Ultra HD, 4K, 8K Time Lapse Stock Footage Showreel 2012 – Night Rush Around the World 3 from HDtimelapse.net on Vimeo.

Despite the almost libertarian premise and a noble goal of complete decentralization, realistically, blockchain technology will not be able to avoid at least some level of government regulation. And while some of them seek complete control over the technology, others embrace it. Here are the countries that do more than simply accept blockchain tech:

• Singapore
• Switzerland
• Russia
• Estonia
• Gibraltar

From government-backed cryptocurrency like ESTcoin, to Switzerland’s ‘Crypto Valley’, you can learn how those countries support blockchain technology for our special video report.

Streets of New York from Harry Garcia on Vimeo.

Despite the recent downturn, some of the experts believe that bitcoin has not exhausted its growth potential. Notably, Mike Novogratz, known for his extremely successful hedge fund management strategies, stated the following in an interview with CNBC:

Bitcoin could be at $40,000 at the end of 2018.
 

This does not mean that you should dump everything you have into bitcoin. In fact, for smaller investors, this is more likely to cause problems than anything else. Ideally, one should invest no more the 3% into the cryptocurrency.

Uncertainty and volatility seem to be inseparable from the crypto-market at this point, but it is hard to deny that the recent growth has been staggering. Just to remind you, at the start of this year, the bitcoin went for no more than $1,000. And the most recent peak has seen the coin rise to the $20k mark.

As Novogratz’s statement implies: not everyone believes the recent downward trend is going to last. Bitcoin needs to stabilize and correct the price after the hike as the current model does not seem to be particularly sustainable. This should not necessarily mark the end of the value rise, however.

How realistic is this prediction? It is difficult to tell given that this optimism is hardly unanimous in the investment community, but one thing is certain – cryptocurrency in general, and Bitcoin in particular, should not be underestimated.

Hong Kong from above from Stephane Ma on Vimeo.

Recent move to Hong Kong of the Chinese cryptocurrency exchanges, coupled with the surging prices, attracted thousands of new investors, but not all of them have a clear idea of what they are getting into.

After testing the waters with smaller investments, quite a few Hong Kong users have decided to increase their stakes in the leading cryptocurrency, swamping the relatively inexperienced exchanges with orders. For the customers that are used to immediate assistance and pretty much direct access to purchased commodities, the realities of the bitcoin exchanges that are unable to handle the load might be pretty frustrating. Some would have to wait for weeks for their orders to be approved. Given the volatility of the market, it’s clear why some of the customers find these inevitable delays discouraging.

The influx of new investors who scarcely understand the realities of the cryptocurrency market and are simply looking to make a quick profit endangers the budding industry. The risk of collapse, in tis turn, invites more potential regulation from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) – hardly a desirable outcome for the local cryptocurrency platforms.

Knowing and accepting the risks associated with the cryptocurrency trading is the crucial part of navigating the current market. And rushing into the scene in hopes to ‘win big’ is more likely to hurt both the investors and the future of the technology in general.