The dot-com bubble was a historic economic bubble ran from 1997 to 2001. It was a period of extreme growth in the usage and adaptation of the Internet. Between 1995 and 2000, the Nasdaq Composite stock market index rose 400%. It reached a price–earnings ratio of 200.
From March to November 2000, internet stocks dropped by 75% from their highs and $1.8 trillion in value was lost. By the end of the stock market downturn of 2002, overall stocks had lost $5 trillion in market capitalization since the peak. 48% of dot-com companies survived through 2004. On March 2, 2015, the NASDAQ closed above 5,000 for the first time since March 9, 2000. In 2017, the Nasdaq surpassed the inflation-adjusted bubble high from March 10, 2000.
Here we look at the hottest things right now. They are cryptocurrency, blockchain, artificial intelligence and cannabis (Marijuana). What are the claims for ultimate potential? Are they in the early days of very long run ups? Are they late in bubbles?
Cryptocurrency and Blockchain future domination or collapse
There are many assertions of cryptocurrency and blockchain bubbles. The bubble claims are that the current and potential values are fabrications. Cryptocurrencies will fail or Cryptocurrencies and blockchains will fail or some of it will succeed but only after a long collapse.
The total combined market cap of cryptocurrencies reached $814 billion on Jan 8, 2018 and is now at $285 billion. It has been as low as $234 billion in 2018. The total combined market cap of all cryptocurrencies was less than $15 billion at times in January 2017.
Eventually cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin will be used in mainstream situations. Draper predicts Cryptocurrencies will eventually replace credit cards and you will make crypto payments by phone. Cryptocurrency will replace fiat currencies entirely.
There is about $80 trillion worth of fiat currency in the world. Cryptocurrencies will expand that market. Draper says cryptocurrencies will eventually grow to maybe $100 trillion and fiat currencies will fall from $80 trillion to $30 trillion. He thinks Bitcoin might end up with a 20% to 30% market share. Draper predicts it will take 10-15 years to reach $100 trillion. He predicts Bitcoin will be at $250,000 by 2022.
Others predict multi-trillion markets for blockchain. The case is that blockchain will be used to make finance, stock trading and the global supply chain vastly more efficient.
Marijuana – Cannabis legalization in Canada, USA and other countries
Canada has the legalization of cannabis (marijuana). There is rapid booms and busts in the market.
There was a peak of around C$31 billion in the valuation Canadian Cannabis companies.
The USA has had legalization in several states and could see nationwide legalization.
If there were broadly legal cannabis industries in the US and other larger markets could be 20 to 100 times as large as what has happened so far in Canada.
Grand View Research forecasts legal global pot sales reaching $146.4 billion by the end of 2025. Aaron Salz, the founder and CEO of Toronto-based Stoic Advisory believes the global pot market could reach $1 trillion in a decade or less.
AI derived businesses
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.