Bitcoin in the News : 2016-01 Predictions

My previous 'In the News', Bitcoin in the News : 2015-12, noted that December was 'the month when [journalists] look forward to imagine what the coming year will bring'. I could say the same for January. Here is a summary of predictions.

What's Next for Bitcoin in 2016 (fortune.com):-

The bear case: 1. Reputation. 2. Still no killer app. 3. Startups shut down • The bull case: 1. Stability. 2. Blockchain. 3. Record-high VC money. • The bottom line: There are stronger arguments in favor of bitcoin in 2016 than against it.

5 Big Questions for Bitcoin Growth in 2016 (fxstreet.com):-

1. How will scalability be solved?
2. Will reward halving affect price?
3. Will bitcoin platforms attract developers?
4. Will we see a killer app?
5. Will we see autonomous transactions?

4 Trends That Will Shape Bitcoin Regulation in 2016 (coindesk.com):-

1. Policing of onramps and offramps
2. Spotlight on terror financing
3. Scrutiny of blockchain applications
4. Bitcoin's reputation improved

Thought Bitcoin Was Dead? 2016 Is the Year It Goes Big (wired.com):-

As Coinbase’s Adam White sees it, 2015 was the year that the blockchain moved beyond digital currency. Many observers saw this as bitcoin’s "great pivot" -- where its true purpose moved away from online money. But White believes that 2016 is the year the pundits realize that the digital currency can still change the world.

"We’re going to come full circle back to bitcoin," he says. "In 2015, we saw a lot of financial institutions, banks, thought leaders say: ‘It’s not about bitcoin, it’s about blockchain.’ That is a mistruth."

2015 Was Do or Die for Bitcoin Miners But Promise Lies Ahead (coindesk.com again):-

Just as in 2014, we saw attrition in mining operations (and among manufacturers) – the less favorable economic conditions meant many were unable to survive. The explosion of hashrate coming from China eclipsed operations in other parts of the world, and we quickly found the conditions at which many operations had to 'blink first'.

[The Challenges:] First-mover (dis)advantage; Nobody loves bitcoin; Block-size debate; Optimizing expenses; Competition at industrial scale; Corporate integration

7 Emerging Trends For Bitcoin and the Blockchain (coindesk.com for the third time):-

1. Blockchain apps will be released
2. Regulatory scrutiny of applications will increase
3. Bitcoin the currency will continue to grow
4. Interest in use cases outside payments will pick up
5. Bitcoin's price will continue its recent rally through 2016
6. Consortia will prove to be important
7. VC money will flow to blockchain startups

Looks like my bitcoin blogging is on the right track. I know what the experts are talking about, even if I couldn't have put a list together myself. For my next 'In the News : 2016-01' post, I'll look at the other stories from January.