This series of events happened to me all in one month that makes me wonder if digital currency and blockchain technology are hitting mainstream or if these are signs of a hype or even bubble(s):
- Family dinner table talk on Bitcoin. Teenage daughter mentions she learned about Bitcoin from her world history class (for 10th graders). Other family member(s) talked about a story on National Public Radio (NPR) that the deadly ransomware hacker was demanding payments in Bitcoin. The conversation then had a life of its own, ranging from globalization and inequality to the functions of money.
- A few friends and ex-colleagues whom I haven't heard from in years suddenly ping me asking for advice on whether they should drop cash (invest) in Bitcoin or Litecoin.
- A friend--who is a new parent--texts me at midnight to vent about his waking hours changing diapers between Ether trades on Coinbase. The large exchange experienced major processing delays in Ether transactions amidst unprecedented trading activity with a rapid price appreciation (~2000% from last year).
Coinbase - Ether price skyrockets
- Ethereum makes mainstream on CNBC, NY Times and other major media outlets. When was the last time you heard arcane phrases like "smart contracts" and "global ledger" from your nightly news?