The EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum, which is an initiative by the European Commission, has developed an interactive map for all cryptocurrency and blockchain startups and events.
Each map entry has a pin marking its location and when clicked upon, a side display lists more information on the startup or event such as when it was founded, funding, vision, and website. The map also has a filtering feature to allow users to sort through information more easily. At the time of writing, the map had 67 European locations and only one non-European location on the map, but the EU Blockchain Observatory says that they welcome anyone from other continents to add a startup or event to the map.
The initiative was first announced in March, which partially explains the relatively low number of map entries on other continents. To get listed on the map only requires filling out one of two online applications, depending on if the entry is a startup or an event. Both applications appear to be very short and easy to answer.
Cryptocurrencies are spreading
The map provides an opportunity to index and record all the cryptocurrency and blockchain startups in Europe and potentially around the world. The map is already demonstrating a significant growth just over the past couple months, which signals not only the viability, but also the desirability of cryptocurrencies in countries that are not directly suffering from hyperinflation. A common critique of cryptocurrencies is their high volatility and the belief that this only makes it appealing for countries like Venezuela that are suffering from massive hyperinflation, which thus makes cryptocurrencies relatively less volatile. These pundits will argue that cryptocurrencies are too volatile to be used by individuals in countries that have stable currencies as alternative options. However, this map is one of the guides to demonstrating that critique as a fallacy.
The fact that there are entrepreneurs taking risks with their own lives and credit to build businesses around cryptocurrencies demonstrates that they value the overall attributes of cryptocurrencies more than the overall attributes of fiat currencies, even if there is not high inflation. Modern day Europe does not currently have hyperinflation, but individuals are still actively choosing to use cryptocurrencies themselves or make cryptocurrency businesses. This demonstrates that these people currently have preferences for cryptocurrencies outside of volatility factors, which makes cryptocurrencies viable around the world in its current form and even more viable as volatility decreases.
Dash is already growing around the world
This newly created map does draw immediate parallels to DiscoverDash.com, which lists and maps all locations around the world that accept Dash as payment. Looking at the map, it is easy to see that Venezuela is the top Dash usage location, but there are numerous businesses around the world in countries not suffering from hyperinflation that also accept Dash. This further supports the point above; that entrepreneurs value attributes other than solely low volatility.
Dash not only offers low transaction fees, fast confirmation times, and security, but also, because of it governance and treasury system, it is able to support paid developers and outreach specialists to further innovation, usability, and users of Dash. DiscoverDash.com is a perfect example since it shows that the Dash community can, in their own decentralized way, create an interactive mapping database similar to one that was an initiative by the European Commission and have it completed a lot earlier. In addition, when these features are combined, it makes Dash have one of the lowest volatility rates within the cryptocurrency space. Dash’s focus on usability growth causes more people to use Dash in everyday life for everyday transactions rather than to just trade online, which allows Dash to maintain its purchasing power better than many other cryptocurrencies.
