Part 1: Understanding Somnia and Getting Started

Before we get our hands dirty with quests and tokens, let's get a good grasp of what Somnia is and why it's worth our attention

What is Somnia, Anyway?

In a nutshell, Somnia is a Layer 1 (L1) blockchain. Think of it like the foundation of a house: it's the base upon which other things – games, applications, you name it – can be built. But unlike many other "foundations," Somnia is specifically designed to have all these things operate directly "on-chain." This means no sneaky workarounds; everything is transparent and secure, as it should be in the blockchain world

Why Is This Cool?

• Speed: The developers are boasting a whopping 400,000 transactions per second (TPS). To put that in perspective, Bitcoin's TPS is around 7. Yeah, it's a big difference

• Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) Compatibility: If you've already dabbled in the Ethereum network, your skills will transfer seamlessly to Somnia. It's like learning to drive a different model of car – the basics are the same

• Low Fees: Nobody likes getting nickel-and-dimed with crazy transaction fees, and Somnia promises to keep things reasonable

• Reactive Blockchain: This one sounds a bit techy, but it essentially means the system can quickly respond to changes and real-time events. For games and apps where every second counts, this is a must-have

“Show Me the Money!”

Somnia is being developed by a company called Improbable, and they've secured a mind-blowing $822M in investment! That's twice the amount raised by the much-hyped ZkSync and three times more than StarkNet. In short, they've got serious cash, and heavy-hitter funds like Andreessen Horowitz and SoftBank are backing them. This isn't some fly-by-night operation; it has the potential to be huge

The Testnet and Quests

Somnia is currently in its Testnet phase – think of it as a "sandbox". We, the regular users, can get involved too! The developers have launched quests, and they've explicitly stated that early participants will be rewarded.

Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Somnia Pioneer (and Potential Reward Recipient)

To keep things clear, we'll break this down into manageable steps:

Phase 1: Preparation

1. Head to the Somnia Website: First things first, navigate to the Somnia Testnet portal: https://testnet.somnia.network/

2. Connect Your Wallet: You'll need a compatible wallet to interact with the Somnia Testnet. Popular choices include: MetaMask, OKX Wallet, Rabby Wallet, Backpack

3. Add the Somnia Testnet Network: The website will usually prompt you to add the Somnia Testnet network to your wallet automatically. This is a crucial step, as it allows your wallet to interact with the Somnia blockchain. If it doesn't prompt you, you may need to add it manually. They typically include:

Network Name: Somnia Testnet

New RPC URL: https://rpc.testnet-01.somnia.network

Chain ID: 56311

Currency Symbol: STT

Block Explorer URL: https://somnia.testnet.social/

Check if network is online. You should see green word "Live". If it says "Down" you can't do any on-chain actions, because network is not active.

Navigate to the Quests Page: Once your wallet is connected and the Somnia Testnet network is added, go to the quests page: https://quest.somnia.network/

Phase 2: Tackling the "Onchain" Quests – Your First Steps on the Somnia Blockchain

Let's start with the "Somnia Testnet Odyssey - Onchain" questline. These quests involve interacting directly with the Somnia blockchain. Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds!

1. Request and Get STT Tokens

• On the quest page, you'll see a list of tasks. The first one is "Request and Get STT tokens." Click on it

• This will redirect you to the main Testnet portal page

• Find the button labeled "Request Tokens" and click it

• Your wallet will pop up asking you to confirm the transaction. This is essentially asking for some free test tokens (STT) from the Somnia faucet (a faucet is like a free token dispenser for test networks)

• Confirm the transaction in your wallet

• Wait a bit. Testnets can be a little slow, so give it a minute or two. You'll likely see it added to your balance on the Somnia page

• Once you've received the tokens, go back to the quests page

• Click the "Check Balance" button to verify that you've received the STT tokens. The quest should now be marked as complete

2. Send STT Tokens to 1 or More Members

Now, we need to send some of those test tokens to someone. There are a couple of ways to do this, you can either:

• Send some to yourself or to a random address or to the Somnia Team.To send the tokens yourself, just copy and paste the wallet address

• Let's send some tokens. Back on the Testnet portal, find and click on the button, that says, "Send Tokens"

• Paste recipient address into the "Recipient Address" field.

• Enter a small amount of STT to send (e.g., 0.01 STT). Don't send all your tokens!

• Click "Send STT" and confirm the transaction in your wallet

Part 2: Social Quests, Further Exploration and Tracking Progress

Now that we've conquered the on-chain interactions, let's move on to the social side of things. These quests are generally easier and faster, involving typical social media actions

Tackling the "Somnia Devnet Odyssey - Socials" Quests

This set of quests is all about connecting with Somnia's social media presence. Here's the breakdown:

1. Login Streak Quest:

This quest is all about that daily "GM" (Good Morning) ritual. Every day, log in to the quest page and click the "GM" button. This will build up your streak and increase your points multiplier. Consistency is key!

2. Connect your accounts

• Click on the "Profile" button in the upper right corner, and start connecting your profiles

• Link Twitter Account: Click the "Connect X" button. This will take you to Twitter/X, where you'll need to authorize the connection between your account and the Somnia quest platform

• Connect Discord: Similar to Twitter, click the "Connect Discord" quest

• Refer friends to the Somnia Platforms: You are going to need your referral link. Go to your "Profile". Copy the referral link

3. Exploring Beyond the Quests

While the quests are a great starting point, there are other things you can explore on the Somnia Testnet:

• Somnia Swap:

  • Swap different tokens

• Somnia Explorer: Get familiar with the Somnia Testnet Explorer (https://somnia.devnet.social/). This is where you can see all the transactions happening on the blockchain, including your own. It's a good way to learn how a blockchain explorer works

4. Tracking Your Progress

The Somnia quest platform makes it easy to keep track of your progress:

• Your Stats: On the main quest page, you'll see a "Your Stats" section that shows:

  • Rank: Your current ranking on the leaderboard

  • Somnia Points: The total points you've earned

  • Total Multiplier: Your current multiplier, boosted by your login streak

  • Login Streak: How many consecutive days you've logged in and clicked "GM"

  • Daily Multiplier: Your base multiplier

  • Streak Count: Number of days you logged in

  • Completed Quests: The number of quests you've completed

  • Referred Users: The number of users you've referred

• Leaderboard: Check out the leaderboard to see how you stack up against other early adopters!

Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Somnia is a Layer 1 blockchain with big ambitions and even bigger funding. It's focused on gaming and on-chain applications, and it's being built by a team with a solid track record

The Testnet is our chance to get in early. We're not just testing; we're very early testers. This means we have a higher chance of receiving rewards for our participation.

The quests are relatively simple. You don't need to be a coding wizard to participate. Basic social media actions and simple on-chain transactions are all that's required (for now)

Good luck, and have fun exploring Somnia!

Part 1: What is Paradex Trade, and Why Should You Care?

Paradex is a decentralized exchange (DEX) that allows users to trade perpetual futures on cryptocurrencies

Decentralized Exchange (DEX): Think of it like a traditional stock exchange (like the New York Stock Exchange), but without a central authority controlling everything. Instead of your funds being held by the exchange itself (which can be vulnerable to hacks or mismanagement), your funds stay safely in your own crypto wallet (like MetaMask, for example)

Perpetual Futures: These are contracts that let you bet on the future price of an asset (like Bitcoin or Ethereum) without actually buying or selling the asset itself. It's like saying, "I think Bitcoin will go up," but instead of buying Bitcoin, you enter a contract that pays you if you're right (and charges you if you're wrong!)

So, what makes Paradex stand out from the crowd?

There are a few key reasons why Paradex is generating buzz in the crypto community:

1. Incubated by Paradigm: Paradigm is a significant market maker in the crypto space. It is different from venture, who makes investments. It means they provide liquidity to Paradex, making sure there are always enough buyers and sellers for smooth trading

2. Similarities to Hyperliquid: Paradex shares architectural similarities with Hyperliquid, another popular DEX for perpetual futures. Both have their own dedicated chains built on StarkNet, a Layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum

3. No Token (Yet!), Potential for an Airdrop: This is a big one. Paradex currently doesn't have its own token. Many DEXs launch their own tokens to incentivize users and reward early adopters. When a project without a token suddenly announces one, they often distribute it for free to early users – this is called an airdrop. Because Paradex hasn't raised funds from traditional venture capital firms (at least, not publicly), the likelihood of a generous airdrop to its users is higher

4. Cross-Platform Farming Opportunity: By actively trading on Paradex, you can simultaneously increase your chances of receiving airdrops from other related DEXs. This is because many of these platforms are interconnected or share similar technology. We're talking about platforms like Hyperliquid, Backpack, Arkham, KiloEx, and others

Okay, How Do I Get Started? (The Technical Nitty-Gritty)

Let's walk through the basic steps of getting set up on Paradex:

1. Head to the Website: Go to paradex.trade. The main page gives you a good overview of the platform, including trading volume, open interest, and other key metrics.

2. Launch the Exchange: Click the prominent "Launch Exchange" button. This will take you to the actual trading interface.

3. Connect Your Wallet: In the top right corner, you'll find a button to connect your crypto wallet. The most common choice is MetaMask, but Paradex supports others as well.

   • Important Note: When you connect your wallet, Paradex automatically creates a Paradex account for you. This account is separate from your main Ethereum (or other blockchain) wallet address. It's a special address within the Paradex network (powered by StarkNet). Don't worry, this is normal and part of how the platform ensures security and efficiency. You'll see both your Ethereum address and your Paradex address displayed. You can also copy Paradex Private key.

4. Fund Your Account (Deposit): Before you can trade, you need to deposit some funds into your Paradex account.

   • Click the "Deposit" button.

   • You'll see options to deposit from various networks (Ethereum, Arbitrum One, Avalanche, Base, BNB Smart Chain, etc.).

   • Choose your network and the asset you want to deposit (usually USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar).

   • Enter the amount you want to deposit.

   • Follow the on-screen instructions to approve the transaction in your wallet.

   • Wait for the deposit to be confirmed. This might take a few minutes, depending on network congestion.

Understanding the Trading Interface (A Quick Tour)

Once you're logged in and have funds deposited, you'll see the main trading interface. It might look a bit intimidating at first, but let's break down the key sections:

• Main Chart Area:

  • Price Chart: This is the heart of the interface, showing the price movements of the selected asset over time. You can adjust the timeframe (1 minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 1 day, etc.).

  • Candlestick Indicators: The green and red "candles" represent price changes within specific time intervals. Green means the price went up, red means it went down. There are many resources online to learn how to read candlestick charts.

  • Volume Bars: Below the price chart, you'll see vertical bars representing the trading volume for each time interval. Higher bars mean more trading activity.

Key Concepts to Understand

• Long vs. Short:

  • Long: Betting that the price of an asset will go up.

  • Short: Betting that the price of an asset will go down.

• Limit vs. Market Orders:

  • Limit Order: You specify the exact price at which you want to buy or sell. Your order will only be executed if the market reaches that price. This makes you a maker (you add liquidity to the order book).

  • Market Order: You buy or sell immediately at the best available price. This makes you a taker (you take liquidity from the order book).

• Cross Margin: This is the default margin mode on Paradex. It means that all the funds in your Paradex account are used as collateral for your open positions. If one position goes badly, it can affect your entire account.

• Liquidation: If the market moves against your position too much, and your margin (the funds in your account) is not enough to cover the potential losses, your position will be automatically closed (liquidated). This is to prevent you from owing more money than you have in your account.

• Funding Rate: A periodic payment made between long and short traders in order to keep the futures market price and spot market price the same.

A Crucial Strategy: Delta-Neutral Trading

To minimize risk while farming points on Paradex (and potentially other platforms), a common strategy is delta-neutral trading. Here's the basic idea:

1. Open a Long Position on Paradex: For example, go long 0.003 BTC.

2. Immediately Open a Short Position on Another Platform: Go to a platform like Hyperliquid and open a short position for the same amount (0.003 BTC).

By doing this, you're essentially "hedging" your position. If the price of Bitcoin goes up, you'll make a profit on Paradex and lose an equivalent amount on Hyperliquid. If the price goes down, the opposite happens. You're not aiming to make a profit from the price movement itself, but rather from the trading activity (which earns you points on both platforms).

Commissions

Paradex has negative commissions, that means that the exchange pays you. It is also possible to get additional rewards for inviting users.

• Maker: -0.005% (you get paid)

• Taker: 0.03%

Part 2: Beyond the Basics - Mastering Paradex

Understanding the Order Book in Detail

The order book is your window into the current market sentiment and available liquidity. It's crucial to understand how to read it effectively:

Bid vs. Ask:

Bid (Green): These are orders from people who want to buy the asset. The highest bid price is the best price someone is currently willing to pay.

Ask (Red): These are orders from people who want to sell the asset. The lowest ask price is the best price someone is currently willing to sell for.

Spread: The difference between the highest bid and the lowest ask is called the "spread." A tighter spread (smaller difference) indicates higher liquidity and easier trading. A wider spread means it might be harder to get your orders filled at your desired price.

Depth: The numbers next to each price level in the order book represent the size of the orders at that price. For example, if you see "0.056" next to a price of $86,338, it means there's an order to buy/sell 0.056 BTC at that price. The more orders at various price levels, the "deeper" the order book is, which generally means more liquidity.

Diving Deeper into Leverage

Leverage is a powerful tool, but it's also a double-edged sword. Here's what you need to know:

How Leverage Works: It allows you to control a larger position size than the amount of capital you actually have. For example, with 5x leverage, your $1000 deposit allows you to trade as if you had $5000.

Magnified Profits and Losses: If the market moves in your favor, your profits are multiplied by the leverage factor. However, if the market moves against you, your losses are also multiplied.

Liquidation Price: This is the critical number to watch. If the price of the asset moves against your position enough that your margin (the funds in your account) can no longer cover the potential losses, your position is automatically closed (liquidated), and you lose your margin.

Paradex Leverage: Paradex offers leverage up to 50x. However, I strongly advise against using high leverage, especially when you're starting out. Stick to 1x (no leverage), 2x, 3x, or maybe 5x, and only if you understand the risks very well.

Earning XP (Experience Points)

XP is the key to potentially receiving an airdrop from Paradex. Here's how you earn them:

• Trading and Paying Trading Fees: Simply trading on the platform and paying the taker fees (or earning the maker fees) will earn you XP.

• Providing Liquidity: Supplying liquidity to the order book (being a maker) earns you XP.

• Maintaining Open Trading Positions: Holding a position open for a longer duration (at least 20-30 minutes, or even overnight) earns you more XP than quickly opening and closing positions. This encourages users to contribute to the overall liquidity of the platform.

• Depositing Collateral: Depositing funds into your Paradex account, and especially into the Vaults (when available), earns you XP.

• Trading Frequently, Referring Friends, and Being Active in Discord: Regular trading, referring new users, and actively participating in the Paradex Discord community can also earn you XP.

XP Seasons and Distribution

Season 2 (Live!): Paradex operates in "seasons." We're currently in Season 2, which started on January 3, 2025, and is expected to run until the end of July 2025.

1. Weekly XP Pool: Each week, a fixed amount of XP (currently 4,000,000 XP) is allocated to be distributed among all users.

2. Distribution: XP is distributed every Friday. The amount of XP you receive is proportional to your trading activity and contributions during that week.

3. No Wash Trading: The team emphasizes that points will be hard to earn and dominated by the whales, so they don't want to see Sybil farming.

Part 3: Putting it All Together - Strategies for Success

The Delta-Neutral Dance (with Hyperliquid or Another DEX)

This is the core strategy we've touched on before, and it's worth reiterating:

The Goal: Minimize price risk while maximizing trading volume (to earn XP).

How it Works:

1. Choose a Pair: Focus on BTC-USD-PERP or ETH-USD-PERP, as these have the highest liquidity on Paradex (and most other DEXs).

2. Open a Long on Paradex: Use a limit order to be a maker (and potentially earn those negative fees!). Choose a reasonable size (e.g., 0.003 BTC) and low leverage (1x to 5x, max). Pick the lowest price of the "sell" orders.

3. Immediately Open a Short on Hyperliquid (or another DEX): Use the same size (0.003 BTC) and, ideally, similar leverage. On Hyperliquid, you can use a "market" order (to get filled quickly), but be aware you'll pay taker fees. The "mid" price represents spot and will be automatically filled.

4. Monitor Both Positions: Keep an eye on your "Unrealized P&L" on both platforms. You'll likely see small fluctuations – one position will be slightly in profit, the other slightly in loss.

5. Close Both Positions Simultaneously: After holding the positions for at least 20-30 minutes (longer is better for earning XP), close them both. Use limit orders on Paradex to be a maker. Choose the highest price in the "buy" list. On Hyperliquid, use the limit order to be a maker.

6. Reduce Only: Make sure that you have it selected.

7. Why This Works: You're essentially "canceling out" the price risk. If Bitcoin goes up, you profit on Paradex and lose on Hyperliquid (and vice versa). Your net profit/loss from the price movement should be close to zero (though small discrepancies are inevitable due to price differences and timing). You're primarily earning XP from the trading activity itself.

Example:

You have $1000 on Paradex and $1000 on Hyperliquid

You open a long on Paradex for 0.003 BTC at a price of $86,313, using a limit order

You immediately open a short on Hyperliquid for 0.003 BTC, using a market order, with a mid price of $86,480

You hold both positions for 30 minutes

You close the long on Paradex with a limit order at $86,434

You close the short on Hyperliquid with a limit order, with a mid price of $86,435

You might have a small profit or loss (a few cents or dollars), but you've generated trading volume on both platforms, earning XP on both

The "Gigavault" Gambit (When it Reopens)

If and when the Paradex Gigavault reopens (allowing new deposits), this is a very attractive option:

How it Works: Deposit your USDC into the vault and earn a passive yield (currently advertised around 40% APY, but this can fluctuate).

Why it's Great: You earn XP just for having your funds in the vault, without needing to actively trade. It's a relatively low-risk way to participate.

Engaging with the Community (Discord)

Paradex rewards active and helpful members of their Discord community with XP.

How it Works:

• Join the Paradex Discord

• Be active in the channels, answer questions, share helpful information, and participate in discussions

• Share your trading ideas

• Report bugs or issues you encounter

• Provide constructive feedback on the platform

Why it's Worthwhile: It's a way to earn XP without directly risking your funds on trades. Plus, you'll learn a lot from other experienced traders and stay up-to-date on the latest Paradex news and developments

Referral Program Invite friends, get a bonus

Final Tips and Reminders:

1. Start Small: Don't deposit your life savings! Start with a small amount that you're comfortable potentially losing. Get a feel for the platform and the strategies before committing larger sums.

2. Manage Your Risk: Leverage is dangerous. Use it sparingly, if at all. Prioritize preserving your capital over chasing huge profits.

3. Stay Informed: The crypto market is constantly changing. Keep up with news and developments related to Paradex, Hyperliquid, and the broader crypto ecosystem.

4. Be Patient: Earning XP and potentially qualifying for an airdrop takes time and consistent effort. Don't expect to get rich overnight.

5. Connect your social media: Linking your social accounts. You get more XP when you connect your accounts, and also it helps to identify legitimate users.

Have Fun! Trading can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. Try to enjoy the process and learn as you go

Links

• Paradex Trade

• Paradex X

• Paradex Discord

• Paradex Docs

That's it! You're now armed with the knowledge and strategies to start exploring Paradex Trade (and potentially other DEXs). Remember to do your own research, be cautious, and have fun! Good luck, and may the airdrops be with you!

What are Sahara AI and Sahara Legends?

Sahara AI is a platform that leverages artificial intelligence to create a decentralized, secure, and customizable knowledge base. Think of it as a vast library where information isn't just stored but also constantly analyzed and improved using AI

Sahara Legends is a gamified campaign launched within the Sahara AI testnet. It presents a map with various locations (deserts), each offering a unique set of tasks. By completing these tasks, we test the platform's functionality and earn rewards in the form of "shards."

How to Participate in the Sahara Legends Testnet?

It's super simple, and, best of all, it's free! Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Go to the website. Head over to the website: legends.saharalabs.ai

• Connect your wallet. Click "Sign In" and connect your MetaMask wallet. You can also connect via Phantom

• Get test tokens. Navigate to the "Faucet" section and request test SAH tokens. Important: The site may experience delays due to high user traffic

• Start the tasks. Choose the first available location (Gobi Desert) and begin completing the tasks

What Tasks Await Us?

The tasks in Sahara Legends are divided into two types:

Daily Check-in: These tasks can be performed every day. They include:

• Visiting the Sahara AI blog on the Galxe platform

• Following Sahara Labs AI on X (Twitter)

• Inviting friends (referral program)

• Making a transaction on the Sahara network

Social Media: These tasks are related to activity on the project's social networks (Discord, Telegram, X). They offer more shards, but they are also more challenging to complete

How to Get Roles in Discord?

There are 3 key roles on the Sahara AI Discord server: "Legend," "Bronze," and "Silver". Obtaining these roles provides additional shards

• Legend: This role is the easiest to get. Go to the project's Discord, find the community-bible channel, scroll down, and click on the green button labeled "Legend"

Bronze and Silver: These roles require more activity in the Discord chat. You need to communicate, earn experience (XP), and increase your level

How to Claim Points on Galxe?

Galxe is a platform where various activities related to Web3 projects are often held. Sahara AI is no exception

1. Complete the tasks. Follow social networks, make reposts, etc.

2. Verify completion. Click the verification (refresh) button

3. Claim points. If all conditions are met, click the "Claim" button

4. Connect wallet: If you haven't connected a wallet to Galxe, you'll be prompted to do so before claiming

5. Pay the fee: A small fee will be required for claiming, in the Galxe (Gravity) network

How to Get G Tokens on the Gravity Network?

To pay the fee on Galxe, we'll need G tokens on the Gravity network. You can get them through a bridge, such as gas.zip:

• Connect your wallet

• Choose the network. Select the network from which you will transfer funds (e.g., Abstract) and the Gravity network

• Enter the amount. Input the transfer amount (2 dollars is sufficient)

• Send. Click "Send" and confirm the transaction

What's Next?

As you progress through the tasks and new locations open up, new tasks will appear. Follow the project's news on X and Sahara Website so you don't miss anything interesting

My Impressions

Sahara AI looks promising. The idea of creating a decentralized knowledge base using AI is cool. The Sahara Legends testnet is a great way to get to know the project and potentially earn rewards in the future.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments. Good luck and thanks for reading!