[Bear markets](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-bear-market) are tough.  They are a test of resolve, something that many fail to meet.  We see how many people left due to the fact that [prices](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-price) have crashed.

For those still on Hive and being active, congratulations. My estimation is you made a decision that will work out very well in the future.

We often discuss the concept of long-term thinking on [Hive](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-what-is-hive).  This article is going to illustrate how things can change for everyone who is filling their bags.

This stems from a Tweet where someone was asking about $HIVE and what can it be used for.  It is a topic that really strikes at the core of what Hive is about.  For this reason, we will cover the essential component of what will make the base [coin](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-coins) skyrocket in the future.

As always, none of this is [financial](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-finance) advice.

<center>![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmdEo6LM2bgtFrGAy42PomhzTGANJR38R5txdB67LKhsya/image.png)</center>

### Math Says $HIVE To Skyrocket

We talk about building.  This is something that, after a while, can get old.  However, it is the foundation for all that is taking place.

At each level, we see activity.  This is important because we have both a [scaling](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-scability-scaling) base layer along with a [second layer](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-layer-2) that will be the feeder system.  Ultimately, the appeal of Hive is going to be the games and applications that are built on it.

The main premise we must already remember is that **staked $HIVE acts as an access coin**.  This is the main use case that will propel things to insane heights.

Just think about that for a second.  We are not talking about hype or bull markets.  Neither is required for $HIVE to excel.  Instead, we are dealing with a utility that is built in which, over time, should stimulate demand.  Market conditions aside, when demand is strong and [supply](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-supply-and-demand) rather fixed, there is no choice but for price to go up.

Resource Credits are the backend [token](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-token) (non-tradeable) system of each Hive based activity.  Each of these requires a certain amount of RC:

* posting an article or [comment](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-comment-hive)
* [voting](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-vote-hive) for a [post](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-post-hive), [witnesses](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-witness-hive), or [proposals](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-proposal-hive)
* creating an [account](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-account)
* sending HBD or $HIVE to another [wallet](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-wallet)
* claiming Hive [rewards](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-reward-pool)
* posting a [Custom JSON](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-custom-json) (most games use this feature)
* swapping [HBD](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-hive-backed-dollar-hbd) and $HIVE on the [Internal Exchange](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-internal-exchange-hive)

There might be a couple of other [base layer](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-base-layer-blockchain) features that were omitted.  Nevertheless, we can see how all activity that is tied to the [blockchain](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/blockchain) uses resource credits.  The only way to get these is for someone to stake $HIVE.

What we are left with is a situation whereby the price of [$HIVE](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-usdhive) is dependent upon the activity on the blockchain.  The two are linked completely.  If we see a massive increase in the latter, the former must follow at some point.

### How Much Per User?

An easy way to frame this is by picturing how much [Hive Power](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-hive-power-hp) is going to be utilized by the average user on Hive.  This is an impossible figure to forecast but we can play around with some numbers to get an idea.

According to [Hiveblocks](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-hiveblocks), this is the present supply of $HIVE:

<center>![hive.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmdRXxQHtYv2YhbcpTW2hDqunArWYivayk5KsnwEmAct1o/hive.png)</center>

At the same time, here is the amount that is staked:

<center>![hive.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmaxzpiLLU8Cdz6twQDc9M5sCVjsRv6WXdZaayxec5RaXs/hive.png)</center>

This means we have roughly 230 million $HIVE that is not [staked](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-staking).

Using the total of roughly 400 million, how much HP can each person have if there are 1 million users?  Obviously the answer if 400.  

Certainly this is enough to fulfill the needs of each person.

However, we already see 165 million locked up.  With [resource credit delegation](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-resource-credit-delegation-hive), this can be used for newer people.  Nevertheless, for our purposes here let us just focus upon the total.

We will presume that the average users required 50 Hive Power.  This is taking into account the expected appreciation in [resource credit](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-resource-credits-rc) prices as the chain gets more active.

Utilizing some advanced math skills, 400 million divided by 50 is 8 million.

That means we will suck up all the $HIVE in existence with 8 million people.  While that might sound like a lot, it is really a drop in the bucket.

### Internet Users

Let us look at a few applications to get an idea of what we are talking about.  Keep in mind that the future of [Web 3.0](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-web-3-0) is likely the combination of [social media](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-social-media) and finance.  This is something we have on Hive.

Here is a partial list compiled from a quick web search:

* Medium 100M 
* Paypal 300M
* Twitter 230M
* YouTube 2.6B
* JPMorgan 62M
* Bank of America 68M
* TD Ameritrade 11M
* World of Warcraft 125M

This list is of platforms that are (or could be) applicable to Hive.  While we cannot say that these numbers will be matched, the point being is that 8 million users is a drop in the bucket.  

To look at it another way, there are more than 1.5 billion estimated to be [unbanked](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-unbanked).  Hive solves this basic problem.

As we can see, mix in finance and social media results in the understanding of how small a user base of 8 million really is.

If each person requires roughly 50 HP to operate they way they desire, we can see how quickly the 400 million gets scooped up.

Simple  math.  No hype or [bull market](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-bull-market) nonsense.  

In the end, [applications](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-application) and games that build on Hive are going to provide RCs to their users.  This means those entities are going to have to stock up on HP.  Where are they going to get it?

The basic answer lies in the fact that, eventually, someone will have to start cleaning it off the open [market](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-market).  There really is no other way around it.

It is why building is so important.  Over the long term, as more users are attracted, the pressure to give them access increases.  This really accelerates when the [network effect](https://leofinance.io/@leoglossary/leoglossary-network-effect) is factored in. 

The "if" is not whether the price increases.  Instead, it is whether we get the users.  *IF* that happens, the price of $HIVE *has to* increase.

Watch the builders, they are the ones who are adding the value to the ecosystem.

___
If you found this article informative, please give an upvote and rehive.



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