I think it's pretty clear now that this is a transitionary phase for DRK.
Mining-wise: we've been ridiculously unprofitable for little and medium-sized rigs now some time now and yet price has gone up or sideways and difficulty still remains high.
Technology-wise: there are no credible 'anonymity' competitors as of now. And if MN payments work, we're golden and will likely become the standard pretty much immediately.
Knowledge-wise: the majority of the crypto world, including Bitcoiners, should now know what Darkcoin is, or at least should hear more about it in the short-term after MN payments are implemented. Many, who haven't done their homework have brushed DRK aside however those who have done their due diligence are buying. Evidence: there was hardly a 'sell the news' effect from Bitfinex. Furthermore we remain in this upward channel from a week ago.
So what's the impetus to get us out of this transition phase to a mass-effect 'buy buy buy' and 'spread like wildfire' phase?
Masternode payments successfully working is my guess.
If those succeed I am expecting a prolonged rally due to the ostrich-bitcoiners getting their heads out their asses and allocating chunks of their BTC portfolios into DRK MN's. And a rise in DRK price would get the general media attention (get ready for interviews, Evan) which again gets more people and merchants curious and we continue taking off.
JL
Frankly, with all due respect, you're thinking is a bit myopic. I think the major impetus will be the RC4 enhanced anonymity features, and to a far greater extent open sourcing. A lot of people care about masternodes, sure, but let's be honest - at this point they're 1. already out of reach to the masses and 2. a bit too ethereal a concept for the masses anyway.
But unfettered anonymity is something that most everyone understands, and denominated DRK is something that everybody can access and use. As with BTC, the driver will be "dark" market adoption - and that won't happen until we're open source (unless they're just total idiots). That will spur a rally, which will drive legitimate investment, mainstream visibility and (hopefully) mainstream adoption.
Course that's just me playing seer
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