Five (5) Predictions for Digital Currencies in 2018 — including Stomach-Churning drops, Bitcoin-related IPO

BITCOIN trading has become the most exciting topic for most investors seeking exorbitant returns over a short space. After the 1,500% spike in 2017 players are keen on seeing what 2018 could have in store for them. Below are 5 such predictions:

"Our institutional investor base is very interested in learning more and getting exposure," said Michael Graham, a Canaccord Genuity analyst who has published several reports on digital currencies. "One of our major themes is that as we roll out through 2018, it's the year of institutions getting exposure to the space."

The number of institutional-level investment products related to bitcoin is increasing.

In addition to the CME and Cboe bitcoin futures that launched in December, Cantor Fitzgerald and Nasdaq are planning their own derivatives products. Analysts also expect regulators will approve a bitcoin exchange-traded fund in the second half of this year, or in early 2019.

"With the regulated futures markets going live in 2017, the stage is set for ETFs to gain approval in 2018," Nolan Bauerle, director of research at CoinDesk, said in an email. "In fact, the Cboe filed for 6 cryptocurrency ETFs at the end of 2017 which could go live in 2018. This would dramatically increase how institutional investors can get exposure."