So here's the thing.. I remember not a day ago, prices were this low, and everyone was panicking about it in the forums.

So why is it that when we bounce from 7.6k up to here, everyone seems optimistic now? Masterluc seems absolutely certain that we'll just bounce up. TERA2 has stated that we will bounce to 13k too, but the difference between them is that one thinks it's 2013, the other 2014.

Is it that obvious that we're just going to go straight back up? Nothing to be too excited about if prices stay in 4-digits for the next few months, for instance.

lol you guys still hodling bitcoins? brb while doubling my money with alts while drinking my beer

"Return to normal" just passed by and we may be on the way down to the floor.

But i thought the same thing around at 4k USD and was wrong

When bitcoin first appeared I imagined a world of peer to peer payments with no central institutions. LN is most definately not that.

The graphic tries to show how funding a channel is like funding a 'hot wallet'. A more accurate description is that funding a channel is like depositing money with a bank.

I always said LN will be supported by big money. No doubt there will be an epic pump, because 'scalability is solved'. I don't like it but I can profit from it. The original dream of bitcoin doesn't exist though.

Crypto has gone kinda mainstream the last few months it seems to me.
Many people jumping into altcoins.

I'm not sure this is sustainable in the long term.
Sure some of them have value and might be useful for something specific or globally and will be there to stay I'm sure but many small ones are now also valued at $10 million+ or even $100+ million when they only have a white paper, a few devs and a website that might not work well and possibly no product yet.
Those simple components never normally make a $10 million company.

It's like a mad rush into penny stocks surely?

But to me all that trading actually strengthens Bitcoin itself regardless. It is almost always the only means by which you can purchase any of these alts. (I admit ETH / LTC / USDT are used a lot too)
Bitcoin is doing what it is supposed to do whilst these alts really will have to prove themselves over the next year or two.

I'm sure many will collapse. But will they all collapse at once is the question I guess.

Don't forget about PeterR and jbreher.   

We shall fight in fields and in the streets? We shall fight in the hills? We shall never surrender and if, which I do not for the moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, will carry on the struggle until in God's good time the New World with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and liberation of the Old?

You might regret not buying bitcoin instead if the secret news about 1/18 pumps the price.

What kind of "stuff"? 

A new post from masterluc

“What's Bitcoin? At bitcoins there is a bearish flag for now. I do not recommend shorts - I have not yet seen a clear turn. You know how it happens here with bearish figures ... I  congratulate the survivors from the New Year coma.”

https://ru.tradingview.com/x/Pov7bU0K/

true...most of my crypto life is based on hoping and trending upwards  (fairy dust/rainbows/unicorns/ponies/rainbows)

(hey, its a hobby....look at the BTC price 19 times a day!)

We are making higher highs and higher lows in the pennant.  We are fine.

Are we in a period of correction and consolidation?  Absolutely.  

I fully expect to have to redraw that upper line higher, guessing next high 17500-18000ish but who knows.