The biggest barrier to cryptocurrencies for the average person is the huge learning curve in getting up to speed with how crypto works. Blockchain technology is a foreign concept. The volatility of the markets relative to traditional investment is unheard of. Yet, on the plus side these factors result in a technological Wild West where people can still make a fortune in a relatively short timeframe.
For those who do get acquainted, once you are up to date with key information, it takes a sizeable amount of time every week to keep on top of recent news and developments. Fortunately for us, there are writers on this platform who make this job a lot less time consuming and far more interesting (shoutout to 
This is where Steemit really shines, as it is the only blockchain based platform that has disguised itself so well you'd be forgiven for forgetting you are interfacing with a blockchain at all. If you pulled a random set of users of a similar social media platform such as Reddit, it is unlikely many would suspect the back-end of Steemit to be any different - and that is fantastic! As an aside, they would also most likely never return to Reddit...
Interfacing with the Graphene blockchain underneath Steemit is so easy that people with zero blockchain or crypto experience can not only use Steemit easily, but turn a significant profit. This is going to see huge numbers of people abandoning traditional social media in favour of the Steemit platform.
As crypto continues its fluctuating climb to larger market caps, the value of STEEM will also likely overtake many of its crypto competitors. This is due to the value proposition laws of connectivity platforms (such as social media), where platform value is roughly proportional to the square of its user base, instead of being linear. A fixed rewards pool and a growing user base will force the price up - a huge benefit for early adopters.
Steemit Is an Opportunity for Businesses and Investing
Despite all the current possibilities and users of the platform we are already seeing, catering to a huge variety of interests, Steemit has yet to see much attention from the advertising business. As the userbase of the platform grows, it is going to become increasingly attractive for businesses to set up shop on the blockchain and advertise their wares. The great thing about Steemit is that to get more of a voice, or more of a presence, you must be invested in the platform. Coca-cola wants to show up on the platform? Great - they will need to buy in so they can upvote themselves and get noticed. The price of STEEM goes up. On the other hand, advertising can never be too overbearing. If the userbase does not like a pushy account, they are flagged and disappear back into the depths.
The Steemit platform also offers an incredible safe store of value in its SBD - which is pegged to the USD through the value of STEEM. Forget about having to run a wallet to keep USDT, or worrying about your pegged assets sitting on an exchange! You can store value safely on the platform itself. That being said, and remembering that this is in no way investment advice, you're much better off converting those SBD to STEEM. Leveraging your Steem Power for the good of the platform is key to seeing the value of your investment increase.
Steemit and the Future
You are currently interfacing with the premier social media platform, on the fastest and most innovative blockchain (Graphene), and are doing so in the platform's infancy. People would kill to have this opportunity looking back 5 years from now, so make the most of it!
Find your niche, add value to the community, and the community will add value to you. Looking forward with great anticipation to see the wild journey this platform will take us on over the next few years!
Image credit:
Banner, Cointelegraph
