Saga is a Layer 1 blockchain protocol that allows developers to design their own dedicated chains for running applications. Learn more in this article.

 universe right now is the lack of accessible tools for developers. Many people interested in designing new 

 projects struggle to find the right software developer kits (SDKs) for their projects. The Saga ecosystem aims to fix this issue by providing unparalleled support to app and game developers. 

Can the Saga ecosystem really become the premier chain for web3 development? Keep reading to learn how it works and see whether it's likely to attract new developers.

 blockchain protocol. It allows developers to design their own dedicated chains for running applications. People who work on Saga all share the same security, scaling solutions and SDKs, but they each get their own unique chain that they can customize to suit their needs.

 of technology, crypto and finance enthusiasts. CEO Rebecca Liao is a co-founder of the Skuchain project, the designer of the 

 and a former international corporate attorney. Other members of the founding team include former Tendermint executive Jin Kwon, Blocktech Ventures founder Bogdan Alexandrescu and 

. They realized that there was a major need for a development-focused blockchain specifically designed for game project development. Saga's mission has attracted many major investors, 

Saga aims to create a new system for web3 project developers. Currently, most developers have to choose between the ease of working on an established chain like 

 versus the convenience and customization of designing their own chain. The Saga team realized that the most effective option for game developers would actually be a combination of the two types of development environments.

Saga wants to let developers set up their own sovereign blockchain so they can decide how things like 

 and transaction fees work. However, Saga also aims to provide extensive support for developers in its ecosystem. Its underlying framework ensures that people still have excellent security and a reliable validator set, no matter what their gaming project is.

 ecosystem, whose interchain web development standard is a set of protocols that allows a broad variety of blockchains to communicate with each other. The Saga network uses the 

 and the shared security system of the Cosmos ecosystem to manage the network, and has created its own Layer 1 chain that runs the entire Saga ecosystem and can do things like automatically launching 

The Saga Mainnet handles each developer's compiled smart contract binary. However, it also runs parallel dedicated chains that function as virtual machine (VM) modules capable of handling a specific set of smart contracts. End users for blockchain games and other apps interact only with the dedicated blockchain, while the developer's system manages the fees and individual transactions on the Saga Mainnet.

All of the chains on Saga are validated through optimistic coordination, which requires every Saga validator to validate each chain in the Saga ecosystem via 

 validation, verifying transactions by temporarily locking Saga tokens.

The Saga network contains a lot more than just the basic features offered through the Cosmos SDK and ecosystem. In addition to the software development tools and helpful interface for Saga's validators and developers, the ecosystem also contains the following features.

The overall layout of the Saga ecosystem starts with the Saga Mainnet. Built on the Cosmos hub, this framework includes a full validator set and a dedicated blockchain for handling all smart contracts. The basic protocols are passed on to each child chain in the system, and information is relayed back and forth between the main chain and all of the secondary chains. Saga's validators stake tokens, and then check to make sure every element of the topology follows Saga’s regulations.

 are a method for creating a dedicated blockspace that a developer can manage. These chainlets function as virtual machines that can handle smart contracts and automatically launch Celestia rollups. Each chainlet is its own blockchain that handles nothing but a specific gaming project. Developers decide on the gas fees they'll charge users, and can add chainlets as their projects expand and require more throughput from the remaining validators.

Saga's shared security relies on both the Cosmos hub and its own set of validators to secure the network. Validators on Saga’s network are monitored by auditors who can catch potential issues with individual dedicated chains. If anyone in the validator set fails to properly confirm a smart contract, their staked tokens are automatically confiscated.

 is a publishing system for gaming developers who want to create their own blockchains with help from Saga. It offers infinite scalability, seamless 

 and transactions without gas fees. In addition to use of the Cosmos SDK, developers who choose to publish their game through Saga Origins receive access to a variety of helpful marketing and distribution tools.

 is an interconnected blend of all the developers and projects in the Saga system. Though each sovereign blockchain is fully independent of others, they all join together to offer users a variety of exciting web3 projects. People interested in checking out the latest blockchain designs can join the Multiverse and browse all the neat concepts built on Saga.

To help get the Saga validator system started, Saga released 

 to its community members. People were eligible for the 

 if they had participated in the staking program or played in tournaments to promote Saga ecosystem games. The airdrop eligibility period required remaining validators and other participants to be active between January and October of 2023. Once the airdrop began allowing people to claim tokens, it continued to run until Mar 27, 2024.

 consists of four separate phases. The company has already completed the Andromeda and Cassiopeia phases, which focused on designing the Mainnet and setting up the system of Saga validators. Currently, the Saga team is in the Pegasus phase, which is about releasing tokens and opening the Saga Mainnet to the public. Sometime in late 2022, Saga’s team hopes to reach their Mainnet V2 phase, which will prioritize a new version of the Saga Mainnet with more features and options for dedicated blockspace.

SAGA tokens are the primary method for paying fees on the Saga network. These tokens are also used for staking, and function as a method of confirming Saga transactions. There are a total of 

, of which around 90 million have thus far been released. Saga plans to distribute its tokens as follows:

SAGA is still in the early stages of its token launch. However, it’s already surprised investors, having debuted at $4.91 on Apr 9, 2024 before quickly surging to its ATH to date of $7.60. It then steadily declined over the next few days to its current price of $3.06 as of Apr 19, 2024.

 SAGA, with its experts believing SAGA’s price will reach $15.73 by 2025 and decrease in 2027 to $6.27, before rising again to $13.45 by 2030. This bullish sentiment is amplified by analysts at Changelly, 

 SAGA’s price will increase to $6.91 in 2025, $14.21 in 2027 and $44.36 in 2030.

Looking to trade Saga tokens? Bybit now offers SAGAUSDT Perpetual contracts. To get started, you’ll first need to 

, then fund it with cryptocurrency and navigate to the 

SAGA has done an extremely impressive job of attracting users, and seems poised to become the big coin debut of April 2024 with its high price.

However, it's hard to say whether SAGA can maintain its price in the long run. It's quite common for new startups to have a strong start and then drop in price once their project fails to take off. If the Saga ecosystem can’t attract new developers and continue to release impressive projects, investors could see some major SAGA losses in the future.

Since this coin is so volatile right now, investors need to 

. It has the potential for both big profits and big losses, so you’ll want to carefully consider how these price shifts might affect your portfolio. For best results, avoid investing more than you can afford to lose, make sure you diversify your investments — and 

By offering developers the chance to create their own dedicated chains, Saga offers a more convenient and scalable system for blockchain gaming. Its helpful features and low transaction fees have already attracted many people, and it's no surprise that many others are interested in the project. Furthermore, SAGA tokens have had a promising start with extremely impressive growth. If the Saga company can successfully capitalize on its early buzz, it has a bright future.

Intermediate

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Saga (SAGA): Catalyzing the Multiverse With Scalable Chains

Discover Masa, a platform empowering individuals to control and monetize their data, decentralizing AI storage and promoting ethical data sharing.

Few areas of the crypto industry are as popular these days as artificial intelligence (AI). AI-related tokens and projects experience some of the highest growth rates, with particular interest attached to generative AI technology and large language models (LLMs), all thanks to OpenAI's massively popular ChatGPT tool. This is no surprise, as blockchain technology has the potential to address many of the limitations of LLM algorithms, particularly those related to the issues of data and centralization of AI models.

The Masa network (MASA) is a new AI-focused crypto platform that brings a fresh paradigm to the world by allowing individuals to control and monetize their personal data. Its platform also contributes to the AI revolution by decentralizing the storage of both the user data and the LLMs utilizing it.

 (MASA) is a blockchain platform that provides access to user-consented, hyper-specific behavioral and personal data and decentralized LLM algorithms. 

The platform launched its operations on Apr 11, 2024. Masa operates as a subnet on the 

 (AVAX) blockchain. To enable cross-chain functionality, it has also integrated 

 technology. This lets Masa bridge assets, initially to two key blockchains, 

 (BSC), with additional chains to be added in the future.

Masa provides user-consented AI data that’s stored in a decentralized way. As of mid-April 2024, more than 40 million data points from over 1.4 million 

 user wallets are available via its permissionless data layer. Masa represents an entirely new decentralized AI paradigm: while most data providers use centralized storage solutions, its platform's data is always stored in a decentralized, blockchain-based format.

The data made available via Masa’s platform is user-consented for collection and privacy-protected using its Zero-Knowledge 

 (zkSBT) technology, which allows users to share their personal data securely and confidentially by storing this encrypted data on the blockchain. Thanks to the zkSBT, users can share fairly detailed personal data while protecting their identities and the specifics of their online activities.

This user-consented data is directly sourced from users through the Masa App and Masa Chrome browser extension with their consent. Users have complete control over their data, which is collected in a highly detailed, verified and ethical manner. 

As such, it's different from the typical user-aggregated data collected from the internet by companies. Compared to user-consented data, user-aggregated data tends to be less granular and, obviously, has ethical strings attached to it: in most cases, users don't consent to the collection of such data, or (at best) provide reluctant consent by clicking on annoying "Accept All Cookies" buttons.

While focusing mostly on user-consented data, the Masa platform also offers developers a way to access user-aggregated data for a richer data network. Using Masa's web data scraper, developers can extract data from websites, social media posts, blogs and online databases.

User-aggregated data is collected by data node workers via the Masa Oracle network and Masa Chrome extension and stored on the platform, benefiting from the 

In addition to datasets, Masa enables the decentralized execution of LLM algorithms, facilitated by the Oracle node workers, who leverage their surplus CPU and GPU computing power to run open-source LLMs for fine-tuning AI models.

The Masa project aspires to achieve goals crucial to the development of all data and AI industries. First, Masa allows individuals to completely control their own personal data by choosing what to share with the outside world while protecting their confidentiality. The blockchain-based storage mode also ensures the security of the stored data. Additionally, users can monetize access to their personal data, becoming a major beneficiary of its use.

All of these benefits are in stark contrast to the traditional way user data is collected, stored and used on Web 2.0 platforms. In this traditional mode, one is often unaware of what personal data is collected about them, as well as when and by whom. Although the data used for analytics purposes might be in an aggregated form, together with the details of other online users, individual users are still part of the "guinea pig" cohort whose details have been unceremoniously extracted and utilized without their knowledge or consent.

Moreover, when hit online with some fairly relevant advertising based on past search phrases, one begins to realize that data isn't always used in an aggregated format. In fact, its utilization can be quite personalized. And of course, in the traditional mode of data collection, we’re all rarely reimbursed for the data we share.

Another aim of the Masa project is to provide a secure and efficient decentralized infrastructure for running LLM algorithms. Traditional, centralized hosting solutions for AI models face challenges, such as technical capacity and security issues. For instance, many centrally hosted LLM-based solutions suffer from performance degradation when large numbers of users access them simultaneously. Masa's approach to leveraging decentralized resources for running open-source LLMs efficiently addresses these capacity limitations, providing enhanced scalability and reliability for AI applications.

Masa operates as a subnet on the Avalanche blockchain, using cross-chain communications supported by LayerZero to access other networks as well. Avalanche subnets are completely independent 

 networks with their own set of rules and functionalities. Subnets, including Masa, use Avalanche's validators, or a subset of validators, to secure the network and achieve consensus.

Besides the validators, the Masa network has another type of functional nodes — 

. These special Masa nodes play a critical role in providing structured data and advanced AI models while prioritizing data privacy.

The Masa Oracle network acts as a decentralized web scraper, gathering data from the internet and organizing it for AI training and development. This approach gives developers access to hyper-personalized training data to improve language model performance. It also supports the decentralization of LLMs, making them easily accessible without complex setup.

As mentioned above, users can manage access to and monetization of their personal data via Zero-Knowledge Soulbound Tokens (zkSBTs), which provide a secure way of providing access to users’ personal data without compromising their privacy.

 is the main gateway for users to interact with the Masa platform. It lets them provide access to personal data and earn crypto rewards by staking data in four different ways:

Masa’s native cryptocurrency, MASA, is a utility and 

 used to reward users for providing their data to the network. 

 MASA also earns you crypto rewards. Entities who wish to utilize data held by the network pay for access to it in MASA tokens. The token is also used to reward the Oracle nodes.

As a governance token, MASA lets you participate in votes on any changes and upgrades to the platform's rules or fee structure.

The token's supply economics doesn't specify a maximum cap. MASA's total supply is 1,588,866,523, which will be released gradually over a period of around four years starting in April 2024. Token supply allocation shares are per the table below.

The MASA token is available on Bybit via a 

. Bybit's Spot and Derivatives markets provide you with opportunities to trade hundreds of cryptocurrencies and crypto-based products. If you don’t have a Bybit account, you can easily 

 to access Bybit's range of crypto products and assets.

The Masa network is a refreshing addition to the data industry, whose user consent and privacy have been under attack for many years. The Masa platform puts data ownership in users' hands, allowing them to control access to their data and benefit from its monetization. As online privacy concerns and invasive Web 2.0 advertising shenanigans grow, more users will be attracted to Masa's unique data concept.

In addition to allowing individuals to control and monetize their data, Masa also contributes significantly to the development of 

, which is important because the decentralized mode of data and model storage championed by the platform has the potential to solve many technical limitations of LLMs and other types of AI algorithms. This is a network full of merit and promise; all it needs now is wider recognition and user adoption.

Advanced

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Masa (MASA): Powering AI With User-Centric Data Monetization

Today’s outperformer is LSK, which jumped 17.63% after Lisk partners with Velodrome to enhance blockchain access and drive ecosystem growth.

The SPX index is down 0.22% as the market anticipates less Federal Reserve rate cuts, considering the possibility of no cuts this year. The broader cryptocurrency market is up, with Bitcoin and Ether rising by 4.18% and 3.19%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Lisk (LSK), launched on May 2016, is a cryptocurrency platform that enables developers to build decentralized applications (dapps) using JavaScript and TypeScript. It supports custom "sidechains" within its network, offering tools like a software development kit. Lisk has announced a partnership with Velodrome to support and expand its blockchain ecosystem. Lisk will purchase and lock $VELO tokens for voting, directing VELO emissions to key pairs on Lisk. This collaboration aims to support existing protocols on Lisk, attract new developers, and enhance blockchain accessibility and adoption in emerging markets. Velodrome will back Lisk's Layer 2 initiatives, aligning with the goal of creating a scalable, interoperable Ethereum future.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

The Runes protocol is set to debut alongside Bitcoin's 2024 halving, heralding a new phase in Bitcoin's evolution by enabling the creation of fungible tokens directly on its network. This follows the impactful Ordinals protocol, which significantly expanded Bitcoin's functionalities. The Runes protocol will spark competition among developers to issue and acquire the first tokens, with global exchanges ready to support these tokens from day one. The halving event will also feature a race to mine a highly valuable "Epic" satoshi. As Bitcoin approaches this transformative era, extensive preparations and educational initiatives are underway to equip users for the forthcoming changes, marking a profound shift in Bitcoin's operational and cultural landscape.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs have yet another day of outflow, however, yesterday’s outflow was close to neutral. The market has seen fluctuating flows in these ETFs, with significant activity in some and none in others, reflecting mixed investor reactions. Recent substantial outflows echo trends from March, but analysts regard such fluctuations as typical for ETFs and not indicative of failure. Despite this volatility, the outlook for Bitcoin ETFs remains positive as they continue to draw institutional interest and shape market dynamics.

Avail, a blockchain data-availability protocol developed using Polygon’s SDK, has announced an airdrop of 600 million AVAIL tokens, marking its one-year anniversary since spinning off from Polygon Labs. The "Unification Drop" aims to bring together various blockchain communities by rewarding developers, governance contributors, educators, rollup users, stakers, and others who have significantly contributed to the ecosystem. Avail's infrastructure includes three segments: Nexus for cross-chain transactions, Fusion for liquid staking on chains like Ethereum and Bitcoin, and DA for scaling rollups through technologies like KZG commitments. The airdrop will distribute tokens to 354,605 wallet addresses and includes significant allocations for various roles across multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana, Cosmos, and more, emphasizing a unified Web3 environment.

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Runes Protocol Revolutionizes Bitcoin with New Token Capabilities Ahead of 2024 Halving

Nolus is a decentralized finance lending protocol with cross-chain capabilities. Learn more about how it works in this article.

One of the big advantages of decentralized finance (

) is that it provides more options for users. People who cannot get traditional loans because a typical bank deems them "high-risk" can turn to the DeFi sector to borrow crypto assets. The Nolus Protocol is a new DeFi lender that offers users all sorts of exciting opportunities. To see how this intriguing project works, explore this guide to learn all about Nolus.

 is a DeFi lending protocol. It has cross-chain capabilities that let people choose the most favorable rates possible and avoid the need to save up funds for liquidity.

Nolus was founded by Ivan Kostov and Kamen Trendafilov. Kostov worked in traditional finance, while Trendafilov has a background in marketing and business. During their time in these sectors, Nolus's founders realized that blockchain networks had the potential to revolutionize banking. They decided to join together and create a new leasing system that makes the most of DeFi products instead of just trying to mimic past banking methods.

Nolus started work on its plans in 2022 and officially launched its mainnet in 2023, having successfully completed several investing rounds and receiving 

 Token Metrics, Autonomy Capital, Everstake and more.

Nolus aims to tackle three problems common in crypto lending markets:

 software developer kit (SDK). Its code is entirely open sourced, and is updated and changed only when all stakeholders in the Nolus community vote to do so. According to the Nolus white paper, its ecosystem’s goal is “to build a novel user experience–driven automated money market” that facilitates direct interactions between lenders and borrowers without involving any other users.

The Nolus lending method starts with lenders choosing to supply 

 to the system. Any borrower who submits a down payment can get a loan from this supply of stablecoins. Both the coins and the down payment are 

, and interest is determined based on the value of the items. There’s no fixed repayment schedule, but the smart contracts ensure that interest is automatically removed from the collateral, and then paid to the lender at regular intervals. Once the user decides to repay the lease, the original assets are released from the smart contract.

Nolus's lending protocol includes many ways for customers to profit and enjoy convenient services. Here are the main DeFi products you can access through Nolus.

DeFi leasing on Nolus is designed to be as convenient as possible. Customers don’t have to go through a lengthy application or pay a lot of fees to other users. You just enter your collateral and get a loan of up to three times the value of the initial investment. Interest rates vary between 11% and 18%, based on the market value of the digital assets. The 

 allow the loan to be repaid on your own schedule. However, keep in mind that you pay more interest if you wait a longer amount of time to repay the loan.

If you want to earn money based on your existing crypto, you can join one of the many 

 on Nolus by submitting stablecoins in exchange for interest-bearing Nolus crypto. When you're ready to withdraw your funds and stop participating in DeFi leasing, you can cash out your Nolus tokens to receive your initial asset, plus any additional interest or network fees you’ve earned.

Nolus's system of money markets isn't the only thing they provide. Users who decide to 

 a crypto asset on Nolus can earn more money. The Nolus ecosystem offers the option of staking NLS tokens in exchange for various incentives. Lenders receive higher amounts of rewards for lending stablecoins, and borrowers get a lower interest rate.

Nolus has had some impressive growth since its launch in 2023. In just six months, the lending protocol has assisted with thousands of loans, collectively worth $8.6 million in total. Its team calculates that they've managed to achieve an average 

Nolus hopes to expand on this momentum in 2024. Its main plan is to continue marketing the lending protocol heavily, attracting more users who want to do their own research and find the best possible loans. To further attract users from the DeFi sector, Nolus aims to add more support for other crypto tokens and increase network liquidity. Nolus stands for community-led governance, so they don't have a long-term road map in place. Instead, they plan to evolve and adjust to suit whatever community needs arise in the future.

. It allows users to adjust their interest rates, and it's also a 

. People with NLS tokens can vote on how the platform is run and help implement new changes for the platform. The NLS token has a total supply of 1 billion. Nolus’s plan is to gradually mint tokens over a ten-year period, and implement a token buyback program to help maintain value. NLS token distribution will be as follows:

When the NLS token was released in the summer of 2023, Nolus prices were fairly stable. However, now that investors can sell their NLS tokens, prices have become more volatile. Starting in December 2023, NLS prices 

, and although the token currently seems to be dropping from its all-time high of $0.10, more price increases seem likely in the future.

Not only is the market for the NLS token quite bullish right now, but the Nolus lending protocol is also attracting a lot of positive attention in the crypto space. If the network can maintain its positive attention and attract more users, prices seem likely to rise even further. CoinCodex predicts Nolus prices will stay in the $0.04 to $0.19 range for 2025, and hit 

. This attitude is backed up by crypto influencers such as Crypto Revolution, 

 an underrated crypto with a lot of potential for growth.

The Nolus project is a well-thought-out crypto protocol that offers users significant advantages. Its innovative approach to lending could potentially attract a lot of users from the DeFi space. In addition to having a reliable system backed with effective technology and a detailed white paper, NLS digital assets have also experienced some promising growth patterns. The crypto asset has had a slow yet steady climb in price, and now that it's trending in crypto news, it seems poised to take off.

However, keep in mind that it's still important to 

 on digital assets. Some crypto investors might find it concerning that the Nolus project is mostly backed by marketers, instead of blockchain enthusiasts. There have also been some tech issues, such as the 

 that led to some unnecessary margin calls. Subsequent issues could limit price appreciation of its crypto assets. Therefore, it's necessary to approach Nolus with caution and not overextend your finances.

Nolus's DeFi lease system allows people to obtain easy access to crypto. Its innovative approach provides investors with significant advantages. Unlike traditional finance, there's no lengthy application process, and in contrast to many other blockchain networks Nolus doesn't have frequent margin calls or high network fees. As long as Nolus doesn't run into any technological issues or financial problems, its network is likely to have a lot of success in the DeFi space.

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Nolus (NLS): Crafting Liquidity's Future With Leading DeFi Leases

Crypto

Bitcoin

There are seven main ways to purchase Bitcoin: Crypto exchanges, P2P trading, Bitcoin ATMs, trusts or ETFs, brokers, cash payment apps and trading apps.

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 (BTC) was the first cryptocurrency to be created. It remains the king of crypto today, with a 

 of $839 billion (as of Jan 31, 2024). When it comes to buying crypto, investors often select Bitcoin above all the available alternatives, thanks to its popularity.

However, those who are making their first steps in the world of cryptocurrencies may initially find it difficult to buy Bitcoin since the process of purchasing crypto may be an alien concept to them. Fear not, as this guide will provide a comprehensive explanation of different methods for buying Bitcoin.

There are many valid methods of buying Bitcoin available to any potential purchaser. The two most popular are through crypto exchanges and P2P platforms. Other ways to buy Bitcoin include Bitcoin ATMs, trusts or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), brokers and various apps. Let’s view each of them in detail. 

There are two types of cryptocurrency exchanges: centralized and decentralized. 

 (CEXs) are typically deemed the best choice for beginners for their security, convenience and user-friendly platforms. Many offer various options of payment. For instance, investors can choose to buy bitcoins either with fiat currency or with other cryptos. The possibility of buying crypto for fiat is especially handy for newbies, as it facilitates the onboarding process.

Fiat-to-crypto CEXs offer a chance to buy crypto using various traditional payment methods, such as bank and wire transfers or a debit/credit card. You can make your initial purchase on such reputable platforms as Bybit.

Each CEX provides different anti-money laundering (AML) policies and requires different levels of 

 (KYC). What they have in common is a user-friendly interface and a simple onboarding process for newbies.

Let’s review the basic steps you need to take in order to buy Bitcoin, using the Bybit exchange as an example. On Bybit, users can buy Bitcoin (as well as Ether and USDT) with major fiat currencies (40+) via its fiat gateway. Basically, the process is as follows:

As you can see, the process is really simple and doesn’t require any technical skills. From this perspective, Bybit offers a service that perfectly fits newbies as well as seasoned traders and investors. Bybit even offers the option for investors bullish on Bitcoin to buy Bitcoin regularly via its 

Meanwhile, crypto natives typically prefer using 

, to purchase Bitcoin and other crypto through 

. This inclination often stems from the desire to maintain anonymity, as DEXs lack the KYC procedures mandatory in CEXs. Additionally, users have complete control of their funds in DEXs, unlike in CEXs, where they have to relinquish control to the CEX. Since there’s no third party in the management of funds and transactions, users can make Bitcoin transactions at a lower cost.

However, the complexities of using a DEX and the absence of customer support make this choice unsuitable for most beginners looking to buy Bitcoin.

Generally, crypto newcomers start their journey with a traditional centralized exchange that acts as a middleman. However, it’s also possible to buy Bitcoin directly from other Bitcoin owners on various platforms such as Paxful and Remitano. Bybit also offers

 at zero fees, with over hundreds of payment methods and support for multiple fiat currencies. The key difference here is that you buy cryptocurrency not from a platform, but from another person, and the platforms mentioned above serve to connect buyers and senders.

The first step on P2P platforms is the same as on centralized crypto exchanges, as it involves creating and verifying your account. Users then need to browse different offers and find a trading partner who provides the best price and most convenient payment method available. If a suitable option is found, you can simply open a trade with the selected Bitcoin seller. 

Once the trade is initiated, the seller sends Bitcoin to the escrow account and a buyer sends the relevant sum of fiat money. After that, the Bitcoin is unlocked and sent to the buyer. If, however, there’s no appropriate offer on the platform, you can always publish a request yourself.

There is no middleman in such sales, and both parties have to deal only with a program that transfers assets from the seller’s deposit to the buyer’s wallet. Such a method has some advantages:

Nevertheless, some risks are associated with this method, especially if you conduct your own P2P selling. The seller may ask for additional information from the buyer, or for additional commission. If you’re selling Bitcoin, fraudulent buyers may ask you to release the coins straightaway before the payment is completed, or insist they’ve made the transaction when they haven’t. 

That’s why it’s always best, if participating in this method, to do so only on legitimate platforms like the ones mentioned above. For the most part, they have escrow in place, as well as security measures such as identity checks.

Another way to obtain Bitcoin is provided by special ATMs called 

. Such machines look like ordinary ATMs but allow you to physically purchase Bitcoin for fiat money. Some Bitcoin ATMs possess bidirectional functionality, allowing you to both buy and sell Bitcoin for cash. This method is especially useful for those who find it difficult to adapt to technological innovations and prefer more traditional methods of payment. Another advantage of ATMs is their quick transaction speed. They eliminate the risk of fraud because no third parties are involved in the deal.

There are about 30 such types of such machines available. Specific algorithms of actions may vary, but the basic principle remains the same. Here’s a general step-by-step guide for how to buy BTC via ATMs:

If you want to find the closest Bitcoin ATM near you, make use of the 

 service, which can help you locate Bitcoin ATM machines in your home area.

 (ETFs) let you gain exposure to Bitcoin without actually owning it. While they aim to reflect Bitcoin price fluctuations, their value may not necessarily be a true reflection of Bitcoin’s price, due to other holdings in their portfolios. There are 

Previously, you could only purchase Bitcoin futures ETFs such as ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO), which invests in Bitcoin futures. This allows you to track Bitcoin’s market performance without owning the coin itself. 

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC’s)

on Jan 10, 2024 has made Bitcoin even easier to purchase for mainstream traders and investors. Bitcoin Spot ETFs such as Franklin Bitcoin ETF give you more direct exposure to Bitcoin, as they hold actual bitcoins as their underlying asset and track the current price of Bitcoin.

You can also buy Bitcoin via trusts such as the 

. However, unlike Spot Bitcoin ETFs, which allow you to redeem shares, you won’t be able to redeem a trust’s shares for the underlying Bitcoin, which can cause a trust’s price to deviate even further from Bitcoin’s actual value.

As crypto exchanges are largely unregulated, they pose financial instability risks for users entrusting their funds to these platforms. Unlike traditional stock brokerages, which are covered by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), investments in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on these exchanges lack such protection. This absence of SIPC coverage means that in the event of an exchange's insolvency (as witnessed with 

), customers may face losses without the guarantee of asset recovery. 

This contrasts with the safety net that SIPC provides for traditional stock brokerage customers, making brokers a more secure choice for risk-averse investors interested in cryptocurrency exposure. Examples of brokers who offer Bitcoin and other major cryptos for investment are Interactive Brokers® and Fidelity Investments. Stockbrokers allow you to purchase Bitcoin and other crypto through direct trading or ETFs.

Cash transfer apps such as PayPal and Venmo not only let you send and receive fiat money, but also support cryptocurrency transfers. These financial apps allow you to buy and sell Bitcoin and other supported cryptocurrencies. You can also transfer crypto between PayPal and Venmo, as well as between supported exchanges and wallets. 

Note that, just as with CEXs, these apps require you to undergo KYC verification. Moreover, their fees can be exorbitant as compared to those of cryptocurrency exchanges. And at the end of the day, despite all that hassle and cost, you don’t actually own any crypto that you’re investing in on these apps.

Stock trading apps like Robinhood and eToro offer advanced trading features not typically found at traditional stock brokerages. These include fractional price trading, which enables you to invest in amounts as low as a dollar. While a few brokers, such as the abovementioned, offer direct access to crypto, most traditional brokers do not. 

Meanwhile, trading apps generally allow direct buying and selling of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Additionally, trading apps often deliver a more streamlined user experience than the apps offered by brokerages. The sheer simplicity of using a trading app may make it a superior option for newbie traders, compared to traditional brokers.

Once your bitcoins reside in your wallet, make a decision about what you’re going to do with them. Traders may make use of BTC immediately and return to exchanges to switch their bitcoins to different 

. However, if you prefer to store your Bitcoin long-term to make profits later when its price increases, then consider withdrawing it to your own wallet.

A cryptocurrency wallet is a program intended for storing public and private keys that enable access to your funds, allow you to send and receive cryptocurrencies, track your balances and interact with various blockchains. Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency, and is supported by almost all popular wallets. That’s why finding a suitable option shouldn’t be a problem.

 hot and cold. Both types have their own advantages and disadvantages, and can be used for different purposes.

A cold wallet is a physical electronic device that isn’t connected to the internet, and allows you to store assets offline. Hardware wallets and 

Hardware wallets typically are USB drive devices designed for storing private keys in the offline environment. You can receive bitcoins to your hardware wallet at any time, but when it comes to spending them, the device must be connected to a PC or a laptop. 

Such wallets are invulnerable to online hacking and unaffected by computer viruses. The only way to hack them is to physically steal the device. But even in this case, the perpetrator won’t receive access to your coins, as they can be protected with a PIN. 

The average price of such a device varies between $60 and $200. Popular hardware wallets, including 

, have proved their worth from a technical safety point of view and gained a good reputation among crypto users.

Another secure option for storing crypto long-term is to send it to a 

. There are numerous online services designed for generating such wallets. All you need to do is to print the result they provide on paper. However, since this isn’t a durable material, don’t forget to take additional precautions. Make several copies, laminate some of them and put the others in a metal box, or give them to your friends for safekeeping.

A crucial feature of hot wallets that distinguishes them from their cold alternatives is that they need to be connected to the internet. In other words, these are online wallets. Any exchange will provide its users with a free hot wallet that automatically stores their traded BTC.

The risk associated with storing crypto on such wallets derives from the fact that in most cases, they’re custodial. This means that their owners don’t hold the private keys to the cryptocurrency in their wallets. In contrast, fully noncustodial wallets are much safer, so in most cases, assets that aren’t traded are transferred to a wallet from a provider other than an exchange. Other types of hot wallets include web, desktop, and browser wallets. Among some of the most popular providers are 

Regardless of the type of hot wallet you select, it will be connected to the internet, which makes your funds vulnerable to hacks. In order to protect your cryptocurrency and reduce this risk, follow these best practices:

Hot wallet providers, for their part, constantly develop and enhance security measures to protect their users.

If you’re a newbie to the crypto world, you may wonder which type of wallet will suit you best, hot or cold. To find the correct answer for you, first decide what you’re going to do with the bitcoins you’ve purchased.

Hot wallets are preferable if you frequently trade Bitcoin. They provide easier access to your funds, and are more convenient (as well as free) to operate. But it’s not a good idea to keep large amounts of Bitcoin in them for extended periods, as their main disadvantage is lack of security.

Cold wallets are safer, and are perfect for long-term storage of significant amounts of BTC. At the same time, they can be challenging for newcomers to understand — and they’re not free to use. 

Learning how to buy bitcoins and finding a secure place to store them may be tricky unless you know where to start. The options described in this article should provide you with insight into which is better suited for you, depending upon your risk appetite and knowledge of cryptocurrency. Additionally, being aware of the associated costs of buying Bitcoin on these various platforms is crucial, as some may charge exorbitant fees that could impact your overall profits. 

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