I also think that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have the potential to become a mainstream form of payment at shops within the next decade but it will require them to make progress on challenges such as scalability, design and regulation. Throughout history payment forms have evolved with the aim of reducing payment friction. For this reason bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies represent a viable technological update to how we spend money in shops and in fact the global economy. In addition given the speed of change in the digital age perhaps 2025 is a conservative prediction.

Some useful points raised in previous posts. Thanks. It’s also important to not forget to secure your project’s website because it is a platform through which the transactions are performed and funds raised to support the project.

Bitcoin remains the most visible and frequently traded cryptocurrency whilst Ethereum has great commercial application. I would rather have an investment in both instead of cashing in the one to invest in the other.

I think an investment in NEO has a lot more potential to grow. There is already an influx of ICOs developing on NEO  and this trend is likely to continue. And as it does, NEO’s price will most likely also increase. Additionally, and perhaps a (very) long shot, just imagine China lifts the ban on ICOs and exchanges. If that happens and NEO stay the course they are currently on, then they will be perfectly placed to capture the Chinese ICO market. The resulting numbers would be frightening.

I came across some major global insurers which are starting to offer protection against cryptocurrency theft, namely, XL Catlin, Chubb, and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance. Usually when big players enter the fray other firms will follow suit to avoid missing out on this rapidly growing business. This is good news for our ecosystem and investors who will now have increased confidence that their investments are protected even further.

ICO rating sites are a vital part of the ecosystem and can play an important role in guiding investors who lack the time to thoroughly research a project themselves. However, not all ICO rating websites are created equal. Currently, some ICO rating sites have very few reviews and ratings and the screening process of "experts" responsible for the reviews still require improvement. This means that a single review from a non-expert can significantly improve and ICOs rating from say 3.5 to 4.5 which may be a true reflection of the project's strength but can also easily skew reality. As with any project/product the more verified reviews by real experts the better. I do believe that in time stricter controls will have a positive effect and we will see the user base of ICO rating websites grow in numbers as well as quality.

Banks are naturally resistant to it because it acts as competition but eventually they are going to have to accept bitcoin as a form of payment because of market pressures. Banking is extremely competitive and once one bank does something the others have to follow or they risk losing customers.

The reason I invest/ purchase crypto currency is to support/grow the crypto economy by purchasing  goods and services at merchants that support crypto currency transactions. I reckon crypto currency will become mainstream in the next 5-10 years, hence I will continue to invest and exchange my FIAT as more blockchain initiatives and merchants come to the fore.

Some suggest that when the market dips it is a good time to invest however this can be very challenging because that would require the market to be in a general upwards trend. An alternative strategy would be to find quality coins with trustworthy teams who you believe can ride out the dip in the market in which instance you can confidently hold on to you investment.

Cardano has caught my attention recently. It is a dapp-building platform with its own native currency — ADA. It has not offered as high a return as some of the other altcoins however eToro recently added it to their exchange which gives it significant exposure. Could be one to watch.

As ICOs or coins are continually added to the crypto ecosphere, a bounty hunter’s collection of coins  is unlikely to to return to the value it held initially. However, if a project and coin in question is able to upgrade and improve features, it is fair to expect the bounty hunters assets to increase its value and may exceed the originally value. Perhaps the best strategy is to monitor a projects progress and make a decision based on that rather then just to follow the markets movements which tends to be quite volatile at best.

Since the total number of Bitcoins that can be created is finite, the currency is inherently deflationary, meaning it has a positive expected return. However, such a financial instrument usually goes hand in hand with large crashes and bubbles(volatility). Fortunately the interest in Bitcoin and the amount of use cases means that Bitcoin will be around for a very long time making it a good investment that will grow slowly in the long term. That’s why I hold Bitcoin.

Bitcoin itself is secure, but bitcoins are only as secure as the wallet storing them. So if you are serious about investing in Bitcoin it’s best to get a wallet that’s built with security in mind, for example, Ledger Nano S or a Trezor and make sure you are the only one in control of your wallet.

A project’s whitepaper serves as a good starting point to decide whether the ICO in question is worth persuing. The next avenue to explore would be to join the projects community. This would give good insight into the team responsible for running the project.

If I had to choose one coin aside from Bitcoin and Ethereum that can last for the next 5 years then it would be Monero . Monero is safe and secure but it’s defining characteristic is anonymity which is very useful for a businesses and individuals  to transact privately.

I hope the launch of Augur REP’s new smart contracts on the Ethereum platform is a success. Being a huge fan of this project this update along with the recent big-name hires to further develop the platform can only propel the company forward.

Ethereum blockchain technology has played an important role in attracting the corporate world, specifically as a result of the benefits associated with the application of smart contracts that automate complex processes. With this in mind it is not far fetched that it could eventually overtake Bitcoin. Given Ethereum's success in the corporate sphere makes it easy to support and remain enthusiastic about the project.

Reduced transaction fees will probably boost demand for Bitcoin as well as  the technology that underpins it. Reduced fees may very well  encourage businesses to explore/implement the technology actively across their sector. Obviously this is not to say that other factors such as organisational and technical hurdles would get in the way, but it is a foreword step which will can only boost implementation.

ICOs are most probably going to stand the test of time but will have to adapt to new regulations and market forces. It may be the case that new regulatory and technical frameworks actually encourage a different type of ICO that has greater potential to disrupt the traditional venture capitalist funding methods.

Thank you for identifying these issues and providing useful tips and solutions to avoid being scammed. The crypto currency sphere needs this type of vigilance to attract more users in the future. It is really helpful. Much appreciated!