What is actually going on with Dash? I know its one of the first masternode coins and all, but there isn't much going on in its ecosystem to get one's juices jumping
It's THE first masternode coin. It's also the first DAO (decentralized autonomous organization), which means its self-funded and governed without outside corporate interference. It's the best crypto payment experience right now, with instant, secure, optionally private transactions. It is working on its next generation technology called Dash Platform which will feature a decentralized API and blockchain-based usernames. This will allow for the creation of accounts that can be accessed from anywhere, sending to usernames instead of addresses, and a smooth user experience. On top of that, there will be decentralized applications that can be built on it using Dash as the common currency. Think gaming and so forth. So, you know, nothing much! ;-)