Ethereum (ETHUSD)

[stemcell]

Ethereum beating bitcoin this year with 8,000% surge

https://www.rt.com/business/412941-ethereum-record-high-surge-january/

The rise in value was reportedly triggered by the news that Swiss financial giant UBS is going to lead an ethereum-based blockchain platform, along with such companies as Credit Suisse, Barclays, KBC, Swiss stock exchange SIX and Thomson Reuters. The network is aimed to help the firms to comply with the European Union's Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II - an overhaul of EU rules to improve financial-market transparency.

“The news that ethereum is being used as a base identity layer in conjunction with some of the larger banking giants out there is a positive ratification of the technology,” said Charles Hayter, chief and founder of data analysis firm Crypto Compare, as quoted by CNBC.

Last weekend, bitcoin – the world’s number one virtual currency – made its first appearance on one of the major futures exchanges. According to the analyst, the shift of bitcoin to more conventional markets might make investors believe that ethereum could become the next big digital asset to be listed on Wall Street.