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What to Expect in 2019: BTC, BAT, and Steem

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There are only a few weeks of 2018 left, and considering how bearish and crypto-unfriendly this year was, a lot of investors will likely be pleased to see it gone. Many believe that 2019 will be the year that will correct BTC prices and bring forth the period of great recovery.

But what does that mean for digital currencies? Which ones are a good investment right now? This is something that we will, hopefully, be able to answer right now. Here are the top 3 coins that everyone should keep an eye on in 2019.

1. Bitcoin (BTC)

Of course, we have to start with Bitcoin, the first and largest cryptocurrency. Bitcoin has lost a lot in 2018, and its losses are unparalleled by any other coin. In fact, in terms of market cap, Bitcoin has lost as much as the rest of the crypto market put together.

Many believe that its rapid growth, which started in late 2017 and has brought it to its all-time high, is responsible. That the bearish 2018 was only a one large price correction of the last year’s price surge. Even if this is true, price corrections, luckily, all end sooner or later, and when this one comes to a close, Bitcoin will likely be ready for a big comeback.

2019 is expected to bring a lot that will serve BTC’s rise to dominance. Many of the things expected to arrive are actually only events that were already supposed to happen in 2018. Instead, they got delayed. These include things like the Bakkt exchange, as well as the potential approval of Bitcoin ETFs. Many experts agree that moves such as these will be the final thing that will convince institutions to start taking part in the “crypto revolution”, and start buying coins. If this actually happens, Bitcoin’s price might be capable of even exceeding its old $20,000-per-coin value. Why not invest in it while it’s still only $4,000?

2. Basic Attention Token (BAT)

BAT is a token that many are expecting to see on the rise in 2019 due to its goal of revolutionizing the way companies interact with consumers. Until now, large firms needed to spend huge amounts of money on advertising, most of which ended up in possession of middlemen between companies and consumers, such as Facebook, Google, and alike.

Consumers may or may not see these ads, but the company in question still had to pay for them. Then, BAT token appeared, and it came as a part of a new browser called Brave. Brave has its own advantages over other browsers such as Chrome or Firefox, including high speed, a built-in ad block, and much more.

However, Brave also allows users to watch the ads of their own free will, and make money while doing it. That way, companies will get feedback from consumers directly, and consumers themselves have a reason to watch the ads in the first place. Watching ads is paid in BAT tokens that can then be used for tipping your favorite content creator or website.

The system is still being tested, although many assume that it will kick off in 2019 and that the same will happen to BAT price. For now, BAT holds the rank of 30 on the list of largest cryptos by market cap, with a price of $0.154. In 2019, BAT is expected to grow to $0.23 in January, with a max potential price being $0.28. After that, the coin is expected to gradually grow throughout the year, possibly getting to an average price of $0.31 in late 2019, or hitting the maximum price of $0.39. Of course, if a bull run hits the market, this growth will be subjected to change.

3. Steem (STEEM)

STEEM is a coin that is also expected to grow in 2019, as its community continues to grow. STEEM uses its blockchain to create an entire group of interesting platforms that can replace many of today’s most popular social networks. Creators on these social networks are paid in small amounts of STEEM coins for posting content, but only if their content is upvoted by others.

This is a simple concept, but one that can bring a huge change once the project receives more attention. Some experts believe that this is the future of social networks, where decentralized services will make large companies obsolete. While it will likely take years and years for this to happen (if it happens at all), many believe that this is what the future on the internet will look like.

At the time of writing, STEEM holds the 51st rank on the list of largest coins, meaning that it has dropped quite low in recent months. However, this has happened to many others, and even Ethereum, the famous 2nd largest cryptocurrency — eventually lost its rank to XRP. That doesn’t mean that these coins can make a comeback, but they require support from their communities.

As for the future, experts believe that STEEM will grow by at least 30% in 2019, although this prediction is also based on the coin’s behavior in the past, and can be changed due to several potential factors, including bull runs. Steem is currently also quite cheap, with its price being only $0.31, which makes it a great long-term investment. If platforms like Steemit are the future, then getting STEEM now is a very smart move for forward-looking individuals.

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Disclaimer: This article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide, investment advice. Global Coin Report and/or its affiliates, employees, writers, and subcontractors are cryptocurrency investors and from time to time may or may not have holdings in some of the coins or tokens they cover. Please conduct your own thorough research before investing in any cryptocurrency and read our full disclaimer.

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Bitcoin Price Dumps Below $41,000 Amid Uncertainty

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Bitcoin price dumped hard on Monday, briefly slipping below $41,000, erasing gains recorded in the previous week. The premier cryptocurrency seems to have exhausted its recent rally propelled by industry vulnerabilities. At the time of writing, the world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading slightly lower at $41,385. Bitcoin’s total market cap has dipped by 2% over the past day, while the total volume of BTC tokens traded over the same period climbed by 58%.

Fundamentals

Bitcoin price has been facing retracements and a rollercoaster over the past few days after recently rocketing to a 20-month peak. On-chain data has suggested that many investors used the opportunity to take some profits, leading to a decline in the asset’s price.

Bitcoin’s price slump is mirrored in the wider crypto market, with the global crypto market cap decreasing by 1.85% over the past 24 hours to $1.55 trillion. The total crypto market volume has increased by 32% over the same period. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index has plunged from a level of extreme greed to a greed level of 70, suggesting a decline in risk appetite.

Ethereum, the largest altcoin by market capitalization, is currently trading at $2,167, down almost 3% for the day. Meme coins have been hit hard by the market slump, with Dogecoin and Shiba Inu down by more than 4% over the last day.

Last week on Thursday, cryptocurrency experts took notice of…

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Bitcoin Price is in Consolidation Mode Despite Market Optimism Post-Fed Decision

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Bitcoin price edged lower on Thursday despite optimism in wider markets on the back of the Fed’s interest rate decision. The flagship cryptocurrency has been consolidating above the critical level of $42,000 after briefly topping $44,000, its highest level in 20 months. Bitcoin was trading 0.71% lower at $42,569 at press time. BTC’s total market cap has increased by more than 3% over the last day to $832 billion, while the total volume of the asset traded over the same period jumped by 22%.

Economic Outlook

Bitcoin price has been trading sideways over the past few days, suggesting a pause in its recent rally towards $45,000. The premier cryptocurrency has decreased by 4% in the past week but remains 15.22% higher in the month to date. The digital asset has staged a significant recovery this year after a torrid 2022 in which a string of scandals, including the collapse of FTX, led to a market meltdown, undermining the credibility of the sector.

The crypto market has been buoyed by the Fed’s latest interest rate decision. The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its key interest rate unchanged for the third consecutive time, in line with market expectations. With the easing of the inflation rate, members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to keep the benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5.5%.

Additionally, the central bank indicated that three rate…

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Bitcoin Price Blasts $44K in Spectacular Surge as Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval Looms Large

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Bitcoin price has been hovering above the $43,000 psychological level over the past two days amid anticipation about the potential approval of a spot bitcoin ETF. The flagship cryptocurrency has climbed more than 16% in the past week and nearly 170% in the year to date. Bitcoin’s total market cap has increased by nearly 5% over the past 24 hours to $858.9 billion, while the total volume of the token traded rose by 43%. The Bitcoin price was trading at $43,914 at press time.

Fundamentals

Bitcoin price has posted significant gains over the past few days, climbing to its highest level since April 2022, before the crash of a stablecoin that started a litany of company failures, pummeling crypto prices. The world’s largest cryptocurrency briefly topped the crucial level of $44,000 on Wednesday amid rising momentum despite being massively overbought.

According to analysts, with no spot bitcoin ETF approvals yet and the halving event five to six months away, the market is riding on FOMO. Capital has been flowing in the Bitcoin market amid enthusiasm that the launches of spot ETF will bring in billions of dollars of new investment into the crypto sector.

Investors have already started providing capital as seed money for ETF products. Notably, a recent report by CoinDesk showed that the world’s largest fund manager, BlackRock, received $100,000 in capital from a seed investor for its spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund…

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