Looking Forward: 2018 Cryptocurrency Predictions BY MATTHEW HICKEY · JANUARY 16, 2018 1 2018 Will be a Decisive Year for Cryptocurrency 2017 proved to be one of the most successful years for Bitcoin and altcoins as mentioned previously. But will 2018 be just as good? Here are some 2018 cryptocurrency predictions which will change how cryptocurrencies develop forever. Institutional Investors “Hedge funds ready to go short on bitcoin” – Pensions&Investments It is unknown how institutional investors may affect the stability or volatility of cryptocurrency support. With the introduction of futures trading for Bitcoin in December of 2017, the cryptocurrency market opened to a much wider audience. Market penetration will continue to improve as cryptocurrencies may become investments in typically conservative funds, such as pensions. This can mean the introduction of ETFs for shorting can also have a profound impact. How this will affect pricing and the network is boung to flourish. Government Intervention Governments have been watching Bitcoin long enough to know how to act, but how will the public respond? Governments around the world haven’t gone a blind eye towards the growth of cryptocurrencies. From Russia, China, and The United States, governments have been watching Bitcoin for years now. It is time for them to take action. This could be like Australia, or it could be like New York. It’s difficult to say how this will change things. In 2017, China looked to ban cryptocurrency, but ultimately failed. Now China is looking to regulate Bitcoin mining in the mainland. Government Issued Cryptocurrencies? Great Britain hasn’t quite ditched their plans to release their own cryptocurrency, but this could be disrupted with the unknown effect of leaving the EU. It is clear to us that some government will look to issue their own cryptocurrency as the benefits outweigh the costs. Many opponents believe this could help enforce the “digital divide”. At the very least, the very announcement of a government created cryptocurrency could affect millions of people.