Recently Coindesk, an excellent news source for all thing cryptocurrency, published a list of the top 10 most influential people in Bitcoin this year (http://www.coindesk.com/10-influential-people-bitcoin-year/). This article highlights both villains and heroes within the community. Heroes such as Marc Andreessen best known for early browser development in the beginning stages of the internet who has become an avid Bitcoin supporter and investor. As well as villains to the likes of Mark Karpeles, CEO of the collapsed MtGox bitcoin exchange, which cast a looming shadow over the industry for the year. Rarely was there an introductory meeting where I would not have to answer questions regarding the negligence displayed in their office.
Now while it is certainly hard to name just 10 people from truly a list of dozens, most of which are well behind the scenes, I do believe that Coindesk certainly identified the most public, outside of their selection of the anonymous Satoshi of course. These individuals certainly shaped the cryptocurrency landscape as we see it today and continue to do so on a daily basis. But I believe that Coindesk left out one incredibly important person from this list. YOU.
Bitcoin 2014 had its ups and downs, starting the year at over $770 and descending to near $300. But the success of Bitcoin has solely been on the shoulders of the users and merchants, ie: YOU. Even though the valuation of the currency itself has fluctuated, the acceptance rate has not, for 2014 was about one thing and that is adoption. The continued record setting transactional volume seen on the blockchain in addition to the number of new users signing up for a variety of bitcoin services continues to speak volumes as to the true global phenomenon that bitcoin represents. Even the number of global merchants partnering up with payment processing services seems to climb at an accelerating rate. It has been the network and the armies of individuals embracing bitcoin that have allowed for the success.
The Coin Tree is focused at fast-tracking adoption even further in 2015 by producing technology and services that continue to lower the barrier of entry for new users. Changing the targeted customer of highly educated individuals between their early 20’s-early 40’s to a significantly broader moderately educated 18-55 age range. What is seemingly a small step in extending the funnel is indeed a leap into the mainstream.
By: Andrew Durgee
CEO – The Coin Tree
