Some investors balk at the Polkadot (DOT -4.37%) cryptocurrency for a few reasons. It's an unusually volatile member of a rather unstable and immature asset class. There's no shortage of rivals trying to steal the DOT currency's long-term thunder. Polkadot's app development system, which connects to many different blockchain networks, can scare people away due to its complexity.
These potential downsides are all true. However, I also see plenty of promise and potential in Polkadot, and it's one of my favorite cryptocurrencies to buy right now.
There are many reasons for my Polkadot optimism, but let's keep this review short and sweet. So here are three green flags for Polkadot's future.
1. The Web3 revolution
If the internet is starting to feel stale, with interesting content hidden behind paywalls or promoted chiefly on social media, I've got good news for you. This online era is drawing to a close, like the tentative collection of separate web servers did when the social media wave swept in.
The next version of the global web architecture is known as Web3. In this revamped online experience, creators will have more direct control over content sharing and communication, not to mention monetization of valuable digital objects. Likewise, personal finance should veer away from traditional banking systems and into decentralized finance apps, with fewer middlemen and faster transactions with lower fees.
This effort will run on an advanced collection of blockchain networks and cryptocurrencies. Each digital coin or token gets to play to its specific strengths. For example, Bitcoin (BTC -1.36%) can manage long-term storage of monetary value while Ethereum (ETH -3.80%) executes smart contracts based on real-world data delivered by Chainlink (LINK -4.62%).
And the Polkadot ecosystem is the digital glue that connects all these separate pieces together. The system was developed by the Web3 Foundation to "create and connect decentralized applications, services, and institutions."
Long story short, the fundamental nature of the internet is changing. Polkadot will play an important and lucrative role in the next version.
If Web3 is the online future, then Polkadot will run the show and the DOT token will see tons of real-world use as this vision materializes. This is the biggest, brightest green flag in Polkadot's future.
2. An innovative technology system
Polkadot is a special kind of blockchain platform that uses a main chain and several smaller chains called parachains. Each digital ledger (aka parachain) can track a different type of transactions, and the intentional combination of many parachains creates a very powerful ecosystem. Polkadot as a whole is worth more than the sum of its parts.
This setup lets different blockchains talk to each other easily, making everything run smoother and faster. Polkadot can handle many transactions at once because it spreads them across multiple chains.
Also, the underlying technology can update itself without needing to stop and restart the whole system, which keeps things running smoothly. This makes Polkadot very flexible and powerful compared to other blockchains.
And as I noted earlier, Polkadot is designed to take advantage of the best qualities in other blockchains and cryptocurrencies.
This innovative approach is both flexible and capable. That's another green flag for Polkadot's future prospects.
3. Generous and impactful staking of DOT tokens
Polkadot has a great feature that attracts long-term investors: its staking rewards.
When people who own DOT tokens lock them up to support the network, they're helping keep everything running smoothly. In return, they are rewarded with extra DOT tokens.
At the time of writing, my humble collection of DOT tokens is earning a 9.3% annual percentage yield from staking in a Coinbase (COIN -7.68%) account. The rewards can change over time and vary between different cryptocurrency exchanges.
And staking DOT tokens does more than just earn rewards. It also lets token holders vote on important decisions about how the network is run (directly or as a group, depending on where you store your staked DOT tokens). This means they have a say in Polkadot's future, which helps build a strong community.
The staking system is made for everyone. It allows both big and small investors to take part, which makes the network more secure and fair. Overall, earning rewards and having a say in governance are big reasons why Polkadot is a solid choice for people looking to invest for the long term. This unique (and lucrative!) governance setup is another green flag for Polkadot's long-term value.
