The world of investing can be complex and intimidating, with many different options available. One of the more recent developments in the investment world is blockchain technology, which has created opportunities for savvy investors to profit from the growth of digital currencies.

One blockchain technology that has garnered significant attention from investors is NEO, a smart contract platform that allows developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) on its blockchain. NEO has been dubbed the "Chinese Ethereum" due to its similarity to the popular Ethereum blockchain, but with some key differences.

So why should investors consider NEO as a potential investment opportunity? There are several reasons.

Firstly, NEO has a strong and experienced development team behind it. The project was founded by Da Hongfei and Erik Zhang in 2014, and has since attracted a team of developers and advisors with extensive experience in the blockchain industry. This expertise has allowed NEO to quickly develop and improve its technology, leading to a growing community of users and developers.

Secondly, NEO has a unique consensus mechanism that differs from other popular blockchain networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Rather than relying on a Proof of Work (PoW) or Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, NEO uses a Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance (dBFT) mechanism. This allows NEO to process transactions quickly and efficiently, while also ensuring the security of the network.

Thirdly, NEO has strong partnerships with major Chinese corporations and institutions, which could help drive adoption of the platform in the future. Some of these partnerships include China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Alibaba, and Microsoft China.

Finally, NEO has seen impressive growth in its market value over the past few years. In early 2017, NEO was trading at less than $0.15 per token, but by early 2018, it had reached a high of over $160 per token. While the cryptocurrency market is known for its volatility, the growth of NEO has been impressive and shows the potential for future growth.

Of course, as with any investment opportunity, there are risks involved with investing in NEO. The cryptocurrency market is notoriously volatile, and the value of NEO could drop significantly at any time. Additionally, the regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies is still uncertain in many countries, which could lead to restrictions or even bans on the use of blockchain technology.

Despite these risks, however, NEO presents an intriguing investment opportunity for those interested in the blockchain space. With a strong development team, unique consensus mechanism, and strong partnerships, NEO has the potential to become a major player in the decentralized application space. As always, investors should do their own research and carefully consider the risks before investing in any cryptocurrency.