Blockchain is slowly becoming mainstream.

If you've been hearing about blockchain, Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple more often it's definitely not just you. This second wave of blockchain support is really hitting the mainstream and here's how I can tell.

Take a look at these google trend results for "blockchain":

The amount of searches for blockchain has increased significantly, even compared to the early 2013 boom and eventual bust of interest in cryptocurrency. It shows that this time there's a lot less chance of this happening again, the world is becoming aware of the benefits of blockchain.

Take a look at the archived Google news reports on blockchain in 2013-2014:

Notice how it's all focused on Bitcoin? Also have a look at the main news websites covering this, ZDnet, PCWorld, Business Insider, Wired, CNN & Apple Insider. It's mainly tech companies with the exception of a few. Cryptocurrency and blockchain is still seem as a very foreign concept.

Compare this to today:

Notice how there's a lot more blockchain articles? Bitcoin is still prominent but so is some mention of token raises and general blockchain discussion. Also take a look at the news websites writing the articles CNBC, Bloomberg, Business Insider, CoinTelegraph & Finance Magnates. There's a definite focus on the business applications and impacts of the blockchain as you can probably tell by the shift to more business focused news websites covering blockchain.

The world seems to be shifting towards an understanding of the underlying technology and it's potential impacts on the world. I think in it's first cycle of increase that Bitcoin was still seen as quite foreign and people didn't really understand the underlying applications of blockchain until this year. This puts together a good defence to the fact that blockchain won't go away this time around with it's increase especially with all the interest and application surrounding it's technology.