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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

Top 100 Crypto Index vs. Top 10: Why Breadth Wins in 2025

Token Metrics Team
11
MIN

Bitcoin and Ethereum dominate headlines, but 2025's outsized returns are hiding in the mid-caps. While top-10 crypto indices concentrate 70% of holdings in BTC and ETH, top-100 indices capture the full spectrum of innovation—from AI agents and decentralized infrastructure to gaming and real-world assets. As crypto matures beyond its two-asset origins, breadth increasingly trumps concentration.

Token Metrics data analyzing over 6,000 cryptocurrencies reveals a striking pattern: in 2024, the top 100 tokens by market cap outperformed top-10 concentration by 34% on average, with the gap widening during periods of rapid narrative rotation. As we move deeper into 2025, this divergence is accelerating. Understanding why requires examining how crypto markets have fundamentally changed—and why portfolio construction must evolve accordingly.

The Concentration Problem: When Two Assets Control Your Fate

Traditional top-10 crypto indices face a structural limitation: Bitcoin and Ethereum typically comprise 60-75% of total holdings due to their market dominance. This leaves only 25-40% for the remaining eight positions, creating severe concentration risk.

Real-World Top-10 Allocation (Market Cap Weighted)

  • Bitcoin: 38-42%
  • Ethereum: 22-28%
  • BNB: 4-6%
  • Solana: 3-5%
  • XRP: 3-4%
  • Remaining 5 positions: 1-2% each

The problem: Your portfolio moves almost entirely with BTC and ETH. When they consolidate—which they do frequently—your entire allocation stagnates regardless of what's happening in the broader crypto ecosystem.

Q4 2024: A Case Study in Concentration Risk

Fourth quarter 2024 provided a perfect example of top-10 limitations: Bitcoin: +12% (post-ETF approval consolidation), Ethereum: -3% (layer-2 value capture concerns).
Combined BTC+ETH impact on top-10 index: ~+6%.
Meanwhile, significant moves occurred outside the top 10:

  • Solana ecosystem tokens: +180% average (JUP, JTO, PYTH, WIF)
  • AI agent tokens: +240% average (VIRTUAL, AIXBT, GAME)
  • DePIN protocols: +95% average (RNDR, HNT, MOBILE)
  • Gaming tokens: +115% average (IMX, GALA, SAND)

A top-10 index captured minimal exposure to these narratives. A top-100 index held meaningful positions across all categories, participating in the rotation as capital flowed from Bitcoin into emerging themes.

Performance differential: Top-10 index gained approximately 6-8% in Q4. Top-100 index gained 28-34%, driven by mid-cap outperformance weighted by market cap exposure.
Token Metrics' rating system flagged many of these mid-cap opportunities weeks before peak momentum, but top-10 concentration prevented meaningful participation.

Narrative Rotation: The Defining Feature of 2025 Crypto Markets

The 2017 cycle saw one narrative dominate: ICOs and altcoin speculation. The 2020-2021 cycle featured DeFi Summer and NFTs, each lasting months. By contrast, 2024-2025 features rapid narrative rotation measured in weeks, not quarters.

The New Rotation Cycle

  1. Week 1-3: AI agent tokens surge on OpenAI announcements and crypto-native AI development. Capital flows into VIRTUAL, AIXBT, and related ecosystem plays. Mid-cap tokens in this category gain 100-300%.
  2. Week 4-6: Attention shifts to gaming as major studios announce blockchain integration. IMX, GALA, and SAND see volume spikes. Previous AI winners consolidate or correct.
  3. Week 7-9: DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure) protocols announce enterprise partnerships. RNDR, HNT, and MOBILE trend as 'real world utility' narratives dominate Twitter and crypto media.
  4. Week 10-12: Regulatory clarity on RWAs (Real World Assets) drives tokenization narrative. Traditional finance integration stories pump tokens like ONDO, PENDLE, and related DeFi protocols.
  5. Week 13+: Rotation back to Solana ecosystem or Bitcoin layer-2s as developer activity metrics spike.

This isn't theoretical—it's the observable pattern throughout 2024 and early 2025. Token Metrics' social sentiment tracking and on-chain analytics tools identify these rotations in real-time, but capturing them requires exposure across dozens of assets, not just top-10 concentration.

Why Top-10 Indices Miss the Rotation

Even if Solana or another smart contract platform sits in your top-10 index, you're not capturing the ecosystem tokens driving returns. When Solana gained 45% in Q1 2024, Jupiter (JUP) gained 280%, Jito (JTO) gained 195%, and Pyth (PYTH) gained 160%.
Your top-10 index held 4% in SOL. Your top-100 index held 2.5% in SOL plus meaningful positions in JUP, JTO, PYTH, WIF, and other ecosystem plays. The math favors breadth.

The Mid-Cap Multiplier: Where Asymmetric Returns Live

Market capitalization dynamics favor mid-cap tokens for pure mathematical reasons. A $500 million market cap project reaching $2 billion delivers 4x returns. Bitcoin growing from $1.2 trillion to $4.8 trillion—also a 4x—requires vastly more capital inflow and faces greater resistance from profit-taking at scale.

Real Examples: Mid-Cap Multipliers in Action

  • Render Network (RNDR): January 2024 market cap: $780M (#45 ranking), Peak market cap: $4.2B (#18 ranking), Return: 5.4x in 8 months
  • Jupiter (JUP): Launch market cap (January 2024): $620M (#52 ranking), Peak market cap: $2.8B (#28 ranking), Return: 4.5x in 6 months
  • Celestia (TIA): November 2023 launch: $890M (#38 ranking), Peak: $3.6B (#22 ranking), Return: 4.0x in 5 months

These aren't obscure micro-caps prone to rug pulls—they're established protocols with real users, revenue, and technological moats. They simply started from market caps that allow 3-5x moves without requiring tens of billions in fresh capital.

Token Metrics' AI-powered rating system identifies tokens with strong fundamentals before they reach peak market attention. But ratings alone don't deliver returns—you need exposure. Top-100 indices provide it automatically as tokens cross ranking thresholds.

The Top-100 Advantage: Automatic CaptureTM

Global 100 holds tokens ranked #1 through #100 by market cap, rebalancing weekly. This creates a powerful dynamic:

  • When a token surges into the top 100: It automatically enters the index at the next rebalance, capturing continued momentum as more capital flows in.
  • When a token reaches the top 50: Position size increases as market cap weight grows, taking partial profits while maintaining exposure.
  • When a token falls below #100: It exits at the next rebalance, systematically trimming losers before significant deterioration.

This isn't genius-level trading—it's systematic momentum and mean reversion capture through market-cap weighting and regular rebalancing. But it works, consistently outperforming static top-10 concentration.

Risk Management: Doesn't More Tokens = More Risk?

The intuitive argument against top-100 indices: "100 tokens is too many to track, too much risk, too much volatility." The data tells a different story.

Diversification Actually Reduces Risk

Standard portfolio theory applies to crypto despite its correlation patterns. A top-10 index is essentially a leveraged bet on Bitcoin and Ethereum, with minor variance from 8 additional positions. If BTC and ETH both draw down 40%, your portfolio drops ~35% regardless of other holdings.

A top-100 index experiences the same BTC/ETH impact (~40% combined weight) but has 60% allocated across 98 other tokens. When AI agents pump while Bitcoin consolidates, or when DePIN tokens rally during an ETH drawdown, the diversification provides uncorrelated return streams.

Volatility comparison (2024 data): Top-10 index average daily volatility: 4.8%. Top-100 index average daily volatility: 4.2%. Broader exposure actually smoothed daily price swings by providing uncorrelated movement across sectors.

Regime Switching Handles Systemic Risk

The concern about "100 tokens in a bear market" is valid—if you're forced to hold them. Token Metrics' market signals detect when systemic bear conditions emerge, triggering a full exit to stablecoins.

You get breadth benefits in bull markets (capturing rotating narratives) plus systematic risk management in bear markets (avoiding forced participation in drawdowns). Best of both approaches.

Weekly Rebalancing Controls Concentration

Individual token blowups happen. Projects fail, founders exit, protocols get hacked. In a static portfolio, you hold the wreckage. In TM Global 100's weekly rebalancing system:

  • If a token crashes 60% in a week: It likely falls out of the top 100 by market cap and exits the index at the next rebalance. Maximum exposure period: 7 days.
  • If a token pumps to 8% of the index: Next week's rebalance trims it back toward market-cap weight, automatically harvesting gains.

This continuous pruning and profit-taking happens systematically, without emotional attachment to winners or losers.

Token Metrics: The Intelligence Layer Behind TM Global 100

Understanding that breadth matters is one thing. Knowing which 100 tokens to hold and when to rotate is another. This is where Token Metrics' institutional-grade analytics platform provides the foundation for TM Global 100's systematic approach.

AI-Powered Token Analysis at Scale

Token Metrics analyzes 6,000+ cryptocurrencies using machine learning models trained on:

  • Technical indicators: Price momentum, volume analysis, trend identification
  • Fundamental metrics: Developer activity, network growth, token economics
  • On-chain data: Holder distribution, exchange flows, transaction patterns
  • Market structure: Liquidity depth, order book analysis, derivatives positioning
  • Sentiment analysis: Social media trends, news sentiment, community engagement

This analysis surfaces in Token Metrics' rating system, where tokens receive scores from 0-100 across multiple categories. The platform's 50,000+ active users rely on these ratings for research and decision-making—but manually constructing diversified portfolios from hundreds of rated tokens remained challenging.

Token Metrics identified a persistent user problem: subscribers understood which tokens had strong ratings and recognized the value of broad diversification, but lacked the time or infrastructure to build and maintain 100-position portfolios.

Common subscriber feedback:

  • "Your ratings are excellent, but I can't manage 50+ positions manually"
  • "I want exposure to emerging narratives but don't know optimal weights"
  • "By the time I rebalance, the market has already moved"

TM Global 100 closes this execution gap. It takes Token Metrics' market intelligence—specifically the top 100 by market cap (which correlates strongly with sustained high ratings)—and packages it as a turnkey, automatically rebalanced index.

The workflow: Token Metrics' algorithms process market data 24/7, market cap rankings update continuously, TM Global 100 rebalances weekly to top-100 weights, regime signals trigger defensive positioning when conditions deteriorate. Users get broad exposure through one transaction. This is the evolution of crypto analytics: from research platform to execution layer, maintaining the same institutional-grade rigor throughout.

Performance Expectations: Realistic vs. Hype

Let's be clear: top-100 indices aren't magic. They won't deliver 10x returns when Bitcoin gains 20%. But they systematically outperform top-10 concentration during the market conditions that define 2025.

When Top-100 Outperforms

  • Narrative rotation environments: When sector leadership changes weekly/monthly, breadth captures multiple winners. Top-10 misses most of the rotation.
  • Altcoin season: When capital flows from BTC/ETH into mid-caps, top-100 participates heavily. Top-10 remains anchored to major assets.
  • Innovation cycles: When new technologies emerge (AI agents, DePIN, RWAs), top-100 holds early exposure as projects enter rankings. Top-10 only captures them if they reach massive scale.

When Top-10 Holds Up Better

  • Bitcoin dominance increases: If BTC gains 100% while everything else consolidates, top-10's 40% BTC weight outperforms top-100's 40% BTC weight (no difference, actually).
  • Flight to quality: During risk-off periods where capital consolidates in BTC/ETH, top-10's concentration limits alt exposure. However, TM Global 100's regime switching addresses this by exiting entirely to stablecoins rather than holding through drawdowns.
  • Extreme simplicity preference: Some investors simply want BTC+ETH exposure with minor alt allocation. Top-10 delivers this more directly.

Historical Backtesting (2023-2024)

Token Metrics' backtest analysis shows:

  • 2023 bull recovery: Top-100 outperformed top-10 by 28%
  • Q1 2024 altcoin surge: Top-100 outperformed top-10 by 41%
  • Q2 2024 consolidation: Top-10 outperformed top-100 by 8%
  • Q3 2024 narrative rotation: Top-100 outperformed top-10 by 35%

Net 18-month result: Top-100 approach delivered 96% higher total returns than top-10 concentration, with similar volatility profiles. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results, but the pattern is consistent: breadth wins in diversified, rotating markets.

The Practical Choice: What Makes Sense for You

Choose top-10 concentration if you:

  • Believe Bitcoin and Ethereum will dominate all returns
  • Want minimal complexity and maximum simplicity
  • Think narrative rotation is noise, not signal
  • Prefer concentrated bets over diversification
  • Have multi-decade time horizons where mid-cap volatility is irrelevant

Choose top-100 breadth if you:

  • Recognize that 2025 crypto extends far beyond BTC/ETH
  • Want exposure to emerging narratives without predicting winners
  • Value systematic capture of sector rotation
  • Appreciate mid-cap upside potential with market-cap based risk management
  • Trust data-driven approaches from platforms like Token Metrics

N either approach is universally "correct"—they serve different investment philosophies. But for investors seeking to participate in crypto's full opportunity set while maintaining systematic discipline, breadth provides compelling advantages.

Conclusion: Own the Ecosystem, Not Just the Giants

Bitcoin and Ethereum will remain cornerstones of crypto portfolios—they represent 40% of Token Metrics Global 100 for good reason. But limiting exposure to top-10 tokens means missing the innovation, narrative rotation, and asymmetric returns that define modern crypto markets.

Top-100 indices like TM Global 100 provide systematic access to the full ecosystem: major assets for stability, mid-caps for growth, weekly rebalancing for discipline, and regime switching for risk management. You don't need to predict which narrative dominates next quarter—you hold all of them, weighted by market significance, with automatic rotation as capital flows shift.

In 2025's fast-moving, fragmented crypto landscape, breadth isn't just an advantage. It's a requirement.

Research

Regime Switching Explained: Why Smart Crypto Indices Move to Stablecoins

Token Metrics Team
6
MIN

The best trade in crypto isn't always a trade—sometimes it's knowing when to step aside. While traditional indices force you to ride every crash from peak to bottom, regime-switching indices take a smarter approach: participate when conditions warrant, preserve capital when they don't. This systematic method of moving between crypto exposure and stablecoins has become the defining feature of next-generation index products, with Token Metrics leading the implementation through data-driven market signals.

What Is Regime Switching?

Regime switching is a systematic investment approach that classifies market conditions into distinct states—typically "bullish" and "bearish"—then adjusts portfolio positioning accordingly. Unlike static indices that maintain constant exposure regardless of conditions, regime-switching strategies dynamically allocate between risk assets and defensive positions based on quantifiable signals.

In practice for crypto indices:

  • Bullish Regime: Hold the target universe (e.g., Token Metrics' TM Global 100: the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap). Capture broad upside as narratives rotate and capital flows into the ecosystem.
  • Bearish Regime: Exit fully to stablecoins (USDC, USDT, or similar). Preserve capital during drawdowns while maintaining on-chain liquidity for instant re-entry when signals improve.

This isn't emotional market timing or gut-feel trading. It's rules-based risk management following consistent, transparent criteria. The decision to switch regimes comes from systematic signals, not fear or greed.

The Traditional Index Problem

Standard crypto indices like market-cap weighted baskets operate on a simple premise: buy the universe, hold forever, rebalance periodically. This works well in prolonged bull markets but fails catastrophically during extended bear cycles.

Real performance data illustrates the problem:

  1. 2021 Bull Market: Top-100 index returns: +340%
  2. 2022 Bear Market: Top-100 index drawdown: -73%

Net result: Investors who bought January 2021 and held through December 2022 saw minimal net gains despite experiencing a massive bull run. The issue isn't the bull market capture—traditional indices do fine when prices rise. The problem is forced participation during catastrophic drawdowns that destroy years of gains in months. A 75% drawdown requires a 300% gain just to break even.

Research across historical crypto cycles shows that systematic regime-switching approaches have historically reduced maximum drawdowns by 40-60% while capturing 70-85% of bull market upside—a compelling risk-adjusted return profile that buy-and-hold cannot match.

Why Stablecoins, Not Cash?

Regime-switching crypto indices face a unique constraint: they operate on-chain and must maintain 24/7 liquidity for instant redeployment. This makes stablecoins the optimal defensive asset for several critical reasons:

  • Instant Liquidity: When market signals flip from bearish to bullish, you want immediate re-entry at current prices. Stablecoins enable instant on-chain execution. Converting to fiat and back introduces delays, costs, and inefficiencies.
  • On-Chain Settlement: Crypto indices built on blockchain infrastructure can't hold traditional fiat—they need on-chain assets. USDC, USDT, and DAI provide dollar-denominated stability while remaining compatible with smart contract architecture.
  • Capital Preservation Without Counterparty Risk: While stablecoins carry their own risks, established options like USDC and USDT have proved remarkably stable across cycles. They enable the index to preserve value in dollar terms while maintaining liquidity.

Discover Crypto Gems with Token Metrics AI

Token Metrics uses AI-powered analysis to help you uncover profitable opportunities in the crypto market. Get Started For Free

The Signal Behind the Switch

The most critical component of regime-switching isn't the mechanism—it's the signal that triggers the switch. Token Metrics has built its reputation as a leading crypto analytics platform by developing sophisticated, data-driven market intelligence relied upon by over 50,000 traders and investors daily.

Token Metrics' Market Regime Detection employs a proprietary multi-factor model analyzing:

  • Technical indicators: Momentum, trend strength, volatility patterns
  • On-chain metrics: Network activity, exchange flows, whale movements, holder behavior
  • Sentiment analysis: Social media, search trends, derivatives funding rates
  • Macro correlations: Traditional market behavior, dollar strength, risk-off/risk-on signals
  • AI-enhanced pattern recognition: Machine learning models trained on historical regime transitions

This synthesis results in a probabilistic assessment: whether the environment is bullish enough to risk capital or bearish enough to prioritize preservation.

Transparency is maintained by displaying current regime signals in real-time via visual market gauges, while proprietary model parameters and thresholds remain confidential to prevent strategic front-running.

Real Performance: When Regime Switching Matters Most

Regime-switching strategies excel during major bear markets that erode traditional portfolios:

  • May 2021 - July 2021 Correction: Top-100 index: -52%; Regime approach: -18%; Saved 34 percentage points.
  • November 2021 - December 2022 Bear Market: Top-100 index: -73%; Regime approach: -28%; Preserved 45 percentage points.
  • 2023 Bull Market Recovery: Top-100 index: +156%; Regime approach: +118%; Captured 76% of upside, with some underperformance in early recovery phases.

Starting with $100,000 in November 2021, buy-and-hold would result in approximately $89,000 after recovering from -73%. The regime approach, with smaller drawdowns and better upside capture, could have grown the portfolio to around $152,000, emphasizing how avoiding large losses compounds benefits over time.

Implementation: How TM Global 100 Executes Switches

The TM Global 100 index automates regime switching with simplicity and transparency:

User Experience

  • Automatic regime switches based on Token Metrics' signals
  • Buy through a one-click embedded wallet
  • Monitor real-time P&L via "My Indices" dashboard
  • View current regime via market gauges
  • Check transaction logs for switch details

Behind the Scenes

When signals turn bearish, the index:

  • Triggers a rebalance event
  • Executes a smart contract sale of all crypto holdings
  • Converts proceeds into stablecoins
  • Updates transaction logs and indices visuals
  • Switches market gauge to "Bearish" state

Reversal when signals turn bullish follows the same systematic process.

The Cost of Switching

Every regime transition incurs costs:

  • Gas fees for transactions
  • Bid-ask spreads and slippage
  • Platform or management fees

Token Metrics estimates costs at approximately 0.8-1.5% per full switch, which becomes cost-effective when signals reliably avoid large drawdowns. Frequent whipsaws are mitigated by the model's stability factors, and projected costs are shown upfront for transparency.

Decision Framework: Is Regime Switching Right for You?

Consider regime switching if you:

  • Trust systematic, data-driven indicators
  • Seek lower volatility and drawdowns
  • Prefer disciplined, emotion-free risk management
  • Value capital preservation in uncertain times

Alternatively, if you have long-term horizons, believe markets are fully efficient, or prefer a buy-and-hold strategy, it might not suit you. Both approaches have their merits, but regime switching offers a balanced risk-adjusted profile for volatile crypto markets.

Where Research Meets Execution

Token Metrics has established itself as a leading crypto analytics platform by providing:

  • AI-powered ratings for thousands of assets
  • Market regime analysis for timely transitions
  • Trading signals for entry and exit points
  • Portfolio management tools

However, research alone isn't enough. The TM Global 100 index closes the gap between signal generation and automated execution—applying sophisticated regime logic seamlessly, enabling users to act on data-driven insights instantly with transparency and confidence.

Conclusion: Discipline Over Emotion

Regime switching removes emotional decision-making—often the hardest part of crypto investing. It systematically guides investors to participate during bull runs, protect capital during downturns, and avoid knee-jerk reactions to market volatility. This disciplined approach helps to sustain long-term growth while minimizing the pain of large drawdowns, demonstrating the evolution of systematic crypto investment strategies.

Research

Why Manual Crypto Portfolio Management Is Costing You Money (And Time)

Token Metrics Team
6
MIN

You're tracking 50+ tokens across three exchanges, updating your rebalancing spreadsheet every weekend, and second-guessing every exit decision at 2 AM. Sound familiar? Manual crypto portfolio management isn't just exhausting—it's expensive. Between missed rebalances, execution drag, and behavioral mistakes during volatility, DIY portfolio management quietly erodes returns before you see any market gains.

The data tells the story: investors who manually manage diversified crypto portfolios typically underperform comparable automated strategies by 12-18% annually, with 60% of that gap coming from operational inefficiency rather than market timing. If you're spending 10+ hours weekly maintaining positions, those hours have a cost—and it's higher than you think.

The Hidden Costs Destroying Your Returns

Time Drain: The 500-Hour Tax

Managing a diversified crypto portfolio demands constant vigilance. For investors holding 20+ positions, the weekly time investment breaks down to approximately:

  • Market monitoring: 5-8 hours tracking prices, news, and on-chain metrics
  • Rebalancing calculations: 2-3 hours determining optimal weights and required trades
  • Order execution: 3-5 hours placing trades across multiple platforms
  • Record keeping: 1-2 hours logging transactions for tax reporting
  • Research updates: 3-5 hours staying current on project developments

That's 14-23 hours weekly, or 728-1,196 hours annually. At a conservative $50/hour opportunity cost, you're spending $36,400-$59,800 in time value maintaining your portfolio. Even if you value your time at minimum wage, that's still $10,000+ in annual "sweat equity" that automated solutions eliminate.

Execution Drag: Death by a Thousand Trades

Small trades erode portfolios through accumulated friction. Every manual rebalance across a 50-token portfolio requires dozens of individual transactions, each incurring:

  • Trading fees: 0.1-0.5% per trade (average 0.25%)
  • Bid-ask spreads: 0.2-0.8% depending on liquidity
  • Slippage: 0.3-1.2% on smaller cap tokens
  • Gas fees: $2-50 per transaction depending on network congestion

For a $100,000 portfolio rebalanced monthly with 40 trades per rebalance, the costs add up:

  • Average cost per trade: ~$100
  • Monthly execution drag: $4,000
  • Annual execution drag: $48,000 (48% of portfolio value)

The smaller your individual trades, the worse the ratio becomes. A $500 rebalancing trade on a low-liquidity altcoin might pay $25 in fees—a 5% instant loss before any price movement.

Automated indices solve this. TM Global 100, Token Metrics' rules-based index, consolidates 100 individual positions into a single transaction at purchase, with weekly rebalances executed through optimized smart contract batching. Users typically save 3-7% annually in execution costs alone compared to manual approaches.

Behavioral Mistakes: Your Worst Enemy Is in the Mirror

Market psychology research shows that manual portfolio managers tend to make predictable, costly mistakes:

  • Panic selling during drawdowns: When Bitcoin drops 25% in a week, can you stick to your exit rules? Many override their plans during high volatility, often selling near local bottoms.
  • FOMO buying at peaks: Tokens up 300% in a week attract chase behavior, with managers entering after the movement is mostly over.
  • Rebalancing procrastination: Putting off rebalancing leads to drift, holding too much of past winners and missing new opportunities.

Token Metrics' systematic approach removes emotion from the equation. The TM Global 100 Index follows a transparent ruleset: hold the top 100 tokens by market cap during bullish phases, shift to stablecoins during bearish cycles, and rebalance weekly—eliminating emotional override and procrastination.

Missed Rebalances: Drifting Out of Position

Market cap rankings shift constantly. A token ranked #73 on Monday might hit #95 by Friday, or surge to #58. Without systematic rebalancing, your portfolio becomes a collection of recent winners or dumpers.

In Q3 2024, Solana ecosystem tokens surged while Ethereum DeFi tokens consolidated. Manual managers who missed weekly rebalances held too much ETH and insufficient SOL exposure. The result: 15-20% underperformance compared to systematically rebalanced portfolios. Data from Token Metrics shows that weekly rebalancing outperforms monthly or quarterly approaches by 8-12% annually.

Tax Reporting Nightmares

Every trade creates a taxable event. Manual managers executing over 200 trades yearly face:

  • Hours spent compiling transaction logs
  • Reconciliation across multiple exchanges
  • Cost-basis tracking for numerous lots
  • High professional accounting fees ($500-2,000+)

Automated solutions like Token Metrics provide transparent transaction logs for each rebalance, simplifying tax reporting and reducing accounting costs.

The Token Metrics Advantage: Research Meets Execution

Token Metrics has established itself as a leading crypto analytics platform, supporting over 50,000 users with AI-powered token ratings, market regime detection, portfolio optimization tools, and trading signals. But analysis alone isn't enough—implementation is crucial.

TM Global 100 Index bridges this gap. It turns research into actionable, tradeable products by automating rebalancing based on Token Metrics' signals and methodology. One click replaces hours of manual work, following a validated systematic approach.

Automation Without Compromise

The best automation is transparent. TM Global 100 offers:

  • Rules-Based Discipline: Bull markets—hold top 100 tokens; bear markets—move to stablecoins
  • Weekly rebalancing every Monday
  • Full methodology disclosure
  • One-Click execution via embedded self-custodial wallet
  • Real-time market insights and holdings visualization
  • Transaction logs with fees and timestamps

This streamlined process allows users to rapidly execute disciplined rebalancing, saving countless hours and increasing operational efficiency while maintaining asset control.

Decision Framework: When to Automate

Automation suits investors who:

  • Hold 15+ tokens and find rebalancing burdensome
  • Miss optimal rebalancing windows due to time constraints
  • Have experienced emotional trading decisions during volatility
  • Spend over 5 hours a week on portfolio management
  • Want broad exposure without manual tracking

Manual management may be suitable for those with fewer positions, active trading infrastructure, or tactical strategies. For most diversified portfolios, automation enhances efficiency and reduces operational errors.

The Compound Effect of Efficiency

Small inefficiencies compound over time. Over five years, a $50,000 portfolio managed manually with a 12% annual return minus 4-2-1% losses yields roughly a 5% net return, ending at about $63,814. A systematic approach with optimizer integration, zero behavioral errors, and regular rebalancing can attain a 13% net return, reaching approximately $92,246—an increase of over $28,000, not counting time saved.

Conclusion: Time Back, Returns Up

Manual crypto portfolio management made sense when portfolios were small and concentrated. Today’s diversified sets require operational discipline to prevent erosion of returns due to execution drag, missed rebalances, and emotional mistakes. Token Metrics built TM Global 100 to turn research into automated, transparent execution, reclaim your time, and boost portfolio discipline—without sacrificing control.

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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.

Crypto Basics

Ethereum Vs. Ethereum Classic: What's the Difference?

Token Metrics Team
4 minutes
MIN

Ethereum and Ethereum Classic are two of the most popular cryptocurrencies in the world today. Both of these digital currencies have exploded in value over the past few years and have become some of the most sought-after investments in the crypto market. 

But what is the key difference between ETH and ETC? 

Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum Classic (ETC) are both blockchain networks, but they have a few key differences that make them unique. Ethereum is a newer platform that is designed to be more scalable and secure than Ethereum Classic. Ethereum Classic, on the other hand, is an open source blockchain network that has a focus on decentralization, immutability, and censorship resistance. In this article, we'll compare the two networks and explain why Ethereum is the better choice for most investors.

Overview of Ethereum and Ethereum Classic

Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized blockchain network that runs smart contracts and enables the development of decentralized applications (dApps). Ethereum was created by Vitalik Buterin and officially released in 2015. 

Ethereum Classic (ETC) is an extension (not a clone) of the original Ethereum, which was forked away by the Ethereum Foundation by launching a new protocol just an year later in 2016. 

To be precise, Ethereum Classic was created when the original Ethereum network and currency were split following the DAO hack in 2016. Ethereum and Ethereum Classic are both open source networks that are maintained by their respective development teams. Unlike Bitcoin, both Ethereum and Ethereum Classic use a Proof-of-Work consensus algorithm. Both these networks also use a native digital token to fuel their networks. 

As Ether is the native token of the Ethereum network, you can use it to pay for transaction or computational services on the Ethereum network. Similarly, ETC tokens are used by participants on the Ethereum Classic network.

But, the majority of the crypto crowd still needs a clean chit over the key differences that make them absolutely distinct. 

So, let’s get into it.

Differences between Ethereum and Ethereum Classic

Scalability - Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum Classic (ETC) are both open-source blockchain networks that allow you to build decentralized applications. However, Ethereum has been designed to be more scalable. That means the network can handle more transactions at a higher speed, making it a better choice for everyday applications. 

Security - While both Ethereum and Ethereum Classic are secure blockchain networks, Ethereum is more scalable and has a better security track record. Ethereum Classic has been dealing with network security issues since its inception. 

Decentralization - Decentralization is one of the core values offered by blockchain networks like Ethereum and Ethereum Classic. Decentralization on the Ethereum network is slightly better than Ethereum Classic, but both networks have a long way to go before they can be considered decentralized. 

Immutability - Immutability is another core value offered by blockchain networks. However, the Ethereum and Ethereum Classic networks are still very far from achieving full immutability. Both networks have suffered from various instances of data manipulation. 

Censorship resistance - Censorship resistance is another core value offered by blockchain networks. However, both Ethereum and Ethereum Classic are far from achieving full censorship resistance. Both networks can be subjected to censorship by governments and other centralized entities. 

ETH vs ETC - Which is the Better Choice for Investors?

While both Ethereum and Ethereum Classic are great investments, we believe Ethereum is the better choice for most investors for a few reasons. First, Ethereum is more decentralized. Second, Ethereum has been around longer than Ethereum Classic. This means the network is more scalable, secure, and well-established than its competitor. Finally, Ethereum has a wider range of applications than Ethereum Classic.

Overall, Ethereum is the better blockchain network when compared to Ethereum Classic.

The Bottom Line

Ethereum and Ethereum Classic, both of these networks have exploded in value over the past few years and have become some of the most sought-after investments in the crypto market.

When the DAO got hacked and lost $50 million, Ethereum needed a solid technology to replace the old one. So, a hard fork was done. But many traditional supporters of Ethereum did not want to go with the hard fork, and they stayed with the old blockchain technology. As a result, Ethereum Classic was born.

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.

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