I don't consider myself a cryptocurrency expert. I remember talking about bitcoin when they were less than a penny per coin. (Yes I am kicking myself). I was pretty sure the government would stamp it out, plus I really had no extra money at the time. Any money I spent took food from my family. Hindsight is 20/20.
I did jump into mining Bitcoin a few times and quickly saw how much time, money, and effort had to increasingly be put into that to get less and less returns. Not my type of gig. Not worth it.
Ethereum with it's smart contracts seemed pretty promising and I had a friend who was mining quite a bit of it. I actually had downloaded all my mining programs and was getting ready to mine Eth when I signed up for bittrex. I needed a place I could exchange the eth for something else and them hopefully be able to actually buy things.
While I was on bittrex I happened to notice this currency called steem that was at +200% and at the top of the chart. I said "what is that?" I believe this was around July 7th.
I went to the website. "Get paid to write, comment, and vote" Better yet, I don't have to download a special program to get it. They even give me some for FREE. "Can this be real?"
I tried it out and pretty soon was making money. I'd actually wait almost a month before I took the journey into learning how to spend it.
That was not quite a year ago. My account is currently worth around $20K at the moment. I've also purchased between $5K and $10K worth of goods in that time. So in a best case scenario I have made $30K as an average person just participating in this website, and others that are linked to the steem blockchain.
I quickly noticed that this community is generally far more respectful and open than any other online community I have encountered. Things I thought I would be ridiculed for when I posted them I have found support, and dialog.
In reality (especially true now) those of us using steemit or other sites linked to the blockchain are MINING this currency simply by using the platform. We do not need an expensive rig, our electric bill does not increase, etc. If you put in some time you'll get something.
People will have varying degrees of success, and some may not find their niche at all, yet even if you only made $0.01 that is still more than you make at other social media sites.
I do okay with posting and making currency here now, but I've put in a lot of effort. I had fun doing it.
The steem blockchain is offering me some financial freedoms I would not have without it. The work I put into steemit is things I would do anyway and I benefit from personally. It does not feel like another job.
I learn a lot, and I am pushed.
That all translates to VAST PERSONAL INVESTED VALUE to me in the STEEM cryptocurrency.
Many people may like other cryptocurrencies but in those cases it is generally primarily driven by investment opportunities and a desire to make a buck. If they are already invested they will push it as the GREAT thing to try to get more people investing into it.
Steem has the investment in preserving and sharing our creations. That can be worth a lot more than just playing a trading game. I realized I am no trader. I don't want another job. I'm not trying to keep score with how well the small amounts of cryptos I trade can make me. It is not my thing.
I am creative, and I like to think. I also like the idea of preserving the things I create. Steem gives this to me. That is worth a lot, and I know of no other crypto that can compete with that.
Yet there is more. As far as I know Steem and Bitshares are currently running on the fastest blockchain around. This graphene based blockchain is faster than the competition. It has been running flawlessly for more than a year.
It may not have smart contracts, but that could happen. It also could bridge with EOS coming. So the smart contract thing is the biggest thing going for say Ethereum.
I believe smart contracts will likely change the way we do most things in the world. Yet, even with that people still create and like to preserve their creations.
At the moment I do believe Steem is easily the best cryptocurrency out there. This is of course my opinion. I am surprised more people have not caught on, but they seem to be starting to catch on.
I am invested in this platform for far more reasons than just money and trading.
