Kategorie: Altcoin News

 The volatility of the crypto space has made gaining wealth in the 21st century easy. All you need to simply do is invest at a low and take your profit at a high, but we both know it can’t be this easy. Regardless, you are already searching for a coin you can buy out of the over 10,000 cryptocurrencies in the market and go ahead to plan your retirement. Fortunately, you’ve been able to arrive at a list.

However, take your mind away from those coins on your list. Let me interest you in NEAR Protocol. So, consider these five reasons before you take the giant step. Before that, let’s cover the basics of Near Protocol.

 NEAR Protocol is a third-generation blockchain launched in 2017 by Alexander Skidanov and Illia Polosukhin. It was initially a machine learning platform. Now, it is a network that rewards computers for operating the platform. It was created to speed up transaction rates, increase throughput, and aid compatibility.

 It is a base layer on which decentralized applications can be created. Compared to other blockchains, it is sustainable, interoperable, secure, cost-effective, friendly, and pragmatic for users. The NEAR Protocol aims to revolutionize systems and impact how users use the web generally.

1. NEAR Protocol is accessible and usable

 NEAR Protocol is a community-run decentralised platform that supports the development and operation of dApps. It is a decentralised database and a computation platform without a server. It has made it easy for engineers and innovators to use it to create various products while also serving a pool of users. It is expanding the reach of Open Finance and paving the way for web 3.0.

 NEAR Protocol will allow the creation of user-friendly applications that would require little or no permission to be engaged. NEAR is based on a usability-first approach. This means that apps created on the network would mirror those on web platforms while also ensuring security. It would be simple to onboard projects and easy to subscribe, with predictable pricing and usage styles that users are familiar with.

 In essence, both users and developers will experience seamlessness on the platform. It would be easier to create accounts with domain names that can be comprehended by everyone. It has eliminated the need for Ethereum Name Service.

 For developers, creating and deploying applications have been simplified. They can use JavaScript, Rust, and AssemblyScript software development kits. They would also have the platform’s search tool, NEAR Explorer.

2. NEAR Protocol uses shards its Data

 NEAR Protocol employs a sharding approach which allows it to partition its data. This improves its scalability, making it run more transactions. This approach is called Nightshade. It allows the network to grow as the number of nodes increases.

 Sharding allows each node to store a small subset of the platform’s data. It splits the computing work across the nodes due to high network usage. These nodes handle the data processing and add the resulting information to the main chain. This improves the security of the network as the potential points of failure are reduced because each node oversees a part of the network.

 Also, it would help solve the blockchain trilemma. Asides from sharding, it has developed a dynamic re-sharding. This adjusts the number of shards regularly and dynamically based on the demands of users. This increases transaction throughput and reduces transaction costs.

 Unlike other blockchains that use this approach, all shards are a part of the main chain. It also has Doomslug. This enables validators to generate blocks in turn, once per epoch based on their stake. Block creation takes approximately one second.

3. NEAR Protocol uses an eco-friendly consensus algorithm

 Unlike the pioneer blockchains, NEAR Protocol uses a specialised proof-of-stake algorithm- Thresholded Proof-of-Stake. This makes it more decentralised by enabling the permissionless interaction of node operators with the network. It eliminates the pooling power of validators and allows the ubiquitous participation of node operators. It ensures a fair and predictable consensus.

 This promotes growth as more nodes would be able to join. It also allows developers and innovators to make money from their projects. It assigns a fee to a contract when it is created, and the developer can withdraw it.

 Unlike other proof-of-stake, delegated tokens are not lost when the validator is slashed for malicious behaviour; only the reward is lost.

4. NEAR Protocol has bridges

 Blockchains improve their interoperability by creating links with other blockchains. NEAR Protocol has several bridges to serve this purpose. It has become compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine through the Aurora bridge. This makes it easier for developers to transfer their apps to the fast, low-cost, and scalable NEAR.

 It has also partnered with Terra to bridge Terra’s assets with the platform. Also, it has the Rainbow bridge that supports the transfer of funds between NEAR and Ethereum. Additionally, there is the Octopus Network, a network that allows interoperability with blockchains like Bitcoin, Polkadot, Cosmos, and so on. This would make it compatible with NEAR-based tokens and the Inter-Blockchain Communication protocol.

 These bridges increased their transaction throughput (721,061) in January 2022.

5. NEAR Protocol has an expanding ecosystem

 Due to its futuristic features and developers‘ community, it has witnessed an exponential growth of its ecosystem in the last two months. It is ranked the third fastest growing platform for developers right now. It plans to combine the creativity of its community with accurate decisions and execution. Also, it hopes to aid a fast improvement of its protocol with the supervision and input of the community.

 It aims to provide the platform for the birthing of web 3.0. Flux protocol, Mintbase, and Paras are some of the popular projects on the ecosystem.

Ending Note

 To invest in NEAR Protocol would be to buy its native token, NEAR. NEAR is used as a reward for node operators and validators. It is used to pay for transactions, run applications, and reserve storage units for applications. It is also burnt as a deflationary measure. To get more NEAR, you can stake, participate in bounties, win a NEAR hackathon, run a community, create on the network, or be an active community member.

 As of today, NEAR is ranked 22, with a market cap of $8.5 billion. It costs $13.77 right now and peaked at $20.44 in January 2022. Out of the 1 billion total supply, 618.4 million is in circulation right now. It is trading on Binance, MEXC Global, and Huobi Global right now.

 If you can already picture the web 3.0 world, then you won’t hesitate to bag some NEAR. However, the decision is yours to make; in the end, it would be your loss or gain. As always, this is not financial advice. Do your research and deal wisely.

The post 5 Reasons why you should buy NEAR appeared first on Coin Journal.

Some privacy coins made great buys in 2021, but are they still your best bet in 2022? In this article, you will discover which privacy coins retained their top spots and the new ones that have stolen the spotlight in terms of functionality and use.

So, if you’re looking for the best privacy coins to aid your private and anonymous transactions on the blockchains, then sit back as we will explore the top 10 privacy coins you can buy in 2022.

1. Monero (XMR)

Monero is an open-source ledger that supports private and censorship-resistant transactions. It was launched in April 2014 with the key intent of enhancing the privacy of transactions and ensuring their maximum confidentiality. Monero uses ring signatures and stealth addresses to ensure privacy on the network. It operates on a proof-of-work model, which adds new blocks every two minutes.

Today, XMR, the network’s native coin, is worth $219.77. There are over 18 million xmrs in circulation right now, with a market cap of $3 billion. It has dropped by 59.5% from an ATH of $542.33 in January 2018. It is currently on Binance, KuCoin, and Digifinex, among others.

2. Zcash (ZEC)

Zcash is a peer-to-peer and open-source electronic currency that supports privacy and selective transparency of transactions. Launched in October 2016 by Zooko Wilcox, ZEC uses the Equihash algorithm to validate transactions and create new ZEC. ZEC is the symbol of Zcash and can be found in MEXC Global, Coinbase Exchange, Kraken, and so on.

One ZEC costs $143.05 right now. Like BTC, only 21 million zecs would ever be mined. However, 12 million is in circulation right now. Zcash has a market cap of $1 billion. It peaked at $3,191.93 in October 2016.

3. Horizen (ZEN)

Horizen is a private, scalable, reliable, and secure network. It uses a unique side chain protocol called Zendoo.

Zendoo allows users to create their blockchains or dApps on the network. Horizen operates on a proof-of-work algorithm. It uses the zk-SNARKs strategy. ZEN, its native coin, has two addresses: T-Addresses (regular addresses) and Z-Addresses (shielded addresses).

Of the 21 million total supplies, 12 million zens are in circulation right now. The price of ZEN today is $55.65, with a market cap of $666 million. It is listed in Binance, OKEx, and KuCoin right now.

4. Dusk Network (DUSK)

Dusk Network is a layer-1 privacy blockchain for securities and financial applications. It powers the Confidential Security Contract (XSC) and supports private smart contracts. The network is secured by the Segregated Byzantine Agreement (SBA) consensus mechanism. This makes it private, programmable, and auditable.

DUSK is the utility token of the network. It can be used to pay gas fees, deploy smart contracts, and participate in governance. Over 388 million dusks are in circulation now, with a max supply of 1 billion. A DUSK is worth $1.00 today and has a market cap of $388 million.

5. Verge (XVG)

Verge was launched in October 2014 as an untraceable network. It was initially named DogeCoinDark but became Verge in 2016. It uses The Onion Router (TOR) and the Invisible Internet Project (I2P)  to make transactions private. Tor protects the identities of users, and the I2P encrypts their data.

Verge uses stealth addresses to hide the addresses of users. It uses a proof-of-work model to mine new coins (XVG). Of the 16.6 billion total supply, 16.5 billion has already been mined. As of today, XVG costs $0.014 and has a market cap of $231 million.

6. Beam (BEAM)

Beam was launched in January 2019 as a private network to support confidential DeFi. It uses MimbleWimble and Lelantus MW protocols. The blockchain uses a proof-of-work consensus algorithm. The MimbleWimble protocol hides the values and metadata of transactions, and the Lelantus MW protocol enhances its privacy and anonymity.

BEAM is the native token of the network. It is a deflationary token that would be halved every four years. It is on exchanges like Binance, MEXC Global, and Hotbit. It is worth $0.46 right now and has a market cap of $49 million. It has a total supply of 262.8 million, and 105.7 million is available in supply now.

7. Oasis Network (ROSE)

Oasis network was launched in 2018 by Dawn Song and Oasis Labs. It is a layer-1 blockchain that promises privacy, low gas fees, scalability, and token monetization. It uses a proof-of-stake algorithm. It has a consensus layer and a ParaTime layer that aid scalability.

It is built for open finance and data economy using Cosmos SDK. ROSE, its native coin, was launched in November 2020. It is used for settling gas fees, staking, and delegation on the consensus layer.

ROSE is available on Nominex, Binance, KuCoin, and ZT, among others. It is trading at $0.536 right now. It has a market cap of $1 billion, with 3.5 billion in circulation now.

8. PIVX (PIVX)

PIVX stands for Private Instant Verified Transaction. It is a fork of DASH launched in January 2016. It runs on a proof-of-stake model and uses the Sapling protocol to support shielded and unshielded transactions. It boasts of privacy, real-world use, governance, and fungibility.

PIVX, the native token, supports private, public, and cold staking. It costs $0.46 right now and has a market cap of $31 million. In January 2018, it peaked at $13.55. It is listed on Bittrex, Binance, KuCoin, and so on.

9. Super Zero Protocol (SERO)

SERO is the first privacy blockchain to support Turing smart contracts. The protocol is secured by Super-zk, which is 20 times faster than zk-SNARKs. It is also the first privacy protection platform that allows anonymous digital assets to be issued.

SERO, its native currency, was released in June 2019. It is used to pay gas fees, reward miners, and make payments. It has a market cap of $37 million and is listed on MEXC Global, CoinEX, and Hotbit. It has a total supply of 650 million and is worth $0.11 today.

10. Firo (FIRO)

Firo was initially launched as Zcoin in September 2016 but later became Firo in October 2020. It uses Sigma, Dandelion, and Lelantus protocols. The platform uses a hybrid of proof-of-work and LLMQ chain locks system. It uses zk proofs to ensure full anonymity.

FIRO is the native coin of the platform. As of today, it costs $4.49 and is trading on Binance, Huobi, MEXC Global, and so on. It reached an ATH of $139.77 in December 2017. It has a market cap of 57.7 million.

Bear in mind that privacy coins are facing more scrutiny when compared to other cryptocurrencies. Hence, if you’d be investing in them, ensure they are not breaching any regulation in your country. As always, deal wisely and do your research. Only invest money you can afford to lose.

The post 10 Best Privacy Coins in 2022 appeared first on Coin Journal.

Metaverse and gaming tokens haven’t had the smoothest of rides in the market over the last few weeks. Axie Infinity (AXS) is not any different in fact, the token has been seeing an unhinged meltdown that has sent the price crashing. But should you buy this dip? Can AXS rebound soon? Here are some highlights first:

• At the time of writing, AXS was trading at $64.99, the lowest it has been since September last year.

• The gaming token was also down nearly 13% in 24-hour intraday trading, backing a weekly downtrend that has seen losses of over 10%.

• The token has also moved below its 25- and 50-day moving averages, suggesting the downtrend could last even further.

Data Source: Tradingview.com 

Axie Infinity (AXS) – Price prediction and analysis

Looking at the chart and some technical indicators, it is clear that AXS has been trading on a downward trend for quite some weeks. It did not start with the crypto slump of the new year. At the moment, the token has slid past its 25- and 50-day moving averages. 

More importantly, the price dropped below a crucial support level of $66. If the price action does not bounce back and hold above this threshold, then increased downward pressure will send AXS towards its next support, which is $50. 

However, this thesis will be invalidated if there is enough bull support above $66. If that happens, AXS could retrace gains back to its next upward support of $75.

Should you buy Axie Infinity (AXS)

The metaverse and blockchain gaming is an emerging new sector that is heating up. Axie Infinity (AXS) was one of the first pioneers of this industry, but there is increased competition. If you want some exposure to this sector, then it is a good buy. But as the blockchain gaming sector heats up, AXS will face significant pressure due to competition. 

The post Axie Infinity (AXS) Continues to meltdown – Should you buy it? appeared first on Coin Journal.

The crypto market has been known to literally make people rich overnight. In fact, 2021 was the year of crypto, with most altcoins setting record highs in terms of growth. But the start of 2022 has seen most of these tokens lose some momentum. But can you become rich from altcoins? Here are some highlights:

• Altcoins have shown that they have the biggest growth potential compared to traditional tokens like Bitcoin and others.

• In 2021, some altcoins saw gains of over 10,000%, with surging demand all year through

• Altcoins also offer some of the most interesting blockchain projects in the world right now.

Well, if you want to get rich from altcoins, the following are two undervalued tokens that you can consider:

Anchor Protocol (ANC)

The Anchor Protocol (ANC) is an innovative DeFi project that is built on the Terra network. It is designed to offer frictionless access to a set of DeFi products with better speeds and efficiency. What makes this an exciting project is the fact that it’s under the radar. 

Data Source: Tradingview.com 

It’s also worth mentioning that the Terra network where it’s built is a hot project too. There is also a lot in TVL for ANC as well, making it a decent bet for future growth. At the time of writing, the coin was trading at $2.23 with a market capitalisation of around $465 million. If you are looking for a decent DeFi project for the future, check this out.

Provenance Blockchain

The Provenance Blockchain is actually an up-and-coming project, so there aren’t even tokens available yet. But it has several key promising features. The platform is an open-source ecosystem for creating and deploying blockchain DApps. It is getting a lot of attention from big-name players in finance and could be a huge bet for growth in the future.

The post Altcoins that could make you millions before the end of 2022 appeared first on Coin Journal.

After ranking as one of the top performers of the year in 2021, Gala (GALA), one of the most popular gaming tokens in the market, has quite literally collapsed. The price action has largely been on free fall over the last few weeks, and any hopes of a quick rebound appear slim at best. Here are some notable highlights:

• At the time of writing, GALA was trading at $0.2825, the lowest it has been over the last three months.

• The token is also nearly 70% down from its all-time highs in 2021, following in the steps of other gaming tokens that are on the red.

• There is serious investor concern about the potential growth of play to earn games in the long run.

Data Source: Tradingview.com 

Gala (GALA) – price prediction and analysis

Gala (GALA) was developed to become a disruptive blockchain project in the gaming world. So far, even with the current price slump, it has done quite well, returning over 4000% in profits in 2021. 

But it seems like investor appetite towards play-to-earn tokens is hampering. In fact, GALA follows other gaming coins like Enjin, Sandbox, Decentraland, and Axie Infinity in decline. 

Right now, GALA is well below the 25- and 50-day moving averages and has been for quite some time, suggesting a sustained bearish trend. We see the token dropping below $0.25 in the coming days.

Should you buy Gala (GALA)

There is always this argument that some tokens, especially in the metaverse and NFT space, are overpriced due to investor hype. This is very true for GALA. A good rule would be to wait until the price goes through a correction of sorts and buy then. A dip below $0.2, which appears imminent, offers the perfect entry point for investors who want to add GALA into their portfolio.

The post Gala (GALA) continues free fall as hopes for quick rebound shrink – price analysis and prediction appeared first on Coin Journal.