Category Archives: General

On-chain data in a volatile market: How traders stay ahead of the curve

Exploring the role of on-chain data in helping traders navigate the volatile cryptocurrency market.

Market volatility, a defining characteristic of the crypto realm, introduces opportunities and risks, demanding a nuanced understanding and adept strategies for effective decision-making. Within this dynamic environment, the significance of on-chain data emerges as a crucial tool for traders seeking to navigate the intricacies of volatile markets.

On-chain data, a term resonating within the realms of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, refers to the wealth of information derived directly from the blockchain. This includes transaction data, wallet balances, and various metrics that capture the activities taking place on the blockchain.

Understanding on-chain data is crucial for unraveling the complex dynamics of the cryptocurrency world. Simply put, on-chain data includes a detailed set of information directly from the blockchain. This information covers various transaction details, wallet balances and metrics that create a clear record of activities on the blockchain.

Unlike traditional financial markets, where data goes through centralized entities, on-chain data provides an unfiltered and decentralized view of interactions in a blockchain network.

Harry Dinh, the chief data scientist of on-chain analytics platform Spot On Chain, told Cointelegraph, “What sets on-chain data apart from traditional financial market data is the decentralization, transparency and immutability nature.”

Dinh said, “During market volatility, while traditional financial markets may have delays in reporting, on-chain data offers real-time transparency, allowing investors to detect unusual patterns promptly and independently without relying on centralized authority. As a result, on-chain data enhances reliability and reduces the risk of manipulation.”

On-chain data in action

To understand on-chain data effectively, it’s crucial to concentrate on fundamental metrics and indicators that shed light on a blockchain’s functionality.

These include the volume of transactions, the number of wallet addresses, the frequency of transactions and the movement of tokens. These metrics are tools for analysts and traders to detect patterns, trends and irregularities in the blockchain.

On-chain data becomes a practical guide by exploring specific metrics that stand out during turbulent times. These metrics act as essential tools for traders trying to understand the market’s underlying dynamics.

The connection between these on-chain metrics and subsequent market shifts forms a compelling story, emphasizing the predictive potential of analyzing blockchain data.

Blockchain analytics tools like Spot on Chain can be used to track wallets and token movements related to venture capitalists and whales. Crypto traders and investors could use this information to gain insights into the activities of major entities in the crypto space.

 

Edited

Markethive Gearing Up To Launch Its ICO With A Difference

Markethive Gearing Up To Launch Its ICO With A Difference

And It's Not an IEO, Not a STO, Not an IDO

Continuing from our previous article, the allure of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) has diminished in recent years. An ICO is a process in which a cryptocurrency startup endeavors to generate interest in its digital currency project by promoting it on its website. This was a new phenomenon in crypto and financial markets in general, allowing individuals to purchase the newly created crypto token directly from the company behind the project. 

No restrictions or regulations were involved, and speculation rather than substantial foundations drove the majority of ICOs. Much of the hype surrounding ICOs attracted casual investors who hoped to achieve significant financial gains despite these projects often being based solely on concepts.

Numerous ICOs faced issues with regulatory entities as their tokens were classified as securities rather than utility tokens, resulting in multiple cryptocurrency companies being required to pay fines and reimburse investors. In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has struggled to establish a legal definition for tokens in cryptocurrency since the emergence of Bitcoin.

While ICOs were initially created to generate funds in a space without regulations, many deceitful ICOs were launched to exploit unsuspecting investors. By the end of 2017, China enforced a ban on ICOs, causing the cryptocurrency industry to search for alternative methods to finance emerging enterprises. This article will explore the various alternatives for ICOs and delve into the plans for Markethive's utility token, Hivecoin, in the coming year.


Source: Binance Square

Initial Exchange Offering (IEO)

Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs) are fundraising events for crypto start-ups to raise funds through a trading platform. They occur on a crypto exchange for the company launching new tokens. One advantage is that investors may have greater trust as they witness a crypto token sale on a reputable crypto exchange, which enhances the project's credibility.

To raise funds on the exchange, start-ups must pay a fee and give a percentage of the tokens they sell. Once the Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) is finished, the tokens are listed on the exchange, which increases the company's visibility to potential investors. Unlike Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), where contributions are sent directly to smart contracts, participants in an IEO send their contributions through the hosting platform.

IEOs have gained traction among major cryptocurrency exchanges. Binance Launchpad was among the initial platforms to introduce IEOs in the market, leading to other exchanges quickly adopting the same approach. The primary benefit of these offerings is the enhanced transparency and trust they provide. Since a reputable cryptocurrency exchange carries out the token sale, the risk of fraudulent activities and scams is considerably lower than ICOs. Reputable platforms conduct thorough assessments of projects before making them available to users.

There is a contention that IEOs do not offer higher security compared to ICOs. In the worst case, they can be seen as centralized authorities that control the types of projects that emerge. Furthermore, projects must pay to be included on a centralized exchange, limiting the opportunity to be featured to moderately established projects, not just concepts. Additionally, they may be required to sign agreements restricting them from listing tokens on competing exchanges.


Source: Tokenminds

Security Token Offering (STO)

STOs, or Security Token Offerings, are a relatively new way of raising funds using blockchain and cryptocurrency. They provide an alternative to typical equity investment and are among the most exciting emerging trends in cryptocurrency. Security tokens serve as virtual representations of ownership in various entities such as companies, financial products, investments, securities, and commodities, granting individuals ownership rights in the underlying value of these assets.

The challenges and constraints of obtaining funding from conventional sources have led to the popularity of alternative methods, such as STOs, for sourcing capital. STOs fully comply with laws and regulations, providing a secure means for companies to secure funding. They serve as a platform for start-ups, established businesses, and traditional institutions to raise funds by issuing digital tokens.

STOs are a category of tokens that represent legal ownership of tangible assets in the real world. They provide the opportunity for individuals or entities to obtain ownership rights in digitally secure assets and symbolize ownership in valuable assets such as real estate or company shares. This contrasts the conventional Initial Public Offering (IPO) process, in which companies become listed on the stock exchange.

Instead, companies have the option to create a new enterprise or utilize an already established one with the assistance of smart contracts. These smart contracts are automated legal agreements between two parties stored on public blockchains. This minimizes the challenges encountered in transactions, including issues like fluctuating prices, fraudulent activities, and regulatory compliance complications.

Security tokens are also utilized in the practice of crypto-fractionalization, which involves securing real-world assets through the process of tokenization. Various real-world assets, including real estate, capital markets, commodities, and equity funds, can be tokenized. STOs are specifically designed to meet the regulations set forth by global regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).


Source: Hackernoon

Initial DEX Offering (IDO)

An Initial DEX Offering (IDO) is a contemporary way of crowdfunding or fundraising that occurs on a decentralized exchange (DEX). Unlike previous methods, such as Initial Coin Offerings and Initial Exchange Offerings, where the sale of tokens was controlled on centralized platforms, IDOs offer a transparent platform on a DEX that enables crypto projects to issue and sell tokens to users directly.

The approach has transformed from ICOs, which were troubled by problems like fraud and inconsistencies, to more controlled formats, such as IEOs and STOs. In 2013, the first initial coin offering was held by Mastercoin Protocol, raising $500,000 worth of bitcoin (BTC). IDOs gained attention in 2019 when Raven Protocol made the announcement of the first IDO on Binance DEX.

IDOs have been improving their approaches since they were first introduced, becoming more popular because they are affordable, have fewer restrictions, and give power to individuals instead of central entities. As a result, they have significantly changed the way crypto fundraising is done. IDOs also provide a simpler and more affordable option for smaller projects to release their tokens instead of using more significant centralized exchanges. To ensure fairness, IDOs often have measures to prevent a single investor from purchasing a large quantity of tokens.

On the other hand, it is easier for projects with a questionable reputation to distribute their tokens via IDOs rather than through IEOs on regulated exchanges because there is less oversight on the projects. Moreover, IDOs bypass regulatory approval, increasing the risk of scams and fraudulent activities. Despite these risks, IDOs illustrate a promising advancement in crypto fundraising, demonstrating how the decentralized nature of the crypto ecosystem continues to evolve.


Source: Markethive

Markethive’s One-of-a-kind ICO for Hivecoin

As discussed in a previous article, many fall victim to ICOs. The hype and speculation of its newly minted crypto token are sold to wannabe investors on the promise of high returns and the revolutionary technology and purpose it claims to serve, even though no tangible evidence of its effectiveness exists. 99% of ICOs don’t do what they say they will do, resulting in the naive investor getting stuck “holding the bag” of worthless tokens. Meanwhile, the individuals responsible for the ICOs swiftly exit after amassing substantial funds, seemingly vanishing without a trace.

Markethive is in preparation to launch an ICO-like event, which differs from other coin offerings because it already has an operational system and delivers what other ICOs only promise to give when they commence their fundraising. It's worth noting that Markethive has never conducted an Initial Coin Offering. 

So far, Markethive’s progress has been made possible by utilizing small amounts of money in the form of a loan from members who have subscribed to the Entrepreneur One Upgrade (E1), earning portions of an ILP in return. Additionally, some members have directly purchased ILPs, which also contributes to the development. This method is significantly different from the traditional ICO approach.

As stated by CEO and founder Thomas Prendergast, 

“It’s time to raise money to market and promote Markethive and bring in the millions, if not billions, that can benefit from what Markethive offers. We will raise money not based on speculation but on fact. We’ve already built the system and have our coin with everything ready to go, making Markethive’s ICO very different from all others that have already done ICOs. That should actually have a significant impact on the industry.” 

Thomas also shared his deep concern about the growing population of individuals who are experiencing poverty and financial burden as a result of being deceived, manipulated, and defrauded by online scams. He stated that this concern serves as a driving force behind the development of Markethive, an extensive undertaking intended to establish a platform that can generate a genuine and sustainable income for its users. While Thomas prefers not to speculate on specific timelines, he maintains that despite the obstacles encountered by Markethive, 2024 appears to be the year when everything will come together.


Source: Markethive

So What’s Markethive Got Already?

Markethive offers various features and assets. It has a fully operational wallet and has introduced its cryptocurrency called Hivecoin. With a total quantity of 45 million, Hivecoin is currently used within the platform to make payments and provide incentives. The Markethive Wallet consists of multiple wallets serving different purposes.

  • It’s an Accounting system.
  • It houses The vault.
  • It’s used for Payments.
  • Incorporating a Bitcoin wallet, Solana wallet, and Hivecoin wallet

With its current operational platform, Markethive offers a range of tools and services currently being improved through iterations and UX enhancements. The fundamentals consist of;

  • A full-blown marketing platform.
  • Social network
  • Inbound Marketing 
  • Storefronts
  • Promocodes
  • Customer acquisition 
  • Lead generation
  • Marketing tools

Markethive’s iterations and UX enhancements will incorporate multiple feeds and be likened to;

  • Twitter, a microblogging feed
  • YouTube, a video feed
  • Google Blogger, a blogging feed
  • Scoop.it, a curation feed.

Markethive has been at the forefront of introducing unique initiatives and projects that remain unparalleled in the industry. It combines an automated marketing system, an inbound marketing platform, and a social network. By merging various types of social networks into one and transforming it into a broadcasting platform, Markethive has established itself as a pioneer. With a rapidly expanding community of over 200,000 members, Markethive continues to flourish. 

The Next Four Big Milestones

1: E1 Exchange. The EX1 permits the purchase and sale of Entrepreneur One subscriptions. E1 is an exclusive framework created to financially support Markethive and provide users access to all the platform's tools. Since the company will no longer offer E1 subscriptions, the only means of obtaining one is through the E1 marketplace, where existing E1 holders may choose to sell, making it a highly valuable and scarce asset.

2: Promocode System. The Markethive admin panel has a promocode system that generates unique codes for E1 members. These codes offer giveaways like Hivecoin, Markethive credits, Boosts, and Wheel of Fortune spins. Each E1 member will receive a specific promocode to promote Markethive on different websites and attract potential users. Any signups, bonuses, or airdrops resulting from these promotions will be credited to the person who acquired the prospect.

Entrepreneur One members will also be provided with a control panel where they can create their own Promocodes. They can select the rewards to offer, which can be purchased through the shopping cart. Additionally, Promocodes can be used for individual groups or storefront signups. For example, if someone joins your group, they will receive a gift. The Promocode is made for Markethive’s social network and has never been done in this industry. 
 

3: Premium Upgrade. The Premium upgrade will replace the E1 upgrade. Those with Premium upgrades will have access to all the features and benefits of the E1 package, except for ILPs or Banner Impressions. The cost for the Premium upgrade will be significantly lower than the E1, which is $100 per month and will be classified as a retail product that generates revenue.

4: Login Registration and Incentive. Upon signing up for Markethive, you will be required to complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. You will have 30 days to do this, as indicated by a countdown clock that will periodically remind you. After completing your KYC, you will receive a free 30-day Premium Upgrade. Additionally, you will be eligible for an HVC airdrop, and if you used a Promocode during registration, you will also receive all the incentives associated with that particular Promocode offer.

The KYC procedure has been streamlined and now involves recording a brief one-minute video of yourself to demonstrate your identity and provide your credit/debit card information. A small sum will be deducted as part of the verification process. It is worth mentioning that you do not need to submit any other forms of identification. Please be aware that you will only receive bonuses, airdrops, or promocode offers once you have successfully completed the KYC process.

An added bonus is that once KYC status is fulfilled, it will allow you to withdraw HVC from your Markethive wallet; however, in keeping with our security protocols, you must activate the 2FA authenticator to access your wallet. 

On completion of these milestones and the Markethive ICO websites to be used in the ICO campaign, Markethive will embark on an ICO-like event to fund the marketing of these milestones and increase Hivecoin awareness. The funds raised will also pay for the cost of an ICO-dedicated platform and employ it to launch Markethive’s ICO and to guide Markethive on the ICO journey. 

While it is unnecessary for Markethive to be listed on a cryptocurrency exchange to launch an ICO, it would be advantageous to have one. In addition to Markethive’s plans of establishing their own dedicated offshore crypto exchange, Markethive is vetting various crypto exchanges for listing Hivecoin and introducing Markethive to the global cryptocurrency market.

Exciting Update for Members of Entrepreneur One! 

Every single Entrepreneur One member will receive the signups resulting from the ICO campaign as well as the Promocode site to promote the ICO and with incentives such as Markethive giveaways. 

This is the year when Markethive becomes revenue-oriented and retail-oriented with the new dashboard, state-of-the-art capture page system, and autoresponders. These are retail products and are separate from the free marketing system provided to free members. 
 
Additionally, Markethive will promote its system and launch an ICO-style campaign to drive in the multitudes, with the aim of having hundreds of millions of members in the Markethive system. Markethive is expanding the scope and depth of its vision in what it's building for all humanity. 2024 really looks like the year Markethive will ascend to new unprecedented heights and give back to the community that has upheld the Markethive vision. 

 

 

Editor and Chief Markethive: Deb Williams. (Australia) I thrive on progress and champion freedom of speech.  I embrace "Change" with a passion, and my purpose in life is to enlighten people to accept and move forward with enthusiasm. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

 

ILP awards for all Entrepreneur Ones 2023 and the future

As we move into 2024

1. We have assigned all qualified Entrepreneur Ones the ONE ILP as we promised to each E1 account.

2. We are kicking up the same offer incentive plus 1000 Hivecoins for 2024.

3. We are now building an army of engineers, this depends on your E1 subscrptions. 

4. As our E1s increase the faster we get into revenue and officially get Markethive launched!

Bring your Hivecoin wallet address to our Sunday meeting and recieve a Hivecoin air drop and watch the power of our new wallet.

See you there
10 AM (Denver time)
January 14, 2024

Thomas Prendergast

Initial Coin Offerings: A Crypto Revolution Whatever happened to the ICO?

Initial Coin Offerings: A Crypto Revolution. Whatever happened to the ICO?

Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) gained immense popularity in 2017 and continued to thrive in 2018; however, they have become a bitter disappointment to many. Nowadays, alternative approaches for token offerings have become more favored due to various factors. A significant reason is that most ICOs have failed due to misdirection, hype, pump-and-dump manipulation, and even fraud. An ICO, which stands for Initial Coin Offering, is a method blockchain projects use to generate funds and introduce a new cryptocurrency. 

On the surface, ICOs may seem similar to Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), where companies sell shares to the public on the stock market. Many consider ICOs the cryptocurrency industry's equivalent to IPOs, although this perception is arguably not entirely accurate.

While IPOs are closely monitored by regulatory bodies, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) enjoy relatively more freedom, with fewer formalities and documents required. This freedom, however, comes at a cost, as investors must conduct extensive due diligence to separate fact from fiction.   Additionally, investing in crypto tokens through ICOs does not necessarily grant ownership in the company, unlike IPOs. The lack of regulation surrounding ICOs has led to some instances of non-compliance with federal securities laws, resulting in legal issues for specific tokens.

Many in the crypto industry would argue that it’s misguided to begin with a securities framework to govern the introduction of crypto tokens. This approach is incompatible and hinders the development of new business models arising from these token use cases. 

Hence, it is essential to acknowledge that tokens can represent a unique category of assets, necessitating a dedicated legal and regulatory framework. Unlike the restrictive "security" label often applied by regulators, tokens do not always signify a personal financial stake or equity share in a larger entity. Instead, they serve as a novel proxy for our digital existence, which is constantly evolving.

ICOs Are Predominantly Speculation 

In a token sale or Initial Coin Offering (ICO), a crypto startup sells its newly created digital tokens to raise funds for its future ecosystem. The startup's success depends on convincing potential investors of its concept or blueprint, showcasing credible engineers and a sound executive team. A key element of most coin offerings is a company’s “white paper,” a document that outlines the project's goals, technical specifications, and team credentials. 

Hardly any ICOs, if at all, can claim to have a working product, service, or protocol in place when the token sale begins. The promise of delivering the intended utility or purpose for its token and future crypto-based ecosystem, coupled with exaggerated promises of profits to unsuspecting investors, has resulted in fraudulent schemes and even exit plans. 

With the rise in popularity of utility tokens in 2017, scammers took advantage of the situation by creating fake ICOs. Numerous so-called tech companies managed to raise millions of dollars in the highly enthusiastic cryptocurrency market, employing misleading or dishonest methods to attract investors.

ICO Scams Prevalent

The Wall Street Journal reviewed 1,450 documents related to Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in 2018 and revealed several red flags in 271 instances. These red flags included plagiarized white papers, guarantees of returns, and absent or fabricated executive teams.

Investors have injected over $1 billion into 271 coin offerings that have raised red flags, per a review of company statements and online transaction records. Out of the 1,450 projects examined, which have primarily targeted English-speaking audiences since 2014, it’s claimed that they have collectively raised at least $5 billion. Research conducted by Satis Group, a firm specializing in data analysis, reveals that since 2017, cryptocurrency coin offerings have generated over $9 billion in overall proceeds worldwide.


Source: WSJ.com

A considerable number of projects, specifically 124, failed to provide any information regarding the personnel involved. Moreover, several projects listed team members who were either non-existent or real individuals unaware of their names being used. Additionally, 111 projects were found to have copied entire sections verbatim from other white papers, including descriptions of marketing strategies, security concerns, and technical details, such as database interaction methods for other developers.


Source: WSJ.com

Furthermore, it was discovered that several projects completed their white papers or websites by incorporating executive pictures taken directly from online stock photography or other platforms, such as LinkedIn. One of the most notable examples is Premium Trade, an investment startup. The images of its executive team, consisting of five members, were discovered to be used on almost 500 unrelated websites simultaneously. Interestingly, Premium's co-founder Andrew Ravitsky was also identified as "Dr. John Watsan" in an online cardiology course.


Source: WSJ.com

The Premium Trade website portrayed CEO Idan Cohen as an "experienced entrepreneur," but the depiction of Mr. Cohen is indeed Eduardo Carillo, a close acquaintance of the photographer. The images that supposedly depicted Premium Trade's executive team of five members were probably purchased from stock photography websites. In many instances, the photos used by Premium Trade are of individuals who have been seen on various other websites across the Internet.


Source: Wall Street Journal analysis of Google Image Search results
Photos: Designed by Freepik (stock images)
Premium Trade website (screenshot)

The United States has shown skepticism towards initial coin offerings (ICOs), regardless of their legitimacy. A primary concern is the lack of regulatory oversight, which makes it easy for inexperienced investors to get caught up in fraudulent schemes. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued warnings to investors, citing that many cryptocurrency deals in the private market may violate securities laws. To illustrate this point, the SEC created a fake coin offering website as an example of what to avoid.

As a result of this negative perception of ICOs, Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs) and Security Token Offerings (STOs) have recently gained popularity as alternatives—more about these in an upcoming article. 

Token Utility Is Of Utmost Importance To ICO Startups


Source:  William Mougayar

Apart from the outright scams, most ICOs fail because entrepreneurs and developers neglect the three fundamental aspects of a successful ICO: Tokenomics, Utility, and Security. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on Utility, as proposed by William Mougayar, a prominent blockchain theorist and strategist. Mougayar's token utility framework consists of three tenets: Role, Features, and Purpose. Each role serves a specific purpose, as depicted in the accompanying chart.


Source:  William Mougayar

When assessing a token-based company, it is advantageous to have as many criteria met regarding the token's purpose. The function of tokens can be likened to nails that secure your business model. Having multiple nails to firmly establish and maintain its defensibility and sustainability is preferable.

Entrepreneurs' resourcefulness is showcased in the various practical applications they devise for tokens, effectively bridging the gap between concept and implementation. It's a display of ingenuity at the token level, where creative ideas come to life.

If the way the token is used is unclear, poorly described, or can be defended, then that model has a flaw. Listed below are questions to determine if an organization can be categorized as ICO-based.

  1. Is the token tied to a product usage, i.e., does it give the user exclusive access to it or provide interaction rights to the product?
  2. Does the token grant a governance action, like voting on consensus-related or other decision-making factors?
  3. Does the token enable the user to contribute to a value-adding action for the network or market being built?
  4. Does the token grant an ownership of sorts, whether it is real or a proxy to a value?
  5. Does the token result in a monetizable reward based on an action by the user (active work)?
  6. Does the token grant the user a value based on sharing or disclosing some data about them (passive work)?
  7. Is buying something part of the business model?
  8. Is selling something part of the business model?
  9. Can users create a new product or service?
  10. Is the token required to run a smart contract or to fund an Oracle? (an oracle is a source of information or data that other than a smart contract can use)
  11. Is the token required as a security deposit to secure some aspect of the blockchain’s operation?
  12. Is the token (or a derivative of it, like a stablecoin or gas unit) used to pay for some usage?
  13. Is the token required to join a network or other related entity?
  14. Does the token enable a real connection between users?
  15. Is the token given away or offered at a discount as an incentive to encourage product trial or usage?
  16. Is the token your principal payment unit, essentially functioning as an internal currency?
  17. Is the token (or derivative of it) the principal accounting unit for all internal transactions?
  18. Does your blockchain autonomously distribute profits to token holders?
  19. Does your blockchain autonomously distribute other benefits to token holders?
  20. Is there a related benefit to your users resulting from built-in currency inflation?

A company's success is likely assured if it confirms and implements the procedures for most items listed above. The more usage scenarios they can confirm, the stronger their Token-to-Market fit will likely be.

Evolutionary and Successful ICO-based Projects

Most ICOs fail to meet the expectations they initially generated or encounter difficulties during their implementation, so it’s crucial for potential investors to thoroughly scrutinize and evaluate these ventures before committing their resources. However, it should be noted that a few ICOs have successfully delivered on their promises.

ICO-based projects that have evolved and succeeded have utilized Initial Coin Offerings to secure the necessary funding to create the groundwork for a decentralized and digital future. These projects range from establishing extensive data storage systems to implementing more equitable payment systems for artists and creating innovative financial products.

The influence of prominent blockchain ventures such as Ethereum, EOS, Telegram, Tezos, and Filecoin cannot be overstated, as they have garnered substantial financial support and yielded significant impact. Projects like Cardano, Solana, TRON, and Polkadot have also achieved remarkable success in their ICOs, etching their names in the annals of history as some of the most successful ICOs ever. 

These pioneering initiatives have not only blazed a trail for nascent projects but have also offered valuable lessons in crowdfunding and decentralized platform development, demonstrating the vast potential of decentralized platforms and the innovative ways in which they can be financed, showcasing the enormous potential of blockchain technology. 

At the heart of these successful ICOs is a dedicated and driven team of talented developers who put in long hours to ensure their success. Also, their transparency and a genuine desire to contribute to an emerging industry and technology parallel to the centralized bodies that the broader community is now recognizing as corrupt and oppressive.

In Closing…

As previously stated, the majority of ICO startups merely possess an idea, a concept. They haven't even developed an alpha version of their final product; it is all founded on speculation and the project's potential. What if an emerging crypto industry project already had a working beta version? A platform and protocol that were already constructed, along with a robust community, and then decided to launch an ICO-like campaign for iterations, further development, and marketing strategies?

Markethive is gearing up to accomplish precisely that. This is a big deal as it’s never been done before, and it will propel Markethive and its Hivecoin token to unprecedented heights, making them a pioneering force in the industry. Introducing a cutting-edge crypto ecosystem and blockchain technology to the marketing, social networking, and broadcasting sectors is a trailblazer in this uncharted territory, revolutionizing how entrepreneurs approach marketing and communication.

I will provide more comprehensive information in my upcoming article. In the meantime, join us for the Markethive webinar on Sunday at 10 am MST, where we discuss the history, current status, and future developments of everything pertaining to Markethive.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. Furthermore, however plausible, the contents of this article may include speculative opinions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with speculation as long as its premises are made clear. Speculation is the customary way to begin the exploration of uncharted territory as it stimulates a search for evidence that will support or refute it.

Resources: WSJ.com, William Mougaya, Doubloin.com.

 

Editor and Chief Markethive: Deb Williams. (Australia) I thrive on progress and champion freedom of speech.  I embrace "Change" with a passion, and my purpose in life is to enlighten people to accept and move forward with enthusiasm. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

 

Markethive Launch Date 2024 ICO strategy

Markethive Launch Date: 2024 ICO Strategy

In my recording I refer to several terms, and services. The following links are in accordance to my references:

  1. The Howie test (An SEC ruling)
    https://www.embroker.com/blog/what-is-the-howey-test-does-crypto-pass/
    and
    https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/howey-test.asp

     
  2. Top 6 ICO Platforms

    Solulab
    https://www.solulab.com/
    Solulab is a prominent company specializing in blockchain and cryptocurrency development, offering a complete range of services for ICO launches. Their offerings encompass everything from ICO Platform Development, smart contract creation, token generation, to strategic marketing. With their deep knowledge of blockchain technology and a proven history of successful ICOs, Solulab stands out as a reliable partner for startups aiming to kickstart their projects.Coin Launch is a well-established platform that specializes in guiding blockchain startups through the ICO journey. With a focus on compliance and security, Coin Launch offers comprehensive solutions to ensure that projects meet regulatory standards while maintaining transparency and investor trust.

    Coin Launch
    https://coinlaunch.space/
    Coin Launch is a well-established platform that specializes in guiding blockchain startups through the ICO journey. With a focus on compliance and security, Coin Launch offers comprehensive solutions to ensure that projects meet regulatory standards while maintaining transparency and investor trust.

    ICO Box
    https://icobox.io/
    ICO Box is a platform renowned for its comprehensive suite of services tailored for ICOs. They provide end-to-end support, from token creation and smart contract development to marketing and legal compliance. ICO Box's commitment to security and efficiency has earned them a place among the top ICO platforms.

    Coin Factory
    https://coinfactory.tech/
    Coin Factory is an ICO platform that specializes in token creation and smart contract development. It offers a user-friendly interface for project founders to launch their ICOs efficiently. Coin Factory's focus on the technical aspects of ICOs makes it an attractive choice for startups with specific blockchain needs.

    Blockstarter
    https://www.blockstart.eu/
    Blockstarter is a platform that focuses on simplifying the ICO process for startups and investors. They offer user-friendly tools and resources to guide projects through token creation and crowdfunding. Blockstarter's commitment to accessibility and ease of use has made them a favorite among blockchain enthusiasts.
     

Coral
https://www.coral.community/
Coral is an ICO platform that offers end-to-end solutions, including token creation, marketing, and community management. Coral's experienced team assists startups in navigating the complexities of the ICO landscape. Its dedication to compliance and transparency makes it a trusted platform for raising capital.

 

The Markethive HVC Token Poised for Crypto Market Triumph

Markethive's HVC Token Poised for Crypto Market Triumph

As the crypto industry gears up for the next bull run, Markethive isn't just sitting on the sidelines – it's rolling up its sleeves and diving into the action, poised to shine on the high-performance stage of the Solana blockchain. At the heart of this venture is Markethive's native cryptocurrency, Hivecoin (HVC), a key player ready to unlock the industry's full potential. Solana's reputation for speed and scalability provides the perfect playground for Markethive's ambitious goals.

Cryptocurrency and blockchain have shaken the business world, creating a new era of possibilities. And Markethive? Well, it's not trailing behind; in fact, it's leading the charge. This unique platform, grounded in blockchain technology, caters to entrepreneurs, marketers, and business owners, offering them a suite of tools and services to navigate this brave new world.

Now, to make things even more exciting, Markethive has introduced the HVC into the mix. This token isn't just any token; it's intricately woven into the fabric of Markethive's ecosystem. And guess what? It's riding the Solana blockchain wave. Why does that matter? Buckle up because we're about to dive into the juicy details of why this move is a game-changer.

Ready to uncover the magic behind Markethive's strategic choice? Let's jump into the discussion and explore the manifold benefits of having the HVC token on the Solana blockchain. Shall we?


Source: Medium. Solana Labs

Why Markethive chose Solana as the blockchain for the HVC Token

As a decentralized platform aimed at creating a new social and economic paradigm, Markethive needed a blockchain that could seamlessly integrate with its design and vision while meeting specific requirements to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness. After a detailed analysis of various blockchain platforms in the market, the Markethive administrators led by CEO Thomas Prendergast settled on Solana, a high-performance, open-source blockchain designed to support global-scale decentralized applications (dApps).

Solana is a unique blockchain built on eight key technologies, popularly referred to as its "8 pillars of innovation." These pillars include Proof of History, Tower BFT, Turbine, Gulf Stream, Solana Runtime, Archivers, Cloudbreak, and Sealevel, which all work together to ensure the blockchain network's scalability, speed, and security.

How does Solana meet Markethive's requirements for a blockchain platform? Markethive requires fast and efficient transactions, low transaction fees, and a secure and scalable network capable of handling large volumes of data and users. Solana's high throughput of thousands of transactions per second, low transaction costs, and ability to manage multiple dApps make it the perfect fit for the Markethive ecosystem.

Several blockchain platforms offer benefits that have endeared them to various projects and developers. However, most of these platforms suffer from scalability and high transaction costs whenever there is a high volume of transactions on the network. Solana eliminates these challenges by utilizing a robust infrastructure capable of simultaneously handling multiple dApps on the network.

Solana boasts of innovative technology designed to enhance its performance and efficiency. Its Proof of History (PoH) allows for secure and efficient recording of transactions, while its support for smart contracts enables developers to create advanced and customized decentralized applications. Additionally, Solana has a vibrant community and developer network offering resources, tools, and collaborative opportunities for developers. In all, Solana's unique features and advantages make it a standout blockchain platform, offering a robust infrastructure for Markethive's HVC token development. The potential of HVC and the innovative Solana network will transform the Markethive community and create new possibilities for decentralized ecosystems.


Source: Markethive.com

How the HVC Token can Impact the Future of Markethive

The impact of HVC on the future of Markethive is poised to be transformative and far-reaching. This utility token, nestled within the Markethive ecosystem, holds the key to reshaping the dynamics of user interaction within the platform. It goes beyond being a mere transactional tool; the HVC serves as a catalyst for a paradigm shift in how users engage with Markethive.

One of the primary ways HVC will influence Markethive is by granting users access to premium services. This adds an element of exclusivity and enhanced features for token holders, creating a tiered experience within the platform. Armed with HVC, users can unlock a range of specialized services, contributing to a more tailored and personalized Markethive experience.

The HVC introduces a novel way to recognize and reward user participation. By actively engaging with the Markethive community, users can earn HVC, fostering a sense of appreciation and acknowledgment for their contributions. This incentive structure creates a positive feedback loop, where users are not only motivated to participate but also become integral contributors to the growth and vitality of the Markethive ecosystem.

Incentivizing user participation through HVC has the potential to breathe life into the Markethive community. A vibrant and engaged ecosystem emerges when users are rewarded for their contributions. This dynamic environment, fueled by the circulation of HVC, establishes a virtuous cycle of growth. Users are not just passive participants; they become active stakeholders in the platform's success, leading to a more robust and interconnected community.

The value of HVC is intricately tied to their utility and demand within the Markethive ecosystem. As more users actively participate in the platform, utilizing HVC for various transactions and interactions, the demand for the token naturally increases. This surge in demand has the potential to drive a significant appreciation in the token's value, presenting users with additional incentives to both use and hold onto their HVC.

Looking ahead, Markethive envisions expanding the utility of HVC within its platform. This could involve exploring new use cases and integration opportunities, potentially collaborating with other blockchain-based platforms. The goal is to broaden users' earning and spending avenues, making HVC tokens a versatile asset within the evolving digital landscape.

In essence, the future impact of HVC Token extends beyond being a mere transactional tool. It is a linchpin in Markethive's vision to cultivate a supportive, incentivized, and decentralized network where every user has a stake in the platform's success. The journey ahead holds the promise of a flourishing ecosystem where HVC tokens play a central role in shaping the collaborative and dynamic landscape of Markethive.

The Problem with Centralization in Crypto Projects

In recent times, there's been a noticeable trend in the crypto industry where projects prioritize quick returns and, in doing so, tend to centralize control. This focus on rapid investor rewards can lead to compromises on decentralization. Many coins and tokens have fallen prey to aggressive pump-and-dump cycles, and unfortunately, a significant portion of them fail to endure beyond a single crypto cycle.

The impact of centralization in crypto projects is profound. It not only impedes the industry's growth but also creates an environment susceptible to fraud, scams, data harvesting, and even political bias. This is a serious concern as it erodes the foundational principles of cryptocurrency – trust, transparency, and decentralization.

Decentralization emerges as a compelling solution to these issues. By decentralizing social market networks, crypto projects can break free from the control problems associated with centralized power structures. This move fosters an environment that encourages creativity, innovation, and community-driven initiatives.

Markethive stands out as a pioneer in this space by developing a decentralized platform incorporating a self-policing reputation system and Human Intelligence (HI). Unlike projects influenced by prominent venture capitalists, Markethive is solely community-funded. This means that the community is using the platform and actively building it. It is a platform of the people, by the people, and for the people, ensuring that the benefits of its success are shared across all levels of the community.

Supporting decentralization liberates crypto projects from the pitfalls of centralized control. It promotes a democratic and meritocratic environment where the community plays a pivotal role in decision-making. This approach is not only aligned with the fundamental principles of blockchain technology but also ensures the sustainability and longevity of the project.


Source: Markethive.com

Markethive’s Unique Approach to Decentralization

Markethive's embrace of decentralization empowers its entrepreneurial community to share content freely without fearing censorship or control from top-level management. This approach creates an environment where creativity can flourish, generating positive and beneficial content. By eliminating the constraints imposed by centralized authority, Markethive fosters an atmosphere conducive to innovation.

The absence of top-down control allows for the creation of more authentic and engaging content. With contributors free to express their ideas and perspectives, Markethive becomes a vibrant platform where a diverse range of voices can be heard. This authenticity resonates with the audience, attracting a larger and more engaged community.

Decentralizing funding is a key pillar of Markethive's approach. By relying on community funding rather than traditional venture capital, Markethive ensures that the community are not just users of the platform but active contributors to its success. This model aligns with the principles of decentralization, distributing decision-making power and financial support across the community.

Markethive incorporates self-policing systems to maintain a healthy and ethical community environment. This reduces the need for external oversight and places the responsibility of maintaining the platform's integrity in the hands of the community itself. By doing so, Markethive creates a system where users collectively contribute to the platform's well-being.

Markethive's commitment to decentralization extends beyond its individual model. It actively participates in the broader movement towards Web 3.0, a paradigm shift aiming to move away from the centralization of services on the Internet. This aligns with the evolving landscape of technology and user expectations, positioning Markethive at the forefront of progressive developments in the digital space.

As Markethive positions itself for the next crypto bull run, its native cryptocurrency, Hivecoin (HVC), plays a vital role in facilitating the full potential of the crypto space. Markethive's dedication to preventing scams and data harvesting ensures a secure environment for users to participate in the crypto revolution without fear of exploitation.

Users can actively contribute to Markethive's decentralization revolution by becoming an 'Entrepreneur One.' This membership not only supports the community-driven model but also allows users to reap the rewards of revenue returns through Markethive's Innovative ILP. It creates a symbiotic relationship where the success of the platform translates into benefits for its contributors.


Source:  Markethive.com

Markethive’s Readiness for the Crypto Bull Run

One of the reasons we're excited about the potential for Markethive's Hivecoin (HVC) is that we're ready for the next significant crypto bull run. HVC will be firmly established as a currency with purpose and utility in the free market. But it's more than just HVC's potential for success that makes us bullish about our readiness for the next crypto cycle. 

We've been hard at work creating an impregnable fortress against fraud and scams. As we've seen in recent years, the crypto industry has become a jungle and a cesspool of shady practices. Many crypto projects have been accused of scams and data harvesting, and even worse, have been used to advance political bias and dystopian ends. At Markethive, we've taken cybersecurity seriously from the start. We've implemented multiple servers, disengaged unreliable APIs, and crafted a reputable system that is secure and fair.

We're also fostering a creative and beneficial content breeding ground in which people's minds are prompted toward positive growth and critical thinking. All of these measures demonstrate our commitment to building a community that is not only profitable but secure and ethical. With Markethive, there won't be any hidden agendas or underhanded tactics. We're of and for the people and confident in our ability to deliver on our promises.

Another factor that makes us confident in the crypto bull run is that Markethive will actively participate in facilitating crypto's full potential. Our ecosystem is poised to be a breeding ground for positive change in the industry. As we grow, so too will our impact on the broader world of blockchain and cryptocurrency. We're all excited about the potential for a crypto bull run, and we believe that Markethive is uniquely positioned to thrive in this environment. 

Final Thoughts

With its high throughput, low latency, and seamless cross-chain compatibility, Solana provides an ideal platform for the launch of HVC token. The unique features of Solana make it a popular choice among developers and projects in the blockchain space. The HVC token could transform the Markethive community and encourage the growth of decentralized applications in general.

I am sure you are tired of being at the mercy of centralized services that control your data and limit your potential. Well, join the revolution towards decentralization and become part of Markethive's unique entrepreneurial ecosystem. By becoming an Entrepreneur One, you can enjoy all the benefits of Markethive's platform and earn revenue returns through the ILP. Plus, with Markethive's Hivecoin (HVC) poised for the next crypto bull run, you can facilitate the achievement of crypto's full potential.

Gone are the days of being at the mercy of venture capitalists and central authorities. With Markethive's decentralized funding model, you can invest in projects that truly align with your values and vision. So, what are you waiting for? Join the ranks of entrepreneurs who are taking control of their destiny and building a better future for themselves and their communities. Don't just watch from the sidelines; become part of the solution and reap the rewards of true decentralization.

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

 

 

About: Prince Ibenne. (Nigeria) Prince is passionate about helping people understand the crypto-verse through his easily digestible articles. He is an enthusiastic supporter of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

 

 

Great News for Entrepreneur One Members and a Look into the Future Of Hivecoin

Great News for Entrepreneur One Members and a Look into the Future Of Hivecoin 

Markethive is relentlessly pushing boundaries, driven by the pursuit of excellence in creating a cutting-edge platform that leaves traditional social media and marketing tools in the dust. With a focus on streamlining user experience, Markethive is incorporating innovative technologies that enable effortless broadcasting, significantly expanding your reach and influence.

With the recently launched wallet that is your comprehensive accounting and financial hub, Markethive is likened to a bank. Hence, the level of security is second to none. The cottage industry concept within the Markethive ecosystem will provide avenues to secure your financial freedom in a sovereign and meritocratic environment in a ‘market-verse’ unique to Markethive but extending its influence beyond the confines of the platform and into the broader online community and cryptocurrency realm.

We have made such significant progress because of the unwavering support and contributions of the Entrepreneur One community and ILP holders. The team behind the scenes is deeply grateful for the backing of these visionary individuals who share our commitment to advancing liberty for all people.

Markethive’s End Of Year Bonuses For E1 Upgrades

It’s Christmas time, and as promised, the 2023 bonus of one whole ILP to each of the Entrepreneur One (E1) associates who have maintained their subscription for the past 12 months will be credited to your wallet in January 2024.

To express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the unwavering support of our esteemed E1 associates who share our vision, Markethive's founders, Thomas and Annette, are thrilled to announce a new promotion set to begin in January 2024. This exclusive offer is a token of our appreciation for your steadfast belief in our mission and your continued dedication to our community.

The incentive for next year is 1000 Hivecoins (HVC), and thanks to Annette, it will include another full ILP! This offering will be delivered at the end of the 12 months in January 2025. The initiative is for Entrepreneur Ones only and any other member who would like to upgrade to an E1 membership of $100 per month. To qualify for the bonus, members must maintain an active subscription for a consecutive 12-month period, and they will receive one whole ILP and 1000 HVC in January 2025.

There's no restriction on the number of Entrepreneur One subscriptions you can own, so you can benefit from multiple memberships. If you have numerous E1 subscriptions, you'll receive the corresponding number of bonuses, such as the ILP and HVC, for each membership you hold. For instance, owning two E1 memberships means you'll receive two whole ILPs and 2000 HVC in January 2025. The more memberships you have, the more rewards you'll achieve.

Alternatively, you can save $200 by upgrading to the E1 with a yearly subscription of $1000, which covers you for 12 months. Note that if you choose the annual option and pay for it a little later in the year, it will be backdated to January, and you will still be eligible for the ILP/Hivecoin 2024 promotion. Please keep in mind that your bonus will be paid to you at the end of the promotion in January 2025. 

Remember, the E1 Upgrade is only available from the company Markethive for a limited time. As we move closer to the official release of Hivecoin, E1 Exchange, and associated implementations within the Markethive system, the Entrepreneur One will only be available to bid and purchase primarily from E1 associates who hold multiple E1 subscriptions, should they choose to sell one via the E1 Exchange (E1X). 

It’s worth noting that 1000 Hivecoin is equivalent to 200,000 Markethive tokens (MHV) currently used within the Markethive ecosystem for micropayments. As Markethive is presently on the Solana blockchain, the Hivecoin is classed as a Token. Once Markethive establishes its own blockchain, which will drive the crypto coin exchange, Hivecoin will be the native token of its blockchain and be regarded as a Coin. 

What Type Of Crypto Is Hivecoin? 

In a previous article, we looked at the different types of cryptocurrencies and their respective categories. Many of the cryptos mentioned were utility tokens, even though they fall under other categories. For example, Binance and Chainlink are utility tokens, but they are classed as exchange and oracle tokens, respectively.   

 

Markethive's Hivecoin (HVC) is a versatile utility token that extends beyond its primary function to encompass aspects of exchange, payment, smart contracts, and commerce tokens. Its utility is further amplified by its use in various Markethive services, including sponsored articles, press releases, broadcasts, banner advertising, video advertising, and digital advertising on cryptocurrency faucet sites, news sites, the Bounce, and the upcoming Push. Additionally, Hivecoin will play a crucial role in Markethive's gamification strategy, contributing to the overall growth and development of the Markethive ecosystem driven by Hivecoin.

 

 

The components mentioned above, along with the Premium Upgrade (PUP), are the tipping point for the Incentivized Loan Program (ILP), as they will be extremely valuable in bringing in revenue for ILP holders. The ILP token is a smart contract, as any member who acquires ILPs through the E1 subscription or purchased the ILP outright is essentially loaning the funds to Markethive for its development. 

 

 

The Markethive Credit (MVC) falls into the category of a stablecoin that serves as the backbone of the Markethive ecosystem's staking mechanism. The more MVC you possess in your Markethive wallet, the greater the daily interest you'll accumulate. The interest rates are influenced by other various factors, as depicted in the image below. On the first day of each month, you'll receive your earned interest in Markethive Tokens (MHV), which will be reflected in your coin clip and detailed in your wallet's Accounting section. 

 

 

The Markethive Token (MHV) is currently used internally for micropayments. As we make the transition to Hivecoin and listed on the coin exchanges, the MHV will likely be replaced with the Bee Token. It takes 1 million Bees to make one Hivecoin. The Markethive Token is equated at 200 MHV to 1 Hivecoin. 

 

What Will The Hivecoin Be Worth? 

A realistic way of determining Hivecoin’s worth in the near future is taking into consideration the circulating supply of cryptos with a similar supply to HVC. If you research Coinmarketcap and click on circulating supply, the cryptos with coin supplies in the billions are priced extremely low. Most are less than a cent, with little hope of gaining real value. 

The cryptos with a circulating supply of millions fare much better—many cryptos of around 70 million range from $7 to $50. Markethive is somewhat modeled after Elrond’s MultiversX (EGLD), which has a circulating supply of just over 26 million with a maximum supply of 31.5 million and is currently priced at $61.56 when writing this article. 

The Hivecoin has a capped supply of 48 million. With this low supply and the genuine use cases  Markethive offers, we can expect HVC to go to $10 – $50 within the first year once we are on the exchanges. Going by empirical evidence, the fact we have a strong community and a real need for Hivecoin, we can justify that. 

So what would 1000 Hivecoin be worth if it was MultiversX? It would be worth $61,560. That's pretty cool, and Markethive is giving that to you for being an Entrepreneur One! Another example is Arweave (AR), with a circulating supply of 65.4 million and a maximum supply of 66 million currently sitting at $11.04, which is $11,040, which is nothing to sneeze at. 

One of the strategies that Markethive will use is to buy back or repurchase some of the HVC tokens using its cash resources from holders at market price. This approach is not novel, as businesses have long utilized self-investment as a means of stabilizing prices (or inflation) in the traditional financial market. 

Hivecoin can profit from the successful and popular buyback approach used in the cryptocurrency market. Binance and Nexo are two examples of successful crypto projects that have employed this strategy to draw investors and deliver tangible advantages. Through a buyback, Hivecoin can offer a compelling and valuable proposition that works well within the system, ultimately resulting in a substantial increase in asset value. This tactic has shown to be effective and profitable, making it a wise decision for Hivecoin's future.

Empower Markethive's Mission

Markethive is not a drop in the ocean but an entire ocean in a drop. Rather than the ‘seeing to believe’ notion we’ve been brainwashed with, we must practice ‘believing to see.’ By embracing the power of belief, we can unlock our potential and create a brighter future. As a shining beacon, Markethive stands among the best, offering a haven for those seeking sovereignty, prosperity, and growth. To further our mission, we invite you to join us in empowering the people and creating a better world for all. Together, we can make a difference.

Upgrading to Entrepreneur One now is extremely advantageous, as you would receive a sizable bonus consisting of 1 ILP and 1000 Hivecoin. By doing so, you'll benefit from the many products and services exclusive to the E1 upgrade and be recognized as a pioneer in the Divinely inspired groundbreaking initiative, the Lord's Vision, aimed at liberating humanity in a world filled with turmoil.

Merry Christmas and blessings to all! 

This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. Furthermore, however plausible, the contents of this article may include speculative opinions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with speculation as long as its premises are made clear. Speculation is the customary way to begin the exploration of uncharted territory as it stimulates a search for evidence that will support or refute it.

 

 

Editor and Chief Markethive: Deb Williams. (Australia) I thrive on progress and champion freedom of speech.  I embrace "Change" with a passion, and my purpose in life is to enlighten people to accept and move forward with enthusiasm. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

 

Markethive’s Contribution to the Cause

6 Steps To Unlocking Crypto's Full Potential: Markethive's Contribution to the Cause.

Although Bitcoin has existed for 15 years, the crypto industry is considered relatively nascent, and it’s frequently stated as still in the early days, meaning that many coins and tokens still have huge potential. Many believe this is somewhat underestimated. In perspective, the total market cap of stocks is $90 trillion, the total market cap of precious metals is $15 trillion, and just the US Dollar is over $20 trillion. The total market cap of crypto is only around $1 trillion, and considering some coins and tokens could someday become serious competitors to stocks, metals, or even national currencies means that crypto still has unprecedented potential. 

This article explores the six steps to achieving crypto’s full potential, how it will achieve this potential, what entities are moving forward, and how significant the returns could be. We’ll look at where we’ve come from and where we are heading and discover the critical component that brings this whole approach together. 


Image source: Finoa.io

Awareness and Education

The first step to achieving crypto's full potential is awareness and education because crypto can only receive investment or achieve adoption if people know about it. It can only receive investment or achieve adoption if people understand how it works and its value. Awareness of and education about crypto needs to be improved, as most of the attention either comes from mainstream media, arguably biased and aligned with the financial establishment, or from misleading advertisements, promotions, and partnerships, often from explicitly pro-crypto entities. 

Much of the education has also come from questionable sources, with most media outlets and influences pushing content purely to get clicks or token allocations. The result is that there is a general shortage of quality information about crypto, but this is improving. People are looking for quality information about crypto, and it’s increasing.

Another reason there’s been a lack of genuine education in crypto until now is that it's often more profitable to do other kinds of crypto content in the short term. It has given cryptocurrency an unfavorable reputation and is especially tough for those genuinely trying to educate others, but this seems to be slowly improving, too.

Some crypto content creators and influencers have taken shortcuts, finding themselves under the scrutiny of the SEC, while other countries have recently enforced strict regulations around crypto marketing.  As concerning as some of these regulations are, they are arguably necessary to ensure that the next wave of crypto content creators and influencers focus on crypto content with long-term value. 

Markethive, an entrepreneurial ecosystem, is a platform at the forefront of this shift as a next-gen crypto media outlet that champions free speech, focusing on genuine crypto content and education. The overall crypto landscape is at the beginning stages. Still, by the time the next crypto bull market hits, the quality of crypto awareness and education will be much higher than it has been, which will set the stage for crypto to reach its full potential. 

Crypto Regulation 

The second step to achieving crypto's full potential is regulation. It ties into the first step because regulators must know about crypto to write reasonable regulations. Institutional investors also need to be aware of and educated about these regulations. As we've seen, regulators worldwide are both aware of and educated about crypto for the most part. This is fortunate or unfortunate, depending on the jurisdiction in question. 

It's becoming clear that some are pushing for pro-crypto regulations while others are pushing for anti-crypto regulations. Believe it or not, any crypto regulation will benefit the crypto market if it doesn't involve an outright ban. This is just because investors, notably institutions, will finally have some guidance about what they can and can't do with crypto in their country. And once these investors and institutions get involved, you can bet that they will lobby to improve crypto regulations to suit their needs better. 

The crypto industry has already been lobbying but with mixed results. By contrast, Fidelity privately lobbied the SEC to approve a spot Bitcoin ETF in September 2021. For context, Fidelity is one of the largest asset managers in the world. It was arguing with an anti-crypto regulator behind closed doors, which is highly bullish. 

In retrospect, it's possible that Fidelity's lobbying is why Black Rock became encouraged to file for a spot Bitcoin ETF in June 2023. More importantly, Fidelity's past lobbying and Black Rock’s present SEC filing suggest that these lobbying efforts will only increase. This will ultimately be a net benefit to the crypto market. 

Institutional Investment

The third step to achieving crypto's full potential is investment from institutions and high-net-worth individuals. Of course, these entities hold most of the world's wealth. This is a consequence of having currencies whose supply is manipulated by people in power. Like all investors, institutions and high-net-worth individuals ultimately want to maximize their returns. As it happens, Bitcoin’s BTC is estimated to be the best-performing asset of all time, from an initial price of $0.09 to all-time highs of over. $69K, BTC has pulled a 760,000X return. 


Image source: Bitcoin’s Price History

Like all assets with such high returns, BTC’s returns will likely diminish over time, but it will still ostensibly outperform most other assets for the foreseeable future. This fundamentally depends on how much BTC we'll see in inflows. Although this is impossible to predict, there is one benchmark to remember; 

BTC is considered by many investors, including Black Rock, to be digital gold. As a result, it's generally believed that BTC’s market cap will someday be similar to that of gold. Now, gold's market cap currently sits at around $13 trillion. BTC's market cap is currently sitting at approximately $500 billion. So, BTC catching up to gold would mean a 26X increase in its price. This would translate to a BTC price of around $670,000. 
 
Interestingly, BTC’s peak price of $69K put its market cap at around $1.3 trillion, around 10% of gold's total market cap. This assumes that BTC is analogous to digital gold. Some have argued that BTC has additional value since Bitcoin is technically the most secure network in the world. It makes it the ideal base for other ecosystems, including payments, which the likes of the Lightning Network can support. On the topic of payment networks, smart contract cryptocurrencies are the ones that will capture this market share. It means that they could someday displace payment processors and other financial intermediaries. 

The total market cap of these financial intermediaries is over $2 trillion. Given that the market cap of Ethereum’s ETH is currently around $200 billion, matching analogous companies would mean a 10X increase in price. It translates to an ETH price of over $15K, but this likewise assumes that Ethereum is just a payments network; it is obviously much more than that. As such, one could argue that Ethereum is still near the beginning of its adoption curve. 

Crypto Adoption

The fourth step to achieving crypto's full potential is adoption. For reference, it's estimated that less than 5% of the world currently holds crypto. This implies that should more people choose to hold crypto, its price should have excellent upside potential. However, holding crypto is not the same as using crypto. Holding it constitutes investment effectively, whereas using it is actual adoption. 

On-chain data for the largest cryptos suggests there are only a few million daily users, a mere fraction of the world's population. Therefore, potential gains are even more significant than expected by merely extrapolating hodlers. For those unfamiliar, there are ultimately three reasons why people adopt crypto. The first is for profit, the second is for fun, which is very much intertwined with the first reason, and the third is out of necessity. This third reason has resulted in most of the actual crypto adoption. 

For example, 50% of Nigeria's population uses crypto daily, primarily because the government can't be trusted. This phenomenon is not unique to Nigeria; it's an accelerating trend worldwide. Considering that most central banks are currently rolling out Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), it becomes easy to imagine a world where the average person starts looking for alternatives to a digital currency controlled by institutions they don't trust. 

The demand for such alternatives is already increasing among some governments. The so-called Global South is looking to move away from the US dollar, and some reports suggest that crypto could be a part of their escape plan. Some countries already use crypto for international trade, and Russia is considering mining its own crypto. 

So, just like the adoption process at the individual level, the adoption process at the national level will eventually involve nations and national activities. Using crypto for things like international trade will become more accessible to the average country. At the same time, the tendency to weaponize fiat currencies will be increasing, and this will increase the demand for credibly neutral currencies. Decentralized cryptos like BTC could play a key role. 

Crypto Innovation

Crypto Adoption will ultimately depend on the progress of crypto innovation, the fifth step to achieving crypto’s full potential, particularly around user experience and privacy. Logically, it will be hard for individuals and institutions to adopt crypto in any meaningful way if they need to struggle with hardware wallets. 


Image source: Coursera.org

Significant developments have been on this front, the most notable of which is the gradual merging between hardware and software. It might sound bizarre, but a crypto phone like Solana Saga could solve crypto wallet User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX). It's not just wallets, either. A lot of innovation is happening at the blockchain level. 

For instance, Ethereum’s EIP 4337 upgrade from earlier this year will allow any phone to have crypto phone-type properties, mainly hardware wallet-level security. It will also make it possible to create dApps with no gas fees or, rather, dApps where the user doesn't have to pay the gas fee. 

Constantly checking and accounting for transaction fees is another considerable hurdle to crypto adoption, which many crypto projects attempt to overcome. This will require entirely new approaches, such as charging crypto users monthly subscription fees to use a blockchain rather than charging them for every individual transaction. Of course, some of these approaches will require entirely new types of hardware, like more interactive hardware wallets.

Crypto Privacy

Crypto privacy is another niche to watch out for. Privacy in crypto has been a touchy subject. In one respect, crypto transparency is a huge advantage. At the same time, some degree of privacy is required for financial freedom, and high-net-worth individuals demand it. When it comes to the incessant third hand of government, there's a desire to exploit crypto’s transparency to track transactions and label any crypto privacy attempts as inherently encouraging criminality. 

For the crypto industry, balancing transparency with privacy presents a challenging problem. Zero-knowledge proofs have emerged as one potential solution to this problem, but they come with other problems. The primary one is ensuring that these zero-knowledge technologies don't have secret back doors. Thankfully, this is an issue that can be addressed.


Image Source: Developers:Circle.com

Regardless, the problem of balancing transparency with privacy is closely related to the problem of identity. Countries are pushing for digital IDs, and global regulators want to see these digital IDs integrated with cryptocurrency. The crypto industry has been working on its own supposedly decentralized digital ID solutions; however, these digital ID Solutions are just as centralized as the ones from governments. What's needed is a truly decentralized digital ID. 

There haven’t been any significant developments yet; however, the innovations around wallets and privacy continue rapidly and should be in place by the time the next crypto bull market comes around. This will further facilitate crypto investment and adoption at individual and institutional levels. 

Decentralization

Cryptocurrency's final step to achieve its full potential is complete decentralization. Without decentralization, everything that I just mentioned is off the table. That's because if crypto is centralized, it can be controlled, and if it can be controlled, it'll end up like our existing systems—news flash: Crypto's entire purpose is to replace our current systems with something better, starting with our monetary and financial systems. Naturally, the technology that underlies crypto is compelling. The only way it won't fall into the wrong hands is if it's genuinely decentralized. 

This article illustrates that decentralization means more than having many validators or miners. It means having a decentralized developer base, a decentralized coin or token distribution, a decentralized infrastructure layer, and a decentralized blockchain. Ultimately, this also means having a truly decentralized internet. 

Luckily, the Internet is somewhat decentralized and will likely become more decentralized as peer-to-peer Internet crypto projects like Helium see more investment and adoption. This also pertains to Markethive as it strives to decouple from all centralized entities prevailing as a tour de force in its next-gen social market broadcasting media niche. This adoption is necessary due to internet censorship

Currently, most cryptocurrencies are arguably not decentralized enough to evade control. It stands to reason, then, that these cryptocurrencies will not be the ones that make it. In other words, if you hold centralized cryptos, you're not early; you're late, very late. That said, this depends on whether the centralized cryptos you currently hold can become decentralized. To figure this out, you must ask one question: Is this crypto capable of building its own infrastructure and ecosystem without relying on a single set of individuals or institutions? 


Image Source: X – The DeFi Edge

Crypto Funding

The answer for most cryptos is no; however, that's not entirely their fault. One perspective is that one of the primary reasons why so many cryptos are so centralized is because of funding. Early investors in crypto projects want to see returns and often try to control the project to that end. This incentivizes crypto projects to cut corners on decentralization to ensure their investors are quickly rewarded. As we've seen, these so-called VC coins have seen the most aggressive pump-and-dump cycles, and most of them probably won't last past the next crypto cycle. 

The silver lining to this situation is that it fully displays the solution to the crypto centralization problem. The crypto industry needs to find a way to fund crypto projects in a more decentralized manner. 


Image by Markethive.com

Decentralization of Social Market Networks

Markethive is the ecosystem for entrepreneurs and a crypto project with the solution to top-level control issues, whether it be funding or the systems driving it. It is a decentralized, limited AI-secured rating and reputation system that is self-policing and a Human Intelligence (HI) that fosters a healthy level of meritocratic interaction. The community solely funds it with no prominent venture capitalists. The people are building it; it is of the people and for the people, so the community will profit, sharing the prosperity and abundance of every level of humanity.

It also creates a breeding ground for positive, creative, and beneficial content in which people's minds are prompted toward positive growth and critical thinking. Markethive is beyond its crypto wallet and Hivecoin release milestones, disengaging unreliable APIs and implementing multiple servers in preparation for its mining hives that give peace of mind—making it an impenetrable fortress against what has become a jungle, and a cesspool of fraud, scams, data harvesting, political bias, and dystopia. 

This divinely inspired project is all part of the Web 3 or 3rd generation Internet, which has emerged as a movement away from the centralization of services. Markethive is here for the rank and file with entrepreneurial aspirations at little to no cost to join. The all-encompassing social market broadcasting network delivers financial sovereignty, freedom of expression, privacy, and autonomy. We have entered into the much-needed world of decentralization, where the cancel culture is no longer an existential threat.  

At the time of writing this article, we are perfectly positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that are coming. Markethive, with its Hivecoin (HVC), will be poised for the next crypto bull run and participate in the facilitation of crypto achieving its full potential, where we’ll see HVC firmly established as a coin with purpose and utility in the free market. Do you want to be part of the decentralization revolution? Today, become an ‘Entrepreneur One’ and reap the rewards of Markethive’s ILP and revenue returns.  

May God bless and uphold you for all eternity…

 

Understanding and Identifying the Different Types of Cryptocurrencies is a Must for Sound Investing

Understanding and Identifying the Different Types of Cryptocurrencies is a Must for Sound Investing

The value of cryptocurrencies is a question that has likely been posed to you before and perhaps that you have also wondered about. The answer varies depending on the specific crypto coin or token being discussed. With over 11,000 cryptocurrencies in existence, each one has its purpose or intended use case that adds to its value. However, it is essential to note that not all cryptocurrencies are currently active or hold value. By disregarding the many "dead" cryptos, we are left with approximately 8,000 active cryptocurrencies.

Most cryptocurrencies can be grouped into various categories, including those that serve as a means of storing value, facilitating smart contracts, providing oracle services, enabling payments, ensuring privacy, acting as exchange tokens, and even serving meme coins. 

Identifying the category a cryptocurrency belongs to when investing in the crypto market is crucial. This is because each category has its advantages and disadvantages, and they tend to experience different patterns of price surges and declines during a bull market. This guide provides an overview of the different types of cryptocurrencies and offers insights on how to leverage this information to optimize your investment strategy and mitigate potential losses.


Image source: Business Today

Store Of Value Cryptos

Cryptocurrencies that fall under the store of value category are intended to maintain or enhance their buying power as time passes. Although there is usually a gradual rise in their price over time, it is important to note that price and purchasing power are two different concepts.

Traditional currencies lose about 2% to 3% of their purchasing power yearly due to governments printing more money to stimulate economic growth. Therefore, if you invested in a stock that increased by 23% last year, the actual purchasing power of that stock remains the same despite the increase in its dollar value.

The government's excessive money printing diminishes its value, which is why cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin were created. Bitcoin, launched in 2009, reacted to the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent government money printing. It's the only cryptocurrency that fits the store-of-value category, although some argue that others, like Litecoin, also qualify. Litecoin is also known as silver to Bitcoin’s gold.

Bitcoin differentiates itself from traditional currencies by having a limited supply of 21 million BTC, in contrast to conventional currencies, which are subject to continuous printing and subsequent devaluation. This 21 million BTC is created gradually, thanks to miners who solve intricate equations to facilitate transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain and are rewarded with BTC.

A decentralized payment network has been established by allowing anyone to mine Bitcoin and receive BTC as a reward for processing transactions. This network comprises millions of computers located worldwide. The presence of economic incentives makes Bitcoin the most secure payment network globally. It cannot be shut down by targeting a single location.

Although Bitcoin was initially intended to function as a form of virtual currency, its economic characteristics and the relatively slow speed of its transactions have resulted in it being more comparable to digital gold than digital cash. Within the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin holds the highest market capitalization, and the price of Bitcoin influences the prices of almost all other cryptocurrencies. 

If Bitcoin's value experiences a sharp decline, it also leads to a decline in the value of other cryptocurrencies. Conversely, if Bitcoin's price remains stable or gradually increases, it increases the value of other cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, if Bitcoin experiences a significant surge in value, it outperforms other cryptocurrencies by a substantial margin. The ongoing fluctuations in Bitcoin's dominance can be observed in real-time through the Bitcoin dominance chart.

The main benefit of store-of-value cryptocurrencies is that they tend to be less risky investments than other cryptocurrencies and have a higher potential to appreciate in value over time. However, the critical factor determining their success is a fair launch, where a community of miners collectively starts mining the cryptocurrency from the beginning. 

Many store-of-value cryptocurrencies have been pre-mined, where the development team and private investors hold a significant portion of the supply, which can lead to centralization and decreased trust in the network. To verify if a store of value cryptocurrency is genuinely decentralized, you can check its supply distribution using a Blockchain Explorer. Bitcoin and Litecoin are examples of store-of-value cryptocurrencies with relatively equitable supply distributions.

One major drawback of cryptocurrencies that serve as stores of value is their lack of extensive features. This is why some individuals compare Bitcoin to a pet rock. These types of cryptos primarily focus on preserving purchasing power and facilitating peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries. The limited functionality of store-of-value cryptocurrencies is why many individuals anticipate that Bitcoin will eventually lose its position as the most prominent cryptocurrency in market capitalization. The crypto that surpasses Bitcoin is expected to emerge from the second category.

Smart Contracts Cryptos

Smart contract cryptos, which belong to the second category of cryptocurrencies, are specifically created to be programmable and prioritize functionality over value preservation. The reason this is important is as follows. 

If you are currently viewing this article on either your computer or phone, it means you are utilizing a specific program, whether it be a web browser or a mobile application. The distinguishing feature of the programs you rely on daily is that they are centrally controlled. A major technology company is typically responsible for developing and overseeing these browsers or apps. Additionally, these programs are not particularly secure. There is a risk that an individual could hack or alter the program to gain access to your personal information, finances, identity, and so on.

The influential tech conglomerates and financial institutions are constantly monitoring your digital activities. Whether you're spending, saving, or trading your funds, you must utilize a centralized medium, such as a bank or a brokerage firm. However, cutting-edge smart contract cryptocurrencies present a revolutionary replacement for the digital and financial systems we rely on today. This innovative approach is known as Web3, representing a significant upgrade from the existing Web2 internet.


Image source: globalxetfs.com.au

Smart contracts are self-executing programs that automate specific actions when predefined conditions are met. They can be used to create various cryptocurrency tokens, such as fungible tokens similar to traditional currency or non-fungible tokens that are unique and rare, like a collectible baseball card. What sets smart contracts apart from regular programs is their immutability and decentralization. Once created, smart contracts cannot be modified, and their decentralized nature means they cannot be shut down as they exist on a vast network of computers globally.

A decentralized application (dApp) is formed by merging various smart contracts. These dApps cover a wide range of functions, such as payments, trading, lending, borrowing, and even gambling. Utilizing dApps does not necessitate sharing personal information; all that is required is an internet connection. The most significant advantage of dApps is the absence of intermediaries extracting fees or compromising your data. Transactions within dApps occur directly between individuals, ensuring a level of privacy for your activities. (However, there is one exception to this, which will be elaborated on later.)

Many decentralized applications (dApps) with a significant user base operate on various smart contract-based cryptocurrency platforms, primarily Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain. Also, Solana is very active in this niche. These cryptocurrencies derive value from their utility in facilitating transactions and executing smart contracts rather than solely as a store of value. 

Transaction fees on these networks are paid in the native cryptocurrency of the respective platform, such as ETH for Ethereum, BNB for Binance Smart Chain, and SOL for Solana. To maintain a sufficient supply of cryptocurrency for transaction fees, most smart contract cryptocurrencies do not have a maximum supply. Instead, they implement annual inflation schedules that can range into double digits under certain conditions.

If there are sufficient dApp users purchasing the coin to cover the necessary fees, the act of ‘printing coins’ is typically not an issue. This leads me to the main benefit of smart contract cryptocurrencies: their worth is connected to the scale and acceptance of the dApp and token ecosystems established on their blockchains. Despite Ethereum and the Binance smart chain having only a few million users, ETH and BNB had market capitalizations in the hundreds of billions. And SOL is not far behind them. 

The adoption of smart contract cryptocurrencies could significantly increase market caps for associated coins, reaching trillions of dollars by the end of the decade. However, the main drawback of smart contract cryptos is the uncertainty of which one will emerge as the winner. The competition in this category is fierce, with new projects entering the market regularly. Unless you have the means to invest in all of them, it is crucial to conduct thorough research before making any decisions.


Image source: Researchgate

Oracle Cryptos

Oracle cryptocurrencies facilitate the integration of real-world data into smart contract blockchains, enabling decentralized applications to access and utilize external information. In centralized systems, applications rely on APIs provided by external entities to obtain data such as weather or pricing information. Similarly, smart contracts require access to real-world data to execute practical tasks. This is where Oracle cryptocurrencies come in, providing a decentralized means of sourcing and verifying data for blockchain-based applications.

Oracle cryptocurrencies differ from data feeds like APIs by offering decentralized data feeds. Typically, multiple individuals or institutions will tell an oracle crypto the price of a particular item, and the oracle calculates an average of their responses. Similar to smart contract cryptocurrency coins, oracle crypto tokens are required to pay for the fees to cover the costs of obtaining this data.

Despite Chainlink currently holding the top position and being widely used as an Oracle cryptocurrency, around twelve other Oracle cryptos exist, including Band Protocol and API3. The main benefit of Oracle cryptos lies in the increasing number of smart contract cryptocurrency dApps and users. The demand for their tokens is also expected to rise. However, a significant drawback of these oracle cryptos is that most have allocated substantial portions of their pre-mined token supplies to their teams and private investors.

Consequently, if the prices of these cryptocurrencies increase, it creates a strong motivation for teams and private investors to sell, preventing the price from reaching higher levels. Additionally, many smart contract cryptocurrencies rely on multiple oracles to provide data for their decentralized applications, and specific cryptocurrencies, such as Cardano, have chosen to develop their own decentralized data oracles. As a result, this decreases the demand for any individual Oracle cryptocurrency.


Image source: Howmuch.net

Payment Cryptos

Payment cryptocurrencies, which belong to the third classification of virtual currencies, aim to substitute the existing payment systems currently in use. In some instances, these payment cryptos utilize smart contract technology. If you have ever made an international money transfer, you know its exorbitant costs and sluggishness. For business owners, the substantial fees charged by payment processors such as Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal per transaction are for business owners well known. 

Those who have experienced payment problems are also familiar with the numerous hurdles one must overcome when resolving issues with their bank. Additionally, many of us pay monthly fees simply to maintain a bank account or credit card. Irrespective of the circumstances, whenever money is involved, an intermediary takes a portion, causing delays and introducing complexities to processes that would otherwise be straightforward.

Payment cryptocurrencies enable swift transaction settlements and significantly reduce costs compared to using an antiquated payment network that takes several days to finalize transactions. Furthermore, similar to other cryptocurrencies, you can securely store payment-oriented coins or tokens in your personal wallet, eliminating the need to depend on a bank for fund storage. This also removes concerns regarding unauthorized access to your bank account or restrictions on incoming and outgoing payments.

Cryptocurrencies optimized for payments like Bitcoin Cash, Dash, Telcoin, and Solana have gained popularity due to their sophisticated smart contracts and dApp ecosystems centered around payment systems. These cryptocurrencies boast the highest potential for widespread adoption, targeting the largest and most profitable market globally. 

Dash has already achieved significant usage in Argentina for everyday payments, while Telcoin has made strides in offering affordable remittance services. Solana has been of particular interest in the payments niche as it's becoming clear that its technical capabilities are suitable for these applications. Recently, Visa joined the Solana ecosystem designed to offer high-speed performance, expanding its stablecoin settlement capabilities with the USDC stablecoin and furthering its core business with things like cross-border payments and using crypto for one of its core use cases.

The principal drawback of cryptocurrencies, except for stablecoins, designed for payment purposes, is that it is highly improbable that they will supersede traditional currencies in the near future. This is primarily because the value of these cryptocurrencies is often unstable. Additionally, governments have demonstrated a willingness to intervene and restrict their use for payment purposes.


Image source: Investing.com

Privacy Cryptos

Privacy cryptos, also known as privacy coins, constitute the fourth classification of cryptocurrencies. These types of cryptos aim to safeguard users' privacy during transactions and while utilizing decentralized applications (dApps). It is a common misconception that cryptocurrency transactions are inherently private. However, as mentioned earlier, most cryptocurrency blockchains are publicly accessible, enabling anyone to observe transactions as they occur in real-time. Although an individual's identity is not initially linked to their cryptocurrency wallet address, it is still feasible for others to determine which addresses belong to them.

This holds particularly true if you utilized a platform or trading service that demanded your personal details for buying cryptocurrency. Your identity can readily be associated with your digital wallets in transactions. It is plausible that you are perfectly fine with this and believe that all transactions should be completely open and confirmable by anyone. However, companies and affluent individuals hold a contrasting viewpoint. The very last thing they desire is for others to see the extent of wealth stored in their cryptocurrency wallets.

Furthermore, as an individual utilizing cryptocurrency dApps, it is highly likely that you desire a high level of privacy for your data. Privacy cryptocurrencies aim to tackle these concerns and come in various forms and options. For instance, Secret Network enables the development of dApps that prioritize privacy.

Specific cryptocurrencies, like Monaro and Zcash, prioritize confidential transactions and employ top-notch privacy mechanisms that are supposedly impervious to government surveillance. Another privacy-focused cryptocurrency, Haven Protocol, takes it a step further by enabling the generation of virtual fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies, and precious metals, thereby creating a virtually untraceable offshore bank account.

Privacy cryptocurrencies have a significant edge due to their robust design and durable structure. Most have had a fair and transparent launch without any pre-mining or favoritism towards private investors. Using Monero's XMR coin as an illustration, it shares similar store of value properties with BTC and can be transacted as quickly and as cheaply as most payment cryptocurrencies.

Monero also employs a unique mining algorithm known as RandomX, which prevents specialized computers from mining XMR. This feature enhances Monero's decentralization by allowing anyone to participate in mining XMR.

One of the main drawbacks of privacy cryptocurrencies is that regulators often single them out due to their association with illegal activities, or at least that is the primary reason given. Consequently, privacy coins are frequently removed from cryptocurrency exchanges, making them difficult to obtain and hindering their potential for price appreciation.

Decentralized exchanges like THORChain provide a means to trade privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, such as Monero and Haven, without relying on a centralized platform. Notably, some privacy-centric cryptocurrencies have been developed with regulatory compliance in mind, allowing users to demonstrate their wallet balance and transaction history to regulatory authorities upon request, thanks to sophisticated cryptographic techniques.


Image source: Binance Square

Exchange Tokens

Cryptocurrencies, known as exchange tokens, fall into the fifth category. These tokens are owned and controlled by the cryptocurrency exchanges they are associated with. Exchange tokens can be seen as a mix of a membership subscription and company shares. Similar to a subscription, they offer various benefits, such as discounts on trading fees and exclusive access to early coin and token sales. However, like company stock, the value of exchange tokens is influenced by the popularity of the exchange they are connected to.

The reason for this is that nearly all exchanges buy back and burn a portion of their circulating exchange tokens using a fraction of the trading fees they collect. Buying back raises the price, while the burn reduces the overall supply, resulting in a cryptocurrency token that appreciates in worth as time passes. Additionally, certain exchanges like Binance have developed smart contract cryptocurrency networks that necessitate using their exchange tokens, creating an additional source of demand for these tokens.

The main benefit of exchange tokens is their strong potential for price appreciation. On the other hand, exchange tokens have a slower growth rate than other cryptocurrencies, nor are they guaranteed. As the influence of cryptocurrency exchanges continues to grow, regulators are gradually beginning to resist. It has been observed that a single unfavorable announcement regarding an exchange can result in a significant decline in its token value.

Meme Coins

Another type of cryptocurrency is meme coins. These digital currencies often lack a clear purpose or practical application, and their main appeal is based on hype and the promise of financial gain. In reality, if someone tried to sell you on the idea of becoming a millionaire by investing a few hundred dollars, you'd likely recognize it as a dubious proposition.

Interestingly, this apparent impossibility inexplicably becomes achievable when the identical concept is expressed for cryptocurrency. This could be attributed to the fact that novice cryptocurrency investors may not comprehend the connection between a meme coin's market capitalization, supply, and value in dollars. For instance, a single Shiba Inu token is priced at approximately 1/1000th of a cent. Without considering the market capitalization, one might think that if they invest a mere few hundred dollars into Shiba and its value rises to one dollar, they would become multi-millionaires.


Screenshot: Coingecko

The primary challenge with Shiba Inu's valuation is that its market capitalization is already in the billions, owing to its considerable circulating supply of 590 trillion and maximum supply of over 999 trillion, even after factoring in perpetual burns. Consequently, for Shiba Inu's price to reach $1, it would require an investment of over four times the total amount of money in existence, which seems unrealistic.

A large number of the meme coins that have emerged in recent months share a common characteristic: they have enormous supplies, which makes it unlikely that they will reach a value of one dollar in the near future. If you are considering the possibility that these coins have deflationary properties or unique economic mechanisms that will drive up their price, take a moment to reflect on the true purpose and potential outcome of these meme coins.

A common viewpoint is that none of these meme coins genuinely intend to provide useful functions for their community. The main objective behind most meme coins is to benefit their creators financially. While some individuals may choose to take a chance on them, the risk often outweighs the potential benefits.

Having said that, due to its unique origins and features, Dogecoin stands out among other meme coins. It was created as a lighthearted joke, and its survival during the last bear market can be attributed to its ability to be 'merged mined' with Litecoin at no extra cost.

Meme coins may provide an opportunity for rapid profit, but their volatility means the potential for loss is equally high. The unpredictability of pump and dump schemes makes it challenging to turn a profit, as the likelihood of being left with losses when the dust settles is significant. Meme coins are notoriously susceptible to manipulation and are the most manipulated cryptocurrencies on the market, with their prices often being artificially inflated and then suddenly collapsing. It makes the price manipulation of Bitcoin seem insignificant in comparison.


Image: Markethive

In Closing

Grasping the various forms of cryptocurrency and their potential applications is crucial. Projects that have pioneered a specific field, offering genuine utility to the broader community, have a distinct edge. By continuously adapting and staying up-to-date with technology, being a first mover enables a project to gain a significant portion of the market and avoid the negative consequences of oversaturation.

In terms of being a pioneer, Markethive belongs to the category of first movers, offering a wide range of practical applications. This raises the question of where Hivecoin (HVC) fits in among other cryptocurrencies. All of this and more will be disclosed in the upcoming article.

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

 

 

Editor and Chief Markethive: Deb Williams. (Australia) I thrive on progress and champion freedom of speech.  I embrace "Change" with a passion, and my purpose in life is to enlighten people to accept and move forward with enthusiasm. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

 

The WEF Want In Recommending A Global Approach For The Crypto Industry

Crypto Regulations: The WEF “Want In” Recommending A Global Approach For The Crypto Industry 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is notorious for having a far-reaching and perplexing influence over companies and institutions in many countries worldwide. This influence extends to the crypto industry and crypto regulations. The WEF published a crypto regulation white paper in May 2023, which is significant, so we’ll take a look at what they have to say and how it could influence the crypto legislation being proposed worldwide. We’ll also examine how it could affect the crypto market if implemented.


Image source: Weforum.com

The WEF white paper summarized in this article is titled “Pathways to the Regulation of Crypto-Assets: A Global Approach.” The white paper begins with a brief preface by a member of WEF’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. For context, WEF founder and chairman Klaus Schwab conjured up the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This concept involves replacing all of us so-called serfs with AI and Automation. Another component of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is controlling the population with technology. 

In the preface, the question is asked of how governments can control a borderless, open-source, and decentralized technology. Naturally, the only solution is a globally coordinated approach to regulation. The author of the preface reveals that the WEF has been engaging in “multi-stakeholder consultations” to understand how to roll out global crypto regulations. 

For reference, a stakeholder is a term the WEF uses to describe powerful individuals and institutions, not ordinary people like us. In this case, the author of the preface specifies that the white paper was put together with “significant contributions from members of the Digital Currency Governance Consortium.” (DCGC)

For those unfamiliar, the DCGC was formed in January 2020, including multiple crypto companies. The complete list of DCGC members is private. Still, research on the WEF reveals that Ripple, also the Ethereum company, Consensus, and USDC issuer Circle are all part of the DCGC, as are dozens of prolific personalities in the crypto industry. 

The DCGC has published five reports so far, and the WEF website notes that it is currently in phase two of its master plan, which involves assessing the economic effects of crypto, stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies. (CBDCs) 

The Key Takeaways

The next section of the white paper provides a summary of the key takeaways. Here, the authors argue that global crypto regulations are not only desirable but “necessary.” They seem to suggest this is because of the increasing connections between crypto and traditional finance. The authors explain that many things are standing in the way of global crypto regulations, including: 

  • A lack of universally accepted definitions for different types of cryptos, 
  • A lack of coordination between Regulatory Agencies 
  • Regulatory Arbitrage, meaning some countries are too pro-crypto. 

The authors highlight that many unaccountable and unelected international organizations have been working on global crypto regulations. This includes the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the Financial Action Task Force. (FATF) The authors admit that the WEF has been in contact with these organizations but insist that academia, civil society, and crypto users will also have a say in global crypto regulations. Of course, the authors don't put a timeline on when we will have a say in this matter; but we have yet to have a say in anything. 

Why Are Global Crypto Regulations Required?

The first part of the report is about why global crypto regulations are required. The authors start by explaining what crypto assets are and include stablecoins under the definition of a crypto asset. Note that these reports seldom refer to cryptos as currencies; they believe cryptos are not currencies. That said, the authors do acknowledge that cryptos have some financial use cases. They say that this is why regulatory scrutiny around crypto has increased. 

As you might have guessed, they refer to the crash of Terra last May and the crash of FTX last November as examples of why regulatory scrutiny is justified. The authors then explain that different jurisdictions have since introduced different crypto regulations. They claim that this increases the risk to the global financial system and benefits bad actors in the crypto industry. 

They also highlight the inconsistency in crypto definitions. The authors then suggest that smart contracts could be one way of ensuring regulatory compliance. This is not surprising considering that the WEF is a massive fan of programmability in payments. Again, the WEF and its affiliates ultimately want to control what people do, and programmable payments are one way to do just that.
 
When it comes to regulating cryptocurrencies, the authors say the first step is identifying where the crypto activity is taking place, if possible. The second step is to determine who is engaging in the crypto activity, and the authors say that privacy coins, personal wallets, and DeFi protocols make this problematic. This is a worry because it implies that personal wallets will be a target of global crypto regulations. 

Although, in fairness, the authors of this white paper don't seem to be that opposed to personal wallets. That's because they know that if you buy your crypto through an exchange with KYC, it's easy to identify which wallet belongs to who with the help of blockchain analytics companies like Chainalysis.  According to the authors, the third step to regulating crypto is determining who is responsible for any crypto activity. They admit this is sometimes difficult, mainly when dealing with decentralized protocols. They note that this will become easier if DAOs become regulated entities.

Crypto And Traditional Finance Connections

In the next section, the authors dig deeper into the connections between crypto and traditional finance. They start by saying that the crypto market’s correlation to BTC's price is a sign of maturity. Now this is arguably incorrect; a decoupling between different crypto categories would be a sign of maturity. What the authors do get right, however, is that institutional interest in crypto has been on the rise. 


Image source: Finoa

They cited a series of statistics from pro-crypto sources, which should be taken with a grain of salt. Genuine institutional interest and investment will come once crypto regulations are introduced everywhere. The authors also note that retail interest in crypto is on the rise and imply that this could cause problems for financial stability. This could explain why some countries, such as Canada, closely aligned with the WEF, have started introducing restrictions on retail investors in crypto. 

Besides contagion risks, the authors correctly underscore concentration risks as another concern. The crypto market relies on a handful of stablecoins, a handful of exchanges, and even a handful of cryptos. Oddly enough, the authors claim that Layer 2s on Ethereum lower this concentration risk. This is odd because many Layer 2s still rely on Ethereum for their security, which logically increases concentration risk, never mind that many of these Layer 2s are highly centralized and backed by the same investors. 

Challenges To Global Regulation 

The second part of the white paper is about the challenges to global crypto regulation. The authors start by reiterating that the absence of universally accepted crypto definitions is the biggest problem. They propose a potential taxonomy but admit that there are exceptions to every crypto definition. They then explain that this is a problem because it makes consensus about specific crypto regulations impossible. It increases the cost of crypto compliance worldwide, making it difficult to protect consumers. 


Image source: Weforum.com

According to the authors, regulatory arbitrage is the second challenge to global crypto regulation. They take issue with the fact that crypto developers can relocate wherever they want. It’s becoming all too clear that the WEF would like nothing more than to control the movement of people. 

On a related note, did you know that the WEF is also trying to turn almost every major city into a Smart City? More about that in an upcoming article. Meanwhile, Smart technology is already causing issues for consumers. 

The authors admit it might still be too soon to push for global crypto regulations. Most governments are still trying to wrap their heads around the technology. Some jurisdictions are further along than others, such as the EU, which recently passed its MiCA crypto regulations. 

The authors then reveal that these early crypto regulations, including MiCA, will come into force starting early next year. This is significant because this could make institutional investors comfortable allocating to crypto again. It means the crypto market could rally starting early next year. And this, coincidentally, corresponds with the next Bitcoin halving. 

The authors also take issue with so-called crypto hubs. They seem to imply that the crypto hub is code for ‘less crypto regulation’ and appear to blame them for causing regulatory arbitrage. If the WEF starts pulling the strings, this could be awkward for places like the UAE, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore

Geopolitics

This ties into another vital angle the authors raised regarding crypto regulations – Geopolitics. International relations are deteriorating, making it difficult for certain countries to comply with global crypto regulation recommendations. It's safe to say that this trend will continue. 

The above relates to the third challenge to global crypto regulation: "Fragmented monitoring supervision and enforcement.” The authors reiterate that a lack of international cooperation is one of the core causes of this fragmentation, coupled with the rapid evolution of crypto-related technologies. 

The authors then provide the FATF's infamous travel rule as a case study. The travel rule requires all transactions above a certain threshold to be tracked and KYC’d. The authors complain about the fact that compliance with the FATF's travel rule has been slow when it comes to crypto. 

While we’re on that topic, you should know that the FATF has reportedly been pressuring countries to restrict or even permanently ban crypto to get off its grey list. Any country on this so-called naughty list is refused bailouts from the IMF, so a clean report from the FATF may be a political priority. If there is any truth to this, crypto hubs could face financial sanctions if they don't comply with the FATF’s crypto recommendations; perish the thought. 

Approaches To Regulating Crypto Globally

The third part of the white paper is about the possible approaches to regulating crypto on a global scale. The authors provide a de facto list of regulations the WEF wants to see. 

  • Crypto-specific 
  • Stablecoin-specific
  • Know Your Customer (KYC) /Anti Money Laundering (AML) 
  • Consumer protection, including restricting retail access to crypto 
  • Strict regulations around crypto marketing 
  • Regulation of DeFi and DAOs 

The authors then detail the five primary approaches to crypto regulation. 

1: The first is Principles-based regulation. This involves regulating around a series of broad principles rather than specific rules. The benefits of this approach are innovation and flexibility. The drawback is regulatory uncertainty. 

2: The second approach is Risk-based crypto regulation and involves applying the same risk/same regulation principle, meaning that crypto should abide by existing financial regulations. The benefit of this approach is regulatory certainty, and the drawback is difficulty in assessing risks. 

Notably, the WEF is a massive fan of this same risk/same regulation approach. It's why you see it in many existing regulatory recommendations for crypto. If that wasn't concerning enough, in this section, the WEF advocates for eliminating cash and going digital to ensure that KYC/AML is followed. 

3: The authors call Agile regulation the third approach to crypto regulation. This effectively allows regulations to evolve in response to new innovations. The benefit of this approach is that it is flexible. The drawback is that it requires much coordination and collaboration with the crypto industry. 

4: The fourth approach to crypto regulation is Self- and co-regulation. It involves allowing the crypto industry to set standards. The benefit of this approach is that it builds trust. The downside is that it can lead to capture; For instance, one company determines all the standards. 

5: The fifth approach to crypto regulation is one we’re all familiar with: Regulation by enforcement. It involves taking crypto companies and projects to court and using the precedent as de facto regulations. The benefit is accountability, and the drawback is zero innovation.

Interestingly, the authors asked their so-called stakeholders which regulatory approaches are best. The results can be seen in the image below. As one would expect, Risk-based regulation is the most popular, especially considering that the WEF is a fan of this particular approach. 


Image source: Weforum.com

The authors confirm that the other unaccountable and unelected organizations, such as the FSB and FATF, have been adhering to the WEF’s Risk-based approach to crypto regulation. It's preposterous to consider just how much influence the WEF has, and this is just the public stuff. 

WEF’s Recommendations for Global crypto regulations.

The fourth part of the report contains the WEF’s recommendations for Global crypto regulations. The authors explain that these recommendations are meant for international organizations, governments, and “industry stakeholders” who are presumably part of the WEF. 

In other words, these recommendations are what most crypto regulations will look like, regardless of what we, the people, say or do. The authors again claim that the average person will get the chance to give their input someday, but we’ll just have to wait and see if that happens. 

The first set of recommendations is specifically for international organizations. These are to;

  • Create definitions for different types of cryptos and crypto activities 
  • Set standards for how these cryptos and activities should be regulated
  • Share data about registered entities with all organizations. 

It brings into question whether ‘registered entities’ include the average crypto user. As it’s the WEF, the answer is probably, yes. After all, the endgame of these international elites is to create a global government with a global digital ID and a global centrally controlled digital currency. 

The second set of recommendations is specifically for governments. These are to; 

  • Coordinate regulations between jurisdictions.
  • Create regulatory certainty for the crypto industry.
  • *Use technology for regulation by design. 

*The latter means regulation at the blockchain level via Smart contracts. Remember, the WEF loves programmability. 

The third set of recommendations is specifically for the crypto industry. They are; 

  • To set standards 
  • To share best practices
  • Ensure “Responsible Innovation.” 

This seems to be code for adhering to ESG criteria, given that the term refers to environmental, social, and economic risks. 

If you've been following articles about ESG, you'll know it's an investment ideology to ensure the UN's sustainable development goals or SDGs are met. Every country is supposed to meet the UN's SDGs by 2030. My research suggests that all the dystopian stuff being pushed has its roots in the United Nation's SDGs, be it CBDCs, digital IDs, smart cities, or online censorship. 


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What Affect Will It Have On The Crypto Market? 

So the big question is, how could the WEF’s global crypto regulation recommendations affect the crypto market if implemented? The short answer is that it would result in the crypto industry being absorbed into the existing financial system, which is precisely what the WEF wants. 

The practical effect of Risk-based regulation is that crypto is forced to comply with existing financial regulations. As the authors tacitly admit, these risks posed by crypto aren't always clear. Many argue that the risks are significantly different and justify different regulations. The WEF’s recommendations would make crypto worse than the existing financial system. That's because they would require information about all registered entities to be; 

  1. Shared with international organizations 
  2. Require regulations to be enforced via Smart contracts
  3. Require all cryptos to be ESG compliant 

These three unsuitable recommendations have one thing in common: Governance, more succinctly, control. This article about ESG and Bitcoin explains that the environmental aspect isn't the problem; it's the governance. Bitcoin can't be controlled because it has no traditional governance structure. In case you missed it, this is the core issue the WEF and its allies are trying to address. How do we control something that is designed not to be controlled? 

It's possible, if not likely, that the endgame of the environmental-focused attacks on Bitcoin is to track all Bitcoin miners and nodes. It’s something that the WEF’s global crypto regulations would prescribe because Bitcoin miners and nodes would presumably need to be registered. 

Their information would therefore have to be shared with all international organizations. At that point, it would become possible to control Bitcoin in theory. In practice, the WEF’s global crypto regulations will never come to pass, which the authors have also tacitly admitted. 

In addition to the geopolitical tensions, it's practically impossible to introduce the same crypto regulations in every single country simultaneously. This means that there's going to be some regulatory arbitrage, whether it's intentional or not. This regulatory arbitrage will exist for years, and in some countries, it will persist for decades. 

So long as there's a country out there that the WEF can't influence, it won't be able to entirely corrupt crypto. Also, because crypto innovation is essentially exponential, there's a high likelihood that it will evolve to the point that the WEF and its allies can’t control it. This is the most important takeaway – Crypto is too fast for the WEF. 

Klaus & Co will never be able to keep up, and crypto will eventually win the race. Right now, though, there are many hurdles facing the crypto industry, and the WEF’s white paper suggests that it played a role in putting those hurdles in place. The WEF's fingerprints are there, whether it's the FSB or the FATF. It’s also common knowledge that there are WEF allies in the crypto industry. 

Even so, many in the crypto industry who are on the right side of history, and we at Markethive, genuinely believe that the incentives of crypto are more robust than the WEF’s cronyism. Imagine helping to create a powerful crypto or protocol that allows the average person to preserve their purchasing power, grow their wealth, and maintain their financial freedom. In that case, you are rewarded in every possible way.  

As purchasing power, wealth, and financial freedom continue to erode, the incentive to create robust protocols with crypto will only increase. Eventually, the incentives will become so strong that the WEF’s hurdles will become irrelevant. The people will want freedom, and they will achieve it through crypto. 

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

References: World Economic Forum, Coinbureau

 

 

Editor and Chief Markethive: Deb Williams. (Australia) I thrive on progress and champion freedom of speech. I embrace "Change" with a passion, and my purpose in life is to enlighten people to accept and move forward with enthusiasm. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

 

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