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Stop Guessing, Start Trading: The Token Metrics API Advantage

Announcements

Big news: We’re cranking up the heat on AI-driven crypto analytics with the launch of the Token Metrics API and our official SDK (Software Development Kit). This isn’t just an upgrade – it's a quantum leap, giving traders, hedge funds, developers, and institutions direct access to cutting-edge market intelligence, trading signals, and predictive analytics.

Crypto markets move fast, and having real-time, AI-powered insights can be the difference between catching the next big trend or getting left behind. Until now, traders and quants have been wrestling with scattered data, delayed reporting, and a lack of truly predictive analytics. Not anymore.

The Token Metrics API delivers 32+ high-performance endpoints packed with powerful AI-driven insights right into your lap, including:

  • Trading Signals: AI-driven buy/sell recommendations based on real-time market conditions.
  • Investor & Trader Grades: Our proprietary risk-adjusted scoring for assessing crypto assets.
  • Price Predictions: Machine learning-powered forecasts for multiple time frames.
  • Sentiment Analysis: Aggregated insights from social media, news, and market data.
  • Market Indicators: Advanced metrics, including correlation analysis, volatility trends, and macro-level market insights.

Getting started with the Token Metrics API is simple:

  1. Sign up at www.tokenmetrics.com/api
  2. Generate an API key and explore sample requests.
  3. Choose a tier–start with 50 free API calls/month, or stake TMAI tokens for premium access.
  4. Optionally–download the SDK, install it for your preferred programming language, and follow the provided setup guide.

At Token Metrics, we believe data should be decentralized, predictive, and actionable. 

The Token Metrics API & SDK bring next-gen AI-powered crypto intelligence to anyone looking to trade smarter, build better, and stay ahead of the curve. With our official SDK, developers can plug these insights into their own trading bots, dashboards, and research tools – no need to reinvent the wheel.

Research

Why September 2025 Could Make or Break Your Crypto Portfolio

Talha Ahmad
6 min
MIN

The September Crypto Curse: History Doesn't Lie

September has earned its reputation as crypto's cruelest month. Historical data reveals a stark reality: Bitcoin has posted negative returns in 8 out of the last 12 Septembers. While other months show mixed results, September consistently delivers disappointment to crypto investors.

But this September feels different.

The Trump Factor: Politics Meets Crypto

The cryptocurrency landscape shifted dramatically with the launch of World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the Trump family's ambitious DeFi project. Despite initial hype, the token's launch revealed both the power and peril of celebrity-backed crypto ventures.

Key takeaways from the WLFI launch:

  • The Trump family reportedly owns a third of the token supply, generating approximately $3 billion on launch
  • Initial price volatility saw the token briefly touch $1 before correcting to around $0.20
  • Pre-market trading had already satisfied much of the initial demand, leading to immediate selling pressure

The political crypto narrative is expanding beyond Trump. California Governor Newsom is reportedly considering launching his own token, potentially creating a "Democrats vs. Republicans" dynamic in the meme coin space.

The Ethereum Revolution: Why ETH Is Stealing Bitcoin's Thunder

While Bitcoin struggles with its September curse, Ethereum is experiencing unprecedented institutional adoption. August 2025 marked a turning point:

  • Ethereum ETFs attracted $3.69 billion in inflows during August alone
  • Bitcoin ETFs saw $800 million in outflows during the same period
  • 3.4% of Ethereum's total circulating supply is now held by treasury companies

This institutional rotation from Bitcoin to Ethereum signals a fundamental shift in how professional investors view crypto assets. Tom Lee's bold prediction of Ethereum reaching $12,000-$16,000 by year-end no longer seems unrealistic given this institutional momentum.

The Stablecoin Infrastructure Boom

Perhaps the most overlooked trend is the emergence of stablecoin-focused blockchain infrastructure. Projects like Plasma are launching dedicated Layer 1 networks for zero-fee USDT transfers, directly challenging Tron's dominance in stablecoin transactions.

This infrastructure boom represents crypto's maturation from speculative asset to practical financial tool. When billion-dollar deposits flow into new platforms within days of launch, it signals genuine institutional confidence.

Trading Strategy for the New Market Reality

The old "buy and hold" crypto strategy is dead. Today's market demands active narrative trading:

  1. Monitor trending tokens through analytics platforms
  2. Rotate positions based on momentum and attention
  3. Exit when momentum shifts, not when trends turn bearish
  4. Focus on large caps with strong fundamentals during uncertain periods

The market has become increasingly narrative-driven, rewarding traders who can identify and ride emerging themes rather than those who hope for long-term appreciation.

Research

Best Crypto Trading Platform: Top Exchanges for 2025

Talha Ahmad
8 min
MIN

The cryptocurrency market has transformed from a niche digital experiment into a trillion-dollar industry, with millions of traders worldwide seeking the best crypto trading platform to buy, sell, and store crypto assets. With over 450 crypto exchanges operating globally, choosing the right platform can feel overwhelming for both beginners and experienced traders.

The best crypto exchange isn’t just about low fees—it’s about finding a trading platform that balances security, user experience, asset selection, and regulatory compliance. Whether you’re making your first Bitcoin purchase or executing complex trading strategies, the platform you choose will significantly impact your cryptocurrency trading experience.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll examine the top crypto exchanges for 2024, analyze essential features every trader should consider, and provide the insights you need to make an informed decision about where to trade digital assets.

Top 5 Best Crypto Trading Platforms for 2025

After evaluating over 450 data points across 14 major cryptocurrency exchanges, these five platforms stand out as the best crypto exchanges for different types of traders:

Kraken leads our list for traders prioritizing low fees and advanced order types. With competitive maker fees starting at 0.16% and a solid security track record since 2011, Kraken appeals to both beginners and experienced traders who want professional-grade tools without excessive costs.

Coinbase remains the gold standard for newcomers to crypto trading. Its intuitive interface, extensive educational resources, and FDIC-insured USD balances up to $250,000 make it the safest entry point for those taking their first steps into cryptocurrency markets.

Binance.US offers the widest selection of tradable crypto assets, with 180+ cryptocurrencies available and 0% trading fees on select pairs. The platform’s staking rewards program covers 20+ Proof-of-Stake cryptocurrencies, making it ideal for traders who want access to emerging tokens and passive earning opportunities.

Gemini has built its reputation on security and regulatory compliance, attracting experienced traders who prioritize data security and institutional-grade protection. Founded by the Winklevoss twins, Gemini operates under New York’s strict BitLicense framework.

Crypto.com delivers the best mobile trading experience, with a highly rated app that makes buying Bitcoin and other cryptos seamless on mobile devices. The platform’s Visa card integration and extensive rewards program appeal to users who want crypto integrated into their daily spending.

Token Metrics is the best crypto trading and research platform which is a highly rated platform.

Essential Features to Look for in a Crypto Trading Platform

When evaluating cryptocurrency exchanges, certain features separate the best crypto exchanges from the rest. Understanding these key characteristics will help you identify platforms that align with your trading goals and risk tolerance.

Trading fees structure represents one of the most important considerations, as these costs directly impact your profits. Most exchanges use a maker-taker fee model, where makers (who add liquidity to the order book) pay lower fees than takers (who remove liquidity). Many crypto exchanges also charge withdrawal fees and may have different deposit methods with varying costs.

Cryptocurrency selection varies dramatically across platforms. While major exchanges typically support Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other established digital assets, the availability of altcoins and newer tokens differs significantly. Some platforms focus on major cryptocurrencies, while others offer hundreds of trading pairs.

Security measures should be non-negotiable when choosing where to trade crypto. Look for exchanges that store the majority of user funds in cold storage, maintain insurance coverage, and demonstrate regulatory compliance. Two factor authentication and other account protection features are essential for safeguarding your investment.

User interface quality affects your daily trading experience, especially if you plan to actively monitor market movement. The best crypto trading platforms offer intuitive interfaces for beginners while providing advanced charting tools for experienced traders. Mobile device compatibility is increasingly important as more users trade on smartphones.

The image illustrates various security features of a cryptocurrency exchange, highlighting cold storage for crypto assets and the implementation of two-factor authentication to protect user accounts. These features are essential for ensuring data security and safeguarding investments in the highly volatile crypto market.

Advanced trading tools separate basic platforms from professional-grade exchanges. Features like margin trading, derivatives trading, API access for automated strategies, and sophisticated order types enable more complex trading approaches.

Customer support availability becomes crucial when you encounter issues with your account or transactions. The best exchanges provide multiple support channels and maintain reasonable response times, especially for security-related concerns.

Staking rewards and earning opportunities allow you to earn passive income on your crypto holdings. Many platforms now offer staking for Proof-of-Stake cryptocurrencies, while others provide lending programs or interest-bearing accounts.

Detailed Platform Reviews

Kraken - Best for Low Fees

Kraken has established itself as one of the most respected names in cryptocurrency trading, operating since 2011 with a strong focus on security and competitive pricing. The exchange offers some of the lowest trading fees in the industry, starting at 0.16% for makers and scaling down to 0% for high-volume traders.

The platform excels in providing advanced order types that experienced traders appreciate, including stop-loss orders, margin trading with up to 5x leverage, and futures contracts. Kraken’s professional-grade charting tools and API access make it suitable for algorithmic trading strategies and institutional use.

Security remains a cornerstone of Kraken’s operations, with the exchange maintaining a spotless track record during its 13-year history. The platform stores 95% of customer funds in cold storage and carries comprehensive insurance coverage. Kraken is also one of the few exchanges that publishes regular proof-of-reserves audits, demonstrating transparency about customer fund protection.

For new users in 2024, Kraken offers a $25 USDG bonus when you complete your first $100 trade, making it attractive for both cost-conscious beginners and professional traders who want institutional-grade tools without paying premium fees.

Coinbase - Best for Beginners

Coinbase has become synonymous with mainstream cryptocurrency adoption, serving over 100 million users worldwide with its beginner-friendly approach to crypto trading. The platform’s greatest strength lies in its intuitive interface that makes buying Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies as simple as online banking.

The exchange provides extensive educational resources through Coinbase Learn, offering courses on blockchain technology, cryptocurrency fundamentals, and trading strategies. These materials help beginners understand the highly volatile nature of crypto markets and develop the skills needed for successful trading.

Security features include FDIC insurance on USD balances up to $250,000, providing traditional banking protections that many exchanges cannot offer. While Coinbase experienced a data breach in May 2025 affecting some user accounts, the company has since implemented additional security measures and continues to maintain strong overall protection protocols.

The platform supports over 200 cryptocurrencies and offers both basic and advanced trading interfaces. Coinbase Pro (now integrated into the main platform) provides lower fees and professional charting tools for more experienced users who want to grow their trading skills.

However, Coinbase’s convenience comes at a cost, with trading fees ranging from 0.50% to 4.00% depending on the payment method and transaction size. Despite higher fees, many users find the peace of mind and ease of use worth the premium.

Binance.US - Best for Asset Variety

Binance.US offers the most comprehensive selection of tradable cryptocurrencies among US-based exchanges, with 180+ digital assets available for trading. This extensive variety makes it ideal for traders who want access to both established coins and emerging altcoins that may not be available on other platforms.

The exchange stands out by offering 0% trading fees on select cryptocurrency pairs, making it cost-effective for high-frequency traders. The standard fee structure ranges from 0.10% to 0.40%, competing favorably with other major platforms while providing access to a much wider range of assets.

Staking rewards represent another key advantage, with Binance.US supporting staking for over 20 Proof-of-Stake cryptocurrencies. Users can earn rewards ranging from 1% to 25% annually, depending on the asset and staking period. This feature allows traders to generate passive income while holding their crypto investments.

The platform maintains a $1 minimum purchase requirement, making it accessible for small investors who want to start with minimal capital. Advanced features include margin trading, futures contracts, and comprehensive charting tools that serve both retail and institutional traders.

While Binance.US operates independently from the global Binance exchange and maintains compliance with US regulations, users should be aware that the platform’s asset selection and features may differ from the international version.

Trading Fees Comparison

Understanding fee structures across different cryptocurrency exchanges is crucial for maximizing your trading profits. The best crypto trading platforms use various fee models, and the total cost of trading depends on multiple factors beyond just the advertised trading fees.

Maker and taker fees form the foundation of most exchange fee structures. Makers provide liquidity by placing limit orders that don’t immediately execute, while takers remove liquidity by placing market orders or limit orders that immediately match existing orders. Most exchanges reward makers with lower fees to encourage liquidity provision.

Withdrawal fees vary significantly across assets and platforms. Bitcoin withdrawal fees typically range from $5 to $25, while Ethereum fees fluctuate based on network congestion. Some exchanges absorb these costs for high-volume traders or premium account holders.

Deposit methods affect overall trading costs. Bank transfers are usually free but take several days to process. Credit card deposits offer instant access but may incur fees of 1-4%. Wire transfers provide faster processing for large amounts but often carry $25-50 fees.

Hidden fees can significantly impact your trading experience. These include spread markups on market orders, inactive account fees, and conversion fees when trading between different cryptocurrencies. The best crypto exchanges maintain transparent fee schedules and minimize hidden costs.

Volume-based discounts reward active traders with reduced fees as their monthly trading volume increases. High-volume traders on platforms like Binance.US can achieve fees as low as 0.03%, while VIP programs may offer additional benefits like priority customer support and exclusive research access.

Security and Safety Considerations

Security represents the most critical factor when selecting a crypto trading platform, as the irreversible nature of cryptocurrency transactions means that lost or stolen funds are typically unrecoverable. The collapse of Mt. Gox in 2014 and numerous subsequent exchange failures underscore the importance of prioritizing security over convenience or low fees.

Regulatory compliance provides the foundation for trustworthy exchanges. Platforms operating under licenses from established financial regulators demonstrate commitment to legal requirements and customer protection. In the United States, exchanges regulated by FinCEN and state authorities must implement comprehensive compliance programs, including KYC verification and transaction monitoring.

Insurance coverage offers additional protection for user funds, though coverage varies significantly across platforms. Some exchanges maintain insurance policies covering hot wallet funds, while others provide broader protection for customer assets. Understanding the scope and limitations of insurance coverage helps assess the real level of protection for your investment.

Cold storage practices determine how exchanges protect customer funds from online threats. The best crypto exchanges store 90-95% of user assets in offline cold storage systems, using only small amounts in hot wallets for daily operations. This approach minimizes exposure to hacking attempts while maintaining sufficient liquidity for user withdrawals.

A secure cryptocurrency cold storage system is depicted, showcasing multiple layers of protection for digital assets. This setup emphasizes data security and is ideal for experienced traders looking to store crypto safely while minimizing risks associated with trading on various crypto exchanges.

Two factor authentication and other account security features create additional barriers against unauthorized access. Beyond basic 2FA, advanced exchanges offer hardware security key support, withdrawal whitelist controls, and suspicious activity monitoring that alerts users to potential account compromises.

Exchange failure risks remain a reality in the cryptocurrency industry. Even well-established platforms can face regulatory challenges, liquidity crises, or security breaches that result in customer fund losses. Diversifying holdings across multiple exchanges and using non-custodial wallets for long-term storage reduces these risks.

Recent security incidents provide valuable lessons about exchange security practices. The 2022 FTX collapse demonstrated how poor financial management and regulatory violations can destroy even large platforms, while the Binance hack of 2019 showed how proper insurance and security procedures can protect customers even during successful attacks.

Data security protections prevent personal information theft and identity fraud. Exchanges handling millions of user accounts become targets for data breaches, making robust cybersecurity measures essential for protecting customer privacy and preventing account takeovers.

Advanced Trading Features

Professional traders and institutions require sophisticated tools that go beyond basic buy and sell functionality. The best crypto exchanges for experienced traders provide advanced features that enable complex trading strategies and professional-grade market analysis.

Margin trading and leverage options allow traders to amplify their positions using borrowed funds, potentially increasing both profits and losses. Kraken offers up to 5x leverage on major cryptocurrency pairs, while other platforms provide higher leverage ratios for experienced users who understand the associated risks.

Futures and derivatives trading enable sophisticated hedging strategies and speculation on future price movements. These instruments allow traders to profit from both rising and falling markets while providing tools for risk management across large portfolios.

Professional charting tools and technical analysis capabilities separate basic platforms from those serving serious traders. Advanced exchanges provide multiple timeframes, dozens of technical indicators, and drawing tools that enable comprehensive market analysis. Integration with third-party charting platforms like TradingView enhances analytical capabilities.

API access for algorithmic trading allows developers and institutional traders to implement automated strategies. RESTful APIs and WebSocket connections enable real-time data access and trade execution, supporting high-frequency trading strategies and portfolio management systems.

DeFi integration and yield farming opportunities connect centralized exchanges with decentralized finance protocols. Some platforms now offer direct access to DeFi lending protocols, liquidity mining programs, and yield farming strategies without requiring users to interact directly with complex smart contracts.

Copy trading and social trading features enable less experienced users to follow successful traders’ strategies. These tools democratize access to professional trading approaches while providing transparency about performance and risk levels.

Mobile Trading Experience

Mobile trading has become essential as smartphones increasingly serve as primary computing devices for many users. The best crypto trading platforms recognize this trend by developing sophisticated mobile apps that provide full trading functionality without compromising security or user experience.

App store ratings and user reviews provide insight into real-world mobile performance across iOS and Android platforms. Crypto.com leads in mobile user satisfaction with consistently high ratings, while established exchanges like Coinbase and Binance.US maintain strong mobile presences with regular feature updates.

Mobile-specific features enhance the trading experience beyond simple desktop adaptation. Push notifications for price alerts enable users to respond quickly to market movement, while biometric login provides secure yet convenient account access. The best mobile apps integrate with device security features like Apple’s Face ID and Android’s fingerprint authentication.

Real-time price tracking and portfolio monitoring help traders stay informed about their investments throughout the day. Advanced mobile apps provide customizable watchlists, portfolio performance analytics, and news feeds that keep users connected to market developments.

Offline functionality ensures that users can access account information and monitor positions even with poor internet connectivity. Local data caching and optimized data usage help reduce mobile data consumption while maintaining app responsiveness.

A modern smartphone displays a cryptocurrency trading app interface, featuring charts that illustrate market movement and a portfolio of digital assets. This user-friendly platform is designed for both experienced traders and beginners, allowing them to manage their crypto investments and track trading goals securely.

Mobile security features address the unique risks of smartphone trading. Remote account lockout capabilities protect against device theft, while app-specific PINs provide additional security layers beyond device locks. Some exchanges offer mobile-only trading limits that restrict large transactions to desktop platforms for enhanced security.

Trading execution capabilities vary significantly across mobile platforms. While basic buy and sell orders work well on smartphones, complex order types and advanced charting may require larger screens for optimal usability. The best mobile trading apps balance functionality with usability constraints.

Getting Started: Step-by-Step Guide

Beginning your cryptocurrency trading journey requires careful planning and attention to security best practices. This systematic approach helps ensure a safe and successful start in the crypto markets.

Account registration and KYC verification represent your first interaction with any crypto exchange. Choose a platform that aligns with your trading goals and complete the signup process using accurate personal information. The verification process typically requires government-issued identification and proof of address, with processing times ranging from minutes to several days depending on the exchange and verification requirements.

Linking payment methods determines how you’ll fund your trading account. Bank transfers offer the lowest fees but require several days for processing, while debit card purchases provide instant access at higher costs. Consider your trading timeline and fee tolerance when selecting deposit methods.

Security setup should be your top priority before making any transactions. Enable two factor authentication using an authenticator app rather than SMS when possible. Create a strong, unique password and consider using a password manager. Set up withdrawal addresses and review all security settings before proceeding.

Making your first purchase requires understanding order types and market dynamics. Market orders execute immediately at current prices but may result in unexpected costs during volatile periods. Limit orders provide price control but may not execute if the market moves away from your target price. Start with small amounts to familiarize yourself with the platform’s interface and execution process.

Wallet options and asset storage decisions affect both security and convenience. Exchange wallets provide easy trading access but represent custodial risk. Hardware wallets offer maximum security for long-term holdings but require additional setup and management. Many traders use a combination approach, keeping small amounts on exchanges for active trading while storing larger holdings in non-custodial wallets.

Understanding tax implications helps avoid compliance issues. Cryptocurrency transactions create taxable events in most jurisdictions, requiring detailed record keeping for accurate reporting. Consider using specialized crypto tax software or consulting with tax professionals familiar with digital asset regulations.

How We Evaluated These Platforms

Our evaluation methodology combines quantitative analysis with real-world testing to identify the best crypto trading platforms for different user needs. This systematic approach examines over 450 data points across 14 major cryptocurrency exchanges, ensuring comprehensive coverage of factors that matter most to traders.

Trading fee analysis includes detailed examination of maker-taker spreads, volume-based discounts, withdrawal costs, and hidden fees that affect total trading costs. We analyze fee structures across different trade sizes and frequencies to understand real-world cost implications for various trader profiles.

Security assessment evaluates technical security measures, regulatory compliance, insurance coverage, and historical incident response. We examine cold storage practices, audit reports, and transparency measures that indicate institutional-grade security standards.

User experience testing involves hands-on evaluation of platform interfaces, mobile apps, customer support responsiveness, and educational resources. Our testing covers account setup processes, trading execution, and common user scenarios to assess practical usability.

Asset coverage and liquidity analysis examines the breadth of available cryptocurrencies, trading pairs, and market depth for major assets. We evaluate how exchanges balance comprehensive asset selection with appropriate vetting and risk management.

Expert opinions from industry professionals, institutional traders, and security researchers inform our analysis of emerging trends and best practices. Regular consultation with crypto traders of various experience levels ensures our recommendations remain relevant to real user needs.

Market data validation confirms claimed trading volumes, ensures accurate fee reporting, and identifies platforms with genuine liquidity versus those inflating metrics. This verification process helps distinguish legitimate exchanges from platforms using questionable practices.

Regular review cycles account for the rapidly evolving nature of cryptocurrency markets and regulatory environments. Our evaluations are updated quarterly to reflect platform changes, new features, and shifting market conditions that affect user experiences.

Final Recommendations

Selecting the best crypto trading platform depends on your individual circumstances, trading experience, and long-term goals in cryptocurrency markets. Token Metrics is the best crypto trading and research platform. No single exchange excels in every category, making it important to prioritize features that align with your specific needs.

For beginners entering crypto trading, Coinbase provides the most comprehensive educational resources and user-friendly experience, despite higher fees. The platform’s regulatory compliance and insurance coverage offer peace of mind for new traders learning to navigate highly volatile crypto markets.

Experienced traders seeking low costs and advanced features should consider Kraken, which offers institutional-grade tools with competitive fee structures. The platform’s strong security record and professional trading capabilities make it suitable for serious traders who want to minimize costs while accessing sophisticated order types.

Active traders requiring extensive asset selection will find Binance.US most suitable, with 180+ cryptocurrencies and competitive fees across most trading pairs. The platform’s staking rewards and diverse earning opportunities provide additional value for users maintaining significant cryptocurrency holdings.

Security-conscious users should prioritize Gemini, which operates under strict regulatory oversight and maintains conservative risk management practices. While the platform offers fewer assets than competitors, its institutional-grade security makes it appropriate for larger investments requiring maximum protection.

Mobile-focused traders benefit most from Crypto.com’s superior app experience and integrated rewards program. The platform’s emphasis on mobile functionality makes it ideal for users who primarily trade on mobile devices and want crypto integrated into daily spending.

Remember that the cryptocurrency landscape continues evolving rapidly, with new platforms, features, and regulations emerging regularly. Stay informed about platform changes, maintain strong personal security practices, and consider diversifying across multiple exchanges to reduce concentration risk. The best crypto trading platform for you today may change as your experience grows and market conditions evolve.

Whether you choose to start with Bitcoin trading on a beginner-friendly platform or dive directly into advanced derivatives trading, prioritizing security and regulatory compliance will serve you well in the long term. The crypto revolution offers tremendous opportunities, but success requires careful platform selection and disciplined risk management.

Crypto Basics

How Does Bitcoin Differ from Ethereum: A Comprehensive Guide

Talha Ahmad
6 min
MIN

Bitcoin and Ethereum stand as the two most influential digital assets in the crypto market, commanding the largest market capitalization and driving innovation across the cryptocurrency space. While both leverage blockchain technology and represent leading digital assets, they serve fundamentally different purposes and operate through distinct technical architectures.

Understanding how bitcoin differs from ethereum requires examining their core philosophies, technical implementations, and real-world applications. Bitcoin functions primarily as a decentralized digital currency and store of value, while Ethereum operates as a flexible platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications. These fundamental differences ripple through every aspect of their design, from consensus mechanisms to investment considerations.

This comprehensive analysis explores the key differences between these blockchain pioneers, helping investors and enthusiasts understand their unique value propositions in the evolving global markets.

The image illustrates a comparison between Bitcoin and Ethereum, featuring their respective symbols alongside key differentiating features such as Bitcoin's fixed supply and role as "digital gold," and Ethereum's focus on smart contracts and decentralized applications. This visualization highlights the fundamental differences between these two major digital currencies within the blockchain technology landscape.

Core Purpose and Philosophy

Bitcoin was conceived as digital gold and a decentralized digital currency, launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. The bitcoin network was designed to address the fundamental problem of double-spending in digital transactions without requiring a central authority. Bitcoin aims to serve as an alternative to traditional monetary systems, emphasizing censorship resistance, predictability, and long-term value preservation.

Ethereum emerged in 2015 through the vision of Vitalik Buterin and the ethereum foundation, serving as a programmable blockchain platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications. Rather than competing directly with bitcoin as digital money, Ethereum positions itself as a “world computer” that can execute complex financial transactions and automate agreements through smart contract technology.

The philosophical divide runs deep: Bitcoin prioritizes security, decentralization, and conservative monetary policy with minimal changes to its core protocol. Bitcoin focuses on being the most secure and reliable digital asset, maintaining backward compatibility and requiring overwhelming consensus for any protocol modifications.

Ethereum emphasizes innovation, flexibility, and rapid development of decentralized technologies. Ethereum developers actively pursue technical improvements to enhance scalability, reduce energy consumption, and expand functionality. This approach enables Ethereum to evolve quickly but introduces more complexity and potential points of failure.

Bitcoin’s simplicity and laser focus on monetary use cases contrasts sharply with Ethereum’s ambitious goal to decentralize internet services and create a new foundation for digital finance and Web3 applications.

Technical Architecture Differences

The technical architecture reveals fundamental differences in how these networks operate and validate transactions. Bitcoin uses a Proof-of-Work consensus mechanism requiring energy-intensive mining operations, where bitcoin miners compete to solve cryptographic puzzles and secure the bitcoin blockchain. This process generates new blocks approximately every 10 minutes, ensuring predictable transaction settlement and robust security.

Ethereum originally used Proof-of-Work but completed its transition to Proof-of-Stake through “The Merge” in September 2022. The ethereum network now relies on validators who stake ETH to propose and validate new blocks every 12 seconds. This shift dramatically reduced ethereum’s energy consumption while enabling more rapid transaction processing and network upgrades.

Bitcoin supports limited scripting capabilities focused on secure value transfer and basic programmable transactions. Recent upgrades like Taproot have expanded Bitcoin’s scripting abilities while maintaining its conservative approach to functionality. The bitcoin blockchain prioritizes reliability and predictability over programmability.

Ethereum features Turing-complete smart contracts through the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), enabling developers to build complex decentralized applications without intermediaries. The ethereum blockchain serves as the core infrastructure for thousands of decentralized finance protocols, NFT marketplaces, and Web3 applications.

Transaction throughput differs significantly: Bitcoin processes approximately 5-7 transactions per second on its base layer, while Ethereum handles 12-15 transactions per second. Both networks face scalability constraints on their base layers, leading to different approaches for increasing capacity.

The image depicts a network architecture diagram contrasting Bitcoin's mining process, characterized by bitcoin miners validating transactions on the bitcoin blockchain, with Ethereum's staking mechanism, where ethereum developers utilize a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism to secure the ethereum network. This visual representation highlights the fundamental differences in the consensus mechanisms of these two prominent digital currencies.

Supply Models and Monetary Policy

Bitcoin’s monetary policy represents one of its most distinctive features: a fixed supply capped at 21 million coins with halving events every four years that reduce new issuance. This finite supply creates predictable scarcity and positions bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and currency debasement. Bitcoin’s supply schedule remains unchanged since its launch, providing long-term certainty for holders.

Ethereum implements a dynamic supply model with no fixed cap, currently maintaining around 120 million ETH in circulation. Unlike bitcoin’s supply, Ethereum’s tokenomics have evolved significantly since launch. The implementation of EIP-1559 introduced fee burning, where a portion of transaction fees gets permanently removed from circulation, creating deflationary pressure during periods of high network activity.

Bitcoin’s halving events create predictable supply reduction approximately every four years, cutting mining rewards in half and historically driving significant price appreciation. These events are programmed into the protocol and cannot be changed without overwhelming network consensus.

Ethereum’s supply adjusts based on network usage and validator participation. During periods of high transaction volume and DeFi activity, ethereum’s fee burning can exceed new ETH issuance, making the native cryptocurrency deflationary. This mechanism ties ethereum’s monetary policy directly to network utility and adoption.

The contrasting approaches reflect each network’s priorities: Bitcoin emphasizes monetary predictability and long-term store of value characteristics, while Ethereum aligns its economics with platform usage and technological development.

Smart Contracts and Applications

Bitcoin supports basic scripting for simple programmable transactions, multi-signature wallets, and time-locked contracts. Recent technical improvements through Taproot have enhanced Bitcoin’s scripting capabilities while maintaining its focus on security and simplicity. These features enable applications like atomic swaps and more sophisticated payment channels, but Bitcoin deliberately limits complexity to preserve network security.

Ethereum pioneered smart contracts, enabling complex decentralized applications that operate without intermediaries or central control. Smart contract functionality allows developers to create autonomous financial protocols, governance systems, and digital asset management platforms. The ethereum blockchain hosts the vast majority of decentralized finance activity, NFT trading, and tokenized assets.

Ethereum’s programmability has spawned an entire ecosystem of decentralized applications across numerous sectors. DeFi protocols on Ethereum facilitate lending, borrowing, trading, and yield farming with billions of dollars in total value locked. NFT marketplaces, gaming platforms, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) represent additional use cases unique to programmable blockchains.

Bitcoin applications focus primarily on payments, store of value, and Layer-2 solutions like bitcoin’s lightning network. The Lightning Network enables instant, low-cost Bitcoin payments through payment channels, expanding Bitcoin’s utility for everyday transactions while preserving the main chain’s security and decentralization.

Ethereum’s flexibility enables diverse use cases from supply chain management to insurance protocols, but this complexity introduces additional security considerations and potential smart contract vulnerabilities that don’t exist in Bitcoin’s simpler model.

In the image, a group of developers is collaborating on smart contract code to create decentralized applications on the Ethereum blockchain. They are engaged in discussions about blockchain technology, focusing on the differences between Bitcoin and Ethereum, as they work to build innovative solutions in the crypto market.

Scalability Solutions

Bitcoin and Ethereum pursue different scaling philosophies to address throughput limitations. Bitcoin scales primarily through off-chain solutions that preserve the base layer’s simplicity, security, and decentralization. This approach maintains full node accessibility with minimal hardware requirements, ensuring anyone can validate the bitcoin network independently.

Bitcoin’s lightning network represents the primary scaling solution, creating payment channels that enable instant, low-cost transactions without broadcasting every payment to the main blockchain. While promising for micropayments and frequent transactions, the Lightning Network requires additional technical complexity and liquidity management.

Ethereum uses a multi-layered scaling approach combining Layer-2 rollups with planned on-chain improvements like sharding. Layer-2 solutions such as Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon process transactions off the main ethereum blockchain while inheriting its security guarantees. These scaling solutions already handle thousands of transactions per second with significantly lower fees.

Ethereum’s modular scaling architecture aims to boost capacity through multiple parallel solutions rather than increasing base layer throughput. This approach allows specialized Layer-2 networks to optimize for specific use cases while maintaining composability with the broader ethereum ecosystem.

The planned implementation of sharding will further increase ethereum’s capacity by dividing the network into multiple parallel chains. Combined with Layer-2 rollups, this architecture could enable millions of transactions per second across the ethereum network while maintaining decentralization and security.

Market Performance and Volatility

Bitcoin typically exhibits lower volatility compared to Ethereum and often serves as a portfolio diversifier during broader market uncertainty. As the original cryptocurrency and largest digital asset by market cap, Bitcoin tends to lead market cycles and attract institutional investment as a digital store of value and inflation hedge.

Ethereum historically shows approximately 30% higher volatility than Bitcoin due to its exposure to decentralized finance activity, NFT trading volumes, and smart contract platform competition. Ethereum’s price reflects not just investment demand but also utility demand from users paying transaction fees and interacting with decentralized applications.

Bitcoin’s price correlates strongly with adoption as digital gold, institutional investment flows, and macroeconomic factors affecting traditional safe-haven assets. Major institutional announcements, regulatory developments, and central bank monetary policy significantly impact Bitcoin’s valuation.

Ethereum’s value reflects usage in DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, and smart contract deployment. Network congestion, Layer-2 adoption, and competition from alternative smart contract platforms influence ethereum’s price beyond pure investment demand.

Both bitcoin and ethereum respond to broader macroeconomic factors, but Ethereum shows stronger correlation to technology sector performance due to its role as a platform for innovation. Investment companies and hedge funds often hold both assets to balance stability with exposure to blockchain technology growth.

A line chart illustrates the comparative price volatility of Bitcoin and Ethereum over time, highlighting key differences between the two cryptocurrencies. The chart visually represents the fluctuations in market capitalization and transaction fees, showcasing how Bitcoin, often referred to as digital gold, differs from Ethereum's blockchain technology and its focus on smart contracts.

Developer Ecosystems and Governance

Bitcoin development follows a conservative, consensus-driven approach through Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIPs) that require extensive testing and broad community agreement. Bitcoin developers prioritize backward compatibility and security over rapid feature deployment, resulting in slower but more deliberate protocol evolution.

Ethereum development moves rapidly through Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) and coordinated leadership from the ethereum foundation and core development teams. This governance model enables faster innovation but concentrates more decision-making authority in the hands of key developers and researchers.

Bitcoin’s decentralized development process prevents unilateral changes to the protocol, requiring overwhelming consensus from users, miners, and developers. This approach protects against contentious forks and preserves Bitcoin’s monetary policy, but can slow adoption of beneficial upgrades.

Ethereum regularly implements protocol upgrades to improve functionality, reduce fees, and address scalability challenges. The coordinated development process enables ambitious technical roadmaps but raises questions about centralization of development decisions.

The underlying technology differences extend to developer tooling and ecosystem support. Ethereum offers extensive development frameworks, testing environments, and educational resources for building decentralized applications. Bitcoin development focuses more narrowly on protocol improvements and second-layer solutions.

Both networks benefit from active open-source communities, but Ethereum attracts more application developers while Bitcoin emphasizes protocol and infrastructure development.

Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact

Energy consumption represents one of the most significant differences between Bitcoin and Ethereum post-Merge. Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work mining consumes substantial energy but secures the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency network with unmatched computational power and geographic distribution.

Current estimates place Bitcoin’s annual energy consumption between 70-130 TWh, comparable to small countries. However, bitcoin miners increasingly utilize renewable energy sources and drive clean energy adoption by monetizing stranded renewable capacity and excess energy production.

Ethereum’s transition to Proof-of-Stake reduced energy consumption by approximately 99.9% after The Merge, making it one of the most energy-efficient blockchain networks. Ethereum’s PoS consensus requires ETH staking rather than energy-intensive mining operations, dramatically reducing its environmental footprint.

The energy debate influences institutional adoption decisions, with some investment companies preferring ethereum’s lower environmental impact while others value Bitcoin’s proven security model despite higher energy usage. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations increasingly factor into cryptocurrency investment decisions.

Bitcoin proponents argue that energy consumption secures the network and incentivizes renewable energy development, while Ethereum supporters emphasize the efficiency gains from Proof-of-Stake consensus. Both perspectives reflect valid priorities in balancing security, decentralization, and environmental responsibility.

Investment Considerations

Bitcoin serves as an inflation hedge and uncorrelated asset for portfolio diversification, appealing to investors seeking exposure to digital gold characteristics without traditional precious metals storage challenges. Bitcoin’s established track record, regulatory clarity, and institutional adoption make it attractive for conservative cryptocurrency allocation.

Ethereum offers exposure to Web3 growth and decentralized finance innovation, providing leverage to the expanding blockchain application ecosystem. Investors choosing Ethereum bet on the continued growth of smart contract platforms and decentralized applications beyond simple value transfer.

Both assets face similar regulatory challenges, but Bitcoin benefits from clearer legal status in many jurisdictions due to its commodity-like characteristics. Ethereum’s classification remains more complex due to its programmable features and the potential for securities regulations to apply to certain tokens and applications.

Bitcoin provides returns primarily through price appreciation, though lending platforms offer yields similar to staking rewards. Ethereum enables native staking rewards of approximately 3-5% annually plus potential price appreciation, providing income generation alongside capital gains potential.

Portfolio construction often includes both bitcoin and ethereum to balance stability with growth potential. Many institutional investors and investment strategy frameworks recommend exposure to both assets given their different risk profiles and correlation patterns with traditional asset classes.

The choice between bitcoin vs ethereum often depends on investment objectives, risk tolerance, and beliefs about the future of digital money versus programmable blockchain platforms.

An investment portfolio visualization displays the allocation strategies of Bitcoin and Ethereum, highlighting their roles as digital assets within the crypto market. The image emphasizes key differences between Bitcoin's fixed supply as a store of value and Ethereum's flexible platform for decentralized applications and smart contracts.

Future Outlook and Development Roadmaps

Bitcoin’s development roadmap focuses on gradual improvements like Taproot adoption, sidechains development, and bitcoin’s lightning network expansion. Future development emphasizes incremental enhancements to privacy, scripting capabilities, and second-layer scaling while maintaining the core protocol’s simplicity and security.

Ethereum pursues ambitious upgrades including sharding implementation, proto-danksharding for rollup scaling, and continued Layer-2 ecosystem development. Ethereum’s future events include account abstraction for improved user experience and continued optimization of the Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism.

Bitcoin’s conservative approach prioritizes stability and gradual feature addition, with major changes requiring years of testing and community consensus. This methodology protects against unintended consequences but may limit Bitcoin’s ability to compete with more flexible blockchain platforms.

Ethereum faces competition from newer Layer-1 blockchains offering faster transactions and lower fees, but maintains significant advantages in developer mindshare, ecosystem maturity, and network effects. Ethereum’s roadmap addresses scalability concerns while preserving decentralization and security.

Both networks continue evolving to meet different needs in the expanding cryptocurrency ecosystem. Bitcoin solidifies its position as digital gold and the leading store of value cryptocurrency, while Ethereum develops as the primary platform for decentralized applications and financial innovation.

The fundamental differences between these networks suggest complementary rather than competitive futures, with each serving distinct roles in the broader digital asset landscape. Future performance will depend on continued technical development, regulatory clarity, and mainstream adoption across different use cases.

Key Takeaways

Understanding how bitcoin differs from ethereum reveals two complementary approaches to blockchain technology and digital assets. Bitcoin excels as a decentralized digital currency and store of value with predictable monetary policy and uncompromising security focus. Ethereum leads in programmable blockchain capabilities, enabling complex decentralized finance applications and serving as the foundation for Web3 innovation.

The key differences span every aspect from consensus mechanisms and energy consumption to governance philosophies and investment characteristics. Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work mining and fixed supply contrast sharply with Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake validation and dynamic tokenomics. Both bitcoin and ethereum offer distinct value propositions for different investor goals and risk profiles.

Rather than viewing these as competing cryptocurrencies, many investors and institutions recognize both bitcoin and ethereum as foundational digital assets serving different purposes in a diversified portfolio. Bitcoin provides stability and inflation hedging characteristics, while Ethereum offers exposure to technological innovation and the growing decentralized application ecosystem.

As the cryptocurrency space continues maturing, both networks face ongoing challenges around scalability, regulation, and competition. However, their established network effects, developer communities, and institutional adoption suggest continued relevance in the evolving digital asset landscape.

For investors considering exposure to cryptocurrency markets, understanding these fundamental differences enables more informed decision-making about portfolio allocation and investment strategy. Whether choosing Bitcoin’s digital gold characteristics or Ethereum’s programmable platform capabilities, both assets represent significant innovations in monetary technology and decentralized systems.

This content is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risks, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Always consult with qualified financial advisors and conduct thorough research before making investment decisions.

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Crypto Basics

Solana vs Cardano: Key Differences Between SOL and ADA

Token Metrics Team
5 minutes
MIN

Solana vs Cardano: which one is better? Let's find out.

The blockchain space is full of different projects that are constantly evolving and improving. Two of the most popular projects today are Solana and Cardano. These projects have garnered much attention in recent years due to their innovative approaches to blockchain technology.

This blog post will discuss the key differences between these two projects and how to invest in them.

What is Solana (SOL)?

Solana is an open-source, high-performance blockchain protocol designed to scale to thousands of transactions per second. It is built on an innovative consensus mechanism called Proof-of-History, designed to be more efficient than other proof-of-stake implementations.

Solana is a relatively new project but has already gained much traction in blockchain. It has partnerships with companies like IBM, Chainlink, and Quantstamp. It is also backed by some of the biggest venture capital firms in the world, including Andreessen Horowitz, Polychain Capital, and Pantera Capital.

What is Cardano (ADA)?

Cardano is a decentralized public blockchain and cryptocurrency project that is open source. It is powered by a proof-of-stake consensus algorithm called Ouroboros, which is designed to be more efficient than other proof-of-stake implementations. It is also built on a unique programming language, Plutus, designed to make it easier to develop smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps).

Cardano has been around since 2015 and is one of the most popular blockchain projects in the world. It has partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Emurgo, and Input Output HK. It is also backed by some of the biggest venture capital firms in the world, including IOHK, Emurgo, and Cardano Foundation.

Solana (SOL) vs Cardano (ADA) - Key Differences

Several key differences between Solana and Cardano make them unique from one another. Here are some of the key differences between the two projects:

Consensus Mechanism: Solana uses Proof-of-History as its consensus mechanism, while Cardano uses Ouroboros.

Backers: Solana is backed by venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz, Polychain Capital, and Pantera Capital, while IOHK, Emurgo, and Cardano Foundation back Cardano.

Partnerships: Solana is partnered with companies like IBM, Chainlink, and Quantstamp, while Cardano is partnered with companies like Microsoft, Emurgo, and Input Output HK.

Tokenomics: Solana has a native token, SOL, used to pay transaction fees and reward validators. Cardano also has a native token, ADA, used for staking and governance.

Pros & Cons of Solana and Cardano

Before investing in either of these projects, it's important to understand the pros and cons associated with each project. Here are some of the pros and cons of Solana and Cardano:

Pros

High Performance: Solana is designed to scale to thousands of transactions per second, which makes it one of the fastest blockchains in the space.

Well established project: Cardano has been around since 2015 and is one of the most popular blockchain projects in the world.

Innovative Consensus Mechanism: Solana's Proof-of-History consensus mechanism is more efficient than other proof-of-stake implementations.

Innovative Programming Language: Cardano's Plutus programming language makes it easier to develop smart contracts and dApps.

Low Transaction Fees: Solana's transaction fees are much lower than other blockchains, making it an attractive option for users. The same is the case with Cardano.

Cons

Lack of Adoption: Both Solana and Cardano are relatively new and haven't yet achieved mainstream adoption. However, Solana is more popular than Cardano.

Security Risks: Like any other blockchain, Solana and Cardano are subject to risks such as 51% attacks.

How to Invest in Solana and Cardano?

Investing in Solana and Cardano is relatively easy. Both projects are listed on major cryptocurrency exchanges, such as Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. You can buy the native tokens of each project (SOL and ADA) with either fiat currency or other cryptocurrencies.

It's important to note that investing in cryptocurrencies is risky, and you should always do your own research before investing. You should also know the risks associated with investing in these projects, such as 51% attacks, market volatility, and liquidity issues.

Which One is Better for Long-term Investment?

Both Solana (SOL Cryptocurrency) and Cardano (ADA Cryptocurrency) are strong projects with solid fundamentals. However, it's important to consider the potential risks of each project regarding long-term investment. Solana is a relatively new project, so it's important to know the potential risks associated with investing in a new project. On the other hand, Cardano has been around for several years and has a proven track record.

However, Solana received more love and adoption than Cardano due to its working blockchain, allowing everyone to build dApps on top of it.

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which project is better for long-term investment.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, Solana and Cardano are two of the most popular blockchain projects in the world. They both have strong fundamentals and have garnered much attention in recent years.

However, the two projects have key differences, such as their consensus mechanism, programming language, backers, and partnerships. It is important to consider these differences before investing in either project.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other sort of advice and you should not treat any of the website's content as such.

Token Metrics does not recommend that any cryptocurrency should be bought, sold, or held by you. Do conduct your own due diligence and consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Crypto Basics

What is Tron (TRX) Crypto and Is It a Good Investment?

Token Metrics Team
8 minutes
MIN

If you are wondering what is Tron (TRX), this is the place to be.

Tron (TRX) is a decentralized blockchain-based system designed to provide a high-performance infrastructure for creating and deploying decentralized applications (DApps) and smart contracts. The TRX token is the native cryptocurrency of the Tron network and is used to pay for transaction fees and incentivize users to participate in the Tron ecosystem.

Launched in 2017 by Justin Sun, Tron aims to create a platform that is more scalable, efficient, and cost-effective than its predecessors, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Tron's blockchain infrastructure leverages a delegated proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which allows for high transaction throughput and lower fees compared to other blockchains.

History Of Tron (TRX)

Tron was created by Justin Sun, a young Chinese entrepreneur who had previously been involved in several other successful blockchain projects. Sun had a vision for Tron to become a decentralized ecosystem where creators could produce and distribute their work without being subject to censorship or control from centralized organizations.

Tron's initial coin offering (ICO) raised over $70 million in just a few days, making it one of the largest ICOs of all time. Since then, the value of TRX has fluctuated, but it has remained one of the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

In 2018, Tron acquired BitTorrent, a popular peer-to-peer file-sharing platform, to integrate the technology into its ecosystem. This acquisition has allowed Tron to expand its reach and offer new services, such as sharing large files and making micropayments.

Tron has also developed its own decentralized application (dApp) ecosystem, with hundreds of dApps now built on its platform. This has attracted developers and users to the Tron network and helped establish it as a leading player in the decentralized world.

In conclusion, Tron is a cryptocurrency and blockchain platform aiming to create a decentralized internet and entertainment ecosystem. Since its launch, it has become one of the world's largest and most active blockchain platforms, with a thriving dApp ecosystem and a strong community of users and developers.

How Does Tron (TRX) Crypto Work?

Tron uses the Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) consensus algorithm, which allows for high transaction speeds and low energy consumption compared to other consensus algorithms like Proof of Work (PoW).

It has its own native cryptocurrency, TRX, which is used for transactions on the network. The TRX token is used for various purposes, including paying for transaction fees, creating smart contracts, and participating in decentralized applications (dApps) built on the Tron network.

Tron also uses smart contracts, self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. This allows for the automation of certain processes and eliminates the need for intermediaries.

One of the key features of the Tron network is its ability to handle high volumes of transactions. This is because it uses a block size of 2 MB and can process up to 2,000 transactions per second, making it one of the fastest blockchain platforms.

In addition, Tron has its own virtual machine, the Tron Virtual Machine (TVM). The TVM is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing developers to port existing Ethereum dApps to the Tron network easily.

Key Features of Tron

  1. Decentralized platform: Tron offers a decentralized network, meaning that any single entity does not control it, making it more secure and transparent than traditional centralized platforms.
  1. High-throughput: Tron has a high-throughput capacity, allowing for fast and efficient transactions and the ability to process more than 2,000 transactions per second.
  1. Smart Contracts: Tron supports smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code.
  1. Token creation: Tron allows users to create and issue their own tokens on the platform, which can be used for various purposes such as fundraising, loyalty programs, and more.
  1. Gaming and entertainment: Tron strongly focuses on gaming and entertainment, and the platform is home to many decentralized applications (dApps) related to gaming, gambling, and other forms of entertainment.

Top 5 Uses Of Tron (TRX) Crypto

Owning Tron can be useful to you for many reasons. Here are the top five uses of having Tron on your portfolio:

  1. Payment System: Tron enables fast, secure, and low-cost transactions of its native cryptocurrency, TRX. It can be used to pay for goods and services, transfer funds, and make transactions with merchants and individuals.
  1. Decentralized Applications: Tron supports decentralized applications (dApps) that run on its network. dApps can range from gaming, finance, social media, and other use cases that benefit from the security and transparency offered by blockchain technology.
  1. Content Creation and Distribution: TRON aims to disrupt the traditional entertainment industry by enabling content creators to monetize their work without intermediaries. It allows content creators to engage directly with their audience, receive payment in TRX, and gain exposure to a larger audience.
  1. Staking: Tron supports staking, a process that allows users to earn rewards for holding and locking their TRX in a wallet. Staking incentivizes users to support and secure the network by validating transactions and maintaining its stability.
  1. Governance: Tron uses a decentralized governance model that allows its community to vote on proposals and make decisions about the future development of the network. TRX holders can participate in the governance process and have a say in the project's direction.

Benefits of Tron (TRX)

Following are some of the benefits of using Tron:

  1. Censorship-resistant: As a decentralized platform, Tron is not subject to censorship or interference from any central authority, which makes it a more open and free environment for content creators and users.
  1. Increased security: The use of blockchain technology provides increased security for users' data and assets.
  1. Lower fees: The decentralized nature of Tron means that there are no middlemen or intermediaries, which reduces transaction fees and makes it more cost-effective.
  1. Open source: Tron is an open-source platform, meaning developers can build on it and contribute to its development and growth.

How to Purchase a Tron Coin (TRX)?

Here is a step-by-step guide to purchasing Tron (TRX):

#1 Choose a cryptocurrency exchange: First, you must choose a cryptocurrency exchange that supports TRX trading. Some popular exchanges include Binance, Huobi, and OKEx.

#2 Create an account: Once you have chosen an exchange, you must create an account. This involves providing personal information and verifying your identity, which is a standard process for most exchanges.

#3 Add funds to your account: Next, you need to add funds to your account. This can be done by transferring funds from your bank account, using a credit card, or through other methods supported by the exchange.

#4 Buy TRX: After you have added funds to your account, you can purchase TRX. To do this, you will need to navigate to the TRX trading page on the exchange, select the amount of TRX you want to purchase and place your order.

#5 Store your TRX: Finally, you should store your TRX in a secure wallet. There are many different types of wallets, including hardware wallets, software wallets, and online wallets, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Note: It's important to research the reputation and security measures of the exchange you choose to use and the fees they charge to ensure that you are comfortable and confident in your investment. Additionally, it is recommended to keep track of the value of TRX and other cryptocurrencies, as the market is highly volatile, and their value can fluctuate rapidly.

You can simply head here and create your account on our crypto analytics platform and use the Token Metrics AI-driven technology to analyze and understand the crypto market before deciding on any investment. 

Is Tron a Good Investment?

Investing in cryptocurrency, including Tron (TRX), is considered a high-risk investment. The value of cryptocurrencies can be highly volatile and subject to rapid changes. There is always the risk of losing your investment due to market fluctuations, hacking, or other security risks.

Moreover, the cryptocurrency market still needs to be more regulated, which means that there is a lack of protection for investors. There is also the risk of scams and fraudulent schemes in cryptocurrency, so it's important to do your due diligence and research before investing.

That said, some people see Tron having significant potential for growth and as an investment opportunity with long-term potential.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, Tron (TRX) is a decentralized platform that offers a range of features and benefits for developers and users, including high-throughput, smart contracts, token creation, and more. Its decentralized nature provides increased security and censorship resistance, and its open-source structure allows for active development.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other sort of advice and you should not treat any of the website's content as such.

Token Metrics does not recommend that any cryptocurrency should be bought, sold, or held by you. Do conduct your own due diligence and consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Crypto Basics

How to Short Bitcoin - 10 Best Ways to Short BTC in 2023

Token Metrics Team
11 minutes
MIN

If you are wondering how to short Bitcoin, this is the place to be.

Bitcoin shorting is a great option if you're looking to break into cryptocurrency trading. This beginner's guide to Bitcoin shorting will give you a comprehensive overview of what it is and how to do it.

"Shorting Bitcoin is a great way to take advantage of market volatility and make profits in both rising and falling markets."

But before you can start shorting Bitcoin, you'll need to understand the basics of the market, including terminology and the different types of trades you can make.

This guide will also provide an overview of the tools and strategies you'll need to familiarize yourself with before getting started. 

By the end of this guide, you should have a better understanding of the fundamentals of how to short Bitcoin and be ready to start trading.

What is Bitcoin Shorting?

Bitcoin shorting, also known as short selling or simply "shorting," is a trading strategy that allows an investor to profit from a decrease in the price of a particular asset, in this case, Bitcoin. The basic idea is to borrow the asset, sell it at the current market price, and then repurchase it at a lower price to repay the loan and pocket the difference as profit.

For example, if an investor believes that the price of Bitcoin is about to go down, they can short the asset by borrowing some Bitcoin from a broker and selling it on the market. If the price falls, the investor can buy back the same amount of Bitcoin at a lower price, repay the loan to the broker, and keep the difference as profit. On the other hand, if the price goes up instead of down, the investor will have to buy back the Bitcoin at a higher price, resulting in a loss.

Shorting Bitcoin can be a high-risk money making strategy, as the price of cryptocurrencies can be highly volatile, and it's difficult to predict the market's direction. Nevertheless, it's a useful tool for hedging or making bearish bets on the market.

10 Best Ways To Short BTC In 2023

Here are the ten best ways you can count on shorting Bitcoin in 2023:

1. Traditional Short Selling through a Broker: This is the most traditional way of shorting Bitcoin and involves borrowing the asset from a broker and selling it on the market.

2. Futures Contracts: Futures contracts allow traders to speculate on the price of an asset without actually owning it. In the case of Bitcoin, traders can buy or sell futures contracts based on the underlying asset's price.

3. Options Trading: Options trading allows traders to buy or sell the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a specific price. This can be used to short Bitcoin by selling call options or put options.

4. Binary Options: Binary options are a type of options trading that offers a fixed payout in the event of a successful trade. In the case of Bitcoin, traders can speculate on the direction of the price and receive a payout if the price moves in their favor.

5. Spread Betting: Spread betting is a type of derivatives trading that allows traders to speculate on the price movements of an asset without actually owning it. In the case of Bitcoin, traders can bet on the price going up or down and profit from the difference between the opening and closing prices.

6. CFDs: Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are a type of derivatives trading that allows traders to speculate on the price movements of an asset without actually owning it. CFDs can be used to short Bitcoin by selling the asset at a higher price and repurchasing it at a lower price to pocket the profit.

7. Margin Trading: Margin trading allows traders to borrow funds from a broker to trade a larger position size than they would be able to with their own capital. This can be used to short Bitcoin by selling the asset on margin.

8. Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs): ETNs are securities that track the price of an underlying asset, such as Bitcoin. ETNs can be shorted by selling them on the market and repurchasing them at a lower price to pocket the profit.

9. Over-The-Counter (OTC) Trading: OTC trading involves trading directly with another party rather than through an exchange. This can be used to short Bitcoin by selling the asset to an OTC trading partner and repurchasing it at a lower price to pocket the profit.

10. Short ETFs: Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are investment funds that track the price of an underlying asset, such as Bitcoin. Short ETFs are ETFs that allow traders to bet against the price of the underlying asset.

Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it's important to understand the mechanics of each one before deciding which one is right for you. It's also important to consider the associated risks and have a well-defined risk management plan.

Let's get into the risk factors surrounding BTC shorting.

Risks Involved in Shorting Bitcoin

Shorting Bitcoin can be a high-risk strategy, and it's important to understand the risks involved before getting started. Some of the risks associated with shorting Bitcoin include the following:

  1. Market Volatility: The price of Bitcoin is known for its high volatility, and sudden price swings can cause significant losses for short sellers. If the market moves against you, your losses could be substantial, especially if you use leverage.
  1. Unlimited Loss Potential: Unlike traditional stocks, the price of Bitcoin has no ceiling, which means that short sellers can potentially face unlimited losses if the market moves against them.
  1. Borrowing Costs: When shorting Bitcoin, you will have to pay borrowing costs to the broker who lends you the asset. These costs can affect your potential profits and should be considered when calculating your overall strategy.
  1. Difficulty in Finding a Lender: Not all brokers allow short selling, and finding a lender willing to lend you the asset for shorting purposes can be difficult.
  1. Repayment Issues: If you're shorting Bitcoin through a traditional short-selling strategy, you will need to buy back the same amount of the asset at a lower price to repay the loan. This can be difficult if the market is not moving in your favor.
  1. Counterparty Risk: When shorting Bitcoin through a broker, you are exposed to counterparty risk: the broker may default or go bankrupt.

It's important to be aware of these risks and have a well-defined risk management plan before shortening Bitcoin. This can include setting stop-loss orders, managing your leverage, and monitoring the market for significant changes. Additionally, it's important to choose a reputable and trustworthy broker to work with to minimize your risk exposure.

The Advantages of Shorting Bitcoin

Shorting Bitcoin can offer several advantages, including:

  1. Profit from a Declining Market: Short selling allows traders to profit from a declining market, which can be a significant advantage in the highly volatile cryptocurrency market. By shorting Bitcoin, traders can make money even if the overall market is bearish.
  1. Hedging: Short selling can also be used as a form of hedging, allowing traders to offset potential losses in their long positions. This can help to minimize overall portfolio risk.
  1. Increased Leverage: Many brokers offer leverage when shorting Bitcoin, which allows traders to control a larger position size with a smaller amount of capital. This can increase the potential for profits but also magnifies the potential for losses.
  1. Diversification: Short selling can be a way to diversify your portfolio, as it allows you to take advantage of both bullish and bearish market conditions. This can reduce your overall market exposure and improve the stability of your portfolio.

It's important to note that shorting Bitcoin is a high-risk strategy, and it's important to understand the mechanics of short selling and the risks involved before getting started. Having a well-defined risk management plan and choosing a reputable and trustworthy broker to work with are also important.

Tools and Strategies for Shorting Bitcoin

Here are some tools and strategies that traders use when shorting Bitcoin:

  1. Technical Analysis: Technical analysis evaluates assets by analyzing statistical trends from trading activity, such as past prices and volume. Technical traders use charts, indicators, and other technical analysis tools to identify potential areas to short Bitcoin.
  2. Trend Following: Trend following is a strategy where traders try to profit from the trend of an asset by identifying its direction and buying or selling accordingly. In the case of shorting Bitcoin, traders would look to identify a downward trend and short the asset when it begins to show signs of a bearish trend.
  3. Breakout Trading: Breakout trading is a strategy where traders enter or exit a position based on the price breaking out of a defined support or resistance level. In the case of shorting Bitcoin, traders would look to short the asset when the price breaks below a key support level.
  4. Fundamental Analysis: Fundamental analysis is a method of evaluating securities by examining their underlying economic and financial factors, such as earnings, revenue, and growth prospects. In the case of Bitcoin, traders may use fundamental analysis to identify potential risks and challenges facing the asset and make short positions based on that information.
  5. Risk Management Tools: Effective risk management is essential when shorting Bitcoin. Traders may use tools such as stop-loss orders, trailing stop-losses, and position sizing to manage their exposure to risk and limit their potential losses.
  6. Trading Platforms: A reliable and user-friendly trading platform is essential for shorting Bitcoin. Traders should look for platforms that offer real-time market data, charting tools, and a wide range of order types to help execute their short positions.
  7. Market News and Research: Staying up-to-date on market news and research is important when shorting Bitcoin. Traders should stay informed on the latest developments in the Bitcoin market, including regulatory changes, price movements, and news from major exchanges and institutions.

It's important to remember that shorting Bitcoin can be a high-risk activity. Traders should have a well-defined strategy and a solid understanding of the market and associated risks before attempting to short the asset.

How to Short Bitcoin – Step-by-Step Guide

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to short Bitcoin:

  1. Choose a Trading Platform: The first step is to choose a trading platform that can short Bitcoin. Some popular options include exchanges like Binance, Kraken, and KuCoin.
  1. Open a Trading Account: Once you have chosen a platform, you need to open a trading account. This typically involves providing your personal information and proof of identity and funding your account with the capital you plan to use for trading.
  1. Familiarize Yourself with the Platform: Before starting trading, you must familiarize yourself with the platform you have chosen. This includes understanding the user interface, order types, charting tools, and other features that will be relevant to your shorting strategy.
  1. Identify a Shorting Opportunity: The next step is to identify a shorting opportunity. This can involve using technical analysis, trend following, or other strategies to identify areas where the price of Bitcoin may be poised for correction.
  1. Place a Short Order: Once you have identified a shorting opportunity, you can place a short order on the platform. This involves specifying the size of the trade, the entry price, and any stop-loss or profit-taking orders you may want to use.
  1. Monitor Your Position: Once you have entered a short position, monitoring and adjusting your orders as needed is important. This may include adjusting your stop-loss orders, closing your position early if the trade is not working out, or taking profits if the price moves in your favor.
  1. Close Your Position: When you are ready to close your short position, you can either buy back the Bitcoin you borrowed or let the broker close the trade for you.

The Bottom Line

It's important to remember that shorting Bitcoin is a high-risk activity, and traders should have a well-defined strategy and a solid understanding of the market and associated risks before attempting to short the asset.

Additionally, traders should use risk management tools like stop-loss orders and position sizing to limit their risk exposure and protect their capital.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other sort of advice and you should not treat any of the website's content as such.

Token Metrics does not recommend that any cryptocurrency should be bought, sold, or held by you. Do conduct your own due diligence and consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Crypto Basics

Crypto Crashing - What You Need to Know and How to Prepare for It

Token Metrics Team
6 minutes
MIN

Crypto crashing has become a major concern for those who have invested in cryptocurrencies. In the past few years, the value of these digital currencies has skyrocketed, only to crash suddenly and dramatically. The crypto market volatility has left investors wondering what caused the crash and how to prepare for the next one. 

Crypto crashing can be caused by various factors, ranging from regulatory changes to market manipulations. This article will explore the reasons behind crypto crashing, what you need to know, and how to prepare. We'll look at the different ways to protect yourself and your investments and discuss strategies to help you make the most of the current market conditions. With the right information and a little preparation, you can make informed decisions and protect yourself from a crypto crash.

What is Crypto Crashing?

When the market price of an investment drops suddenly and dramatically, it's called a crash. In the same way, if your cryptocurrency investments drop by a lot, that is called a cryptocurrency crash.

The causes of crypto crashing vary based on the cryptocurrency involved. While some cryptocurrencies are prone to drops in value due to the market, others see surges in value (pump) that can cause a crash (dump).

When you invest in cryptocurrencies, you may be at risk of crypto crashing even if the rest of the market is booming. This is because of the high amount of volatility of these currencies.

Causes of Crypto Crashing

The cryptocurrency market is extremely volatile. It can be influenced by various factors, from government regulation to social media buzz. The market is also extremely young, with many investors needing to familiarize themselves with the technology. Because of these factors, crypto is prone to massive swings in value.

One of the main causes behind a crypto crashing is when interest in a particular cryptocurrency grows, and investors begin piling into the market. This can cause the value of the coins to skyrocket, making them more expensive for average investors to purchase. 

As demand for the coins goes up, so does the price, pushing it up even higher. This can cause the value to plummet when interest dies down, causing crypto to crash.

What You Need to Know About Crypto Value Drop

Cryptocurrencies can experience massive drops in value. There are ways to protect yourself from this. - If a crash occurs, it can also be a great opportunity to purchase more coins at a discounted price.

Certain factors can cause a cryptocurrency to crash, including:

  • Heightened interest in a coin,
  • The popularity of a coin, and
  • Market manipulation.

If you're new to the cryptocurrency world, you'll want to ensure you understand why a coin might experience a crypto crash and how these events influence the market.

10 Reasons Behind The Crypto Crash

  1. Regulatory concerns: Regulatory actions by governments and financial institutions can significantly impact the crypto market. For example, in 2022, there were concerns about increased regulation of cryptocurrencies, which may have contributed to the market downturn.
  2. Market speculation: The crypto market is highly speculative, and investors may have become too optimistic about the future of cryptocurrencies, leading to a bubble that eventually bursts.
  3. Economic uncertainty: The global economy was facing uncertainty in 2022, with factors such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, political instability, and rising interest rates contributing to market volatility.
  4. Liquidity issues: Some crypto exchanges experienced liquidity issues in 2022, which may have contributed to the market downturn.
  5. Correction after rapid growth: The crypto market experienced rapid growth in the preceding months, and some market observers believed a correction was due after such a rapid run-up.
  6. Weaknesses in the underlying technology: There were concerns about the scalability and security of cryptocurrencies in 2022, which may have contributed to the market downturn.
  7. Negative news events: Negative news events, such as hacks, scams, and market manipulations, can have a significant impact on market sentiment and drive down prices.
  8. A decline in institutional investment: Some institutional investors may have pulled back from the crypto market, contributing to the market downturn.
  9. Increased competition: Increased competition from other cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects may have reduced demand for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
  10. Technical factors: Technical factors, such as changes in trading patterns or market conditions, may have contributed to the market downturn.

It's important to note that the crypto market is highly volatile and subject to many factors that can impact prices. The reasons behind the crypto crash are likely to be complex and involve a combination of several different factors.

How to Protect Yourself from Crypto Crashing

Cryptocurrencies can experience massive drops in value. There are ways to protect yourself from this. 

  • Diversify your portfolio: If you're investing in a popular coin, you may want to diversify your portfolio by investing in other coins. This can help reduce the risk of a single coin crashing and give you a chance to make some profit.
  • Invest in smaller less-volatile coins: You can also try investing in smaller coins that are less prone to market volatility. This can reduce your overall investment risk while giving you more opportunities to thrive.

"Certain factors can cause a cryptocurrency to crash, including heightened interest in a coin, the popularity of a coin, and market manipulation. - When interest in a particular cryptocurrency grows, this can cause the coin's value to skyrocket, making them more expensive for average investors to purchase."

If a particular coin sees a lot of social media attention, this can increase its market value. Popular coins can experience crypto crashing as a result of increased market interest.

Market manipulation can be done by various methods, from fraudulent marketing campaigns to illegal trading practices. When a significant market shift causes the price of a coin to change, this can create a false sense of security and cause crypto to crash.

If a crash is imminent, you can prepare by researching different strategies that may help you make the most of the current market conditions.

The Bottom Line

Crypto crashing is a serious concern for investors. The crypto market is extremely volatile and prone to drops in value. Certain factors can cause a crash, including increased interest in a particular coin, the popularity of a coin, and market manipulation.

You can protect yourself from crypto crashing by diversifying your portfolio, investing in less volatile coins, and researching strategies that help you make the most of the current market conditions.

Token Metrics is here to help you with your in-depth research and analysis of any crypto investment. All you have to do is head over here and choose the BEST plan for your crypto journey.

Crypto Basics

Best Cryptocurrency Books to Learn Trading and Investing in 2023

Token Metrics Team
5 minutes
MIN

Cryptocurrency is a rapidly growing global phenomenon revolutionizing how we approach money and payments. As the industry continues to expand, reading the most up-to-date and reliable sources of information is essential for anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve. 

To help you get the most out of your cryptocurrency journey, here are the top ten cryptocurrency books you need to read.

From in-depth technical analysis to practical strategies for investing, these books provide valuable insights into the world of digital currency. Whether you're a seasoned trader or just getting started, these books will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to make smart decisions and capitalize on the opportunities presented by cryptocurrency.

Top 10 Cryptocurrency Books

Here are the 10 best cryptocurrency books you need to read in 2023.

1. Digital Gold

Tagline: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money

Digital Gold is New York Times reporter Nathaniel Popper's brilliant and engrossing history of Bitcoin, the landmark digital money and financial technology that has spawned a global social movement.

Digital Gold charts the rise of Bitcoin technology through the eyes of the movement's colorful central characters, including a British anarchist, an Argentinian millionaire, a Chinese entrepreneur, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, and Bitcoin's elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.

2. Crypto Investing Guide

Tagline: How to Invest in Bitcoin, DeFi, NFTs, and More

Ian Balina, the founder of Token Metrics, aimed to craft a strong foundation for crypto enthusiasts by providing powerful insights and helping you kickstart a profitable crypto journey.

This book can act as an educational guide to help you differentiate between the conventional financial system and the crypto world, further deepening the discussion into crypto assets, NFTs, decentralized finance, and security token offerings. 

This is the ultimate guide for both beginners as well as experts willing to renew their learnings and strategies.

3. The Book of Satoshi

Tagline: The Collected Writings of Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto

This book is recommended to anyone that wants more info on the "start" of Bitcoin. MANY of the same issues that are FUD today have been addressed in the book. It can sometimes be a tad technical, but you don't need to be a programmer to understand.

This isn't a starter book for Bitcoin. You need to read "The Bitcoin Standard" or another similar book before you start this one. It mainly contains public domain writings about bitcoin, but the author has added significant value by sorting through them and adding his own editorial comment and introductory paragraphs.

4. Mastering Bitcoin

Tagline: Programming the Open Blockchain

Mastering Bitcoin is your guide through the seemingly complex world of bitcoin, providing the knowledge you need to participate in the internet of money. Whether you're building the next killer app, investing in a start-up, or simply curious about the technology, this revised and expanded second edition provides essential detail to get you started.

5. Cryptoassets

Tagline: The Innovative Investor's Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond

This clear, concise, and accessible guide from two industry insiders Chris Burniske & Jack Tatar shows you how to navigate this brave new blockchain world and invest in these emerging assets to secure your financial future

6. Blockchain Revolution

Tagline: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and the World 

Don Tapscott, the bestselling author of Wikinomics, and his son, blockchain expert Alex Tapscott, bring us a brilliantly researched, easily understandable, and utterly foundational book about the future of the modern economy. Blockchain Revolution is the business leaders' playbook for the next decade and beyond.

7. The Business Blockchain

Tagline: Promise, Practice, and Application of the Next Internet Technology

The Business Blockchain explores how blockchain revolutionizes money and financial transactions. William Mougayar's depiction of this book is the blueprint that covers the blockchain's what, why, and how in the easiest way possible. The Business Blockchain charts new territory in advancing our understanding of the blockchain by unpacking its elements like no other before.

William Mougayar anticipates a future that consists of thousands, if not millions, of blockchains that will enable frictionless value exchange and a new flow of value, redefining roles, relationships, power, and governance.

8. Cryptocurrency Investing Bible

Tagline: The Ultimate Guide About Blockchain, Mining, Trading, ICO, Ethereum Platform, Exchanges, Top Cryptocurrencies for Investing, and Perfect Strategies to Make Money

Cryptocurrency Investing Bible explores how cryptocurrency is revolutionizing money and financial transactions. Author Alan T. Norman makes sure that you get your basics right. And if you are a beginner in cryptocurrencies, want to learn more before start investing, and spend less time researching online, then this one's for you. 

9. Cryptocurrency

Tagline: How to Make a Lot of Money Investing and Trading in Cryptocurrency

This book will shock you most conventionally as the author Andrew Johnson teaches the technique right. Secrets are revealed. This book will help you discover what cryptocurrency is all about and how to make money through investing and trading.

While the Bitcoin ship might have already sailed, there is still time to jump onto the cryptocurrency bandwagon and make a profit. If you are wondering how to do just that, then Cryptocurrency: How to Make a Lot of Money Investing and Trading in Cryptocurrency is the book you have been waiting for.

10. The Internet of Money

By Andreas M. Antonopoulos

While many books explain the how of bitcoin, The Internet of Money delves into the why of bitcoin. Acclaimed information-security expert and author of Mastering Bitcoin, Andreas M. Antonopoulos, examines and contextualizes the significance of bitcoin through a series of essays spanning the exhilarating maturation of this technology.

Andreas goes beyond exploring the technical functioning of the bitcoin network by illuminating bitcoin's philosophical, social, and historical implications. As the Internet has transformed how people around the world interact and permanently impacted our lives in ways we could never have imagined, bitcoin - the Internet of money - is fundamentally changing our approach to solving social, political, and economic problems through decentralized technology.

The Bottom Line

Each of the books mentioned in this article has its own plethora of displaying the what, how, and why of the cryptocurrency, primarily focussed on Blockchain and Bitcoin. Although every book stands tall on its own value, we recommend you evaluate your current knowledge and buy the one that can help you take your crypto journey forward. 

Crypto Basics

Liquidity Mining - What It Means and How It Works?

Token Metrics Team
9 minutes
MIN

Liquidity mining is an innovative way to earn cryptocurrency rewards. It has emerged as an alternative to traditional crypto mining, which requires large investments of time, money, and energy. It is a new form of yield farming, where users can lend their tokens for a certain period of time and earn rewards for providing liquidity to a platform.

Liquidity mining is a great way to earn passive income, as it is relatively low risk and requires minimal effort. Moreover, liquidity mining is a great way to increase the value of a token, as it increases its liquidity and helps it become more widely traded. 

This article will explore liquidity mining, how it works, and how it can benefit you.

What is Liquidity Mining?

Liquidity mining is a process where investors can earn cryptocurrency rewards by providing liquidity to cryptocurrency exchanges or other decentralized applications.

In exchange for liquidity, the user earns a reward from the exchange or dApp in cryptocurrency made possible by charging a small fee from users.

How does Liquidity Mining Work?

There are several ways liquidity mining can work. The most common way is to connect an exchange to a market maker. The exchange is the market maker, while the market maker is the liquidity provider.

The market maker offers the asset to the market, which is the investor. The exchange then takes a fee for the market maker's service. The asset can also be paired with a US dollar (USD) pair, meaning the investor is paid in USD and gets to hold the asset. The asset is not traded on the exchange, so the exchange doesn't handle any more trading activity.

Benefits of Liquidity Mining

  • Passive income - Unlike trading cryptocurrencies, liquidity mining requires no time and energy investment by the participant. As a liquidity provider, all you need to do is provide liquidity to the exchange. Once the trading activity starts, you earn your crypto rewards, and the exchange takes care of all the accounting and regulatory issues. This is a great way to earn passive income, as it is relatively low risk (apart from impermanent loss) and requires minimal effort. 
  • Public exposure - When you participate in liquidity mining, you publicly expose your asset to the market. This can increase the asset's exposure and help it become more widely traded. 
  • Low risk - Many exchanges require participants to hold a certain amount of tokens to be eligible for rewards. You do not have to own any tokens to participate in liquidity mining; you can also hedge or short your rewards. This means you can participate in liquidity mining with low risk, as you are not fully exposed to the risk of holding tokens.
  • Market volatility risk - Some exchanges charge participants for the trading volume they generate, resulting in increased volatility and increased trading costs. This market volatility risk can be mitigated by diversifying your trading interests, i.e., trading a different asset from your investment. 
  • Investment risk - Since liquidity mining does not require investment for equipment and graphic cards, there is a shallow risk. This makes liquidity mining a great way to earn cash while protecting your money.

Liquidity Mining Vs. Staking

Liquidity mining and staking are two distinct mechanisms used in decentralized finance (DeFi) to incentivize user participation and encourage the growth of DeFi ecosystems.

Liquidity mining refers to a process where users can earn rewards for providing liquidity to decentralized exchanges (DEXs) by depositing assets into liquidity pools. The rewards are usually paid out in the protocol's native tokens. They are intended to incentivize users to participate in the DEX's liquidity, increasing its overall health and making it easier for other users to trade.

Staking, on the other hand, is a process where users can earn rewards for holding onto and "staking" certain cryptocurrencies or tokens. The rewards are paid out through newly minted tokens, interest, or a share of transaction fees. They are intended to incentivize users to hold onto their assets, increasing the network's overall security and ensuring its consensus mechanism's stability.

In short, liquidity mining incentivizes users to provide liquidity to DEXs or dApps, while staking incentivizes users to hold onto assets and participate in network security.

Liquidity Mining Vs. Yield Farming

Liquidity mining and yield farming are similar but distinct concepts in the DeFi space.

Liquidity mining incentivizes users to help provide the necessary liquidity for the DEX or dApp to function and can help increase the overall value of the platform.

Yield farming, on the other hand, is a strategy where users deposit their assets into a pool to earn a high return on investment (ROI). The assets are used to earn rewards through various mechanisms such as lending, borrowing, and staking. Yield farming can be considered a liquidity provision, but it goes beyond that by allowing users to earn rewards through more complex financial strategies.

In short, liquidity mining is a specific type of yield farming focused on providing liquidity to a DEX or dApp. In contrast, yield farming is more general for earning high returns through various financial strategies.

Is Liquidity Mining a Good Idea?

Whether liquidity mining is a good idea depends on the individual's perspective and investment goals.

From a DeFi ecosystem perspective, liquidity mining can be beneficial as it can lead to increased liquidity in DEXs, making it easier for users to trade and improving the overall health of the exchange. Liquidity mining can also attract new users to DeFi, contributing to its growth and development.

From an investment perspective, liquidity mining can provide the opportunity to earn rewards using a protocol's native tokens. This can be attractive for those looking to maximize their returns and potentially increase their overall investment portfolio.

However, like any investment opportunity, there are also risks involved with liquidity mining. For example, liquidity mining rewards can be subject to market volatility, and the value of the rewards may decrease or become worthless in the event of a failed project or a downturn in the DeFi market.

Risks Associated with Liquidity Mining

There are some risks associated with participating in liquidity mining. Some of the most common risks include: 

  • High exchange commission - The exchange charges a high commission for market-making, hedging, and matching trading activities. This means you end up losing money in case of low liquidity. 
  • Low trading volume - If trading activity on an exchange is lower, you may not generate good amount of money.
  • Impermanent loss - Providing liquidity to two-sided pair can make you lose more of a token that is higher in demand and more people are buying it. It means that when you withdraw your liquidity, you end up getting less of the more demanded token because everyone kept buying it from your pool.
  • Hacks - Due to the nature of smart contracts and publicly available code, people can try to hack the protocol, draining all of the funds on it.

How to Get Started with Liquidity Mining

Now that you know about the liquidity mining concept, it is time to get started in a few steps. 

  • Get the funds ready - Make sure you have the funds ready before you can deposit them in the pool.
  • Choose the right exchange - There are a lot of exchanges out there, and it is imperative to choose the right one. You must pick an exchange with a high trading volume, good liquidity, and low fees. 
  • Add liquidity- Time to add the liquidity to the pair of your choosing. The more liquidity that you provide, the higher your share in that pool.

The Bottom Line

Liquidity mining is a unique way to earn passive income while providing liquidity to a platform. It is a great way as it is relatively low risk and requires minimal effort.

However, keep in mind the risks associated with providing liquidity like impermanent loss and exchange hacks.

Crypto Basics

What is Shiba Inu (SHIB) Coin and is it a Good Investment?

Token Metrics Team
6 minutes
MIN

Shiba Inu (SHIB) is an Ethereum-based altcoin in the world of cryptocurrencies and has recently gained attention. It is a meme-inspired project based on the "Dogecoin" meme featuring the Shiba Inu dog as its mascot.

SHIB has been launched as a decentralized cryptocurrency built on the Ethereum blockchain. It is a deflationary token designed to be used as a medium of exchange and store of value. SHIB has a total supply of 1,000,000,000,000 tokens and is currently being traded on major exchanges such as Binance, OKEx, and Huobi.

SHIB has seen a huge surge in price and popularity since its launch in May 2021 and has become one of the most talked about cryptocurrencies in the market, with arguably the largest community than Bitcoin.

In this article, we will look at Shiba Inu coin, its features, and its potential for investors.

History Of Shiba Inu

Originally, Shiba Inu was launched as a direct competitor of Dogecoin as a joke. Both Shiba Inu and Dogecoin come under the category of meme coins. The meme coin originated from a 2013 meme featuring the Japanese breed dog of the same name. What began as a community-driven token representing a meme became a multi-billion dollar crypto project.

In 2020, an anonymous person or group called "Ryoshi” created a token named after the animal to continue the series of dog meme cryptocurrencies. After gaining full traction in 2021, it was declared the official rival of Dogecoin, leading Floki Inu, Akita Inu, and Dogelon Mars.

From its creation to up until October 2021, the SHIB coin raised from a low of $0.000000000056 to an all-time high of $0.00008616, rising an incredible 150 million percent.

Also, the generous donation of $1 billion in SHIB was a crucial moment in the coin's history that Ethereum's lead engineer and co-founder Vitalik Buterin granted to help fight the devastating spread of COVID-19 in India, making it the largest donation ever given in history. 

The Limelight Of SHIB

Having the support of Elon Musk is like getting the blue tick certification. Elon and his tweets have an extreme market sentiment influence which can make or break the deal for a cryptocurrency.

Shiba Inu is one such outrageously positive outcome of his tweets. When he first posted the Shiba Inu dog image, it gave the first major push to the SHIB token, powering it up by nearly 300%.

Some of the SHIB supporters believe it to be the "Dogecoin-Killer," too.

Top Features of SHIB

SHIB is a deflationary token designed to be used as a medium of exchange and store of value. It is a privacy-enabled decentralized peer-to-peer blockchain network. 

Three types of tokens affect the SHIB ecosystem:

  1. Shiba Inu (SHIB): This is the predominant currency of this project, which sums up to a total supply of 1 quadrillion tokens when it was launched. It can be exchanged with any of the ERC20 tokens of the Ethereum ecosystem.
  2. Leash (LEASH): It is the second token in the Shiba Inu ecosystem, with a total supply of only 107,646 tokens, and was initially a rebase token tied to the price of Dogecoin. A rebase token has a flexible monetary base in that its supply is set to increase or decrease to adjust the token price without affecting the value of anyone's share of coins. The rebase function was later switched off for good, and the token returned to its ERC20 design. 
  3. Bone (BONE): With a total supply of 250,000,000 tokens, only available on ShibaSwap, BONE is intended to fill up the circulation supply gap between the other two tokens. It is a kind of governance token that will allow the ShibArmy to vote on proposals. The more BONE users possess, the more weight their vote will carry in the decision process of future projects.

What are the Benefits of Investing in SHIB?

A Meme-Inspired Cryptocurrency - The core feature of SHIB is that it is a meme-inspired cryptocurrency launched on the Ethereum blockchain. It is a deflationary token designed to be used as a medium of exchange and store of value.

A Lower Price - SHIB is a low-priced token worth in pennies, which is easier for most people to invest in compared to something like Bitcoin.

A Decentralized Network - SHIB aims to be a decentralized network to keep on running, without any reasons for halting.

An Easy-To-Use Wallet - The SHIB blockchain network has been designed to be easy to use. This makes it a preferred option for most users. Three different wallets are available for use: Android, iOS, and Web.

How to Purchase SHIB Token?

SHIB and LEASH can be bought and sold on ShibaSwap, Uniswap, and a growing number of centralized exchanges (CEXs). On September 16, 2021, Coinbase listed SHIB, joining popular CEXs like Binance, Huobi, and Kucoin in trading the token. 

However, Robinhood, a U.S. financial services platform, has yet to list SHIB due to concerns over its security, as stated by its CEO. In contrast, Robinhood's rival Public.com listed SHIB in October 2021.

Is SHIB Token a Good Investment in 2023?

Shiba Inu's growth largely depends on market sentiment. During extremely fearful times, Shiba Inu underperforms; however, during euphoric times, Shiba Inu has the potential to explode in popularity.

While you analyze Shiba Inu's market position, make it a point to distinguish between market capitalization and price. SHIB's low price can deceive new investors, causing them to inaccurately gauge SHIB's price potential. Market capitalization is usually calculated by multiplying the total circulating supply of coins by the current market price of a single coin, which is useful for determining growth potential. 

At the time of writing, SHIB's price is roughly $0.000012. Therefore, if SHIB were to reach $0.01, investors would experience a return of over 800x. However, more importantly, to reach $0.01, Shiba Inu would need to reach a whopping market value north of $5 trillion. This value is greater than the market value of Apple, Google, and Bitcoin combined. As a result, when making realistic price predictions, it's paramount to consider market capitalization.

SHIB Price and Market Capitalization

As of Feb 1st,2023, Shiba Inu is trading at $0.000012 USD. The current market capitalization of the SHIB token is over $6.70B. This makes SHIB rank 81st in terms of market capitalization among all cryptocurrencies.

The Bottom Line

The Shiba Inu developing team is quite secretive about the coin roadmap. Therefore, it's rather difficult to anticipate what's in the cards for the cryptocurrency in the near future.

The developers might decide to burn other coins to make SHIB more deflationary than it is now and help with a price appreciation. We recently learned that Shiba is preparing to enter the Metaverse and will be burning more SHIB soon, further reducing the total supply.

Crypto Basics

What is Litecoin (LTC) - A Comprehensive Guide

Token Metrics Team
5 minutes
MIN

Litecoin (LTC)is a digital currency that has gained traction in the cryptocurrency space. Its primary purpose is to serve as an alternative to Bitcoin, and it has been gaining popularity due to its relative affordability and security.

This article will explain Litecoin, its benefits, uses, mining, and more.

What is Litecoin?

Developed in 2011, Litecoin is a decentralized, peer-to-peer, open-source cryptocurrency, meaning any government or financial institution does not manage it.

Litecoin is based on the same technology as Bitcoin but uses a different algorithm called 'scrypt,' which requires a larger amount of memory and is believed to be more secure. It is also easier to mine than Bitcoin, meaning users can create new Litecoins more quickly and easily.

Unlike traditional currency, Litecoin is not backed by any government or central bank but is managed and held in a digital wallet. Transactions are then recorded on a public ledger, meaning that all transactions are transparent and secure. Litecoin is an ideal digital currency for those looking for an alternative to traditional money, as it provides users with an easy, secure, and affordable way to transfer funds.

It is designed to function like "silver to Bitcoin's gold."

How is Litecoin Different from Bitcoin?

Like Bitcoin, Litecoin is a decentralized, open-source currency that uses blockchain technology to facilitate secure and anonymous digital transfers. However, there are some key differences between the two cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin Litecoin
Bitcoin is designed to be used as a store of value. Litecoin is designed to be used as a payment method.
Bitcoin's supply cap is 21 million. Litecoin can ever be mined is 84 million.
Bitcoin transactions can take 10 minutes. Litecoin transactions are confirmed in 2.5 minutes.
Bitcoin uses the more secure algorithm 'SHA-256' Litecoin uses an open-source algorithm called 'scrypt'
Bitcoin is portable to some extent. Litecoin is more portable than Bitcoin.
Bitcoin might be a little challenging to mine. Litecoin is easier to mine.
You might need a third party to inter-device fund transfer. You can transfer your funds from one device to another without relying on a third party.
Bitcoins are generated at a slower rate. Litecoins are generated at a faster rate.


What is Litecoin Mining?

Mining is a process by which new Litecoins are created and added to the blockchain.

Computers around the world 'mine' new blocks by solving complex algorithms.

This process helps them to earn new crypto coins and add them to the blockchain.

To mine, a computer must use special software and run it on high-end hardware. This can take up a lot of energy.

What is a Litecoin Wallet?

A Litecoin wallet is a physical or digital location where you store your LTC. The easiest way to think of a Litecoin wallet is as a place to store your LTC. Most wallets are online, but you can also download them to your phone or computer.

You can store LTC in a wallet like Coinbase or Exodus, or you can store it in a paper or hardware wallet.

It is advised that you should only store it in a wallet you control, such as your own.

Most wallets allow you to control multiple addresses, which can be useful when accepting payments from multiple people.

Benefits of Using Litecoin

Following are some of the benefits of using Litecoin LTC:

Instant transfers - There's no waiting for a bank or service to transfer funds like with PayPal. You can transfer funds instantly between two addresses.

Low transaction fees - Unlike Bitcoin transactions, which can cost hundreds of dollars, your Litecoin transactions cost less than 2 cents each. 

Mobile compatibility - You can access your Litecoin wallet on all your devices, which is helpful when completing transactions on the go. 

Privacy - Bitcoin and other digital currencies like Litecoin are designed to be private and secure. 

Easier to store - Like Bitcoin, Litecoin can be stored on various devices, including laptops, PCs, and smartphones. 

Escrow service - You can use a service like Escrow.com to hold LTC for you until both parties agree to the terms.

How to Buy Litecoin?

There are several exchanges where you can buy, sell, or trade LTC on, including

  • Coinbase
  • Kraken
  • Gemini
  • Binance
  • KuCoin

What is the Future of Litecoin?

Litecoin has been gaining a lot of popularity recently and is expected to continue growing in use. It can be a very profitable investment due to its relatively low price, which is expected to rise in the future.

Litecoin is easier to mine than Bitcoin, and mining costs less, making mining it more attractive. The block reward is also expected to reduce, further incentivizing mining. Litecoin is also more portable than Bitcoin because it can be stored on various devices, making it easier to use.

Bottom Line

Although Litecoin is still in a race for popularity in the crypto world, it's strictly advisable to do your own research and analysis before getting to business. As with any cryptocurrency, it is highly speculative and subject to high volatility, initially making it a high-risk investment.

Whether it is wise to invest in Litecoin depends on individual circumstances, risk tolerance, and investment goals. Before investing in any cryptocurrency, it is important to carefully consider factors such as the technology behind it, market adoption, regulatory environment, and competition. 

Crypto Basics

What are 3D NFTs and How Do They Work?

Token Metrics Team
6 minutes
MIN

3D NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are the latest trend in digital asset ownership. They are a form of digital asset that is unique, completely non-fungible, and immutable, allowing anyone to securely own and trade digital assets in a brand new way.

3D NFTs are created using 3D modeling tools such as Blender and 3D Studio Max, and stored on the blockchain, making them secure, transparent, and immutable. It’s now possible to own and trade digital assets in a new way. This article will take a closer look at what 3D NFTs are, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.

How Do 3D NFTs Work?

In order to own a 3D NFT, you will need a digital wallet that supports the creation and trade of 3D NFTs. These wallets will store your 3D NFTs, making them easy to trade with others and view your ownership rights in the blockchain. If you want to trade your 3D NFTs, you can easily do so by sending your 3D NFTs from your wallet to the wallet of the individual you want to trade with.

How are 3D NFTs Different from Other Digital Assets?

3D NFTs are different than other digital assets in that they are completely non-fungible. This means that each 3D NFT is completely one of a kind, making each one completely different from the next. Because each 3D NFT is one of a kind, each one will have its own value that can fluctuate depending on the demand for that 3D NFT.

Benefits of 3D NFTs

There are many benefits to using 3D NFTs over other digital assets. First and foremost, each 3D NFT is completely one of a kind, making them completely unique and interesting. This makes them much more exciting to collect, trade, and own. Since each 3D NFT is completely one of a kind and can be anything, they are much more interesting to own than other digital assets.

3D NFTs are also secure, transparent, and immutable, meaning that they can’t be hacked, all ownership rights can be seen by anyone, and they can’t be changed or manipulated in any way. Finally, they are also easy to create and trade, meaning anyone can start collecting and trading these digital assets.

How to Create 3D NFTs?

To create a 3D NFT, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Create or obtain a 3D model: You can create a 3D model from scratch using software like Blender or obtain one from an online marketplace.
  2. Convert the 3D model into a GLTF file format: This format is supported by most NFT marketplaces and makes it easier to display and view the 3D model in various environments.
  3. Mint the NFT: Minting is the process of creating a unique, one-of-a-kind token on the blockchain. You will need to use a blockchain platform like Ethereum and a tool like OpenSea to mint your 3D NFT.
  4. List the NFT for sale: Once you have minted your NFT, you can list it on various marketplaces such as SuperRare, Rarible, or OpenSea.

Where to Buy and Sell 3D NFTs?

There are various places where you can purchase and sell 3D NFTs, making them easy to trade with others. You can purchase 3D NFTs from online 3D asset marketplaces, such as Rarible, which allow you to purchase and sell unique 3D NFTs.

You can also use other known marketplaces, such as OpenSea or Magic Eden, to easily purchase and sell 3D NFTs.

How to Store 3D NFTs?

You will need to store your 3D NFTs in a digital wallet that supports 3D NFTs. Several different wallets support 3D NFTs; many even have mobile apps that make it easy to trade and collect your 3D NFTs.

How to Use 3D NFTs for Your Business?

If you want to use 3D NFTs in your business, they can be a great way to engage with your customers.

You can create your own 3D NFTs to give to customers, allowing them to trade and show off their digital assets.

You can also sell unique 3D NFTs, allowing customers to own rare, one-of-a-kind assets.

You can also use 3D NFTs as a loyalty reward, giving your customers a unique digital asset to show their loyalty to your brand.

The possibilities are endless. Reddit is a good example of this.

Types of 3D NFTs

There are various types of 3D NFTs you can collect and trade. You can collect unique video game characters, unique pieces of art, limited-edition sneakers, or even use 3D NFTs for marketing campaigns.

No matter what type of 3D NFT you collect, they will all be completely one of a kind, making them much more interesting to collect and trade than traditional digital assets. Also, 3D NFT projects are numerous and range from digital art to virtual real estate. 

Some of the most popular 3D NFT projects include:

  1. Decentraland: A virtual world where users can buy, sell, and build on virtual real estate using NFTs.
  2. Axie Infinity: A game where players can breed, battle, and trade creatures called Axies using NFTs.
  3. Bored Ape Yacht Club: A collectible game where players can own and trade unique, cartoon-style apes as NFTs.

Legal implications of 3D NFTs

There are very few legal implications to collecting and trading 3D NFTs. While you should always research to ensure you follow all applicable laws, most of these laws focus on trading and selling 3D NFTs rather than collecting and owning them.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, 3D NFTs are a new and exciting development in the world of digital assets, providing a way to prove ownership and authenticity of 3D models and monetize digital art, games, and virtual assets. With the potential for limitless applications, 3D NFTs are poised to revolutionize the way we think about and trade digital assets.

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