For spectators, they don’t play the game- they just watch.

Losers play but sadly they choose to fight other game players(traders) for the profits they make.

Winners take a different approach- they fight the environment. It’s them against the money system.

And in the bull market, there’s often money everywhere. But only when you go with the narrative.

By reading this, you’re already close to the winning side because Hyperliquid is the narrative your idolos are watching.

Onchain data already shows outflows from different protocols into Hyperliquid(through Arbitrum- Hyperliquid only supports Arbitrum as a source chain).

Hyperliquid is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain designed to address the problems of Decentralized finance (DeFi). It provides a seamless trading experience, offering the efficiency and liquidity of centralized exchanges with the transparency of Dexes.

Trade on Hyperliquid dex and get a 4% discount on fees

In Case You Missed it, Here’s Why Hyperliquid is the Talk of DeFi

• It’s Built by Traders for Traders

Hyperliquid is built on its own L1 public chain and uses a custom consensus mechanism called HyperBFT. Combined with the HyperBFT consensus mechanism, it features an onchain order book, enabling gasless trades, high throughput, and low latency. This makes trading seamless, faster, and more cost-efficient than traditional DEXs.

• It has a User-friendly DEX:

The Hyperliquid Dex has an intuitive interface, offers up to 50x leverage for higher profit potential, and supports both perpetual and spot trading alongside liquidity provision. It has rapidly gained momentum, capturing over 50% of decentralized futures trading volume with open interest at 10% of Binance’s.

• There’s a Scheduled HyperEVM Launch

The launch of HyperEVM, an Ethereum-compatible chain, will also bring AMMs, lending platforms, liquid staking, and CDPs (collateralized debt positions) into the rush. This move will attract a wave of DeFi projects, bringing even more liquidity and applications within the Hyperliquid ecosystem.

• It has Bullish Tokenomics

Part of Hyperliquid’s tokenomics breakdown is to distribute 38% of its token supply for future community rewards. This will incentivize more perpetual contract and spot trading volumes, and ensure sustained growth and participation.

• It Features a Unique Token Listing Mechanism

Hyperliquid uses a Dutch auction for token listings, where the price starts high and gradually decreases until a successful bid is placed. This ensures fair price discovery, prevents manipulation, and aligns the token’s initial market value with actual demand. That’s equal opportunity on steroids!

• It’s Memecoin Village

Tired traders are moving from the intense Solana meme village(Pumpfun) to Hypurrfunn(Hyperliquid’s meme village). Hypurrfunn is a Telegram-based trading bot that simplifies launching and trading meme coins on Hyperliquid. Designed for speed, security, and ease of use, it offers tools like token launch sniping, PnL tracking, and a referral program that rewards users with 10% of their referrals’ fees forever. Through Spot Deployment Crowdfunding, users can also compete for token listings on the Hyperliquid spot market.

• It has a Compelling Narrative

According to the latest ecosystem market map, Hyperliquid is forming a comprehensive blockchain ecosystem, to provide continuous growth momentum for the platform. The community is actively engaged and some on CT have dubbed it the Solana killer and the next chain to watch for gains.

Taking a quote from Jeff, founder of Hyperliquid,** “When you see a 100x, you drop everything to make that a reality.”**

So, start trading!

How to Enter the Hyperliquid Airdrop

Phase 1 is over but there’s still a good chance at Phase 2. Here’s why:

According to Hyperliquid’s tokenomics, 31% of the total token supply was allocated for airdrop. Despite this, another 38% of the token supply is attributed to future community rewards; which idolos suspect would be for another airdrop distribution.

In phase 1, users got rewards to the tune of over $1,000,000 worth of Hype.

https://x.com/CC2Ventures/status/1862480216494387490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1862480216494387490%7Ctwgr%5E7b5c00df31b4c3a5a8bbeb7f4b95fa675b43472d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.embedly.com%2Fwidgets%2Fmedia.html%3Ftype%3Dtext2Fhtmlkey%3Da19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07schema%3Dtwitterurl%3Dhttps3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FCC2Ventures%2Fstatus%2F1862480216494387490image%3D

And not only that, other airdrops were distributed to early adopters e.g. Purr.

https://x.com/LowestHash/status/1867927014704902282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1867927014704902282%7Ctwgr%5E66622ea0453a182ecdf0a70fcbc5546a0ff68e37%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.embedly.com%2Fwidgets%2Fmedia.html%3Ftype%3Dtext2Fhtmlkey%3Da19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07schema%3Dtwitterurl%3Dhttps3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FLowestHash%2Fstatus%2F1867927014704902282image%3D

Here’s your opportunity to get in early and benefit from the ecosystem.

• Set Up a Wallet

Install an Ethereum-compatible wallet like MetaMask and set it up.

• Get USDC

Buy USD Coin (USDC) from a cryptocurrency exchange and send it to your wallet through the Arbitrum network (you’ll need a little ETH for gas fees)

• Deposit USDC

Deposit the bridged USDC into the Hyperliquid platform.

• Connect Your Wallet

Open the Hyperliquid website and connect your wallet.

• Trade Spot Assets

Go to the “Trade” section, select “Spot,” and trade available assets to earn points.

• Trade Perpetuals

In the “Trade” section, choose “All Coins,” and trade perpetuals to earn more points.

• Provide Liquidity

Deposit USDC into the HLP (Hyperliquidity Provider) vault to earn points as a liquidity provider.

• Create a Referral Code

Go to the “Referrals” section, generate a referral code, and invite others to earn rewards. You need to have traded up to $10,000 to generate a code.

• Track and Claim Rewards

Check your points in the “Points” section and monitor rewards weekly.

• Trade other gems

Commit a small allocation for some of Hyperliquid gems like PURR and HFUN. This can whitelist you automatically to receive future airdrops from new projects in the ecosystem.

How to Set up Your Trading Account

With Email:

• Go to Hyperliquid Dex (this link gives you a 4% discount on trading fees)

• Click “Connect” on the dashboard.

• Enter your email, verify the 6-digit code, and log in.

• “Deposit” native USDC from Arbitrum to the generated blockchain address.

• Start trading and earning points.

With a DeFi Wallet:

• Go to Hyperliquid Dex (this link gives you a 4% discount on trading fees)

• Click “Connect” on the dashboard.

• Switch your wallet to the Arbitrum network.

• Approve the connection in your wallet.

• Click “Enable Trading” and:

• Sign the connection transaction (no gas fee required).

• “Deposit” USDC by confirming the transaction in your wallet (requires ETH for gas).

• Start trading and earning points.

Can’t Trade? Use This Strategy

Not everyone can trade and that is okay.

But there’s another way to buy into the trend and position for gains- Buying tokens.

Research shows that Hyperliquid is just getting started, more green candles will be witnessed before the bull run is over and by buying and holding the hype token for the long term, you can benefit from the market too.

You can buy Hype tokens on Hyperliquid Dex or exchanges like Kucoin.

Conclusion

Keeping up with the Web3 ecosystem is a full-time job. If you’d like to degen trade to your next 20x token, check out entry 9.

In my next piece, I’ll be sharing the story of a 21-year-old serial bounty winner in the Solana ecosystem. Stay tuned and subscribe so you don’t miss it🫵!

Kindly mint this entry and connect with me.

But I picked myself up and continued my journey. You can check my last degen entry.

I searched and I searched and I searched for good tips on how to find gems on Dexscreener but I found the same generic tips:

• Open Dexscreener

• Use filters

• Choose your preferred chain

• Set FDV at $100,000 min

• Set liquidity to $10,000 min

• Set 1hr txns to 50 min

• Set MC to $100,000 min

They also provided other variations for low-cap, mid-cap, etc.

But I did all of that, and still hit a wall. So here’s my advice…

Step-by-Step Approach to Find Gems on DexScreener

• Understand the trend

You are more likely to be successful when you identify the trends that are moving the market. For example, we’ve had a meme supercycle where memes with a cultlike narrative were moving the needle (Retardio, Lockin, Sigma, etc).

For early December, seasonal memes were the rage (Rizzmaz, Santa, Elves, etc). And with the way the market is going, following the news of Trump proposing crypto tax cuts i.e. considering elimination of capital gains taxes on U.S.-issued cryptocurrencies like Cardano (ADA), Algorand (ALGO), Ripple (XRP), and Hedera (HBAR), the trend might shift to these chains.

Before we go deeper, please subscribe to read my next entry👇👇

• Go where the trend goes

Being Degen means fast, scalping trades that can make you profits. If the meta isn’t in, go elsewhere.

Choose the chain with your preferred narrative. Review the gainers and losers just to get a sense of what is working. And flow with the trend(not against it).

If you buy the rumour, you can sell the news which is good for you and good for your portfolio.

• Use filters on DexScreener

Now you know the trend and the chain driving the narrative, use it to your advantage.

Open dexscreener and use filters (like the ones shared in the image above).

Personally, when I want a really fast trade, I look at assets launched between 0–10 hours, with MC between 100k to 300k, with up to 10,000 USD in liquidity and up to 50 transactions in one hour.

Then I review the options presented and go deeper.

• Fundamental Analysis (This is the Secret Sauce)

I know some people might not care for this but to maximize my win rate, I do a fundamental analysis. I can’t read charts to save my life right now, so I go to all the other things the charts don’t cover e.g.:

1. Does the project have an active X account?

2. How many chads are tweeting about the token and narrative?

3. Do they exist on Telegram?

4. Is liquidity locked?

5. What’s the buy and sell ratio like?

6. Is the contract audited? Etc

Team information is rarely disclosed for memes or degen alts, so forget about that. Focus on what the community is saying.

If no one is saying anything, that’s a red flag.

As an added measure, use Dextools to track whale inflows and outflows. You can do this by looking at the tier category on the Dextools order book for your preferred token.

Dextools order book

The more whales and dolphins are buying in, the better.

• Monitor your trades.

Degen moves fast. Bots exist to help you get in and out of trades fast, but sometimes they can malfunction. And if you’re executing trades manually, you need to stay alert so you’re not the exit liquidity.

I had a 30x on a trade that I entered a few weeks ago. Went to do something for 20 mins and came back to a rug.

That’s degen for you. Your goal is to get in and get out — FAST!

Finally

This is my personal opinion/what has worked for me so far. In this case, I haven’t considered anything else like FDV, alpha callers, influencers, etc. Just the project’s performance, the community and order analysis.

If you enjoyed this, check out entry 8.

Kindly mint this entry, subscribe and connect with me.

This has led me to find as many no-code tools to use for Web3 marketing as possible. To me, no-code tools make the world a better place (especially Web3 world🙃).

And today, I’ll be sharing 10 of the best Web3 no-code marketing tools available in 2024, offering a detailed look at what they do, how they work, and their benefits and limitations.

Dig in👇

#1 Galxe (Backed by Binance Labs, Multicoin Capital, and Dragonfly Capital)

Galxe launched in 2021 and changed the way Web3 marketers engaged with their communities.

It operates as a no-code Web3 credential system that allows brands and projects to reward users for completing various tasks (named Quests on Galxe).

More than 6000 Web3 projects already use Galxe and over 26 million users exist on the platform.

And the reason it works is obvious; it’s a win-win.

You can engage users and build a loyal community and on the flip side, users earn incentives for their participation.

To use Galxe, you have to:

• Create a Galxe ID by connecting your self-custodial wallet to Galxe.

• Fill in your project details (name, intro, logo, category, token info).

• Bind your official X account (ensure it has at least 200 followers).

• (Optional) Bind your official Discord account by entering the server link.

• Deposit a refundable $700 worth of Gal tokens. This serves as a check against malicious activity.

• Review and agree to the Galxe Terms of Use.

• Once done, go to Manage Space

• Create your campaign by defining the tasks you want users to complete.

• Set the rewards. It can be tokens, NFTs, badges, etc.

When users participate in these campaigns, they will receive the corresponding reward. The more you do this, the more users are engaged and retained.

However, the disadvantage lies in the declining novelty of NFT badges, which means campaigns must be continually refreshed to maintain interest.

Also, $700 might be a huge spend off your marketing budget, which could be a turnoff.

#2 Growing3 (Backed by Outliers Fund and NextGen Web3)

Growing3, founded in 2022, is a Web3 user segmentation and analytics platform that enables marketers to better understand their audience, without diving into technical code or complex systems.

It collects decentralized user data and creates rich audience profiles, giving marketers the insights they need to personalize their campaigns effectively.

By leveraging Growing3, you can:

• Get a Precise Wallet Profiler: This tool analyzes cryptocurrency wallets to understand user behaviour and target specific demographics.

• Enjoy its Audience Builder: It integrates with advertising platforms(like X ads) to reach crypto users with targeted ads.

• Search and Connect with Web3 KOLs: Growing3 helps you find and connect with the right key opinion leaders (KOLs) or influencers in the crypto space for marketing partnerships.

Their platform uses a blend of high engagement, relevant content, audience fit, demonstrated expertise, and active community involvement to determine KOLs with real and valuable audiences.

The only drawback is the relatively limited depth of analytics when compared to more robust Web2 tools like Google Analytics.

However, with a team that has core tech experience working at Yahoo! And Baidu, I’d say you better watch out for Growing3!

#3 Link3

Link3 serves as a Web3-native alternative to traditional social media link-in-bio tools like Linktree and Beacons.

It allows users to create decentralized identity profiles that can be linked to various blockchain-based activities, making it easier for you to build a more authentic connection with your audience.

For marketers, Link3 is a valuable tool for creating and managing all your Web3 project info on a single customizable landing page.

You can include links to your project’s:

• Website

• Social media profiles (Twitter, Discord, Telegram, etc.)

• Crypto wallet addresses

• NFT collections

• Upcoming events (like AMAs or live streams)

• Blog posts or articles

• Youtube video(embedded)

• Tweets(Embed)

• Backers

• Team

You can also gatekeep your DMs for a token( >= $0.1) and get users to follow your Link3.

Another cool feature of Link3 is the ability to list open roles on your Link3. When users apply, you automatically can access all their relevant links building closure and trust.

The disadvantage of this tool is that you need to understand Web3 to use it.

You also might have to pay a little token to get a passport and be verified.

#4 Forward Protocol (Backed by Mexc Global, Bitcoin.com, CVVC + 19 others)

Forward Protocol provides a no-code framework for Web3 applications, allowing marketers to create decentralized campaigns and initiatives without requiring any coding expertise.

It acts as a bridge between Web2 and Web3 by offering modular templates for different types of decentralized applications (dApps).

Think; a tool like WordPress but powered by Web3 technology🤝.

Marketers can use the Forward Protocol to develop engagement campaigns, loyalty programs, or even governance frameworks for decentralized communities, all without writing a single line of code.

Its modular nature makes it highly customizable, while the no-code interface ensures that it’s accessible to non-technical users.

The benefit of Forward Protocol is its flexibility and scalability, making it suitable for both small projects and large-scale enterprises.

The disadvantage is the steep learning curve for marketers who are unfamiliar with the Web3 ecosystem.

#5 Cookie3 (Backed by Animoca Brands, Spartan, ChainGPT + 13 others)

Cookie3, founded in 2021, is a data intelligence platform designed for Web3 marketers who want to access real-time analytics and insights from decentralized sources.

It focuses on gathering decentralized data and behavioural analytics across various blockchain networks, giving marketers a comprehensive view of user engagement including onchain, offchain and online data.

Here are some of the types of data you can access:

On-Chain Data

• Wallet Activity: Track wallet addresses, balances, and transaction history.

• Token Transfers: Analyze token transfers between wallets and understand token distribution.

• Smart Contract Interactions: Monitor interactions with smart contracts, such as NFT minting, token purchases, and DeFi protocol usage.

• NFT Market Data: Track NFT sales, prices, and ownership changes.

Off-Chain Data

• Social Media Engagement: Analyze user engagement on social media platforms like Twitter and Discord.

• Website Traffic: Track website visits, page views, and user behavior.

• User Demographics: Gather information about user demographics, such as age, location, and interests.

Behavioral Analytics

• User Segmentation: Identify user segments based on their on-chain and off-chain behavior.

• Customer Journey Mapping: Understand the user journey and identify key touchpoints.

• Cohort Analysis: Analyze the behavior of different user groups over time.

Predictive Analytics

• Churn Prediction: Predict which users are likely to churn and take proactive steps to retain them.

• Upsell and Cross-Sell Opportunities: Identify opportunities to upsell or cross-sell products and services to existing users.

• Trend Forecasting: Forecast future trends in the Web3 market.

Cookie3 is unique because it can interpret decentralized activity, allowing marketers to make better data-driven decisions by understanding how users interact with their products and services.

On the downside, decentralized data can sometimes be fragmented, leading to less precise targeting in certain cases.

#6 Farcaster(Backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures + 24 others)

Farcaster, launched in 2022, is a decentralized social media protocol that empowers marketers to build and manage communities without relying on centralized platforms.

Unlike traditional social networks, Farcaster allows you to maintain control over your identity and data, which makes it appealing to crypto’s privacy-conscious audiences.

For marketers, Farcaster is an ideal tool for community building and engagement, because it allows you to foster direct communication with users in a trustless environment(without censorship 😉).

I also think it is pretty cool how they introduced streaks to keep the platform active. Users have to cast(which means to post on Farcaster) daily so they don’t lose their streak.

I think that is a winning strategy because it avoids them dying out like some of the other Socialfi platforms out there.

The disadvantage, however, is that its user base is still relatively niche, limiting the reach of your marketing campaigns compared to mainstream social media platforms.

P.S.: Connect with me on Farcaster.

#7 Orb Club (Backed by Superscrypt, Founders Inc, Aave Companies + 32 others)

Orb Club is a Web3-native community-building tool designed for anyone looking to create, manage, and grow decentralized communities.

It combines social networking features with on-chain interactions, allowing you to engage with users in a decentralized environment.

With Orb, you can organize events, reward participants with tokens or NFTs, and interact with users through direct messages — all within a Web3 ecosystem.

Also, Orb Club is heavily integrated with NFTs. Users can create, collect, and trade NFTs within the platform.

The NFT part is one of my favourite things about Orb right now. You can mint your posts as NFTs(gasless) and get tips/payments for paid NFTs in-app.

It is ultra-simple to use and marketers can manage their communities without needing technical skills.

However, the disadvantage is that it requires users to be familiar with blockchain technologies, which can limit participation from more traditional audiences.

P.S.: Connect with me on Orb Club.

#8 Mirror (Backed by a16z Crypto, Union Square Ventures, and Variant)

Mirror is a decentralized content publishing platform that allows marketers to create and distribute articles, newsletters, and blogs on the blockchain.

Mirror has over 100,000 accounts tied to individual wallets that have published at least one entry on its platform and is used by many Web3 projects e.g. The Optimism Collective.

Unlike traditional publishing platforms, Mirror uses blockchain technology to ensure that content is immutable and censorship-resistant.

You can use Mirror to publish thought leadership pieces, product updates, or educational content in a way that ensures ownership and traceability.

The no-code interface makes it easy to get started, while the decentralized nature ensures that the content remains accessible and permanent.

When someone likes your content and mints it, you get paid as well. This can be cool for marketers who work with Web3 projects that have a very supportive audience.

On the flip side, Mirror has its niche appeal, which may limit the audience reach compared to traditional content platforms like Medium or Substack.

P.S.: Find me on Mirror.

#9 Snapshot (Backed by 1kz, Gnosis, Starkware + 3 others)

Snapshot, launched in 2020, is a decentralized voting platform that allows Web3 communities to make collective decisions.

For marketers, it can be used to engage communities in decision-making processes, such as product development, governance, or campaign planning.

Here are some of the key features of Snapshot:

• Voting: Snapshot provides a simple and secure way for your community members to vote on proposals.

• Proposals: Anyone can submit a proposal for the community to vote on.

• Quorum: Snapshot can be configured to require a certain percentage of token holders to vote for a proposal to pass.

• Voting Power: Voting power is typically determined by the amount of tokens a user holds.

• Integration: Snapshot can be integrated with other decentralized applications (dApps) to facilitate governance.

All these fosters community involvement and empowers users to have a say in key decisions, strengthening loyalty and engagement.

The drawback, though, is that some users may not be familiar with decentralized governance models, limiting participation.

#10 Tiplink (Backed by Sequoia Capital, Multicoin Capital, Circle + 9 others)

Tiplink, launched in 2022, allows you to engage users with cryptocurrency rewards via simple, shareable links and without requiring a wallet setup, making it easy for non-crypto users to participate in campaigns.

Here’s how it works:

• Create a Tiplink Account: You create a Tiplink account using your Solana wallet. This wallet will hold your SOL tokens, which are used for tipping.

• Generate a Tiplink: Once you’ve created an account, you can generate a unique Tiplink link. This link can be shared on social media or other platforms.

• Receive Tips: When someone clicks on your Tiplink and has a Solana wallet, they can easily send you a tip. The tip is sent directly from their wallet to yours, bypassing intermediaries.

• Withdraw Tips: You can withdraw your accumulated tips to your Solana wallet at any time.

Although Tiplink is built on Solana, you can create an account with your Gmail and also integrate with other Solana dApps easily.

The disadvantage for now is same as most of the other tools, a bit of Web3 knowledge is needed.

Conclusion

Finally, as a full-stack Web3 marketer, I explore as much as possible to build up my skills and maintain relevance.

If you enjoyed this, check out entry 7.

Kindly mint this entry, subscribe and connect with me.

As my friend says, if you take a break from the blockchain for two months, you’ll find yourself lagging behind by six months😰.

With the ever-evolving web3 landscape, it’s important to stay up-to-date and actively participate to stay ahead of the game.

If you’ve been on Crypto Twitter recently, you’ve probably seen people discussing L2 protocols, L1 protocols, Layer 0, and Layer 3.

Understanding these complex concepts can be overwhelming, so in this article, we’ll break them down simply with examples and simple illustrations.

First, the ultimate question…

Where did these layers come from?

The term ‘Layer’ is used to describe an underlying blockchain.

There are different kinds of layers.

Statistics show that over 420,000,000 people own crypto worldwide.

This staggering number shows that the blockchain has to accommodate a large number of transactions every day.

As a result, blockchain scalability is affected.

Quick Illustration

Imagine you have a large store e.g. Shoprite or Walmart, in your neighborhood where people like to shop. When you visit pretty early, there are no queues, the store is unoccupied and the cashiers are nice and smile at you.

However, during rush hours, there are a lot of queues and not enough hands, the store is jampacked and the cashiers have had it up to HERE with the people. There’s no smiling or small talk.

Blockchains are like that store. The cashiers are nodes that run on the blockchain. The people are crypto traders.

People come to transact daily on the blockchain. And because it is digital and electronic, transactions are automated and users can trade even at odd hours of the day.

What is Scalability?

Scalability refers to the ability of a system or solution to handle increasing amounts of work or data with ease and without any negative impact on performance or efficiency.

In other words, a scalable system can handle growing demands without slowing down or becoming overwhelmed.

However, the basic(public) cannot do these because they have to confirm/settle every transaction in their network.

This leads to the scalability problem.

Blockchain Technology: Solving the Scalability Puzzle

The blockchain scalability trilemma is a concept that refers to the three challenges associated with developing a blockchain system that is secure, decentralized, and scalable at the same time.

According to this trilemma, it is impossible to achieve all three goals simultaneously.

The first goal is security, which refers to the ability of a blockchain system to prevent fraudulent or malicious activities such as double-spending.

The second goal is decentralization, which means that the blockchain network is distributed among many nodes, and no single entity has control over it. This ensures that the network is transparent and resistant to censorship.

The third goal is scalability, which refers to the ability of the blockchain system to handle a large number of transactions quickly and efficiently.

However, as per the trilemma, improving one of these goals comes at the expense of the other two.

For example, improving security or decentralization may lead to reduced scalability.

On the other hand, enhancing scalability may result in decreased security or decentralization.

Therefore, blockchain developers have to make trade-offs between these goals when designing and implementing a blockchain system, depending on the specific use case and requirements.

But how does this connect to the different layers?

The illustration above can be applied to Layer 1 blockchains. They are blockchains that settle every transaction that happens in their network.

Layer 1 protocols are called the basic primary blockchain networks and popular examples are the Algorand, Bitcoin and Ethereum blockchains.

The problem with this, however, is that it causes scalability issues and high fees when there are many transactions in the network, making users pay as high as $50-$100 per transaction.

The nodes on the blockchain, just like cashiers in the store(in our illustration), can be overwhelmed with numerous requests, and thus cause transaction delays.

And as compensation for the high throughput, the transaction fees are increased.

But this is not comfortable for users.

Due to these challenges, Layer 2 protocols emerged.

Layer 2 solutions are constructed on top of Layer 1 blockchains, utilizing their security framework, and are capable of achieving high throughput quickly and cost-effectively, without compromising network security.

What are Layer 2 Protocols?

Layer 2 is a framework built on top of a Layer 1 blockchain. It gets built on top of this chain to improve scalability.

They create a secondary framework where transactions can take place independently of layer 1.

Using our illustration, it’s like partnering with a sales agency to provide sales reps in-store to handle rush hours.

As a result, the queues become shorter, transactions are faster, and the cashiers are happy again.

L2 solutions are built as an extension to the layer 1 blockchain and use the L1 security framework.

An example of Layer 2 solutions are Arbitrum and Optimism blockchains built on the Ethereum network.

The best part about Layer 2 solutions is that they have the potential to achieve high throughput quickly and cheaply without sacrificing network security.

So while layer 1 offers security, layer 2 offers high throughput.

Difference Between Layer 1 and Layer 2 Solutions

Layer 1 solutions aim to improve the base layer of a blockchain protocol. Let’s look at some of them:

1. Sharding: This technique divides the blockchain into smaller parts, or “shards,” which can be processed separately, making the network faster and more scalable.

2. Proof-of-Stake (PoS): Unlike the current Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus algorithm, PoS allows validators to stake their own cryptocurrency to secure the network, reducing the need for expensive mining equipment and increasing scalability.

3. Lightning Network: This layer 1 solution is specifically designed for Bitcoin and aims to improve the speed and cost of transactions by moving them off-chain, allowing for fast and cheap microtransactions.

Layer 2 scalability solutions, on the other hand, are built on top of Layer 1 and aim to improve the scalability of a blockchain protocol without changing its base layer.

Some notable examples are:

1. State channels: These are off-chain channels that allow for faster and cheaper transactions between two parties, without requiring each transaction to be recorded on the blockchain.

2. Plasma: This solution creates smaller, “child” blockchains that are connected to the main blockchain, allowing for faster and more scalable transactions.

3. Rollups: These are layer 2 solutions that bundle multiple transactions together and then publish them as a single transaction on the blockchain, reducing the amount of data that needs to be processed on the base layer.

Let’s look at general differences in the table below:

How Layer 0 and Layer 3 Fit Into ALL This!

Layer 0 is like the foundation of our store — it’s the underlying infrastructure that supports everything else.

In Web3, layer 0 is the physical layer, which includes things like the internet infrastructure, hardware devices, and protocols that make it all work. A profound example is the Polkadot network.

On the other hand, layer 3 is like the top floor of the store — it’s the part that we actually interact with.

In Web3, layer 3 is the application layer, which includes decentralized applications (dApps) that allow us to interact with blockchain technology.

Think of layer 0 as the pipes and wires that bring water/electricity into the store, and layer 3 as the appliances and gadgets that you use to actually do things with that water and electricity.

Without layer 0, there wouldn’t be an internet or blockchain technology to build on, and without layer 3, we wouldn’t have the exciting and innovative dApps that are changing the way we think about finance, social media, and more e.g Gamefi, DeFi, SaveFi, etc.

Conclusion

There you have it!

Layer 1 and Layer 2 blockchain solutions simplified😃.

Now, rush to crypto Twitter and act like those cool kids who include L1 and L2 in their tweets :). If you enjoyed this, check out entry 6.

Kindly mint this entry, subscribe and connect with me.

So, today, I’ll start by laying the foundations and explaining the terms so you can be carried along when I talk about Liquid Staking.

Understanding the Basics

✅ What is Yield Farming?

Yield farming is a way to earn interest on your cryptocurrency holdings by lending them to others.

You can do this on a decentralized exchange (DEX), which is a platform that allows users to trade cryptocurrencies without the need for a middleman e.g. Pancakeswap.

To yield farm, you first need to deposit your cryptocurrency into a lending pool. Once your cryptocurrency is in the pool, you will start earning interest.

The interest rate is determined by the supply and demand of the cryptocurrency.

Quick Illustration: If you had 100 ETH and you wanted to earn interest on it. You could decide to yield farm ETH on a DEX. You deposit your ETH into a lending pool and start earning interest. Assuming the interest rate is 10% per year, you will earn 10 ETH per year.

✅ What is Staking?

Staking is a way to earn rewards by helping to secure a cryptocurrency network.

When you stake cryptocurrency, you are essentially locking it up for some time. In return, you earn rewards.

The rewards are paid out in cryptocurrency, typically the same cryptocurrency that you are staking.

For example, if you had 100 ETH and you wanted to stake it. You choose to stake your ETH on the Ethereum network. You lock up your ETH for one year. In return, you earn rewards in ETH. The rewards are paid out every day.

There are different kinds of staking, they include Self staking, Exchange staking, Locked staking, and Liquid staking.

✅ What is Liquidity Provision?

Liquidity provision is a way to earn rewards by providing liquidity to a decentralized exchange (DEX).

When you provide liquidity to a DEX, you are essentially depositing cryptocurrency into a pool that other users can trade from. In return, you earn rewards.

The rewards are paid out in cryptocurrency, typically the same cryptocurrency that you are providing liquidity for.

Let’s simplify it: If you had 100 ETH and 100 DAI. And you wanted to provide liquidity to a DEX that allows users to trade ETH and DAI. You deposit your ETH and DAI into the DEX’s liquidity pool. In return, you earn rewards in ETH and DAI. The rewards are paid out every day.

Finally, with these fire alarms out of the way, let’s go into liquid staking.

What is Liquid Staking and Why Should You Care?

Liquid staking is the new kid on the block. It is a way to stake your crypto assets while still being able to access them. This is in contrast to traditional staking, where your assets are locked up for some time.

Liquid staking works by using a smart contract to create a derivative token that represents your staked assets.

This derivative form is usually pegged with a different emblem to identify it, for example, stETH for staked ETH, or mSol for Marinade Staked SOL.

This derivative token can then be used in other DeFi protocols, such as lending and borrowing platforms, to generate yield.

You can stake any amount of an asset and unstake it without affecting your initial deposit.

When you stake your crypto, you are issued a tokenized version of your assets, which has the same value as the original asset and operates one-to-one with it.

If you’re not paying attention here, I’d like to inform you that you’re playing with a $19.1 billion market (at the time of writing); that’s over 550,000 bitcoins. Back to business.

There are many analyses claiming that Liquid staking protocols will likely dominate DeFi in the coming bull run 👇

And if you’d like to take advantage, well, I have two options for you…

How To Liquid Stake Your Assets

• #1- Stake your crypto using liquid staking protocols like Lido, Frax Finance, or Rocket Pool.

To liquid stake your assets, you will need to:

1. Choose a liquid staking protocol. There are many different liquid staking protocols available, so it is important to do your research and choose one that is reputable and trustworthy.

2. Deposit your assets into the protocol. Once you have chosen a protocol, you will need to deposit your assets into it. The protocol will then stake your assets on the blockchain and issue you liquid staking tokens (LSTs).

3. Use your LSTs. LSTs can be used in a variety of ways, such as:

• Earn yield: LSTs can be deposited into other DeFi protocols to earn yield.

• Trade: LSTs can be traded on exchanges.

• Spend: LSTs can be used to purchase goods and services from merchants who accept them.

To unstake your assets, you will simply need to redeem your LSTs from the protocol. The protocol will then return your staked assets to you.

• #2. Alternatively, buy the tokens of these protocols and hold for the bull run.

  I call this the easy way out😅. And if you’re anything like me, this is your option.

What Benefits Do You Get From Liquid Staking

This new kind of staking offers many advantages over the traditional staking you know, including:

• Liquidity: Liquid staking platforms provide you with liquid tokens that represent your staked assets. These tokens can be traded, used in DeFi protocols, or even sold. This gives you more flexibility with your staked assets.

• Accessibility: Liquid staking platforms make staking more accessible to users by lowering the minimum staking requirements and eliminating the need to run a validator node.

• Rewards: Liquid staking platforms typically offer similar rewards to traditional staking but with the added benefit of liquidity.

Is it Possible to Liquid Stake Other Cryptos Besides Ethereum?

Yes, liquid staking is not limited to Ethereum. It can be used with any Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain that allows for staking. Some popular liquid staking platforms support a wide range of PoS blockchains, including:

• Ethereum

• Solana

• Polygon

• Fantom

• NEAR Protocol

It is important to note that each liquid staking platform may have its own list of supported blockchains, so it is important to check before using one.

Are There Cons of Liquid Staking?

Honest answer, Yes. And here are a few of them:

• Risk of De-pegging: Liquid staking tokens (LSTs) are pegged to the value of the underlying asset, but there is always a risk that the peg could break. This could happen if there is a sudden sell-off of LSTs, or if the liquidity pool backing the LSTs is hacked.

• Complexity: Liquid staking is a relatively new technology, and it can be complex to understand. You need to carefully research the different liquid staking protocols and understand the risks involved before depositing your funds.

• Fees: Liquid staking protocols typically charge fees for their services. These fees can vary depending on the protocol and the asset being staked.

• Counterparty risk: When you liquid-stake your crypto, you are essentially trusting a third-party protocol(smart contract) with your funds. If the protocol is hacked or mismanaged, you could lose your money.

Conclusion

If you are considering liquid staking, it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully and make sure that it is right for you.

Kindly mint this entry, check entry 5, subscribe and connect with me.

Small move, no pitch, no LinkedIn URL, or portfolio but one week later, you were staring at a volunteer marketing manager, then an ambassador, then a writer😅. I did that for nine months before I got employed to work with the marketing team.

That’s a long time to work as a volunteer especially when I wasn’t being paid, but because I was a student and the job was flexible, I think I did greeaat👌!

But you don’t have to volunteer for that long to earn.

And in this article, I’ll show you how to cut the volunteering chase and start on the job in six months.

Cutting The Volunteering Chase

Here, I’ve written this assuming you’ve volunteered before with blockchain companies or already are a volunteer. If you haven’t, then your first step would be to actually volunteer.

But if you belong to category 1, here’s a useful step-by-step process for your ‘happy to announce’ story:

• Move From Volunteering To Interning

I know people use these terms simultaneously but they are not the same. You can volunteer to do anything, it may/may not be connected to a career path you’ve chosen for yourself and you may not necessarily be part of the team.

But with internships, you’re intentional. Instead of volunteering at events, you can message the company organizing the events and ask to intern in a department you’re interested in e.g. intern as a graphics designer in the marketing department, or frontend dev in the technical department.

Although internships may be unpaid or decently incentivized, you are at an advantage because you are seen as a member of the team whose opinions and inputs are considered, respected, and counted.

When I was a volunteer writer, I had created a community of 200+ persons for the crypto project, influenced about 20 people to download the company’s app and invest in the project’s token.

And every time I wrote about the company, I shared it on all their platforms for review and feedback.

I wanted to be a content writer and whenever I wrote, that was me being deliberate about a career path.

Though I did these as a volunteer, the company’s structures allowed me to count as a representative.

But not every blockchain company has structures like that so you might have to go full-blown intern to get counted.

• Don’t Manage Bad Bosses Or Tolerate Micromanaged Teams

Often, people who do this do so because they like the prestige of working for the firm or they are afraid of starting over.

Here’s what I have to say; No matter how hard you work for a bad boss or in a micromanaged team, you’ll always feel unseen and exhausted and this is not a good state for delivering good results.

As an intern, pay attention to team culture and communication. And the culture is not what the firm says, it’s what they do; how they handle disputes and offer corrections, how they respond to work and recess, how they respect your time and opinions, etc.

If you have a bad boss or the team is micromanaged, you’ll not make progress.

No matter the offer, be audacious enough to walk away from bad working environments, it’s not healthy and it can result in problems in the future.

• Add Value

The bridge between intern to employee is V-A-L-U-E. Make it a personal policy to be helpful and useful. Follow directives but be observant and innovative.

If you have an idea that can help the organization, say it. If you’ve learned new ways of doing a particular thing, propose it. That way, your employer can see that you’re an asset and nobody likes to lose an asset.

• Go Public

The easiest way to do this is to be vocal on social media (personally, I use LinkedIn). This is where personal branding comes into play.

Connect with people in similar roles on social media, optimize your profile, network at events, share helpful tips, and give short stories on how you achieved a goal you wanted.

Don’t stay behind the scenes, there’s more fun on the scene. Be an active player.

• Apply For Jobs Roles Similar To Your Internship Position

I recommend this for two reasons; you could get the job (hooray🎉) or you could learn from the requirements.

I used to do this for the latter reason though. I think it’s like ‘If you want to get hired, you’ve got to know what the expectations are’.

Look at it this way, if you never knew that one of the requirements of a community manager in the web3 space was to understand Discord, you’d probably ignore learning to use it.

So, you want to tighten every loophole that’d make your employer have reservations about you by studying the job requirements for roles similar to your internship position and learning those skills needed.

If you don’t know where to start, joining this community can help.

Finally…

Every volunteer comes to that point; where you are tired of working unpaid, craving something more stable and secure, and eager to move to the next big thing.

If you are in this category, applying these steps can help you tremendously in getting a Web3 job. And when you get the job, remember to come here and leave a comment so I can say “I told you so🙃”.

If you enjoyed this, you might like entry 4.

Kindly mint this entry, subscribe and connect with me.

I kid you not, dear reader, that’s how popular Zkproof is spreading in the Web3 space. But as usual, I take time out of my marketing schedule to share value with you.

This article would be your foundation for understanding Zero-knowledge proofs and their application for future Web3 opportunities.

But before we dive in, please subscribe to read my next entry👇👇

What Do Zero-Knowledge Proofs Mean?

Zero Knowledge proofs(ZKPs) are a secret writing method used to prove the truth of something without revealing the entire process of achieving it.

The party who is trying to prove something is called the prover, while the party who is trying to verify the truth of something is called the verifier.

ZKPs try to satisfy 3 principles:

• Statistical Soundness: This means that If the statement being proved is false, no dishonest prover can convince an honest verifier.

• Completeness: This means if the statement being proved is true, an honest prover will be able to convince an honest verifier.

• Zero Knowledge: The verifier learns nothing about the prover’s secret information beyond the fact that the statement is true.

How Many Diverse Zero Knowledge Proofs Exist?

Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) come in two main categories: interactive and non-interactive.

• Interactive ZKPs(IZKPs): In IZKPs, the prover and verifier engage in a series of rounds until the verifier is convinced.

The prover wants to prove knowledge of a secret without revealing it, while the verifier wants to be convinced of the prover’s knowledge without learning the secret.

Zcash, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency, uses IZKPs to allow users to make anonymous transactions.

• Non-Interactive ZKPs (NIZKPs): Contrary to IZKPs, the proof is delivered offline without direct communication to the verifier in NIZKPs.

The prover generates a proof that encapsulates all the necessary information, and the verifier can independently verify the proof without further interaction.

NIZKPs offer greater convenience and efficiency, as they don’t require real-time communication between the parties.

Decentralized storage network, Filecoin, uses NIZKPs to prove that users have stored data without revealing the data itself.

Now, within these two broad categories, there exist various types of ZKPs, each with specific properties and applications.

Some common examples include:

1. zkSNARKs (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge): It’s not a snack😅! These are a type of NIZKPs that are particularly efficient and compact, making them suitable for use in blockchain and cryptocurrency applications e.g. Aztec Protocol, a privacy layer for Ethereum uses zkSNARKs to enable confidential transactions.

2. zkSTARKs (Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge): If you thought about Tony Stark, well, right back at you😅! These are another type of NIZKPs that offer enhanced scalability and transparency compared to zkSNARKs. Blockchain scaling solution, StarkWare, uses zkSTARKs to improve transaction speed and privacy.

3. Proofs of Shuffle and Range: These are a kind of zero-knowledge proof that can be used to demonstrate that a set of data has been shuffled or that a specific value falls within a certain range without revealing the actual data or value.

4. Sigma Protocols: These are a foundational type of ZKP that forms the basis for many other ZKP constructions. An example is Zero-knowledge identification schemes, which allow users to prove their identity without revealing personal information.

5. Bulletproofs: These are a type of range proof that offers improved efficiency and privacy compared to traditional range proofs. Monero (a privacy-oriented cryptocurrency) uses Bulletproofs to improve transaction efficiency and privacy.

The choice of which Zero Knowledge Proofs to use depends on the specific requirements of the application, such as the level of privacy, computational efficiency, and proof size.

Like any other thing, technology has both advantages and disadvantages.

To quote the controversial American author of The Da Vinci Code,

“Technology is a double-edged sword. It can be used for good or evil. It can help us or hurt us. It can bring us together or drive us apart. It can make us smarter or make us lazier.” — Dan Brown.

Let’s review the pros and cons of ZKPs

Pros

1. Simplicity: ZKP does not require a complex encryption method which is great. Not everything about the blockchain must be rocket science if we’re going to drive adoption.

2. Security & Privacy: It strengthens the security of information by replacing ineffective authentication methods. Also, it increases the privacy of users by avoiding the reveal of personal information.

Cons

1. Large Amount of Computing Power: Generating and verifying ZKPs can be computationally intensive, requiring efficient implementations and optimizations.

2. Implementation complexity: ZKPs can be difficult to implement correctly. If a ZKP is implemented incorrectly, it could be vulnerable to attack.

Where Can You Apply Zero-Knowledge Proofs?

Like any other tool, zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) have a wide range of applications. Here are a few practical examples of how they are being used in various applications:

1. Privacy-Preserving Authentication: ZKPs can be used to authenticate users without requiring them to reveal their passwords or other sensitive information. For instance, a user could prove they know the correct password without actually disclosing it to the system.

2. Anonymous Transactions: ZKPs can enable anonymous transactions on blockchain networks, allowing users to transfer funds without revealing their identities or transaction details. This can enhance privacy and protect users from potential surveillance or tracking.

3. Verifiable Credentials: ZKPs can be used to issue and verify credentials, such as educational certificates or professional licenses, without revealing the underlying personal information. This allows individuals to prove their qualifications without compromising their privacy.

4. Secure Voting Systems: ZKPs can be implemented in voting systems to ensure the integrity and privacy of votes. Voters can prove they are eligible to vote and have cast their ballot without revealing their identity or their vote choice.

5. Supply Chain Transparency: ZKPs can be used to provide verifiable proof of product authenticity and supply chain traceability without disclosing sensitive business information. This can enhance consumer trust and combat counterfeit products.

6. Privacy-Enhanced Data Sharing: ZKPs can facilitate secure data sharing between parties without revealing the underlying data itself. This allows organizations to collaborate on data-driven projects while protecting sensitive information.

7. Regulatory Compliance: ZKPs can be used to demonstrate compliance with regulations without revealing confidential business data. For example, a company could prove it has implemented certain security measures without disclosing the details of those measures.

Conclusion

You made it!

Past 1000+ words of texts!

I’m proud of you.

If you enjoyed this, you might like entry 3.

Kindly mint this entry, subscribe and connect with me.

Me: Do not do it alone.

“You’re going to need referrals, alpha callers, support and 90% of the time, you need other people to help out.”

Hello dear reader, my last entry was over one month ago but who’s counting?

After dabbling in and out alone, I finally realized I needed a support group.

Today’s entry will cover:

• My support group

• Earning crypto

• The thrill thus far.

Before we go deeper, please subscribe to read my next entry👇👇

First, my Support Group

I created a group, named it Let’s Take W( W stands for wins) and found 4 ladies who were interested in being part of a support group to join me.

The benefits?

• Better answers to questions I had about farming some airdrop tokens

• Inspiration to continue- we share our wins and ideas. It's really inspired us to put our best foot forward

• I don't have to worry about missing out. With the girls, someone is always sharing a new gem or potential airdrop.

I love it!

If you’re a newbie, I advise you to find your tribe.

Next, Earning Crypto

Phase 1

So, yesterday, I opened my phantom wallet and discovered that I had received two meme tokens: Lormhole and Devwifhat.

I thought this was a general airdrop so I announced to others to check their wallet but alas, I can find no other person who received these tokens.

At the time I found them, they were worth $45, I was surprised.

This reestablishes my love for the Solana ecosystem. The opportunities are endless.

I've taken the time to interact with Marginfi- did this by staking $wen, and drip.haus to collect points for possible airdrop.

Phase 2

It's no news that I'm into Notcoin (it’s probably nothing… hahaha) but they are close to launching and the hype is incredible.

I've taken it seriously and have been click-tap-mine-repeating all week. I also have no idea how much this would be upon launch but I expect the most and you can dare to too.

Start here.

Then there's Nibiru.

To be happy or to be sad, I'm yet to decide.

I farmed $nibi but I've been unable to get the two roles mandated for airdrop

So, you see why I'm yet to decide.

Phase 3

The Ton Ecosystem!

My goodness! You probably are wondering ‘why the exclamation, they’re not all that’

Permission to intrude.

They are🥵!!!

Solana and Ton blockchain have been my sole focus since January and after doing a deep research on the ecosystem yesterday, I found some jaw-dropping utilities.

The most thrilling- Read to Earn.

This particular project has a special place in my heart. As a writer and consumer of content, I appreciate when content is given the benefits and reach it deserves and this is That!

I'm applying to be a content creator there and I’ll brief you about it.

But you can earn $10 if you follow the steps below:

• Download the application

• Sign up.

• Use my code for extra points: PX8YS73.

• Withdraw your reward by putting your usdt bep20 address from Binance

• Follow on X for more rewards

• Go to your profile, and create your Readon wallet(takes 2 mins)

• Do the mini-tasks for extra points. You can stake your points for more earnings and you can earn $read by moving ranks e.g from level 1 to level 2

The next- Nimbus Bot

I've tried plenty of bots- including Bonkbot and Solawave bots- but none compares to Nimbus.

From its simple setup process to how it displays your assets including PnL and value, it's award-winning in my heart.

Lastly, the Mobile eSim

After attending the GiTex Africa conference in Morocco last year, I can testify to the unpleasant experience faced when in a new country with no data or network provider.

With eSim, you can easily buy the sim cards for around 50 countries worldwide with Toncoin.

I love that the Ton ecosystem is thoughtful and ensures that products on their blockchain offer real utilities.

If you ask me, that's a killer strategy.

The Thrill Thus Far

The blockchain ecosystem is no doubt complex, fast-paced and dynamic, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

If you enjoyed this, you might like entry 2.

That's it for entry 3, do well to mint this entry, subscribe and connect with me.

In the past two weeks, I’ve:

• Lost $10.

• Made free earnings

• Engaged some airdrops/bounties

• Gotten a Superteam member nft🚀

• Been scammed

Before we go deeper, please subscribe to read my next entry👇👇

General DeFi Overview

• Metamask is very slow on some Android devices, including mine😭😭.

• When you buy presale on any token, take profit after you make 1x your capital. (More on this later)

• Don’t buy the top. It’s not going any further

• Before connecting with any dApp, verify if it’s original or a scam.

• Always connect first with an empty wallet.

• Do your own research, some idolos are paid to shill. They don’t tell you it’s an ad.

• If you can do it for free, without connecting your wallet, then try.

Where I Started

In my last entry, I shared that I was focusing on Solana and Ton blockchain. Well, nothing much has changed.

No other blockchain has given me as much as Solana and I’m beginning to build onchain traction there.

For Ton, it’s still pretty much Notcoin(it’s probably nothing😅)

But let’s talk about the journey so far.

Building DeFi Traction

• How I lost $10

  I discovered a meme token influencers said would be the next ‘baby meme token to do 100x’, lol. I didn’t do any research, it was on presale and I thought ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’.

  It turns out, upon launch, the token did really well, I bought with $10 on presale, I saw my capital grow to $21 but I felt it would go higher.

  It didn’t.

  The token crashed, went from a $100,000 mc to $19,000

  I was disappointed but I had learnt my lesson.

  When your capital does 1x, take profit. If I had taken a profit at $21, I could have bought in again at a lower mc and rode it out.

• Now, how I got some free earnings.

  I made around $200+ from winning a superteam thread bounty and claiming some $Wen.

  $Wen yours? Maybe wen you use the Solana blockchain😅

• How I engaged some airdrops/bounties

  Let me start by saying ‘Engagement requires active participation’. Also ‘The easiest way to earn your first crypto is by engaging airdrops and bounties’

  So far, I’ve written bounty threads on Saros Finance, Superteam Germany, and Solacard, I’ve also engaged the $woof airdrop and I’m anticipating $Solawave’s bot launch.

  Some of these threads/bounties have reward pools as high as $10000 and winner positions up to 10th place(though I’m aiming for 1st place).

  My fundamentals for doing any bounty task/thread are:

• ❤️‍🔥 Popularity: The less popular the project is, the higher your chances of winning.

• 🔔 Winner Positions: Multiple winning positions slots are better. If there 1-10 winner positions, you can aim for the top, and land in 3rd place, that’s fair.

• 💰The Bag: The bigger the prize, the better.

• How I got my Superteam NFT

Honestly, there’s not much to share here. I won a bounty and qualified for a member position.

I love Superteam btw and I’ll be there a long time. Really glad to be a member.

• How I Got Scammed

  I didn’t do my own research. And after the experience, here’s my advice for you:

  1️⃣ Do not buy a token presale without doing your research. Check their X following and their X activity.

  The presale token that scammed me was following around 10 people with usernames that made no sense.

  And when I checked their account, I saw that they had been on X since 2014(which is a red flag for a token they claimed is new) and their past activities were gibberish shillings.

  2️⃣ When you find a new token or gem, follow their X and turn on post notifications.

  By doing this, you’ll be able to identify them among scam accounts. For example, I followed @wenwencoin and turned on post notifications.

A few days later, I was reading their tweet, checked the comment section, and saw an account that looked exactly like theirs with content that looked real in the comment section.

Upon close research, I noticed that I wasn’t following them, and their notifications weren’t turned on. I went back to check for @wenwencoin and alas, they weren’t the same account. Their username was @wenwemcoin, an easy-to-miss change to the unobserving eye.

That saved me from making a major mistake.

Some official X accounts have started adding an additional tweet after every post to say ‘This is the last tweet in this thread’ to protect users from scams.

3️⃣ When connecting to a new dApp, start with an empty wallet.

Most scam platforms will prompt you to use an account with some funds in it. That’s a red flag. And you can easily protect yourself by testing with an empty wallet.

Finally

That’s it for this week’s entry.

I hope you learnt from my experience and will begin your DeFi degen journey today. I have a couple of tasks to achieve this week and I’ll update you on how it goes.

If you enjoyed this, then you might like entry 1.

Let's connect! Consider minting this entry to help me grow.

Wagmi ✊

I’ve been an active talent in the ecosystem but never had the time to dive deep into the tech.

But that is about to change.

Because this is my first entry on Mirror, let’s begin with an introduction. I’m a Web3 full-stack marketer with skills cutting across content, brand, growth and product marketing.

I’ve been in the space since 2021, and so far, been a chief editor, a content associate, a marketing manager, a community builder, and an event organizer amongst others.

This year, I’m exploring the depths of blockchain technology. Changing my experience of the tech from revolving around news and content for payment solutions to understanding the cause and effect, the open opportunities, and the psych of blockchain natives.

My experience will be documented here and I encourage you to subscribe to my entries if you:

• Are a newbie and looking for a holistic view of the different opportunities in the ecosystem.

• Are a Web3 native and would like to contribute your insights on my journey

Use the button below before reading my Week 1 entry:)

1 Week of Deep Dives into The Web3 Ecosystem

This is what happened in summary:

• Free $10 USDC

• Found a bounty platform for easy USDC rewards

• Discovered two gems on Solana and Ton respectively, currently up 28% on the Sol gem

• Applied for an ambassadorship role

• Learnt how to use Sol wallets- Phantom, and Solflare.

• Discovered Mirror(My writing here is proof that I love it!)

Now, to get into details of how I started my deep dive (TL: DR), here’s what I did:

1. Installed relevant applications and compiled them in one folder

   I installed Solflare, Trust Wallet, Pera Algo Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, Phantom, Dexscreener, Coinmarketcap, and TonKeeper.

   These decentralized wallets help you navigate dapps and dexes easily. To begin your journey, I encourage you to get some (depending on the ecosystem you’d like to explore)

   Next, is organization. Organization makes things approachable. A neat house is easy to walk into, unlike a rough-and-tumble environment. Organizing all my tools in one folder makes it easy to keep them top of mind.

2. I chose two ecosystems for a start.

   The blockchain space is wide and, speaking from experience, you can get carried with the information overload if you don’t have focus.

   For me, Solana came first choice because I was seeing it a lot on my feed. Ton came next because it was a break from the customary on-chain blockchains.

3. I explored through communities.

   For each ecosystem, I took advantage of the verified communities. For Solana, it was Superteam(this was referred to me by Valucop). And for Ton, it was the Ton Society.

   I read through the websites, joined the communities, and explored what the ecosystem had ongoing.

   Here’s what I found at Solana:

   SuperteamEarn: This is an ecosystem innovation that allows you to do bounties to earn rewards. Over $100,000 has been paid in bounty rewards to devs, creatives, and writers.

   There are also instagrants where you can receive up to $10,000 for building in the Solana ecosystem.

   A popular notion at SuperteamEarn is You should earn your first crypto. And this aligns perfectly for a newbie like me who’s building capital and capacity.

   Ecosystem Call: These calls are held once monthly and give a roundup of the ecosystem milestones, new projects + rewards.

   My $10 USDC reward came from the reward at the first Solana ecosystem call of the year.

   Beyond the rewards, it’s also a good way to get insights into new projects you should keep on your radar. e.g Etherfuse.

   Solawave: This; I found through social listening. It’s a community-driven meme protocol built on Solana, and it just launched its staking feature, where you stake to earn rewards. With a current APY of 20% and a market cap under $25k, I encourage you to do your research and make your own decisions.

   Here’s what I found at TON:

   Notcoin: It’s probably Nothing😅, but it’s the first community meme project created on Ton. You tap to earn/mine notcoin. You can get started here. There are over 10,000,000 notcoiners worldwide with many exchanges creating squads of their own including Binance, OkX, etc.

   TON Ambassadorship Program: Many ambassador roles are open in the blockchain ecosystem. However, I’m attracted to TON because of its utility, ease of use, and simple navigation.

   Hopefully, I'll become an ambassador and share further projects & developments within the ecosystem with you😊.

4. I used the active participation method

   Now, I do not know if there’s a better description for line 4 above but what I’m trying to say is- I didn’t just stick with theoretical knowledge, I applied it and took actions based on it.

   For every project that I came across that interested me, I followed their social channels, turned on post notifications, checked their website, read their recent updates/developments, and used their application.

   Sure, I’ve lost around $3 worth of $sol to this exploration but I’m unrelenting and will pursue more engagements in the coming weeks.

Finally

Week one was exciting and I learnt a lot. I look forward to telling you all about week two. If you enjoyed this entry, feel free to mint it below and connect with me.