But whether that growth is sustainable, and what it means long-term, is still in question. “This crypto, blockchain technology, the public interest in it right now is being driven by a kind of speculative fever,” says Dr. Richard Smith, executive director of the Foundation for the Study of Cycles, a nonprofit organization dedicated to studying recurring patterns throughout economies and cultures.
When Bitcoin’s price exploded in late 2017, so did the interest of the general public in cryptocurrencies. Internet searches for Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and crypto prices skyrocketed. Many people weren’t able to resist the fear of missing out on the massive gains the early adopters were experiencing as crypto prices rose quickly. When the inevitable correction came and crypto prices fell, those who bought towards the end of the bull run immediately saw the value of their holdings halved. Despair and anguish followed, but the enthusiasm of the crypto community hasn’t faltered.

Dow, the man who first shorted bitcoin, for instance, even mentioned in his initial post that a person can be “simultaneously bullish on blockchain and bearish on bitcoin.” And he just announced that he’s ending his short.
But whether that growth is sustainable, and what it means long-term, is still in question. “This crypto, blockchain technology, the public interest in it right now is being driven by a kind of speculative fever,” says Dr. Richard Smith, executive director of the Foundation for the Study of Cycles, a nonprofit organization dedicated to studying recurring patterns throughout economies and cultures.