**Cryptocurrency Market Cap Expected to Hit 2 Trillion in 2018: An Analysis**

With the continuous growth and evolution of the cryptocurrency industry, market experts are predicting a significant milestone in 2018. As the year progresses, the market cap of cryptocurrencies is expected to reach a remarkable 2 trillion dollars. This article delves into the factors driving this prediction and what it means for the future of digital currencies.

**Introduction to Cryptocurrency Market Cap**

Before delving into the prediction, it's essential to understand what market cap means in the context of cryptocurrencies. Market cap represents the total value of all the coins in a particular cryptocurrency, calculated by multiplying the number of coins by its current market price. As new coins are added and traded, the market cap changes, often reflecting the overall health and growth of a cryptocurrency.

**Drivers of Market Growth**

The predicted increase in cryptocurrency market cap to 2 trillion dollars in 2018 is being driven by several factors:

1. **Increasing Institutional Interest**: As cryptocurrency gains more mainstream acceptance, institutional investors are entering the market, driving up demand and, consequently, market cap.

2. **Technological Developments**: Advances in blockchain technology, the backbone of cryptocurrencies, are making transactions faster, safer, and more efficient, attracting more users and investors.

3. **Global Economic Factors**: With global economic uncertainty, cryptocurrencies offer an alternative investment option, leading to increased market capitalization.

4. **Expanded Use Cases**: Cryptocurrencies are being used beyond just investments, with increasing use cases in areas like remittance payments, digital identity verification, and supply chain management.

**Impact of Market Cap Increase**

The rise in market cap to 2 trillion dollars will have several impacts on the cryptocurrency industry:

1. **More Investment Opportunities**: With increased market cap, more opportunities will emerge for investors to invest in various cryptocurrencies, leading to more diverse portfolios and risk distribution.

2. **Greater Awareness and Adoption**: As market cap grows, cryptocurrencies gain more attention from the general public, leading to increased awareness and adoption.

3. **More Development Activity**: With increased market capitalization, there will be more funds for blockchain and cryptocurrency development, leading to more innovative products and services.

**Risks and Challenges**

While the growth in market cap is exciting, there are also risks and challenges to consider:

1. **Volatility**: Cryptocurrencies are still known for their high volatility, which can affect market cap fluctuations.

2. **Regulation**: The lack of clear regulatory frameworks in many countries can create uncertainty and hinder growth.

3. **Security Risks**: With increased usage and value, cryptocurrencies also attract more hackers, leading to security risks.

**Conclusion**

As the cryptocurrency industry continues to grow and evolve, the expected market cap of 2 trillion dollars in 2018 is a significant milestone. It represents not only growth but also a broader acceptance and recognition of digital currencies. However, with growth comes risks and challenges that need to be addressed. As we move forward, it will be crucial to monitor these risks and continue to innovate and develop solutions to ensure the healthy growth of the cryptocurrency industry.

**Suggested Article Outline**:

1. Introduction: Background on cryptocurrency market cap and prediction for 2018.

2. Understanding Market Cap: Definition and importance in the context of cryptocurrencies.

3. Drivers of Market Growth: Institutional interest, technological developments, global economic factors, expanded use cases.

4. Impact of Market Cap Increase: Investment opportunities, awareness and adoption, development activity.

5. Risks and Challenges: Volatility, regulation, security risks.

6. Conclusion: Looking ahead to the future of cryptocurrency market cap and the industry as a whole.