Is 2018 the Year of Blockchain?
2017 was the year bitcoin's value grew by leaps and bounds, from slightly below $1,000 at the beginning to roughly $20,000 by the end. For every pundit declaring bitcoin a fad, there are multiple people investing with confidence – some projections even predict its value will reach $1 million per coin by the end of 2020. But for all the optimism, it might be bitcoin’s underlying technology that holds the most potential for the future.
Blockchain, the foundational element of cryptocurrency that functions as decentralized transaction ledger, is being applied creatively in diverse fields far beyond bitcoin as people embrace its transparency, efficiency, and security. Among the industries implementing blockchain are:
Investing
Initial coin offerings, or ICOs, allow entrepreneurs and startups to raise capital by issuing their own variety of coins or tokens directly to the public. These tokens allow companies an efficient way to get funding without giving up equity or being saddled with repayments at a high-interest rate, and the tokens can ultimately be used to purchase goods or services from the issuing company.
Media
The same tokens used to raise capital for a platform can also be used to incentivize participation with it – users can receive tokens for uploading content to a video website or adding friends to a social network. These tokens benefit the network and the people who the network is composed of, a crucial difference from current network-focused business models. There are companies competing with heavy-hitters like YouTube and Wikipedia, as well as interesting organizations like Civil, a journalism platform built on blockchain.
Public records
Blockchains are secure because of their decentralized nature – hackers would theoretically need to hack every computer in a network, spread around the world, to make a change to the ledger. This makes it a natural fit for record-keeping, and several countries like the Republic of Georgia and Estonia are experimenting with uses like putting land titles on the ledger and giving citizens access to medical records, respectively.
Foreign aid
Because blockchain records every step of a transaction, it can help eliminate fraudulent payments for aid agencies like the United Nations’ World Food Programme. They can even be used for conditional aid payments, where recipients only receive money upon confirmation of their identity. UNICEF and the World Bank will both be releasing blockchain projects in 2018.
The sky is the limit for blockchain. In addition to the previously-mentioned examples, the technology is making a difference in health insurance, voting reform, medical data, and more. Blockchain has the potential to help humanity in ways far beyond cryptocurrency, and 2018 may be the year these innovations start to enter our lives in increasingly-prominent ways.
Contributor
Financial analyst and market blogger with expertise in equity research, fundamental analysis, and macroeconomic trends. I regularly publish coverage on individual stocks, ETFs, and sector developments — combining rigorous financial analysis with clear, engaging writing for a broad investment audience.
BTC.X in -1.07% downward trend, declining for three consecutive days on October 06, 2026
Moving lower for three straight days is viewed as a bearish sign. Keep an eye on this stock for future declines. Considering data from situations where BTC.X declined for three days, in 133 of 446 cases, the price declined further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 30%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for BTC.X moved out of overbought territory on October 05, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 44 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 12 of the 44 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 27%.
The Stochastic Oscillator entered the overbought zone. Expect a price pull-back in the foreseeable future.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for BTC.X turned negative on September 29, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 66 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 14 of the 66 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 21%.
BTC.X broke above its upper Bollinger Band on September 21, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 03, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on BTC.X as a result. In 42 of 145 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 29%.
The 50-day moving average for BTC.X moved above the 200-day moving average on September 08, 2026. This could be a long-term bullish signal for the stock as the stock shifts to an upward trend.
Following a +2.35% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where BTC.X advanced for three days, in 124 of 424 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 29%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 112 of 380 cases where BTC.X Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 29%.
Market Cap
High and low price notable news
Volume
Fundamental Analysis Ratings
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
Advertisement
Advertisement