Yesterday, the forum had 530 users online at the same time; the most recorded since October 17th. As a result, January 2012 broke the seven month trend of perpetual decline in forum statistics.
While it has been well established that these numbers are lagging indicators, the trend break is definitely a sign that we're out of our rut.
In other news, I need to get a life.
Ha, yes ... the factors that would be expected to cause a price move (e.g., increase in transaction counts, a technical innovation gaining traction, etc.) aren't budging so we look to things like forum counts for validation.
ReplyDeleteCraziness.
I believe what we are seeing (in terms of the price move) is a reaction to anticipated innovations that are coming this year.
ReplyDelete"I believe what we are seeing (in terms of the price move) is a reaction to anticipated innovations that are coming this year."
ReplyDeleteI somewhat agree, GoWest - we've always priced in the future when we see it.
I note however that the financial turbulence in the EU, the recent internet crackdown in Belarus, and the somewhat realistic-appearing fears of those citizens as to 'bank holidays' and currency restrictions, make it clear that there must be *some* people worried enough to get their money out. And get it out in a way that is not easily obvious to their governments. Or discoverable at a border checkpoint.
The point was recently made on the bitcointalk forums that On Balance Volume numbers are going through the roof - that is, there's a ton of fresh money buying Bitcoin.
If I were living in Belarus or Greece or Latvia (or etc.), I'd be giving Bitcoin a long, hard look.
And - incidentally - many thanks for restoring anonymous posting.
Toni
If you walking down the street and randomly ask each person you pass if they have ever heard of Bitcoin, I want to know what proportion of those asked would respond in the affirmative. I have hunches that it would be less than 1% ... but have not conducted this survey myself.
ReplyDeleteI saw that same number yesterday and it is very postive! now go get outside! :P
ReplyDelete@Blade: much, much less than 1%. I see the glass half full on this one. It tells me prices have a long way to go (up) until when one day 10% of the people on the street have heard of it.
ReplyDelete