Particl (PART): The New Privacy Coin on the Block. Worth It?

Privacy coins were all the rage in 2017, and there's nothing seemingly slowing that trend going into the new year. Alas, here enters Particl (PART), an upstart privacy coin that's looking to make up ground on more entrenched privacy-based cryptocurrencies like Monero, Dash, and Verge.

So let's take a deeper look at Particl: is it worth it, or are you better off with the heavyweights?

What sets Particl apart

Unlike its privacy peers, Particl itself is a dapp (decentralized app) imbued with Confidential Transactions. PART, then, is the associated cryptocurrency of the Particl marketplace dapp.

As the project describes itself on its front page:

"Particl is privacy & security on the blockchain – featuring private currency, framework for apps, messaging & self-governance for disrupting ecommerce."

Also, PART is a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) coin, which means you can gain passive income just for holding your PART in order to secure the Particle network. Conversely, other popular privacy coin projects like Monero and Dash rely on Proof-of-Work (PoW).

And with regard to the Particl marketplace, its wholly different than anything the project's privacy competitors have to offer. Using your PART, you can engage in entirely private peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions on Particl.

These interesting factors could help set Particl apart from its competition over the long run.

Charlie Shrem is an advisor

Another thing that sets Particl apart is that infamous Bitcoin personality Charlie Shrem is an advisor to the project.

Shrem, one of the first arrestees in the United States for financial crimes related to cryptocurrency, has done his time and is looking to tread forward in the cryptoverse.

His participation in the project isn't the hugest deal, but it will certainly draw in some investors who want to see a name they recognize before taking up a position in PART.

The roadmap from here

There are three things on the agenda in Q1 2018 for Particl.

First off, the project aims to launch the Alpha version of its innovative, privacy-geared marketplace. After that, a primary funding round is to occur.

Lastly for the quarter, Particl wants to see the beta stage of its marketplace go live. You can expect price movements to become more active along these milestones.

Worth a buy?

We here at CoinBureau can't give financial advice, but there are some dynamics at play with PART that we'd like to point out. They'll help you make up your own mind as to what's right for your portfolio.

To start, the circulating supply of PART is attractive, sitting at just under 9 million coins. Its market cap at press time is ~250 million USD.

Both of these factors suggest PART has a ton of room to grow. And as privacy coins experienced a real boom in 2017, PART could get swept up in a second privacy-boosted wind in 2018.

To this end, the project seems like a potential mid- to long-term play. Of course, it'd be extremely unwise to dump all you've got into PART.

Instead, let the project prove itself over time and keep a watchful eye.

Disclaimer: These are writer opinions and should not be considered investment advice.