Remember guys the future battle isn't between some scam coin (XC, Dark) or even a real coin like Litecoin, but the battle will be between the great four (as I have came to call them).
Bitcoin.
Ethereum.
Nxt.
Monero.
I'm still on the lookout for anything else to add to this list.
I don't see the 2.0 crypto as competing in the same class. Ethereum and nxt may compete in some applications, and mro has to displace btc from some of its less appropriate current uses, but really all four of them can work synergistically, each providing its own distinctive functions, to the benefit of all participants in the crypto economy - including each other.
Monero's major competition may be zerocash. Personally I will not be entrusting my life and wealth to anyone saying " trust me", but others may not be so discriminating.
It depends on whether trust can be built in the system. The social contract of everyone involved in the ceremony when the Zerocash keys are destroyed, and those in the community who understand the technology and can scrutinize the event will determine whether that trust can extend into the general public. But it could happen. If that trust is built, then beyond those faults, Zerocash is probably superior to Monero. I think the deciding factor will be adoption and making people understand Monero's ring signature technology so that when Zerocash comes about, they will be able to fairly compare the two with full understanding. That's why I made the point earlier about trying to expand the market for this coin through Mintpal and other avenues sooner rather than later. It may be too late by the time the wallet is out to compete with other technologies. In the end this coin may end up being the Betamax to Zerocash's VHS if they are not careful.
What I see currently happening, is waning interest due to the price falling, which will cause some miners to lose interest. This will in turn cause the price to fall further as miners are a good portion of the early investors and promoters of a coin in the crypto community. Then the hashrate will fall and the difficulty as well, and a smaller and smaller number of miners will hoard all of the coins in hopes that they will some day be worth money. Then in three or four months, when Darksend is established and in common usage, Darkwallet is out for Bitcoin, Zerocash is being released, Monero will come out with a wallet and the community will be like, "So what, a wallet for this fringe technology that I don't understand." You risk overestimating the mindshare that the ring signature technology will garner. For better or worse, even the best technologies can be swept to the wayside by other technologies that have people promoting them, selling them, and educating people about them.
