No matter where you live or what your occupation is, you’ve certainly heard a lot about cryptocurrencies. Whether you already own a cryptocurrency wallet or intend to get into the cryptocurrency market, or you’re simply curious, this blog is the place for you! This website will provide you with basic information about cryptocurrencies and the newest developments in the crypto world. The blog’s name, The FutureTech Expo, comes from the 2018 Dallas convention of the same name, which inspired me to invest in and write about the cryptocurrency market.
What is Cryptocurrency
Let us first define what cryptocurrency is. Investopedia defines it thusly: ‘A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on blockchain technology—a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers. A defining feature of cryptocurrencies is that they are generally not issued by any central authority, rendering them theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation.’
Why I Created This Blog
I remember when I was still in high school that some of my older friends, already in college, were investing in cryptocurrencies. I thought it was a bad idea to spend hundreds on imaginary currency, but my friends were convinced their gamble would pay off in the future. The prognosis back then wasn’t very optimistic. I still remember how the memes of the early 2010s made fun of crypto investors. I laughed at the memes and at my friends before Bitcoin’s price started steadily going up until it reached $20,089 per coin in December 2017. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I became interested in cryptocurrency, and so did the mainstream political and economic world. However, it wasn’t until an eye-opening convention that I became serious about cryptocurrency.
Approximately ten months after Bitcoin’s divisive victory, I attended the FutureTech Expo Convention. The three-day convention, taking place between 14 and 16 September 2018 in Dallas, Texas, was billed as a conversation about the new economic revolution. The event organizers made their opinion about the cryptocurrency nay-sayers clear: ‘you were wrong, we were right. Either get on with the times, or risk to become obsolete.’ The convention was attended by industry insiders, early adopters (like my smart friends), existing/growing industry companies, FutureTech/Blockchain startups, investors, tech journalists, and mere enthusiasts (like myself).
FutureTech Expo nourished an environment where everyone felt welcome. One could go with the goal to score a partnership or to simply learn from the very best about cryptocurrency. The speakers were industry leaders such as Randi Zuckerberg (Founder & CEO of Zuckerberg Media), Mark Yusko (Founder of Morgan Creek Capital Mgmt), Tim Draper (Founder of DFJ Ventures) and Dustin Byington (President of Wanchain), among others. They shared their practical experiences with cryptocurrency and, in some cases, how they developed their cryptocurrency businesses. There were also conversations about possible governmental regulations of cryptocurrencies headed by enforcement attorney David Hirsch. Not everyone was thrilled about regulation, and on the other side, there was Lyn Ulbricht, the mother of Ross Ulbricht or the creator of SilkRoad, who received two life sentences+40 years for creating the biggest online black market to use cryptocurrencies. Some perceive Ross as a public enemy, while others perceive him as a visionary who attempted to create the ultimate free market by scrapping government regulations and offering anonymity to its users via cryptocurrency. It was interesting to hear this perspective on cryptocurrency, which wasn’t simply geared towards profit but also towards personal liberty.
FutureTech Expo not only taught me about cryptocurrency, but it made me more open-minded to new concepts, which might sound scary at first. I hope this blog serves the same purpose for its readers.
