Trying to predict the markets as an analyst is literally taking a leap of faith. Most analysts who make predictions know fully well that the markets don't quite succumb to their charts and graphs, and even the very best leave out both private and public disclaimers in case of any eventuality. So we're more or less taking a gamble as far as market movements go, and traders know this. Their algorithms can work but they don't always. The failures can also be pretty steep, so I'll be very careful following any analyst blindly.

It doesn't mean analysts don't have their place in the ecosystem though. They play an important role in noticing trends and patterns and bringing them to our attention. Yet, just like economics, trying to make future predictions out of current trends with irrational humans controlling the markets is a herculean ordeal. Hence we fail many times, but without analysts we won't have a really deep understanding of how the market functions or how it even generally operates. Besides, some people have managed to figure out the art of positive trading with the so called graphs and charts, so maybe I don't even know what am insinuating.

One thing is for sure though, and that's the ecosystem cannot survive as a pure trading ground. Am a big proponent of value simply because of what it does to the long term sustainability of the system. It is value that drives optimism, because without anything backing up that optimism it becomes irrational and unsustainable. The more value that we add to the system, the longer our patience while we watch the markets grow. Traders don't necessarily have that patience, hence their reliance on predictions to take quick decisions that turn into profits. If all we rely on is time and the addition of value, then you get the feeling that eventually we'll get what we want.

Conclusion

I've also enjoyed the variety in analysis that long term focus on the crypto space provides. Take for instance the varied analysis provided by demotruk on the Hive space. Even the very detailed opinions and explanations given by edicted, another very popular Hiver. Many on the outside probably don't know that there's more to crypto that price movements and it is left to platforms like Hive to keep showing them.