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I personally think the higher Bitcoin and Ethereum prices are bringing more attention to the crypto space, then people discover Steem, Steemit, Bitshares. These chains have real world value and usefulness. From there they naturally increase in transaction volume.

News are full of bitcoin and newcomers wanting to make some earning on this movement search for other coins too. That seems probable, but one never knows.

No doubt about that!

banks I think are trying to manipulate but they are not able to thus far.