Bitcoin, perhaps the most famous cryptocurrency to date, has enjoyed more than a doubling in price this year, even after last week’s reversal that wiped off nearly $4billion of the currency’s value. Ethereum, an open-source blockchain that can be used by anyone as a decentralized ledger, has its own cryptocurrency called ether, has also grown wildly in popularity, with some analysts expecting that ether and the Ethereum network will surpass bitcoin in value and functionality. Ethereum has recently garnered global interest due to a steep price increase, when it hit $227 last week, a 2,747.9 percent increase since January 1, 2017, before starting a noticeable correction. It started the year trading at only $8.
Ethereum technology was designed to support smart contract applications and to automate complicated physical and financial supply chain procedures that involve multiple parties. Among the newest companies testing its applications are aircraft manufacturer Airbus and John Hancock Financial. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of New York Mellon and Microsoft were among the firm’s early backers.
According to research firm Market Reports Hub, the global blockchain technology market will expand 11-fold by 2021, from $210.2 million in 2016 to $2.3 billion in 2021. However, the challenges to the industry have kept some analysts bullish on cryptocurrencies.
Challenges to the Digital Currency Market
There are several disputes plaguing the digital currency market today. First is the issue of the degree to which public or closed access should be allowed on different blockchains. Most corporations and banks which are concerned about security and compliance favor permissioned blockchains which require granted access for entry. Technology experts tend to favor “permissionless” models which are considered to be less secure, but to allow the full network of benefits to become available. Those in favor of the “permissionless” model argue that the success of the worldwide web is so pervasive because of its open model, and that such fluidity is a requirement for blockchain technology to prosper. 
The second stumbling block facing all digital currencies, including Ethereum and bitcoin, is the psychological one; the fact that skeptics are concerned that digital currencies will act like the dot-com bubble, and that overinflated prices will be reduced to pennies on the dollar. To overcome this obstacle, regulators will need to convince uses that blockchain networks are safe, and the networks themselves will need to provide reasons and proof that they are here to stay.
Finally, it must be noted that blockchain digital currencies are built upon networks that share market information, and large companies are fearful that this collaborative effort could compromise both security and growth. To this end, some large organizations such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are actively pursuing their own blockchain projects, which could compromise the growth and future success of existing market leaders.
Catalysts for Success
On the other hand, the expansion of the cryptocurrency industry, whatever the reason is, may be advantageous for current industry leaders who can position themselves as solid, reliable opportunities for investors and users. Japan’s government recently recognized digital currency as a legal form of payment, paving the way for additional countries (and private industries to do the same).
Research about digital currencies has exploded recently, with traders worldwide becoming interested in the opportunities and curious about how things work, and many willing to invest small and medium sized sums as a test. There’s no way to know how the industry will evolve, but if history and current global sentiment are any indication, the sky is the limit.