Publication - 30/01/2017 A Google search for "Bitcoin tipping point" returns 165,000 results dating as far back as 2013.That's a lot of talk.But now, four years on, there are compelling reasons to think that we're getting closer to that tipping point – and to think that the decision last year by Jersey's regulators and politicians to create a "regulatory sandbox" for crypto-currencies was the right one.Last month the price of Bitcoin made headlines for hitting a three-year high, bypassing the $1,120-mark, before quickly dropping away again.That price is still some way short of the $1,216 record set four years ago, but given the Brexit referendum result and the result of the US presidential election, Bitcoin is far from the only currency to be affected by uncertainty.In fact, Bitcoin is no more or less volatile than fiat currencies were at the point that they were introduced – and there's speculation that the price will break the $2,000 barrier this year.More important than the price is the fact that the number of weekly Bitcoin transactions has more or less doubled in the last 12 months, showing that the use of crypto-currency (not just Bitcoin, but also Ripple, Ethereum and others) is becoming more frequent and more widespread.

And that's what suggests that we're approaching the "tipping point" – the phrase popularised by Malcolm Gladwell's 2000 bestseller referring to the moment in which a trend or behaviour achieves critical mass and jumps into the mainstream (think about the points in the last few years in which mobile phones, social media accounts or online shopping went from fringe to ubiquity).For all the talk about anonymity, one of the main selling points for Bitcoin from a personal as well as a commercial point of view remains the ability to transfer money across borders quickly and without losing value through exchange rates or transmission fees.That has fuelled use particularly in China, where crypto-currencies are widely thought to be a popular way of getting around measures put in place to stop people moving money out of the country.The increasing usage of Bitcoin suggests that the work by Jersey's politicians and regulators to create a "regulatory sandbox" for crypto-currencies was worthwhile and prescient.

The sandbox allows developers and innovators working with virtual currencies to build, test and experiment with products, services, business models and delivery mechanisms in a live environment without immediately incurring all the normal regulatory consequences and costs.litecoin calcTo require start-up developers and innovators to bear the full brunt of compliance with Jersey financial services laws and regulations would limit such activity taking place in the Island.ethereum news 14 aprilAnd by setting a turnover threshold of £150,000 (the "economic threshold" test) before they have to be subject to active supervision under the Proceeds of Crime (Supervisory Bodies) (Jersey) Law 2008 and be liable for an annual fee, the government and regulator have created an environment in which testing and development of virtual currency applications can flourish.litecoin mining rig hardware comparison

Since then, the Channel Islands Securities Exchange has become the first exchange anywhere in the world to list a regulated Bitcoin fund – the Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment Fund PLC – which shows that the Island is developing its regulatory apparatus and technical expertise in this area.bitcoin real conversorThe brains behind that firm are not alone - over the last 12 months most major banks and major financial services firms have been linked to pilot blockchain/Bitcoin projects moving to proof of concept projects, and we can expect to see roll-out in 2017.bitcoin rate in uaeNo one knows when the "tipping point" for crypto-currencies will be reached – but it's clear that it has the potential to disrupt currency in the same way that Spotify and iTunes have disrupted music sales, that Uber has disrupted taxi services and that eBay and Amazon have disrupted retail.lucky bet bitcoin

Jersey appears well-placed to take advantage when the tipping point arrives.In an interview with Reuters, co-founder of Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment Fund, Daniel Masters said that he expects the cryptocurrency’s price to rise to $4,400 by the end of 2017.Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment Fund PLC is a Jersey-based multi-million dollar hedge fund dedicated to the bitcoin ecosystem.Daniel believes that bitcoin could retest its all-time high of $1,100 in 2016 and then race to $4,400 in the next year.He believes that a number of fundamental factors would come into the picture by then.Increased acceptance of bitcoin payments by big businesses and banks, a fast-growing interest in the blockchain tech, and huge demand from China are among the prominent factors that will aid a price advance in the coming years.The 2016 reward halving to 12.5BTC is also expected to reduce the money supply, resulting in an upward price push.Masters said the “nascent” market has failed to capture the full potential of the reward halving.

“If OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) came out tomorrow and said, ‘in six months’ time we’re going to halve oil production’, the oil price would instantaneously react.But the bitcoin market is still in its infancy, and I don’t think that factor is discounted into the price fully.” Bobby Lee, CEO of BTCC reiterated his bullish views saying that the price could reach as high as $3,500 by next summer.He believes that even though people are undervaluing this asset now, it will reach its full value in time.Bobby Lee had earlier said to NEWSBTC that he is very bullish on Bitcoin price appreciation from a long-term view.Jeremy Millar, partner at Magister Advisors also highlighted that the law of supply and demand will play a crucial role in price appreciation.He told Reuters that the demand for this decentralized digital asset will continue to increase.Global Advisors is an investment company specializing in bitcoin and cryptocurrency investments.Here’s our review of Global Advisors and their Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment (GABI) fund.

Global Advisors, found online at GlobalAdvisors.co.uk, wants to help average investors take advantage of the rising value of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.The company has been providing regulated investment management services for 16 years.Now, with their new bitcoin program, they promise to provide “a rare opportunity to gain uncorrelated returns from an emerging asset class.” The company is based in Jersey, UK.The company’s fund, GABI, became the first regulated bitcoin investment fund in the world.Do you like the returns of bitcoin – but also appreciate the security of an institutional investor?Global Advisors may appeal to you.Founded in 1999, the company brings long-standing reputation and expertise to the world of bitcoin investing.The Global Advisors bitcoin trading portfolio entered the market in September 2014.The decision to launch a bitcoin fund was made “after studying bitcoin for some time.” The leading partners at Global Advisors started trading in commodity markets 30 years ago “initially in a discretionary capacity and more recently evolving to an advanced systematic approach”, explains the official website.

After studying bitcoin, they realized there were parallels with certain commodities, especially as commodities developed into investable assets from the mid-1990s onwards.With that in mind, Global Advisors created the first institutional-grade bitcoin investment strategy (“GABI”).The fund applies “the highest professional management standards to create a truly groundbreaking venture”, explains the official website.GABI, by the way, stands for the Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment Fund.The goal of the fund, like most investment funds, is to provide exposure to the price movements of bitcoin while managing the risks of the volatile cryptocurrency.Today, more and more investors see bitcoin as a valuable asset that’s insulated from the effects of any country’s monetary policy.One of the nice things about Global Advisors is its transparency.The company publishes the performance of its bitcoin trading portfolio online through the official website.You can see the gains made in every month since the portfolio’s inception.

Some months, the portfolio goes up by double-digit percentage points, while other months it drops.Remember: if a crypto-asset investment portfolio isn’t willing to show you their returns, then that’s a bad sign.It’s nice to see Global Advisors maintain transparency.Another important distinction with Global Advisors’ “Our Performance” page is that the company gives its returns net of all commissions – so investors can see the real amount earned during each period.Overall, GABI promises to be an institutional-grade fund for investors.The company brings extensive expertise and research to the table, and they claim to have a proven track record of managing the risks and volatility while outperforming the US Dollar bitcoin index over the long-term.Altogether, this means outstanding returns for investors.Like most investment firms, Global Advisors doesn’t go into extensive detail about the proprietary technology and processes it uses to analyze the markets.However, the company’s official website mentions things like “a team of first-rate talent” and a “robust infrastructure [that] ensures a seamless delivery of performance throughout the trading cycle.” Other key features of the technology include the pioneering automated trading and reporting systems that minimize human errors.

Orders are dispatched electronically using Global Advisors’ trading management software “which constantly focuses on best execution and reconciles trades automatically at administrator level.” Overall, Global Advisors claims to be a technology-focused company backed by the expertise and experience of a team of advisors.Global Advisors was founded in 1999.The company is based in Jersey, UK.Key members of the team include Jean-Marie Mognetti (Co-Principal, Head of Trading & operations), Daniel Masters (Co-Principal, Chief Investment Officer), and Russel Newtown (Co-Principal, Head of Research).You can contact the company by email at info@globaladvisors.co.uk.Other contact information – including the company’s address in Jersey.Alternatively, learn more about the company through their LinkedIn page.Global Advisors Jersey Limited (GAJL) is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.In 2016, the company announced that its Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment fund (GABI) had been approved by the Channel Islands Securities Exchange (CISE).