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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

Cardano (ADA) 2027 Price Targets: Token Metrics Scenarios

Token Metrics Team
7 min read

Market Context for Cardano: The Case for 2027

The Layer 1 competitive landscape is consolidating as markets recognize that specialization matters more than being a generic "Ethereum killer." Cardano positions itself in this multi-chain world with specific technical and ecosystem advantages. Infrastructure maturity around custody, bridges, and developer tools makes alternative L1s more accessible heading into 2026.

The scenario projections below map different market share outcomes for ADA across varying total crypto market sizes. Base cases assume Cardano maintains current ecosystem momentum, while moon scenarios factor in accelerated adoption and bear cases reflect increased competitive pressure.

  

Disclosure

Educational purposes only, not financial advice. Crypto is volatile, do your own research and manage risk.

How to read it: Each band blends cycle analogues and market-cap share math with TA guardrails. Base assumes steady adoption and neutral or positive macro. Moon layers in a liquidity boom. Bear assumes muted flows and tighter liquidity.

TM Agent baseline: Token Metrics lead metric for Cardano, cashtag $ADA, is a TM Grade of 29.72%, which translates to a Sell, and the trading signal is bearish, indicating short-term downward momentum. This combination means Token Metrics does not currently endorse $ADA as a long-term buy at current levels. A brief market context: Bitcoin's direction remains the dominant macro driver for smart contract platforms, so sustained upside for $ADA would require a broader crypto risk-on regime and improving fundamentals or developer activity for Cardano.

Live details: Cardano Token Details

Buy ADA on Gemini

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made via this link, at no extra cost to you.

Key Takeaways

  • Scenario driven, outcomes hinge on total crypto market cap, higher liquidity and adoption lift the bands.
  • Fundamentals: Fundamental Grade 77.21% (Community 80%, Tokenomics 100%, Exchange 100%, VC 36%, DeFi Scanner 83%).
  • Technology: Technology Grade 81.80% (Activity 76%, Repository 72%, Collaboration 100%, Security N/A, DeFi Scanner 83%).
  • TM Agent gist: bearish short term, requires risk-on and improved fundamentals for sustained upside.
  • Education only, not financial advice.

Scenario Analysis

Token Metrics scenarios span four market cap tiers, each representing different levels of crypto market maturity and liquidity:

  • 8T: At an eight trillion dollar total crypto market cap, ADA projects to $0.94 in bear conditions, $1.05 in the base case, and $1.16 in bullish scenarios.
      
  • 16T: Doubling the market to sixteen trillion expands the range to $1.53 (bear), $1.86 (base), and $2.20 (moon).
      
  • 23T: At twenty-three trillion, the scenarios show $2.11, $2.67, and $3.23 respectively.
      
  • 31T: In the maximum liquidity scenario of thirty one trillion, ADA could reach $2.70 (bear), $3.48 (base), or $4.27 (moon).
      

Each tier assumes progressively stronger market conditions, with the base case reflecting steady growth and the moon case requiring sustained bull market dynamics.

Why Consider the Indices with Top-100 Exposure

Cardano represents one opportunity among hundreds in crypto markets. Token Metrics Indices bundle ADA with top one hundred assets for systematic exposure to the strongest projects. Single tokens face idiosyncratic risks that diversified baskets mitigate.

Historical index performance demonstrates the value of systematic diversification versus concentrated positions.

Join the early access list

What Is Cardano?

Cardano is a blockchain platform designed to support secure, scalable, and sustainable decentralized applications and smart contracts. It is known for its research-driven development approach, emphasizing peer-reviewed academic research and formal verification methods to ensure reliability and security. As a proof-of-stake Layer 1 blockchain, Cardano aims to offer energy efficiency and long-term scalability, positioning itself as a competitor to platforms like Ethereum. Its native token, ADA, is used for transactions, staking, and governance. Adoption is driven by technological rigor and ecosystem growth, though progress has been criticized for being slow compared to more agile competitors. Risks include execution delays, competition, and market volatility.

Cardano’s vision is to create a decentralized platform that enables sustainable and inclusive economic systems through advanced cryptography and scientific methodology. It aims to bridge gaps between traditional financial systems and blockchain technology, promoting accessibility and security for users globally.

Token Metrics AI Analysis

Token Metrics AI provides comprehensive context on Cardano's positioning and challenges.

  • Vision: Cardano’s vision is to create a decentralized platform that enables sustainable and inclusive economic systems through advanced cryptography and scientific methodology. It aims to bridge gaps between traditional financial systems and blockchain technology, promoting accessibility and security for users globally.
  • Problem: Many early blockchains face trade-offs between scalability, security, and energy efficiency. Cardano addresses the need for a more sustainable and formally verified blockchain infrastructure that can support complex applications without compromising decentralization or environmental impact. It targets inefficiencies in existing networks, particularly high energy use and lack of academic rigor in protocol design.
  • Solution: Cardano uses a proof-of-stake consensus algorithm called Ouroboros, which is mathematically verified for security and energy efficiency. The platform is built in layers, the settlement layer for ADA transactions and a separate computational layer for smart contracts, allowing for modular upgrades and improved scalability. It supports staking, governance, and decentralized applications, with an emphasis on formal methods to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure long-term viability.
  • Market Analysis: Cardano operates in the Layer 1 blockchain category, competing with Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche. While not the market leader, it maintains a significant presence due to its academic foundation and global outreach, particularly in emerging economies. Adoption is influenced by developer activity, regulatory developments, and progress in ecosystem expansion. Its differentiator lies in its methodical, research-first approach, though this has led to slower deployment compared to peers. Market risks include technological delays, competition, and shifting investor sentiment. Broader adoption depends on sustained development, real-world use cases, and interoperability advancements.

Fundamental and Technology Snapshot from Token Metrics

  • Fundamental Grade: 77.21% (Community 80%, Tokenomics 100%, Exchange 100%, VC 36%, DeFi Scanner 83%).
      
  • Technology Grade: 81.80% (Activity 76%, Repository 72%, Collaboration 100%, Security N/A, DeFi Scanner 83%).
      

Catalysts That Skew Bullish

  • Institutional and retail access expands with ETFs, listings, and integrations.
  • Macro tailwinds from lower real rates and improving liquidity.
  • Product or roadmap milestones such as upgrades, scaling, or partnerships.

Risks That Skew Bearish

  • Macro risk-off from tightening or liquidity shocks.
  • Regulatory actions or infrastructure outages.
  • Concentration or validator economics and competitive displacement.

FAQs

Can ADA reach $4?

Based on the scenarios, ADA could reach $4 in the 31T moon case. The 31T tier projects $4.27 in the moon case. Not financial advice.

Can ADA 10x from current levels?

At current price of $0.65, a 10x would reach $6.50. This falls within none of the provided scenarios, which top out at $4.27 in the 31T moon case. Bear in mind that 10x returns require substantial market cap expansion. Not financial advice.

What price could ADA reach in the moon case?

Moon case projections range from $1.16 at 8T to $4.27 at 31T. These scenarios assume maximum liquidity expansion and strong Cardano adoption. Not financial advice.  

Next Steps

Disclosure

Educational purposes only, not financial advice. Crypto is volatile, do your own research and manage risk.

Research

Understanding X402: The Protocol Powering AI Agent Commerce

Token Metrics Team
4 min read

Introduction

The intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology has produced numerous innovations, but few have the potential architectural significance of X402. This internet protocol, developed by Coinbase and Cloudflare, is positioning itself as the standard for machine-to-machine payments in an increasingly AI-driven digital economy.

What is X402?

X402 is an open protocol designed specifically for internet-native payments. To understand its significance, we need to consider how the internet operates through layered protocols:

  • HTTP/HTTPS: Powers web browsing
  • SMTP: Enables email communication
  • FTP: Facilitates file transfers
  • X402: Enables seamless payment transactions

While these protocols have existed for decades, X402 - despite being available for over ten years - has only recently found its primary use case: enabling autonomous AI agents to conduct commerce without human intervention.

The Problem X402 Solves

Traditional digital payments require several prerequisites that create friction for automated systems:

  1. Account Creation: Services typically require user registration with identity verification
  2. Subscription Models: Monthly or annual billing cycles don't align with usage-based AI operations
  3. Payment Processing Delays: Traditional payment rails operate on settlement cycles incompatible with real-time AI interactions
  4. Cross-Platform Complexity: Different services require different authentication and payment methods

AI agents operating autonomously need to:

  • Access services immediately without manual account setup
  • Pay per-request rather than commit to subscriptions
  • Transact in real-time with minimal latency
  • Maintain wallet functionality for financial operations

X402 addresses these challenges by creating a standardized payment layer that operates at the protocol level.

How X402 Works

The protocol functions as a real-time usage billing meter integrated directly into API requests. Here's a simplified workflow:

  1. AI Agent Request: An AI agent needs to access a service (e.g., data query, computation, API call)
  2. X402 Header: The request includes X402 payment information in the protocol header
  3. Service Verification: The service provider validates the payment capability
  4. Transaction Execution: Payment processes automatically, often in fractions of a penny
  5. Service Delivery: The requested service is provided immediately upon payment confirmation

This architecture enables transactions "up to a penny in under a second," according to protocol specifications.

Real-World Implementation: Token Metrics API

One of the most practical examples of X402 integration comes from Token Metrics, which has implemented X402 as a pay-per-call option for their cryptocurrency analytics API. This implementation demonstrates the protocol's value proposition in action.

Token Metrics X402 Pricing Structure:

  • Cost per API call: $0.017 - $0.068 (depending on endpoint complexity)
  • Commitment: None required
  • Monthly limits: Unlimited API calls
  • Rate limiting: Unlimited
  • Endpoint access: All endpoints available
  • Historical data: 3 months
  • Web sockets: 1 connection

Why This Matters:

This pricing model fundamentally differs from traditional API access:

Traditional Model:

  • Monthly subscription: $X per month (regardless of usage)
  • Commitment period required
  • Fixed tier with call limits
  • Manual account setup and payment processing

X402 Model:

  • Pay only for actual requests made
  • No upfront commitment or subscription
  • Scale usage dynamically
  • AI agents can access immediately without human intervention

For AI agents performing crypto market analysis, this creates significant efficiency:

  • An agent needing only 100 API calls per month pays ~$1.70-$6.80
  • Traditional subscription might cost $50-500 monthly regardless of usage
  • Agent can start making requests immediately without registration workflow
  • Usage scales perfectly with need

This implementation showcases X402's core value proposition: removing friction between autonomous systems and the services they consume.

Current Adoption Landscape

Analysis of X402scan data reveals the emerging adoption patterns:

Leading Facilitators:

  • Coinbase: Naturally leading adoption as a protocol co-creator
  • Token Metrics: Providing crypto data API access via X402
  • PayAI: Solana-focused payment facilitator gaining traction
  • OpenX402: Independent implementation showing growing transaction volume
  • Various AI Agents: Individual agents implementing X402 for service access

Transaction Metrics (30-day trends):

  • Coinbase maintains 4x transaction volume compared to competitors
  • PayAI experienced significant volatility with 8x price appreciation followed by sharp corrections
  • Slot-based gambling and AI analyst services showing unexpected adoption

Technical Integration Examples

Several platforms have implemented X402 functionality:

API Services:

Rather than requiring monthly subscriptions, API providers can charge per request. Token Metrics exemplifies this model - an AI agent queries their crypto analytics API, pays between $0.017-$0.068 via X402 depending on the endpoint, and receives the data - all within milliseconds. The agent accesses:

  • Unlimited API calls with no rate limiting
  • All available endpoints
  • 3 months of historical data
  • Real-time web socket connection

This eliminates the traditional friction of:

  • Creating accounts with email verification
  • Adding payment methods and billing information
  • Committing to monthly minimums
  • Managing subscription renewals

AI Agent Platforms:

  • Virtuals Protocol: Integrating X402 alongside proprietary solutions
  • AIXBT Labs: Enabling builders to integrate AI agents via X402
  • Eliza Framework: Supporting X402 for Solana-based agent development

Cross-Chain Implementation: X402 operates on multiple blockchain networks, with notable activity on Base (Coinbase's Layer 2) and Solana.

Market Implications

The emergence of X402 as a standard has created several market dynamics:

Narrative-Driven Speculation: Projects announcing X402 integration have experienced significant short-term price appreciation, suggesting market participants view the protocol as a value catalyst.

Infrastructure vs. Application Layer: The protocol creates a distinction between:

  • Infrastructure providers (payment facilitators, protocol implementations)
  • Application layer projects (AI agents, services utilizing X402)

Competitive Landscape: X402 faces competition from:

  • Proprietary payment solutions developed by individual platforms
  • Alternative blockchain-based payment protocols
  • Traditional API key and authentication systems

Use Cases Beyond AI Agents

While AI commerce represents the primary narrative, X402's architecture supports broader applications:

Data Services: As demonstrated by Token Metrics, any API provider can implement pay-per-request pricing. Applications include:

  • Financial market data
  • Weather information services
  • Geolocation and mapping APIs
  • Machine learning model inference
  • Database queries

Micropayment Content: Publishers could charge per-article access at fractional costs

IoT Device Transactions: Connected devices conducting autonomous commerce

Gaming Economies: Real-time, granular in-game transactions

Computing Resources: Pay-per-compute models for cloud services

The Economics of X402 for Service Providers

Token Metrics' implementation reveals the business model advantages for service providers:

Revenue Optimization:

  • Capture value from low-usage users who wouldn't commit to subscriptions
  • Eliminate customer acquisition friction
  • Reduce churn from users only needing occasional access
  • Enable price discovery through usage-based metrics

Market Access:

  • AI agents represent new customer segment unable to use traditional payment methods
  • Automated systems can discover and integrate services programmatically
  • Lower barrier to trial and adoption

Operational Efficiency:

  • Reduce customer support overhead (no subscription management)
  • Eliminate billing disputes and refund requests
  • Automatic revenue recognition per transaction

Challenges and Considerations

Several factors may impact X402 adoption:

Technical Complexity: Implementing X402 requires protocol-level integration, creating barriers for smaller developers.

Network Effects: Payment protocols succeed through widespread adoption. X402 competes with established systems and must reach critical mass.

Blockchain Dependency: Current implementations rely on blockchain networks for settlement, introducing:

  • Transaction costs (gas fees)
  • Network congestion risks
  • Cross-chain compatibility challenges

Pricing Discovery: As seen with Token Metrics' range of $0.017-$0.068 per call, establishing optimal pricing requires experimentation. Too high and traditional subscriptions become competitive; too low and revenue suffers.

Regulatory Uncertainty: Automated machine-to-machine payments operating across borders face unclear regulatory frameworks.

Market Maturity: The AI agent economy remains nascent. X402's long-term relevance depends on AI agents becoming standard economic actors.

Comparing X402 to Alternatives

Traditional API Keys with Subscriptions:

  • Advantage: Established, widely understood, predictable revenue
  • Disadvantage: Requires manual setup, subscription billing, slower onboarding, higher commitment barrier
  • Example: $50/month for 10,000 calls whether used or not

X402 Pay-Per-Call:

  • Advantage: Zero commitment, immediate access, perfect usage alignment, AI-agent friendly
  • Disadvantage: Variable costs, requires crypto infrastructure, emerging standard
  • Example: $0.017-$0.068 per actual call, unlimited potential usage

Cryptocurrency Direct Payments:

  • Advantage: Direct peer-to-peer value transfer
  • Disadvantage: Lacks standardization, higher complexity per transaction, no protocol-level support

Payment Processors (Stripe, PayPal):

  • Advantage: Robust infrastructure, legal compliance
  • Disadvantage: Minimum transaction amounts, settlement delays, geography restrictions

X402's differentiator lies in combining protocol-level standardization with crypto-native functionality optimized for automated systems, as demonstrated by Token Metrics' implementation where AI agents can make sub-dollar API calls without human intervention.

Development Resources

For developers interested in X402 integration:

Documentation: X402.well (protocol specifications)

Discovery Platforms: X402scan (transaction analytics), The Bazaar (application directory)

Integration Frameworks: Virtuals Protocol, Eliza (Solana), various Base implementations

Live Examples: Token Metrics API (tokenmetrics.com/api) demonstrates production X402 implementation

Several blockchain platforms now offer X402 integration libraries, lowering implementation barriers.

Market Performance Patterns

Projects associated with X402 have demonstrated characteristic patterns:

Phase 1 - Announcement: Initial price appreciation upon X402 integration news Phase 2 - Peak Attention: Maximum price when broader market attention focuses on X402 narrative Phase 3 - Stabilization: Price correction as attention shifts to next narrative

PayAI's trajectory exemplifies this pattern - rapid 8x appreciation followed by significant correction within days. This suggests X402-related assets behave as narrative-driven trading vehicles rather than fundamental value plays, at least in current market conditions.

However, service providers implementing X402 functionality (like Token Metrics) represent a different category - they're adding practical utility rather than speculating on the protocol itself.

Future Outlook

The protocol's trajectory depends on several factors:

AI Agent Proliferation: As AI agents become more autonomous and economically active, demand for payment infrastructure grows. Early implementations like Token Metrics' API access suggest practical demand exists.

Developer Adoption: Whether developers choose X402 over alternatives will determine market position. The simplicity of pay-per-call models may drive adoption.

Service Provider Economics: If providers like Token Metrics successfully monetize X402 access, other API services will follow. The ability to capture previously inaccessible low-usage customers creates compelling economics.

Institutional Support: Coinbase's backing provides credibility, but sustained development and promotion are necessary.

Regulatory Clarity: Clear frameworks for automated, cross-border machine transactions would reduce adoption friction.

Interoperability Standards: Success may require coordination with other emerging AI commerce protocols.

Conclusion

X402 represents an attempt to solve genuine infrastructure challenges in an AI-driven economy. The protocol's technical architecture addresses real friction points in machine-to-machine commerce, as demonstrated by Token Metrics' implementation of pay-per-call API access at $0.017-$0.068 per request with no commitments required.

This real-world deployment validates the core thesis: AI agents need frictionless, usage-based access to services without traditional account creation and subscription barriers. However, actual adoption remains in early stages, and the protocol faces competition from both traditional systems and alternative blockchain solutions.

For market participants, X402-related projects should be evaluated based on:

  • Actual transaction volume and usage metrics (not just speculation)
  • Developer adoption and integration depth
  • Real service implementations (like Token Metrics API)
  • Competitive positioning against alternatives
  • Sustainability beyond narrative-driven speculation

The protocol's long-term relevance will ultimately be determined by whether AI agents become significant economic actors requiring standardized payment infrastructure. While the technical foundation appears sound and early implementations show promise, market validation remains ongoing.

Key Takeaways:

  • X402 enables real-time, micropayment commerce for AI agents
  • Token Metrics API offers practical X402 implementation at $0.017-$0.068 per call with no commitments
  • Protocol operates at the internet infrastructure layer, similar to HTTP or SMTP
  • Pay-per-call model eliminates subscription friction and enables AI agent access
  • Current adoption concentrated on Base and Solana blockchains
  • Market interest has driven speculation in X402-related projects
  • Service provider implementations demonstrate real utility beyond speculation
  • Long-term success depends on AI agent economy maturation

This analysis is for informational purposes only. X402 adoption and associated project performance remain highly uncertain and subject to rapid change.

Research

Advanced Token Metrics Indices Strategies: Expert Techniques for Maximizing Returns and Minimizing Risk

Token Metrics Team
10 min read

Most crypto index content targets beginners, explaining basics and encouraging cautious entry. But what about experienced investors who already understand cryptocurrency fundamentals and want to optimize their index investing approach? How do sophisticated investors extract maximum value from Token Metrics indices while managing complex risk scenarios?

This advanced guide explores strategies beyond basic index investing, including multi-index portfolio construction, tactical allocation across market regimes, leveraging indices with complementary strategies, advanced rebalancing techniques, and sophisticated risk management frameworks that separate exceptional performance from merely good results.

If you've already invested in crypto indices for months or years and want to elevate your approach, this comprehensive guide provides the advanced techniques you need.

Understanding Your Investor Evolution

Before implementing advanced strategies, assess your current sophistication level and investment evolution honestly.

From Beginner to Intermediate

New investors focus on learning fundamentals, making initial allocations, and maintaining basic discipline. After 6-12 months, you've experienced market volatility, executed several rebalancing trades, and developed comfort with the investment process.

From Intermediate to Advanced

Advanced investors have navigated complete market cycles, understand their emotional responses to different conditions, built substantial positions, and seek optimization beyond standard approaches. You're no longer asking "should I invest in crypto?" but rather "how can I maximize risk-adjusted returns within my crypto allocation?"

This evolution takes 2-3 years typically—enough time to experience both bull and bear markets while building expertise through practical experience rather than just theoretical knowledge.

Multi-Index Portfolio Architecture: Beyond Single-Index Approaches

Sophisticated investors construct portfolios using multiple Token Metrics indices simultaneously, creating layered exposure serving different strategic purposes.

The Core-Satellite-Speculative Framework

Structure crypto index allocation across three distinct tiers:

  • Core Holdings (50-60%): Conservative and balanced indices providing stable, reliable exposure to established cryptocurrencies. This foundation ensures you capture broad market appreciation regardless of specific sector performance.
  • Satellite Positions (30-40%): Sector-specific and thematic indices targeting particular opportunities like DeFi, Layer-1 blockchains, or AI tokens. These tactical allocations allow overweighting sectors you believe will outperform without abandoning diversification.
  • Speculative Exposure (10-20%): Aggressive growth and memecoin indices pursuing maximum upside. This high-risk allocation captures explosive opportunities while limiting potential damage through position sizing.

This three-tier structure provides both stability and growth potential, allowing you to maintain conservative foundation while pursuing tactical opportunities aggressively.

Dynamic Tier Adjustment

Adjust tier allocations based on market conditions and personal conviction. During bull markets with high confidence, increase satellite and speculative allocations to 50% combined. During uncertain or bearish conditions, increase core holdings to 70-80%.

This dynamic adjustment allows capitalizing on opportunities while maintaining appropriate risk exposure for conditions.

Cross-Correlation Analysis

Advanced investors analyze correlation between different indices to maximize diversification benefits. Holding multiple indices with 0.9+ correlation provides minimal diversification—essentially concentrated exposure disguised as diversification.

Token Metrics provides correlation data allowing you to construct portfolios where indices complement rather than duplicate each other. Ideal multi-index portfolios combine indices with 0.3-0.7 correlations—related enough to benefit from crypto's overall growth but different enough to smooth returns.

Tactical Allocation Strategies: Rotating Capital Efficiently

Beyond static allocation, advanced investors rotate capital between indices based on market conditions, technical signals, and fundamental developments.

Momentum Rotation Strategy

Systematically rotate capital toward indices showing strongest recent performance while reducing exposure to lagging indices. This momentum approach captures trending sectors while avoiding those losing relative strength.

Implementation example:

  • Monthly, rank all indices by 90-day performance
  • Overweight top quartile indices by 5-10% above target allocation
  • Underweight bottom quartile indices by 5-10% below target allocation
  • Maintain overall crypto allocation within target range

This systematic rotation forces buying strength and trimming weakness—capitalizing on momentum while maintaining diversification.

Mean Reversion Approach

Alternatively, employ mean reversion strategy assuming sectors experiencing short-term underperformance will reverse. After significant declines, fundamentally sound sectors often present exceptional value.

Implementation approach:

  • Identify indices declining 30%+ while maintaining strong fundamentals
  • Increase allocation to these "temporarily distressed" indices
  • Hold through recovery, capturing outsized gains as sentiment improves
  • Take profits once indices return to top-quartile performance

Mean reversion requires strong conviction and patience but can generate exceptional returns buying sectors during temporary weakness.

Blended Momentum-Reversion Strategy

The most sophisticated approach blends momentum and mean reversion, applying momentum to aggressive/speculative indices while using mean reversion for core/conservative indices.

Aggressive indices benefit from momentum—riding hot sectors aggressively. Conservative indices benefit from mean reversion—buying quality assets during temporary weakness. This nuanced approach matches strategy to index characteristics rather than applying one-size-fits-all methodology.

Advanced Rebalancing Techniques

Standard rebalancing maintains target allocations. Advanced rebalancing employs sophisticated rules extracting additional alpha through strategic timing and execution.

Volatility-Triggered Rebalancing

Rather than rebalancing on fixed schedules, trigger rebalancing when volatility exceeds thresholds. During high volatility, prices deviate significantly from fundamentals—creating rebalancing opportunities.

Set volatility thresholds—when Bitcoin's 30-day volatility exceeds 80%, evaluate rebalancing opportunities. High volatility often accompanies market extremes offering excellent entry or exit points.

Threshold Rebalancing with Asymmetric Bands

Establish asymmetric rebalancing bands allowing winning positions to run further than standard symmetric approaches. If target allocation is 10% for an index, perhaps trigger rebalancing at 7% on downside but 15% on upside.

This asymmetry captures more upside from winning positions while preventing excessive losses from declining positions—improving overall risk-adjusted returns.

Tax-Optimized Rebalancing

Coordinate rebalancing with tax considerations, preferentially selling positions with losses to offset gains while rebalancing. During profitable years, delay rebalancing slightly to push tax liability into following year.

For positions held in taxable accounts, track cost basis precisely and prioritize selling highest-cost-basis lots first, minimizing capital gains taxes.

Leveraging Indices with Complementary Strategies

Advanced investors combine index investing with complementary strategies creating synergistic approaches exceeding either strategy alone.

The 70/30 Index-Plus Strategy

Allocate 70% to Token Metrics indices for professional management and diversification. Use remaining 30% for complementary strategies:

  • Individual High-Conviction Positions (15%): Based on deep personal research into specific projects you understand thoroughly
  • Yield Generation (10%): Stake index holdings or use DeFi protocols for additional yield on top of appreciation
  • Options/Derivatives (5%): For experienced traders, limited options strategies hedging downside or generating income

This approach maintains strong index foundation while allowing tactical strategies leveraging your specific expertise and risk tolerance.

Pair Trading with Indices

Advanced traders employ pair trading strategies—simultaneously longing one index while shorting another, profiting from relative performance regardless of overall market direction.

Example: If convinced DeFi will outperform Layer-1s short-term, overweight DeFi index while underweighting Layer-1 index relative to targets. If correct about relative performance, you profit even if both decline in absolute terms.

Pair trading requires sophistication and works best during sideways markets where directional movement is uncertain but relative performance differentials exist.

Stablecoin Yield Enhancement

During bear markets or consolidation, rotate portions of conservative index holdings temporarily into high-yield stablecoin strategies generating 5-15% APY. This preserves capital while generating income during periods when crypto appreciation stalls.

When bullish conditions return, rotate back into indices. This tactical approach maintains productivity during all market phases rather than passively holding through extended downturns.

Sophisticated Risk Management Frameworks

Advanced investors employ multi-layered risk management beyond basic position sizing and diversification.

Value-at-Risk (VaR) Monitoring

Calculate portfolio Value-at-Risk—the maximum expected loss over specific timeframe at given confidence level. If your 30-day VaR at 95% confidence is $50,000, you expect no more than $50,000 loss in 95% of 30-day periods.

Monitor VaR continuously and adjust allocations if risk exceeds tolerance. During volatile periods, VaR spikes significantly—this objective measurement informs whether to reduce exposure or maintain course based on predetermined risk budgets.

Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR)

Beyond VaR, calculate CVaR—expected loss in worst-case scenarios beyond VaR threshold. While VaR tells you typical maximum loss, CVaR reveals extreme scenario impacts.

High CVaR relative to VaR indicates "fat tail risk"—potential for catastrophic losses exceeding normal expectations. Adjust allocations to limit CVaR to acceptable levels relative to total portfolio.

Portfolio Stress Testing

Regularly stress test portfolio against historical extreme scenarios:

  • 2018 bear market (80%+ decline over 12 months)
  • March 2020 flash crash (50% decline in 48 hours)
  • 2022 Terra/LUNA collapse (complete failure of major protocol)
  • Exchange failure scenarios (losing access to 30% of holdings)

Understanding portfolio behavior during extreme stress prevents panic during actual crises—you've already mentally prepared for worst-case scenarios.

Dynamic Position Sizing

Rather than fixed allocations, adjust position sizes based on volatility—reducing exposure during high volatility periods and increasing during low volatility. This volatility-adjusted sizing maintains consistent risk exposure despite changing market conditions.

When volatility doubles, halve position sizes maintaining constant risk. When volatility halves, double position sizes maintaining returns potential. This dynamic approach optimizes risk-adjusted returns across volatility regimes.

Performance Attribution and Continuous Improvement

Advanced investors systematically analyze performance, understanding what's working and why.

Decomposing Returns

Break down portfolio returns into components:

  • Beta Returns: Returns from overall market exposure (what you'd get from simple buy-and-hold)
  • Index Selection Alpha: Returns from choosing outperforming indices over alternatives
  • Timing Alpha: Returns from tactical allocation adjustments and rebalancing timing
  • Cost Drag: Returns lost to fees, taxes, and trading costs

Understanding return sources reveals where your strategy adds value and where it doesn't, informing strategic refinements.

Keeping a Trading Journal

Maintain detailed journal documenting all strategic decisions:

  • What allocation changes did you make and why?
  • What was market context and your reasoning?
  • How did decisions perform over subsequent weeks/months?
  • What would you do differently with hindsight?
  • What patterns emerge across multiple decisions?

This systematic documentation transforms experience into learning, accelerating your development as sophisticated investor.

Quarterly Strategy Reviews

Conduct comprehensive quarterly reviews assessing:

  • Overall portfolio performance vs. benchmarks
  • Individual index performance and contribution to returns
  • Accuracy of tactical allocation decisions
  • Risk metrics (volatility, drawdowns, Sharpe ratio) vs. targets
  • Lessons learned and strategy adjustments for next quarter

These structured reviews create accountability and ensure continuous improvement rather than repeating mistakes.

Scaling Strategies as Portfolio Grows

As crypto holdings grow from thousands to hundreds of thousands or millions, strategies must evolve to match scale.

Institutional-Grade Custody

Once holdings exceed $100,000-$250,000, implement institutional-grade custody solutions. Multi-signature wallets requiring multiple approvals prevent single points of failure. Cold storage solutions protect against online threats. Insurance-backed custodians provide additional protection layers.

The sophistication required for securing substantial wealth exceeds most individuals' technical capabilities—professional custody solutions become essential.

Tax-Loss Harvesting at Scale

Large portfolios generate significant tax optimization opportunities. Systematic tax-loss harvesting across multiple indices, strategic timing of rebalancing to manage tax liability, and coordination with overall tax planning become crucial for preserving wealth.

Consider working with crypto-specialized tax advisors who understand optimal strategies for managing significant crypto positions.

Estate Planning Considerations

Substantial crypto holdings require estate planning ensuring wealth transfers efficiently to heirs. This includes secure key management protocols heirs can access, clear documentation of holdings and recovery processes, and potentially trusts or other vehicles optimizing estate taxes.

Without proper planning, crypto wealth can become inaccessible if something happens to you—proper preparation ensures your wealth serves intended purposes.

Conclusion: The Path to Mastery

Advanced crypto index investing transcends basic buy-and-hold approaches, incorporating sophisticated portfolio construction, tactical allocation, advanced risk management, and continuous performance optimization. These techniques separate exceptional investors from merely competent ones.

Token Metrics provides the foundation—comprehensive indices, sophisticated AI analysis, and professional management. Your advanced strategies built on this foundation determine ultimate success. The combination of institutional-grade tools and sophisticated personal strategies creates unprecedented wealth-building potential.

Mastery requires years of dedicated practice, continuous learning, and honest self-assessment. Each market cycle teaches new lessons. Each strategic decision provides data informing future choices. The journey from beginner to advanced investor never truly ends—markets evolve, requiring continuous adaptation.

Your advantage as advanced investor is recognizing that optimization matters as much as allocation. The difference between 25% and 35% annualized returns compounds into millions over decades. Small improvements in strategy, consistently applied, generate enormous long-term impact.

Begin implementing these advanced techniques systematically. Don't attempt everything simultaneously—choose 2-3 strategies matching your situation and expertise. Master those, then expand your toolkit progressively. Over time, you'll develop sophisticated approach rivaling professional fund managers.

Token Metrics provides the infrastructure. Your advanced strategies provide the edge. Together, they create framework for building generational wealth through crypto index investing.

Start your 7-day free trial today and begin applying these advanced strategies to accelerate your journey toward crypto investment mastery.

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Crypto Basics

Bullish in Crypto: Definition, Meaning, and Explanation

Token Metrics Team
4 minutes

In the world of cryptocurrency, the terms "bullish" and "bearish" are commonly used to describe an investor's confidence in the potential growth of a particular crypto asset. But what do these terms really mean, and how do they apply to the crypto market? In this article, we will provide a comprehensive explanation of these terms, including the concept of a "bull run" and how it applies to both cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

What Does Bullish Mean in Crypto?

The terms "bullish" and "bearish" are commonly used in the financial market to describe the confidence an investor has in the potential growth of a financial asset. In the context of the crypto market, a "bullish" investor is one who believes that a particular cryptocurrency or non-fungible token (NFT) will rise in value. This confidence is often seen when the market is experiencing growth and gains are being made.

What Is Bull Run

A "bull run" in the crypto market is a period of time during which there is high demand for cryptocurrencies and NFTs, leading to an increase in prices. This increase is driven by confidence in the market, as investors are more likely to buy when they believe prices will continue to rise. A bull run typically includes an increase in the value of well-known cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance, and Solana, as these have the highest market capitalizations.

Bullish On NFTs

The concept of a "bull market" also applies to the market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs). In this context, a bull market is characterized by high demand for NFTs, which drives up their prices. Factors that can lead to increased demand for NFTs include strong marketing and community support from the development team, as well as the utility and scarcity of the NFTs. A collector, trader, or creator may feel bullish about a particular NFT project if they believe it has strong potential for growth. This bullish sentiment can lead to higher prices for the NFTs and a decrease in market supply.

Final Thoughts

It is important for investors to understand the terminology used in the crypto market in order to make informed decisions about their investments. The terms "bullish" and "bearish" are commonly used to describe confidence in the potential growth of a crypto asset. A "bull run" is a period of time during which there is high demand for cryptocurrencies and NFTs, leading to an increase in prices. In the NFT space, a bull market is characterized by high demand for NFTs, which drives up their prices.

Crypto Basics

What are NFTs? NFT Art Explained | Future of NFTs

Token Metrics Team
6 minutes

You may have heard of CryptoPunks, Bored Ape Yacht Club, and VeeFriends, but you may not understand what they are. These names may sound like random combinations of words, but they actually represent some of the most valuable non-fungible token (NFT) projects that have emerged in the past few years.

The world of crypto art and NFTs may appear complex and mysterious, with a mix of celebrities, influencers, and internet experts. But it's not as confusing as it seems. Let's start from the beginning.

What Is An NFT?

Nearly all crypto art that has been introduced to the market has been done so through the minting of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs are digital assets that have verified proof of ownership. While "fungible tokens" like the US dollar can be easily traded (like exchanging 4 quarters for a dollar), each NFT is unique and cannot be easily traded. For example, imagine a sketch of "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh that has been authenticated by a fine art appraiser as an original. This sketch would be non-fungible because you could not easily exchange it for, say, an original sketch by Leonardo da Vinci. This concept is easy to understand with tangible items like art pieces or collectible cards, but when digital assets can range from a celebrity tweet to an iconic meme to a picture of a pimped out animated ape, it may be confusing.

How Can We Ensure Unique Authenticity?

This is where NFTs enter the scene. Say you are a graphic design artist who just finished your newest 1-of-1 piece of work and you want to sell it as an NFT. Whoever purchases this piece would not only receive the artwork but they would also receive a “digital receipt” that proves that this exact piece is original, unique and authentic.

“But What If I Just Screenshot This Digital Artwork? Wouldn’t I Technically Own the Piece as Well?”

This is the first question that many have mockingly asked on social media and internet forums. The easy answer: yes, you can screenshot practically all digital artwork, but no, that does not mean you own it.

For example, millions of people swarm into the Louvre every year, waiting patiently amidst a giddy crowd, just to capture a picture of the priceless Mona Lisa. Obviously, a picture of the Mona Lisa saved on your iPhone camera roll does not mean that you own that painting.

NFTs work the same way.

Just as the Louvre paid millions of dollars to own, maintain, and display the Mona Lisa in their museum, NFT buyers do the same. However, the main difference is that instead of paying dollars to house the art in a fancy museum, they are paying with cryptocurrency and housing their art in a virtual showcase, so to speak.

This is the basis for how NFTs, cryptocurrency, and blockchain technology are establishing a new and lucrative market for digital art and artists.

The Art of Being Digital

In a 2021 interview, Gary Vaynerchuk (founder of Vayner Media and creator of VeeFriends) made the following statement regarding NFTs. The interviewer remarks on the tangibility of NFTs stating, "the digital aspect, like, you can't see it" — Gary jumps in:

"Well, you can't see a blue check on Instagram? I don't walk around the world with a blue check tattooed on my forehead, but everybody sees it. You can't see my 9 million followers on Instagram, or can you? I would argue the reverse. I would argue that people can't see most of the fancy things you have in your house; that people can see more digital than real life."

And he's onto something, and I'd like to call that something "The Art of Being Digital". In our highly digitized world, our online outreach and interconnectivity is wildly amplified. Gary Vee currently has 9.9 million followers on Instagram — but without access to the internet — he has no way of interacting with that community and tapping into the true power of those 9.9 million people.

Why Do NFTs Have Value?

The value of an NFT is determined by the collective intentionality of those who are willing to buy and sell them. In other words, the value of an NFT is based on what people are willing to pay for it. This is similar to the way that the value of traditional art is determined by the market, with the value being based on factors such as the artist's fame and the rarity of the work.

The Tom Brady example illustrates this idea. On the surface, it might seem strange that someone would pay $430k for a digital picture of a cartoon ape. However, if we consider the fact that the buyer was Tom Brady and the seller was the well-known digital artist Trevor Jones, it becomes clearer that the value of the NFT was determined by the collective intentionality of those involved in the transaction.

Furthermore, the digital art of NFTs offers more than just a digital file and a high price tag. NFTs provide the ability for digital artists to monetize their work and for collectors to own and trade unique digital items. This opens up new opportunities for artists and collectors alike, and has led to the growth of a vibrant and exciting market for NFTs.

Join The Club

Celebrities such as Tom Brady, Post Malone, Steph Curry, and Jimmy Fallon have been buying Bored Ape NFTs. Bored Ape NFTs were introduced by the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) in April 2021 at a price of 0.08 Ethereum (ETH) each, or about $190 at the time. Since then, the price of Bored Apes has increased significantly, yielding substantial returns for early investors.

In addition to the potential for financial gain, buying a Bored Ape NFT also grants the buyer access to the BAYC community. This includes access to the BAYC Discord, where buyers can connect with other members of the club, including celebrities, and collaborate on NFT-related projects. BAYC also gives members priority access to future NFT drops, allowing them to expand their collections.

Minting and selling NFTs can also be highly lucrative for those who create their own NFT projects. This is another reason why celebrities and others may be interested in the NFT market. Creating and selling NFTs allows artists and other creators to monetize their digital work and gives collectors the opportunity to own unique digital items. The growth of the NFT market has created new opportunities for both artists and collectors, leading to a vibrant and exciting market for NFTs.

Blockchain, Smart Contracts, and Secondary Sales

Blockchain technology is used to record the conversion of traditional currency into cryptocurrency, such as Ethereum (ETH), in the NFT market. This transaction is recorded on the blockchain as public information that is easily accessible to anyone who wants to view it. This ensures transparency and helps to prevent fraud in the NFT market.

Smart contracts are programs stored on the blockchain that allow NFT creators to stipulate the conditions of resale. For example, a creator could draft a smart contract that allows them to earn a 10% commission on any subsequent resales of their NFT. This allows creators to continue to benefit from the success of their work, even after the initial sale.

Smart contracts also facilitate secondary sales in the NFT market. When the value of an NFT increases, the smart contract associated with that NFT can automatically distribute any profits from the sale to the relevant parties, such as the creator or the NFT platform. For example, if the value of Tom Brady's Bored Ape NFT increased from $430k to $530k, the smart contract could automatically distribute the $100k profit to the Bored Ape Yacht Club, if that was stipulated in the contract.

This use of smart contracts helps to ensure that all parties are fairly compensated for their contributions to the NFT market, and it allows for efficient and transparent transactions without the need for intermediaries.

The Future Of Crypto-Art

Grammy-winning artist Tyler, the Creator recently questioned the value of NFTs, stating that most of the examples he has seen are not "beautiful art." While art is subjective and many NFTs are AI-generated, there are still many ways in which NFTs can offer value in the real world.

First, NFTs can be used to represent tangible experiences and achievements. Instead of framing a concert ticket or a season pass, these items could be represented as NFTs, allowing individuals to proudly display their experiences and achievements in the digital world. This could be especially beneficial for VIP experiences and exclusive memberships.

Second, NFTs can provide a level of authenticity and scarcity that cannot be achieved with physical items. This is especially useful for limited edition items and collectibles, which can be authenticated and traded easily on the blockchain.

Third, the use of smart contracts can ensure that all parties are fairly compensated for their contributions to the NFT market. This allows for transparent and efficient transactions without the need for intermediaries.

Overall, while some may dismiss NFTs as "silly little digital artworks," they have the potential to reshape not just the art world, but the world itself.

Crypto Basics

What is WETH: Wrapped Ethereum? [Answered]

Token Metrics Team
4 minutes

If you are wondering what is WETH, short for Wrapped Ethereum, this is the place to be.

Cryptocurrencies have gained a lot of popularity in recent years, with many investors looking to invest in the digital assets. However, the use of these cryptocurrencies on decentralized applications (dApps) can be limited due to compatibility issues. This is where wrapped tokens come in. Wrapped tokens are tokenized versions of cryptocurrencies that can be pegged to the value of the original coin and used on different blockchain networks. In this article, we will explain what WETH is and how it works.

What is WETH or Wrapped Ethereum?

WETH is the abbreviation for Wrapped Ether, which is a tokenized version of the cryptocurrency Ether (ETH) that is pegged to its value. This means that the value of WETH remains the same as ETH, but it allows for increased interoperability between Ethereum and other blockchain networks.

How Does Wrapped Ethereum Work?

In order to create Wrapped Ethereum, a custodian must hold the collateral (in this case, ETH). This custodian can be a merchant, multi-signature wallet, or a smart contract. To create WETH, an investor sends their ETH to the custodian, and in return, a wrapped version of the ETH is created. This process is similar to how stablecoins are created, as they are essentially "wrapped USD" that can be redeemed for fiat dollars at any time.

What Makes Wrapped Ethereum Unique?

Wrapped tokens like WETH allow investors to hold onto their ETH while using it on other blockchain networks. This increases liquidity and capital efficiency, as investors can wrap their assets and deploy them on other chains. Wrapping Ether can also reduce transaction times and fees, as Ethereum often suffers from high gas fees. However, using wrapped tokens also means relying on a custodian and taking on additional risks.

Are ETH and WETH Different?

Yes, ETH and WETH are different. ETH is the original cryptocurrency, while WETH is a wrapped version of ETH that is ERC-20 compatible. This means that it can be easily used on a wide range of decentralized applications (dApps), but it is equivalent to ETH in terms of value. Investors may need to convert their ETH to WETH in order to use certain dApps.

Crypto Basics

What Causes Crypto To Rise? [Answered]

Token Metrics Team
5 minutes

Do you want to know what causes crypto to rise? This is the place to be.

Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate rapidly, which can be both good and bad for investors. To understand what causes crypto to rise in value, it's important to first understand how cryptocurrencies differ from traditional government-controlled currencies. Unlike fiat currencies, which are backed by a central authority and have value because consumers trust them, cryptocurrencies are decentralized and not controlled by any one entity. This means that cryptocurrencies gain value in different ways than traditional currencies. In this article, we will explore some of the factors that can cause the value of cryptocurrencies to increase.

What Causes Crypto to Rise?

Let's find out what causes cryptocurrencies to rise in value.

Supply and Demand

The value of cryptocurrency is determined by supply and demand, just like any other asset. When demand for a particular cryptocurrency is higher than the supply, its value will increase. For example, if there is a scarcity of a certain cryptocurrency, its value will rise due to the unequal balance between supply and demand.

Each cryptocurrency project typically announces its plans for minting and burning tokens, which is the process of creating and destroying tokens to control the supply. Some cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, have a fixed maximum supply, while others, such as Ether, have no limit on the number of tokens that can be created. Some cryptocurrencies also have mechanisms in place to burn tokens in order to prevent the circulating supply from growing too large and causing inflation.

The demand for a cryptocurrency can increase for a variety of reasons, such as increased awareness of the project or increased utility of the token. So, one factor that can cause the value of a cryptocurrency to rise is consumer demand for that particular coin.

Exchange Availability

Popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether are typically available on multiple exchange platforms, which makes them easily accessible to a large number of investors. However, smaller cryptocurrencies may only be available on a few exchange platforms, which can limit their reach and make them less attractive to investors.

If a cryptocurrency is listed on many exchange platforms, it can increase the number of investors who are able to buy it and drive up demand. As we know, when demand for a cryptocurrency increases, its price will also rise. So, another factor that can cause the value of a cryptocurrency to increase is its availability on exchange platforms.

Competition

There are thousands of different cryptocurrencies and new projects and tokens are being launched all the time. Because the entry barriers to creating a new cryptocurrency are relatively low, the most important aspect of a cryptocurrency's success is building a network of users. Applications built on blockchain technology can help to build networks quickly, especially if they have an advantage over competing applications.

In a situation where a new competitor gains traction, it can take value away from the incumbent cryptocurrency, causing its price to drop as the new competitor's price rises. Overall, competition is an important factor to consider when looking at the value of a cryptocurrency.

Internal Governance

Cryptocurrency networks typically operate according to a fixed set of rules. Some cryptocurrencies, known as governance tokens, allow stakeholders to have a say in the future of the project, including how the token is used or mined. In order for changes to be made to the protocol of a token, there must be agreement among stakeholders.

For example, the Ethereum network upgraded from a proof-of-work to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, making much of the expensive mining equipment obsolete. This will likely have an impact on the value of Ether.

In theory, governance tokens should rise in value as stakeholders see fit. However, the slow process of improving protocols and updating software can limit the appreciation of cryptocurrency values.

Crypto Basics

What is KYC in Regard to Crypto? [Answered]

Token Metrics Team
4 minutes

KYC, or "know your customer," is a term used to describe the identity and background checks that financial institutions are required to conduct on their customers. These checks are important for risk mitigation and are part of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations that these institutions must follow. In the cryptocurrency space, KYC regulations are becoming increasingly important as more and more people use digital assets for financial transactions. By conducting KYC checks, cryptocurrency exchanges and other financial institutions can help prevent money laundering and other illegal activities.

History of Know Your Customer

The United States government has implemented a number of measures to help financial service institutions detect and prevent financial crimes. These measures were established by the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and were finalized in 2002, making KYC (know your customer) checks mandatory for all US financial institutions. In 2016, the Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) expanded these regulations to include the FinTech sector, which resulted in virtual currency exchange platforms being declared official money services businesses under the Bank Secrecy Act. This means that these platforms are subject to all AML (anti-money laundering) and KYC requirements.

KYC in Practice

While it is up to regulated entities (banks, crypto exchanges, and other financial institutions) to implement the specifics of KYC and AML regulations, the KYC practices and programs generally include three essential components:

  1. Customer Identification Program (CIP): Through CIP, firms verify the customer's identity through independent data. This includes the client's name, address, and date of birth. Some firms even request a form of identification (passport or ID), social security number, or a video and selfie from their customers to verify their identity.
  2. Customer Due Diligence (CDD): CDD is the process of screening the background of a prospective client. Thorough background checks are essential to understand the risks that a new customer could bring to the firm. This process can expose fraudulent activity that potential new clients may have taken part in. If necessary, firms will perform enhanced due diligence (EDD) to get a deeper look into the new customer's past in order to mitigate risk further.
  3. Ongoing Monitoring and Risk Management: Even after Customer Identification Programs and Due Diligence take place, firms will continue to monitor and manage the potential risks of new customers. They will continue to oversee their customer's transactions and flag anything unusual. This ensures ongoing risk mitigation which is essential for the trust between financial firms and their clients.

Why is KYC/AML Important?

KYC regulations aim to discern that customers are who they say they are. This helps to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and fraud within the financial market.

Know Your Customer and other Anti-Money Laundering regulations benefit both financial institutions and their clients. These rules improve security and mitigate risk by keeping bad actors off the books. This acts as an assurance for customers and leads to a more trustworthy company-client relationship.

KYC and Cryptocurrency

The cryptocurrency industry is still relatively new, and its decentralized nature can make it difficult to implement KYC (know your customer) measures. Crypto regulations are also still evolving as regulators seek to prevent financial crimes using cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. As mentioned, crypto exchanges are considered official money services businesses and are therefore subject to KYC rules. These rules require exchanges to conduct identity and background checks on their customers, which may include requiring a photo ID. Many exchanges only allow transactions to occur once KYC is completed, especially for large sums of money.

However, some exchanges may try to avoid these rules by establishing their companies in countries with less stringent regulations. Exchanges that do not follow KYC and AML laws may not be available to use in countries that have these laws. This is why implementing KYC practices can actually increase an exchange's global reach by making it available in countries that have these laws, such as the US.

As the FinTech industry continues to grow and develop, it is important to regulate and mitigate risks to prevent illegal or suspicious behavior. AML laws are essential for ensuring fairness and equity in the emerging financial technology industry. Over time, regulations will continue to evolve to keep pace with the rapidly changing market.

Crypto Basics

When Does the Crypto Market Close? [Answered]

Token Metrics Team
5 minutes

There are a few reasons why people might want to know the closing time of the market. First, knowing the closing time can help traders plan their buying and selling activities around the times when the market is most active. This can help them take advantage of price movements and increase their chances of making profitable trades. Second, knowing the closing time can also help investors manage their risk by allowing them to set limits on their trading activities. For example, an investor may want to avoid holding positions overnight in case of significant price movements while the market is closed.

If you want to trade cryptocurrencies, you may be wondering when the crypto market closes. We're here to provide the answer to that question and more.

When Does the Crypto Market Close?

The cryptocurrency market, unlike the stock exchange, does not close. Crypto markets are open 24/7, so you can buy, sell, and swap cryptocurrencies anytime you want. The 24/7 nature of the cryptocurrency market is a significant advantage for traders and investors. Because the market never closes, traders can respond to news and events as they happen, rather than having to wait for the market to open. This allows for more flexibility and can potentially lead to better trading decisions.

Additionally, the continuous trading activity in the crypto market can lead to increased liquidity and tighter spreads, which can make it easier for traders to buy and sell cryptocurrencies at the prices they want. This can be especially beneficial for investors who want to take advantage of short-term price movements or who need to execute large trades quickly.

Furthermore, the fact that the crypto market is always open can be useful for traders in different time zones. Because the market never closes, traders in any part of the world can access it and make trades at any time. This is particularly useful for traders who may not be able to trade during normal market hours due to work or other commitments.

What Time of Day is Crypto-Popular?

Cryptocurrencies are most commonly traded between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm in local time. As a rule of thumb, the market tends to see most of its activity take place on weekdays during the times in which the US stock exchange is open.

Strategies for Day Trading Crypto

The day trading method involves trading one or more shares during a given day to earn profits. It is buying and selling an asset (in this case, a cryptocurrency) within the same day or multiple times over the day. This allows the trader to take advantage of small price moves, which can be very lucrative. To thrive in crypto day trading, keeping your eye on the charts, analytics, and community announcements is very important. Token Metrics provides many of these valuable insights, thanks to our AI and Machine Learning models.

The strategy of day trading contrasts the popular buy and hold, aka HODL strategy, but it does have certain benefits for traders. It is essential to have a well-planned strategy for day trading to succeed in maximizing profits.

Range trading is a common strategy for day trading cryptocurrencies. This involves monitoring the market for drastic changes in price and volume, and buying and selling accordingly. For example, if you notice that the volume of a particular cryptocurrency has increased significantly, you may want to buy it when it reaches an oversold level and sell it when it reaches an overbought level. By doing this, you can take advantage of short-term price movements and potentially profit from them. It's important to remember, however, that the small market caps of many cryptocurrencies make them susceptible to manipulation by large buyers, so it's essential to carefully monitor the market and make informed trading decisions.

Another popular strategy is employing bots to automate your crypto investments. Certain platforms allow traders to customize trading bots to buy low and sell high. Platforms like these use bots to read the markets and let traders break from constantly tracking the blockchain themselves. Similarly, scalping allows traders to benefit from small price movements. Many scalpers use bots to accumulate smaller gains by buying and selling a crypto asset within seconds. Scalping tends to necessitate a larger bankroll to benefit to a greater extent.

The final way in which crypto traders can take advantage of day trading is through arbitrage. Arbitrage involves buying a cryptocurrency on one exchange market and selling it on another where a price discrepancy exists. The fact that the crypto market is unregulated allows for price discrepancies to take place between trading exchange markets. This means a specific cryptocurrency may sell for more on one market than another. This is known as trading the spread. A spread is the difference in a coin's buy and sell price on different platforms.

Traders must consider trading fees when using any day trading tactic, as trading fees may wipe out gains from multiple transactions.

Key Takeaways

The cryptocurrency market is non-stop. Crypto traders are not limited to trading hours, like stock or bond traders. There are a multitude of ways in which crypto traders can take advantage of the ever-changing market by implementing day-trading strategies. It is important to understand the volatility and risks that come with trading cryptocurrencies. It is best to take a measured approach when trading and investing in crypto, and do your own research to understand what tactics would provide significant profits and help achieve your investing goals.

Research

Introducing Token Metrics Research

Token Metrics Team
3 minutes

We are proud to announce Token Metrics Research, a dedicated platform to host all our research for our customers and crypto enthusiasts out there.

Token Metrics is an AI-driven crypto research platform. We bring to you the smartness of machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) by blending the expertise of our investment team, data scientists, and developers to deliver comprehensive institutional-grade research. To help navigate this new asset class we have a team of analysts dedicatedly to researching the crypto space and producing research reports.

Token Metrics Research

For the past years, we have delivered premium research for our customers through our email newsletters, Token Metrics TV and our Youtube channel. We received feedback to have an archive and dedicated platform for all research media, so we created – Token Metrics Research.

  • Free Access Articles: Access to crypto educational articles, product announcements and expert reviews on digital assets.
  • Premium Access Articles: Premium access includes our institutional-grade research covering Market Update, Hidden Gems from all crypto sectors including DeFi, NFTs, Gaming and Metaverse, Web3 infrastructure projects, project deep-dive analysis, project code reviews, and more.
  • Token Metrics TV: A network featuring free daily videos by our team of crypto investment specialists. We also host our Premium and VIP customers weekly webinars only accessible to our Token Metrics Premium and VIP plan customers.

*Token Metrics TV will be accessible through research.tokenmetrics.com*

How To Access Token Metrics Research?

Non-Customers can read all articles labeled ‘Free’ including Crypto Basics, Token Metrics Tutorials, Crypto Moon Awards, and News and Thought-Leadership articles. Non-customers can also read any two premium reports per month for Free. All Shows on Token Metrics TV are FREE with the exception of premium customer webinars.

Basic Plan subscribers can read all Free articles, Token Metrics Navigator (published weekly) and any two Premium reports per month for Free. Basic Plan subscribers can also add all premium reports to their subscription for an additional $20/month. All Shows on Token Metrics TV are FREE including our daily market update with the exception of the premium webinars.

Advanced Plan subscribers can read all free articles and premium reports. All Shows on Token Metrics TV are FREE including our daily market update with the exception of the premium webinars.

Premium and VIP Plan subscribers have access to all free and premium reports. All Shows on Token Metrics TV are FREE including our daily market update. The premium webinar recordings are also hosted on our research blog.

Not yet a Token Metrics subscriber? See the Token Metrics pricing page, here.

Crypto Basics

NFTs Explained: What Are Non-Fungible Tokens?

Token Metrics Team
7 minutes

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are gaining widespread popularity in the market for digital art and collectibles. In recent years, NFTs have become a cultural phenomenon, attracting the attention of crypto enthusiasts, digital art creators, and celebrities alike. As the Web 3.0 ecosystem continues to grow and adoption increases, many believe that NFTs will play a key role in the ownership of assets online.

So what are NFTs? Let's find out.

NFT Basics

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are a type of digital asset that represents ownership of something on the blockchain.

NFTs can be anything such as art, collectibles, music, profile pictures or PFP, DAO memberships, event tickets, gaming assets, virtual land, domain names, and so on. They can represent either completely digital assets or tokenized versions of assets that exist in the real world. Currently, there is a lot of excitement around using NFTs to sell virtual art.

Characteristics of NFTs

  • Ownership: NFT represents digital ownership of an item on a blockchain
  • Permanent: NFTs have data permanently stored within the token. This information includes images, messages, signatures, or any other data
  • Programmable: An NFT can be programmed to do anything. For example, an NFT artwork might be programmed to pay the artist royalties on every secondary sale of that artwork
  • Unique: NFTs are unique, and that uniqueness can be confirmed on a blockchain

How to Make an NFT

To create an NFT, or non-fungible token, you will need to first prepare your media file. NFTs can support a wide range of file types, including audio, images, and even 3D files. Some popular file types that are supported by NFTs include MP3, JPG, PNG, and GIF. You can also use 3D file formats like GLB to create NFTs that represent unique, digital objects.

Once your media is ready, you will need to set up a non-custodial wallet to securely store the cryptocurrency that you will use to buy, sell, and create NFTs. Non-custodial wallets are important because they allow you to retain control of your private keys, which are needed to access your cryptocurrency and make transactions. There are many different wallet options available, so it is important to do your research and choose one that is secure and user-friendly.

Once you have set up your wallet, you will need to buy Ethereum, or other fungible tokens depending on the blockchain being used, to cover the cost of minting your NFT. Ethereum is the most commonly used blockchain for NFTs, and it is typically the easiest to get started with. You can buy Ethereum using a variety of methods, including through a cryptocurrency exchange or from other individuals who are willing to sell.

Once you have your Ethereum, you will need to connect your wallet to an NFT marketplace like Rarible or OpenSea. These platforms allow you to easily create and mint your NFT, as well as trade and purchase NFTs created by others. To connect your wallet, simply tap the "Connect" button in the top right corner of the marketplace's website. This will create an account for you on the platform and allow you to begin creating your NFT.

To create your NFT, upload your media file to the platform and provide a description of your asset. You can choose to create a standalone piece, or create multiple NFTs of the same piece, each with its own unique characteristics. You can also set rules around royalties and other aspects of your NFT to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your work.

Once you are ready to mint your NFT, the process will require you to pay a small amount of ETH for transaction fees. This is necessary to get your NFT added to the blockchain and verified as unique. Once your NFT is minted, it will be available for trade and purchase on the marketplace. You can monitor the progress of your NFT and track its sales through your wallet or the marketplace's website.

NFT Secondary Markets

Creators make NFTs using blockchain-based minting platforms to retain more control over their creative output. Once NFTs are minted on a non-custodial wallet-compatible website, collectors and traders can sell these assets on the secondary market.

Here is a list of the most used NFT marketplaces:

  • OpenSea: OpenSea is the first and largest marketplace for NFTs. OpenSea is building tools that allow consumers to trade their items, creators to launch new digital works, and developers to build rich, integrated marketplaces for their digital items. It recently announced the support for Solana-based NFTs.
  • Coinbase NFT: Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange, recently launched its NFT marketplace in beta version to the public. This marketplace acts as a social media platform in which users can not only buy and sell NFTs but also interact with and showcase their collections using user profiles, likes, and comments.
  • Solanart: Solanart is the first and largest fully-fledged NFT marketplace on Solana. Users can get quick and easy access to digital collectibles, and explore, buy, and sell NFTs that run on the Solana blockchain.
  • Rarible: Rarible is a do-it-yourself NFT marketplace where you can mint NFTs when and how you please. Creators are highly favorable towards Rarible, as the minting process is free, easy, and unrestricted. Rarible’s native governance token “RARI” is used to incentivize platform users and give the community members a voice.
  • Nifty Gateway: Nifty Gateway is owned by the Gemini crypto exchange and has become one of the most known NFT marketplaces lately. They focus on viral drops from artists like Beeple, Trevor Jones, Pak, and more.
  • SuperRare: SuperRare (SR) is one of Ethereum’s debut crypto-art NFT marketplaces. Artists must be accepted to the platform before they can list their assets.

Notable NFT Projects

NFT-based companies have seen significant growth in recent years. Some notable examples include:

  • Yuga Labs: a blockchain technology company that creates Ethereum-based NFTs and digital collectibles. Yuga's most valuable NFT collection is Bored Ape Yacht Club, which has seen a floor price of over 150 ETH at its all-time high. In addition to apes, Yuga has also created dog NFTs, mutant apes, and deeds for its Metaverse. The company recently acquired Larva Labs, bringing high-value projects like Cryptopunks and Meebits under the Yuga brand. Yuga is backed by investors like Coinbase, Samsung, and Mark Cuban.
  • Doodles: a collection of 10,000 Ethereum-based NFTs created by artist BurntToast. The Doodles collection includes a wide range of visual traits, heads, costumes, and colorways. Owners of Doodles NFTs have exclusive access to new experiences like Space Doodles and Dooplicator.
  • Okay Bears: a collection of 10,000 Solana-based NFTs. Ownership of an Okay Bear grants access to a community of collectors and exclusive products, merchandise, and events.

Investing in NFTs

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, provide many benefits as an investment vehicle.

One of the main advantages of NFTs is that they allow physical objects, such as artwork, to be tokenized.

Additionally, NFTs offer greater liquidity for investors, making it easier to trade and sell their assets.

The Future of NFTs

NFTs offer a new way to represent and prove ownership of assets on the blockchain.

This technology has already been used for digital art, collectibles, and in-game assets, but it has the potential to be applied to a wide range of other industries as well. For example, tokenized real estate could provide a way for people to invest in property without the barriers to entry that currently exist.

High-end fashion brands like Louis Vuitton have also expressed interest in using NFTs to track the ownership of luxury items.

Additionally, NFTs can be used to tokenize certifications, degrees, and licenses, providing a way to securely track and maintain this sensitive data on the blockchain.

Overall, the potential applications for NFTs are nearly limitless.

Crypto Basics

How to Earn Crypto in 2024? 7 Simple Ways [Answered]

S. Vishwa
6 Minutes

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If you are looking for ways to earn free crypto this year, in 2024, this is the place to be. Yes, it is possible to earn free cryptocurrency by participating in certain activities or using certain services. For example, some websites and apps offer rewards in the form of cryptocurrency for completing tasks, such as answering surveys or watching videos.

Additionally, some cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, can be earned through a process called mining, in which individuals use their computer's processing power to help verify and record transactions on the blockchain.

However, it is important to be cautious when seeking out opportunities to earn free cryptocurrency, as there are many scams and fraudulent schemes that claim to offer free crypto but actually steal users' personal information or funds. It is always a good idea to thoroughly research any opportunity before participating and to use only trusted and reputable sources.

How to Earn Free Crypto?

Many people never invest in cryptocurrencies due to fear of losing their money, or because they do not have enough money to invest in the first place. However, there are several ways to get cryptocurrencies for free without risking any of your own money.

Let's explore them all.

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Learn and Earn Platforms

Learn and Earn platforms are a great way to earn free crypto while also gaining knowledge about the industry. These platforms, such as Coinbase and CoinMarketCap, offer users the opportunity to learn about specific coins and earn rewards in exchange.

To participate in a Learn and Earn platform, users typically need to open an account and pass a KYC verification. Once verified, users can access educational materials and quizzes on the platform, and earn rewards for completing them. These platforms regularly update their offerings, so it is important to check back frequently to see what new opportunities are available.

Airdrops

Airdrops are a popular method of earning free crypto. These are marketing campaigns drawn up by new crypto platforms to gain visibility and increase their customer base. As part of their marketing strategy, these platforms give out free coins to new and existing users in exchange for creating awareness about their project.

To qualify for an airdrop, users must typically be active crypto traders or at least have a crypto wallet. Airdrops can be a win-win for both the trading platform and the user, as the platform gains visibility and the user earns free crypto.

Play-To-Earn Games

Play-to-earn games are a fun and exciting way to earn free crypto. These games allow users to have fun while also earning rewards in the form of crypto. Examples of these games include CoinHunt World, where users can explore a digital environment and earn rewards for finding keys and answering trivia questions, and Crypto Popcoin, where users can earn rewards by grouping cryptocurrencies together and popping them.

To earn actual crypto through these games, users typically need to register their ERC-20 wallet address and have the real crypto token airdropped to their account. Some games may also allow users to earn crypto through their Coinbase account.

Cryptocurrency Dividends

Cryptocurrency dividends are a new way for investors to earn passive income through their digital assets. Similar to traditional stocks, some cryptocurrencies offer dividend payments to their holders as a reward for holding their tokens for a specific period.

These payments can be in the form of additional tokens or other cryptocurrencies, depending on the protocol. For instance, some blockchain networks offer staking rewards to users who lock up their coins to secure the network, while others distribute a portion of their transaction fees to token holders.

By earning crypto through dividends, investors can benefit from both capital appreciation and recurring income, potentially increasing their overall returns on investment. However, as with any investment, it is crucial to do thorough research and assess the risks before committing funds to any cryptocurrency project.

Credit Cards

One way to earn crypto through credit cards is by using a credit card that offers rewards or cashback in the form of cryptocurrency. Several credit card companies now offer rewards in a form of cryptocurrencies. Users can earn rewards on their purchases and then transfer the earned crypto to their digital wallet.

Another option is to use a crypto credit card, which allows users to earn rewards in cryptocurrency directly. These cards work like traditional credit cards, but instead of earning cashback or points, users earn crypto rewards that can be redeemed for various products and services.

Referral Bonuses

Referral bonuses are a common way for people to earn cryptocurrency without necessarily making a direct investment or engaging in trading. Referral programs are typically offered by cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets, and other platforms that offer a commission or bonus for referring new users to their services.

To earn crypto through referral bonuses, individuals simply need to share their unique referral links with friends, family, and acquaintances who might be interested in using the platform. When someone signs up using the link and completes certain actions, such as making a deposit or trading, the referrer receives a bonus in cryptocurrency.

Referral bonuses can vary in size and scope, but they can be a great way to earn crypto passively and without having to invest a significant amount of time or money.

Browser and Search Engine Rewards

Some search engines and browsers, such as Brave and Pre-search, offer rewards in the form of crypto for viewing ads or just browsing. This is a simple and easy way to earn free crypto without having to invest any money.

While earning free crypto can be a great way to get started in the world of cryptocurrency, it is important to be cautious. This is because not all opportunities to earn free crypto are legitimate or safe.

There are many scams and fraudulent schemes that claim to offer free crypto, but are actually designed to steal users' personal information or funds. These scams can take many forms, such as fake airdrops, fake games, or fake search engines that promise rewards but never actually deliver on them.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is important for users to carefully research and verify any opportunity to earn free crypto before participating. They should look for reputable platforms and sources, and be wary of any offers that seem too good to be true.

Additionally, users should always protect their personal information and crypto assets by using secure wallets and following best practices for online security.

Disclaimer

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

Token Metrics does not recommend buying, selling, or holding any cryptocurrency. Conduct your due diligence and consult your financial advisor before making investment decisions.

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