I read the comments section of this article and it's pretty huge. More and more people seem to connect the dots.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/11353017/Bitcoin-is-threat-to-sterling-and-may-aid-terrorists-warn-banks.html#disqus_thread

Still somehow bearish for the next 3 to 6 weeks.

But: Cheap price and public sentiment change! Draw your own conclusions...

What exactly is the difference between a decreasing price (50%) vs. the halving of mined coins?

• 25 BTC @ $200 is $5000/p. block
• 12.5 BTC at $400 (not long ago) also equals $5000/p. block

IMO, we already had our halving. So if the argument is true, that the halving leads to a new bubble (same demand, fewer coins) at least prices should be constant at this level ~$200. Otherwise I might come to the conclusion, that halvings might have a long-time effect not necessarily resulting in a related price surge.

What do you guys think?

[THE blockchain]

The sentiment feels much alike, when I first entered bitcoin in 2012. I bought some coins because I liked the tech aspects/possibilities of Bitcoin (I even haven't looked at any charts, when I entered back then ) - compare this to the current talk about THE blockchain - especially the praise for the technological aspects of it.

What I conclude from this:

• It is not bubble time yet. Might take it's time (3 to 9 month). My best guess would be march.
  
• People will get in because they are amazed by the technological possibilities (and the conveniance compared to 2012),  not beacuse of an over-hyped price!

What is your sentiment? - especially, when you entered bitcoin before the 2013 bubbles.

[The 2 main arguments for "BTC-ballons" are:- very likeable advertising medium- we get another type of press and media related images (not just this golden coin over and over again!)]

Some days ago I had this image of BTC rising to the skies (some surely would say TO DA MOON). Well, I guess most of us had this vison at least once before ;-)

To get more specific. What I saw in my imagination was a hotairballoon labelled with the BTC logo.

Since that, I think it would be a great thing to have a few ballons around (maybe one on every continent). Letting BTC symbolically rise to the skies.
In my perception, a ballon is a very likeable vehicle for advertising. As far as  I know, it could be as easy as contacting some ballooning clubs or companies and telling them about our funding plans. Collecting the required money could happen through a crowdfunding campaign if there's no better solution.

The 2 main arguments for "BTC-ballons" are:
- very likeable advertising medium
- we get another type of press and media related images (not just this golden coin over and over again!)

What do you think? Any ideas, how the community could realize it...!?
In case of funding a balloon. What expectations should be fullfilled by the ballon company/club?

Hope you find the idea worth a try. Looking forward to your suggestions...

I observed the market development of the big 4 exchanges for quite a while.

What i recognized is:

• BTCChina is the biggest exchange in means of volume
• BTCChina (chinese market) drove this ralley

--Nevertheless--

Mt. Gox seems to dictate the movement as if all the others are watching and waiting for what'S happening on Gox!?

Is this due to habitual usage from earlier days?
Or is there kind of a "hidden" buy/sell" potential within Mt.Gox which can produce very high volume in short time, that is simply not used ATM. Most of the big fishes should have started with Mt. Gox because of the lack of alternatives.

Bitstamp and BTC-e just follow with respect

Did you recognize the same? Shouldn't BTCChina take the lead!? Sometimes I have the impression, BTCChina even is afraid of it's own strength and tries to hide behind the others?