#2: EOS
Site - Twitter - Announcement Post (2017-05-06) - Subreddit r/eos - Steemit
EOS seemed to come quick. It's steemit blog account started just 3 months ago with an introduction post publishedon May 14th. It took me until July to hear about it.
It launched with a crowd sale which was officially unavailable for United States citizens to purchase. This alone made it interested and I really wanted to look at getting some but still have not. Here's a video to learn more about EOS
FEATURES that Excite Me:
- Platform for Decentralized applications
- Claimed to be the 'Ethereum Killer'
- PLUS it's made by Steem's creator Dan Larimer!
- It launched on ethereum! - That's like if bitcoin was initially sold via paypal, how ironic and triumphant if it overtakes ethereum in the end
#3: Ripple
Site - Dev Blog - WIKI - Subreddit r/Ripple
Ripple is still an enigma to me. It's been around many years (since 2012). I think many hardcore cryptocurrency enthusiasts can relate to me when I say my initial beliefs and gut are telling me ripple is the centralized institutional currency we don't want to mess with. It is anti-bitcoin in terms of freedom; akin to the ECoin* part of the debate for digital currency in the show Mr. Robot.
In Sep 2013 apparently they announced it open source which is interested, as well as some kind of "lock-up" in June this year which I know nothing about. Whether it's 'evil' or not, I would love to know more about it seeing how old it is and how well established. It doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon, that's for sure.
FEATURES that Excite Me:
- Payment protocol that's aged
- Possible 'bad-guy' in the cryptoverse, something to be striving to defeat and overtake
#4: NEO
Site - Blog - Announcement Post (2016-08-01) - Subreddit r/Antshares - White Paper
My #4 pick was a very hard one. My original thought was Monero as it was a privacy oriented coin competing with Dash just a few months ago. Right now it's at the #14 spot. I also was intrigued by many newcomers jumping up recently like Stratis, OmiseGo and IOTA which is worth nearly 3 Billion! IOTA is worth more than Litecoin OR Dash and it's only been trading for months
Since coinmarketcap has tracked its price in September 2016, NEO was trading for less than $2 since until June this year where it shot up 400% to over $10 and eventually around $40 where it stands now. It was originally called Antshares but rebranded as Neo in June which makes sense for the price rise. I'm sure glad they renamed it!
FEATURES that Excite Me:
- Name is awesome
- Rebranding and huge price rise makes it very exciting
- New smart contract system, the 'Chinese Ethereum'
- Support for and plans to implement multiple programming languages
#5: Ethereum
Honestly I'm embarrassed about this one. I missed the main boat. And then lost (or misplaced?) my small holding during the btce fiasco recently.
Now with blockchain adding ethereum, I'm even more regretful. This is really their first implementation of another cryptocurrency after they started in 2011.
FEATURES that Excite Me:
- Silicon Valley backing
- Enthusiastic fanbase
- It's not a currency but a smart contract platform for applications
That's it!
What do you think: Agree or disagree?
Which cryptocurrencies are you excited about right now?