Don't Panic! Blockchain and Hashgraph
The technology behind crypto may be moving along quickly even before the world is catching up and using it, (or reaching new heights in a major bull run) but the trick is just... not to panic. Hold on to your pyjamas.
Ethereum is still the widest use of blockchain and development there is right now tackling real business cases and implementations.
Newer forms of blockchains may well be on the rise but it doesn't mean businesses will flock into their untried and tested embraces.
Neo, Eos, Nexus, Vechain, Nano etc... sure they've all got some pretty interesting stuff going on and development should be rich in 2018. You can lose your mind trying to keep up with it all.
They're definitely worthy of bit of investment but I'd tread carefully.
Hashgraph via swirlds (not open source or open to everyday investors) : Sure, they may sound the most promising and have a decent, ambitious plan to revolutionise things... but time will tell in terms of what actually gets implemented and brought to fruition moving into 2019.
Just as interesting for 2018 is watching how Ethereum(etc)-based projects/ blockchain-based currencies do their best to move the planet forward into crypto. You've got to invest in today, not always what might be on the horizon.
Some people say that the most effective solutions may ultimately involve a hybrid or blend of Hashgraph and Blockchain type chains for fast transactions (with security?). But which companies will be the one to harness or leverage this via partnerships.
Let's remember the old history of Betamax versus VHS video tapes.
Rome wasn't built in a day. In the meantime let's get using/earning crypto and supporting the current tech that exists today and is still great to use, but with its work cut out. Maybe it will reach its limit and have to change and evolve, but probably not before its reached its full potential... here in 2018... and probably beyond...
[I plan to do more entries about my researches into decentralised apps and sites where you can spend or earn your digital coins. Sure, if I can spend them down the coffee shop sooner or later, that'd also be nice.]
Your comments welcome re: researches on Hashgraph/blockchain tech, spending/earning crypto welcome... and please follow/add your vote :)