![salt-ethlend-cryptocurrency-bitcoin-ethereum-lending-randy-hilarski.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPCPzEB8xj95shj2WzHPsorMSL153LkjsnMMQ4Rs5fTgA/salt-ethlend-cryptocurrency-bitcoin-ethereum-lending-randy-hilarski.jpg)

# What Will Be the Hottest Sector in the Crypto Markets Next Year? #

Here is a list of the different sectors of the Cryptocurrency markets and the approximate market caps.

<center>![crypto-market-breakdown-sector-lending-top-tokens.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSxXoFYcQcQwYwqZNsQ1KDwngRrDeetZj72sktuwoyaRA/crypto-market-breakdown-sector-lending-top-tokens.jpg)</center>

## Today We Are Going to Focus on Lending. ##

Currently the lending market in Crypto is miniscule compared to the overall market. Sitting at just .10% of the market or 1/2 $Billion. What is about to happen in the Crypto space could possibly launch the lending sector of Crypto to the moon.

<center>![salt-logo.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdTnapNqnzbXQaQ1mLzDRZ1tHgtmEEuuWAdNAgvQqzZNh/salt-logo.png)</center>

## [SALT Lending](https://www.saltlending.com/) ##

*SALT lets you leverage your blockchain assets to secure cash loans. We make it easy to get money without having to sell your favorite investment.*

When I first heard about SALT it was in my Crypto Trading group where Shawn Owen the CEO of SALT is a member. He offered everyone in our group to join the ICO very early on. At the time I was not participating in ICO's so I passed on the offer. A few months later and I was in full FOMO mode. Why did I pass on this huge opportunity? So I went out and bought a large chunk of SALT at full retail price.

Once I understood the concept of SALT I saw why it would be such an exciting long term play for my Cryptocurrency holdings. Then a few weeks back I was privileged to spend some time with Shawn Owen at the Latin American Bitcoin Conference in Bogota, Colombia. 

<center>https://scontent.fpac1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/24785276_10155508942667025_1183078352015531427_o.jpg?oh=afb00180672bbe67df1dea5c1bc155d9&oe=5ABE9F4B</center>

That time with Shawn really opened my eyes to the future of Lending in the Cryptocurrency space. He also mentioned that the platform will be ready to launch very soon. This Tweet from [Salt Lending says in December](https://twitter.com/SaltLending/status/936340889328160769). 

<center>![thelend-logo-crypto-lending.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQJxVwhmVSuuMV1UXPrytDQQwUNaDYzRLGDb1FC9SiJLg/thelend-logo-crypto-lending.png)</center>

## [EthLend](https://ethlend.io/en/) ##

*Fully decentralized peer to peer lending on the Ethereum Blockchain.*

Now due to my massive FOMO from missing out on making huge profits on SALT I began to look for another project in the Cryptocurrency lending space. I stumbled upon EthLend. I really can't recall how I found them but I literally found them the day their Pre-ICO began. I was not going to miss out on this type of opportunity again! I bought my ETHLend at $.01 each and I am not selling. I am HODLing my LEND.

While we were attending SteemFest in Portugal we met Jordan Lazaro Gustave (Head of Management) for ETHLend. I recognized him from the website and said, "hey ETHLend guy!" Jordan told me what the project was doing and how they were attending conferences across Europe spreading the good news of ETHLend. The project ended up selling out their ICO.

## Jordan Lazaro Gustave and Martin Wichman of ETHLend at SteemFest 2017. ##

https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmYwSqm1UzxrTA3VFuX8akcWNFMz4bR7hHEMbSgUcQD39i/IMG_3173.JPG

## Why Do I Believe Lending Will Explode in Value in 2018? ##

So many people I know are sitting on large amounts of CryptoCurrency. The value of their HODLings has exponentially grown in 2017. Now they want to do something with their profits but they do not want to sell their Crypto. Anyone who is serious about Crypto knows how difficult it is to sell.

### How HODLers React When They Need to Sell Some Crypto. ###

<center>https://media.giphy.com/media/3o7btT1T9qpQZWhNlK/giphy.gif</center>

Now we have lending programs like SALT and ETHLend where we can deposit some of our Crypto without selling. This will enable the community the ability to access funds in the traditional financial markets for such things as houses, cars, crypto mining equipment, capital for business expenses etc. This is huge! I know how much I hated having to sell my Bitcoin and other CryptoCurrencies, over the last few years, to pay expenses. 

## SALT Chart as of December 26, 2017. ##

At the time of this chart SALT was trading at $10.68 or 0.00066500 BTC.

![salt-chart-december-2017.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbzbLxHth1dKBckpK2TC4YZM4KqAx2QKPmzria6CjZjYw/salt-chart-december-2017.png)

## ETHLend Chart as of December 26, 2017. ##

At the time of this chart ETHLend was trading at $0.079459 or 0.00000504 BTC

![ethlend-chart-december-2017.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdE7P9UgpR67qZu5UDSyyQh1b1f2rqBauyAKVpXGK7K5r/ethlend-chart-december-2017.png)

## What I am Doing. ##

On December 11th I wrote my article, ["6 Lesser Known Crypto Coins and Tokens That Could Be Big Gainers in 2018."](https://steemit.com/cryptocurrency/@hilarski/6-lesser-known-crypto-coins-and-tokens-that-could-be-big-gainers-in-2018) where I first wrote about Ethlend. At the time is was priced around $.03 it has more than doubled since then. SALT on the other hand has been on a consistent uptrend since mid November. 

Prepare for a huge 2018 for these tokens! This is not financial advice but my personal trades.

![Randy-Banner-big-Steemit.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbNCc218nTt3pout5VZfoGNHCvrddB4qEAdAxrWicdsZM/Randy-Banner-big-Steemit.jpg)