The original article is posted on CoinMarketCap.

As Trump announced its notorious tariffs for imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, over $2 billion-worth trading positions ended up liquidated.

The main reason for this? Not the volatility (which is undoubtedly extreme in this day and age), but the lack of precautions against it.

As the market is spiking, elaborate risk-management again takes its utmost relevance.

To help you meet the next market swing fully armed, this article introduces a new saving tool for your trades – isolated margin strategy.

Below: why isolated margin is (probably) one of the best toolkits to survive the 2025 market, how to implement it as simply as effectively, and what features of your hands-on exchange can make it happen.

TL;DR

• Isolated margin trading ensures that no single bad trade wipes out your entire portfolio, keeping risk contained within each individual position.

• While it grants greater control, traders must stay vigilant—each position requires active monitoring, and higher capital commitments may be necessary.

• Traders use sub-accounts to separate strategies, ensuring one experiment doesn’t interfere with another and allowing precise execution across different markets.

• Exchanges offer built-in risk management tools, from customizable margin levels to sub-accounts. They’re available on OKX, WhiteBIT, Kraken, and other top exchanges..

What is Isolated Margin

Isolated margin trading allows traders to allocate a fixed amount of funds to a specific position, ensuring that potential losses are limited to that allocation. Unlike cross-margin trading, where all available funds in the account can be used to cover losses, isolated margin ensures that other positions and the trader’s overall balance remain unaffected by adverse price movements in a single trade.

This approach is particularly useful for high-risk trades, as it provides a structured risk management strategy. If a position moves against the trader, liquidation occurs only within the allocated margin, preventing a total account wipeout. Traders often use isolated margin to manage leverage effectively and avoid overexposure.

Benefits and Challenges of Isolated Margin

Isolated margin trading provides traders with enhanced risk management by allocating a fixed amount of funds to each position. This approach limits potential losses to the assigned margin, ensuring that the rest of the portfolio remains unaffected by a single trade’s outcome. It is particularly beneficial in volatile markets, where sudden price swings can trigger liquidations.

A major advantage of isolated margin is the ability to define risk exposure precisely, allowing for controlled and diversified trading strategies. However, it requires active management—each position must be monitored and adjusted individually. Unlike cross-margin trading, where funds are shared, isolated margin demands higher capital allocation per trade.

Trading Tactics for Isolated Margin: Nutshell

A structured approach to risk management is crucial when using isolated margin trading. A common strategy involves allocating only a fixed percentage of the portfolio to leveraged positions. For instance, a trader may commit 30% of their capital to a leveraged Ethereum long trade while reserving the remaining 70% for other strategies. This method helps limit downside risk and maintain overall portfolio stability.

Additionally, diversification plays a key role in risk control. By utilizing isolated margin accounts, traders can spread funds across multiple positions, ensuring that an adverse move in one trade does not affect the entire portfolio. This reduces concentration risk while allowing independent risk management for each position.

Implementing structured capital allocation and diversification strategies helps traders optimize their risk exposure, protect assets, and navigate volatile markets more efficiently.

How to Use Isolated Margin Trading on Exchange

Most leading cryptocurrency exchanges support isolated margin trading, enabling traders to manage risk separately for each position. This approach offers flexibility in adjusting margin amounts, ensuring better control over potential losses.

Customizable leverage is another key feature, letting traders apply different leverage levels per position.

What is more, many top exchanges, including Kraken, WhiteBIT, and OKX, also offer sub-accounts, allowing users to segment strategies while maintaining streamlined account management.

Isolated Margin and Sub-Accounts

Sub-accounts and isolated margin trading offer traders greater control over risk and strategy management. By allocating separate funds to different trading approaches, sub-accounts prevent a single misstep from compromising the entire portfolio.

How to Set Sub-Accounts

To demonstrate the actual usage of sub-accounts, two exchanges were chosen: OKX and WhiteBIT. Both represent two common set-up flow types.

To set up a sub-account on OKX, you should:

№1. Log in to your OKX account

№2. Navigate to Profile and select "Sub-accounts"

№3. Click "+Create sub-account"

A Standard Sub-account on OKX allows deposits, internal transfers, and independent trading strategies for spot and futures markets but does not permit withdrawals.

Meanwhile, a Managed Trading Sub-account is designed for professional trading teams, offering advanced trading configurations and requiring an additional binding process for enhanced control and oversight.

How to Set Up and Fund a Sub-account on WhiteBIT

Step 1: Creating a Sub-account

1. Log in to your exchange account.

2. Navigate to the "Sub-accounts" section, usually found in account settings.

3. Click "Create Sub-account" and configure its parameters, including name, password, and permissions.

Step 2: Transferring Funds

To activate trading, fund the sub-account:

1. Go to Funds Management.

2. Select the sub-account to transfer funds.

3. Enter the amount and confirm the transfer.

This setup enables separate trading strategies while maintaining clear financial oversight.

In a nutshell…

Isolated margin trading and sub-accounts provide traders with greater risk control by keeping positions independent and preventing a single loss from impacting an entire portfolio.

This structured approach allows multiple strategies to coexist efficiently.

Especially in volatile markets, these tools are essential for safeguarding capital, optimizing execution, and maintaining financial discipline, helping traders navigate uncertainty while ensuring long-term profitability.

The original article is posted on CoinMarketCap.

We live in the age of globalisation.

Nowadays, every aspect of human being is mainly dictated by global tendencies and cross-nation exchange. And the cryptocurrency market is not an exception.

But which region holds more power upon your trades?

This article dives into the crypto landscapes of three driving forces of digital assets: Europe, Asia, and the USA. Discusses, which is a main trendsetter, and which creates a greater impact.

But crucially: assesses why geography is everything in crypto, despite its decentralised nature.

Why Market Geography Matters

When it comes to crypto trading, location is everything.

Market makers, the backbone of trading activity, operate under vastly different conditions depending on where they’re based.

Some regions, particularly emerging economies, see crypto as a way to gain financial independence from traditional banking systems and the US dollar. Others, like the US and Europe, focus on regulatory control and institutional integration.

Meanwhile, market makers juggle high-speed connectivity, 24/7 operations, and managing multiple exchanges across time zones. Their location ultimately dictates which markets have the most power.

“Geography is the pulse of crypto”, said Vincent Liu, Chief Investment Officer at Kronos Research, exclusively for the article. “Where a firm operates determines its access to markets, infrastructure, and talent ultimately defining who leads in this industry”.

Cases in point: in the US, its Coinbase dominates liquidity, while in Asia, its local players help fuel the region’s expanding trading influence.

As crypto continues to globalize, the question isn’t just who’s trading—it’s where the liquidity is being built.

Regional Power Dynamics in the Crypto Market

The crypto market isn’t driven by a single force. It’s a complex intersection between regions, each shaping liquidity, regulation, and adoption in its own way. So, who’s really in control?

United States: Traditional Financial Dominance

When it comes to crypto, the United States operates as both a powerhouse and a paradox. It wields enormous influence through regulatory policies, institutional investors, and USD-backed stablecoins, accounting for 90% of the global stablecoin market cap and 70% of trading volume in Europe.

“The U.S. remains a dominant force in global finance, with USD-backed stablecoins comprising a majority of the global stablecoin market cap, reinforcing crypto’s financial backbone”, believes Vincent Liu. “While the U.S. regional power is becoming more evenly distributed”

Institutional dominance is undeniable. Around 28% of American adults (roughly 65 million people) own crypto, and 73% of US holders plan to continue investing in 2025. The rise of Bitcoin ETFs has further cemented institutional involvement, with significant portions of Bitcoin’s supply being absorbed by funds and asset managers.

Yet, the US market remains surprisingly insular. While home to Coinbase and Kraken, two of the largest regulated exchanges, its exchange landscape lacks a truly global reach. Unlike Asia or Europe, where platforms operate across multiple jurisdictions, the US crypto scene remains largely domestic, limiting its ability to dictate global liquidity flows.

Asia: The Engine of Crypto Supply

Asia isn’t just participating in the crypto market – it applies for leading it. The region, particularly Central & Southern Asia and Oceania (CSAO), dominates global adoption, with seven of the top 20 countries for crypto usage located here.

“Asia’s stock and crypto businesses thrive due to its liquidity and retail momentum,” says Vincent Liu.

Indeed: unlike the US and Europe, which have seen declining retail engagement, Asia’s retail activity continues to surge, growing 6.4% year-over-year, while the US and EU dropped by -5.7% and -0.7%, respectively.

Even with China’s regulatory crackdowns, the country once controlled 70% of global crypto mining power, showcasing the region’s deep-rooted influence. Meanwhile, Asian exchanges set the tone for global liquidity, with Binance, OKX, and Bybit shaping trading volume across borders.

With institutional flows concentrated in the US, Asia has become the real supplier of market depth and liquidity, making it the bedrock of global crypto trading.

“We see Asia emerging as a macroeconomic hub through its critical role in global trading volume underpinning even Europe’s markets and its capacity to merge regulatory flexibility with a vibrant investor community”, summarises Liu.

Europe: A Regulatory Powerhouse with Limited Market Impact

Europe has emerged as the global leader in crypto regulation, setting the standard with MiCAR, a framework designed to bring clarity to digital asset oversight.

“Europe’s MiCA is redefining the global crypto market by establishing regulatory clarity”, says Liu. “We see it enhancing trust and institutional adoption, though its strict stablecoin rules pulling liquidity toward Asia and less-regulated hubs, altering the global balance.”

While this regulatory stability attracts institutional interest, Europe still lacks true market dominance, as US-based crypto issuers and intermediaries continue to shape its financial landscape.

Despite this, the region has seen explosive growth** in crypto investment products** – assets under management in ETPs surged from $600 million to $16 billion, with Bitcoin (54%) and Ethereum (15%) leading investor preferences. However, trading volumes remain lower than in the US and Asia, limiting its overall influence.

Europe also depends heavily on Asian exchanges for liquidity, with Binance, OKX, and Bybit facilitating much of the region’s trade.

A Power Play of Regions

The global crypto market operates as an interconnected ecosystem, where each region’s strengths contribute to the industry's overall evolution. Asia’s deep liquidity and retail adoption create the foundation for active market participation, while North America's institutional influence legitimizes crypto as an asset class. Meanwhile, Europe’s regulatory leadership ensures long-term stability and investor protection.

However, beyond adoption rates and trading activity, virtual capitalisation remains a defining factor in assessing regional dominance. One of the recent articles, analyzing Trump’s impact on crypto volatility, examined the fluctuations in exchange capitalizations following major economic shifts. The results were clear: capital flow is not just reactive – it is directly influenced by regional regulatory policies and supply dynamics.

The exchanges that performed best in terms of stability and liquidity reflected their respective region’s core strengths. Coinbase (North America) maintained high institutional inflows despite regulatory pressure, Binance and OKX (Asia) continued to dominate in volume, benefiting from deep liquidity pools, while WhiteBIT (Europe) reinforced its position as the region’s leading exchange with a strong regulatory focus.

Crucially, according to the formula by Aaron Watts, the aforementioned exchanges vastly differ in terms of the virtual capitalisations, reflecting a power distribution between regions:

• Binance (Asia): $170 billion (from $220 billion in December 2024)

• WhiteBIT: $30 billion (from $38.9 billion in December 2024)

• Coinbase: $64 billion (from $81 billion in December 2024)

This highlights a critical takeaway: regional policies and crypto supply mechanisms have a direct impact on exchange capitalization. Markets with clear regulatory frameworks attract institutional trust, while those with strong liquidity mechanisms sustain high trading volumes. Ultimately, the interplay between regulation, supply, and capital flow determines which regions hold the most influence.

Understanding these regional dynamics is essential for traders and investors seeking to navigate an increasingly complex and interdependent market. Those who recognize these patterns will be better positioned to anticipate market trends and allocate capital effectively.

The original article is posted on CoinMarketCap.

Cryptocurrency cards have emerged as a pivotal bridge between the digital asset ecosystem and the everyday economy. The relevance lies in addressing a critical gap in crypto adoption: utility.

While centralized exchanges (CEXs) primarily focus on onboarding—helping users buy, store, and manage crypto—the next big question is what to do with these assets when it comes time to spend them.

Cryptocurrency cards answer this by enabling users to seamlessly convert their holdings into spendable currency for goods and services.

With widespread competition in the realm, the ultimate question comes into play: which card will cover your utility needs at its best?

This report dives deep into the most prominent options in the market to assess the perks and strengths of each of them.

To receive a deeper understanding of crypto cards phenomena, Kseniia Zhytomyrska, Trustee co-founder and CTO, and Samira Abdulova, Head of Global Corporate Communications at WhiteBIT, exclusively shared their pieces of insight.

Let’s dive in.

Why Cryptocurrency Cards Matter

The value proposition of these cards is twofold: direct crypto onramp/offramp capabilities and user-friendly convenience. They simplify the once-complex process of accessing fiat liquidity from crypto holdings, delivering near-instant conversions. This quickness is essential in a world where timing and ease-of-use define customer loyalty.

Moreover, cryptocurrency cards are transforming the adoption curve. Previously, the logic was "general to specific"—an ambitious push to replace or integrate crypto with specialized payment infrastructures. Today, these cards are redefining adoption as "specific to general," leveraging existing retail payment systems like Visa and Mastercard to offer a direct, ready-to-use solution.

This paradigm shift lowers barriers, making crypto spendable in a world already equipped for traditional payments. The result? Broader adoption, faster integration, and a stronger case for cryptocurrency as a viable everyday asset.

Contenders List

Based on a global user appeal, a list of 8 contenders is formed:

• Trustee – a payment card of Ukrainian origin that allows users to make payments at retail outlets, seamlessly converting crypto to fiat at the time of purchase.

• Revolut crypto card – a product by one of the largest European neobanks, enabling users to switch between crypto and fiat purchases for everyday spending.

• Binance Visa – a cryptocurrency debit card by the largest digital assets exchange.

• WhiteBIT Nova – newly-released crypto debit card by the largest European exchange, offering up to 10% cashback and seamless integration with digital wallets like Apple Pay.

• Coinbase Card – a Visa debit card by the first and only publicly-listed cryptocurrency exchange of the U.S. origin.

• Nexo Card – a unique dual-mode card that allows users to spend their digital assets without selling them, providing access to cryptocurrency-powered liquidity across millions of merchant sites worldwide.

• Bybit Card – a Mastercard debit card by one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally.

• Crypto.com Visa – a prepaid card by a popular cryptocurrency exchange.

Each of these cards represents a unique approach to bridging the gap between digital assets and everyday spending, making the once-futuristic concept of paying with crypto as simple as swiping a regular card.

Breaking Down The Evaluation Scope

To address a balanced perspective that captures both the financial and functional aspects of choosing a card, a following spectre of criteria is coined:

• Cashback, its availability and rates

• Supported assets, their number and diversity

• Fees: opening, monthly, and transactional

• Target region, in which a certain cards operates

• Unique features that make the product stand out

All factors combined will help you gain a more clear understanding of which cards fit best your financial goals, regional requirements, and preferences.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Insights:

The distinct differences between cards can be spotted right at first peek, specifically – while researching the cashback options.

In this category, Bybit Card and WhiteBIT Nova obviously lead the pack, both offering up to 10% cashback, while Binance Visa offers 8% (limited to BNB), and Crypto.com Visa provides scalable rewards depending on CRO stakes. By contrast, Revolut restricts cashback to premium subscribers, and Trustee offers none so far.

In terms of available assets’ variety, Revolut is an absolute winner, supporting the most assets (180+). It is followed by Crypto.com Visa with over 40 options and Revolut (30+ assets), while Binance’s card offer ca. 10 cryptocurrencies to choose from.

Crucially, a wide majority of cards, such as Binance Visa, Nexo, and Bybit Card offer zero fees. Trustee commissions its users with a tolerant 1%, while both Revolut and Coinbase Card charge equal 2.5%. Crypto.com Visa’s fees vary by tier.

Coverage is the decisive factor of divergence. Nexo and Crypto.com Cards are the only ones providing global coverage. Trustee, Nova, and Coinbase Card focus on European markets, with the latter offering its services for the U.S. users as well.

Crucially, each card offers tailored perks, including cashback or points-based rewards. But the uniqueness of each product is a matter of a deeper scope.

“Our (WhiteBIT Nova’s) implementation adds no overhead to Visa’s transaction processing speeds, meaning users benefit from the full TPS capabilities of Visa’s network,” highlights Samira Abdulova, WhiteBIT’s Head of Global Corporate Communications, exclusively for the article.* “Transactions are as fast as any traditional card, with no delays caused by crypto-specific features”.*

Operational swiftness is an integral characteristic of a crypto card that primarily defines its user-experience’s quality. Hence, it is achieved differently across the industry.

“The microservice architecture with multi-layer deployment allows you to keep the pace of updates constantly, without stopping card transactions or user operations for a moment,” says Kseniia Zhytomyrska, co-founder and CTO at Trustee, referring to their card. “Data sharding and server backups, processing audits, and constant control over all third-party service providers are must-haves for any fintech product. Especially if it is a crypto product, where it may be impossible to “reverse” transactions.”

What distinguishes such architecture is also a technical sustainability to the Internet connection malfunctions, states Zhytomyrska.

“The chosen architecture with an open outer layer but completely closed and overlapping internal processes proved to be reliable and resilient to failures, even during blackouts – users were able to log into the application and perform operations, because we immediately enabled a backup login channel via Telegram.”

The accessibility proves to be a game-changer in this regard. Crucially, what proves the success of a cards is their availability’s simplicity.

“The card (WhiteBIT Nova) also eliminates common barriers to entry: no fees for issuance, activation, or maintenance,” says Samira Abdulova.

In a nutshell:

What sets crypto cards apart from the other products is that they deliver a factual value.

As products, they enrich crypto with a direct, straightforward utility that many have sought in many products and services, but could not achieve.

As phenomenons, they expand Web3 to a real-life dimension, opening doors for many more cutting-edge solutions to leave the papers.

But crucially, they underline the tendency between every technology ever existed: one is only valuable when it aids ultimate people needs.

The original article is posted on CoinMarketCap.

Behind the seamless execution of trades and the flashing order books lies a complex system that keeps crypto exchanges alive.

Buying and selling is just a tip of the iceberg. But what truly fuels the digital trading world?

The article is discovering behind-the-curtain sides of crypto exchanges, diving into three pillars of a modern digital asset operator: transaction fees, pools, and liquidity providers.

What Liquidity (Does Not) Mean For Exchanges

First and foremost: if an exchange is small, it does not mean it is unsustainable. The market position of a digital asset operator is primarily determined not by its trading volume, but by the exchange’s capacity for it.

What is even more decisive: the success is measured by the quality of addressing the needs of its target audience. The ones primarily include average transactional costs and liquidity.

Taking a look at five exchanges reveals that the more liquidity is required, the more additional providers it enrolls. And vice versa.

Each of the different operators is diverse by trading volume and, respectively, the available toolkits to ensure ‘smooth’ trading. Namely, while Gemini and Kraken are sustained by the institutional investors, WhiteBIT with its larger volume brings its own mining pool into play apart from traditional liquidity providers,

On the other hand, what unifies all of the exchanges is the transactional structure. And one is a matter of a deeper unit economy understanding.

The Economics of Transaction Fees

Transaction fees are the backbone of any cryptocurrency exchange. They serve as a crucial revenue stream while simultaneously shaping user behavior, market liquidity, and overall trading efficiency. But how exactly do exchanges determine these fees, and what strategies do they use to remain competitive?

Most crypto exchanges use a tiered maker-taker fee structure, where traders pay different fees depending on their role in the market. Makers (those who add liquidity by placing limit orders) usually enjoy lower fees or even rebates, while takers (who remove liquidity by executing market orders) pay slightly higher rates. These fees typically range between 0.05% to 0.25% of the transaction volume, with reductions for high-volume traders.

This model benefits both users and exchanges: traders enjoy lower costs as their volume increases, while exchanges encourage liquidity and deeper order books. Institutional investors and whales particularly benefit from this structure, as they move large sums across markets and demand competitive pricing.

Exchanges constantly fine-tune their fee systems to balance revenue generation with user retention. Several strategies are key:

• Dynamic Fees – Some platforms adjust fees in real-time based on market conditions, trading volumes, and network congestion. This ensures they remain attractive to traders while optimizing revenue.

• VIP & Loyalty Programs – High-frequency traders often gain access to VIP tiers, reducing their fees as a reward for volume. Some platforms also provide additional incentives like exclusive trading tools and priority customer support.

• Native Token Discounts – Many exchanges issue native tokens, which can be used to reduce fees—sometimes by as much as 25%. This creates an ecosystem where holding the exchange’s token becomes beneficial for regular traders.

• Alternative Revenue Streams – Beyond transaction fees, successful exchanges diversify their income through margin trading, staking services, lending protocols, and liquidity partnerships. This ensures financial sustainability even during periods of low market volatility.

As crypto trading evolves, so will fee structures. Competition between exchanges is pushing platforms to lower fees, introduce more innovative pricing models, and integrate decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions. The challenge lies in balancing sustainability with affordability, ensuring that exchanges remain profitable while keeping traders engaged.

Mining Pools As Liquidity Sources

Mining pools have long been an essential part of the cryptocurrency landscape, ensuring the steady creation of new digital assets. However, their role has expanded far beyond mere block validation—today, they function as key liquidity providers for crypto exchanges, opening up a whole new vector of exchange services.

At their core, mining pools aggregate computational power from multiple participants to increase the probability of successfully mining new blocks. Once these blocks are validated, the newly created assets are distributed among miners and often funneled directly into exchanges. This structured distribution process ensures a consistent supply of tradable assets, reducing liquidity shortages and improving overall market efficiency.

The main gig is: by regularly supplying assets to the market, mining pools contribute to deeper order books and minimize slippage in trading pairs. They also function as natural market makers, consistently selling mined assets to cover operational costs, which further enhances exchange liquidity.

Liquidity: The Driving Force of an Exchange

All the aforementioned aspects contribute to one and only concept that sustains any crypto exchange: liquidity. Henceforth, they act as liquidity providers, but ones are not limited to the pools and proper transactional framework.

At their core, liquidity providers function as market makers, continuously placing buy and sell orders to keep trading pairs active. Their operations rely on sophisticated algorithmic strategies, which dynamically adjust supply and demand to prevent extreme price fluctuations. These providers operate across both centralized exchanges (CEXs) and decentralized platforms (DEXs), ensuring that users experience minimal slippage and tighter bid-ask spreads.

On centralized exchanges, institutional-grade market makers deploy deep liquidity pools, ensuring that even high-volume trades are executed smoothly. These firms utilize advanced hedging techniques to mitigate risks while providing a steady stream of tradable assets. In contrast, decentralized exchanges rely on Automated Market Makers (AMMs), where liquidity pools enable token swaps without the need for traditional order books. In this model, individual users can contribute assets to these pools and earn passive rewards, democratizing the role of liquidity provision.

The presence of strong liquidity providers has a direct impact on market stability. By maintaining balanced order books, they prevent sudden price spikes and crashes, creating a more predictable trading environment. Their influence extends beyond just market health—exchanges also benefit financially from the increased trading volumes and transaction fees that liquidity providers facilitate. The faster trade execution enabled by ample liquidity enhances user experience, reducing frustration associated with volatile spreads or slow transactions.

Conclusion: What Brings Exchanges to Life

Transaction fees, mining pools, and liquidity providers – all these elements work in tandem to ensure smooth operations, market stability, and user engagement, making digital asset platforms viable financial ecosystems.

Together, these forces shape the efficiency and resilience of crypto exchanges, determining their long-term sustainability. As the industry matures, innovations in fee structures, liquidity management, and decentralized finance integrations will continue to redefine the space.

The future belongs to platforms that can strike the perfect balance between competitive pricing, deep liquidity, and robust market-making strategies—ensuring that traders, investors, and institutions can operate with confidence in an ever-evolving digital economy.

The original article is published on CoinMarketCap.

“What sets this year apart is the somewhat unexpected timing of volatility,” believes JPMorgan’s Eddie Wen.

Indeed, since Trump took office, the volatility in the market has been notoriously high within the local trend. The potential reasons for this – Trump’s tariffs and recent market shake-offs.

As markets adjust to the political shift, the fundamental question remains: Is Trump’s presidency a turning point for crypto legitimacy, or does it mark the beginning of a new era of politically-driven speculation?

When It’s All Began

The market’s volatility was evident even before Trump officially took office.

Following his election victory, Bitcoin surged from $68,000 in November 2024 to over $100,000 by December. This so-called “Trump Bump” injected nearly $2 trillion into the crypto market, pushing total capitalization to a record $3.29 trillion. To sum up: while investors were expecting a pro-business administration, they drove one of the fastest rallies in history.

Days before inauguration, Trump and his family launched meme coins, $TRUMP and $MELANIA. The $TRUMP token skyrocketed from $3 to $70, reaching a $14 billion market cap. However, 80% of its supply is reportedly controlled by Trump-affiliated entities, fueling manipulation concerns.

The numbers, however, reveal a more complicated picture: 80% of the supply is reportedly controlled by Trump-affiliated entities, raising concerns over market manipulation. What is more, according to Coinbase chief product officer Conor Grogan, Trump could have made more than $800 million from his token.

The lack of transparency in ownership and potential price engineering raise questions about whether his administration’s crypto stance is driven by policy—or personal financial gain.

Trade War Shake-Off

The Trump administration’s latest trade tariffs have rattled global markets, with cryptocurrencies bearing the brunt of the impact.

A 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports, a 10% levy on Chinese goods, and potential duties on European exports have heightened economic tensions. In response, Canada enacted immediate countermeasures, while China and Mexico prepared retaliatory actions, fueling uncertainty.

The crypto market reacted sharply, with Bitcoin dropping nearly 14% to a low of $91,441 before stabilizing above $94,000. Ethereum plunged 24%, hitting its weakest point since September, while XRP and Dogecoin lost over 30%.

Notably, Trump-related tokens also fell, with the Official Trump Coin down 15% and Melania Trump’s meme coin slipping 12%. Liquidations surged, wiping out $2 billion in leveraged positions within 24 hours. Meanwhile, crypto stocks, including Coinbase and MicroStrategy, dropped over 5%, underscoring the sector’s exposure to shifting economic policies.

How Trump Took Over Market Volatility

The latest tariff-induced market turbulence has deepened volatility across the cryptocurrency landscape, as institutional traders and analysts grapple with shifting economic conditions.

A JPMorgan report now identifies inflation and tariffs as the primary market drivers for 2025, while 41% of traders cite heightened volatility as their biggest challenge—up from 28% last year.

What sets this year apart is the somewhat unexpected timing of volatility,” said Eddie Wen, JPMorgan’s global head of digital markets, in an interview to Bloomberg. “Markets are reacting to news headlines in surprising ways, and I expect this trend to continue in the current climate.”

What is more, with the S&P 500’s potential for a 5-10% decline, David Kostin, a strategist at Goldman Sachs, warns of further pressure on crypto assets.

Remarkably, trading volumes have surged, particularly in currencies linked to Trump’s tariff targets—Canada’s dollar, Mexico’s peso, and China’s yuan—underscoring the broader financial spillover.

The impact touched cryptocurrency exchanges as well – yet conversely. Since December 20, 2024, the trading volumes of the leading crypto operators plummeted at least 20%. Namely, on February 7, Binance saw a 23% drop, U.S.-based Coinbase – 29.1%, while EU-centred WhiteBIT – 21.3% in the last 24 hours, according to CoinGecko.

This broadly reflected on crypto exchanges’ virtual capitalisation, as per the formula by CoinCodex’s Adam Watts. As it directly stems from the average trading volume, this by far may pin Trump’s factual controversies between his pro-Web3 political agenda and actual impact.

Thus, according to the formula, which derives from Coinbase’s market value ($68 billion as of February 7), since Trump took office, the virtual capitalisation of the top exchanges has endured following drops:

• Binance: $170 billion (from $220 billion in December 2024)

• Bybit: $32 billion (from $43.9 billion in December 2024)

• WhiteBIT: $30 billion (from $38.9 billion in December 2024)

• Kraken: $9 billion (from $13 billion in December 2024)

This indicates that despite the announced efforts to streamline crypto into mass adoption, Trump’s factual stance may cause a contrary effect – specifically, through weakening a digital operator niche while spurring outflows and restraining potential trading operations. In a nutshell – plummeting the core drivers of the nowadays Web3-businesses, as well as injecting volatility to increase the risks and, henceforth, sending a mixed message to the crypto enthusiasts.

One Man In Charge Of It All

Once considered a hedge against economic instability, digital assets are now increasingly reactive to geopolitical and macroeconomic developments. And, undoubtedly, Trump’s administration sees the perspective clear.

This comes as an even louder precedent with crushing the functional operability of the leading crypto exchanges by getting their virtual cap diminished, which remains the main source and transmitter of liquidity into the Web3 industry. Should this mechanism plummet, blockchain-oriented businesses should lose their touch not only with users, but with their core investors.

Each Trump decision seems to plummet the market, while another one puts a healing patch upon it. This underlines that in the age of global wealth redistribution, market volatility is becoming the core of Trump's policy – but not the initial tech incentivisation, as one stated.

The only question is: will it strengthen the politically-driven speculation globally, or is Trump taking a solo charge upon it?

The original article is posted on The Coinomist Magazine.

Web3 is at a crossroads.

From one end, community-focused projects are rallying through the market, taking over investment attention with new approaches.

From another, innovative solutions are gathering capital and shaping the new iteration of blockchain technology.

While both groups synergise, they utilise contrasting approaches for mass adoption. In the end: which takes over?

To find answers to these and many more intriguing questions, Matvii Diadkov, founder and CEO of Bitmedia, shares his expert prospects on Web3 adoption, impact of GameFi, and community-centring tendency in the market.

Introduction: about BitMedia and Web3 development

– How did you find yourself in blockchain development? What caught your attention about Web3?

– I have been in blockchain development since 2013 and, as everyone at the time, I was very inspired by the technology and new approach in finance. It was something really new and exciting, and you just could not ignore it.

I was very impressed by Bitcoin and its technology. The same I can tell you about Web3. This technology goes beyond just financial transactions; it will change our understanding of ownership and data transmission.

– You’ve launched BitMedia – blockchain-development company – in 2014. Back in the day, what were the most difficult challenges to set up an enterprise in a formerly niche sector?

– For us, the most challenging part was to find an audience, because a lot of projects at the time wanted to get customers and users, but the size of the audience was limited. So our main challenge was to find a relevant audience for blockchain projects, which, by the way, is still relevant today.

Usually, there is more demand than supply for the blockchain audience.

– Why does this disruption between supply and demand take place? Is the Web3-community still relatively small, or is it difficult to reach them via traditional promotional channels?

– Yes, it is really relatively small, and we can see it in the example of RobinHood. They combined Web2 and crypto audiences by offering crypto with traditional stock markets, which is more understandable to users.

As for acquisition and promotional channels, indeed, sometimes it's hard to use traditional methods, because the audience is still narrow. That's exactly why our ad network is successful in crypto – we learned how to find and aggregate this narrow audience.

– You are a founder of Bitmedia.IO – crypto advertising platform. From this perspective, what distinguishes crypto marketing from the other niches?

The main difference is that all Web3 projects are strongly focused on community. The main marketing approach in Web3 is community management. The community is the most valuable asset for the Web3 projects. A lot of companies in web series are still missing this part and trying to use only traditional Web2 tools and concepts.

– On your opinion, has Web3-sector already come up with its specific marketing tools, or is it just adapting the traditional instruments?

– I would say it's a combination of traditional instruments and a specific approach. The most specific part is working with the community and utilizing these, let's say, human resources.

The community does a lot of work regarding promo of the project. Usually, community members are beneficials of project success; they could be token- or NFT-holders, and the success of the projects directly reflects on their own capitalization. That's why they are incentivized to shield the project, to promote it, to tell other users about its benefits.

The rest, I would say, is pretty traditional: PR, influence marketing, direct advertising and so on.

About community-focused projects

– The GameFi sector has seen a significant market boost with the introduction and rising popularity of TON-based projects. Even crypto exchanges entered the sphere. From the point of your experience, what makes the latest crypto games so overwhelmingly popular?

I would say it's not the popularity of the games itself – it's the audience's expectations of some kind of expected profit. All these games are made very primitive on purpose, so the onboarding of users is trivial. But I wouldn't say it's a long-lasting trend.

– Many believe that games are currently acting like a sort of a marketing funnel. Do you agree with this statement? If yes, would you believe that such a method of promotion may transfer to other types of products, i.e. certain dApps or something similarly interactive?

– Yes. In terms of projects like tap-games, a lot of companies found an acquisition channel in this approach. So, basically, they do the same as, for example, Hamster Kombat, but the difference is: they really have some exit strategy, i.e. onboarding users to their platform or listing a community token (in case of exchange or trading platform).

The main idea of this kind of apps is to boost referral programs to encourage users to invite their friends for some benefit, to gather an audience as big as possible, and then to try to monetize or onboard them to a platform.

But this hype is already gone. Now, top games are just selling audiences to each other. But the gamified approach is the right way to go, in my opinion.

– Do you think the simplicity of clicker games could oversimplify the crypto experience, or is that part of their appeal?

– No, I would connect it to the experience actually, because, back in 2014, there were a lot of tools that actually provided free crypto to users (and there still is). Now it’s just another option to make the same thing even without actual crypto, but with a promise of some future airdrop.

– Do you see GameFi clickers evolving to incorporate more complex elements over time, or will simplicity always be the key?

– Yes. I think game mechanics will be more interesting and more complex. They will give players real competition in real gaming experience with the help of crypto and blockchain.

– Undoubtedly, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have seen better days. Yet they still play an important role in GameFi, specifically in terms of user engagement and tokenization of the in-game collectibles. Could such utility bring back NFT to play? Will they contribute to user adoption?

– Actually, I wouldn't say NFTs are not in play. They are actively used by a lot of projects, including Web3 games. So yeah, NFTs are here for a long time. It's a new approach and a new way to manage assets, including in-game ones.

– From the developer’s perspective, how else can NFT be utilised? What are the most realistic and compelling utility scenarios?

– Actually, NFTs already have a lot of utility cases, such as RWA (tokenised Real World Assets – author’s note) ownership, digital identity, digital assets, some automated smart contract logics etc.

It’s not about selling JPEGs – and it never was.

To be more precise: everything in blockchain is just some form of data ownership. The meaning of this data is just our imagination.

We’re working on NFTs in the game industry that will help make games more decentralised and community-owned, but also it could be a good way to do a lot of stuff – both in real world and virtual.

– While some GameFi projects utilise blockchain to deliver a profound in-game economy, others choose the Play2Earn strategy. How important is it for these games to offer real financial incentives? Would you consider the financial aspect the cornerstone of GameFi?

– I would say the financial aspect is a crucial part of GameFi, and it could be implemented using a lot of tools including play-to-earn (P2E), blockchain tokens, NFTs, and other mechanics.

Real financial incentives are important game mechanics in question of entertainment, and this kind of games is building in the whole niche of GameFi.

– From your perspective, can GameFi projects have a fully-fledged adoption without alienating traditional gamers who may be skeptical about crypto?

– In this case, I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. GameFi could become an additional niche or additional type of the game, but it doesn't mean that all games should become GameFi.

So if you are interested and excited about this kind of entertainment, which includes financial incentives, risks etc. – GameFi is for you, but if you are not, it's not a problem – the traditional gaming sector is at your service.

– How do you envision GameFi clickers influencing the broader Web3 and blockchain space beyond just gaming?

– I don't think clickers are some kind of real genre. As you can see now, it's always that there is a huge decline in clickers popularity, the same as it was in the Hypercasual sector.

I think we will see a lot of Telegram games and a lot of other platforms that will adopt GameFi and play-to-earn in the near future.

About Web3 adoption

– What ‘mass Web3 adoption’ stands for to you?

– Good question. I think mass adoption will mean usage of this (Web3) technology in daily life and even in government sectors. For example, digital property ownership and much more.

Games in this case is, I would say, a polygon for testing and adopting all these technologies is virtual life.

– To bring up crypto games once more, there’s an opinion concluding that they facilitate the adoption of decentralized apps (dApps). Would you agree that GameFi can help onboard users into broader Web3 spaces?

– That’s exactly what I am talking about. A lot of people do not take games seriously, but it's a very important environment for testing and adopting a lot of technologies, including Web3. Nowadays, we can’t even distinguish whether a game simulates reality or reality simulates games. So Web3 adoption will rely on the game environment, for sure.

– How are dApps adapting to mobile-first users who may be unfamiliar with crypto technology?

Let's be honest: a lot of users came into this industry for some free stuff. These users actually have financial incentive, and it will be the case for a long time. So, if a user wants to get some benefits from crypto, they need to adopt it and learn somehow.

The entrance barrier will be lower as the tech is adopting more and more mass users. The more users get into this industry, the merrier value the industry can generate, thus it can give more free stuff for users to join the industry. It's simple.

– Can you think of a simpler way to onboard an unfamiliar user in crypto?

– I think games are a very native and convenient way for onboarding.

To start using crypto, people should solve and understand some of the problems crypto solves – lack of transparency, overregulated financial institutions, and total governmental control on finance, censorship etc. If the users don’t seek to solve these problems (maybe they don't realise ones), it would be difficult to offer them a solution.

Games, from the other point, don’t solve any problems – they offer entertainment. And people like to be entertained.

That’s a good way to teach them how to use crypto. As a parent, I can confirm that it’s the best way to teach someone, ha-ha.

– Apart from entertainment, DeFi has also been making big steps towards adoption. Mainly – with crypto entering retail payments, as ensured by Revolut or WhiteBIT Nova. Is crypto payments really what mass users seek? Are such novelties effective in bringing adoption closer?

– Yes, of course it will reflect on the mass user’s mind and perspective. Technologically, the industry goes years ahead, but mass adoption isn’t about tech – it’s about perception. That’s why it’s important to show crypto abilities to a broad audience with the help of existing tools and concepts.

For example, you have participated in an airdrop, got your token, then reinvested it, traded, swapped to some NFT, sold etc. But when you feel that you can buy a coffee or a new iPhone with all that magic internet money, with just a tap on your phone – this is what really helps get mass adoption to life.

– With the rise of permissioned DeFi, there’s debate about decentralization vs. regulation. What’s your stance, and how does your studio strike the right balance?

That's a complex question, and my stance is: we have a lot of regulations already.

Usually society chooses between freedom, growth, regulation, and safety (to be honest, safety is not guaranteed in both cases). I think we have not reached the stage of growth yet, but we already have a lot of regulations and restrictions.

What we do is: we try to comply with law and find jurisdictions which are more or less reasonable. Those regulations are often ridiculous, and they make running business almost impossible. Also, they’re not aimed at what they should be aimed at – namely, counteraction to crimes or defending customer’s interests. Usually, they just ruin internal markets and make big players more viable and closer to the government, weakening competition and growth. I can talk long about it, but the long story short – choose your jurisdiction wisely.

– RWA as technology is growing rapidly. Do you think this trend will endure, or it will fade due to lack of implementation? Which sectors hold the most promise in your opinion?

I think this will eventually be a big thing. RWA is not going that fast – not because of lack of technology, but the lack of understanding its benefits and lack of mass education. It’s a matter of time.

Everything starting from government registries, investment tools, fraction ownerships etc. could really benefit from blockchain. With hundreds of cases of private data leaking, hacking of big companies, and obvious vulnerabilities of centralized storage, I think the adoption of RWA is only becoming closer.

– Who will be behind this anticipated ‘mass adoption’ – accessible, community-oriented projects (like the aforementioned GameFi), or cutting-edge technological solutions?

– No one actually needs cutting-edge technologies – people need some use of them. If you take a look at AI: it became very popular, when it started to talk to people and solve human problems, but not because it's just a brilliant technology. The same is with blockchain.

There could be a really cool and cutting-edge piece of technology, but if it doesn't do what people want, it won't work.

Conclusion

– Ultimately, what will prevail in Web3 – technological utility or community-supported projects?

– If we only work in synergy. It's like asking the automotive industry, which cars will prevail: fast or safe.

People always want everything at once. They don't want to choose between tech or utility, usability or security. So, in my opinion, there will be sustainable development from both sides. There will be community-supported projects, for sure, but, of course, with cutting-edge technology under the hood.

Note: the article is originally posted on 36crypto.

For a decade, Web3 has been struggling to attract an average user. And it has been struggling hard.

Vacillating between cutting-edge protocols and overly-engaging entertaining projects, while making moves towards enhancing DeFi user experience – this is just a thin end of the contributions that have been taking Web3 stages further, yet without any significant skyrocket.

Now, things have changed. As of long-standing custom, the solution always was somewhere in between. Gladly, builders seem to finally spot it, as only for Q1 2024, Web3 startups secured $1.9 billion across 346 deals, marking a significant 58% increase from the previous quarter. But where does the secret lie?

Below: what finally makes Web3 cast a shadow on web 2.0, and what technologies are at the forefront of nearing mass adoption.

Physical = Tangible

Utility brings value.

This rule applies not only to a tech sector, but every product and good to ever emerge.

Web3 has been seeking this utility as well. And the value appeared loud and clear: this utility should be bridged towards real life experience. Only through that transformation, unfamiliar users can actually familiarise themselves with the benefits of the new technology.

‘This is not a shift in priorities — it is the logical development of the Web3 industry, transforming all the processes in our lives,’ believes Nick Smogorozhevsky. He is the Chief Investment Officer at Solus Group and co-founder of Degen Associates – an exclusive Web3 deadflow clubhouse with over 150 VCs.

The numbers speak for themselves. Recent market data suggests a significant surge in Real World Asset tokenisation, with the total value of tokenized real-world assets expected to reach $16 trillion by 2030, according to Boston Consulting Group.

Real World Asset tokenisation (commonly dubbed as RWA) stands for a technological vector of embedding primarily ownership rights of tangible assets on a blockchain. At its utmost, RWA tech stack solidifies the authentication of a certain item and anchors its non-fungibility in a decentralised network, making it difficult to forge and easy to distribute.

This trajectory isn't merely about numbers; it reflects a fundamental transformation in how Web3 technology interfaces with traditional markets and everyday user experiences.

RWA tendency has flourished into the field of intellectual property (IP) rights tokenisation. From the top, it has been utilised by such projects as RMRK and IP3, which are transforming how creative assets are managed and monetized.

‘On the one hand, tokenisation makes it possible to simplify investment in real-world projects – from real estate to tokenised Intellectual Property in any form (music, TV shows, games),’ Nick notes*. ‘On the other, it allows retail users to diversify risks and manage their investments in a simpler format.’*

By tokenising intellectual property rights, these platforms aren't just creating new digital assets – they're revolutionising how real-world creative industries operate, from music rights management to patent licensing. As per the music industry, RWA enables artists to tokenize their royalty rights, creating direct connections between creators and their audience while providing transparent, automated revenue distribution.

Blockchain Into Retail

The key revelation in this evolution is that Web3's true potential emerges when it solves real-world problems rather than existing solely in the digital realm.

Take supply chain management – companies implementing blockchain-based tracking systems are poised to make significant improvements in transparency and efficiency. These aren't theoretical use cases; they're practical solutions addressing tangible business challenges.

Cases in point: companies like VeChain and Waltonchain have moved beyond proof-of-concept to actual implementation. These projects demonstrate how blockchain technology can solve real-world problems, from authenticating luxury goods to ensuring pharmaceutical supply chain integrity.

What makes this shift particularly significant is its role in driving mainstream adoption. Unlike purely speculative digital assets, real-world applications provide immediate, tangible benefits that users can understand and appreciate.

When a small business owner can access decentralized financing backed by their physical inventory, or when a consumer can verify the authenticity of a luxury purchase through blockchain technology, the utility of Web3 becomes concrete rather than abstract.

While such impact remains, this tendency transcends retail businesses and targets mass users with embedding crypto into routine.

‘The importance of user and business convenience comes first, so Fintech x Web3 infrastructure in the form of crypto cards is currently the most convenient option that definitely supports mass adoption, although it is not the key driver,’ Nick notes.

Crypto cards are among the most visible Web3-user experience trends. Recently, Trustee, WhiteBIT cryptocurrency exchange with its Nova card, as well as Revolut and a number of similar neobanks have joined the trend.

Such cards transform the logic of cryptocurrency adoption. While earlier it was perceived as general to specific, with the expectation of installing complex crypto acceptance infrastructure, now it plays upon a contrasting criteria.

‘I find the massive installment of infrastructure for retail payments in crypto inefficient for adoption by both users and businesses,’ Nick emphasises. ‘Businesses need to price their products with high volatility in mind. Or, if we take stablecoins into account, they have not yet become widespread. And users want to clearly know the price they pay in the national currency or at least in USDT, not in BTC or ETH.’

Simply put, users are no longer asked to imagine potential benefits; they're experiencing them directly through improved services, more efficient processes, and accessible opportunities.

‘Cryptocurrency cards answer the second question, because the first question is always about onboarding, buying, and using services (which is mostly ensured by CEXs), and the second question is what to do with the crypto when you need to use it to pay for services and goods,’ says Nick. ‘The main needs that such cards cover are direct crypto onramp/offramp – with quickness and convenience. And, of course, they also provide ease of use.’

Chances are, the success of this transition will likely determine the trajectory of cryptocurrency adoption for the next decade.

Scientific Revolution

RWA utility spreads far beyond the entertainment industry; it creates a much more grounding impact on the field of scientific research.

*‘DeSci, or Decentralised Science solves several problems in science. The first is the financing of scientific ideas, as it is often difficult to raise funding at the research stage. Projects such as pump.science greatly expand the user base that can support scientific projects if they have an interest in them,’ *explains Nick.

At DeSci core, this movement leverages decentralized networks to create transparent, immutable records of research processes, data, and outcomes. The technology introduces several key innovations: from automated verification of research methodologies and immutable documentation of experimental procedures to ensuring chronological integrity and transparent peer review.

Social R&D, from the other point, represents the evolution of collaborative research methodologies within the Web3 ecosystem by synergising the tokenised scholarship.

‘It's a welcoming industry for academics and researchers to share knowledge, collaborate on research and have the opportunity to improve the distribution of their results,’ says Nick.

The integration of blockchain technology in scientific processes isn't merely a technological upgrade – it's a comprehensive reimagining of research methodology and collaboration. Primarily – through enhanced collaboration networks and facilitated cross-institutional research coordination.

‘It's an appealing way to bring scientists back into a field of research that usually suffers from a lack of funding and (for scientists) having to work on areas that they may not really be interested in.’

Between Dimensions

The marriage of digital innovation with physical utility is creating what may be called "a bridge moment" – where Web3 technology transitions from being perceived as a speculative frontier to becoming an integral part of everyday business operations.

The market is responding to this shift. Investment patterns show a clear preference for projects with concrete real-world applications over purely speculative digital assets.

As we observe this evolution, it's becoming increasingly clear that Web3's future lies not in creating parallel digital economies, but in enhancing and revolutionizing existing real-world systems.

The projects that understand and embrace this reality are positioning themselves at the forefront of the next wave of blockchain innovation.

The article was originally posted on Hackernoon.

Trump’s victory, Bitcoin updating all-time highs several times, bullish cycle – this is what the market has seen so far in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Shaping as a historical pivot for the market and crypto industry overall, Q4 has so much more prepared.

This article breaks down the events, which shed the light on crypto’s perspectives for 2025, and discloses what to expect from the following year’s end.

Let’s dive in!

Crypto-centred policy, Bitcoin, and strategic reserves

One of the reasons for the crypto market to revive is Trump’s proactive stance on cryptocurrencies.

While earlier expressing scepticism to the cryptocurrency, the president-elect took a contrasting side on the Bitcoin 2024 event in Nashville, Tennessee. Amid the conference, Trump outlined ambitious plans, including maintaining all government-held Bitcoin and establishing a national cryptocurrency reserve. He also pledged to create a "Bitcoin and crypto presidential advisory council" to ensure regulations are favourable to the industry.

Shortly afterwards, Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis presented a bill that would add to the country’s existing holdings until it reaches one million tokens, purchased over a period of five years.

The idea itself is not new, but its practical implementation has been around for even longer. It is known that the governments of the United States, China, Germany, Ukraine, and other countries possess significant crypto holdings.

The formalisation of strategy had remained forgotten until Trump’s victory reawakened debates about using Bitcoin as a core asset for the U.S. strategic reserve. In fact, this became a more tangible concept, as the majority of Congress seats were taken by pro-crypto senators.

“The Trump administration understands it, I think Senator Lummis understands it…that’s why it will happen,” believes Michael Saylor, MicroStrategy executive chairman and a renowned Bitcoin maxi.

National crypto reserve is only one of the elements reflecting possible U.S. administration’s course to elaborating crypto regulation. This is supported by Trump’s criticism towards U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler and his strict enforcement measures against crypto actors.

When crafted, U.S. crypto regulation framework could kickstart a global course, specifically as Europe is on its way to implement Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) bill by the end of 2024.

While the trend of formalising state bitcoin reserves is only taking shape, more than a thousand private companies have already adopted a Bitcoin strategy for their own treasuries. Among them are 62 public companies, such as Reddit and Tesla.

Solana in spotlight, Web3-dominance, and AI Agents

The attention to blockchain protocols has been exponentially growing since autumn.

Firstly, Firedancer came into play. Dubbed as “Frankendancer”, this prototype of a validator has sent shockwaves throughout the community by managing to process over 1 million transactions per second. But crucially, it spurred the l1 token market, already heated enough ahead of a so-called altseason – a period of all-at-once surge for the altcoins.

As a result, Solana’s total value locked (TVL) is at its peak of $8 billion. Apart from technological advancements, it was also boosted thanks to memecoins popularity. According to CoinMarketCap, the ecosystem’s capitalisation has grown 28% since the beginning of Q4, as top Solana-based ‘memes’ capitalisation surged nearly 300% since July.

Solana’s enhanced position in the market paved a way north for other Web3 solutions. Layer one solution Sui has seen a record $1.5 billion TVL, as its native SUI token grew over 110% since October 1. Meanwhile, WBT – a centrepiece of the Whitechain network – has managed to secure almost 2x growth for the Q4, securing a $3 billion-sized market capitalisation.

Apart from L1s, artificial intelligence (AI) is slowly taking centre stage as the leading technology in the market. Specifically, with the AI agents becoming in demand.

AI agents operate with goal-oriented autonomy and multi-step decision-making. This allows them to evaluate conditions dynamically, make nuanced choices, and engage in economic and social interactions across on-chain and off-chain platforms.

According to Blockhead, this flexibility makes AI agents particularly suited for crypto, a space that demands agility and rapid decision-making due to its inherent volatility and decentralized nature.

Such shift is underscored by the success stories of AI agents like Terminal of Truths and the explosive growth of the memecoins $GOAT and Centience ($CENTS), and now, an AI-powered VC – ai16z. The latter one scored 694% in only a week.

Last FOMC Meeting of 2024 and Altseason

Market expectations are high as never before – perhaps, just like the importance of the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) December meeting. One will not only reveal the interest rates, but set the course for next year’s macroeconomy and hence crypto market.

The outlooks are generally positive, as since the initial September historic cut by 50 basis points (bps), the rates were diminished by 20 bps again in November. Such a tendency has been bringing a sequential liquidity flow into the global cryptocurrency market, while the potential impact from December cuts may be even more pronounced.

This influx of capital, which the last FOMC meeting of 2024 may bring, coupled with a more favourable macroeconomic environment, could ignite a bullish wave, positioning 2025 as a year of resurgence.

If the FOMC signals a pivot toward easing monetary policy, it might catalyse renewed confidence in crypto markets, unlocking dormant capital and fueling a rally akin to the prior economic expansions. The December meeting thus becomes not just a pivotal moment for traditional markets but a harbinger for crypto’s next big leap.

Most importantly, the expectations remain positive, as the majority of investors expect a 25 bps cut in December.

To sum up:

As the majority of the fourth quarter is far behind, it’s becoming clear that this period is shaping up to be a pivotal chapter for the cryptocurrency market.

From critical regulatory shifts to macroeconomic developments like potential interest rate cuts, the stage is being set for a momentum that could drive optimism well into 2025.

However, the market cycle’s progression hints at a potential reset by March 2025, marking a crucial turning point.

Whether this momentum solidifies into lasting growth or faces new challenges will largely depend on how these Q4 catalysts play out, making this an exciting and transformative time for the crypto industry.

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Discovering which of the latest clickers proves to be the most profitable and robust

With GameFi entering beast-mode in 2024, new entertaining products are sprouting up like mushrooms. While the developers effortfully try to stand out with elaborate gameplays, the play-to-earn model remains at the heart of their projects.

Today’s report is analysing how the latest crypto games keep up to the robustness, fairness, and sequence of the financial incentive; simply put – distinguishes games that are worth your playing time, and games that are not.

Let’s dive in.

Contenders List

The research is specifically focused on the games launched by centralised cryptocurrency exchanges within The Open Network (TON). The reasons for the criteria does not end on chronological relevance, while these projects are one of the freshest in the market

In this day and age, GameFi products act as marketing funnels for the crypto companies; through offering playing experience, exchanges are introducing both “hot” and “cold” audiences to the product ecosystems in a more straightforward way.

Consequently, this strategy acts both as a precondition and incentive for building a product around the P2E model, seeing that this deeply correlates with the natural user fostering strategy that exchanges implement.

Ultimately, four contenders were chosen for the report:

• Moonbix, a Binance-developed game, in which players control avatars in a space-themed environment, using a claw to collect items within a limited time. They earn points through daily tasks and game rounds, which can be exchanged for tokens

• Coinsweeper, a tribute to Minesweeper launched by Bybit, where players uncover safe tiles while avoiding mines. Players earn points based on their performance and can compete for rewards through a leaderboard system.

• Bull Run, an application dedicated to the birthday of WhiteBIT crypto exchange, in which players participate in daily Bitcoin price prediction challenges on Telegram, choosing whether Bitcoin will rise or fall. Accurate predictions help their chosen in-game character race faster, competing for daily crypto rewards.

• OKX Racer, a relatively long-standing “clicker” by the eponymous company. In it, players predict Bitcoin's price movement as either "Moon" (rise) or "Doom" (fall) within a five-second timeframe. Correct predictions earn points, and consecutive wins activate multipliers for increased rewards.

How will the games be evaluated?

The goal of the report is to highlight the best-rewarding game from the point of relation to trustworthiness and fostering features. Thus, they will be rated upon the following criteria:

• User count – a metric that will reveal how a game is staying up-to-date and highlight the consistency of rewarding process

• Prize pool, which reveals a size of financial incentive offered to users

• Technical and financial factors – a range of metrics, which reveal the essential qualities a potential gamer heed in a product. It breaks down into disclosing rewarding systems, fund conversion accessibility, bugs history, and more.

All factors combined will help you get a bigger, more compelling picture on each game’s factual returns.

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User count differs dramatically.

With over 8.4 million users, Moonbix clearly dominates the list, as well as OKX Racer that was notably released two months earlier. Bull Run, while existing less than a month, has already attracted over 571,000 users – more than Coinsweeper, launched nearly simultaneously with Moonbix.

Rewards

Prize pool is another criteria where numbers diverge.

Coinsweeper and OKX Racer lead the list with nearly identical amounts of 70,000 USDT. Meanwhile, Moonbix’s total prize pool can’t be estimated, as it will clearly depend on the in-game points’ conversion rate into a specific token – MBIX.

As of writing time, MBIX value remains unknown, while token’s listing is planned to take place in the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.

Crucially, Moonbix is the only game to promise self-sustained token as a rewarding currency. Coinsweeper players will receive payouts in Mantle (MNT), while OKX Racer offers rewards in USDT. Notably, Bull Run players are already receiving the payments in USDT, Leksis (LEKS), and WhiteBIT Coin (WBT).

At the same time, Bull Run is the only game among contenders which ensures factual daily rewards of visible size, apart from the ultimate monthly bonus. The total rewards are received by the end of the week – every Friday.

By contrast, other games utilising airdrop model – single token payout by the end of the activity span. Bybit, for example, gives a clear pool distribution across gaming activities, while the exact in-game points (also known as Mantle Bits) conversion rate to MNT is to be determined based on the total number of users engaged.

Rewards for OKX Racer players are promised to be announced later.

Still, OKX Racer stands out by its daily bonuses feature alongside Bull Run, and it is the only game in which you can receive points in your absence. Other products do not envisage idling.

Crucially, severe bugs have not been mentioned in the communities of four games, which makes them all rather playable products.

To sum up:

While sharing similar ideas and origins, the four aforementioned games differ dramatically not only in terms of gameplay, but also in rewarding framework and financial metrics. However, all of them share the necessary robustness, as the security measures at Binance, WhiteBIT, Bybit, or OKX have been verified.

Now, it is all up to you, the user experience you seek, and rewards you expect. In the end, the individual preferences are the essence!

The article was originally published on On-Chain Media.

The GameFi has been growing at a dizzying rate throughout 2024.

With new technologies and evolving player expectations, the landscape is shifting fast, paving the way for game mechanics that are more immersive, more rewarding, and more connected than ever.

The crypto gaming market undergoes fundamental shifts, and more changes are foreseen.

This article gives a sneak peek into what’s next for this hybrid industry. Market penetration, accessibility, P2E – they are just a tip of an iceberg of what is prepared for GameFi.

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Mainstream Adoption and User Growth

According to the “Web3 Gaming Market Size” report by Global Market Insights, the GameFi industry is projected to be over $125 billion by 2032.

Two key drivers come into play: increasing awareness and a more accessible GameFi experience.

The decentralised model, which allows players to truly own in-game assets and even earn while playing, seems to get a distinct appeal. This can be traced to the success of Axie Infinity and The Sandbox – crypto games that both engage customers into non-fungible tokenised in-game artefacts and trophies. Which, by the way, convert into a real value.

However, as the factual state-of-things reveal, the play-to-earn model is not at the heart of the crypto games. What players valued more is accessibility.

A vast majority of blockchain gaming pioneers used to require a whole bunch of boring routine action just to start playing. Conversely, new projects are getting rid of such steep learning curves and sparing no effort in streamlining the gaming process as straightforwardly as possible.

At its utmost, the tendency fairly emerged thanks to The Open Network (TON) and the facilitated utility it delivered. Many TON-built projects sought success – especially Notcoin and Blum with its DOGS token – thanks to simplicity and accessibility.

Crucially, blockchain gaming is expected to get a broader acceptance within mainstream gaming.  According to Coinbound, GameFi is expected to capture up to 10% of the global gaming market by 2032, rising from about 3% in 2024.

Community Focus

Crypto gaming projects are steadily implementing community-driven governance.

While community has always been a centrepiece of each and every Web3 product, Telegram-based applications emphasised this approach. By embedding community engagement directly into the gameplay and platform design, these games are fostering a different kind of loyalty – one rooted in shared experiences rather than just economic incentives.

This approach isn’t just about numbers; it’s about building a dedicated fanbase that feels integral to a product and to the industry by and large. Importantly, it opens a door for long-term engagement with the product, as games basically operate as a funnel.

Such strategy did the trick with Blum – a TON-based cryptocurrency exchange, which attracted a great part of its audience via a simple and rewarding clicker.

Many crypto companies followed in Blum’s footsteps, like Binance, Bybit with its Coinsweeper game, or WhiteBIT’s Bull Run. The latter one integrated a factual incentive for users to connect into its gameplay, which is based on Bitcoin price movements predictions.

Crucially, by 2024, community engagement in GameFi projects is expected to become more prominent, with over 50% of projects incorporating community-driven governance models.

Accessibility and Cross-Platforming

Since the early days of the industry, GameFi competed with full-fledged, highly-tiered games. That did not work.

Eventually, GameFi became addressing accessibility across devices. By 2024, over 70% of GameFi experiences are expected to be mobile-friendly, a shift that democratises access to blockchain gaming.

With smartphones outpacing other devices in terms of global penetration, mobile-first design enables GameFi platforms to reach players wherever they are, without the technical barriers often associated with blockchain on desktop interfaces.

Simultaneously, GameFi is addressing accessibility on a different front: blockchain. GameFi projects seek to break down the boundaries between the chains.

Cross-chain interoperability shift allows players to move digital assets, such as in-game items, characters, or tokens. Furthermore, it promotes a more dynamic GameFi economy and allows for a larger pool of participants, more fluid trading markets, and access to a broader range of blockchain features.

Together, these trends – cross-chain functionality and mobile accessibility – underscore a broader vision for GameFi. This is evident – with predictions that at least 30% of new GameFi projects will offer cross-chain functionalities.

Dominance and Transformation of Play-to-Earn

The Play-to-Earn (P2E) model remains a cornerstone of crypto gaming. However, it has evolved significantly from its early focus on financial incentives alone.

While gains remain an attraction, today’s P2E games are embracing a deeper, more complex approach by creating in-game economies that mimic real-world financial systems.

Result: players are no longer just passive earners but active participants in robust economic ecosystems. Through crafting, trading, and developing virtual properties, they engage in a dynamic marketplace where the supply and demand of resources impact pricing and rarity, adding layers of strategy and competition to the gameplay experience

By evolving beyond mere financial incentives, the P2E model now offers players a richer, more immersive experience. The shift clearly elevated P2E from a profit-driven model to one where players derive value from the depth of their engagement – and this will keep up.

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GameFi is carving out its place in both gaming and finance. This is what makes its path challenging, but its achievements even more appealing.

The future of GameFi is bright, complex, and positioned to transform gaming into a dynamic bridge between play, economy, and community.

As of mentioned above, the perspective of GameFi taking over the gaming industry is becoming even more realistic.

Crypto gaming never made it to global gaming – despite having it embedded in the term. It didn’t resonate with crypto enthusiasts either.

Even the most renowned GameFi projects were eventually forgotten, usually in quite a short span. Their speculative potential shrank, while their gameplay was bombarded by dedicated gamers.

But now, things seem to turn around, as the latest crypto games received community’s appeal, and GameDev giants casted eye on blockchain – once again.

Will this success endure, and what has changed so far? Find out below.

TON, Clickers, and Two Booming dApps

Crypto gaming sought its rise with The Open Network (TON) – a chain that managed to switch the perspective of decentralized products. Not only does it offer a facilitated framework for their development, but accesses them into a Telegram-based community.

As one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, Telegram helps dApps access a broad, built-in audience. The messenger provides a unique platform for direct engagement, helping TON-based games access a broad, built-in audience. Result: projects on TON now have the advantage of immediate, community-centered reach

Even more importantly, TON acts as a shortcut for the applications.

While traditionally decentralized services of any kind require a pile of the intermediary actions to set up, TON-based applications utterly simplified this user experience, putting self right at users’ fingertips.

Clearly, TON’s utility gigs alone did not make the difference. What put The Open Network in the spotlight is its successful pioneers.

One of the most notable ones – Notcoin – has not only turned out to be an overwhelming success among users, but brought the attention back to GameFi and community-centred projects – like memecoins.

What’s more important about Notcoin, though, is its straightforward “clicking” gameplay. This very simplicity transformed from a functional necessity to a game-changing hallmark.

When Simplicity Stands for Quality

TON-based games have gained traction not only within the crypto community but also among casual gamers – thanks largely to their simplicity and user-friendly design.

Bringing up simplicity once again, unlike many blockchain games that require players to navigate complex wallets, gas fees, and token swaps, TON-based dApps streamline the gaming experience, making it intuitive even for those with no prior crypto knowledge.

As many latest crypto games tried hard to enrich the gaming process with ornate logic, this consequently did not resonate with the community. By contrast, latest TON-clickers are putting simplicity as a cornerstone, which eventually brings an interaction – essential quality for a game.

While this complicity used to be an outcome of blockchain’s natural structure, TON made progress there as well. Rather than confronting complex protocols, TON users can enjoy real-time, low-fee trades within the game, making the “play-to-earn” model more approachable and less intimidating.

Crucially, TON tapped a financial aspect as well.

Product Establishment over Financial Incentive

Apart from poor gameplay outputs, crypto games suffered criticism from dedicated enthusiasts, who advocated so-ironically-called “play to have fun” and “play to contribute games”. There is a solid reason for this.

Early GameFi models placed heavy emphasis on "play-to-earn" mechanics that centred around generating profits. This was one of the main grounds for the opposition towards the sector.

Conversely, TON-based projects moved away from financial incentives as the primary draw and instead focused on creating a more engaging and community-driven experience.

Taking a closer look at the latest games makes this statement clearer. Namely, Bybit’s “Coinsweeper” game did not limit itself on the purely commercial elements, but concentrates on enjoyability and uniqueness.

The gameplay of Coinsweeper is literally a tribute to Minesweeper –  a classic Windows-based game and an item of pop-cultural value. This game reflects a deeper understanding of what gamers truly value: compelling experiences and the opportunity to feel part of something bigger.

Specifically, such an approach sought itself with WhiteBIT’s "Bull Run" game as well. In this game, you should successfully predict the next Bitcoin price’s micromovement on the chart.

The gameplay itself is visualised as a race. Hence, if your Bitcoin prediction comes to life, your in-game character will run faster.

Both aforementioned games are a genuine reflection of the latest tendencies in the field. As Coinsweeper brings nostalgic enjoyability at the forefront, Bull Run gamifies trading for the enthusiasts – and opens trading to the newcomers.

Besides gaming experiences, TON-based projects shaped a whole new market as well, with its intersection with a commercial side.

Community Building Over Engagement

Many TON games are developed by major crypto exchanges or blockchain-related companies with certain marketing objectives. The aforementioned Coinsweeper and Bull Run, as well as Binance’s “Moonbix” are the reflection of the latest crypto marketing tendencies: strategically prioritising consistent and qualitative community building instead of farming engagement.

This approach combines entertainment with brand strategy, creating a new avenue for reaching audiences while driving awareness and adoption of crypto products.

As players progress, they’re indirectly familiarising themselves with the exchange’s ecosystem, learning about its tokenomics, or even receiving incentives to open accounts or try new features.

Such a strategy was pioneered by the Telegram-based crypto exchange Blum. It became one of the first to release a clicker as a promotional tool, rewarding its dedicated players with Blum Points.

While Blum seems way more plain and simple than the other games mentioned here, it comprehensively highlights the commercial side of gaming, which should not be neglected. And does this smartly.

“Gaming” vs “Crypto”: What Wins?

GameFi has transformed dramatically. Its enhanced focus on the gaming experience and long-term community building definitely does the trick.

According to Global Market Insights’ “Web3 Gaming Market Size” report, the GameFi industry was valued at $26.38 billion in 2023 and is expected to register nearly 20% growth in the next 8 years.

However, while the industry’s share is demonstrating exponential growth, the debate about crypto games’ initial nature remains as heated. While the games become more entertaining, they keep a commercial interest.

Both qualities have their place, and perhaps the future of GameFi lies in a balance between the two – just like in a traditional gaming industry.

Only time will tell which approach will ultimately take the crown – but perhaps, in the end, it won’t be about one winning over the other, but about their mutual evolution into something entirely new.

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Originally published on 36crypto on November 21, 2024

The volatility of the crypto market is the core factor enabling it to have margin opportunities. Fairly, it is the one revoking equally proportional risks.

Some give the writing on the wall, while others can unfold rapidly, with no hints before wiping out a balance.

Today’s article is diving into one of the most common and yet scariest threats in the market, which tends to occur abruptly – liquidations. Awareness is everything – and this piece is set to contribute to it.

What lies behind the reasons for liquidations, how to take precautions against them, and why they are the essence of leveraged trading – below.

Basics of liquidations

While for spot traders volatility is seen as a blocker, it is what leverage traders mostly rely upon. The market swings have long become a mere basis for such investors, allowing them either to open a long position or a short position – respectively predict prices’ hike or descent.

However volatile the market is, its short-term shifts do not tend to make a great difference and, hence, they do not ensure a compelling margin within a set leading trend.

It is when artificially raising the stakes comes in handy. To increase gross revenue from a trade, market participants have an opportunity to borrow the funds from the exchange, proportionally enhancing a potential profit. This method sought its implementation in margin and futures trading, and the amount of the borrowed funds is referred to as “leverage”.

Within both types of leverage trading, the borrowed budget opens a door to proportionally higher returns. The only condition to maintain – follow the trend.

Slight price fluctuations against the position don’t always result in the loss. As the shortage of funds to maintain the order appears, the trader will always receive a margin call – a request for adding the funds to meet minimum capital requirements. On some of the exchanges, like Coinbase or WhiteBIT, even auto investment mode is available to preset the orders and diminish such risks.

Nevertheless, short-term swings don’t always have to be slight. Sometimes, the market can move against a leveraged position so intensively that the losses can multiply as fast as potential gains.

Such disbalance between the leveraged order size and market rate tends to end with a liquidation of position – an automatic closure of positions.

The positions are subordinated for closure only when reached a predetermined, liquidation level.

The liquidation level is a risk management tool brokers and exchanges use to protect themselves and the clients from the potentially devastating effects of leveraged trading.

In a nutshell, if the market moves against your positions and the amount in your trading account falls below the maintenance margin required, only then you might reach the liquidation level and have your positions closed.

The core reason why liquidations are feared is their association with something uncontrollable, insubordinate to investors’ intervention. But how true is that belief?

You can’t control the market…

The truth is – you never know the exact point of a market setback.

The market can be negatively affected by a range of factors beyond investors’ control – from recessing tendencies in the key global economies to international conflicts breakout.

However, the genuine origin of market fluctuations lies not in the factors, but the investors’ reactions to them. The effect from the external events is brought up with the next steps a majority of investors take. Whether it is extreme greed, or a rampant fear that forces uncontrollable sellings – in the end, there are traders’ actions which form the invisible hand.

“The market acts as a mirror, which will always reflect you and your level of understanding and emotions on the chart,” believes Bryan, a renowned market analyst and day trader with DEX-managing background. According to him, even the mass liquidations are caused merely by the reflection, but not action as it is.

“Most new traders get liquidated simply because they underestimate this beast. They may get lucky on one or two trades, and blinding greed takes over to the point where the trader thinks they’re invincible”.

It becomes clearer when analysing the largest mass liquidations in the crypto market history.

One of the latest chain of liquidations has become the inevitable result of enthusiasm spark against of a so-called “Uptober” – a month in which cryptocurrency market was predicted to thrive. Traders’ hopium brought down long positions estimated at over $500 million just in 24 hours, going against massive positive buzz and greed.

Thus, the informational sentiment plays a decisive role in the market, while immediate affection by it becomes a dangerous play. Such a tendency occurred prior to Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listings, when U.S. Securities and Exchange (SEC) Commission’s denied a previously-released statement from the official X account, confirming ETFs approval. This resulted in $220 million-worth liquidated positions, opened following the positive update.

However, not always does the market end up playing itself – many mass liquidations become an eventual consequence of external threats. Case in point: August 2, 2024, when geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and struggles in Big Tech sector’s revenues unexpectedly crashed the market and left traders with over $1 billion-worth liquidated positions.

Similar tendency was spotted amid the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion into Ukraine and HAMAS’ October 7th attack on Israel.

As high-volume market fluctuations are often followed by the circumstances of force majeure, it may seem that liquidations’ risks are unavoidable. However plausible this may sound, there is a different side to this matter.

…but you can control your risks.

The factors causing market fluctuations, while factually provoked by investors’ behaviour, can not be prevented by the traders’, going against market trends. However, this does not mean that the precautions can not be taken in advance.

At starters, the risks of being trapped by position’s liquidation can be estimated within the liquidation level your exchange or broker puts. Calculating your potential profits and possible losses in advance is one of the dead simple yet robust precautions a trader can take against danger of liquidation. This also includes setting up a proper leverage, relevant for the budget you are ready to risk.

“The key to leverage is not seeing it as ‘look how big of a position I can open,” stresses out Bryan. “It’s all relative to your collateral”.

The initial strategy matters the most. Upon your leverage and estimates, it is vital to set a clear target to the position opening. “If you don’t have a set target prior to the position opening, then you have no chance against a volatile market,” says Bryan.

While predefined strategy is the essence, this does not mean that the things will not get out of the trader's hand, seeing the market’s volatility. However, this also does not put a trader with no options.

“The biggest warning sign (for liquidation) is when a trader goes in with a one-sided bias; has no plan if the trade goes against them,” states Bryan.

Flexibility plays a crucial role in risk management; the ability to adapt strategy and alter the position, even if it costs a potential profit, can become a lifesaving rule of thumb.

“Do not add to a losing position, regardless of how tempting it is,” warns Bryan. “You were wrong for a reason initially, there’s no point in adding more in hopes it turns around”.

According to Bryan, in the end, it is discipline and right mentality what matters in leveraged trading:

“The best tool any trader can have is discipline and patience. Without these two virtues, the market will seem impossible and “out to get you”. It doesn’t matter how long you trade and how successful you are – there will absolutely come a day where you have to stare at a stop-loss and lose trade in the face”.

Not a threat, but a safeguard

Liquidation is a fearful term, and it is difficult to believe otherwise.

But in reality, liquidation is less of a threat and more of a built-in safety net, designed to protect both the trader and the wider financial ecosystem. Think of it as a fail-safe mechanism that kicks in when things go south, ensuring that losses don’t spiral out of control.

Beyond that, liquidation is a great equalizer. Without liquidation, traders could lose more than their initial investment, and exchanges could be left holding unpayable debts, leading to systemic risks.

“Liquidations are an essential tool to the trading system because it’s how other traders are paid,” says Bryan. “Now there are obviously market makers who supply both sides of the market to ensure traders can go long and short as they see fit, but in order for a trader to make a $30k profit, there needs to be traders somewhere taking a $30k loss”.

Crucially, by enforcing a limit to how much can be lost, liquidations safeguard capital, prevent market chaos, and ultimately ensure a smoother trading environment.

In this light, it’s not a monster to be feared but a toolkit for maintaining security, stability, and fairness in the market; and an integral part of traders’ experience, which, when completed, opens a door for the new high, according to Bryan.

“It’s not an easy path, but the person you’ll become is worth more than any dollar you’ll ever make in the market”.

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Originally published on 36crypto.com on November 19, 2024

Flash crashes have long become an essential part of the crypto market. So far, their frequency has made them a part and parcel of trading.

However, this notion traces back to the very emergence of the market. And still, the roots behind flash crashes remain so obscure that they keep coming in new, undiscovered before patterns.

But what if I told you that impossibility to predict is the core reason for flash crashes? And at the same time – their Achilles’ heel?

Today’s article is diving into a collapsing flinch of market turmoil and one of the scariest investing terms – but only to debunk it. With help from RunnerXBT, a seasoned crypto analyst, we are discovering how to always think before unthinkable and remain resilient against momentum threats.

Unfolding the Flash Crashes

Putting it simply, flash crashes stand for swift dips in crypto prices that occur unexpectedly over a short timeframe and are characterized by the large volume.

While there is a range of technical drivers for market crashes – from thin liquidity to sharp supply/demand disbalance, there are market panics which often amplify the situation.

When prices begin to drop rapidly, traders (or even algorithms) may rush to exit their positions, causing further downward pressure. This cascading effect can escalate a minor issue into a full-blown crash. And while the market often recovers quickly, the financial and emotional damage can linger long after the charts have stabilized.

Global economy has been experiencing flash crashes at least since the early modern era. The first recorded turmoil took place in 1637, when the Dutch tulip market collapsed in a blink of an eye, following the staggering mania. The tendency held such a historical effect that eventually turned into saying, metaphorically describing large economic bubbles – tulipmania.

The markets changed – but the risks of flash crashes never vanished. The abrupt dumps keep taking place almost every month, especially in high-risk market, like crypto.

“Easy example can be August 5, 2024, when Bitcoin dumped all the way to $48,000 as a result of a surprising Bank of Japan rate hike,” said RunnerXBT. “Markets collapsed overnight, VIX (Chicago Board Option Exchange’s volatility index – author’s note) skyrocketed to the highest values in decades (excluding Covid crash), and all markets just plummeted down like crazy”.

Notably, flash crashes are also followed by technical malfunctions. The latest case occurred to OKX’s native OKB token, as an unexpected liquidation cascade plummeted its price by 50%.

The similar situation affected BitMEX crypto exchanges a couple of months before. On the exchange, bitcoin (BTC) suffered a brief crash to $8,900 as the coin was genuinely priced at $60,000.

Clearly, flash crashes also apply to moderately lower assets in terms of market capitalisation. Case in point: Toncoin (TON) hitting 4-month low after its founder Pavel Durov’s arrest.

Significantly, the long-standing nature of flash crashes does not make ones predictable. The silver lining is: this does not make them unavoidable.

Understanding the reasons behind the market crisis is already a fair share of precaution against it.

Gladly, the awareness about flash crashes and other market volatility outcomes is growing. Every flash crash is being profoundly scrutinized – all by experts, media, and enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the largest crypto exchanges, like Binance, WhiteBIT, or Bybit, are raising awareness about flash crashes in an elaborate, gaming form.

Black Swan Theory As Full Explanation of Flash Crashes

When it comes to unfolding the reasons behind flash crash, the Black Swan theory comes as a clue. This very framework of a rapid-emerging crisis with a vast magnitude is actually a full-fledged explanation of flash crash as a phenomenon.

As a metaphoric term, black swan traces back to common latin saying, presumed that black swans did not exist. The expression was used until around 1697 when Dutch mariners saw them in Australia. After this, the term was reinterpreted to mean an unforeseen and consequential event.

The foregone metaphor later sought its second-life in the works of Nassim Nicholas Taleb – a finance professor, writer, and former Wall Street trader. The idea of black swan first appeared in his 2007 book prior to the events of the 2008 financial crisis. Taleb argued that while black swan events are impossible to predict and almost unlikely, they are to be assumed a constant likeability – all to avoid the catastrophic consequences.

In 2008, Taleb went on with unfolding black swan events upon the year’s Great Recession. He argued that if a broken system is allowed to fail, it actually strengthens it against the catastrophe of future black swan events, while a system that is propped up and insulated from risk ultimately becomes more vulnerable to catastrophic loss in the face of rare, unpredictable events.

However, the rarity and catastrophism are still not the hallmark of black swan events. What defines them is a strong belief such events can be predicted. More importantly, this belief is brought up only after the very black swan event already happened.

As the aforementioned crisis of 2008 had already taken place, many came up with the possible catalysts of it. But prior to it, no one could even assume Lehman brothers collapse.

While the 2008 Great Recession is not the last black swan to take place, it by far was not the first.

Black swan theory is mostly associated with the infamous 2000 Dot-Com (.com) collapse. Also known as the Internet bubble, it occurred amidst this profound technology’s dizzying adoption – so dizzying than always unmonitored.

As the shift to the Information Age has been kicking in, the market was piling up with fast-sprouting internet-oriented companies. Speculative capital began rapidly flowing to newly-founded enterprises, elevating Nasdaq index 400% from 1995 to 2000.

A smooth sailing was interrupted by U.S. plans to hike interest rates in 2000 and Japan entering a recession this year. All things combined hit one of the most popular internet companies of the day, Pets.com, which went up to the wall under the pressure of macroeconomic instability.

This broke out the chain of sellings, as investors overlooked their confidence in the internet-based products and companies. As the Nasdaq index kept on dropping week after week, the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 accelerated the sell-off in dot-com companies even further. At its bottom, the Nasdaq index lost a whopping 78% from its peak, marking the end of this black swan phenomenon.

Upon the dot-com bubble, it becomes clear to trace the three key points, defining a black swan event:

• Black swan event is so rare that even the possibility that it might occur is unknown

• Such an event has a catastrophic impact, which echoes years after it had taken place.

• Black swan event is explained in hindsight as if it was actually predictable.

The same framework applies to the Great Depression as well – a 1929 event, which not only caused a worldwide decline in stock prices, but altered the ongoing global financial politics approach.

In the last decade, black swans were “spotted” amidst the 2020 lockdowns and the 2015 scrap of the Swiss franc (CHF) peg.

Crypto markets have survived black swan events as well. One of the most notorious ones are collapses of Mt.Gox and FTX cryptocurrency exchanges. The latter one even turned the vector of government policies to intensively coining elaborate legal frameworks for cryptocurrency regulation.

However, the most iconic black swan event, which indicated flash crashes both as a reason and a consequence is Terra Luna collapse.

Throughout the pre-collapse period, UST – Terra Luna protocol’s stablecoin – crashed at least twice, and the latest dump swept off 96% (!) of the token’s price. All of this – due to protocol and capital machinations.

How to Withstand Flash Crashes

Indeed, the flash crashes are impossible to predict. But there are signs when their possibility is at its highest.

Thin liquidity, especially in off-peak trading hours, is one of the sights that hints at the risk of sharp price drops. However, it is important to note that this signal does not necessarily mean an upcoming flash crash. And at the same time, this does not make a stable market a predefined smooth sailing. The risks remain.

Gladly, your risks at the market are actually something a trader can control or, at the very least, mitigate. Hence, it is all about being prepared.

Stop-loss orders are one of the tools that might come in handy. By setting a predetermined price point at which an asset will be sold, this may help limit the losses during rapid market downturns.

Seeing the emotion-driven nature of the abrupt market collapses, it is absolutely necessary to remain resilient to every panic. Sticking to a well-constructed risk management plan and relying on automated tools can provide the discipline needed to navigate even the most unpredictable market conditions.

Still, as flash crashes can’t be predicted in advance, RunnerXBT believes that they are the best times to seize the opportunity.

“I think flash crashes are some of the best profit opportunities ever,” believes the analyst. “One should always have margin (capital) available to keep buying. It's damage control only for the overleveraged”.

Bringing up the aforementioned August 5 crypto market turmoil, it becomes clear that those who managed to surf flash crash and purchase Bitcoin below $50,000 are now in profit.

“Paired with massive deleveraging in crypto markets, I was confident that buying Bitcoin below $50,000 BTC was a steal – and it was,” reminisces RunnerXBT. “These extreme panic scenarios, sadly including war escalations, are often some of the best buying opportunities. This is a time when a trader/investor should be in a position to take a position”.

However, in the end, there is always mentality which plays a pivotal role. Don’t let flash crashes crash your dedication, because there is always a new, more advanced trade afterwards.

“We are all human. If you feel horrible in your gut and physically and mentally unwell, others can feel it too. With experience, one can handle these a lot better than others”.

Crypto custody has always been a matter of heated debates. Gladly, these debates just kicked industry off harder to foster enthusiasts with new means of security and user experience.

How to choose a wallet for your needs, and what are the criteria to heed? The article discloses this topic below – and presents a handpicked collection of possible options for crypto custody.

What Is A Crypto Wallet

A cryptocurrency wallet is a device or program that stores cryptocurrency keys and allows users to access the assets.

Wallets contain an address and the private keys needed to sign cryptocurrency transactions. Anyone who knows the private key can control the coins associated with that address.

Types of Crypto Wallets

Generally, there are two main types of wallets: custodial and non-custodial. Custodian wallets are hosted by a third party that stores user’s keys. This could be a company that provides security services, or cryptocurrency exchange. On the other hand, non-custodial wallets put responsibility for storing keys to users. These are the most widely-used custodian options in the market.

Both types of wallets are divided into two subcategories: hot, which has a constant connection to the internet, and cold, which does not.

Lastly, all wallets can be either software, hardware, or paper-based. The latter one stands for the wallet that includes the keys and QR codes on paper so wallets on mobile devices could scan them.

Generally, cold hardware wallets are considered to be the most secure yet lacking in versatility. However, this bias is levelled with top-notch hot wallets and non-custodial software wallets, which deliver more comfort to the user.

Top Crypto Wallets To Choose From

Best for everyday use – Trustee Wallet

Trustee is a new word in crypto wallets. Simply put as a mobile application, the platform is not limited to secure custody, but offers an array of facilities for crypto enthusiasts. With Trustee, users can immediately swap cryptocurrencies and exchange ones to fiat with direct deposit or withdrawal to the bank account.

Trustee’s gig is a full-fledged payment card for users to make convenient purchases directly with crypto.

The wallet supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a fair share of other cryptocurrencies to choose from. Not to mention a top-notch UI, making Trustee one of the no-brainer options for beginners, medium-investors, and active crypto operators.

Best for Web3 custody – MetaMask

MetaMask is highly-compatible with almost any blockchain and Web3-solution, which makes it one of the most widely used wallets with over 30 million monthly active users. It combines all the characteristics for a decent custody option – it is user-friendly for beginners, versatile for Web3-pros, and secure for both.

The wallet’s hallmark is the flexibility of Web3 integration. Thus, MetaMask fully supports Polygon, Optimism, Avalanche, Whitechain, and other popular networks. What is more, it allows users to access popular NFT marketplaces like OpenSea, custode, and swap a variety of collectibles.

All things combined make MetaMask the best wallet for DeFi traders and Web3-enthusiasts.

Best Exchange Wallet – WhiteBIT 

While many exchanges provide the custody of assets, WhiteBIT – one of the biggest European crypto exchanges – managed to take this role several steps further.

WhiteBIT wallet offers a wide variety of balance categories for more comfortable user experience and funds diversification. What is more, it offers swift exchange to other cryptocurrencies and even fiat currencies – from USD and EUR to Turkish lira and Polish zloty. But what makes it even better for both newbies and pros is quick peer-to-peer withdrawal and Web3-integration with Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum, and other widely-used blockchains.

The standout advantage for WhiteBIT is Whitepay – its own payment service. With Whitepay integration, users can purchase real-life goods just using the mobile application or browser wallet.

Ultimately, WhiteBIT is one of the most secure exchange-based wallets, as noted by Hacken.io and CER.live rate, seeing that 96% of assets is stored in cold custody.

Best hardware wallet – Ledger

Ledger has been leading among the hardware wallets for a durable time span. Its products stand out for using a Secure Element component – a type of chip often seen on passports, credit cards and payment systems – to provide an extra layer of security.

This made Ledger the first and only hardware wallet to be certified by a government agency – ANSSI, the French cyber security agency.

Apart from cutting-edge security, Ledger serves as a user-friendly custody tool. For less than $100, the owner can install up to 100 apps and conduct transactions through a specialised application – Ledger Live. This self-sustained app can be also used to monitor, lend, and stake crypto – a lifesaving solution for a robust cold wallet.

Importantly, Ledger products are compatible with 50 other hardware wallets, debunking the myth of hardware wallets’ limitedness.

Best desktop wallet – Exodus

Initially a desktop-only wallet, Exodus now has apps for iOS and Android, and is also compatible with Trezor wallets, who shares the top place in hardware wallets industry with Ledger. Its client, available on all PC softwares, uses simple payment verification and does not download complete blockchains in order to speed up transactions.

Nevertheless, it’s not swiftness which makes Exodus one of the best hot wallets in the market. Its main draw is the number of currencies it supports – more than 335 cryptos and NFTs.

This makes Exodus a top option for diversified, large portfolios.

To Sum Up: What Crypto Wallet to Choose

The market of crypto wallets is diverse with functions and methods of custody. Still, ultimately, it is your needs that matter the most.

If you prioritise security over comfort, cold hardware wallets are your no-brainer. Ledger, Trezor, and other similar products will meet your requirements at best.

Meanwhile, if you don’t operate with large capitals and seek an everyday solution, you won’t find better than software wallets for you. WhiteBIT, MetaMask, Trustee – these wallets allow for swift transaction carry-outs with decent security back-ups. Let alone their compatibility with mobile devices, making them the best options for frequent use.

Crypto industry has shaped and put in mainstream many community-oriented frameworks for promotion. Today’s article will dive into one of the most beneficial for users – affiliate programs.

What are affiliate programs, how do they work, and why they are the essence of community-building – the topics will be topped by examples of the most popular affiliate programs to choose from.

Stay tuned!

What Is Affiliate Program

Crypto affiliate programs provide an opportunity for individuals, influencers, and businesses to earn commissions by promoting cryptocurrency-related products and services.

By putting it simply, crypto companies offer entities to promote the product within their own channels for recurring commissions, providing affiliates (this is how the entities who promote a product called) with a stack of facilities: marketing materials, dashboards etc.

This allows for crypto companies to establish a separate promotion channel with a moderate objectivity, combining influential marketing and referrals all at once.

The outcome is a win-win: affiliates receive profits while the company is promoted nearly independently, with the marketing infrastructure being distributed between users. One of the many iterations of decentralisation.

How Affiliate Programs Work

Typically, affiliate programs operate on a performance-based model: affiliates receive proportional compensation for driving traffic, leads, or sales to the crypto services. The commissions are also calculated upon number of referrals, volume of transactions, size of referral discount, or the lifetime value of driven customers, providing affiliates with multiple earning opportunities and (crucially) potential for passive income.

While affiliate programs envisage an individual promotion for the returns, crypto companies tend to support affiliates with specific features and resources. This may include access to marketing materials, detailed promotional data, educational resources, and even personal account managers.

As for the commissions, they typically support a variety of payment options to accommodate affiliates worldwide. Payments are commonly made in Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and stablecoins.

Most Popular Affiliate Programs

Kraken Affiliate Program

The affiliate program of Kraken stands out for its 20% recurring commissions and lengthy 180-day cookie duration. This means, the approved affiliate applicant can earn commissions if referred users trade within 6 months of following the link.

Just like the majority of exchanges, Kraken targets established content creators and crypto influencers. Ones are provided with text links and banner ads, as well as clicks and conversion tracking, transforming the affiliate program into an all-in-one digital dashboard.

This allows affiliates to choose the strategy in driving referrals – from posting a themed media content to strategically banners on high-traffic pages. All for the elaborated promotion and opportunity for the clients to earn passive income.

WhiteBIT Affiliate Program

The hallmark of WhiteBIT’s affiliate program lies in its diverse and at the same time exclusive approach for picking the affiliates. While a majority of companies stream its preferences to crypto influencers, one of the largest European crypto exchanges is also ready to foster educational businesses, mobile, and even individual customers with a network of traders.

All of the entities are open to up to 60% commissions, smart conversion dashboard, and round-the-clock support. Letting alone an exclusive approach on the returns and discounts for referrals, a first look on which can be taken via profit calculator.

Besides, WhiteBIT also offers basic affiliate feature – a suite of graphical and marketing materials to work with.

OKX Affiliate Program

OKX can boast of one of the most popular affiliate programs with over 15,000 affiliates involved. Such a vast network is granted with decent commission (20,000 USDT/month on average), swift application flow, and 24-7 support from an account manager.

The main feature of the OKX affiliate program is the ability to partner with sub-affiliates. Simply put, affiliates can build and manage their own team and work together specifically to expand the reach of OKX promotion.

On top of up to 50% commissions and exclusive rewards for the referrals, OKX affiliate program shares the top spot alongside other decent affiliate options.

Why Affiliate Programs Matter

Affiliate programs have become a cornerstone of the crypto industry's growth, creating a win-win for both companies and participants.

They not only drive user acquisition in a decentralized manner but also empower individuals to take part in the ecosystem's expansion while earning rewards.

By building trust, increasing engagement, and incentivizing promotion, affiliate programs fuel wider adoption and foster a more interconnected crypto community. As the space evolves, these programs will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of cryptocurrency, offering vast potential for those ready to seize the opportunity.

Web3-landscape has shared strong boundaries with the world of sports for quite a time. While this had been limited to sponsorships and catchy marketing cases, WhiteBIT has put an all-new meaning to sports and Web3 collaboration.

How one of the largest European exchanges can save the success of Barcelona FC and the career of a football’s rising star – below.

Since August 9, FC Barcelona has been facing hurdles in signing up its prominent newcomer Dani Olmo, who transferred to the Spanish club from German RB Leipzig. La Liga – top men’s professional football league in Spain – did not pass an approval for the addition due to the Barcelona's debt.

Libero investment fund was obliged to pay off €40 million ($43.8 million) for purchasing a share of Barça Vision – FC Barcelona’s Web3-built fan engagement platform. The deadline for payment has already passed with no funds transferred. This put at risk the team expansion, as Barça Vision deal envisaged using the funds to bolster its sporting ambitions by signing new players.

A half of debt was covered by American catering company Aramark, while FC Barcelona has been actively seeking vital funding to cover another half.

As reported by Mundo Deportivo, another €20 million of debt will be covered by WhiteBIT – one of the largest European crypto exchanges. Its founder – Volodymyr Nosov – is also an owner of Ukrainian-based Metalist 1925 football club.

The deal closure will finally allow Dani Olmo to debut for Barcelona FC and play his first match against Rayo Vallecano on August 27.

WhiteBIT is an exclusive cryptocurrency partner of FC Barcelona since December 2022.

FC Barcelona and WhiteBIT cooperation proves that cryptocurrency is strengthening its position as a global industry with significant influence. But what matters the most is groups of people behind this, who converge their actions for the same goals. In this case – supporting national sport and its contributors.

Solana (SOL) has been caught between two contrasting sentiments in August. From one point, there is the upcoming Solana ETF, memecoin rally, and MEW listing on WhiteBIT. From the other – investor reluctance.

Which scenario would Solana follow – find out below.

What Happened Before August 5 Panic

At the beginning of august, Solana has been indicating a positive sentiment.

This stemmed from the clarity about Solana ETF approval. Particularly, the confidence about exchange-traded funds was expressed by Eric Balchunas, a Bloomberg analyst. In his post on X, he stated that Solana ETF may seek its approval in mid-March 2025.

“But between now and then the most impossible date is in November,” Balchunas added. “If Biden wins, these are likely DOA [ed. note - “dead on arrival”]. If Trump wins, anything is possible.”

Solana’s skyrocketing price dynamics was also granted by memecoin activity. One of the latest rising stars – cat in a dogs world (MEW) has been listed on WhiteBIT exchange on July 23, securing 130% to its value afterwards.

Apart from this, the European exchange also introduced the crypto lending for MEW and MEW Bounty Program – a variety of tasks, for completion of which 250 winners will share the 6,000,000 MEW prize pool. Amid these positive updates, MEW has reached its historical milestone of $0.0096.

The memecoin rally and especially MEW’s uptrend swung up Solana on-chain activity. Specifically, the trading volume on the chain and total value locked (TVL) have seen a notable increase, with the latter one standing at $5,436 billion.

Solana Recovers After 30% Slump

Amidst August 5 global market downsurge, Solana kept on with a significant downward movement. Since July 29, which set up the bearish sentiment for SOL, the coin recorded a 30% decrease, reaching the local low of $109.93.

However, on August 7, Solana saw a sharp bounceback. The coin exchanged hands at $139.87 at the writing time, securing a 26% uptick.

Notably, the price could not breach the psychological level of support – $127. In a 4 month span, the market estimated it to be the bottom zone for Solana.

By contrast, Solana has experienced its highest daily on-chain activity in August.

According to data from DeFi Llama, the volume has peaked at 27.11M SOL, the second-highest figure for the last two years, and the record in a 4 month span.

The rise can be attributed to the skyrocketed buying activity, as traders have seen a chance to rack Solana at its lowest price.

Solana’s total value locked (TVL) also indicated a decent sustainability. Amidst the price drop, it has decreased by only 4.76 million SOL.

This indicates that Solana was able to weather the storm quite well. However, the daily chart suggests that SOL is stuck between crucial support and resistance zones on the verge of next move.

If downward trend keeps on, the first significant support level will be at 23.60% Fibonacci retracement level at around $128.88. Unless the zone is locked in, SOL’s price may breach it to 50% Fib retracement at $116.79.

Still, if SOL finds support at its current level at $145, it could signal the start of a recovery. This very recovery will be confirmed if Solana breaches 50-day and 200-day moving averages’ levels.

Ultimately, next significant level to watch is 61.80% Fibonacci retracement level at $162.60. A break above this level could signal stronger bullish momentum.

Solana is stuck in a decisive phase, given the current fundamental metrics. Nevertheless, traders should be aware of a turbulent geopolitical landscape, upcoming U.S. election, and September Fed meeting, that play a crucial role in shaping the market sentiment.

After Bitcoin halving, mining activity has registered a significant boost, while the network’s hashrate continues to decline and average revenues hit their lows.

As mining remains a top crypto income option, the decreased rewards brought efficiency and sustainability to the forefront. And alongside – put mining pools for their showtime.

Below – everything you wanted to know about mining pools and how they facilitate the mining process.

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Mining pool is a group of cryptocurrency miners who connect their mining machines over a network to boost their chances of earning the reward for opening a new block.

Seeing that mining is an energy-consuming process which requires a fair share of time and computing capacities, its maintenance is also a severe hurdle for the income. This forced the community to come up with a more efficient, teaming approach – mining pools.

To find a new block’s hash, participants of the mining pool stream their processing power in convergence. If the pool is successful in these efforts, they receive a reward in the form of the associated cryptocurrencies.

The rewards are divided between the individuals depending on the proportion of each participant’s processing power contribution. The methods for defining the proportion differ. Among the most popular ones are:

• Pay-Per-Share (PPS) – upon this framework, participants are paid for the shares or blocks they contribute to the pool.

• Full-Pay-Per-Share (FPPS) and Pay-Per-Share-Plus (PPS+) are basically identical and stand for a following distribution: participants of a mining pool receive a proportional amount of the reward based upon the quality of the shares they provided, and the pool pays a transaction fee reward.

• Pay-Per-Last-N-Shares (PPLNS). When a certain block is discovered, the pool software locates the last blocks participants contributed after the last and new winning blocks were found. The number of trial blocks users discovered between that time determines the payout. This means, if participants disconnect between blocks, they’ll likely lose all the contributions and payouts.

Solo-Mining vs Mining Pools: What to Choose

As mentioned earlier, crypto mining demands immense computational power, significant energy consumption, and substantial time investment to be profitable. These factors together pose challenges to individual mining, particularly in terms of efficiency.

However, what truly makes solo mining difficult is the intense competition. Over the years, the surge in mining's popularity has brought a flood of powerful participants into the network.

Mining pools have become the sole opportunity for solo or smaller hash-rate miners to compete against the dominance of a few large mining groups.

Additionally, mining pools lower the hardware and electricity costs for each participant, thereby improving the chances of covering expenses and making a profit.

What is more, up-to-date mining pools provide participants with extra helpful facilities. Case in point: WhitePool by WhiteBIT, launched just in recent weeks. This FPPS-based pool offers 0% fee for receiving rewards, 24-hour multilingual support, and the special programs for VIP-clients, which envisage lowered fees for using the pool.

While pooled mining provides a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative to solo-mining, solo-mining can be characterised by higher long-term yield and increased rewards over time.

Still, mining pools are gradually edging out individual mining farms, thanks to their superior stability, cost-effectiveness, and energy efficiency. By pooling resources, miners can achieve more consistent and equitable rewards, making pool mining an increasingly attractive option.

As a result, solo mining is becoming viable only for those with substantial financial backing. However, with tightening environmental regulations, the distribution of smaller computational workloads in pool mining might soon become the preferred approach.

The emergence of cryptocurrency generated a game-changing impact for all aspects of life. From data storage to monetary policies, where the effect kicked in at its boldest, the crypto also flipped the notion of investment upside down.

Сrypto assets opened the door for a facilitated trading – with no intermediaries and big pockets required. All pillars of investment – from public offerings to price analysis – became familiar terms for a wide community. Hence the skyrocketed interest in swinging in the market.

Nevertheless, the lack of awareness still stands between enthusiasts and their readiness to get down into trading. Many choose the individual path – and rarely succeed. At the same time, the sphere is piled with enormous educational opportunities. From the courses by Princeton, Stanford, or University of Pennsylvania to the investment oriented sources – Investopedia, or WhiteBASE – free educational course by one of the largest European exchanges, WhiteBIT, which also holds an educational program “Game-Changing Tech: Mastering Blockchain” in cooperation with FC Barcelona.

A wide offer sometimes brings confusement, as it is unclear what to begin with. To answer the burning issue, I had a chat with Basic Trading – investor and market analyst who educates people about trading – to shed the light on the very common yet essential trading aspects.

Introduction

– Could you tell our readers how you found yourself in trading? What caught your attention about this sphere?

– First, I thought that I could make a lot of money fast and that's why I started trading - I saw other people on YouTube making a couple €1000 in a week and I wanted to achieve the same results.

– How were you learning to trade? Did you have a mentor, or managed to enter the sphere on your own?

– I actually had multiple trading mentors when I started trading 5 years ago – they all helped me in some way, although I never copied one trader 100%. But it was definitely worth every penny in the end.

About the beginning of trading

– Many of those who desire to take up trading tumble down at the beginning. Is there a right way to begin with investments? What should be a newbie’s first step?

– First step when it comes to trading is still finding a mentor and learning as much as possible from profitable traders. There is still a reason why these people are part of the 5% who actually make money.

– Is it essential to have a deep understanding of blockchain’s technical basis in crypto trading, or is operating with trading knowledge enough?

– It is definitely not required to have deep knowledge about crypto and blockchain in general in order to trade it profitably! You just need an understanding of trading, and then you can basically trade every market and asset class without diving deeply into fundamentals.

– Could you name three most common mistakes beginners tend to make in crypto trading?

– The three most common mistakes are overtrading, overleveraging and being too greedy.

– What would be better for a beginner: taking up trading and getting educated in the action, or preparing in advance? Why?

– Beginners should always gather knowledge first before they start trading, since it can lead to devastating losses if you neglect the actual knowledge.

About community and risk-management

– The media landscape is littered with traders and influencers so intensively that it is difficult to tell a qualified specialist from a fraud. Still, how can you verify the credibility of a trading source or an influencer?

– The only way you can identify a profitable trader is if they share all of their trades live with entries, stops and targets.

– Ultimately, is community interest a valid factor in estimating an investment object’s credibility?

– Community interest is clearly NOT a reliable factor for assessing risk and credibility, since most influencers out there even fake stuff in order to scam their community. Beginners definitely have to be careful and just think for themself. If something sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

– Is there a single rule of thumb for calculating trading budgets? What optimal approach would you consider recommending to the beginners?

– Trading beginners should just have a realistic approach to trading, which means that you consistently risk no more than 5% on any given setup, you try to grow your trading account to multiple six figures before even trying to make a full time income, and you just have to be a lot more patient than you first though.

Conclusion: is trading really this difficult?

I think that trading is simple and straightforward, and most "gurus" out there complicate everything and give people a false mindset about trading.

Trading is simply not about getting rich quickly but rather building long term wealth sustainably.

Defying the Mt.Gox sell-off, Bitcoin managed to break the crucial $60,000 barrier on Monday, July 15. The market reacted with an array of green candles, as Fear & Greed index is approaching the rate of 70.

How the German government nudged Bitcoin’s recovery and what is awaiting altcoins – in the article below.

Will Bitcoin Score $70K?

Trading for $64,413 at the writing time, Bitcoin (BTC) recorded an 8.8% upswing from July 15 to July 17. Still, the chart switched to bullish at the end of the previous week – just at the time when the German government cleared its $50,000 Bitcoin supply.

The move seems to become crucial for the long-term bullish perspective for Bitcoin, as can be evidenced by both metrics and the chart.

Specifically, according to the Pi Cycle Top indicator, Bitcoin has been approaching a $65,000 mark, crossing the $64K market bottom. As per the graph, given the constancy of an upward movement, BTC has all chances to touch its market top of over $89,000 in the coming months.

The bullish predictions become more probable as Bitcoin is experiencing increased buying pressure.

According to CryptoQuant’s data, Bitcoin’s net deposit on exchanges decreased in the 7-day span, proving the aforementioned point.

Apart from that, Bitcoin’s Funding Rate was also high, suggesting that long-position traders dominated over bears.

As per the weekly BTC/USDT chart, the price has achieved the major resistance at $64,000, making $69,000 mark the next target for the bulls. A bullish weekly confirmation above $65,000 may clear the hurdle to reach $70,000.

Crucially, similar price action has also occurred back in 2021. After making a new all-time high (ATH) at $64,854, Bitcoin faced a sharp pullback close to $30,000 and kept on consolidating for a couple of months. Further, the price broke out of the pattern and led to a 60% upswing to mark a new ATH close to $69,000.

Currently, the price appears to be at the foothill of a major explosion as the price is heading towards the upper resistance of the expanding pattern, aiming to clear the levels.

Therefore, all the fractals indicate a huge probability of triggering a fresh bull rally, which may not only lift the levels to $75,000 but may find a new ATH much higher than this. The BTC price faced only a 25% correction, just half of that it faced in 2021 and hence the upper limit is also expected to remain higher than before.

What is more, the sentiment may also favor the bulls in the long-term perspective, as 90% of interest rate traders expect the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate cuts in September, which could fuel risk assets, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Ton Is Restrained; Rebound Is Possible

Following the overall market sentiment, altcoins have mainly recorded decent upticks. While Pepe (PEPE), dogwifhat (WIF), and Notcoin (NOT) marked roughly 20% increases, some of the assets indicated a separation from the trend. One of such cryptocurrencies turned out to be Toncoin (TON).

The previous week appeared bullish for TON, mainly due to the coin’s listing on WhiteBIT cryptocurrency exchange. From July 8 to July 15, the asset marked a 10% price increase.

Still, the daily chart revealed that TON has been trading within a rising wedge ever since it reversed the trend from the lows below $5. This served as a reason for a pullback, despite the fact that the lower support zone between $6.97 and $7.11 has held the levels rather strongly.

The technical indicators also hint at the bearish perspective, as moving average convergence divergence (MACD) registered a strong downtick and relative strength index (RSI) stood in the descending consolidation zone.

Crucially, indicators mark that TON’s selling pressure has slowly increased. Thus, until the TON price sustains above the support zone, the bulls may trigger a rebound, which may raise the levels back above $8.

XRP – Week’s Top Gainer

While the majority of the assets secured upward updates, Ripple’s XRP surprisingly took over the investors’ spotlight.

While over 36% weekly jump took market participants aback, reasons for XRP’s bullish movement were on the surface.

Specifically, the price increase and following buying pressure was clearly spurred by the whales’ movements. As of writing time, the large-scale investors managed to rack up 85% of the total XRP supply, marking the highest point in 11 months.

The whales’ transactions spurred stagnant XRP tokens to move. Thus, the asset's Open Interest (OI) touched $233.85 million – the highest mark since April 12.

The weekly chart also revealed a bullish perspective as the price reclaimed the levels within an upward pattern. The price has entered the ascending parallel channel after increasing from the lows by over 45% in just a couple days.

So far, the weekly on-balance volume (OBV) has triggered a bullish divergence while suggesting the rally has come under bullish influence.

Still, after rising to the upper range of the channel, the XRP price is not expected to barge in through the upper resistance but to maintain a healthy consolidation between the upper and the middle bands.

If the bulls maintain a healthy consolidation for the rest of the year, the Ripple (XRP) price may reach the $1 milestone before the end of Q3 2024 or early Q4.

While the market radiates a bullish trend, investors should be cautious due to the risks of selling pressure.