bitcoin-price-surge

High Hopes for Bitcoin in 2021 As It Soars to Record-Breaking Heights

The world of crypto was one of the few areas that were not as adversely affected by all that happened in 2020. As a matter of fact, it is safe to say that the sector even went on to balloon as more people had time to get acquainted with it and chose to go with it as a safe haven of sorts. Perhaps the biggest success story is that of Bitcoin which has been enjoying a lot of great publicity towards the end of 2020 and during the first few days of January 2021.

On Monday, Bitcoin traded at $33,365 which while still very impressive is over $1,000 short of its record high of a whopping $34,800 – the digital currency hit the record high on Sunday, January 3. Needless to say, this is a huge milestone for the digital currency especially because its current price is an increase of 800 percent from its price in Mid-March. That was right before the pandemic began to wreak havoc in many parts of the globe.

High Hopes for 2021

As the world struggles to get back to how things were before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the world of crypto seems to be gearing up for an even better year ahead. Now more than ever more people are well aware of the benefits that crypto has to offer and that seems to be driving the insatiable appetite for digital assets such as Bitcoin.

One of the reasons why Bitcoin has taken center-stage can be attributed to its supply cap which many believe is a hedge against the risk of inflation especially now as some government and central banks turn on stimulus taps. Moreover, fears of a weaker dollar have led investors to look for safe-havens comparable to gold – Bitcoin has fitted that bill for lots of them.

According to experts from Fundstrat, an independent financial research firm, all that is happening right now in the world of crypto may have already happened back in 2017. The same “parabolic rise” we witnessed back then is making a comeback albeit on a much larger scale.

“We believe the conditions remain in place for a continued rally in bitcoin and crypto more broadly over the next 6-12 months. Institutional and corporate buying, regulatory de-risking, and retail stimulus demand are factors that have led to an increase in positive momentum, which we believe can continue.”

David Grider, Fundstrat’s digital asset strategist.

For any crypto-related business, 2021 is certainly going to be an interesting year. Besides the anticipated growth, there is a lot of optimism that crypto could finally get the mainstream attention it deserves.

online-poker

Lockdown Turns More People Towards Online Poker and Casinos

The coronavirus pandemic is a very serious issue not just because of the impacts it has had on the world thus far but also because of the long-term effect it will have on the economy and individuals. Now, there are a number of steps that have been taken in order to help fight the virus and perhaps the most important one is social-distancing. Staying at home and avoid social gathering is a key component in the fight to contain the spread of the virus.

Naturally, staying at home and having no access to social places such as casinos is very tough for some people. However, since you have to stay home as part of your social responsibility to protect yourself and others, you might as well find something to keep you busy during these difficult times.

That said, online gambling has been a great pass time for people as the world deals with the pandemic. With the cancellation of several poker events and the closure of casinos, gamblers have had to switch to online casinos and poker sites.

Is It Enough?

People who were already familiar with online poker are certainly not facing the same learning curves as other gamblers who preferred land-based gaming. Perhaps the most important factor that made land-based poker a delight for them is the social aspect of the games. Having to stay at home has been tough on many people since they are deprived of connection.

Fortunately, there are online poker platforms that have been working hard to ensure that their users feel connected despite being in isolation. Social online poker was always quite a big deal but with more players now having to stay at home, it has become even more important.

Moreover, live casino games have also seen an uptick in the number of uses looking to enjoy their services. Although when it comes to something as serious as a global pandemic that requires people to isolates themselves we need to be careful how we frame things, it is safe to say that online gaming is making the time quite bearable for very many people.

Will It Last?

Well, while online poker and casino sites may be enjoying a lot more traffic, it is important to note that the rest of the industry is taking a big hit. Many of the companies that are suffering in other sectors of gambling are likely to be the ones trying to hold the fort in the online gambling sector. This is certainly very tough since they have to deal with salvaging these other aspects of their business while at the same time keeping up with the increased demand for online gaming.

Besides, once the virus contained and things go back to normal people will return to their routines. When that happens, we might once again see a decline in online gambling activity.