Top Five Cryptocurrencies as per Market Cap

Nexo Lending Platform Adds Bitcoin Cash Support

Bitcoin, Litecoin, Zcash, Cardano, Ether, Dogecoin, Tether, Titcoin, Potcoin, Auroracoin, Primecoin, Swiftcoin just to name a few of exploding cryptocurrency market. As per investing currency list, there are 2260 cryptocurrencies listed on the market as of 14-Sept. As of 15, March 2018 there were 1658 cryptocurrencies, a whooping upward growth. While launching a crypto may not be much of significance, but getting a position in the market is indeed a tough job.

As of March, the cryptocurrency market capitalization was under $369 billion, that indicates that each of the cryptocurrency in March was worth of ~$222 million. However, that’s not the fact – the top 20 leading cryptos account for 89% of the total market — the other 1,638 cryptocurrencies are worth a combined $39.6 billion.

In fact, if you try listing cryptos with the largest market capitalization, here are the top five cryptos as of writing this article –

As experts recommend while placing your bet choose the one with the market capitilization[total coins that will ever be produced times current value], the coins potential to survive in the market and the ease with which a coin can be traded for fiat currency like the US dollars.

While market cap, its potential to survive and ease to convert are some of the best bets, Traders owning cryptos other than Litecoin, Bitcoin, Ethereum; Bitcoin Cash also find it hard to trade them for actual fiat. Most of the coins could be traded at online cryptocurrency exchange, and individuals could also buy stuff online, but converting it into a fiat means –

First converting it into a significant cryptocurrency [like BTC or ETH]
Then get USD against it.

So even though a USD value is listed against each of the cryptocurrency, that does not signify you can liquidate it as per your wish.

September 14, 2018

Hard Forks a Threat to Cryptocurrency Stability??

After investigating 800 soft forks and hard forks from Bitcoin, Benjamin Trump, a fellow of Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education stats that Participants in cryptocurrency networks like Bitcoin need to be better at preempting beneficial software changes. It will ensure the security and privacy of addresses and transactions and help retain the value of cryptocurrencies.

The analysis showed significant growth in some distinct blockchains curtailing from first Bitcoin software. Many of the Bitcoin forks and other altcoins could not survive beyond a few months, while others like Dogecoin, Litecoin or Vertcoin have persisted for years. Recent forks executed in year 2017-end and early 2018 have opened the gates to future forks. As per experts, hard forks in coming days would be more common with a prediction of up to 50 in 2018 alone.

Different Types of Crypto-backed Loans

Our last post spoke about the differences between the peer to peer lending and Crypto lending if you didn’t get a chance to check here is the link. Taking a step further today we would talk about different types of crypto-backed loans available in the market.

The crypto assets market is still in evolving phase, and earlier where the crypto world only witnessed holders and miners as the market participants, another group emerging in cryptosphere of – issuers, investors, lenders, borrowers demanding exotic flavors in lending services. The flavors available now are in a basic form that allows holders of crypto assets to generate income from interest earned.

Types of Crypto-backed loans

Crypto-to-Crypto Lending

The arrangement works for people who have spare crypto and are not using at any time. Just lend your Bitcoin or Ether, or Altcoins agree to the smart contract and earn an interest rate for a given period of time. It helps users or businesses to earn extra cryptos just by lending it.

Firm offering Crypto to Crypto Lending – Coincheck, Lending Block, Nuo Bank

Crypto-to-Cash Lending

The model works with businesses/users who are holders of cryptocurrency and in need of Cash. So the cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, Ether or Altcoin work as collateral and the user gets the cash in hand. The cash amount is usually credited to the bank account linked, the borrower needs to make monthly payments and once the amount is fully paid the collateral is reimbursed.

Certain kind of conditions are applicable in case of Crypto to cash lending like in case if the collateral price is dropped by a specific percentage say 25-30, the lending service platform can request for more capital.

Firm offering Crypto to Cash Lending – Unchained Capital, SALT Lending

Margin Funding

It is a unique service offered currently by Bitfinex, which allows individuals/users to fund in multiple currencies to Bitfinex traders. The interest rate, duration could all be decided by the individual who is funding it.

In such case, a user could earn a passive income by lending USD/cryptocurrency depending upon the trade volume and price at a given time.

Firm offering Margin Lending – Bitfinex, Nuo Bank [Launching Soon]

References

Bitcoin, Asd,

August 31, 2018

Bitcoin on it way back to $10000 if it holds its value above $7000, crypto trader says.

Ledn, First in Canada to Offer Crypto-backed loans.

Cryptocurrency trader Michael Moro says – If bitcoin holds its value around $7,150, it could be on its way back to $10,000. Speaking on CNBC’s Fast Money he mentioned – If the [$7,000] level holds, say for the next week, two weeks, the bulls will 100 percent be back. They will be more comfortable than the lows for the year are in, and that we are more likely to see $10,000, rather than $5,000. Moro, CEO of cryptocurrency trading firm Genesis Trading and of Genesis Capita said – Once the news broke about the SEC rejection and the price actually held, we did not see the 5, 10, 15 percent sell-off that you’ve seen in previous rejections. So I think the bears have realized they’ve run out of steam.

Read complete news at CNBC

August 30, 2018

SIX MYTHS OF CRYPTOCURRENCY EVERY INVESTOR SHOULD KNOW

2017 has been a transformative year for blockchain and digital currency. As stated by coindesk – The combined market cap rocketed from $15 billion in January to over $600 billion by year’s end. While such exponential growth has acted as a barrier to fresh entrants in crypto domains, with a dip in the market, the newbies are trying to explore the opportunity and get some exposure to cryptosphere. While the hype is all around, the fresh investors might fall for misleading information easily accessible to them.

Our post would talk about some of the myths floating around and the TRUTH behind them. So let’s dive in –

Cryptocurrency is a Ponzi Scheme

When you see your news channel/subscription flashing news like –

“Alleged India Bitconnect head, Divyesh Darji, was arrested this week at an airport in Delhi as he arrived from Dubai. He and conspirators are accused of bilking millions of dollars (Rs 88,000 crore) from Indian investors seeking to find financial refuge during the government’s demonetization campaign.” Read more at news.bitcoin.com

Or

Chinese Police Arrest Hackers Behind $87 Million Cryptocurrency Theft. Read more at ccn.com.”

It might push you to think cryptocurrency is a Ponzi scheme, but its not the fault of the technology but the people who try to misuse and con you and that could happen with any technology.

Cryptocurrency, a use case of blockchain technology has been in the market and used by various verticals across the globe. Firms like Ripple are making seamless payments around the world via digital assets. So while you make up your mind to start investing, make sure to check the reliability and credibility of the firm.

Coins and Tokens are Same

Honestly, Tokens and Coins are the categories of cryptocurrency.

Coins/ Alternative cryptocurrency coins/ Altcoins

In laymen terms, they are the coins that are alternatives to Bitcoin, Ether, etc. The way an altcoin is synthesized is as follows – First, an open source blockchain, with original protocol [ may be a variant of Bitcoin or created their own blockchain like Ethereum, Ripple with new protocol]is picked up and then the underlying code is changed, resulting in a new coin or cryptocoin. Some examples of cryptocoins are – Litecoin, Peercoin, Auroracoin, etc.

Tokens

Tokens could be defined as a representation of a particular utility or asset, which need to reside on top of another blockchain. They are a representation of an asset that is tradeable and fungible, maybe commodities or loyalty points or even other cryptocurrencies.

Tokens need another platform like Omni or Ethereum to operate and exist. Tokens are created over ICO’s or initial Coin Offerings, and is necessary to fund the operating expenses to host it as a service.

Cryptocurrency is only for criminals/tax evaders

Cryptocurrency because of its nature of decentralization and anonymity may have attracted tax evaders and criminals for money laundering and drug trafficking. But they are also used by law-abiding citizens around the world. While one of the use cases of cryptocurrency is for people in underdeveloped and developing countries to enable financial inclusion, it is also helping citizens of countries where there are political and economic instability.

Crypto transactions are anonymous

The essential feature of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency is that it is private. However, the government in the US has implemented regulations wherein exchanges have to comply with Anti Money Laundering and Know Your Customer Regulations. In the European Union, the exchange platform needs to follow guidelines issued by Financial Action Task Force (FATF), then complemented by national rules. The framework bars the subjected entities, from keeping anonymous accounts or accounts in fictitious names. In Asia as well, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is applied. In South Korea that is considered to be one of the biggest hubs of cryptocurrency has banned anonymous trading of cryptocurrencies and requires the entities to verify their customers appropriately.

Bitcoin is the only Cryptocurrency available

Amongst all the cryptocurrency available, Bitcoin is the most popular, backed up by strong community base, is the talk of the town and trending, hence at times mistaken as the only cryptocurrency available.

Cryptocurrency is Not Legal

Cryptocurrency is NOT ILLEGAL. However, the discussion is whether a country accepts it as an alternative to physical currency. Also, government across the globe are trying to lay down regulations to help people from misusing it.

References

Cointelegraph, citowise, masterthecrypto

August 21, 2018