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Crypto was supposed to liberate people from the oppression of the traditional financial system, but this has not happened so far. Mostly because the world of cryptocurrencies is still dominated by ideas of crypto anarchism rather than crypto mutualism as it should be. What can be done to turn DeFi into a real financial empowerment tool, according to Camille Meulien, CEO of Yellow Capital. The emergence of decentralized finance (DeFi) and the surge of crypto markets heralded what many believed would be a groundbreaking financial revolution. Enthusiasts envisioned a future where individuals could emancipate themselves from the constraints of traditional banking systems, accessing financial services that were open, transparent, and verifiable by anyone. The promise was alluring: a democratized financial ecosystem free from the control of centralized institutions. However, as with many revolutionary concepts, the practical implementation has proven to be far more nuanced and complicated. The initial vision of crypto anarchy is in stark contrast with the present state of the cryptocurrency market, where issues such as power imbalances, market manipulation, and re-centralization present substantial obstacles to the original ideals. Let’s see what went wrong and how do we fight back to make DeFi what it is supposed to become. Camille Meulien The Promise of DeFi and Crypto Anarchism Crypto-anarchy: A vision of digital freedom Crypto-anarchy champions privacy and economic liberty. It uses cryptography to secure online communications. Tim May coined the term in 1988, well before Bitcoin's 2008 debut. May's manifesto was bold. He wrote: "Just as the technology of printing altered and reduced the power of medieval guilds and the social power structure, so too will cryptologic methods fundamentally alter the nature of corporations and of government interference in economic transactions." DeFi later emerged as a game-changer. It offered a way to dodge traditional banks. Anyone with the internet could access financial services. No middlemen needed. The pitch was simple. Lower fees. Faster transactions. Finance for all. Blockchain tech underpinned DeFi. It promised transparency and security. Every transaction was out in the open. You didn't need to trust anyone. This tech shift aimed to deliver on crypto-anarchy's dream. A free and fair financial system for everyone. The Harsh Reality: Market Manipulation and Centralization The Persistence of Traditional Finance Flaws Despite the revolutionary promise of Bitcoin and the subsequent rise of numerous other cryptocurrencies over the past 15 years, the crypto market and decentralized finance (DeFi) have not been immune to the same flaws that plague traditional finance and neo-capitalism. Whales and Market Manipulation Despite its egalitarian ideals, the crypto market has been susceptible to significant manipulation. Large holders, known as whales, wield the power to influence market prices drastically. By executing large trades, they can create volatility that smaller investors cannot withstand. These manipulations often lead to substantial losses for small investors, who lack the resources to respond swiftly to sudden market fluctuations. Consider Bitcoin, the flagship cryptocurrency. Documented instances of price manipulation by whales demonstrate how large-scale buy or sell orders can drastically impact market prices. The involvement of influential companies like MicroStrategy and Tesla in Bitcoin investments has highlighted how powerful entities can sway market sentiment and drive price movements, often leaving smaller investors in precarious positions. Elon Musk exemplifies how influential figures can impact the crypto market. His tweets have caused significant price swings in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Dogecoin. Initially playful interactions with the crypto community have evolved into demonstrations of how a single individual can manipulate market dynamics, raising concerns about the market's stability and fairness. Media Influence and Public Perception In the crypto world, as in traditional media, the concentration of power and money can distort public perception. Media outlets, influenced by their financiers, can shape narratives that serve specific interests. For instance, portraying certain cryptocurrencies as superior investments can drive herd behavior among retail investors, often leading to speculative bubbles. Institutional Involvement As cryptocurrencies gained mainstream attention, traditional financial institutions, banks, and governments began entering the market. This influx of institutional money brought both legitimacy and centralization. Drawing a parallel to the early days of the internet—initially seen as a free and open space—the control eventually shifted to major corporations like Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft (GAFAM). Similarly, the crypto market is witnessing a consolidation of power where large institutions exert significant influence, potentially undermining the original decentralized ethos. The Need for Regulation While regulations seem necessary to protect investors and users, there have been numerous instances where crypto companies have emptied accounts and disappeared. Mass adoption of crypto banking will not occur without increased security measures. On a larger scale, economies cannot rely and function with this level of risk. Recent regulations in the US and Europe aim to address these issues. For example, the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation seeks to create a harmonized regulatory framework to protect investors and ensure market integrity. While these regulations offer benefits such as increased security and investor protection, they also pose challenges, potentially stifling innovation and compromising the decentralized nature of the market. Short-Term Oriented Investment The market’s obsession with quick returns discourages investment in projects with long-term visions and real ambitions. This short-term orientation can hinder the development of transformative technologies and applications within the crypto space. Projects that require years to realize their full potential struggle to attract the necessary investment, potentially stifling innovation and progress in the industry. Balancing Freedom and Security The challenge lies in maintaining freedom and decentralization while limiting risks and fostering a thriving and dynamic market. Establishing a regulatory framework that protects investors without compromising the core principles of decentralization is crucial. By addressing these complexities and challenges, the crypto market can strive towards a balanced and equitable financial ecosystem, preserving its revolutionary potential while ensuring security and fairness for all participants. Fighting Back: Strategies for a Decentralized Future Independent Media and Information To counteract the influence of concentrated power in the crypto media, independent and unbiased information sources are crucial. Independent media can play a pivotal role in educating the public by providing objective analyses of the crypto market and promoting a deeper understanding of the technology and its potential. By presenting fact-based reporting and in-depth research, independent media can help investors make informed decisions and reduce the impact of sensationalism and market manipulation. There is a pressing need for independent researchers and journalists to conduct thorough analyses of crypto projects. By synthesizing complex information and presenting it in an intelligible form, they can make it easier for the public to understand and evaluate the true potential and risks of different projects. Detailed and unbiased research can expose scams and highlight promising innovations, guiding investors towards more responsible and informed investment decisions. Wise Investment Choices Investors need to adopt a discerning approach to their investment choices. Rather than chasing short-term gains, they should evaluate the long-term potential and vision of projects. Supporting companies and projects that adhere to the principles of decentralization, transparency, and inclusivity can help foster a more equitable crypto ecosystem. This involves looking beyond hype and marketing, focusing instead on the fundamental value and sustainability of projects. Creating New Narratives The vision of Tim May's crypto-capitalism, characterized by a free-market approach, is evident in today's crypto market. However, an alternative vision, crypto mutualism, offers a different path. Crypto mutualism is an ideological framework that envisions a decentralized economy built on the principles of mutualism. Mutualism advocates for a society where individuals and cooperative groups exchange products and services based on mutual benefit. For the crypto market to be widely adopted and beneficial to economies, it needs to be seen not just as a speculative stock market but as a real currency enabling the purchase of services and items, real-world assets. This shift requires a change in narrative and public perception. Crypto Mutualism Crypto mutualism is shaking up digital finance. It's mixing old-school mutualism with new blockchain tech. The idea? To change how we think about money and business. At its heart, crypto mutualism is all about working together without middlemen. Blockchain makes this possible. People can trade directly with each other, cutting out banks and other go-betweens. Shared ownership is a big deal here. Think of DAOs - they're like companies, but run by all the members. Everyone gets a say in decisions. It's a whole new way of doing business. This system puts communities first. It's not just about making money, but about helping everyone in the group. The goal is to share resources more fairly. One cool feature is mutual credit. It's like lending, but based on trust between people. Often, there's no interest charged. This could help folks who can't get loans from banks. Reframing the Purpose of Crypto Evading taxes and institutional control cannot be the sole aim of the crypto economy, as this would undermine societal structures and potentially accelerate societal collapse. Creating and supporting new narratives that challenge the status quo is essential. Instead of viewing crypto solely as a speculative investment, it should be seen as a tool for financial inclusion and empowerment. Promoting stories that highlight how crypto can address real-world problems, such as providing financial services to the unbanked or enabling transparent charitable donations, can shift the focus towards the positive impact of the technology. By fostering a more informed, equitable, and community-focused crypto ecosystem, the original ideals of decentralization and financial freedom can be more fully realized.

There were a lot of interesting events around meme coins this week, as always, though. Let's take a look at how the top ten behaved. Dogecoin remains the poster child of meme coins, but this week, it faced a slight dip and then went up, seeing a rather significant %16,8 increase. Dogecoin still maintains strong support from its community and continuous mentions in popular culture. The momentarily dip was attributed to profit-taking by short-term holders, but long-term sentiment remains bullish. Shiba Inu has had a volatile week. The coin initially surged by 5% following a new partnership announcement with a major e-commerce platform. However, the excitement was short-lived as concerns over a whale wallet moving a significant amount of SHIB caused a 6% drop. This movement indicates cautious optimism among traders, balancing between new developments and large holdings' influence. But finally the token gained some optimism and went up for a solid 7,2%. Pepe has been riding a wave of social media hype. The coin saw a 12% increase after a series of viral memes. Then another increase, and another one, adding up to a significant %37,2 overall increase. However, analysts warn that such pumps are often followed by sharp corrections, advising caution for those looking to jump on the hype train. Dogwifhat remains a more niche player but had an interesting week with a 57% rise. This was largely driven by the launch of a new community-driven initiative aimed at promoting the coin through creative projects. The initiative has attracted a new wave of interest, especially among younger, meme-savvy investors. Bonk experienced a rollercoaster week. The coin initially dropped by 3% due to a technical glitch in their new staking platform, causing panic among holders. However, once the issue was resolved, Bonk rebounded strongly, closing the week with a 39,9% net gain. This recovery highlights the community's resilience and the coin’s potential for quick rebounds. Although, of course, the initial drop underlines the risks associated with technical issues, and meme coins seem to be more prone to that than many other well established crypto assets. Floki had a mixed week. The coin saw a 6% increase following a successful marketing campaign that included a series of eye-catching billboards in major cities. Finally we saw a solid %34,8 increase. Brett continues to show promise with a steady 20,5% increase. This growth was driven by the announcement of a new gaming partnership that integrates Brett tokens as in-game currency. But the week was a roller coaster for the meme token, at some point there was a 33% rise followed by a 17% dip. Mog Coin saw a significant 40,3% rise, primarily driven by increased social media activity and a new meme contest that went viral. As we see now, Mog Coin build a dedicated community, although its market cap and trading volumes are still relatively small compared to its peers. Book of Meme had a quieter week, but the rise was substantial - a solid 26,4%. The coin’s performance was bolstered by the release of a new whitepaper outlining future plans for decentralized finance (DeFi) integrations. Dog (Runes) hand a bad week. There is an overall 7 day dip for 2,1%. Investors seem cautiously optimistic, but nothing points out to a radical surge in the near future.

The crypto bull market is back, and Ethereum's gas fees are through the roof again. But don't panic just yet. A bunch of clever folks have been busy cooking up faster, cheaper Layer 2 (L2) networks to save the day. Let's take a look at the hottest Ethereum L2 projects of 2024, ranked by experts, based on their tech, tokenomics, and why they might be worth your attention. 1. Pepe Unchained (PEPU) - The Meme Coin That Grew Up Remember Pepe? Well, he's back and he means business. Pepe Unchained isn't just another meme coin. It's a full-blown L2 network built on top of Ethereum. What's the deal? Faster transactions and lower fees than ETH. Plus, you can stake your PEPU tokens for some juicy rewards. The current APR is sitting at a whopping 1,200% per year. Not too shabby. The project's presale is already underway, and they've raised over $1.8 million so far. Looks like people are hungry for more Pepe action. 2. Arbitrum (ARB) - The Gas Fee Slayer If you're sick of paying an arm and a leg for Ethereum transactions, Arbitrum might be your new best friend. It uses some fancy "optimistic rollup" tech to bundle transactions and cut costs. Arbitrum's ecosystem includes Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova. Both use the Arbitrum Nitro stack for better performance. With over $2.97 billion locked in their smart contracts, they're not messing around. The ARB token lets users vote on network upgrades. It's like a crypto democracy, but with less shouting and more code. Something our politicians could learn a lot from, innit? 3. Polygon (MATIC) - The Swiss Army Knife of Scaling Polygon is like the multi-tool of Ethereum scaling. It's got a solution for everything: Polygon PoS for faster, cheaper transactions zkEVM for Ethereum-compatible rollups Polygon ID for blockchain identity stuff AggLayer for cross-chain shenanigans Their new Polygon 2.0 upgrade introduces POL, a token that works across multiple chains. They're calling it "hyperproductive." Sounds intense. And yet, that might be just the future of the crypto market. Many of us are tired of the whole 'zoo' of different chains that are incompatibe, and swapping tokens might be as complicated as the conversation of a japanese monk and Texas farmer without an interpreter. With a market cap of $7.40 billion, Polygon is a big player in the L2 game. 4. Optimism (OP) - The Developer's Best Friend Optimism is all about making life easier for Ethereum developers. Their secret sauce? EVM equivalence. It means you can copy-paste your Ethereum smart contracts and they'll just work. Like Arbitrum, Optimism uses optimistic rollups to scale. They process transactions off-chain and only record the results on Ethereum. It's like outsourcing your math homework but still getting the credit. The OP token is used for governance and network incentives. Their roadmap looks solid, with plans to keep improving performance and expanding their ecosystem. 5. Blast (BLAST) - The Yield Machine Blast is doing something different in the L2 space. They're all about generating yield on your crypto holdings. You can earn passive income on ETH and stablecoins without jumping through hoops. They use optimistic rollups like some of the others, but with a twist. Their auto-rebasing feature for ETH and USDB makes earning yield a breeze. Blast also shares gas revenue with dApp developers. It's like a "thank you" note, but with actual money. They hit $500 million in Total Value Locked (TVL) pretty quickly after launch. Not too shabby for the new kid on the block. 6. Loopring (LRC) - The DEX Builder's Dream Loopring is all about decentralized exchanges (DEXs). Their claim to fame? Order rings. It's a fancy way of matching multiple orders to squeeze out more liquidity. They use zero-knowledge rollups to keep things speedy and secure. Transactions happen off-chain, but they're settled on Ethereum. It's like having your cake and eating it too. The LRC token is used for staking, governance, and earning a slice of those sweet protocol fees. If you're into DEXs, Loopring is worth keeping an eye on. 7. Eclipse - The Speed Demon Eclipse is gunning for the title of fastest L2 in town. They're using the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) for execution, which is like strapping a rocket to your transactions. But don't worry, they're not sacrificing security. Eclipse still settles on Ethereum, using a validating bridge to keep everything kosher. One cool thing about Eclipse? They're not planning to launch their own token. They'll just use ETH for gas fees. It's a bold move in a space where everyone and their dog has a token. 8. Mantle (MNT) - The People's L2 Mantle is waving the flag of decentralization. It's governed by a DAO, which means MNT token holders call the shots. It's like a crypto co-op. Their architecture is modular, separating transaction execution, data availability, and finality. It's a bit like building with Legos, but for blockchain nerds. Mantle uses optimistic rollups for scaling and something called EigenDA for decentralized data availability. They're also throwing money at developers through their EcoFund and Grants Program. It's like seed funding, but for the Web3 crowd. 9. Immutable X (IMX) - The NFT Paradise If you're into NFTs or blockchain gaming, Immutable X is your jam. They offer gas-free minting and trading, which is music to the ears of broke artists everywhere. Using StarkWare's ZK-Rollup tech, Immutable X can handle a ton of NFT transactions without breaking a sweat. They're also carbon-neutral, so you can trade your JPEGs with a clear conscience. Their API-driven approach makes it easy for developers to jump in without a Ph.D. in blockchain. The IMX token is used for staking, governance, and fees. They've got some big-name games on board like Gods Unchained and Illuvium. It's like the Steam of Web3 gaming. 10. dYdX (DYDX) - The Trader's Playground dYdX is where the cool kids go for decentralized perpetual trading. They handle orders off-chain but settle on-chain, which means you can trade fast without getting gouged on gas fees. They offer up to 20x leverage, so you can either make it big or lose your shirt in style. It's non-custodial, which means you keep control of your assets. No "not your keys, not your coins" drama here. The DYDX token lets users vote on protocol upgrades. They're also moving to their own chain built on Cosmos SDK. It's like they're growing up and moving out of Ethereum's basement.

The cryptocurrency world often shines a spotlight on big names like Satoshi Nakamoto, Vitalik Buterin, and even Elon Musk. These are real legends, beyond any doubt. However, beneath this layer of renowned figures lies a group of underestimated geniuses whose contributions are equally transformative. You probably haven't heard of them, unless you are one of them, of course. These individuals have played pivotal roles in shaping the industry, yet their recognition remains disproportionately low. They have created some of the most popular products in the crypto world, probably including some that you use daily. Maybe their inventions even helped you earn some pretty decent profits. Maybe you can't even imagine your life without these products now. Let's try to figure out the top ten such individuals, exploring their backgrounds, impacts, and why they deserve more credit. Go with us, it is going to be a pretty exciting ride. Gavin Wood Who Is He? Ah, Gavin Wood. Probably no one deserves a place in this list more, than this British computer scientist and co-founder of Ethereum and Polkadot. These two projects play an unbelievably important role in the world of blockchain. And yet, you probably have no clue who Gavin Wood is. You might have never heard his name. Though, of course, you know who Vitalik Buterin is, don't you, huh? He earned his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of York. And then became one of the kings of the emerging blockchain world. His input is, though, underestimated as hell. Short Bio Wood developed Ethereum’s programming language, Solidity. This is quite a big deal. Ethereum has become one of the driving forces of the blockchain world not for nothing. You've probably heard of smart contracts. Solidity, a brain child of Gavin Wood, is essential for writing smart contracts. He also introduced the concept of Ethereum’s Virtual Machine (EVM). Input in Crypto Industry Wood’s work on Solidity and the EVM laid the foundation for decentralized applications (dApps). He later founded Polkadot, a multi-chain platform aimed at enhancing interoperability between different blockchains. A few individuals can boast such a list of achievements, you bet. Why Underestimated? Wood is a pretty humble and modest person. His foundational contributions to Ethereum and the blockchain world are priceless. But Wood is almost totally overshadowed by Ethereum’s more prominent co-founder, Vitalik Buterin. Young Buterin is a charismatic speaker and a walking examples of the modern day nerd culture, more that the infamous TV character Sheldon Cooper, if you remember who that was. Wood's innovations in blockchain interoperability and development of Polkadot have not received the recognition they deserve. Anatoly Yakovenko Who Is He? Anatoly Yakovenko is the founder of Solana. You can be a fan of Solana, or be a hater (sometimes that happens also), but no one can be as stupid as not to see that Solana has given blockchain a momentum it needed so desperately to be taken seriously in the world of traditional finance. The fastest blockchain with the lowest fees, that was a stark contrast to a heavyweight Bitcoin. And while Bitcoin may still be the 'new gold', it Solana who holds a promise for blockchain to beat traditional finances. Short Bio Yakovenko holds a degree in computer science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and worked at Qualcomm before venturing into blockchain. He has a background in distributed systems. Input in Crypto Industry Solana, under Yakovenko’s leadership, has introduced a high-performance blockchain capable of processing thousands of transactions per second, making it one of the fastest in the industry. Why Underestimated? While Solana has gained popularity, Yakovenko himself remains relatively unknown compared to founders of other major blockchains. His innovative approach to blockchain scalability deserves more acknowledgment. Stani Kulechov Who Is He? Stani Kulechov is the founder and CEO of Aave, a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol. One of the revolutionary and crucially important elements of the DeFi world, that you are either using already or are going to be using sooner that you think. Short Bio Kulechov is a Finnish entrepreneur with a law background. He started Aave in 2017, initially as ETHLend, a peer-to-peer lending platform. Now look at how far has the project gone since that, aren't you impressed? Input in Crypto Industry Killing banks is what Kulechov does, in fact. Aave has revolutionized the DeFi space with features like flash loans and credit delegation. It is one of the most widely used DeFi platforms, offering various financial services without intermediaries. Why Underestimated? Despite Aave’s success, Kulechov’s role and vision in the DeFi revolution are often overlooked. That is why you haven't probably ever heard his name. His contributions to creating a robust and user-friendly DeFi ecosystem deserve more recognition. Hayden Adams Who Is He? Hayden Adams is the creator of Uniswap, a decentralized exchange (DEX) protocol on Ethereum. Uniswap is beyond any doubt one of the most recognized and widely adopted projects among those that have risen on the shoulders of Ethereum, and this is also the most popular DEX, as of now. Short Bio Adams, a mechanical engineer by training, turned to coding after losing his job. What a coincidence, right? He developed Uniswap with a grant from the Ethereum Foundation. Input in Crypto Industry Uniswap introduced the automated market maker (AMM) model, which changed the landscape of trading in the crypto space by allowing direct peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries. That can also be dubbed 'killing banks'. You just do your financial deals directly, protected by smart contracts. Why Underestimated? Adams’ work on Uniswap has significantly impacted the DEX space, yet he remains a lesser-known figure compared to others in the industry. His innovative approach to decentralized trading deserves broader recognition. Elizabeth Stark Who Is She? Elizabeth Stark is the co-founder and CEO of Lightning Labs, which develops the Lightning Network for Bitcoin. Short Bio Stark is an educator, entrepreneur, and former lecturer at Stanford and Yale, with a strong background in technology and law. Input in Crypto Industry The Lightning Network, a second-layer solution for Bitcoin, aims to enable fast, low-cost transactions. Stark’s leadership in developing and promoting this technology has been crucial for Bitcoin’s scalability. Why Underestimated? Despite her significant contributions to Bitcoin’s scalability solutions, Stark is often overshadowed by more prominent Bitcoin figures. Her role in advancing the Lightning Network is critical and deserves more recognition. Sergey Nazarov Who Is He? Sergey Nazarov is the co-founder of Chainlink, a decentralized oracle network. You've probably heard something of this project, even if you are a newbie in the world of DeFi and know nothing of blockchain besides a vague understanding of how Bitcoin works, or even less. Short Bio Nazarov has a background in philosophy and business administration. That might came in handy when he co-founded Chainlink to solve the problem of bringing real-world data to smart contracts. Input in Crypto Industry Chainlink provides secure and reliable oracles. It simply means that the decentralized network enables smart contracts to interact with external data sources, an absolutely unique feature in the crypto world. This has been instrumental in the growth of DeFi and other blockchain applications. Why Underestimated? While Chainlink is well-known, Nazarov’s personal contributions and vision are often underappreciated. His work on decentralized oracles has been fundamental to the expansion of blockchain functionalities. Charles Hoskinson Who Is He? Charles Hoskinson is a co-founder of Ethereum and the founder of Cardano. See, the man touched two of the blockchain legends that shape the world of crypto. So he is to be considered a legend himself, isn't he? Short Bio Hoskinson is a mathematician and entrepreneur. That may have played a significant role in his enormous chain of successes in the blockchain world, a strong vision is clearly something you might want to posses in order to be a great achiever like Hoskinson himself. He was one of the original co-founders of Ethereum before quitting and founding IOHK, the company behind Cardano. Input in Crypto Industry Hoskinson’s work on Cardano focuses on creating a secure and scalable blockchain through peer-reviewed research and formal methods. Why Underestimated? Hoskinson’s influence in the crypto industry is significant, yet he often doesn’t receive the same level of recognition as other Ethereum co-founders. His academic approach to blockchain development is innovative and impactful. ##Jed McCaleb Who Is He? Jed McCaleb is a co-founder of Ripple and Stellar. Both projects are famous, respected and require no additional comments even if you are reading this article on your third day in the world of crypto. Short Bio McCaleb is a programmer and entrepreneur who founded the infamous Mt. Gox exchange before moving on to more secure and scalable blockchain projects. Input in Crypto Industry McCaleb’s work on Ripple and Stellar focuses on improving cross-border payments and creating more inclusive financial systems. Why Underestimated? Despite his pioneering efforts in blockchain technology and payments, McCaleb’s contributions are often overshadowed by controversies and the more prominent figures of Ripple and Stellar. Robert Leshner Who Is He? Robert Leshner is the founder of Compound, a leading DeFi protocol, a project that will probably be named by one of the most definitive in the dawn of crypto by our successors. Short Bio Leshner is an economist and former municipal bond trader. He founded Compound to enable decentralized money markets. Input in Crypto Industry Compound allows users to earn interest on their crypto holdings and borrow against them in a decentralized manner, significantly influencing the DeFi landscape. Why Underestimated? Leshner’s contributions to DeFi through Compound are substantial, yet he remains less recognized than other DeFi pioneers. His role in enabling decentralized finance deserves more attention. Silvio Micali Who Is He? Silvio Micali is the founder of Algorand, a high-performance blockchain. Geeks often dub Algorand 'a next generation blockchain'. And there is a reason for that. Short Bio Micali came into crypto world not out of the blue. He is a renowned computer scientist and Turing Award winner. Most of his accolades came from his work in cryptography. Input in Crypto Industry Algorand aims to solve the blockchain trilemma, offering scalability, security, and decentralization. Micali’s innovations in consensus algorithms have been pivotal. Algorand has already shown some impressive results, yet if we someday see Micali's revolution in all it's glory, it might outshine many of the well-established names in the industry. Why Underestimated? Despite his prestigious background and Algorand’s technological advancements, Micali’s contributions are not as widely recognized in the crypto community. His work is foundational and impactful. Conclusion The cryptocurrency industry is full of brilliant minds whose contributions often go unnoticed. Not surprising for such a big industry with such a quick turn of events. What seemed new and significant to you yesterday, might be completely obsolete and irrelevant today. From developing foundational technologies to pioneering new financial systems, these ten underestimated geniuses have significantly shaped the crypto landscape. Recognizing their work not only honors their achievements but also inspires the next generation of innovators in this dynamic field.

Holding USDT, a popular stablecoin, requires choosing the right wallet. There are myriads of crypto wallets to choose from, and most of them claim to fully support Tether's USDT, the most popular stablecoin in the world. How to choose the wallet that is right for you in 2024? Here we will try to explore the best wallets for holding USDT. We will cover security features, differences between custodial and non-custodial wallets, exchange versus personal wallets, and finally we will come up with the cherry on a top - our own rating of the top wallets available for USDT. What is USDT? USDT, or Tether, is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, providing stability in the volatile cryptocurrency market. Selecting the right wallet to hold USDT is crucial for ensuring security, accessibility, and convenience. This essay will guide you through the essential aspects of choosing a USDT wallet and provide a rating of the top wallets in 2024. Security Features Importance of Security Security is paramount when choosing a wallet for USDT. With increasing cyber threats, it’s essential to understand the security measures each wallet offers. You wouldn't want to lose any of your savings, would you? Securing your crypto doesn't require any special hacker-like knowledge. You don't need coding skills or digital security expertise. All you need is paying attention to some ground rules while choosing the crypto wallet. Some of this basic knowledge is basically the same as with many other IT-services. Common Security Features Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification. Encryption: Ensures data is protected by converting it into a code that can only be read with a key. Cold Storage: Offline storage that protects funds from online hacks. Multi-Signature (Multi-Sig): Requires multiple keys to authorize a transaction, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. Biometric Authentication: Uses fingerprints or facial recognition for secure access. Custodial vs. Non-Custodial Wallets Here is the moment of truth. Let's try to solve one of the most epical questions since the beginning of crypto. Which wallets are better - custodial or non-custodial. Custodial Wallets Custodial wallets are managed by third-party services. The provider holds the private keys, offering convenience but requiring trust in the service. Advantages: Ease of Use: User-friendly interfaces and features. Customer Support: Assistance available for issues. Backup and Recovery: Simplified processes for recovering lost access. Disadvantages: Control: Users do not have full control over their private keys. Security Risks: Centralized control can be a target for hackers. Non-Custodial Wallets Non-custodial wallets provide users with full control over their private keys, enhancing security and autonomy. Advantages: Full Control: Users manage their private keys, ensuring complete control over their funds. Enhanced Security: Reduced risk of centralized attacks. Privacy: Greater privacy as there is no third-party involvement. Disadvantages: Responsibility: Users are responsible for their own security and backup. Complexity: May require a higher level of technical knowledge. In fact, if you are a novice investor with some relatively small amounts of crypto holdings and USDT savings, it might be a good idea to start with a simple custodial wallet. Just to get familiar with the world of crypto. Yet, as soon as we are talking about some substantial amounts of USDT - think of the sum you wouldn't want to lose at the risk of death - you should better be thinking of a non-custodial wallet. Exchange Wallets vs. Personal Wallets A bit of the same discourse here. Use personal wallet or stick to the wallets provided by crypto exchanges? That question goes back a while. Exchange Wallets Exchange wallets are provided by cryptocurrency exchanges, offering integrated trading and storage solutions. Advantages: Convenience: Easy access to trading and storage in one platform. Liquidity: Quick transfer of funds for trading. Features: Additional features like staking, lending, and borrowing. Disadvantages: Security Risks: Centralized exchanges can be prime targets for hackers. Control: Users do not have full control over their funds. Personal Wallets Personal wallets are standalone applications or hardware devices that provide secure storage for cryptocurrencies. Advantages: Security: Enhanced security features like cold storage and multi-sig. Control: Full control over private keys. Flexibility: Supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies and features. Disadvantages: Complexity: May require more effort to set up and manage. Limited Features: May lack some of the advanced features offered by exchanges. Top Wallets for USDT in 2024 Here comes the essence of this article. We picked the absolutely best wallets of different types for you. No matter what your needs are, you can pick a wallet for yourself from our top list, and be sure it will fit your needs perfectly. Ledger Nano X Ledger Nano X is a leading hardware wallet known for its robust security features. Pros: Cold Storage: Keeps private keys offline. Multi-Currency Support: Supports over 1,500 cryptocurrencies. Bluetooth Connectivity: Allows easy connection to mobile devices. Cons: Price: More expensive than software wallets. Complexity: Requires setup and management. Trezor Model T Trezor Model T is another top-tier hardware wallet offering advanced security. Pros: Cold Storage: Secure offline storage. Touchscreen Interface: User-friendly navigation. Open-Source: Transparent and regularly audited. Cons: Price: High cost. Learning Curve: Requires understanding of hardware wallet operations. Exodus Exodus is a popular software wallet with a user-friendly interface. Pros: Ease of Use: Intuitive design suitable for beginners. Multi-Currency Support: Supports multiple cryptocurrencies. Integrated Exchange: Built-in exchange feature. Cons: Security: Less secure than hardware wallets. Custodial Elements: Some features require trust in Exodus. Trust Wallet Trust Wallet is a mobile wallet known for its versatility and security. Pros: Multi-Currency Support: Supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies. Staking: Allows users to earn rewards by staking their assets. Decentralized: Non-custodial wallet providing full control. Cons: Mobile Only: Limited to mobile devices. Security: Less secure than hardware wallets. MyEtherWallet (MEW) MyEtherWallet is a web-based wallet primarily for Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens, including USDT. Pros: Non-Custodial: Full control over private keys. Compatibility: Integrates with hardware wallets for added security. Open-Source: Transparent and community-driven. Cons: Complexity: May be challenging for beginners. Web-Based Risks: Susceptible to phishing attacks. Coinbase Wallet Coinbase Wallet is a mobile wallet with strong integration with the Coinbase exchange. Pros: User-Friendly: Easy setup and navigation. Multi-Currency Support: Supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies. Integration: Seamless connection with Coinbase exchange. Cons: Custodial Risks: Requires trust in Coinbase for some features. Limited Control: Not fully non-custodial. MetaMask MetaMask is a browser extension and mobile wallet primarily for Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens. Pros: Ease of Use: Simple interface suitable for all users. Integration: Compatible with numerous decentralized applications (dApps). Non-Custodial: Full control over private keys. Cons: Security: Browser-based risks. Limited to Ethereum: Primarily supports Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens. Atomic Wallet Atomic Wallet is a decentralized wallet offering extensive features. Pros: Multi-Currency Support: Supports over 500 cryptocurrencies. Atomic Swaps: Enables peer-to-peer exchanges without intermediaries. Non-Custodial: Full control over private keys. Cons: Security: Software wallet security risks. Complexity: Requires some technical knowledge. Binance Wallet Binance Wallet is the wallet service provided by the Binance exchange. Pros: Integration: Seamless connection with Binance exchange. Multi-Currency Support: Supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies. Features: Advanced trading and staking features. Cons: Custodial Risks: Requires trust in Binance. Control: Limited control over private keys. BitPay Wallet BitPay Wallet is a versatile wallet with strong merchant integration. Pros: Merchant Integration: Supports payments to numerous merchants. Multi-Currency Support: Supports multiple cryptocurrencies. Security: Offers non-custodial security features. Cons: Complexity: May be challenging for beginners. Limited Features: Focused more on payments than advanced features. Conclusion Choosing the best wallet for holding USDT involves balancing security, control, and convenience. Hardware wallets like Ledger Nano X and Trezor Model T offer top-notch security but come at a higher cost and complexity. That is definitely not the best choice for a rookie. But it is probably the best choices for a true crypto whale. Or at least, for a whale-wannabe. Software wallets like Exodus and Trust Wallet provide user-friendly interfaces and multi-currency support but are less secure. They are perfect if you operate small amounts of crypto primarily from your smartphone. Exchange wallets offer convenience and integrated features but require trust in the provider. You can easily swap your USDT for any tokens you like or simply sell them for fiat money. That's convenient, but not for holding large amounts of your savings. Ultimately, the best wallet for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. You and only you can decide what matters the most to you. You might prioritize security over the ease of use, or vice verse.

What would happen to cryptocurrencies if WW3 broke out? How could crypto exist during the nuclear war? Maybe it is better to invest in gold until it is too late? Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are often seen as the best long term investment. Crypto enthusiasts have no doubt about that. No matter what happens to the world economy, the US dollar or gold and silver, the cryptocurrency will be valuable because of all those digital technologies rising. Because of the Metaverse emerging as the new era of the global economy. That’s what crypto fans often say. And since the beginning of the Russian invasion to Ukraine crypto seems to be nothing but the savior of the economy. Crypto is used to finance the Ukrainian army. Crypto helps Russians to avoid Western sanctions. NFTs auctions gain enormous amounts of money for charity. Crypto is evidently rising as a way to transfer assets without borders and limitations. But what could happen to Bitcoin and other crypto if the most terrible nightmare of our time comes true? What if the Russian-Ukrainian conflict only precedes the infamous World War III? What if things go terribly wrong and NATO will be engaged in a full scale conflict with Russia including mutual nuclear attacks and mass destruction of entire cities and possibly countries? What assets would we rely on then? Previous global wars have shown that paper money emitted by the sides of the conflict become obsolete and depreciates rather quickly. Hm, is it the time for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to shine? Or will we get back to gold and silver as the most reliable assets? Is WW3 actually possible? Mad Vladimir Putin is holding his finger over the red button. That’s the only thing that makes him so terrifying. Otherwise his days would be over. The West is not ready to fully confront the bloody tyrant. It is easier and safer to fight with Putin somewhere in the steppes of the Ukrainian East. Just give those Ukrainians more and more weapons and hopefully they will withstand the invasion, the war will be over and that’s the end of the story. That’s what they think. It seems though that Putin has already crossed the line. Russia is in exile, cornered and hopeless. Things are never going to be the same again. Putin is to be overthrown by some forces inside the country. Or his bloody reign is going to be accompanied by all kinds of military conflicts till his last days. That’s all because Putin has built Russia around the ‘us vs them’ idea. No war, no Russia any more. It is that simple. So World War III is definitely on the table. Probably a nuclear war with massive devastation of both military and civilian infrastructure. What would be the fate of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies then? What would happen to Bitcoin in WW3? The question is rather complicated as it might be divided into a few separate questions. So it would be fair to answer them separately. How would Bitcoin and other crypto be treated during war depends on the overall economy situation. But technical issues might be a serious problem. Crypto requires electricity and mining to function properly. Both are rather questionable during hypothetical WW3 when nuclear weapons are presumably used left and right. So the big questions are: could crypto be still accessible during WW3 and if it was would it be able to compete with gold as the way to preserve your wealth? Let’s try to answer both questions. Would there be a need for crypto in WW3? We have already seen what happens to fiat money during war. Banks with all their ATMs and officts might stop functioning leaving you cashless and making your gold and platinum card useless. Governments can easily prevent banks from giving out cash, selling different currencies or accepting payments of different kinds. Government might simply block all the banks. If the territory is captured by another belligerent, your old money might become obsolete as well. It is a common practice for military regimes to implement temporary money or payment methods during war. Like, for example, grocery or fuel cards. Yes, there were cases when the population in the military zones had to ditch money at all being able to buy food and other commodities only with some kind of money surrogates. And even if we take a much less pessimistic scenario we could see great uncertainty rising and high inflation risks. Just look at what happened in Ukraine in the first few weeks of the Russian invasion. The prices for all kinds of commodities went skyrocketing, with fuel and even bread becoming a sort of luxury. Bitcoin is here to save Well, crypto seems to be a kind of savior in such a situation. If you are able to make peer-to-peer payments with no third party required, no state or military organization could prevent the crypto economy from existing. Bitcoin was born for this, to say the least. A decentralized payment method, secure and stable, could theoretically withstand any political regime. So it is fairly easy to conclude that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could have their finest hour amidst the hypothetical WW3. The price of Bitcoin might rapidly increase as it appears to be the best way to transfer assets. Crypto might soon become the main financial instrument used by ordinary people. With no banks required and fiat money becoming useless the role of the government in the financial sector might degrade. That’s a great scenario for Bitcoin holders, right? And also Bitcoin seems a much more flexible and valuable asset than gold. Because you can’t use gold for everyday payments. Gold is a little hard to carry around. There is no way you can pay for a piece of bread or a gallon of fuel with a gold bar. What would you do, slice it a bit in a grocery store? With BTC you can easily ‘slice’ it even to a few satoshis and thus pay for something small and rather cheap. But what about long term savings? Let’s say you are trying to preserve your assets in light of the coming WW3. What should you invest in - Bitcoin or gold? Well, gold seems fairly good as a long-term asset. All you have to do is keep your gold somewhere safe. As soon as the war is over your precious metal will be there to help you get through hard times. Bitcoin and crypto is also a great asset to keep for a long time. It is even easier and somehow safer to keep in the times of uncertainty. Because all you need is a smartphone or a small hardware wallet (it is about the size of a flash drive). In some cases you don’t even have to own a smartphone, all you need is just a key phrase from your non-custodial wallet. Or a username and a password for your account on the crypto exchange. If you need to flee or cross the borders with your family and children carrying gold is not the best decision. You might be required to declare it, the customs might not let you bring it to the country, it might be taken from you or simply stolen. A smartphone or a small flash drive in your pocket gives you better chances to get away with all your crypto to a safe place. If your wealth is stored in the cloud, chances are you might successfully access it from any place in the world. Millions of those who escaped from war know how important that could be. What could happen to Bitcoin technology during WW3? Up to this point, everything has indicated that in 21 century Bitcoin is a more preferable way to store your wealth than gold. But here comes the most interesting part. All the advantages of Bitcoin disappear when it is time to discuss the potential technology issues during a full scale war. And we have to assume that WW3 might be terribly destructive. Massive missile hits from both sides, widespread use of means of jamming radio signals, cyberwar, hacking and presumably nuclear strikes. That’s a very probable scenario. And while it looks dreadful from any point of view, within the framework of this article, it is necessary to emphasize that crypto will be extremely vulnerable. Simply put, Bitcoin might be absolutely useless during WW3 simply because there would be no electricity to mine crypto and no internet to carry out transactions. Of course, huge data centers of the biggest cloud platforms like Amazon or Microsoft might survive even quite harsh times. But it is difficult to imagine how you would use Bitcoin for transactions while there is no network available and no mining is being done. And we must not neglect the worst scenario in which massive nuclear strikes destroy most parts of civilization and all the crucial infrastructure. Nuclear explosions are accompanied by electromagnetic waves of immense power. Those are able to interfere with electronic equipment just as solar flares often do. Terrible consequences of such events include power shortages, malfunctions of the miscellaneous equipment etc. If a nuclear explosion happens not far from a data center all its equipment might fail irrevocably. The data will be lost. Of course, multiple crypto network’s nodes might survive WW3. So the data on the blockchain will be restored once the war is over. But what would be the price of Bitcoin afterwards assuming it proved to be of no use in the times when people needed it the most? All of that tells us that cryptocurrency might not survive WW3 or become almost useless afterwards up until the internet and its infrastructure aren't recovered. Bitcoin vs Gold in WW3 To sum up, both Bitcoin and gold have their pros and cons in the hypothetical World War III. Bitcoin pros Bitcoin as well as other cryptos might fight inflation Bitcoin will allow for peer-to-peer payments in times of uncertainty Crypto can be stored in the cloud so that you don’t need to carry anything with you while crossing international borders etc. Crypto makes instant payments abroad very easy and invisible to governments, banks and other third-party structures Bitcoin cons All cryptos heavily rely on technologies (data centers, internet etc) that might be partially or fully unavailable during war In the worst-case scenario of the large-scale war the crypto infrastructure can be destroyed to such an extent that it will be impossible to restore it. All the crypto wealth will be lost forever. Gold pros Gold is gold, it has been the most valuable asset since ancient times, it will be such an asset forever. Even with the most terrible development of events, the fragments of civilization after the war will value gold. Everybody knows what gold is, it has traditional value, it known internationally No technology is needed to store gold or transfer it besides human hands, pockets or bags. Gold cons Gold is not suitable for small transactions and payments Gold is hard to carry and you need a safe place to store it Gold can be easily stolen or taken from you So if you are seriously thinking about preserving your wealth in the light of hypothetical WW3 take all the above into consideration. If you do not believe full scale nuclear war is possible - or if you just refuse to believe in the worst-case scenario - you might better stick to crypto. Bitcoin is easy to handle and reliable. It might become the mainstream payment means of the future. It’s a good investment in the light of an upcoming hypothetical war. If you tend to think that worse comes to worse and what we have now in Ukraine is something like Germany occupying Czech Republic in 1938 (the WW2 followed just after that) then you should consider investing in gold. Gold is a more troublesome tool. But chances are it will survive the nuclear holocaust better that cryptocurrencies. Gold requires nothing but simply a place for storage, while Bitcoin and other crypto is built on top of a complex digital industry that is very vulnerable to severe shocks that WW3 would inevitably bring.

Most of the newbies in crypto urge to buy some tokens and don’t care much about where to keep them. That might be a crucial mistake. Neglecting security can cost you dearly. Be it a credit card with fiat money or your personal home safe with cash, you are probably accustomed to comply with all security measures. Crypto wallets, though, are generally considered to be secure ‘by default’. Just because it is a blockchain, right? The safest technology in the world, isn’t it? So many users never actually think about how secure their crypto wallet is. And sometimes it turns into a financial tragedy, the degree of which depends only on the amount of the lost crypto. No matter if it is 0,00005 BTC or 5 BTC, losing money is always painful. Don’t keep all your cryptocurrency in one place Let’s start with a quite obvious and basic rule that for some reason most users usually ignore. No matter how large the amount of cryptocurrency you own, don’t keep it all in one place. In other words, you need multiple crypto wallets to keep your tokens safe. This is also quite reasonable from the point of view of usability, but we will get back to it in a minute. Security concerns are the reason important enough to conclude that you need more than one wallet. Even if one of the wallets is compromised, only a part of your crypto assets will be stolen. Store you main assets in a non-custodial wallet We’ve covered the differences between custodial and non-custodial wallets. In short, when using a custodial crypto wallet you don’t get your private key (you are never given your key phrase), instead it is being held by the owner of the service you use (a crypto exchange, most often). Basically it means you don’t have the crypto, it is owned by the exchange, you get access to it only through your account. If the account is blocked, you lose the crypto. A non-custodial wallet allows you to store your private key. You and only you can have access to the assets. It’s a bit dangerous because if you lose the key phrase you might never recover your crypto. But it also means that nobody, even the company that developed that software or hardware wallet can’t access your assets. The safest option of course would be the hardware wallet (the cold wallet), but it is not always convenient for many users. So you might go with a crypto wallet in an app for iOS or Android. Just make sure it is a non-custodial wallet. Never store your private key online Even if you were careful enough to choose non-custodial wallets which are quite secure, there is one potential problem. We’ve mentioned it above briefly. Now let’s talk about it in detail. So when you are registering a new non-custodial wallet you are provided with the private key. At the dawn of the crypto era their most common form used to be a long string of random numbers and characters. Which was not particularly user-friendly, as you can imagine. Even writing this key down on a piece of paper was problematic, not to mention remembering it. This is why a better way to display them was gradually adopted. The key can be presented in the form of a secret phrase. So most of today’s crypto wallets do not show you the cryptic private key by default anymore. Instead, the private key is translated into seed words. Depending on the wallet, you will be given either 12, 18 or 24 seed words. Generally, it is a secret key phrase that you might even be able to remember. Especially if you do care about the large amount of crypto stored in that wallet. So when you get the key phrase you are advised to write it down and store somewhere to keep your crypto wallet safe. To many users that would mean copying it so a notes app of some kind. Like Google Keep or Apple Notes. This is not secure! Because in such a way your key phrase will be stored online, being a potential subject to various hacks, scams etc. Google, Apple, Microsoft and others might claim they use strong encryption to protect your data. But we all understand how dubious these statements are. Use a reputable cryptocurrency exchange for buying and selling So you know that it is better to store your crypto in a non-custodial or even hardware wallet. But what if you need some crypto at your instant reach. Maybe you need to buy or sell it from time to time, or do some transactions. A custodial crypto wallet at some crypto exchange is much more convenient for fast transactions. So you might throw a part of your assets there. Just make sure to choose wisely. There are plenty of organizations that call themselves ‘crypto exchanges’. It is better to pay a little bit higher fees but to make sure the exchange will not let you down. There are plenty of famous hack and fraud stories with crypto exchanges. Users have lost literally billions of dollars. Try to choose among the most famous exchanges (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance etc.) and try not to keep too much of your crypto in these wallets anyway. Always secure your network No matter what kind of crypto wallet you use and how many of them you have, it is very important to take care of the network security. Numerous hacks have been made thanks to users who neglect the basic rules of network secutity. First of all don’t use primitive passwords. You might be using a non-custodial wallet but your seed phrase might be stored in the Notes app of your smartphone which is protected with a lock screen password 0000. That’s quite a typical situation today. Many users don’t update their software regularly. Some even feel irritated by the constant update reminders in their operating systems and try to switch them off. Meanwhile in most cases those updates are dealing with security issues. Sometimes a recent security patch might be the only way to keep your crypto wallet safe. Beware of phishing attacks through various pretty ‘innocent’ email links or website forms. Many of them are targeted at crypto wallets specifically, trying to steal your private key or exchange’s login credentials. Be sure to use VPN at all times. It is especially required when you are connecting to a public network with free Wi-Fi. But even at home it is still better to do your crypto transactions being protected by end-to-end encryption from a well-established VPN provider. A few dollars a month for VPN can save your much precious crypto assets.

Crypto market is risky. Yet, it is one of the most profitable markets humanity has ever invented. How to invest in cryptocurrency so that your money was safe and you could get the most income? Let’s find out. The hype around cryptocurrencies has become so widespread that everyone wants to invest today. Hearing of all those 10x, 20x, 100x made on some unknown meme coins can be rather disturbing. Someone is already driving a brand new Ferrari while you still go to work every day. Why not try to succeed by yourself? It's tempting isn't it? But mind the risks. The amount of money actually makes no difference - besides the sum of your losses, of course - if you are unfamiliar with the basic principles of crypto finance. The thing is that crypto has been - and still is to a certain extent - the playground for enthusiasts. There are many things that beginners can trip over. You may not understand the crypto lingo well enough. You can become a victim of a scam. You can mess up with settings in your crypto wallet. You might accidentally send assets to a wrong crypto address. Plenty of things can happen. And almost all of them will lead you directly to financial losses. What can you do to avoid such troubles and how to invest in cryptocurrency with minimal risks? Let’s take a look at the most common mistakes novice investors usually make. 6 Biggest Crypto Investing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them It’s very easy to get caught up in the hype of news headlines. Crypto mistakes are startlingly common, and below we list some of them. Don’t buy crypto just because the price is low Low prices can be a great seduction. Especially if the coin is falling. It is easy to think that a low price is a great bargain. While sometimes it might be true, mostly prices are low for a reason. Some cryptocurrencies are just losing popularity. You have to try to understand if this is just a price hike and bounce or the coin is just falling at user rates. Some cryptocurrencies are dropped by developers. Later they might be considered dead, but you can be one of those who jump at the wagon going nowhere. Don’t go ‘all-in’ if you are not sure Many trading platforms are eager to squeeze as much money from you as possible. To do that they always make it look like the only option is to invest as much as possible. They say it will maximize the profits, usually not mentioning that it will maximize the losses also. You must remember betting as much as possible is a quick way to the poor house. Crypto investing is not gambling by any means. Do not think crypto is easy money Nothing related to crypto can be considered as easy money. No matter how exactly you are trying to invest, be it simply buying and holding or trading, investing in crypto is just as serious a business as investing in stocks or  commodities like silver and gold. If you meet someone who says something different you should understand he or she is probably trying to trick you into making crypto mistakes. Do not fall into scams Please remember, the more attractive the deal looks, the more potentially dangerous it is. Most of the scammers use the attractiveness of the deal as their main weapon. For instance you might receive an email with an “investment opportunity” promising huge income or telling you that if you send them crypto they will double or triple the amount. Offers of free money should always be viewed with great skepticism. As well as the opportunities with less known tokens that suddenly skyrocket. One day someone will come to you pointing at a coin that is gaining 200% a week. That might sound like a great chance to invest. But criminals often easily inflate or deflate the price of very small or unknown cryptocurrencies. There are cases with scammers pre-mining some currency, then skyrocketing it to sell all they have got at the peak to somebody like you, who thinks this coin will still rise. You have to be very careful before buying some crypto you have never heard of. There is also a huge problem with crypto wallets. While there are a large number of famous and well respected wallets, such as Ledger, Exodus, Edge, MetaMask, there are plenty of less known entities.  Most of them reside in the App Store and Google Play. Every once in a while you can hear stories of some wallet stealing assets from the users. You can avoid that by carefully choosing a wallet to trust your assets. Don’t forget or lose your crypto keyphrase No matter how carefully you have chosen the wallet, if it is custodian or hardware, then you are the only keeper of the secret keyphrase. Forgetting your keyphrase is like losing the keys to a bank vault. Without your keyphrase, all your cryptos will be irretrievable. Best crypto wallets always remind you to keep the keyphrase safe, but many users don’t pay much attention. And it is also important to notice that the keyphrase should be stored offline. Not in your email where it could be easily stolen from.  Send crypto only to verified addresses The address is crucial to the way cryptocurrencies work. Sending assets to a wrong address will in most cases result in their irretrievable loss. Most wallets will remind you to double check the address when you send the assets. But still it is you and only you who is reliable for the final result. Crypto addresses are long and tricky, so it is always safer to copy and paste them rather than type them in. But sending to a wrong address is a potential mistake not only because of the misprints. There is another danger. You can send crypto to the wrong network. It is not likely to happen when you are sending crypto that uses just one network or a few that are interchangeable. But if you are sending, for example, a stablecoin like Tether (USDT) you must be extremely careful. Tether could be sent via different blockchains and if you send it to the wrong one, the coins will be lost forever. Large exchanges like Coinbase have built systems to protect users from such mistakes. You can simply send crypto to a user chosen by his username rather than his wallet’s address. And the exchange’s software will automatically define the correct network to transfer the coins to the appropriate wallet that belongs to that user. Of course, such a technology brings another danger as you might send your crypto to a wrong username. So careful checking of the address or a username of the recipient is of paramount importance. Check everything twice before sending crypto. Takeaways Crypto is no easy game. It might give you enormous, almost marvelous opportunities to get rich. But it can also be a source of great disappointments. Be careful making important decisions. Don't fall into scams and don't think crypto is easy money.

Michael Saylor, executive chairman of MicroStrategy and a prominent crypto bull, just outlined 21 rules of HODling Bitcoin. Some of them might seem quite trivial. Yet, some of them are absolutely brilliant. Check them out. Saylor was a gem of the recent BTC Prague conference. His keynote was captivating. And some of the things he said might have a huge impact on the market. At least in short terms. What's worth at least Saylor's fantastic prediction of Bitcoin reaching the $8 million per coin mark Or not so fantastic? But another part of his speech might have a bigger impact in long terms. Saylor presented his vision of “21 Rules of HODLing Bitcoin.” Biggest bull on the market, Saylor outlined strategies for managing and sustaining investments in a highly volatile environment. He articulated a philosophical and strategic framework for understanding and investing in BTC. According to Saylor, Bitcoin is so much more than just money. Saylor thinks of Bitcoin as of a financial asset but as a revolutionary tool capable of reshaping global financial paradigms. These rules were consisely summarized by Luke Broyles and published via X. Here they are with comments from market observers. 21 rules of HODLing Bitcoin, according to Michael Saylor #1 “Those who understand buy Bitcoin, those who don’t criticize Bitcoin,” Saylor declared, setting the tone for his discourse on the dichotomy between skeptics and proponents. He argued that recognizing BTC’s potential is akin to seeing a paradigm shift before it fully unfolds. #2 "Everyone is against #Bitcoin  before they are for it." Reflecting on his initial dismissive stance in 2013, Saylor recounted how his view evolved as BTC’s resilience and potential became increasingly evident. His personal journey from skepticism to advocacy underscores a common path among investors who often transition from doubt to strong support. #3 "You will never be done learning about Bitcoin,” Saylor stated, emphasizing the complexity and ever-evolving nature of the cryptocurrency. He suggested that BTC’s intersection with global economics, technology, and regulatory frameworks makes it a perpetually relevant subject for study. #4 Drawing historical parallels, Saylor highlighted moments of significant upheaval, such as WWII and the rise of communism in Europe, to illustrate BTC’s value as a non-geopolitical, stable store of wealth. “Buy BTC because entropy is guaranteed,” he asserted, suggesting that Bitcoin provides a safe haven in times of disorder. #5 According to Saylor, BTC offers an equitable opportunity in contrast to traditional financial systems, which he views as inherently skewed against the average person. “Bitcoin is the only game in the casino that we can all win,” he noted, framing it as a uniquely fair and transparent financial instrument. #6 He advised taking a proactive approach to investment, saying, “Bitcoin won’t protect you if you don’t wear the armor.” This analogy was used to encourage substantial, thoughtful investment in Bitcoin to safeguard one’s financial future. #7 Saylor passionately argued that Bitcoin enables a form of ownership unmediated by any third party: “Your cryptographic keys in your head are your wealth.” This, he claimed, is a radical shift from the way assets have been controlled and protected throughout history. #8 Reflecting on the volatility and growth trajectory, Saylor shared a personal anecdote on how he dismissed BTC at $892 to only deserve buying it at $9,500 for the first time. “Everyone gets Bitcoin at the price they deserve,” he remarked. “He then said when Bitcoin is $950,000 people will try to wait for it to crash to $700,000. Then BTC would go to $8,000,000,” Broyles reiterated. #9 Saylor advised only investing money that one can afford to lose, highlighting the conservative approach to adopting new financial technologies. This rule underscores the balance between visionary investment and financial prudence. #10 Describing fiat currencies and traditional economic indicators as “the matrix,” Saylor championed Bitcoin as a means to transcend conventional financial systems. He sees it as not just a technology but a liberation from the restrictive narratives imposed by traditional economic structures. #11 Saylor shared insights from personal experiences where Bitcoin’s impact on his company’s financial stability was profound. “Without BTC, MSTR would have failed,” he disclosed, illustrating the direct impact of strategic Bitcoin investments on corporate finance. #12 Saylor projected a conservative 24% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next decade, setting a potential valuation benchmark and underscoring his confidence in BTC’s sustained growth. Notably, this would price BTC at $600,000 by 2034. #13 Saylor described the current economic system as flawed, seeing BTC as a cure for these inherent issues. “The cure to economic illness is the orange pill,” he said, promoting it as a revolutionary technology that offers a radical update to outdated economic practices. #14 Rather than attacking the fading fiat system, Saylor urged for a positive approach: “Be for Bitcoin, not against fiat,” emphasizing the importance of building a new system rather than destructively opposing the old. #15 According to Saylor, “Bitcoin is for everybody.” He projected that digital capital like BTC could eventually represent half of all value in a future, yet-to-be-imagined world economy, which would significantly drive up its price. #16 “Learn to think in Bitcoin,” Saylor advised, encouraging a shift in perspective to view future technologies and paradigms through the lens of BTC, rather than trying to fit new innovations into old frameworks. #17 “You don’t change Bitcoin, it changes you.” Saylor highlighted how BTC challenges individuals to rethink their approach to money, value, and investment on a global scale. #18 “Laser eyes protect you from endless lies.” Saylor underscored the importance of maintaining focus on the long-term potential, especially when its market price reaches landmarks like $100,000 or $1 million. He envisioned a future where BTC’s market cap could escalate to between $100 trillion and $500 trillion. #19 He cautioned, “Respect Bitcoin or it will make a clown of you.” This rule was a warning against underestimating BTC’s impact and the foolishness of mocking an emerging financial technology that has substantial backing and proven resilience. #20 “You do not sell your Bitcoin.” Saylor likened selling BTC to self-sabotage, suggesting that it is a foundational asset for long-term financial security, much like a life raft in an ocean or a fire in winter. #21 Finally, Saylor concluded with, “Spread Bitcoin with love.” He stressed the importance of patience and kindness in promoting BTC, especially towards those who are initially critical or dismissive of its benefits.

Bitcoin has brought enough change to the world for his creator to become a legend. Who is Satoshi Nakamoto and will we ever find him? And does the CIA have anything to do with it? Satoshi Nakamoto might one day be awarded a Nobel Prize for Bitcoin. Of course, if he ever shows up. Because, you know, these prizes are never awarded anonymously. The fact that in the age in which it is extremely hard to be anonymous, the identity of the Bitcoin creator is unknown tells a lot. No wonder there are plenty of theories about who Satoshi Nakamoto is or was. Some of them are very well reasoned. Some are just preposterous. But still the Bitcoin itself is such an extraordinary revolution that nothing related to it should be approached with ordinary standards. Let’s take a look at some of the most wild theories about who Satoshi Nakamoto is. Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin - what do we know for sure Thirteen years ago a person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto released a paper describing a new software system called Bitcoin. Bitcoin has sparked a phenomenon that, its proponents believe, might rewire the entire global finance. Today Bitcoin is worth more than $1 trillion. Plenty of competitive cryptocurrencies have appeared. Apart from cryptocurrencies, Blockchain has lit the way for blockchain technologies. Blockchain is now widely adopted in many fields that are not related to finance. NFT (non-fungible token) is also a product of the blockchain technology. And the arising Metaverse is something that can be hardly imagined without blockchain or cryptocurrencies. So how come we still do not know who invented Bitcoin? Who actually is Satoshi Nakamoto? His public life was pretty short. Here is the list of things he had done before he vanished. The public life of Satoshi Nakamoto On Oct. 31, 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto sent a paper to a group of cryptographers. It contained just nine pages outlining a new form of “electronic cash”. This is when the name Bitcoin first appeared. At the time nobody asked questions about Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity. On Jan. 9, 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto launched the Bitcoin network. A few cryptographers helped him remotely to get the network running. The first Bitcoin transaction went from Satoshi Nakamoto to one of those scientists. December, 2010, Satoshi Nakamoto stopped posting publicly. He had published messages on forums and exchanged private emails with the Bitcoin developers until he passed leadership of the project to a software developer Gavin Andresen. None of Satoshi Nakomoto’s messages ever mentioned anything personal. All of them have been thoroughly analyzed since then, but there aren’t any clues to who Satoshi Nakamot is. Everything he ever wrote was about bitcoin and its code. It is impossible to find out who registered the website that Satoshi Nakamoto was using to promote his ideas to developers. Two email addresses his letters came from also vanished. One possible clue to Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity might be hidden in his personal wallets. Yes, Satoshi Nakamoto disappeared having mined over 1 million BTC. These coins have not moved yet. Today those BTC are worth about $55 billion. That would make Satoshi Nakamoto one of the 30 richest people in the world. He actually could have bought Twitter instead of Elon Musk, if he wanted. Whoever moves these tokens now would probably be Satoshi Nakamoto. What is the reason for Satoshi Nakamoto to hide his real identity? In the early years, members of the cryptocurrency community assumed that Satoshi Nakamoto remained anonymous mainly out of fear. He could be afraid of getting arrested or something. It was yet to be seen if Bitcoin would be widely accepted and not approached as something illegal and criminal. Who is Satoshi Nakamoto? What are the most relevant theories? Over the years many people were pegged as “the real Satoshi Nakamoto”. At the same time many people have voluntarily claimed to be him. And in all the cases there was not enough evidence. Who is Satoshi Nakamoto if not Dorian Nakamoto? Dorian Nakamoto, who graduated in physics from California Polytechnic and worked on classified US defense projects, is a Japanese-American scientist. He clearly showed libertarian leanings, just as Satoshi Nakamoto in his papers. This version seems to be the most reasonable. Even Newsweek claimed Dorian Nakamoto to be “that Nakamoto”. Back in 2014, the magazine made the first high-profile attempt to reveal the identity of Bitcoin's founder. That was a clear sign that Bitcoin was going mainstream. But Dorian Nakamoto denied the claim. He told media he had nothing to do with Bitcoin. Hal Finney was Satoshi Nakamoto? One of the earliest theories claimed that the answer to the question of who Satoshi Nakamoto is was pretty obvious. Hal Finney, a cryptographer who worked with Satoshi closely in the early days of Bitcoin, was the first suspect. Satoshi Nakamoto allegedly made his first Bitcoin transfer to Finney. Why wouldn’t we assume that there was no mysterious Bitcoin creator with Japanese roots? Maybe Hal Finney is Satoshi Nakamoto? Finney denied such allegations. He died in 2014, so even if he was Satoshi we will probably never find out. And those $55 billion will remain untouched forever. Gavin Andresen is Satoshi Nakamoto? Andresen is alive and has always denied any possibility for him to be Satoshi Nakamoto. There hasn’t been evidence to prove otherwise. The main reason why people keep thinking of Andresen while trying to answer the question “Who is Satashi Nakamoto” is that Andresen is the person responsible for Bitcoin development in 2011-2012. Exactly when Satoshi was already absent. Andresen became “core maintainer” and chief developer of the open source code that defines the rules of Bitcoin. He used Satoshi Nakamoto’s legacy and diligently worked full-time on the Bitcoin code for years. Andresen conceived the nonprofit Bitcoin Foundation which is now the closest thing to a central authority in the world of Bitcoin. He denied the claim that he was Satoshi Nakamoto. But many people think that even if he isn’t the mysterious creator of Bitcoin he might still know who Satoshi Nakamoto is. Nick Szabo is Satoshi Nakamoto? Nick Szabo is a computer engineer who had actually worked on something very much like Bitcoin years before Satoshi Nakamoto appeared. He conceptualized a decentralized currency he called Bit Gold. It has some obvious resemblance with Bitcoin. And he proposed an idea of smart contract in 1996. No wonder many experts started seeing a possibility for Szabo to be Satoshi Nakamoto. In 2014, a group of researchers at Aston University in Birmingham, England, carried out a linguistic analysis of all the correspondence of Satoshi Nakamoto in the early days of Bitcoin. The researchers concluded that Szabo was most likely to be Nakamoto. Szabo has denied the claim. No other evidence to that theory has ever been published. Elon Musk mentioned Szabo in one of his interviews as a possible candidate for the role of Satoshi Nakamoto. He claimed Szabo was “more responsible for the ideas behind Bitcoin than anyone else.” Craig Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto? This is a more interesting story. Craig Wright is an Australian programmer who lives in London. In 2016 he claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto. The Bitcoin community did not give him a warm welcome. His claims were quickly rejected. Wright was eager to stand with his claims. He even pledged to prove he was Nakamoto by moving some of those early bitcoins. He also sued some media who tried to announce his claims false. Yet to this date, he hasn’t done anything that could make us believe he actually is Satoshi Nakamoto. Even the British judge ruled that Craig lied about being Bitcoin creator. Dave Kleiman was, well, a part of “Satoshi Nakamoto”? Wright’s story seems a bit more intriguing when you remember the Florida lawsuit. Wright himself was sued by the family of his deceased colleague named Dave Kleiman. The suit claimed that Wright actually had been developing Bitcoin together with Kleiman. And as a result of this business partnership Wright owed Kleiman’s family half of those Bitcoins they had mined. There was a trial process, almost Hollywood alike. But the jury found no evidence that Wright and Kleiman were Bitcoin creators, separately or jointly. Could Elon Musk be Satoshi Nakamoto? That might be one of the weirdest ideas ever. But still some people think Elon Musk could have something to do with Bitcoin development. The theory has been around for years. However, Musk has denied these allegations. His direct answer to one of his Twitter followers points to a fact that Musk does not own any BTC. Of course, putting Musk in charge of literally everything now is quite trendy. Recently a theory has been announced that claims Elon Musk and Vitalik Buterin are responsible for Shiba Inu. Seeing Musk as Satoshi Nakamoto is something any of his true fans is eager to do. Musk is a genius, right? He put us all into electric cars, he is about to send humanity to Mars. Why couldn’t he also invent the revolutionary cryptocurrency? But no matter how attractive this idea might seem, we have absolutely no evidence for it whatsoever. Who is Satoshi Nakamoto? Nothing but a puzzle! Well, that’s another wild theory. Years ago some people supposed that Satoshi Nakamoto might be a group of people actually hiding behind that name. If the theory is true, the name Satoshi Nakomoto might not mean anything at all. For instance, it could have been taken from the phone book. Or it may be a puzzle. What if people from that mysterious group of thinkers not only created Bitcoin but also tried to tell us something with that strange name? Could “Satoshi Nakomoto” be just a puzzle? Well, if it is. What does it tell us? At the moment, there are two quite wild theories about that puzzle. According to the first of them, in Japan names are presented by surname first. So we need to write it as Nakamoto Satoshi. If you take a Japanese dictionary and look up the word Nakamoto you will find it means “central origin”. Looking up the word Satoshi gives us “wise” or “clear thinking”. You could also derive the word “intelligent” from it. So adding a little imagination could easily lead you to assume that Satoshi Nakamoto is Central Intelligent. Which basically means we are talking about the CIA. Another conspiracy theory shows that Satoshi Nakamoto could have been a corporate consortium. The name Satoshi Nakamoto, in this theory, derives from these four names: SAmsung, TOSHIba, NAKAmichi MOTOrola.