Crypto 101 – The Crypto Medium https://cryptomedium.org A Cryptoverse navigator for all things Crypto. Fri, 02 Dec 2022 21:57:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cryptomedium.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-image-4-32x32.jpg Crypto 101 – The Crypto Medium https://cryptomedium.org 32 32 CRYPTO 101 PART 10: THE OPEN VS CLOSED METAVERSE https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-10-the-open-vs-closed-metaverse/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-10-the-open-vs-closed-metaverse/#respond Tue, 01 Nov 2022 21:19:14 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=10056

HI DENIZENS, AND WELCOME BACK!

WHAT IS THE OPEN VS CLOSED METAVERSE?

For the closed metaverse think Facebook’s “Meta”; is simply a repackaged, dressed-up, 3D virtual version of web 2.0. It’s a private industry hustle, a con job; a place created by a centralized and nontransparent authority designed to mimic the open Metaverse. It’s a place where the organization sets the rules, owns your data, and profits from your experience. Many more companies are trying the same thing.

For the Open Metaverse, also known as the real Metaverse, think “Ready Player One” without the corporate overloards. It is the antithesis of a closed Metaverse, literally the inverse. A decentralized, web 3.0, Blockchain-based 3D virtual place/experience that nobody owns.

“Whenever destroyers appear among men, they start by destroying money, for money is men’s protection and the base of a moral existence. Destroyers seize gold and leave to their owners a counterfeit pile of paper. This kills all objective standards and delivers men into the arbitrary power of an arbitrary setter of values. Gold was an objective value, an equivalent of wealth produced. Paper is a mortgage on wealth that does not exist, backed by a gun aimed at those who are expected to produce it.”

-Ayn Rand

THE METAVERSE IS NOT THE MARC ZUCKERBURG "META"

WHAT THE HECK IS THIS METAVERSE ANYWAY?

For all in the crypto world, the metaverse is coming, and it’s going to be big.  If you’re not familiar with the term “metaverse,” it’s a portmanteau of “meta,” meaning beyond or transcending, and “universe,” meaning, well, all existing matter and space.

So the metaverse is to be a place that transcends the physical world we live in today. In theory, It’s a digital reality, not bound to the laws of physics and traditional economics. A place of endless creativity and opportunities and will function according to its rules and principles.

The idea is that the siloed 2D internet we know today will be replaced by a 3D interoperable metaverse resulting in a video-gamelike internet experience.

The potential applications of such a technology are virtually (pun not intended) limitless, and we’re already seeing early examples of it in virtual worlds like Second Life and massively multiplayer online games like World of Warcraft. So while the metaverse may still seem like science fiction, it’s actually not that far off from becoming a reality.

The more connected than ever before trend is only set to continue with the rise of the metaverse. This digital economy will transform the internet with shared virtual worlds. Hundreds of companies and teams are working on making their visions of the metaverse a reality, and it is forecasted to be a multi-trillion-dollar industry.

In some ways, the first signs of the metaverse are already here. People study on YouTube, work in Teamflow, meet on Discord, game together in Minecraft and Fortnite and, shop and watch movies on Amazon, tweet on Twitter, and eat dinner from UBER Eats.

Today though, most of these services are disconnected. Users have to switch from one platform to another and log in with different accounts and inter-platform communication doesn’t exist.

However, with the metaverse, all of these activities will be connected in one shared virtual world. The possibilities are endless and the potential for growth is tremendous. Get ready for the metaverse – it’s coming sooner than you think!

CLOSED METAVERSE

Most people would be surprised to learn that the internet is dominated by just a few large companies. In fact, the most-used platforms and services are owned by just a handful of tech giants.

This concentration of power can have serious implications for users, who may find themselves at the mercy of these companies. For example, if one of these companies decides to change its terms of service or raise prices, users may have little choice but to go along with it.

Additionally, these companies may use their power to stifle competition or silence voices they don’t agree with. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of the concentration of power in the tech industry and to understand the potential implications.

Powerful platforms become exclusive. Not surprisingly, that harbors the potential for conflict. If these companies are no longer mere service providers, they become gatekeepers equipped with the power to decide who gets to use their platforms. This wouldn’t be a problem if hey weren’t monopolies within their fields, but they are.

Users get de-platformed and silenced, lose their voice, and in some cases even their livelihood. Consequently, as these companies have expanded it’s become increasingly hard to hold them accountable. Otherwise, we risk becoming trapped in a digital world where only a select few have a say.

As anyone who has attempted to leave a social media platform knows, it is not easy. Not only are you saying goodbye to your friends and family, but you are also giving up your history, your identity, and your data.

This is because web 2.0 social media platforms have a monopoly on our data. We may not agree, but the reality is that we’re at the mercy of these platforms. They can change their terms and conditions at any time, and they can delete our data if they so choose.

We may not like it, but this is the reality of the situation. So before you opt out of a social media platform, think long and hard about the cost of doing so.

OPEN METAVERSE

In this case, the metaverse is built in an open and decentralized manner on the principles of Web 3.0, built on blockchain technology, ensuring permissionless access and the ownership of data by the users. “A metaverse that won’t yield control in the hands of just a few but allows users to truly own their creations and data. In an open metaverse, digital items will be truly possessive thanks to NFTs, and users can monetize and trade their virtual goods and data at their will.”-RealVision

Imagine being able to shop, work, play, and socialize all in one place.

And should a single entity build and control the metaverse, they would wield an immense amount of power. So it’s important to be aware of the potential implications of the metaverse and make sure that we don’t hand over too much control to any one institution.

Decentraland and The Sandbox are two projects that are building the open metaverse on the principles of Web3. Decentraland is a virtual world where users can buy, sell, or trade virtual property.

The Sandbox is a game world where players can create their own games and experiences. Both projects are powered by blockchain technology, which allows for decentralization and security. The open metaverse is still in its early stages, but Decentraland and The Sandbox are leading the way in its development.

THE PROBLEM WITH A CLOSED METAVERSE

Web 3.0 and crypto enthusiasts are not the only ones building the metaverse.

The clear problem is that major tech companies don’t just want to be a part of the future metaverse, they want to define and own it, similar to how they control their Web 2.0 platforms.

The private industry is fully aware of the potential of the metaverse and probably has the most aggressive conviction about its future importance.

Several companies have publicly announced that they are building their own version of the metaverse. This usually comes with a commitment to fund metaverse projects with large sums of money and to delegate their best engineering talent to it.

WEB 2.0

Whoever controls the largest parts of the metaverse will be able to extract the largest profits from it. Meta (formerly Facebook) has even changed its name to openly communicate its intention AND lay claim to the metaverse.

They have also purchased the virtual reality headset company Oculus, which allows them to control the hardware entry point to the metaverse. The Metaverse is coming, and the tech giants are positioning themselves to be its gatekeepers.

Besides Meta, other early leaders in the metaverse space are well-known names in the tech industry. Microsoft, Amazon and Google are just the prime examples among many that are pursuing a metaverse vision. Unity, Valve, Epic Games, and Apple, to name just a few more, are also pursuing the metaverse as the next big thing.

IS THE CONFLICT OVER?

The recent push by large tech companies into the metaverse space has raised the question of whether the battle for an open and decentralized metaverse is already lost before it really begins. However, there are two significant forces that will make it much more difficult for the metaverse to be walled off and controlled by a few centralized entities.

The first is blockchain technology, which enables developers and artists, no longer reliant on VCs or large companies to finance them, to lay the foundations and create fully decentralized applications that are independent and outside of the reach of large tech companies.

Unlike in Web2.0, successful decentralized protocols running on a blockchain cannot be possessed by a single entity and, therefore, cannot be sold to a large company with deep pockets. Thus, consolidation on the application level is less likely to happen.

The second force is the fact that the metaverse will be built on existing infrastructure such as the internet and cellular networks. This will make it much harder for any one company to control or shut down access to the metaverse. In short, the battle for an open and decentralized metaverse is far from over.

The idea of augmented reality has been around for some time, but imagine a world where you can be anyone you want to be, where you can go anywhere you want to go, and where you can create anything you can imagine. An open-source creator economy on a blockchain network where billions of avatars interact.

This is the promise of the Metaverse, a virtual reality that is constantly being built and expanded by millions of its users. And to realize this promise, the metaverse must be built on blockchain technology.

Only blockchain provides true ownership of digital assets and guarantees access for everyone. And only blockchain allows users to own their data and monetize their creations at will. By harnessing the power of blockchain, the metaverse can become a truly free and open platform for creation, collaboration, and exploration. And that is why blockchain is essential for the metaverse.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We don’t really know much about the metaverse yet. It’s all still up in the air. Who will own and run it? What will it look like? We just don’t have enough information to make solid predictions. The metaverse will likely be created by a network of different platforms, blockchains, and technologies working together.

This cooperation and embracing of interoperability are essential for the success of the metaverse. Different organizations will need to be able to communicate and interact with each other to create a cohesive user experience. Only by working together can we hope to build something as ambitious as the metaverse.

Frequently Asked Questions.

To get to the other side of the metaverse!

We don’t know yet, the metaverse is still being built!

**Disclaimer**

Cryptocurrencies and ICOs are all the rage these days, with everyone from celebrities to your next door neighbor looking to get in on the action. However, it’s important to remember that investing in cryptocurrencies and ICOs is highly risky and speculative. The prices of these assets can be incredibly volatile, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll make any money by investing in them. In fact, you could easily lose everything that you put into them. So if you’re thinking about investing in cryptocurrencies or ICOs, make sure that you understand the risks involved and only invest what you can afford to lose.

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Crypto 101 part 9: What is Blockchain Bridging? https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-9-what-is-blockchain-bridging/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-9-what-is-blockchain-bridging/#respond Sat, 17 Sep 2022 23:31:42 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=8933

HI EVERYONE, AND WELCOME BACK!

SO, What is Blockchain Bridging?

Blockchain bridging is the use of a protocol that connects different networks within the blockchain in order to enable interactions between them.  Also known as cross-chain bridging, this type of software connects these different networks with each other and allows users to send cryptocurrency from one chain to the other. For example, if you have Bitcoin but want to participate in Defi (Decentralized Finance), Dapp (Decentralized Applications), NFT (Non-Fungible Token) or P2E (Play to earn video game) activity, use it like a cryptocurrency token, and/or then transfer it to another network like Avalanche, Polygon, Solana..etc; you can do that through, first, blockchain bridging it to Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) on Ethereum Network and then moving it throughout the blockchain- all without selling your Bitcoin.

Why is it useful? BACKGROUND:

Blockchain bridges facilitate bridging the gap between different blockchains, which is essential for achieving interoperability within the blockchain space. There are many different types of blockchain bridges, each with its own unique features and benefits.

Some of the most popular blockchain bridges include the MultiChain  Network, Binance, and Wrapped Bitcoin. Each of these protocols has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs. Ultimately, blockchain bridges are critical for enabling effective communications and transactions between different blockchains.

The idea behind “What is Blockchain Bridging” is far less complicated than the term suggests. A blockchain bridge is simply a tool that lets you transfer crypto assets from one blockchain to another, solving one of the main pain points within blockchains – interoperability.

Bridging simply makes it possible for different blockchains to interact with each other and share data, which would theoretically make it possible to create a seamless global market for cryptocurrencies.

So whats the big deal ABOUT BRIDGING exactly?

Blockchain Versatility

Since blockchain assets are often not compatible with one another, bridges create synthetic derivatives that represent an asset from another blockchain. This way I can for example transfer USDC from the AVAX network to the POLYGON network and use it there.

Wrapped Bitcoin

Often thought of as its own bridging network and by far the biggest in crypto, it requires its own little explanation.

The Bitcoin Blockchain doesn’t have “smart contract’ features. So in order for you to take part in the many Defi, Dapp, and NFT ecosystems out there, Bitcoin first needs to be converted (tokenized) into a digital representation of itself on smart contract-supporting blockchains.

A common example is WBTC (Wrapped Bitcoin) which is an ERC-20 token (an Ethereum Blockchain native token specification).

**You can use any centralized exchange to do this or you can do it yourself through the decentralized options like Swingby network.

Umbria Narni Bridge

The Umbria Narni bridge allows for cross-chain transactions between multiple chains by holding assets on each chain and exchanging them accordingly.

Supported blockchain networks: Polygon Mainnet, Ethereum Mainnet, BNB Chain, Avalanche. Plans to support Fantom, Ronin, Solana, Cardano, Immutable X, Worldwide Asset Exchange, Gnosis, KuCoin Community Chain and Huobi Eco Chain.

Supported cryptocurrency tokens: Ethereum, Polygon, USD Coin, Tether USD, Umbria Governance Token and Wrapped Bitcoin.

MultiChain (Fantom Anyswap)

Multichain was born as Anyswap on the 20th July 2020. It is a Cross-Chain Router Protocol will allow different blockchains to interact with each other.

Supported blockchain networks: Arbitrum, Astar Network, Aurora, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Bitcoin, Blocknet, Boba Network, Celo, Clover, ColossusXT, Conflux eSpace, Cronos, Ethereum, Fantom, Fuse, Fusion, Gnosis, Harmony, Huobi, IoTex, KCC, Litecoin, Metis, Milkomeda, Moonbeam, Nebulas, OEC, Oasis Network, Optimism, Polygon, REI, Shiden Network, Syscoin NEVM, Telos, Terra, Velas and XRP.

Supported cryptocurrency tokens: View the full list of tokens here.

Portal Token Bridge (formerly Wormhole)

Portal is a bridge that offers unlimited transfers across chains for tokens and NFTs wrapped by Wormhole. Unlike many other bridges, you avoid double wrapping and never have to retrace your steps.

Supported blockchain networks: Solana, Ethereum, Terra, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, Oasis and Fantom.

Supported cryptocurrency tokens: USD Coin, Tether, FTX Token, Ethereum, Serum, MakerDAO, TerraUSD, Binance USD, Huobi Global, OKEx, Frax Protocol Token, Huobi BTC, Synthetix, Shiba Inu, Axie Infinity, SushiSwap, Decentraland, Sandbox and Uniswap.

Celer cBridge

Celer is a protocol that enables developers to build dApps that interact with multiple blockchains. This allows users to easily access tokens and other services across multiple blockchains.

Supported blockchain networks: Ethereum, Astar, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Polygon, Arbitrum, Fantom, Metis Mainnet, Oasis Emerald, Celo, Aurora, Harmony, Moonbeam, Moonriver, Optimism, Boba Network, OKExChain, Heco, Clover, Gnosis Chain, Milkomeda Cardano and Shiden.

Supported cryptocurrency tokens: Tether, USD Coin, Ethereum, MetisDAO, Kromatika, Binance USD, Thales, Domi Coin, Dodo, Unified Society, Lyra, JPEGvault, Immutable X, dForce, xToken, Wootrade, Perpetual Protocol, Mask Network, Izumi Finance, MCDex, PolkaEx, CEC Energy Chain, PerlinX, Reef Chain, Boba Network and Standard Protocol.

Allbridge

Allbridge is a simple, modern, and reliable way to transfer assets between different networks. It is a bridge between both EVM (Like Ethereum, Polygon, BSC) and non-EVM compatible (like Solana) blockchains, that aims to cover L2 (like Arbitrum, Optimism) solutions and NFT transfers in the future.

Supported blockchain networks and tokens click here. we find this works best with Solana bridging specifically

Binance Bridge

The Binance Bridge is a project that allows for the bridging of various cryptocurrencies. It has an expansive set of options for bridging with a growing list of cryptocurrencies.

Supported blockchain networks: Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain and Tron.

Supported cryptocurrency tokens: View the full list of cryptocurrencies here.

Cross-Chain Bridge

Cross-Chain Bridge is a platform that allows for the bridging of different tokens and NFTs between multiple networks. Germany-based Tixl organization, which rebranded as the Autobahn Network in March 2022

Supported blockchain networks: Avalanche, BNB Chain, Polygon, Ethereum, and Fantom.

Supported cryptocurrency tokens: Bridge, Bulk Token, Candle, DAEX Token, GamyFi Platform, TribeOne, Moonie NFT, Polychain Monsters, Realm Token, Autobahn Network, UnitedCrowd Token, Unobtanium, Upfire, USD Coin, Tether and Wrapped Ethereum.

Avalanche Bridge

The Avalanche Bridge is a bridge between the Avalanche and Ethereum networks that facilitates the transfer of tokens between the two networks. The DApp uses ChainSafe’s ChainBridge to facilitate two-way transfers of crypto tokens and NFTs. You can also Bridge BTC through Avalanches Core wallet extension

Supported blockchain networks: Avalanche, Ethereum, and Bitcoin (through the Core wallet extension).

Supported cryptocurrency tokens: BTC and ERC20 (Ethereum network) tokens created on Bitcoin and Ethereum

Synapse Bridge

Synapse is the most widely used, extensible, secure cross-chain communications network. Build truly cross-chain applications using the Synapse Protocol.

Supported blockchain networks: Arbitrum, Astar Network, Aurora, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Boba Network, Cronos, DFK Chain, Doge Chain, Ethereum, Fantom, Harmony, Klatyn, Metis, Moonbeam, Moonriver, Optimism, Polygon,

Supported cryptocurrency tokens: View the full list of cryptocurrencies here.

Outlook and final thoughts;

Your friend tells you about wrapping bitcoin and bridging it to the Solana network to play the newest P2E game and wants to show you.

Huh? Your friend wants to hand you a brand new bitcoin and is inviting you to go to a new arcade called Solana across the bridge to play some video games?… What?

You’re confused but ecstatic! Finally, you can stop using your parents’ credit card to play Street Fighter II at the arcade. Much has changed. the last time you were at the arcade was 1986 and you remember the games only took quarters back then.

Ok…so what alternate reality is this??

Don’t worry, the cryptoverse can be confusing and requires a learning curve

In short, Blockchain bridging fundamentally acts as bridges do in the real world, it connects many isolated communities which allows all to thrive.

The use of protocols that connect different networks within the blockchain to enable interactions between them enables data to be shared and opens the potential to create a global market for cryptocurrencies.

While this may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, it could very well be the key to unlocking the full potential of blockchain technology.

As more and more businesses adopt blockchain technology, bridging will become increasingly important in order to facilitate communication and commerce between them.

Frequently Asked Questions.

When bridging two independent blockchains, extra caution has to be taken as the process is rather complex. This is due to the fact that the bridging system often has to communicate with two separate networks that have been written in different programming languages and follow different consensus mechanisms. Because there are no standards for blockchain bridges, the process of development and auditing is more difficult. This was made evident by various hacks that have taken place in the past. In order to avoid such disasters, it is important to be extra careful when interacting with crypto bridges.

Blockchain bridging can offer a number of advantages, including:

-Enabling the transfer of data and value between different blockchain networks

-Allowing different blockchain platforms to interoperate with each other

-Creating a global market for cryptocurrencies

-Facilitating communication and commerce between different businesses that use blockchain technology.

As more and more businesses adopt blockchain technology, bridging will become increasingly important in order to facilitate communication and commerce between them. In the future, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of blockchain bridging that will help to unlock the full potential of this transformative technology.

**Disclaimer**

Cryptocurrencies and ICOs are all the rage these days, with everyone from celebrities to your next door neighbor looking to get in on the action. However, it’s important to remember that investing in cryptocurrencies and ICOs is highly risky and speculative. The prices of these assets can be incredibly volatile, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll make any money by investing in them. In fact, you could easily lose everything that you put into them. So if you’re thinking about investing in cryptocurrencies or ICOs, make sure that you understand the risks involved and only invest what you can afford to lose.

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crypto 101 part 8: What are NFT’s? https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-8-what-are-nfts/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-8-what-are-nfts/#respond Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:59:09 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=8859

HI EVERYONE, AND WELCOME BACK!

SO, WHAT ARE NFT'S?

In theory, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are crypto assets with unique identification codes and metadata that distinguish them from each other. Although 95% of these are valueless gabage, scams, or ponzi schemes, 5% for the NFT’s out there have real value and utility…the Key is utility. This makes them ideal for use cases like digital art, gaming, and more. Unlike all other cryptocurrencies, which are identical to one another (fungible) and can be used for commercial transactions, NFTs are a type of cryptocurrency that is not interchangeable with other NFTs or any other type of currency.

bACKGROUND:

You’re one of the early adopters of cryptocurrency. You’ve been following Bitcoin since it was created, and you were an early investor. You’re always on the lookout for new opportunities in the space, and when you heard about NFTs, you were intrigued. So when you saw that someone was selling a digital volcano for 100,000 dollars, you decided to buy it.

It turned out that the digital volcano was just an iPhone screen saver. You were disappointed, but you didn’t want to admit it to your friends. After all, you’re supposed to be an expert in this space. So you kept quiet and pretended like everything was fine. But inside, you were fuming.

It’s okay, we’ve all been there. We’ve all made mistakes when it comes to investing in new technologies. But the important thing is to learn from them and move on. So don’t be discouraged, and keep your eye out for the next big opportunity in cryptocurrency. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the one to strike it rich.

In this installment of Crypto 101, we explore non-fungible tokens and what makes them unique. Unlike cryptocurrencies, which are identical to one another and can be used for commercial transactions, NFTs are crypto assets with unique identification codes and metadata that distinguish them from each other. This makes them ideal for use cases like digital art, gaming, and more.

What are NFTs and What makes them Unique?

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are crypto assets that have unique identification codes and metadata that distinguish them from each other. Unlike cryptocurrencies, which are identical to one another and can be used for commercial transactions, NFTs are not interchangeable and are only suitable for specific use cases.

These crypto assets have unique identification codes and metadata that distinguish them from each other. This makes them ideal for use cases like digital art, gaming, and more. Unlike all other cryptocurrencies, which are identical to one another (fungible) and can be used for commercial transactions,

The most popular use case for NFTs is digital art. In May of 2020, an artist by the name of Beeple sold a digital collage for $69 million. That’s right million. But it’s not just digital art that is being sold as NFTs.

Recently, the NBA has partnered with a company called Dapper Labs to launch NBA Top Shot. NBA Top Shot is a platform that allows fans to buy, sell, and trade highlights in the form of NFTs. These highlights can be anything from a LeBron James dunk to a game-winning shot.

SO, WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL WITH NFT’S?

Well, there are a few reasons. First of all, NFTs offer true ownership of digital assets. When you purchase an NFT, you are the sole owner of that asset. You can do whatever you want with it, and no one can take it away from you.

Secondly, NFTs are immutable, which means that they cannot be changed or altered in any way. This is important because it ensures that the digital asset you purchase is exactly the same as the one you sell, trade, or give away.

Lastly, NFTs are unique. Because each NFT is created with its own unique identification code and metadata, they are all completely different from one another. This makes them collectibles that can be traded, sold, or auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Why should you care? ..... Austin clark says it best

So Again, Why should you care?

NFTs have been gaining in popularity due to their unique properties and potential use cases. They offer a way to potentially store a value that is unique and cannot be replicated, making them suitable for use as a store of value or for tracking ownership of digital assets.

Some of the potential use cases for NFTs include:

-Digital art: NFTs can be used to represent digital artwork, and can be sold or traded like any other piece of art.

-Gaming: NFTs can be used to represent in-game items, and can be traded or sold like any other game item.

-Digital media: NFTs can be used to represent videos, music, and other forms of digital media.

-Ownership of digital assets: NFTs can be used to represent ownership of digital assets, such as domain names, websites, and social media accounts.

-Collectibles: NFTs can be used to represent collectibles, such as trading cards, comics, and other types of collectibles.

Do people really think that NFTs will be the future of collecting?

For me no, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their place. There is no doubt that NFTs have the potential to revolutionize the way we collect and trade digital assets. Their unique properties make them ideal for use in digital art, gaming, and other applications. While they are still in the early stages of development, NFTs have the potential to change the way we view digital transactions.

So far, there has been a lot of interest in NFTs from the community, and many believe that they will become the standard for collecting and trading digital assets. Time will tell if this is truly the case, but there is no doubt that NFTs are an exciting new technology with a lot of potentials.

Why are NFTs gaining in popularity?

NFTs are gaining in popularity for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:

-Their unique ability to represent any type of digital asset

-Their security and transparency

-The potential to create new markets and business models

-The potential to change the way we interact with digital assets With the rise of digital art and other forms of digital media,

NFTs are well-positioned to become a major players in the world of digital assets. As such, They’re worth keeping an eye on, and could potentially be a game-changer in the world of digital assets.

NFTs in the Real World

NFTs have the potential to be used to represent ownership of physical assets, such as cars, houses, and other property. This would allow for a secure and transparent way to track and transfer these assets.

They could also be used to represent ownership of digital assets in the real world. This would allow for a secure and transparent way to track and transfer ownership of websites, domain names, and other digital property.

NFTs in the Virtual World **(this is One of My NFT's)**

NFTs can also be used in virtual worlds to represent ownership of virtual property, such as in-game items, characters, and other game content. NFTs can also be used to create unique virtual collectibles, such as trading cards, comics, and other types of collectibles.

Virtual worlds offer a unique way to experience digital content, and NFTs offer a way to create and manage unique virtual assets. This could lead to new opportunities for the gaming and entertainment industries.

The Photo above is one of my personal NFT’s. Its for a “metaverse” P2E (Play to Earn) game in development called “Wilderworld“. Built on the Blockchain, Wilderworld is a GTA inspired concept. This specific NFT is not only aqn origional, it will also have in game utlity. Wilderworld is currently under develoment.

What Are the Risks?

Like with any investment, the risks involved with buying NFTs are that they go to Zero. In fact, that’s where most are going. The prices of these collectibles can fluctuate rapidly, and you could lose money by either selling them at the wrong time or buying the “wrong” one.

There is also the risk that the exchanges where you buy NFTs could be hacked, and you could lose your tokens.

Another risk to consider is that NFTs are a new technology, and they are not yet regulated. This means that there is no guarantee that you will be able to sell your tokens or that their price not drop suddenly.

You should only invest money that you are willing to lose, as there is a risk that you will not be able to get your money back.

Despite the risks, buying NFTs could be a good investment if you are careful and do your research.

If you believe in the technology and think that it has a bright future, then buying NFTs could be a good way to invest in the future. Just be sure to understand the risks before you invest any money.

final thoughts;

binoculars, man, seek-3683757.jpg

NFTs are a new and exciting technology with a lot of potential. They offer a way to store and transfer value that is unique and cannot be replicated, making them ideal for use in digital art, gaming, and other applications.

While they are still in the early stages of development, NFTs have the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with digital assets. So far, there has been a lot of interest in NFTs from the community, and many believe that they will become the standard for collecting and trading digital assets. Time will tell if this is truly the case.

Frequently Asked Questions.

If you are interested in buying NFTs, there are a few ways to do so. You can buy them directly from the creators of the tokens, or you can buy them on an exchange.

There are a few exchanges that specialize in NFTs, and they offer a wide variety of tokens to choose from. Be sure to do your research before choosing an exchange, as not all of them are reputable.

Once you have chosen an exchange, like Opensea, you will need to create an account and deposit some funds. Then, you can use the exchange to buy tokens. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully, as there are a few steps involved in the process.

If you are not familiar with exchanges or cryptocurrencies, it may be best to consult with a financial advisor or someone else who is familiar with the process. However, with a little bit of research, you should be able to buy NFTs without any problems.

NFTs could be used to represent ownership of physical assets, such as cars or houses. They could also be used to represent ownership of digital assets, such as websites or domain names. Additionally, NFTs could be used in virtual worlds to represent ownership of virtual property, such as in-game items or characters.

The risks of buying NFTs include the possibility that their price will drop suddenly or that the exchanges where you buy them will be hacked. Additionally, NFTs are a new technology and are not yet regulated, which means there is no guarantee that you will be able to sell your tokens.

**Disclaimer**

Cryptocurrencies and ICOs are all the rage these days, with everyone from celebrities to your next door neighbor looking to get in on the action. However, it’s important to remember that investing in cryptocurrencies and ICOs is highly risky and speculative. The prices of these assets can be incredibly volatile, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll make any money by investing in them. In fact, you could easily lose everything that you put into them. So if you’re thinking about investing in cryptocurrencies or ICOs, make sure that you understand the risks involved and only invest what you can afford to lose.

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Crypto 101 part 7: What is the Bitcoin Lightning Network? https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-7-what-is-the-bitcoin-lightning-network/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-7-what-is-the-bitcoin-lightning-network/#respond Wed, 07 Sep 2022 00:27:21 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=8858

HI fellow denizens, AND WELCOME BACK!

SO, What is the Bitcoin Lightning Network?

The Bitcoin Lightning Network is a set of rules (known as a second-layer payment channel) that built on top of bitcoins blockchain specifically designed for instant and feeless micropayments. this second-layer payment channel increases transaction times and decreases network congestion on the Bitcoin Blockchain. Since Bitcoin in its current form isn’t scalable; its slow and expensive and can’t be used as a practical medium of exchange. The Lightning Network solves this problem by allowing for faster payments and lower fees; in theory. Transactions on the Lightning Network are confirmed much more quickly than on the Bitcoin network, making it a more practical option for everyday transactions. It was conceived by two developers, Thaddeus Dryja and Joseph Poon, back in 2015.

bACKGROUND:

In simple terms, the Lightning Network revolutionalizes digital assets and payment systems. It allows Bitcoin users to set up “channels” between each other, outside of the main Bitcoin blockchain. These channels can be used to conduct an unlimited number of transactions, without ever touching the Bitcoin blockchain. This results in near-instant transactions at practically zero cost. Bitcoin’s price volatility is making it difficult to gain adoption and momentum. 

WHO RUNS THE LIGHTNING NETWORK?

Lightning Labs, led by Elizabeth Stark, is the company that develops the Lightning Network. The network itself is deployed on the internet and runs on thousands of nodes located around the world.

WHY DO WE NEED IT?

When Bitcoin was first created, it was not designed to be scalable. It was intended to be a decentralized payment system where users could remain anonymous and access it from anywhere. However, its popularity was one of its downfalls—transactions became much slower and more costly than intended.

Thus, developers created cryptocurrency layers, where the first layer was the primary blockchain. Each layer beneath that was a secondary layer, a tertiary layer, and so forth. This design allowed for faster and cheaper transactions while still maintaining decentralization and anonymity.

However, it also created a complex system that is difficult for users to understand and use. As a result, Bitcoin’s scalability issues remain unresolved.

Bitcoin has been around for over a decade now but has yet to gain widespread adoption. A big reason for this is scalability. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can only handle a few transactions per second, which is far too slow for everyday use.

The Lightning Network is one solution that has been proposed to solve this problem. It allows transactions to be processed off-chain, which means they can be settled much faster. This could make things like instant micropayments possible, which would open up new use cases for cryptocurrencies.

However, the Lightning Network is still in its early stages and it remains to be seen if it will be able to scale up to meet the demands of millions of users.

So whats the big deal with the Lightning Network exactly?

For starters, it’s open to anyone with an internet connection. There are no geographic restrictions or KYC/AML requirements.

Imagine you wanted to buy a coffee from your favorite café. You go in, order your drink, and hand the barista a $5 bill. The barista takes your money, gives you your coffee, and everyone goes about their day.

But what if you didn’t have $5? What if you only had $2? To complete the transaction, you would need to find someone else who also wanted to buy a coffee and was willing to give you $3. This is where smart contracts come in.

A smart contract is a digital contract that can be used to send or receive payments. In our example, the smart contract could be used to hold onto the $2 until the other person has paid their $3. Once both parties have paid, the smart contract would release the funds and everyone would get their coffee.

Multi-sig scripts are similar to smart contracts, but they require more than one signature to release the funds. This is useful if you want to make sure that more than one person agrees to a transaction before it is completed.

For example, you might have a multi-sig script that requires two signatures before funds can be released. This way, both you and the other person would need to agree to the transaction before it could be completed.

Lightning Network has been often considered an evolution in cryptocurrency. Lightning Network is a “second layer” payment protocol that operates on top of a blockchain-based cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin). It is designed to speed up transaction processing times and decrease the associated costs of Bitcoin’s blockchain.

It allows Bitcoin users to set up “channels” between each other, outside of the main Bitcoin blockchain. As discussed, these channels can be used to conduct an unlimited number of transactions, without ever touching the Bitcoin blockchain.

If the intended result is in near-instant transactions at practically zero cost, the potential implications of this technology are massive.

For example, Lightning Network could make it possible for people to use Bitcoin for small everyday purchases (such as coffee or groceries), without having to wait 10 minutes for each transaction to be processed.

Additionally, because Lightning Network transactions are not recorded on the blockchain until the channel is closed, they are much more private than regular Bitcoin transactions. Ultimately, the Lightning Network has the potential to make Bitcoin much more practical and useful as a currency on a day-to-day basis.

What are the benefits of the Lightning Network?

Energy

It’s no secret that the energy requirements of the Bitcoin network are staggering. In order to maintain the blockchain and confirm transactions, significant electricity is necessary. This has led to concerns about the environmental impact of Bitcoin, as well as the high cost of running the network. The Lightning network heals to significantly reduce this impact.

Speed

The main benefit of the Lightning Network is that it allows for much faster payments. Transactions on the network can be confirmed in a matter of seconds, compared to the 10 minutes or more that it takes for a Bitcoin transaction to be confirmed. This makes the Lightning Network much more practical for everyday use. One way to do this is to use a system that can handle more transactions at once.

**Smart Contracts

A smart contract is a computer protocol intended to digitally facilitate, verify, or enforce the negotiation or performance of a contract. Smart contracts allow the performance of credible transactions without third parties. These transactions are trackable and irreversible.

Multi-signature scripts are used to create multi-signature (multi-sig) addresses. A multi-sig address is an address that is associated with more than one private key.

The private keys can be distributed among multiple signers. A transaction from a multi-sig address can only be spent if enough of the signers provide their signatures.

Lightning Network uses smart contracts and multi-sig scripts to secure the funds sent through its channels.

By using these technologies, Lightning Network can offer its users a fast, convenient, and secure way to send and receive payments.

HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?

Simple;

  1. Download and install a Lightning wallet from google play and/or directly from the website if your preferred choice.
  2. Set it up- rememebr your private keys if its self custody.
  3. Now your ready to covert regular Bitcoin into lighting Bitcoin, and vice versa
  4. Start making thos transactions

** OUR RECCOMENDATION IS THE MUUN WALLET. THET DON’T PAY ME FOR THAT**

What are the drawbacks of the Lightning Network?

When it comes to the Lightning Network, the most apparent problem is that it could lead to a replication of the hub-and-spoke model that characterizes today’s financial systems. In this current model, banks and financial institutions are the primary intermediaries through which all transactions occur.

While the Lightning Network is decentralized, there is a risk that it could end up recreating the same system with different actors in different roles. This would be a major setback for those who believe in the potential of blockchain technology to disrupt traditional financial systems.

To avoid this outcome, it will be critical for those involved in the development of the Lightning Network to ensure that it remains truly decentralized. Otherwise, we risks simply replacing one system of centralization with another.

Hacks

One potential issue is that the Lightning Network is still believed to be vulnerable to hacks and thefts. Payment channels, wallets, and application programming interfaces (APIs) can all be hacked, which could lead to the loss of funds. 

Fraud

Anytime you use the Lightning Network, there’s a risk that the person you’re transacting with could close the channel and go offline. This could happen if, for example, the other person has malicious intent. If this happens, the dishonest party may be able to steal coins from the other participant using a technique called fraudulent channel close.

Luckily, there are ways to protect yourself from this type of fraud. For example, you could keep your channel open until you’re sure the other person is also offline. Or you could create a time lock on your deposit, so that even if the channel is closed prematurely, you won’t lose your money. If you’re using the Lightning Network, it’s important to be aware of the risks involved and take steps to protect yourself.

Fee’s

In order for a payment to be routed through the Lightning Network, there must be a path of open channels between the sender and the receiver. The sender pays a fee to each node along this path, and these fees are used to incentivize nodes to route payments. The fees are also used to pay Bitcoin’s usual transaction fees. Finally, when a channel is closed, both parties must pay a closing fee. These fees are generally much smaller than Bitcoin’s transaction fees.

Outlook and final thoughts;

binoculars, man, seek-3683757.jpg

You ever have one of those days where you just can’t seem to get ahead? You know the feeling. You’re constantly running around, trying to get things done, but no matter how fast you go, you just can’t seem to catch up. Well, that’s the way I feel about the Lightning Network.

It’s designed to speed up transaction processing times and decrease the associated costs of Bitcoin’s blockchain, And as for the cost savings? Let’s just say I’m not impressed yet.

So what is the Lightning Network? In short, it’s a system of nodes that sit on top of the Bitcoin blockchain and process transactions much faster than the blockchain itself. Theoretically, this should help reduce fees and improve scalability.

But in practice, although it’s made massive steps forward, it has some way to go. Maybe I’m just using it wrong. Or maybe the whole system is just too new and needs some time to work out the kinks.

Either way I firmly believe that the Lightning Network game-changer in cryptocurrency’s evolution and represents a paradigm shift for Bitcoin’s adoption. We’ll see if it can live up to that hype.

Frequently Asked Questions.

There are several risks associated with the Lightning Network, including the possibility of fraud or theft. It’s important to be aware of these risks and take steps to protect yourself.

If you’re interested in using the Lightning Network, you’ll need to set up a node. You can do this by running a full Bitcoin node and then installing the Lightning Network software on top of it. Alternatively, you can Set Up Lightning Network Node. Once you have a node set up, you can start opening channels and routing payments.

If you want to learn more about the Lightning Network, there are a few resources you can check out. The Lightning Network website has a lot of information about the network and how it works. You can also join the Lightning Network Telegram group to chat with other users and learn more about the network. Finally, the Bitcoin StackExchange is a great place to ask questions and get answers from knowledgeable users.

**Disclaimer**

Cryptocurrencies and ICOs are all the rage these days, with everyone from celebrities to your next door neighbor looking to get in on the action. However, it’s important to remember that investing in cryptocurrencies and ICOs is highly risky and speculative. The prices of these assets can be incredibly volatile, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll make any money by investing in them. In fact, you could easily lose everything that you put into them. So if you’re thinking about investing in cryptocurrencies or ICOs, make sure that you understand the risks involved and only invest what you can afford to lose.

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crypto 101 part 6: What is Defi? https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-6-what-is-defi/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-6-what-is-defi/#respond Sat, 03 Sep 2022 22:30:18 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=8718

HI EVERYONE, AND WELCOME BACK! SO WHAT IS DEFI? 

Decentralized finance, or “Defi” for short, is a term used to describe financial products and services that are not controlled or regulated by any central authority. Its peer-to-peer finance is enabled by decentralized technologies built on the blockchain. More specifically, DeFi allows users to take advantage of traditional banking services, such as borrowing, trading, and lending, with increased anonymity and speed. Defi products and services are powered by distributed ledger technology (DLT) and rely on a network of computers to verify and execute transactions. It’s a shift away from traditional, centralized financial systems (like banks) and has many benefits over them.

bACKGROUND:

Some of the most popular products include decentralized exchanges (DEXs), decentralized lending platforms, and decentralized asset management platforms. DEXs are exchanges that allow users to trade cryptocurrencies and other digital assets without relying on a third party to facilitate the transaction. Decentralized lending platforms allow users to borrow and lend money without having to go through a bank or other financial institution. And decentralized asset management platforms allow users to store and trade digital assets in a secure, trustless environment.

 Additionally, The popularity of Defi products and services is due in part to the growing awareness of the benefits of blockchain technology. Blockchain is a distributed ledger that allows for secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions. This makes it an ideal technology for powering Defi products and services. Additionally, NFT trading largely takes place over DeFi, and the evolving metaverse is integrating with DeFi also. As the Defi ecosystem continues to grow and evolve, it is likely that we will see more and more businesses and individuals adopting this new way of doing finance.NFT trading largely takes place over

The popularity of these products and services is due in part to the growing awareness of the benefits of blockchain technology. Blockchain is a distributed ledger that allows for secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions. This makes it an ideal technology for powering Defi products and services.

In addition, the rise of stablecoins has also played a role in the popularity of Defi. Stablecoins are digital assets that are pegged to a fiat currency or other asset, such as gold. This peg ensures that the value of the stablecoin remains relatively stable, even when the prices of other cryptocurrencies fluctuate. This makes stablecoins an ideal currency for use in these products and services.

The growing popularity has led to the development of a number of new platforms and protocols that are designed to power products and services. Some of the most popular Defi platforms include PancakeSwap, Uniswap, and Trader JOE. These platforms provide the infrastructure necessary to build and launch arrays of products and services.

The rise of Defi has the potential to revolutionize the financial industry. By providing a more secure, efficient, and trustless way of conducting financial transactions, it could upend the traditional financial system. This could lead to lower costs, faster transaction times, and greater access to financial products and services for users around the world.

You can do things like borrow and lend crypto, trade without an exchange, and earn interest on your digital assets. And because it’s all built on decentralized, open-source blockchains with smart contract functionality like Ethereum Avalanche and Polygon, you can do it without giving up control of your private keys. In Fact, you can’t use them without your private Keys

So whats the big deal with DEFI exactly?

For starters, it’s open to anyone with an internet connection. There are no geographic restrictions or KYC/AML requirements.

Second, apps are built on blockchains, which means they’re powered by smart contracts. This makes them more transparent and trustworthy than traditional financial services, which often rely on opaque, centralized systems.

Finally, it’s still in its early stages, which means there’s a lot of room for growth and innovation. We’re just beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible.

Examples of DeFi platforms:

dapps

dapp, or decentralized app, uses blockchain technology to protect user data from being collected and sold. They run autonomously and often serve the same function as traditional apps for social media, games, and related purposes.

They are often built on blockchain or other distributed ledger systems, and they use smart contracts to enable their functionality.

Like traditional applications, DApps provide some function or utility to users. However, because they are decentralized, they are not subject to the control of any central authority.

This gives DApps a number of advantages over traditional applications, including increased security and transparency. Defi is a great example of a successful DApp that has been built on the Ethereum blockchain.

By deployed smart contracts on the Ethereum network, Defi brings a whole new level of financial inclusion to users around the world.

Defi applications are changing the way we think about finance, and they have the potential to revolutionize many other industries as well.

DAOs:

Courtesy of Ledger

Sometimes considered a type of dapp, DAOs, or decentralized autonomous organizations, are a new type of organization that relies on blockchain technology to give all token holders a say in important decisions. Rather than trusting a single CEO or board of directors, DAOs allow all stakeholders to vote on important matters such as how to allocate funds or what new features to add.

This approach has many advantages, including improved transparency and accountability, but it also comes with some risks. For example, if a DAO’s tokens are stolen or hacked, the organization could be bankrupted overnight. 

Defi projects are popping up everywhere you look. From yield enhancement protocols to lending platforms, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are changing the way we interact with the digital world.

But what exactly is a DAO?

In short, a DAO is an organization that is constructed by rules encoded as a computer program. These rules are often transparent and controlled by the organization’s members, rather than being influenced by a central government. This decentralized structure allows DAOs to operate more efficiently and democratically than traditional organizations. As Defi continues to grow in popularity, it’s worth keeping an eye on the rise of DAOs. Who knows – they may just change the world as we know it.

Exchanges:

Exchanges are a critical component of the crypto ecosystem, allowing users to buy, sell, and trade digital assets 24/7. While some exchanges only support crypto-to-fiat trading, others also allow users to convert their fiat currency into cryptocurrency, giving them access to the broader world of Defi and decentralized applications. Exchanges can be either centralized or decentralized. In a centralized exchange, a third party helps to conduct transactions, while in a decentralized exchange, smart contracts are responsible for processing sales and trades. Both types of exchanges have their advantages and disadvantages, but ultimately they provide an essential service for those looking to enter the world of cryptocurrency..

Lending Platforms:

Lending platforms allow you to take out crypto-backed loans.

Defi lending platforms allow users to take out crypto-backed loans. These users can also offer loans to other investors and achieve “crypto dividends” as interest.

Many users prefer taking out these loans over more traditional ones because they don’t require credit checks and can also be obtained fairly quickly. Defi lending platforms have become popular in recent years as a way to earn interest on your digital assets without having to sell them.

However, these platforms are still relatively new and there is some risk involved in using them.

The main risk being that Crypto yield is based off of trading and most projects have no real defined value to provid real world yield.

A lot of this is an experiment

Nonetheless, Defi lending platforms offer a unique opportunity for investors to earn passive income on their digital assets.

**Always Always Always Read the fine print before putting your crypto into any yield generating platform**

Wealth Management Platforms:

bitcoin, litecoin, cryptocurrency-6231930.jpg

Crypto IRAs are one of the newest and greatest ways to get in on the Defi action. Along with providing increased portfolio diversification, crypto IRAs offer tax benefits for both ROTH and traditional accounts. Defi is all about earning interest on your crypto holdings, and with a crypto IRA, you can do just that without having to worry about Uncle Sam coming after you for taxes. So if you’re looking for a way to supercharge your wealth-generation potential, a crypto IRA is definitely worth considering.

What’s the difference between DeFi and CeFi?

CeFi stands for “centralized finance,” which refers to traditional financial services like banks and exchanges. In contrast, DeFi is “decentralized finance,” which refers to the emerging world of peer-to-peer finance enabled by decentralized technologies.

Here are a few key ways CeFi and DeFi differ:

CeFi is centralized, while DeFi is decentralized. With CeFi, you have to trust a central authority to keep your funds safe and to follow the rules. With DeFi, there is no central authority; instead, trust is placed in code that is running on the Ethereum blockchain.

CeFi is closed, while DeFi is open. CeFi services are often restricted to certain countries or jurisdictions. DeFi services, on the other hand, are available to anyone with an internet connection.

CeFi is slow, while DeFi is fast. CeFi services often involve slow, manual processes that can take days or weeks to complete. DeFi services, on the other hand, are often near-instant and automated.

What’s the difference between DeFi and traditional finance (Tradfi)?

DeFi is decentralized, while Tradfi is centralized. There is no central authority; instead, trust is placed in code that is running on the Ethereum blockchain. Tradfi, on the other hand, relies on central authorities like banks and governments.

DeFi is open, while Tradfi is closed. DeFi services are available to anyone with an internet connection. Tradfi, on the other hand, is often restricted to certain countries or jurisdictions.

DeFi is transparent, while Tradfi is opaque. DeFi apps are built on the Ethereum blockchain, which means they’re powered by smart contracts. This makes them more transparent and trustworthy than traditional financial services, which often rely on opaque, centralized systems.

As with any emerging technology, there are some risks associated with DeFi:

Cefi fake out: Centralized finance disguising itself as decentralized finance is a very big problem in this crypto cycle. Some projects claim to be “decentralized” but are actually centrally controlled. These projects might use decentralized infrastructure like the Ethereum blockchain, but they have centralized control over the project itself. This can be a risk because it defeats the purpose of using decentralized technologies in the first place.

Volatility: The price of Ethereum (and other cryptocurrencies) is highly volatile, which means the value of your assets can go up or down quickly. This makes DeFi a risky investment, and you should only invest what you can afford to lose.

Hacks: dapps are still new and untested, which makes them a prime target for hackers. If you use one, make sure to do your research and only use apps that have a good reputation.

Loss of funds: If you lose your private keys, you will lose access to your account and any assets it contains. This is why it’s important to store your private keys in a safe place.

Courtesy of https thenewscrypto.com

  1. Battle Infinity (IBAT) – ADeFi Coin Project in 2022;
  2. TamaDoge –  A Young Crypto Project;
  3. Lucky Block (LBLOCK) – A new DeFi Coin for Passive Income;
  4. DeFi Coin (DEFC) – A DeFi Coin for Staking;
  5. Cosmos (ATOM) – A Crypto Project Connecting Blockchains;
  6. UniSwap (UNI) – Most popular DeFi Coin by Market Cap;
  7. Cardano (ADA) – The top DeFi Coin for Innovation and Security;
  8. Decentraland (MANA) – The real DeFi Metaverse Enthusiasts.

What are the benefits of using defi applications?

There are a number of benefits that come with using defi applications. Firstly, they allow users to access financial services in a decentralized manner. This means that there is no need for a central authority to provide these services.

Secondly, defi applications often offer users lower fees than traditional financial service providers. This is due to the fact that they are powered by smart contracts which automate many of the processes involved in providing these services.

Finally, defi applications can offer a higher degree of security than traditional financial service providers as they are built on top of the Ethereum blockchain.

Outtlook and final thoughts;

binoculars, man, seek-3683757.jpg

The future of defi looks bright. With more and more people beginning to use these applications, it is likely that we will see an increase in the number of services that are offered on these platforms. This will provide users with even more choices when it comes to accessing financial services in a decentralized manner. In addition, as the technology behind these applications continues to develop, we are likely to see even more innovation in this space. This could lead to the creation of new and exciting defi applications that we have not even thought of yet.

If you’re interested in learning more about defi, check out our Crypto 101 series. In this series, we’ll be exploring the basics of decentralized finance and how you can get started using defi products and services. Stay tuned for more!

If you’re interested in learning more about defi, check out our Crypto 101 series. In this series, we’ll be exploring the basics of decentralized finance and how you can get started using defi products and services. Stay tuned for more!

Frequently Asked Questions.

Decentralized finance, or defi, is a term used to describe financial services that are offered in a decentralized manner. This means that there is no need for a central authority to provide these services.

There are a number of benefits that come with using defi applications. Firstly, they allow users to access financial services in a decentralized manner. This means that there is no need for a central authority to provide these services. Secondly, defi applications often offer users lower fees than traditional financial service providers. This is due to the fact that they are powered by smart contracts which automate many of the processes involved in providing these services. Finally, defi applications can offer a higher degree of security than traditional financial service providers as they are built on top of the Ethereum blockchain.

The future of defi looks bright. With more and more people beginning to use these applications, it is likely that we will see an increase in the number of services that are offered on these platforms. This will provide users with even more choices when it comes to accessing financial services in a decentralized manner. In addition, as the technology behind these applications continues to develop, we are likely to see even more innovation in this space. This could lead to the creation of new and exciting defi applications that we have not even thought of yet.

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Crypto 101 part 5: Web 1 vs Web 2 vs Web 3? https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-5-web-1-vs-web-2-vs-web-3/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-5-web-1-vs-web-2-vs-web-3/#respond Sat, 20 Aug 2022 16:36:19 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=8592

HI EVERYONE, AND WELCOME BACK! SO WHAT’S

WEB 1 vs WEB 2 vs WEB 3? 

Web 1.0 is where the Web started; It was the “read-only Web,” static, all about reading, and getting information. Web 2.0 is where the web is now; the “participative social Web,” reading, writing, and creating; Social media, Corporations profiting from your personal data, and expansion of centralized control. Web 3.0 is where the web is going; the “read, write, execute Web, the metaverse, the blockchain. Empowering the individual to profit from their own data, decentralizing control to the people.

Web 1.0, Where we come from; Web 2.0, Where we are; Web 3.0, Where we're headed

You wake up, groggy and confused. You try to sit up, but your arms are tangled in something. You look down and see that you’re wrapped in a cocoon of webbing.

You try to stand up and realize that your feet are stuck to the ground. You look around and see that you’re in some kind of prehistoric forest. In the distance, you can hear the sound of dinosaurs roaring. You’re definitely not in Kansas anymore.

As you start to calm down and take stock of your situation, you realize that you have no idea how you got here. The last thing you remember is browsing Reddit before going to bed. You must have been sleep-browsing and somehow ended up in the web 1.0 era.

You start to explore your surroundings and quickly realize that everything is different. There are no buildings or roads, only trees, and plants as far as the eye can see. You also notice that there are no other people around. In fact, the only creatures you see are dinosaurs.

You eventually come across a lake and see your reflection. But, to your shock, you don’t see your own face staring back at you. You see the face of a web 1.0 web page. You have become a web page!

As you start to freak out, you hear a voice behind you. “Don’t worry, you’re not the first person to be stuck here.” You turn around and see a man wearing a toga and sandals.

“Who are you?” you ask.

“I am the Oracle of Delphi,” he replies. “I have been waiting for you.”

“Waiting for me? What do you mean?” you ask.

“You are the chosen one,” he says. “You must help us defeat the dinosaurs and save web 1.0.”

“But how am I supposed to do that?” you ask.

“I will give you a magical web page,” he says. “With this web page, you will be able to defeat the dinosaurs.”

“How do I use it?” you ask.

“When the time is right you will know,” he says. “Now go, and may web 1.0 be with you.”

With that, the Oracle vanishes in a puff of smoke. You are now alone in this strange place with no idea what to do next. But, you know one thing for sure. You have to save web 1.0!

Web 1 vs Web 2 vs Web 3: Why does it matter?

The internet has come a long way since its inception in the late 1960s. In its early days, the internet was primarily used by academics and the military for research and communication purposes.

But, it underwent a major transformation as became more accessible to the general public in the 1990s.

This transformation gave birth to what we then called the World Wide Web, simply known as the web today.

Have you noticed the terms “meta”, “metaverse’ and “web 3” being thrown around? It seems they’re being used more and more every single day.

Well, the web has come a long way since its early days as well. It has evolved from a static collection of pages to a dynamic and interactive platform that we use today.

This evolution can be divided into three distinct phases, which are often referred to as web 1.0, web 2.0, and web 3.0.

Web 1.0:

The first phase of the web, often referred to as web 1.0, was defined by static and largely informative websites. This was the early days of the internet when most people were just getting online for the first time. Web 1.0 sites were typically built using HTML and CSS, with very little dynamic content or interaction.

back to our story…….

You frantically try to think of what web 1.0 even is. All you remember hearing stories that it existed in an ancient time before the internet as we know it today; before technologies like the wheel or soap existed.

You remember stories about people using strange ancient tools called “desk-top computers” and home telephones to communicate with each other.

You notice that some homes don’t even have one of these tools in the house.

How did they do it? How did they even function?

You soon realize that you may never know the answer to that question, as a T-Rex comes lumbering towards you, ready to feast.

If you’re like me- ancient- you remember what web 1.0 was like. It was a simpler time, back when we used Geocities to host our websites and AOL Instant Messenger to communicate with our friends.

You probably don’t remember these things, because you likely didn’t exist. But if you could go back in time and use web 1.0, you’d be in for a real treat!

First of all, there’s no Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You actually have to talk to people face-to-face, use hotmail to email people or use these ancient contraptions known as “home telephones” if you wanted to communicate with them!

And there’s no Google either – so if you want to look something up or you want to go to a website, you have to actually type the address into the address bar yourself (good luck with that).

In web 1.0, we eventually had Yahoo! as our search engine of choice, because Google didn’t exist yet.

Oh and the fun we all had connecting to the internet through our phone lines.

Speaking of Yahoo!, the homepage was completely different in web 1.0. Instead of a newsfeed or a list of your recent emails, it’s just a big directory of websites. And don’t even think about using Chrome or Firefox – web browsers in web 1.0 were nothing like that!

The most popular web browser, the only web browser in most cases, in web 1.0 was Internet Explorer. It was famous for its security vulnerabilities and for being very slow and clunky.

Web 2.0:

The second phase of the web, web 2.0, is defined by dynamic and interactive websites. This was the era of social media; when sites like MySpace and Facebook began to take off. Web 2.0 sites are built using more advanced technologies such as AJAX, which allows for more dynamic content and interaction.

You’ve evaded the T-Rex for now and made it to work. You’re sitting in your cubicle, happy that you haven’t been eaten and that you don’t need to worry about wearing a Covid mask.

You’re dos coding away on the latest web 1.0 site. You’ve been slaving over this thing for months and it’s finally starting to come together.

All of a sudden, you hear a voice behind you say “Welcome to the future!”

You turn around to see a man in a silver suit and a bright blue tie standing next to a shiny new laptop.

He opens it up and starts typing away at lightning speed, bringing up web pages that you’ve never seen before.

“This is web 2.0” he says. “Where the internet is controlled by a few major corporations who make billions of dollars selling our personal data and manipulating our search results.”

He then shows you how easy it is to find out everything about anyone with just a few clicks. “And they’re doing it all without our knowledge or consent,” he says with a shake of his head.

“But that’s not all,” he continues. “They’re also using this information to control what we see and think. They’re dictating what news we read, what ads we see, and even what products we buy.”

“Welcome to the future of the internet”, “A centralized, mutable and nontransparent utopia,” he says as he walks away, leaving you sitting in your cubicle, feeling scared and violated.

You think to yourself, maybe I was better off hiding from dinosaurs and waiting for dial-up internet service.

But then…… enter;

Web 3.0:

The third phase of the web, web 3.0, is still in its early stages of development. But it is generally defined as a semantically linked and intelligent web. This means that web 3.0 sites will be able to understand the meaning of the data that they are linking to, and will be able to provide more intelligent search results. Web 3.0 technologies are still in their infancy, but they hold a lot of promise for the future of the web.

Just as you’re beginning to think you’re stuck in this sad reality, You hear another voice. Someone says “psst, over here”. The time traveler returns and this time it’s a woman, she’s dressed in a gold suit with a red cape. She has a strange-looking giant “B” symbol with 2 lines running through it.

“I’m from web 3.0”, she says. “The future of the internet.”She then proceeds to show you how web 3.0 will be a decentralized, open web where everyone has equal access to information.

“There will be no more search engine manipulation, no more data harvesting, and no more central control,” she says.

“Web 3.0 will be a web of equals, where we all have the same power and access to information.”

She then hands you a business card with a web address on it and disappears in a puff of smoke. You sit there for a moment, stunned by what you’ve just seen and heard.

You then realize that you have the power to change the future of the web. You realize that, you’re not crazy, you’ve actually been sent through time again. all they to web 3.0, the future of the internet.

This is a web where everything is decentralized, and people own their own data. You’re excited to explore this new world, but you’re not sure what to expect. You soon find out that web 3.0 is a very different place than what you’re used to.

For starters, there are no more cubicles. Everyone is working from home, and most people are using decentralized platforms like Bitcoin and Ethereum to make money. You also quickly realize that web 3.0 is a world of video gamers. Everyone is playing games like Fortnite and CryptoKitties, and many people are making a lot of money by trading virtual assets.

You start to wonder how you can get in on the action. But before you can even figure it out, you hear someone say “Welcome to the future!” It’s that dude in the silver suit and blue tie from web 2.0. “I see you’ve made it to web 3.0” he says with a smile.

“This is a world where anything is possible.” The woman in gold says. She then proceeds to show you how web 3.0 is changing the world. He shows you how people are using decentralized applications to do everything from buying and selling homes to ordering food delivery.

“And the best part is that all of this is done without the need for central authorities like banks or governments,” she says. “This is the future of the internet, and it’s only just beginning.”

You then realize that web 3.0 is a world where you can be your own boss, and make your own rules. You’re excited to get started in this new world, and you can’t wait to see what the future holds.

It’s up to you to build a web 3.0 site that will help create a decentralized, open web for everyone.

So, what does all this mean for you?

Involvement. If you’re not on any social media, if you don’t watch movies listen to music play games, or interact with any website in any way other than reading content, You’re arguably a web 1.0er.

If, if you’re looking to get more involved with the web or interact with any site in any way, then you’ll need to move into the web 2.0 phase. And if you’re really serious about decentralization of the web and/or making a difference on it, getting into blockchain, smart contracts, interacting with cryptocurrency, crypto projects, or even basic crypto-based gaming, then you can consider yourself to be a part of web 3.0.

The web is constantly evolving, and it’s up to you to evolve with it. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

Where does Web 2.0 End and Web 3.0 begin?

There is no precise answer to this question since Web 3.0 is still in its early stages of development. However, we can take a look at some of the technologies that are being developed for Web 3.0 and see how they differ from those used in Web 2.0.

One of the most important differences between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 is the way in which data is stored and accessed. In Web 2.0, data is typically stored on centralized servers controlled by a single entity, such as a corporation or government. This can make it difficult for individuals to access their data or control how it is used.

In contrast, Web 3.0 technologies aim to decentralize data storage and give individuals more control over their data. One way this is being accomplished is through the use of blockchain technology.

Blockchain is a distributed database that allows anyone to store and access data in a secure and transparent way. This could have major implications for how we interact with the internet, as it would allow users to control their own data and ensure that it is used in a fair and transparent way.

Another key difference between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 is the way in which users interact with the web. In Web 2.0, users typically consume content that is created by others, such as articles, videos, or music.

While this can be a great way to consume content, it doesn’t allow users to create their own content or interact with other users in a meaningful way.

Web 3.0 technologies aim to change this by giving users the ability to create their own content and interact with other users in a more meaningful way. One example of this is the development of decentralized applications (dApps).

DApps are applications that run on a decentralized network, such as a blockchain. This allows developers to create applications that are not controlled by any central authority and that can be used by anyone in the world.

Another example of Web 3.0 technology is the Interplanetary File System (IPFS). IPFS is a decentralized file storage system that allows users to store and share files in a secure and efficient way.

This could have major implications for how we share and access content on the internet, as it would allow users to store and share files without the need for a central server.

Final Thoughts

So, as you can see, there are some key differences between Web 1.0 Vs Web 2.0 vs Web 3.0 technologies. Web 1.0 shows us where we come from and, in many ways outlines the ideal intent of the web-just without the technology to realize those dreams.

Web 2.0 technologies are focused on centralized data storage and content consumption,

Web 3.0 technologies aim to decentralize this data storage and give users more control over their data and ultimately their lives.

Additionally, while Web 2.0 technologies allow users to consume content created by others, Web 3.0 technologies aim to give users the ability to create their own content and interact with other users in a more meaningful way.

Frequently Asked Questions.

The internet in the early days was a lot like the wild west. There were no rules and everyone was just trying to figure out what worked and what didn’t. It was a lot of trial and error.

We moved from the early days of the internet to where we are now by developing better technologies and standards. We also learned from our mistakes and became better at using the internet.

The main difference between web 1.0, web 2.0, and web 3.0 is the way in which data is stored and accessed. In web 1.0, data was typically stored on central servers and accessed by users through a web browser.

In web 2.0, data is still stored on central servers, but the way in which it is accessed has changed. In web 2.0, users typically consume content that is created by others, such as articles, videos, or music.

In web 3.0, the focus is on decentralizing data storage and giving users more control over their data. Additionally, while web 2.0 technologies allow users to consume content created by others, web 3.0 technologies aim to give users the ability to create their own content and interact with other users in a more meaningful way.

Some examples of web 3.0 technologies include the development of decentralized applications (dApps) and the Interplanetary File System (IPFS).

DApps are applications that run on a decentralized network, such as a blockchain. This allows developers to create applications that are not controlled by any central authority and that can be used by anyone in the world.

The Interplanetary File System (IPFS) is a decentralized file storage system that allows users to store and share files in a secure and efficient way. This could have major implications for how we share and access content on the internet, as it would allow users to store and share files without the need for a central server.

Some of the benefits of web 3.0 technologies include increased security, privacy, and decentralization.

With web 3.0 technologies, users have more control over their data and how it is used. Additionally, because these technologies are decentralized, they are not subject to the same problems as centralized systems, such as outages or censorship.

Finally, web 3.0 technologies have the potential to provide a more efficient and secure way of storing and sharing data.

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crypto 101 part 4: What are Altcoins? https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-4-what-are-altcoins/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-4-what-are-altcoins/#respond Sat, 13 Aug 2022 23:52:27 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=8530

HI EVERYONE, AND WELCOME BACK! SO WHAT ARE ALTCOINS? 

Altcoins are cryptocurrencies that are not Bitcoin. Most altcoins are based on the Bitcoin codebase, but there are a few that use different codes. Altcoins were created to solve specific problems or to fill a specific need that the Bitcoin network could not. There are thousands of altcoins, and most of them are not worth anything. However, there are a few altcoins that have become quite popular and have a large market cap. Some of the more popular altcoins include Ethereum, XRP, Cardano, Polkadot, and Binance Coin. Altcoins can be traded on cryptocurrency exchanges just like Bitcoin.

bACKGROUND:

Bitcoin is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, but it is not the only one. There are thousands of other cryptocurrencies that exist, and they are collectively known as altcoins. The term “altcoin” is short for “alternative coin” Altcoins are cryptocurrency alternatives to Bitcoin.

Altcoins are cryptocurrencies that exist outside of the Bitcoin network and can be created through a variety of methods, including but not limited to:

– Forking the Bitcoin codebase and creating a new cryptocurrency

– Creating a new blockchain network

– Building on top of an existing blockchain platform

While they share some similarities with Bitcoin, they also have their own unique features and advantages. Each altcoin has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it’s important to do your own research before investing in any cryptocurrency. But if you’re looking for an alternative to Bitcoin and your risk tolerance is high, many altcoins are definitely worth considering, but many are not.

For instance, Litecoin is designed to be faster and more lightweight than Bitcoin. Ethereum offers smart contract functionality, allowing developers to build decentralized applications on its network. Ripple was created to provide banks with a blockchain-based solution for international payments

So what are altcoins exactly?

So what are altcoins exactly?

When it comes to cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Ethereum are usually the first coins that come to mind. But as of February 2022, there were over 17,000 types of cryptocurrencies being traded, according to price-tracking website CoinMarketCap.

Bitcoin made up nearly half of the total crypto market cap, with Ethereum making up ​​nearly a quarter. That left altcoins with a remaining market share of roughly 40%.

These can be divided into two main categories: utility tokens and security tokens.

Utility tokens are those that provide users with a specific service or function within a blockchain-based ecosystem.

On the other hand, security tokens are tokenized versions of real-world assets that can be traded on exchanges like traditional stocks and bonds.

Given the vast number of altcoins available, it’s no wonder that experts often advise investors to stick to the more well-known Bitcoin and Ethereum. While altcoins may hold some promise, they also come with a very high degree of risk, which is why sticking to the top two digital currencies is often seen as a safer bet. There are a few reasons for this;

First, it can be incredibly difficult to determine which altcoins are legitimate and which are simply scams. With so many options out there, it’s hard to know which ones are worth investing in and which ones aren’t.

Second, even if you do find a legitimate altcoin, there’s no guarantee that it will be successful. The vast majority of altcoins fail to achieve any significant level of traction and eventually disappear into the digital ether.

Finally, even if an altcoin is successful, it’s unlikely to generate returns that match those of Bitcoin or Ethereum. In other words, there’s simply no reason to take on the additional risk associated with investing in altcoins when you can stick with the two top coins and still enjoy strong returns.

What makes altcoins different from Bitcoin?

Altcoins differ from Bitcoin in a number of ways. Some of the most notable differences include:

Transaction speed:

Altcoins typically have faster transaction speeds than Bitcoin. This is due to their smaller market size and lower transaction volume.

Privacy features: Many altcoins offer privacy-focused features that are not available on Bitcoin. These can include things like anonymous transactions and private data storage.

Scalability:

Some altcoins are designed to be more scalable than Bitcoin. This means that they can handle a larger number of transactions per second without sacrificing decentralization or security.

Price:

Altcoins tend to be less expensive than Bitcoin. This is due to their smaller market size and lower trading volume.

What are the benefits of investing in altcoins?

The main benefit of investing in altcoins is that you have the potential to make a lot of money. With the right investment, you could see significant returns in a short period of time. Altcoins also offer investors a lot of variety. There are thousands of different altcoins available, each with its own unique features and potential benefits. This provides investors with the opportunity to find an altcoin that best suits their needs and investment goals.

What are the risks of investing in altcoins?

The biggest risk of investing in altcoins is that they are highly volatile. This means that their prices can fluctuate wildly, and you could lose a significant amount of money if you invest at the wrong time. Another risk to consider is that many altcoins are not well known or trusted. This can make them more susceptible to fraud and scams. It’s important to do your research before investing in any altcoin to ensure that you are investing in a legitimate project.

Types of Altcoins

MEMECOINS

Memecoins are altcoins that focus on community. They claim to providing users with a better way to store and use data. Memecoins are built on top of blockchain technology and aim to provide a more efficient way to store data than traditional centralized databases.

Examples of memecoins include Dogecoin,Shibainu, Filecoin, SiaCoin, and Storj.

Platform Coins:

ethereum, currency, trading-3660218.jpg

Platform coins are altcoins that provide users with a platform to build decentralized applications (dApps). dApps are applications that run on a decentralized network, and they have the potential to disrupt a wide range of industries.

Examples of platform coins include Ethereum, EOS, and Cardano.

Payment Coins:

litecoin, business, finance-3344899.jpg

Payment coins are altcoins that focus on providing users with a faster and cheaper way to make payments. Payment coins are built on top of blockchain technology and aim to provide a more efficient way to send and receive payments than traditional payment methods.

Examples of payment coins include Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Monero.

Stablecoins:

Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that is designed to maintain a stable value. Stablecoins are backed by assets such as fiat currencies, gold, or silver, and they aim to provide a stable alternative to traditional fiat currencies.

Examples of stablecoins include Tether, USD Coin, and Paxos Standard.

Addtional altcoin catagories

bitcoin, litecoin, cryptocurrency-6231930.jpg

Utility Tokens:

Utility tokens are a type of cryptocurrency that is designed to be used as a utility on a blockchain platform. Utility tokens give users access to a product or service and can be used to perform transactions on the platform.

Examples of utility tokens include Augur, Golem, and 0x.

Governance Tokens:

Governance tokens are a type of cryptocurrency that is used to vote on proposals and make decisions about a blockchain platform. Governance tokens give holders a say in how the platform is run and can be used to make decisions about changes to the platform.

Examples of governance tokens include Tezos, Dash, and Decred.

Security Tokens:

Security tokens are a type of cryptocurrency that is backed by real-world assets. Security tokens are subject to regulations and can be used to trade stocks, bonds, and other assets.

Examples of security tokens include Polymath, Harbor, and Securrency.

Equity Tokens:

Equity tokens are a type of security token that represents ownership in a company. Equity tokens give holders a right to participate in the profits or losses of the company.

Examples of equity tokens include BnkToTheFuture and Blockchain Capital.

Debt Tokens:

Debt tokens are a type of security token that represents a loan or debt obligation. Debt tokens can be used to borrow or lend money, and they are subject to interest rates.

Examples of debt tokens include NEXO and BlockFi.

Derivatives Tokens:

Derivatives tokens are a type of security token that represents a contract for the future purchase or sale of an asset. Derivatives tokens are subject to the terms of the contract, and they can be used to trade a wide range of assets.

Examples of derivatives tokens includeLedgerX and Deribit.

What's the future for altcoins?

fantasy, moon, girl-5316369.jpg

The future of altcoins is difficult to predict. However, with the right investment, you could see significant returns in the years to come. Many experts believe that the cryptocurrency market will continue to grow and that altcoins will play a major role in this growth.

If you’re thinking about investing in altcoins, it’s important to do your research and invest wisely. With the right investment, you could see significant returns in the years to come. The future of altcoins is difficult to predict. However, with the right investment, you could see significant returns in the years to come.

The cryptocurrency market is still in its early stages and is very volatile. This means that prices can fluctuate wildly and that you could lose a lot of money if you’re not careful. However, if you’re willing to take on the risk, there’s the potential to make a lot of money.

Many experts believe that the market will continue to grow in the future and that altcoins will play a major role in this growth. If you’re thinking about investing in altcoins, it’s important to do your research and invest wisely. With the right investment, you could see significant returns in the years to come.

Altcoins that I’m choosing as investments:

USDC and Ethereum. To start, I’m not a financial advisor so I can’t recommend projects or offer financial advice. It’s also vital to do your own research.

Why I’m choosing them?

3 Months ago, I would have told you that investing in the top 10 Altcoins was a safe play, even in a Bear winter, but given Terra Luna’s Disastrous, all bets are off.

Risk On, Risk Off

But, with that said, I’m “risk-off”. I’m choosing USDC and Ethereum only. I use AVAX CRONOS BNB and MATIC for utility and gas fees, but all of my profit is going into altcoins is going into USDC and Ethereum.

Outtlook and final thoughts;

binoculars, man, seek-3683757.jpg

In the early days of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin was the undisputed king of the hill. It was the first coin to be minted on the blockchain, and it quickly established itself as the most valuable and well-known digital currency.

However, that left other coins, known as “altcoins,” with a lot of catching up to do. While Bitcoin remains the most prominent cryptocurrency, there are now thousands of different altcoins available on the market.

Some of these coins have gained significant traction and value, while others have failed to gain much traction at all. Nonetheless, all altcoins are still playing catch-up to Bitcoin in terms of both reputation and value. And given Bitcoin’s current dominance of the market, it’s unlikely that any altcoin will ever overtake it as the king of cryptocurrency.

Frequently Asked Questions.

An ICO, or initial coin offering, is a type of fundraising event in which a new cryptocurrency project sells tokens to investors in exchange for funding. ICOs are a popular way for cryptocurrency startups to raise money, and they have become increasingly popular in recent years.

A token is a digital asset that can be used to perform transactions on a blockchain platform. Tokens are typically issued by a project during an ICO and can be used to purchase goods or services from the project.

A fork is a change to the software of a cryptocurrency that creates two separate versions of the blockchain. Forks can be either soft forks or hard forks.

A soft fork is a change to the software that is backward-compatible, meaning that it does not invalidate previous blocks. A hard fork is a change to the software that is not backward-compatible, meaning that it invalidates previous blocks.

Forks can occur when there is a disagreement among developers about how to improve the cryptocurrency. Forks can also be created intentionally by a development team in order to add new features to a cryptocurrency.

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crypto 101 part 2: What Is The BlockChain? https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-2-what-is-the-blockchain/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-2-what-is-the-blockchain/#comments Sat, 06 Aug 2022 16:35:52 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=8106

Hi everyone, and welcome back!

So, what is the BlockChain?

The blockchain is a distributed global database of Nodes (generally computers/modems) that allows for secure, transparent, and tamper-proof recordkeeping. It is the technology that powers Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. A blockchain is made up of blocks, which are chained together. Each block contains a cryptographic hash (an algorithm that maps data) of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. The transaction data can be anything but is typically financial (A digital version of a classic paper ledger).

Scenario:

It’s day 2 of your blockchain security trial and things are not going well.

Your computer is chained to the desk in the corner of the room, but it’s still not enough to keep those pesky hackers from breaking in and messing with the blockchain. They seem to be one step ahead of you at every turn!

You start to wonder if this is even worth it. Maybe you should just give up and find a different way to secure the blockchain.

But then you remember why you’re doing this: to make sure that the blockchain stays safe and secure for everyone. You resolve to keep fighting, no matter what. So you head back down to the hardware store and buy a few more locks and chains.

All kidding aside, Today, I want to talk about something essential to cryptocurrency: The Blockchain.

The blockchain is a powerful tool that can be used to create a secure, transparent, and tamper-proof record of any kind of information. It has the potential to revolutionize many industries, from finance to healthcare. But like any new technology, it has its fair share of challenges. Keeping the blockchain secure is one of the most important tasks facing the crypto community today.

A more descriptive look in the question; "What is the blockchain?"

The blockchain is a distributed database that contains a record of all cryptocurrency transactions. It is constantly growing as “completed” blocks are added to it with a new set of recordings.

Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. Bitcoin nodes use the blockchain to differentiate legitimate Bitcoin transactions from attempts to re-spend coins that have already been spent elsewhere.

The blockchain is maintained by a decentralized network of computers around the world that are constantly verifying and adding new transactions to the chain.

The computers that verify the transactions are called miners, and they are rewarded with cryptocurrency for their work.

The blockchain is an essential part of cryptocurrency because it’s what allows digital currency to be secure and trustless. Without the blockchain, there would be no way to ensure that transactions are truly unique and not be duplicated or tampered with.

The blockchain is also transparent, meaning that anyone can view the entire history of a particular cryptocurrency. This transparency is one of the key benefits of cryptocurrency, as it allows for a high degree of accountability and trustlessness.

No single entity can control or manipulate the blockchain, and it is nearly impossible to tamper with transactions without being detected.

The blockchain is an essential part of cryptocurrency, and it is what makes digital currency so secure and trustless.

If you want to learn more about cryptocurrency, be sure to check out my other blog posts in this series.

appinventiv

How is it different than a regular database?

intellipaat

Simply put, databases are centralized and the Blockchain is not.

The blockchain is like a giant Google spreadsheet that is constantly updated and shared with everyone on the network.

Rather than having a centralized authority controlling and verifying all the data, the blockchain relies on a consensus algorithm to ensure that all participants in the network are in agreement about the validity of new blocks and transactions.

This makes the blockchain more secure and trustworthy because it’s much harder to game the system or tamper with the data.

A database and a blockchain may sound similar, but they are two very different things.

A database usually structures its data into tables, whereas a blockchain, as its name implies, structures its data into chunks (blocks) that are strung together.

This data structure inherently makes an irreversible timeline of data when implemented in a decentralized nature.

When a block is filled, it is set in stone and becomes a part of this timeline. Each block in the chain is given an exact timestamp when it is added to the chain. Key differences like this show that a blockchain is not just a new way to store data – it is a new way to think about data altogether.

Another difference between a blockchain and a regular database is that a blockchain is immutable. This means that once data has been added to a block, it can never be changed or removed.

This creates an unbroken timeline of data that cannot be tampered with.

A regular database, on the other hand, can be edited and changed at any time.

merehead

How Does a Blockchain Work?

euromoney

A blockchain works by keeping a record of all the transactions that take place on a network in chronological order. When a new transaction is made, it is added to the end of the chain as a new block.

Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. Bitcoin nodes use the blockchain to differentiate legitimate Bitcoin transactions from attempts to re-spend coins that have already been spent elsewhere. T

he blockchain is maintained by a decentralized network of computers around the world that are constantly verifying and adding new transactions to the chain. The computers that verify the transactions are called miners, and they are rewarded with cryptocurrency for their work.

The blockchain is an essential part of cryptocurrency because it’s what allows digital currency to be secure and trustless.

Without the blockchain, there would be no way to ensure that transactions are truly unique and not be duplicated or tampered with. The blockchain is also transparent, meaning that anyone can view the entire history of a particular cryptocurrency.

This transparency is one of the key benefits of cryptocurrency, as it allows for a high degree of accountability and trustlessness. No single entity can control or manipulate the blockchain, and it is nearly impossible to tamper with transactions without being detected.

Transparency

The transparency of transactions is DYNAMIC because every transaction can be viewed by either having a personal node or using blockchain explorers. This means that if you wanted to, your curiosity would lead you in knowing where Bitcoin goes at all times!

Decentralization

The dark side of the moon is not very bright. In fact, it might as well be a distant star because there’s nothing to reflect its light back towards Earth and thus make any difference in our everyday lives here on planet marbleous. Our solar system also has one point of failure: The sun!

If something were ever able to delete or modify all data within these servers then we would never know what happened with anything important – including your bank account information if someone hacks into them while you’re away at work (or worse).

The company’s server farm is this single point of failure. If there are any issues with electricity, internet connection or even if it burns down then all data stored on 10K computers will be lost forever!

Security

The blockchain is an unbreakable record of transactions that cannot be altered without widespread consensus from the network.

New blocks are always stored linearly and chronologically, making it incredibly difficult to go back in time more than one block away from your current location on the chain (unless a majority agrees).

Every transaction stores its own digital fingerprints alongside those previous ones- creating what’s called “hashes” which result when certain mathematical functions turn data into strings ranging between 0 – 9 or A-“Z”.

These calculations create unique digests for each entry thus ensuring there can never again exists any double spending occur because someone else would just create their own version of the blockchain with a different set of hashes.

This is what’s known as a “51% attack” and it would require an immense amount of computing power to even come close to being able to do this.

The only time something like this has ever happened was with Ethereum Classic (ETC) which resulted in a hard fork and the creation of Ethereum (ETH).

Bankless

Who needs banks when you have Bitcoin? With the decentralized nature of this new currency, all transactions can be transparently viewed by either having a personal node or using blockchain explorers that allow anyone to see what’s happening live.

People without bank accounts or any means to store their money are at a disadvantage when it comes time for them to start buying things with cash.

The World Bank estimates 1-7 BILLION people are “unbanked” or without bank accounts meaning that these people in developing countries don’t have access to bank accounts. This means they’re dependent on physical tender and leaves them vulnerable.

This is where Bitcoin comes in to try and change the world!

Not only can you send and receive payments without any fees but you can also do it without having a bank account.

All you need is a digital wallet to store your cryptocurrencies in which makes Bitcoin incredibly accessible to anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection.

Final thoughts

The future is now, and it’s a good thing too because we are living in the blockchain era.

The technology has been around for quite some time but only recently have its applications come to fruition thanks largely due bitcoin or cryptocurrency-based businesses that enabled this new economic system based on trust rather than relying solely upon central authorities like banks which often times charge hefty fees when they actually do anything useful such as giving loans out at interest rates higher than inflation could ever hope produce.

With many practical uses already implemented both bigging up business efficiency by eliminating middlemen altogether while also making sure transactions cannot be cheated through hacking attempts; you’ll soon see why entrepreneurs flocked from all corners in their army to support this ground-breaking technology!

So what’s next for the blockchain? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: It’s here to stay. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a better understanding of what it is! If not, that’s okay too- maybe just go ask your friendly local cryptocurrency enthusiast

Thanks for reading!

I hope this article helped you understand a little more about blockchain technology and its potential applications. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below!

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crypto 101 part 1: What Is Crypto? https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-1-what-is-crypto/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-1-what-is-crypto/#respond Wed, 03 Aug 2022 20:46:34 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=8041
Definition; 

Cryptocurrency is a type of digital currency that got its name because it uses cryptography to secure transactions. Unlike fiat currencies, which are issued by central banks and regulated by fiscal policy in some countries (such as the United States), cryptocurrencies do not have any single authority overseeing them; instead, they operate through a decentralized system where each user holds their part about how money should be exchanged among themselves.

To answer the question "What Is Crypto?" We can start here;

Cryptocurrency is like that weird cousin you only see at family reunions. You know he’s there, but you try not to think about him too much. Fact is, they’ve been around for a while now, and people are still trying to understand what they are.

Some say that cryptocurrencies use encryption so you can trust them because it provides safety from fraud or theft; others argue against this by saying any type of code leaves room for errors that could lead down either path – including losing money!

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin- these are all just words that mean nothing to the average person. But to the growing community of people who understand them, they’re worth a fortune.

Cryptocurrency is digital money that exists outside of government control. It’s based on a technology called blockchain, which is a distributed network of computers that allows cryptocurrencies to exist without a central authority.

Virtually all Macro Experts believe that blockchain and related technology will disrupt many industries, including finance and law. So if you’re not paying attention to cryptocurrency yet, you should be. Because it’s only going to become more popular in the years to come.

Types of Cryptocurrency

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There are presently 20 thousand cryptocurrencies out there, but Bitcoin is still the king. In fact, Bitcoin is now considered in a league of its own, separate from all the others.

Bitcoin was made available to the public in 2009 and remains the most widely traded and covered cryptocurrency today.

As of August 2022, there were over 19 million bitcoins in circulation with a total market cap of around $400 billion.

There are only 21 million bitcoins that will ever exist.

After Bitcoin’s success, many other cryptocurrencies, known as “altcoins,” were launched. Some of these are clones (or forks) of Bitcoin, while others are new currencies that were built from scratch. They include Solana, Litecoin, Ethereum, Cardano, EOS, and 20 thousand others.

By November 2021, the aggregate value of all the cryptocurrencies in existence had reached over $3.1 trillion—Bitcoin represented approximately 41% of that total value.

So if you’re looking to invest in this new and exciting technology, it’s important to do your research and find the right coin for you.

How do they get their value?

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Cryptocurrencies don’t have a physical form, unlike traditional currencies like the dollar or euro. So, how do people know their value?

Unlike traditional currencies, cryptocurrencies are not backed by any public or private entities. This means that no one entity can guarantee that a cryptocurrency will have a certain value.

Cryptocurrencies get their value from the trust that people have in them. People believe that cryptocurrencies will be worth something in the future, and this belief drives the value of cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrencies are also difficult to regulate, which has made them a popular investment choice for many people. Because of this, cryptocurrencies have been able to exist outside most existing financial infrastructure.

However, in June 2019, it was recommended that transfers of cryptocurrencies should be subject to the requirements of its Travel Rule, which requires compliance. This could mean that cryptocurrencies will start to become more regulated in the future.

Take Note

Cryptocurrencies get their value from people’s belief in them and use of them. Just like a dollar or a euro, cryptocurrencies are worth something because we all agree they are.

Like our fiat Money, most are not backed by gold or any other commodity. Many are backed by “Proof of Work” and “Proof of Stake”, while most others are backed by promises of “utility”.

But if people believe that they will be worth more in the future, and many agree then who knows? Maybe they will.

That’s why when you buy cryptocurrency, you’re investing in the future. You’re betting that other people will want it too and that it will be worth more in the future.

When you sell cryptocurrency for profit, you’re earning a capital gain. That means you made money off of your investment, and the government wants to take a slice of the profits.

Capital gains are taxed as regular income, so you’ll need to report any sale above $10,000 to the IRS.

But don’t worry, even if the value of your cryptocurrency goes down, you can still claim a capital loss on your taxes. So if you sell your Bitcoin for less than you paid for it, you can subtract that amount from your taxable income.

Examples

The number just passed 20 thousand. Although I feel this is a bubble that will burst, right now the number is still growing.

Benefits

The idea of a currency without banks is an intriguing one. For centuries, we’ve been using institutions that are controlled by individual people to enforce trust and police transactions between two parties: now there’s no need for this since cryptocurrency does away with centralized intermediaries altogether! This means you can’t have any single point failing – which would set off waves around the world like those triggered during 2008 when several major U-S financial institutions started going belly up due to their failures.

In a world where standard money transfers can take days or even weeks, cryptocurrency is fast-paced and efficient. Flash loans in decentralized finance provide an excellent example for this efficiency as they allow people to trade with each other without having any collateral on hand by merely relying upon blockchain technology alone!

Drawbacks

Cryptocurrencies were meant to be decentralized, with the wealth spread out between many different parties on the blockchain. In reality, only Bitcoin is truly decentralized, and ownership is highly concentrated. For example, an MIT study found that just 11,000 investors held roughly 45% of Bitcoin’s value. This means that the vast majority of people who own cryptocurrencies are very wealthy, which can create a lot of problems.

First of all, it can lead to huge price swings. When a small number of people hold a lot of cryptocurrencies, they can easily manipulate the market by selling off their holdings. This can cause the price to plummet or surge, depending on their agenda.

Secondly, it can lead to a lot of instability. If one or two big players decide to sell off their cryptocurrency, it can cause chaos in the market and lead to a lot of instability. This could hurt the economy as a whole.

Last, a major drawback of cryptocurrency is that it’s not always safe. If you don’t hold your crypto on a self-custody wallet, Just like regular money, crypto can be stolen by thieves. Unfortunately, because cryptocurrencies are digital and not physical, they’re a lot easier to steal. And because they’re not regulated by governments or banks, there’s not much you can do to get your money back if it’s stolen.

Final thoughts

When it comes to investing in cryptocurrency, it’s important to do so safely. One way to ensure your safety is by doing your research first. Find an exchange that you trust and make sure you understand how to store your digital currency. Use a self-custody wallet to store your coins, and diversify your portfolio. Diversifying your portfolio is also key, so don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Additionally, be prepared for volatility. The lower the market cap of a coin, the more it will rise and fall in price. So, if you’re looking to invest in altcoins, be prepared for some big swings!

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crypto 101 part 3: What Is Bitcoin? https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-3-what-is-bitcoin/ https://cryptomedium.org/crypto-101-part-3-what-is-bitcoin/#respond Sun, 15 May 2022 04:17:18 +0000 https://cryptomedium.org/?p=1806

Welcome back all you beautiful degen denizens!

BITCOIN DEFINED

Bitcoin is a digital asset and a payment system invented by  a person or pwersons named Satoshi Nakamoto. It is protocol layer technology whose growth resembles the internet in the 1990s. It is designed to be the best monetary network in existance. Transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a public dispersed ledger called a blockchain. Bitcoin is unique in that there will only ever be a finite number of them: 21 million.

So what does that mean?

Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not issued by a central bank or backed by a government.  Well, traditional currencies are inflation rates, monetary policy and economic growth indicators that influence currency value. But with bitcoin, none of that applies. Instead, bitcoin is based on a blockchain, which is a distributed digital ledger. In other words, it’s a digital chain of blocks containing information about each bitcoin transaction. When a block is uploaded to the blockchain, it becomes available to anyone looking at it. So bitcoin transactions are public records. And there you have it! Now you know everything there is to know about bitcoin.

Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System

A fundamental reimagining of human civilization Its integrity is rooted in the laws of physics and it’s highly resistant to politics because it’s dematerialized and decentralized. Bitcoin optimizes our will-to-power and therefore lets us be free.

Robert Breedlove

Bitcoin, bitcoin, bitcoin. Say it with me now: bitcoin. How many times have you heard that word in the past year? It seems like everyone’s talking about bitcoin these days. But what is bitcoin, really? Let’s break it down.

ABSTRACT

A purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash would allow online. payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution. Digital signatures provide part of the solution, but the main benefits are lost if a trusted third party is still required to prevent double-spending. We propose a solution to the double-spending problem using a peer-to-peer network. The network timestamps transactions by hashing them into an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work, forming a record that cannot be changed without redoing
the proof-of-work. The longest chain not only serves as proof of the sequence of events witnessed, but proof that it came from the largest pool of CPU power. As long as a majority of CPU power is controlled by nodes that are not cooperating to
attack the network, they’ll generate the longest chain and outpace attackers. The network itself requires minimal structure. Messages are broadcast on a best effort basis, and nodes can leave and rejoin the network at will, accepting the longest proof-of-work chain as proof of what happened while they were gone.

1. Introduction

Commerce on the Internet has come to rely almost exclusively on financial institutions serving as
trusted third parties to process electronic payments. While the system works well enough for
most transactions, it still suffers from the inherent weaknesses of the trust based model.

Completely non-reversible transactions are not really possible, since financial institutions cannot
avoid mediating disputes. The cost of mediation increases transaction costs, limiting the
minimum practical transaction size and cutting off the possibility for small casual transactions,
and there is a broader cost in the loss of ability to make non-reversible payments for nonreversible services.

With the possibility of reversal, the need for trust spreads. Merchants must
be wary of their customers, hassling them for more information than they would otherwise need.
A certain percentage of fraud is accepted as unavoidable. These costs and payment uncertainties
can be avoided in person by using physical currency, but no mechanism exists to make payments
over a communications channel without a trusted party.

What is needed is an electronic payment system based on cryptographic proof instead of trust,
allowing any two willing parties to transact directly with each other without the need for a trusted
third party. Transactions that are computationally impractical to reverse would protect sellers
from fraud, and routine escrow mechanisms could easily be implemented to protect buyers.

In this paper, we propose a solution to the double-spending problem using a peer-to-peer distributed
timestamp server to generate computational proof of the chronological order of transactions. The
system is secure as long as honest nodes collectively control more CPU power than any
cooperating group of attacker nodes.

2. Transactions


We define an electronic coin as a chain of digital signatures. Each owner transfers the coin to the
next by digitally signing a hash of the previous transaction and the public key of the next owner
and adding these to the end of the coin. A payee can verify the signatures to verify the chain of
ownership.

The problem of course is the payee can’t verify that one of the owners did not double-spend
the coin.

A common solution is to introduce a trusted central authority, or mint, that checks every
transaction for double spending. After each transaction, the coin must be returned to the mint to
issue a new coin, and only coins issued directly from the mint are trusted not to be double-spent.

The problem with this solution is that the fate of the entire money system depends on the
company running the mint, with every transaction having to go through them, just like a bank.
We need a way for the payee to know that the previous owners did not sign any earlier
transactions.

For our purposes, the earliest transaction is the one that counts, so we don’t care
about later attempts to double-spend. The only way to confirm the absence of a transaction is to
be aware of all transactions. In the mint based model, the mint was aware of all transactions and
decided which arrived first. To accomplish this without a trusted party, transactions must be
publicly announced [1], and we need a system for participants to agree on a single history of the
order in which they were received.

The payee needs proof that at the time of each transaction, the
majority of nodes agreed it was the first received.

How does it work?

Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not backed by a government or central bank. Bitcoin is based on a blockchain, which is a distributed digital ledger. Blockchain is a linked body of data made up of units called blocks, which contain information about each transaction, such as the buyer and seller, time and date, total value and a unique identification code for each exchange.

 Entries are connected in chronological sequence, forming a digital chain of blocks. Bitcoin is unique in that there are a finite number of them: 21 million. Once they are all mined, no more will ever be created. This could make bitcoin subject to inflation if the demand for bitcoin decreases. Currently, each bitcoin can be divided into 100 million smaller units called satoshis.

 Transactions are completed using bitcoin wallets; users send and receive bitcoin by entering wallet addresses. A bitcoin wallet can be either an online service, which stores your bitcoin in the cloud, or a physical device, like a USB drive, which stores your bitcoin offline and is considered more secure. Bitcoin can be bought and sold on exchanges and traded for other currencies. The value of bitcoin fluctuates based on supply and demand. When demand for bitcoin increases, the price goes up; when demand falls, the price goes down.

A couple years ago, I would have had no idea what the blockchain was. But now, it seems like everyone is talking about it – and for good reason. The blockchain is a decentralized, digital ledger that anyone can contribute to. It’s similar to a Google Doc, in that anyone with the link can edit it. And as different individuals make changes to it, your copy is updated as well. 

So why is this important? Well, it makes Bitcoin – and other cryptocurrencies – secure and trustworthy. To be included in the Bitcoin blockchain, a transaction block must be validated by the majority of Bitcoin miners. And since the unique codes used to identify users’ wallets and transactions are long random numbers, counterfeiting them is extremely difficult. So there you have it! The blockchain is secure, decentralized, and allows anyone to contribute. No wonder it’s become so popular.

The statistical randomness of the blockchain verification codes required for each transaction dramatically minimizes the likelihood of a fraudulent Bitcoin transaction being made by anyone connected to the network. At its most basic, Bitcoin is an autonomous public-key cryptosystem that facilitates the exchange of digital value among peers via a sequence of digitally signed transactions, rather than messages. The basic process flow of a Bitcoin transaction is identical to that of a series of encrypted messages found in a schematic of public-key cryptography and digital signatures. 

However, the bitcoin network’s distributed ledger, known as the blockchain, uses a unique form of verification code that is nearly impossible to counterfeit or guess. As a result, bitcoin transactions are incredibly secure, and the chances of someone successfully executing a fraudulent transaction are astronomically low.

Bitcoin mining is the process of verifying and validating bitcoin transactions. As a bitcoin miner, you search for, verify, and validate bitcoin transactions from a pool of unconfirmed deals before adding them to the bitcoin network.

You confirm entries by solving mathematical puzzles, which we will get into in the succeeding sections.

In return, the system compensates you with bitcoins. While the term “mining” might conjure up images of pickaxes and coal mines, bitcoin mining is actually a very clean and low-energy process.

So, while it might not be exactly like mining for gold, it’s still a pretty interesting way to earn some bitcoins!

WHy DO they need to be mined?

Since Bitcoin mining is the process of creating new bitcoins by verifying and adding bitcoin transactions to the blockchain, the digital ledger that keeps track of all bitcoin activity.

Miners play an important role in bitcoin’s security and stability by ensuring that only legitimate transactions are added to the blockchain.

In return for their work, miners are rewarded with newly minted bitcoins. As more people begin to use bitcoin, the demand for new bitcoins grows, and so does the value of bitcoin.

This makes bitcoin mining a competitive and lucrative activity. In order to be successful, miners need expensive equipment and access to cheap electricity. T

hey also need to be able to solve complex math problems quickly. Bitcoin mining is a complex and costly process, but it is essential for the continued growth and stability of the bitcoin network.

How Do You Buy Bitcoin?

Don’t invest in cryptocurrency if you don’t understand it.
All investments involve risk, but investing in cryptocurrency is especially risky because its value can fluctuate so much. It’s important to do your research before investing and only invest money that you’re willing to lose.

Another thing to keep in mind is that cryptocurrency exchanges can be hacked, so make sure you use a reputable exchange and always use two-factor authentication. Also, be careful about phishing scams- never give out your personal information or login credentials to anyone.

If you’re still interested in investing in cryptocurrency, here are a few tips to help you do it safely:

1. Choose a strong password and don’t use the same password for different websites.
2. Use a reputable cryptocurrency exchange like Coinbase.
3. Make sure you enable two-factor authentication on your account.
4. Be careful about phishing scams- don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown emails.
5. Don’t invest more money than you’re willing to lose.

**6. Get your bitcoin into a self custody wallet**

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