Seems to me like Nxt is the one with the best shot at beating out even Bitcoin.
Way I see it is that Proof of Stake is the future. It's much more energy efficient, doesn't require extreme inflation to power the network because it's more cost efficient, it's more secure and just all around better.
Nxt has far more developers working on it. Did you know that Gavin is the only core developer for Bitcoin? Nxt has at least 10.. probably over 20 developers.
Even Gavin Andreson at some point was saying that he hopes it's Bitcoin but he sees another coin potentially beating out Bitcoin some day. It's the reason Warren Buffet refused to invest in Bitcoin.. because it's got some strong potential competitors.. Nxt is the strongest in my mind.
And anonymity(or Privacy) will be implemented in Nxt too.. but it won't be the one main feature, it'll be just one of the many feature it'll have.
Possible competitors If Nxt screws something up:
Ethereum
Ripple.. but them holding onto 90% of the coin is a really deal and I think might kill it in the long run
There will be god POS over POW in future to not build in Java with better distribution.
Jave had several serious security issues over last years it is much easier program in Java so development is much easier
but at the end when BIG money comes i don't want lose money because of JAVA exploit...
(
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alerts-086861.html ) - fun list.
Anyway NXT screwed up distribution this is seen in Volume lets look at 2 pure POS in top on market cap:
BC (7 day minig full free market ) - volume today about 200k... and 10m market cap while
NXT (full IPO to 72 people ) - volume today about 150k... and 62m market cap
NEM - I want see in future how wide distribution will affect price/volume and their POI ( some kind of POS minig )
for me NEM can be NXT "killer"... everyday joke volume on NXT proves me in that.
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About DRK it have HUGE volume... over NXT 1,420,478 $ and half of NXT market cap...
Do we need more comment that ?
DRK can rebuild if whales decide to do it or if Dark market will use it...
while some critical java bug can blow up whole NXT... to 50k $ or less in one shot.
DRK will live like all coins - you can hate but it will live.