As of this writing, Bitcoin value has dropped by 65 percent from its all-time high in December 2017, and though many experts are debating whether or not we’re in an actual “bubble,” its likely that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will continue on a downward trend this year.

A decentralized currency, unregulated by governments, was the vision of cryptocurrency, but its actual deployment has been challenging. Investors who remember the late 90s dot-com bubble burst are wary of putting too much behind crypto, while others are going all in with astronomical valuations so as not to miss out on something possibly huge.

Blockchain has been wrapped up in the crypto-craze from the start, as the technology that secures the currency itself, which has made it difficult to assign a separate value to it even though it does have other applications.

And plenty of bubble-like activity has gone on to muddy the actual worth of cryptocurrencies and blockchain. For instance, unprofitable company Long Island Iced Tea Corp. shares soared by 289 percent after it rebranded as Long Blockchain Corp. in December of last year.

Ultimately the future of cryptocurrency is uncertain, but blockchain has a value proposition strong enough to withstand a bubble burst.

Blockchain technology offers a level of data security and transaction verification heretofore unseen. It streamlines transactions and reduces costs by eliminating the need for third party processors, all while ensuring accuracy and security. It keeps users in control of their own information, and decentralization makes it less vulnerable to hacking. These benefits have made it very important in the banking world, but many other industries are experimenting with blockchain as well.

Blockchain has seen application in finance-adjacent arenas like e-commerce, the stock market and loyalty/rewards programs. However, it can also be used to secure internal communications, including contracts and intellectual property, in both government and business settings. Any data environment prone to leaks or hacks could benefit from blockchain’s end-to-end security measures.

Blockchain is seeing use in consumer-facing applications as well, not just in personal banking and shopping, but also in the securitization of personal information such as medical records, and even dating apps. The technology itself may be complex but consumers access it via apps and dashboards, with little to no learning curve but a lot more confidence in the security of those interactions.

The potential benefits and implementations of blockchain are many and varied at this point, so it remains to be seen just how disruptive a technology it will actually be. One thing we can count on, however, is that organizations of all sizes and industries will be trying blockchain on for size.

A recent IBM study found that one-third of C-level executives are using or considering adopting blockchain technology in their organizations. Global spending on blockchain technology is predicted to reach $2.1 billion this year alone, according to IDC.

Blockchain technology is becoming more widely accessible as more and more vendors enter the market. Some offer a proprietary blockchain while others are building offerings using the technology. The point is, you don’t have to be part of the crypto-craze to get on board with blockchain, and now might be the time to start thinking about what it could do for your business.