Hedera coin (HBAR) is the native cryptocurrency of the Hedera network, a [third-generation Proof-of-State (PoS) public ledger](/news/article/hedera-hashgraph). The crypto asset serves a dual role: to pay for network services in terms of transaction fees and to protect the network from actors with bad intentions. 

## What is the Hedera network? 

Hedera network is a third-generation, open-source public ledger for builders, creators, enterprises, decentralised finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), [central bank digital currencies (CBDCs)](/news/article/uae-cbdc-to-complete-first-phase-by-2024), and sustainability. 

In a nutshell, the blockchain powers institutional applications and native Web3 ecosystems for the next generation of the internet. The public network is responsibly governed by the Hedera Governing Council – a transparent, decentralised body of Web3 projects, enterprises, and prestigious universities. 

The governing body includes global stalwarts such as Google, IBM, Wipro, Ubisoft, ServiceNow, Chainlink Labs, and IIT Madras. The Hedera ecosystem standards and codebase are built by the developer community via Hedera Improvement Protocols (HIPs). 

The community comprises Hedera ecosystem and application developers, peripheral organisations, and node operators. These include the likes of LimeChain, Horizon Labs, LG, Meeco, HashPack, Luther Systems, and Six Clovers. Hedera's Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) smart contracts are performance-optimised. 

These smart contracts, coupled with consensus service application programming interfaces (APIs) and easy-to-use native tokenisation, enable the developer community to build real-time Web3 ecosystems and applications. 

It is also worth noting that Hedera has a robust codebase, transaction order fairness with consensus timestamps, low and predictable fees, and fast finality. Here are some interesting statistics to back up these claims (all at the time of writing): 

- 1,998,822 mainnet accounts created 

- 47,472,513 transactions in the last 24 hours 

- 64 seconds to consensus finality 

- $0.001 average cost per transaction 

- 000003 average kWh per transaction 

At the heart of the Hedera network is its energy-efficient, dual-role native token, HBAR. Let us dive further into the cryptocurrency's historical data and fairly determine our HBAR price predictions for 2030. 

## Hedera coin historical data and price predictions 2030 

According to[ Coingecko data](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/hedera), the current price of HBAR is $0.063. Hedera coin has a total/maximum token supply of 50B tokens, of which over 31B are currently in circulation. The crypto asset’s market cap is nearly $2B, with a 24-hour trading volume of almost $46M. 

In terms of market cap rank, HBAR is placed at 34th. The crypto asset achieved an all-time high of $0.569 on 15 September, 2021, and an all-time low of $0.0098 on 2 January, 2020. 

Owing to several macroeconomic factors, the calamitous downfall of crypto industry giants like FTX, Terra, Three Arrows Capital, and Celsius Network, and an increasingly regulatory-prone environment, several altcoins fared abnormally poorly in the mid-latter half of 2022. 

![downward trending hedera stock chart](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_05_at_15_04_37_293d464267.png)

Source: [Coingecko ](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/hedera)

Naturally, the Hedera coin was gravely affected by these market conditions. Its value dropped from $0.196 on 21 April, 2022, to $0.0365 on 1 January, 2023. Since then, the cryptocurrency's value has nearly doubled. 

If we factor in all we have learned about the Hedera network so far, keep in mind HBAR's historical data, and consider the growth of the blockchain industry at a CAGR of 85.9% from 2023 to 2030, we can attempt to predict its future price. 

That said, it is impossible to predict the price of any cryptocurrency accurately. Given that HBAR is already a top-50 crypto asset and is worth nearly $2B in terms of its market cap, the crypto asset may touch the highs it achieved in mid-September 2021 in the next few years. 

This, of course, must be supplemented by significant development activity and user interest. We at Moni Talks believe it is quite difficult for HBAR to breach the $1 mark (nearly impossible). You can buy HBAR tokens at leading crypto exchanges like Binance, eToro, Coinbase Exchange, OKX, BingX, and DigiFinex. 

Predictably, Binance is the most popular crypto exchange to trade Hedera coin. Understanding the token's use cases and significance to the network is important before making an investment decision. We insist you do your own research (DYOR) at all times. 

## Everything you NEED to know about Hedera coin 

HBAR serves a dual purpose in the Hedera network. 

As network fuel, developers use Hedera to pay for network services, including logging data, calling smart contracts, [minting cryptocurrencies and NFTs](/news/article/guide-to-minting-nfts-opensea), and transferring the crypto asset. 

For each of these transactions, Hedera is used to pay fees that recompense validator nodes for storage, computing, and bandwidth. 

As a network-protecting agent, Hedera, which is staked to network nodes, has a weighted voting influence on consensus for validating transactions. Weighted voting makes it extremely expensive and difficult for bad actors to harm consensus. 

To put it into perspective, a bad actor would have to own and stake more than one-third of the cryptocurrency’s total supply to obtain centralised authority. 

## Token allocation categories 

As mentioned, the total supply of HBAR tokens is 50B, with more than 31B circulating at the time of writing. You can see from the below figure that 31.33% of the total supply remains unallocated (as is evident from the circulating supply). 

![hedera alllocation categories](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_05_at_15_04_44_f8d0b85c7d.png)

Other allocation categories include: 

- 90% to Ecosystem and Open-Source Development 

- 74% to Initial Development Costs and Licensing 

- 26% to Purchase Agreements 

- 77% to Network Governance and Operations 

## The advantages of HBAR 

Here are the advantages of HBAR over first-generation and second-generation cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH): 

- Outstanding throughput: With a throughput of 10,000 HBAR coin transactions per second (TPS), the Hedera network does not compromise on network stability or security. 

- Incredibly low fees: The cost per HBAR transaction is incredibly low, costing around $0.0001! Compared to the enormous ETH fees we see ‘gracing’ social media nearly every day, HBAR is extremely efficient. 

- Finality in mere seconds: Gone are the days when you had to wait for block confirmations to execute a transaction. HBAR transactions achieve finality in mere seconds (3-5, to be precise). 

Overall, using HBAR ensures you can settle payments and modernise digital experiences seamlessly. Here are some network metrics to back the above information: 

- Transactions: 60,334,562 per day 

- Latency: 5.64 seconds to finality 

- API calls: 634 per HBAR 

## Staking Hedera coin 

Once you have purchased HBAR at a crypto exchange, or any other third-party platform or organisation, you can use your purchased Hedera coin to pay application transaction fees, purchase goods and services, or simply hold on to your tokens with a long-term vision in mind. 

One more option that arises is staking. You can stake your HBAR to a Hedera network node for a maximum APY of 6.5%. This annual reward rate cap was determined by the Hedera Governing Council through the Coin Committee. 

The actual reward rate varies from node to node and depends on the amount of staked tokens. It is worth noting that nodes that are inactive or down will NOT be eligible to earn HBAR rewards. 

Supported wallets include: Blade, HashPack, MyHbarWallet, Uphold, Wallawallet, and Yamgo. 

Supported exchanges include: OKX 

Custodians include: Hex Trust 

[Staking reward distribution](/news/article/hnt-staking-and-maximizing-returns) can be triggered by numerous mechanisms. This [document will help](https://docs.hedera.com/hedera/core-concepts/staking/stake-hbar) you understand each of these mechanisms. 

It is worth noting that the staking feature will be rolled out in four distinct phases, of which Phase I: Technical Availability, Phase II: Ecosystem Development, and Phase III: Staking Rewards Program Launch, have been completed. Click on this link [for an in-depth understanding](https://docs.hedera.com/hedera/core-concepts/staking/staking) of the complete staking program. 

Before investing in HBAR in the short or long-term, ensure that you have performed your due diligence. Visit the [Hedera website](https://hedera.com/) for more details. 

Hedera coin price prediction 2030: HBAR to $1? 

StormGain is an [all-in-one crypto trading platform](/news/article/how-does-crypto-trading-work) comprising a centralised exchange (CEX) and a decentralised exchange (DEX). 

The platform offers several products, including a CEX, decentralised cryptocurrency trading, futures trading with up to 500x leverage, a Bitcoin (BTC) cloud miner, and exclusive trading signals. 

## What is StormGain? 

The StormGain cryptocurrency[ trading platform](/news/article/hotbit-is-it-secure) makes buying, trading, and holding popular, capitalised cryptocurrencies from a single destination easy. 

For example, once you register at StormGain, you can buy crypto with your credit card, which can be stored in StormGain's in-built, multi-currency wallet. The registration procedure is relatively straightforward. 

You can then exchange your purchased cryptocurrency for another crypto asset to your liking, enjoy decentralised crypto trading with up to 500x leverage and exclusive trading signals, and take advantage of Bitcoin cloud mining (a free Bitcoin faucet), among other possibilities. 

You can use the platform on your computer device or download the iOS or Android application on your mobile phone. 

## StormGain registration process 

To register at the crypto trading platform, click the Get Started option at the top of your screen. 

![blue screenshot of stormgain website](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_14_27_12_62f5918ea3.png)

Once you click on this option, the registration pop-up will appear on your screen. You must enter a valid email address, input your phone number (with the country code), and create a password. 

![stormgain welcome screen website ui](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_14_27_49_aee3c72f04.png)


The password should have more than eight characters, a minimum of one number, and a combination of uppercase and lowercase characters. Review the Stormgain customer agreement and policies and tick the box. At this stage, we want to clarify that StormGain is NOT A REGULATED CRYPTOCURRENCY EXCHANGE. 

This makes the platform illegal in the US – that is why the platform requests you to confirm that you are not a citizen of the US. It is also worth noting that StormGain products are not intended for use in countries identified by the FATF as non-cooperative or high-risk jurisdictions, as well as the European Union. 

If you belong to any of these regions, DO NOT register on the platform. If you satisfy all required registration criteria, click the Create an Account option to continue. If you are Islamic, tick the Islamic account box for special benefits (more on this later)! 

To complete registration, verify your email address and phone number. Click on the Continue option to proceed. 

![almost done sign up screen stormgain](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_14_27_55_d9c7219791.png)

The platform will send an SMS to the phone number you provided them. At this stage, you can also change your phone number. Click on the Confirm option to continue. 

Complete the simple puzzle that appears on your screen and enter the confirmation/security code they sent you via SMS. 

![Screenshot 2023-05-04 at 14.28.08.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_14_28_08_8bac909c13.png)

Click on the Apply option, verify your email address by clicking on the verification link they sent you via email, and all is done. You can now enjoy the benefits of StormGain 

## StormGain products explored 

StormGain offers numerous products which are part of a complete trading experience. Here are the best products that you MUST explore! 

### Crypto exchange 

Once you have purchased cryptocurrency to your liking via a credit card, you can use the platform's in-built, multi-currency crypto wallet to manage, secure, and exchange your purchased funds. 

The wallet is available 24/7, free of charge, and enables you to exchange assets from the confines of your wallet with built-in tools. You can also exchange your crypto assets for Gold (XAU) and Silver (XAG) tokens. 

![stormgain website ui screenshot of cryptocurrency exchange rates](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_14_28_15_d585651f6a.png)

To exchange cryptocurrencies, click on the exchange pair to your liking. At the time of writing, 18 exchange pairs are on offer. These include popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), Tether (USDT), and Ripple (XRP). 

StormGain does NOT charge a commission for simple crypto exchange. Here is an in-depth understanding of the platform's [fees and limits](https://stormgain.com/fees-and-limits). The platform only charges a 10% profit share from profitable trades (right, 'only'!). 

## Decentralised crypto trading with leverage and exclusive signals 

You heard that right, StormGain offers decentralised crypto trading with up to 500x leverage and exclusive trading signals. Visit the [DEX](https://dex.stormgain.com/) to access available trading pairs. The 50 most popular cryptocurrencies at the time of writing are on offer to trade in. 

![BTCUSDT chart from stormgain website ui](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_14_28_22_cb1dba6d37.png)

Leverage of up to 500x for BTC is the highest on the market at the time of writing. You can trade with as little as 10 USDT, reap the benefits of trading signals curated by StormGain experts, analyse charts to understand the current outlook of the market, and utilise[ professional technical analysis tools](/news/article/tradingview-uk-101). 

As you can see above, simply connect your wallet, enter the amount of the crypto asset you want to trade, select the amount of leverage you are comfortable with, and proceed with your trade. Be diligent with your trades at all times, as leverage can make or break a trader. 

## Free Bitcoin cloud miner 

One of the more interesting StormGain products is its free Bitcoin cloud miner. Once you register at the trading platform, visit this [page and click](https://stormgain.com/bonuses/bitcoin-mining) on the Activate option to receive your first free BTC mining reward after four hours. This is a part of the StormGain loyalty programme. 

Bitcoin cloud mining at StormGain is quick and risk-free and does not require you to own mining equipment. There is no battery or CPU drainage either. Depending on your loyalty level (achieved by trading or exchanging a certain volume of crypto assets periodically), your mining speed may increase, leading to greater rewards. 

For example, at the Standard loyalty level, you will receive approximately 8 USDT monthly, requiring 0 USDT trading volume, at a mining speed of 0.5x. If you are a VIP3 member, you will receive a whopping 8,615 USDT monthly (approximately), requiring a 75M USDT trading volume (!!!), at a mining speed of 530x. 

StormGain advertises the same product as a free Bitcoin faucet as well. Do not get confused. 

## Islamic account 

If you are practising Islam, you can [explore crypto trading](/news/article/altcoin-trading-tips) at StormGain with a special Islamic account. Ensure you tick the correct box during registration (refer to the registration section above). Alternatively, you can click on [this promo ](https://promo.stormgain.com/lp/en-en/isl/?lpid0678e980=)link and register accordingly! 

This feature is meant for individuals who cannot pay or receive swaps due to religious beliefs. The trading platform makes it clear that while this feature is intended for Islamic traders, it does not serve as permission to trade. Only accept this offer if your religious beliefs allow for it. 

- The perks of opening an Islamic account include: 

- Zero interest and rollover commissions. 

- No fees for holding a position for a longer duration (no time limit). 

Other advertised perks include the following: 

- Seamlessly manage funds with their powerful and intuitive platform. 

- Easily buy crypto with a credit card and withdraw in fiat currency. 

- Trade with up to 500x leverage without interest. 

- Manage and securely hold crypto with an in-built, multi-currency wallet that offers several benefits. 

Overall, while StormGain offers several fascinating products and features, it is still unregulated, so do your own research (DYOR) and register ONLY if you are comfortable with this fact. 

stormgain logo on blue backgrong image of men trading

StormGain: All-In-One Crypto Trading Platform

With a global crypto market cap of $1.27T, according to [CoinMarketCap data](https://coinmarketcap.com/), it is imperative that we have reliable options to store our cryptocurrencies. Of the many hot and cold wallets on the market today, MetaMask is a popular option. What is MetaMask wallet? It is a leading Ethereum wallet that falls under the category of hot wallets. 

In essence, a hot wallet is a crypto wallet connected to the internet. [Cold wallets](/news/article/best-cold-crypto-wallet-uk), on the other hand, operate primarily offline and serve as 'cold storage'. Numerous types of wallets fall under these two categories. MetaMask is classified as a web wallet (aka a software wallet).    

## What is MetaMask wallet and why is it popular? 

Despite its popularity, many still ask, 'What is MetaMask wallet?'. MetaMask boasts an intuitive, elegant design and an easy-to-use interface. 

The [cryptocurrency wallet enables users to store](/news/article/best-crypto-wallet-uk-top-picks) Ethereum (ETH) and other ERC20 tokens and serves as an easy access point to the Web3 ecosystem of cryptocurrencies and decentralised applications (DApps), as well as decentralised finance (DeFi), and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). 

Essentially, the web wallet is a browser plugin – all you need is Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, or a Chromium-based browser like Brave to get started. You can also download the wallet as a software wallet on your Android or [iOS](/news/article/tony-fadell-launches-crypto-wallet) device. Install the browser plugin and set up your wallet in just a few minutes. 

![metamask browser install](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_12_38_21_5a6c0ad181.png)

Please note: ONLY install the [official MetaMask plugin](https://metamask.io/download/) (aka extension or add-on) for your designated browser. 

Once you have [installed and set up MetaMask](/news/article/what-is-metamask), you can store ETH and ERC20 assets, transact with any ETH address, interact with Ethereum-based DApps, participate in play-to-earn (P2E) games, stake tokens for rewards, and trade tokens on decentralised exchanges (DEXs), and access DeFi apps like Compound and PoolTogether. 

Now that we have answered what is MetaMask wallet let's explore the setup process. 

## How to set up a MetaMask wallet 

Depending on your internet speed, it typically takes a minute to download the plugin. Once you have downloaded the plugin, a new tab will automatically open on your browser, directing you through the wallet setup procedure. 

![metamask logo](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_12_38_29_3b3000f014.png)

Click "Create a New Wallet" to begin. A set of terms and conditions will appear on your screen. Read through each to understand how the data they collect will be used to enhance your user experience. Click on the I Agree option when you are ready to continue/consent to the terms and conditions. 

Alternatively, you can click the No Thanks option and search for a cryptocurrency wallet that better meets your privacy concerns. We urge you to read the Privacy Policy as well, ensuring your decision to set up a MetaMask wallet is an informed one! 

![meamask website screenshot](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_12_38_43_954e9aaaef.png)

At this stage, you will be asked to create a secure password. You should note that the service provider CANNOT recover this password for you, so scribble it down somewhere or memorise it thoroughly! The password serves as a means to unlock your wallet on that device. 

Create an eight-character password (minimum length) consisting of at least one lowercase and uppercase letter, metacharacters, and numbers. Re-enter your password, tick the I Understand that MetaMask Cannot Recover this Password for Me box, and click the Create a New Wallet option to continue. 

As you can see below, there are only two more steps left to complete. 

![create password screen](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_12_38_53_383676c673.png)

The Secure Wallet step is of utmost importance. We recommend watching the short video to understand the significance of your Secret Recovery Phrase and how you can do your bit to keep your MetaMask wallet safe. Essentially, the 12-word Secret Recovery Phrase is your master key to access your wallet and all its funds. 

For safekeeping, note down the Secret Recovery Phrase and store it in a safe deposit box. We recommend keeping multiple, concealed copies of the Secret Recovery Phrase to be on the safer side. Remember, DO NOT share your Secret Recovery Phrase with anyone. This includes family and friends. 

Click on the [Secure My Wallet](/news/article/crypto-wallet-multiple-currencies) (Recommended) option to continue. 

![metamask secure your wallet page](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_12_39_01_85d2ca294f.png)

Click on the Reveal Secret Recovery Phrase option and consider the above suggestions. Make sure no one is looking. 

![recovery phrase screen ui metamask](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_12_39_10_4cf88259dd.png)

Once you have noted your Secret Recovery Phrase, click the Next option to continue. 

At this stage, you will be asked to confirm your Secret Recovery Phrase. You need to fill in the blanks with the Secret Recovery Phrase words in the correct order. Upon confirmation, a message will appear on your screen affirming successful creation. 

![metamask wallet creation screen website ui](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_12_39_17_4f51f1c6f3.png)

To continue to the MetaMask homepage, click the Got It! button. First, we recommend pinning the MetaMask browser extension. This will make it easily accessible and transaction confirmation will be more straightforward. Click on the extensions icon to the right of the URL bar and pin the MetaMask plugin to your browser. 

You are now all set to go. Click on the plugin extension to commence proceedings! 

## How to use MetaMask wallet 

At this stage, you are connected to Ethereum Mainnet and can buy, send, swap, and bridge assets and NFTs. To change/add a network, click on the Ethereum Mainnet option and add the network of your choice. At the time of writing, ten options are available. 

![Account1 screen metamask wallet ui](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_05_04_at_12_39_32_3b54b9a66b.png)

These include Arbitrum One, Avalanche Network C-Chain, BNB Smart Chain, Fantom Opera, Optimism, and Polygon Mainnet. 

To unravel all possibilities, explore MetaMask in detail. It is worth adding that you can connect your wallet to a cold storage option such as Ledger or Trezor! If any queries arise, feel free to reach out to [MetaMask Support.](https://support.metamask.io/hc/en-us) 

What is MetaMask wallet? The top Ethereum wallet explored 

Cronos (CRO) is one of the most prominent cryptocurrencies on the market today. CRO is the utility token of Crypto.com, a leading cryptocurrency platform trusted by more than 80 million users globally. Is it possible for the CRO token to reach double digits by 2030? Can the cryptocurrency finally breach the $1 barrier in 2023? Our [CRO price prediction 2030](/news/article/cronos-crypto-price-prediction) follows, and much more! 

 ![navy image of crypto.com website](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_03_30_at_14_02_19_e57056d7d2.png)

## CRO price prediction 2030, historical data, and important basics 

Crypto.com Coin was [rebranded to Cronos](/news/article/crypto.com-under-investigation) in early February 2022. The move was made shortly after Binance rebranded its blockchain ecosystem, Binance Smart Chain (BSC), to BNB Chain, where BNB stands for Build and Build. Furthermore, Binance Coin, the blockchain network’s native token, was renamed BNB. 

This move did not immediately impact the price of the cryptocurrency, as CRO lost 3% of its value in the next 24 hours! Much like the rest of the industry in 2022, CRO endured a tough year, with the price of the crypto asset plummeting from over $0.48 on 5 April, 2022, to just over $0.05 on 31 December. 

Currently, CRO is trading at around $0.07. According to [Coingecko data](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/cronos), the digital asset has a market cap of nearly $1.83B, making it the 36th most popular cryptocurrency on the market today. The cryptocurrency has a circulating supply of over 25 billion and a total supply of more than 30 billion. 

 ![downtrend cryptocurrency graph](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_03_30_at_14_02_29_303c00eb9a.png)

Source: Coingecko (Cronos) 

The crypto asset's price reached an all-time high of $0.96 on 24 November, 2021 (oh, the good old times!) and an all-time low of $0.01 on 8 February, 2019. If we analyse these numbers practically, it is clear that it is near impossible (or rather difficult) for CRO to reach double digits anytime soon. 

With a potential supply of 30 billion on the market, if the cryptocurrency were worth $10, it would indicate that its market cap is $300B. That is an astronomical 164 times more than the cryptocurrency's current market cap, and nearly 1.5 times more than Ethereum's (ETH) present market cap! 

Considering the digital asset's many utilities, which we will dive into shortly, according to our CRO price prediction 2030, it is possible for the cryptocurrency to achieve a $75-100B market cap. 

This is taking into consideration [market research](https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cryptocurrency-market-158061641.html) which indicates that the crypto industry is growing at a CAGR of 7.1%, and many [other factors](/news/article/cronos-crypto-falls-flat-world-cup), some of which you will understand shortly. 

Therefore, the CRO price may reach $3+ by 2030. Of course, you MUST DYOR at all times. Our predictions at Moni Talks are not definitive. There are several factors that may impact the price of CRO in the short and long term. 

This brings us to an important topic of discussion. Cronos is more than just the utility token of the Crypto.com platform. Cronos is a full-fledged blockchain network powered by Ethermint. 

Ethermint allows for the prompt porting of smart contracts and decentralised applications (DApps) from Ethereum and EVM-compatible blockchains. As such, the CRO token is the blockchain network's base settlement currency and the native asset of Cronos' parallel ecosystem, the Crypto.org Chain. 

According to [DeFiLlama statistics](https://defillama.com/chain/Cronos), Cronos has a TVL of nearly $375M, with VVS Finance domination of over 50%. Some of the top dApps on the blockchain network include VVS Finance (of course), Tectonic, Ferro, MM Finance, Single Finance, Veno Finance, and Beefy. 

Before exploring the cryptocurrency's utilities, let us dive further into the Cronos blockchain network. 

What is the Cronos blockchain network? 

Built with the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol from day one, the Cronos blockchain facilitates bridging and interoperability to the Crypto.org Chain - an energy-efficient, open-source, and fully-decentralised, public blockchain with low fees and rapid speed. 

The network also allows for interoperability with other IBC chains, such as [Cosmos](/news/article/cosmos-crypto-explained) (ATOM), in a decentralised manner. Given the current theme of BUIDLing interoperable applications in decentralised finance (DeFi) and the quest to find solutions to connect existing architecture, Cronos serves an important purpose. 

The ecosystem is the first to interoperate with Ethereum and Cosmos, [supporting the metaverse, NFTs](/news/article/nft-crypto-com), and DeFi. 

Its primary goal is to scale the Web3 user community by equipping builders with the ability to immediately port cryptocurrencies and DApps from other blockchains with fast finality, high throughput, and low cost. 

Here is the true Cronos value proposition: 

- Fast finality of 5-6 seconds (or the same as the block time), high throughput supporting 50M+ transactions daily, and a low cost per transaction of >$1 indicates that the EVM is built for interoperability, as it claims. 

- As mentioned before, Cosmos is powered by Ethermint. Cosmos is highly scalable, greener, cheaper, and faster to execute smart contracts than most public blockchains. Compared to Proof of Work (PoW) blockchains, Cronos is 90% more energy efficient. 

- Cronos can ‘talk’ to other IBC chains. This means easy asset and service interchange and value transfer is possible without the scalability issues that affect many public blockchains today. 

- Easy deployment of DApps on the blockchain is possible with familiar tools. 

- Ready access to a suite of Crypto.com products that serve more than 80M consumers worldwide. 

It should be noted that since Cronos is built on the Cosmos SDK, it can enjoy the benefits of both the Ethereum and Cosmos ecosystems. Let us now explore the relationship between Cronos, Crypto.org Chain, and Crypto.com. 

Using the Cronos Decentralised Bridge, users can easily transfer the CRO asset from Cronos to Crypto.org Chain and vice versa. With time, a greater number of assets will be transferable. While Cronos is EVM-compatible, Crypto.org Chain targets Rust and Go developers with its CosmWasm smart contract framework. 

While Cronos, Crypto.org Chain, and Crypto.com are independent entities, Crypto.com actively supports the Cronos network through its resources. Crypto.com's suite of products, including the DeFi Wallet, Exchange, and App, supports Cronos at the time of writing, with asset bridging available to and fro. 

As mentioned before, in the grand scheme of things, each of the three entities shares a common link in the form of the CRO token. CRO is the native token of Crypto.org Chain, the base settlement currency of Cronos, and serves many utilities on the Crypto.com platform. Let us explore these utilities. 

## What are the utilities of CRO on the Crypto.com platform? 

There are several benefits of locking up CRO on the Crypto.com exchange and app. For starters, as you may have guessed already, if you lock up CRO on the exchange and pay with the cryptocurrency, you can enjoy discounted trading fees. 

The cryptocurrency is currently available for purchase on 23 exchanges, including Crypto.com (quite naturally), KuCoin, Gate.io, Bittrex, and Huobi Global. Several crypto wallets support the digital asset, such as Ledger, Trezor, Atomic Wallet, MyEtherWallet, Trust Wallet, and MetaMask. 

Let us explore the benefits of locking up CRO on the exchange: 

- You will receive a CRO rebate when you pay trading fees with the crypto asset. Visit this [page](https://help.crypto.com/en/articles/5313061-cronos-cro) for detailed insights into the Maker Discount Rate and Taker Rate for various amounts of the cryptocurrency locked up on the Exchange. 

- For a minimum of 50,000 CRO locked up, you will receive a daily interest APR of 4%, which goes up to 8% for a minimum of 500,000 of the cryptocurrency locked up. 

- You will receive access to The Syndicate if you lock up a minimum of 5,000 CRO. 

- For every friend you refer to the exchange, you can receive up to $2,000 in CRO and a whopping 50% of their trading fees. Terms and conditions apply for the same. 

#### Here are the benefits of locking up the cryptocurrency on the app: 

- You can reserve a premium metal Crypto.com crypto card in multiple colours and tiers. These cards come with many benefits, such as 5% cash back on each transaction, numerous CRO staking rewards depending on your tier, and exclusive private benefits and rewards for certain tiers that have staked CRO. 

- With the [Crypto.com Visa card](/news/article/best-crypto-card-uk), enjoy purchase rebates on Amazon Prime, Airbnb, Expedia, Spotify, and Netflix purchases. Rebates are dependent on your card tier, and you are only eligible for this reward scheme if you have a locked CRO. 

- By sending CRO to friends, mobile airtime, or purchasing gift cards, all via the app, you can receive cashback in CRO, termed as Pay Rewards. You are also eligible for Pay Rewards if you use the Pay Checkout facility via the app and use CRO as the currency for payment. 

To learn more about the amount of CRO you must lock to enjoy certain benefits, details about card tiers, and any other questions you may have, [visit the website](https://crypto.com/). 



green image of Cronos crypto CRO coin in front of stock market graph

CRO Price Prediction for 2030

The Angry Cats NFT collection is one of the most popular around. The [NFT collection](/news/article/nft-market-2023) comprises a set of 10,000 different cats that represent a cultural identity. The NFTs were launched on Ethereum (ETH) in September 2022 and are part of the profile picture (PFP) category. 

We analysed purchase records of the NFTs and determined that its total trading volume and the number of sales have been exceptional lately. 

 ![angry cats nft homepage](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_03_30_at_11_39_35_a80aa596a9.png)


## What is an Angry Cat? 

An [Angry Cat](https://angrycat.io/home) understands the basic emotion of anger that every human has likely experienced in their lifetime. Angry Cats not only understand this emotion but identify with it and accompany their human companions on their respective journeys, helping them conquer their anger and realise the fruits of their struggle. 

 ![kitties land nft website page](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_03_30_at_11_39_43_0dfc783b6f.png)

Your Angry Cat will stick with you through thick or thin. It will help you fight this emotion and cross all the hurdles life places on your path to success. As the website mentions, "Together with the fighters, we break the rules, meow or never"! Quite catchy. 

Built on ERC-721W technology, the implementation complies with IERC721 technology. Bluechip NFT holders will thus receive signature-free whitelisted secure mint solutions in the case of a new launch. Another interesting feature is Build Home, which we will explore later. 

First, let us understand the basics of the NFT collection. 

## Angry Cat basics and analytics 

As mentioned earlier, there are 10,000 Angry Cats NFTs. According to [OpenSea statistics](https://opensea.io/collection/angrycat-official/analytics), the total trading volume at the time of writing is 1,722 ETH, with a floor price of 0.0648 ETH. Currently, 245 NFTs are listed on OpenSea, or around 2% of the total supply, with 17% unique owners of the circulating collection. 

 ![angry cats nfts on opensea website](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_03_30_at_11_39_49_678132227a.png)

The creators of the NFTs receive 7.5% of earnings. [To purchase an Angry Cat](/news/article/guide-to-minting-nfts-opensea), hover your mouse icon over the PFP art of your fancy, and click on Add to Cart. Click on the cart icon and complete the purchase. You can complete the payment via crypto or credit/debit card. 

Once the payment is complete, you can send the NFT to any Ethereum-compatible wallet. MetaMask is one of the best options available for the same. 

When purchasing an NFT, it is important [to analyse](/news/article/nft-tax-uk-rules-explored) the short and long-term potential of the collection as a whole and to identify the NFTs with special features that may make them more valuable than others in the future. Angry Cats, for example, has a vibrant community on Discord and more than 60k followers on Twitter! 

 
![angry cat tweet](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_03_30_at_11_39_57_4f7688a589.png)

Source: Twitter (@angrycat_nft) 

Talking of Twitter, the collection's recent partnership announcement with Conflux Network made waves. It was one of the Twitter handle's most-viewed tweets of all time. You should gauge the potential of such partnerships, for example, when making an investment decision. 

This partnership announcement was one of the primary reasons why the total trading volume of the NFT collection rose nearly 500% between 13 February and 13 March, 2023 (the partnership was announced on 23 February). Total sales increased by over 700% in the same period! 

Currently, E16A30 holds the most Angry Cats, with 299 NFTs to this name, or in other words, 2.99% of the total supply. Four other collectors hold three-digit figures from the digital art collection. Another feature of interest is the collection’s Build Home facility. What is it exactly? 

## Angry Cats: Build Home feature 

The Meow Castle program (as the Build Home feature is called) launched on 10 December, 2022. To access the feature, you must first connect the wallet in which your NFT is present. You can now stake your digital collectible to receive staking rewards in the form of W, an ERC-1155 token. 

The staking velocity steadily increases with the number of days you stake your NFT for. For one to three days, for example, you will receive 0.02 W per day. This number increases to 0.1 W per day if you stake for 19 days or more. 

Rare elements will receive a bonus of up to 18% per day. Bonus traits include Copper Badge, Gold Badge, Patch, Paint, Panda, Cold Machina, Royal Machina, Rainbow Coral, Topless, and a couple of Eye features. The deflation rate of W is 10% every couple of months. 

The token can be traded on [secondary markets such as OpenSea](/news/article/opensea-nft-lays-off-employees). Additionally, W holders receive perks such as Angry Cats-related addresses and domains in the future, the opportunity to participate in derivative projects, free use of the paid features of projects it is in a partnership with, etc. 

It should be noted that W holders will receive an additional staking income of 30-50%, based on the royalty of other projects obtained through Angry Cats’ investment banking business model (exit, market making, issuance). As always, you must DYOR and ask all the right questions before making an investment decision. 

While an Angry Cats NFT is [relatively cheap](/news/article/bored-bunny-nft-price) at the moment, you must ask yourself whether it is worth purchasing one or more. 



pink image of cats  and angrycats NFT paw in front of nft sign

Angry Cats NFT Collection: Should You Buy?

Mercy Corps is a global group of humanitarians working towards creating a better future for all by tackling the biggest crises of today. The mission is to reduce oppression, poverty, and suffering by helping people build just, productive, and secure communities. 

You can help Mercy Corps on its [noble mission](/news/article/impact-of-cryptocurrency-on-society) by donating crypto. Here's how. 

## What is Mercy Corps? 

[Mercy Corps](https://www.mercycorps.org/how-to-help/give-cryptocurrency) is a global collective of more than 5,900 members working towards a common cause - creating a future where EVERYONE can prosper. In 2022 alone, the humanitarian organisation reached 38M people across more than 40 countries. 

Mercy Corps’ Water, Sanitisation, and Hygiene (WASH) team, for example, supports 7,400 people in Iraq with sanitisation services and clean water at the Debaga displacement camp. 

The organisation is committed to bringing about change on a global scale through local impact - 84% of the organisational task force belongs to countries where they work. Mercy Corps tries to find unique solutions to the most pressing problems in the quest to serve the people best. 

The humanitarian group goes beyond emergency aid and partners with social entrepreneurs, local governments, forward-thinking corporations, and individuals living in fragile communities to create brazen solutions that have a lasting impact. 

This [short video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rJ2zhfyRAA) is a fascinating insight into the organisation's work. Ably led by Tjada D'Oyen McKenna and a team of executives, a Board of Directors, and leadership councils, the group is tackling the world's toughest problems, one day at a time. 

You can explore careers at Mercy Corps if you are driven to make a real difference. Of course, there are other ways you can help as well. Here is how you can make a crypto donation. 

## Donate crypto and make an impact 

Mercy Corps can put in the hard yards and make a difference in millions of lives annually through the money it receives as a donation. The organisation has an active community of monthly supporters. Today, its monthly giving 'Partner in Possibility' program has more than 16,000 changemakers. 

Here is how a small donation can make a big impact: 

- A $10 donation/month can feed 60 primary school students yearly. 

- A $30 monthly donation can train 144 farmers to grow healthier and more nutritious crops every year. 

- A $50 donation can provide hygiene items, water, and food to eight refugee families annually. 

Your monthly gifts ensure genuine, life-changing assistance. According to Linda, a monthly giver from Texas, "You can be assured that you are making a big difference worldwide. You would be working with a charity that is always 'boots on the ground' and is there to offer real life-changing assistance, no matter what." 

You can make a one-time donation as well. The Mercy Corps team works in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, so feel free to volunteer for an initiative if you have the time to spare! To [donate](/news/article/sustainable-impact-investing) crypto, visit the "[donate bitcoin](https://thegivingblock.com/donate/mercy-corps/)" page and click the Donate Now button. 

 ![mercy corps website screenshot with form to fill in to "donate now"](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_03_30_at_09_53_32_d4806ebd15.png)


Take note of the Tax ID present near this button. All crypto donations are exempt from taxes. If you donate cryptocurrency to a charitable/humanitarian organisation described in Internal Revenue Code Section 170(c), no loss, gain, or income will be recognised from the donation! 

At the time of writing, you can donate Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and USD Coin (USDC). 

 ![make a donation screenshot of mercy corps website](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_03_30_at_09_53_41_1ad35276ae.png)


Simply choose the crypto you want to donate, enter the amount, and click Next. You can also donate stocks and [make a card payment](/news/article/crypto-app-mastercard-nft). The minimum donation amount is $45 (once, monthly, or annually), and the maximum is $5,000. 

Remember, if you opt for monthly or annual giving, you can opt-out anytime. Do not feel compelled to continue donating if you do not have the means or will to at any point in the future. 



yellow image of charity making donations with mercy corps logo in the centre

Mercy Corps: Donate Crypto to Make a Difference

[Marathon Digital Holdings](https://marathondh.com/) (MDH) aims to ease economic freedom, financial inclusion, and greater transparency by improving the security and development of the world's first and largest public blockchain ledger, Bitcoin (BTC), a block at a time. 

The organisation believes in a more fair, inclusive, and open financial system—Bitcoin is crucial to making it happen. MDH is committed to supporting the Bitcoin ecosystem by building sustainable, agile, and large, [green Bitcoin mining ](/news/article/norway-bitcoin-mining)systems in North America. 

## Sustainable BTC mining powered by Marathon Digital 

MDH is in the process of building one of the largest green BTC mining systems in North America. The organisation aims to achieve its goal of [sustainable, green BTC mining](/news/article/sustainable-mining) by focusing on increasing computing power (or hashrate) rather than building and operating data centres. 

The business intends to stay lean and green while becoming more energy efficient. A key component of its strategy is to co-locate operations at feasible, sustainable energy sites. This ensures that its power source is sustainable and reduces the stress placed on traditional electrical grid infrastructure. 

In a nutshell, the company deploys more robust BTC miners to increase hashrate and hence, the possibility of earning more Bitcoin. By employing sustainable energy sources, leveraging its scale, and remaining agile, MDH can negotiate favourable contracts, swiftly adapt to altering circumstances, and ‘de-risk’. 

This enables the business to better cope with the impacts of potential declines in the price of Bitcoin. 

## Marathon Digital: the latest financial news 

The current value of the Marathon Digital Holding Inc. stock, MARA, is $5.33, with a market valuation of nearly $622.8M. It should be noted that one year ago, MARA was trading above $30 (30 March, 2022)! 

 ![marathon digital holdings stock graph screenshot](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Marathon_2023_03_30_at_09_15_01_f9736160b9.png)


According to the latest financial result filed by Marathon Digital (Q3 2022), the organisation recorded a net loss of $75.4M in Q3 2022. Therefore, the latest news governing Marathon Digital's prepayment of its whole-term loan should be music to the ears of investors. 

In early February 2023, the organisation gave Silvergate Bank the necessary 30-day notice, indicating its intent to repay and terminate the term loan facility. The prepayment was completed on 8 March, 2023, and the organisation's facilities with Silvergate Bank were ended (talk about timing!). 

This resulted in an enormous debt reduction of $50M and an increase in unrestricted BTC holdings by 3,132 tokens - the BTC held as collateral by a third-party custodian as part of the term loan deal was returned to Marathon Digital. 

To put this into perspective, this move alone has resulted in the company reducing its leverage by $50M, freeing up more than $70M in BTC at the time of writing, and reducing facility fees and annual cash interest costs by around $5M. Other interesting statistics include: 

- The company’s mining facilities produced 683 Bitcoin in February 2023. 

- MDH enhanced the BTC hash rate by 30% compared to January 2023 by energising nearly 19,000 miners. 

- Figures related to unrestricted cash and BTC holdings are subject to change following the latest term loan deal. But if we are talking about figures in February exclusively, the company has unrestricted cash holdings of $219.7M and unrestricted BTC holdings of 8,260 tokens. 

With a push for sustainable, [green mining measures](/news/article/new-york-crypto-mining) the need of the hour, leaders like Marathon Digital is making more than a splash. Follow the latest updates from MDH by signing up for email alerts. 



green image of marathon  digital holdings logo

Marathon Digital: Sustainable Bitcoin Mining

Terraform Labs CEO and co-founder Do Kwon [has been arrested in Montenegro](/news/article/do-kwon-hiding-in-serbia). He oversaw the multi-billion dollar collapse of the TerraUSD-LUNA ecosystem and has been [charged with fraud](/news/article/terraform-labs-accused-of-fraud-by-sec) by US prosecutors.

## Do Kwon arrested: Series of events

In early 2023, Do Kwon and Terraform Labs [were accused of](/news/article/do-kwon-red-notice) "orchestrating a multi-billion dollar crypto asset securities fraud", with eight charges announced against him by US prosecutors.

He was arrested on 23 March in Montenegro, travelling under a false name and in possession of fake documents. South Korean authorities released a separate arrest warrant for him in September 2022. They were at the scene to confirm his identity through official fingerprint records.

## Do Kwon arrested: Why did the TerraUSD-LUNA ecosystem collapse?

The Terra ecosystem was created in 2018 by Terraform Labs and is largely known for its decentralised algorithmic stablecoin, TerraUSD (UST), and reserve asset cryptocurrency, Luna (LUNA). The (now defunct) algorithmic stablecoin system is simple to understand:

•	1 UST = $1 LUNA.

•	If UST<$1, burn UST and mint LUNA. Burning will raise UST's price.

•	If UST>$1, burn LUNA and mint UST. Minting will decrease UST's price.

What [made this system a Ponzi scheme](/news/article/terra-luna-collapse) was the unsustainable interest rate of nearly 20% offered upon staking UST on the Anchor Protocol.

## The system was built to fail.

Upon shifting from a fixed interest model to a dynamic one, UST began its downfall on 7 May, 2022, when a UST whale sold an enormous amount of the stablecoin.

To compensate for the de-pegging of UST, mass burning of the stablecoin began, leading to a surplus of LUNA on the open market. Both cryptocurrencies collapsed and more than $40B in UST-LUNA market value was wiped out. Even a $3.5B Bitcoin reserve fund failed to control the downslide of the value of both crypto tokens.

In a nutshell, the model was based on minting an endless supply of LUNA to maintain UST at $1 and keep investors happy with an unsustainable interest rate model.

It should be noted that Do Kwon and the algorithmic stablecoin system were called out by a renowned economist Frances Coppola well before all this unravelled. Do Kwon mocked her publicly.

![dokwon.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/dokwon_f0af2d76e8.png)
 
Source: [Twitter (@stablekwon)](https://twitter.com/stablekwon/status/1410491186196795398?s=20)

I hope that [Do Kwon’s arrest is one step](/news/article/do-kwon-terra) towards a safer and better crypto space for all.


do kwon beind bars in montenegro with red filter

Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon Arrested

Chainlink is a [decentralised network of oracles](/news/article/chainlink-news) that allows smart contracts to interact safely with real-world services and data beyond the realms of blockchain technology. But can LINK, its native currency, reach a value of $10,000?

![link1.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/link1_9a7f58580e.png)
 
Put simply, Chainlink enables current, traditional, and modern economies to securely, efficiently, and transparently connect to the emerging blockchain space in social and business processes.
Can Chainlink reach $10,000 by 2030? Will LINK have a solid 2023?

## What is Chainlink?

The crypto and blockchain space is ever-growing. [Research suggests](https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/blockchain-technology-market) that the global blockchain technology market size will reach $1431.54B by 2030, at a CAGR of nearly 88% between 2023-2030. To put it into perspective, the industry was valued at $10.02B in 2022!
 
Currently, the largest chunk of the global blockchain technology market is dominated by financial services, with government, healthcare, media and entertainment, retail, transport and logistics, and travel commanding significant traction.

Chainlink has established itself as a key constituent of numerous blockchain applications. The Web3 services platform is poised to grow further as more players enter the industry. What is Chainlink exactly, and why should you know about it? Here is what makes the blockchain platform stand out.

## What makes Chainlink stand out?

As blockchain enthusiasts, we all know the primary purpose of blockchain technology is to eliminate the middleman through decentralised architecture and enjoy the benefits of reliable and secure data computation and storage systems.

Blockchain technology, however, is much more than the simple moving and recording of funds on a decentralised ledger.

Some high-level programmable blockchains allow for the execution of commands that are more expressive in nature through applications built on the chain that execute actions based on predefined, consequential events.

An example of such a command set is: if Pizza Delivery X is not delivered within 30 minutes, issue a Refund of Y to Customer Z.

These blockchain applications are called 'smart contracts' and have been the subject of major blockchain development since Ethereum (ETH) introduced them on an enormous scale in 2015.

Now, the problem is that much of the data required by [smart contracts to execute commands](/news/article/smart-contracts-blockchain) is not readily available on the blockchain. Blockchain technology does not allow for external data fetching either, as there is no ability built-in permitting smart contracts to connect with the external world.

Hence, real-world datasets such as enterprise systems, web data, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, sports scores, and asset prices (and pizza delivery details!) are simply unavailable on decentralised ledgers. This deficiency severely impacts smart contract development.

However, there is a silver lining. This is where Chainlink comes into the picture (big time!). A software constituent called an 'oracle' can provide this data to the blockchain. The oracle mechanism, however, must possess the same reliability and security properties of the blockchain to avoid counterparty risk.

A single centralised oracle is a single point of failure - if the oracle fails to deliver accurate results or results at all, the entire smart contract is at risk.

Chainlink, with its decentralised oracle network, comes to the rescue. The Web3 services platform was built to allow smart contracts to automatically transfer data between blockchains and external systems securely and reliably.

A decentralised network of oracles gathers data from numerous sources, aggregates it, and delivers a validated, solitary data point to a smart contract, enabling the contract to execute a set of commands accurately. This eliminates the possibility of a single point of failure.

Furthermore, Chainlink provides several layers of security that extend the boundaries of decentralisation, thereby ensuring that users can trust the platform. [These features include](/news/article/chainlink-staking-to-boost-oracle-security):

•	Generalised architecture.

•	Data signing.

•	High-quality data.

•	Blockchain agnostic.

•	Service-level agreements.

•	Reputation systems.

•	Oracle and data privacy.

•	Advanced oracle computations.

You can think of a Chainlink oracle as a composable piece of architecture. In today’s blockchain sphere, interoperability is the need of the hour. Along with being blockchain agnostic, Chainlink oracles ensure a high level of composability. Here is what Stani Kulechov, CEO of Aave, had to say about the same:

“Part of composability is that you don’t have to build everything by yourself. Chainlink’s oracle is very good, and it’s part of this whole composability idea, it’s vital.”

High words of praise indeed. To put it into perspective, the company itself has outlined a massive [77 smart contract use cases](https://blog.chain.link/smart-contract-use-cases/) it enables, the primary ones being decentralised finance (DeFi), insurance, gaming, and traditional systems.

If it has not been made evident yet, technologies like Chainlink will play a massive role in shaping what the projected $1T+ global blockchain technology market is meant to be in years to come. 

That said, what role does LINK, the blockchain’s native cryptocurrency, have to play in the grand scheme of things?

## Can Chainlink reach $10,000 in 2023?

### LINK price prediction: basics of the cryptocurrency

LINK is an ERC-677 token (an extension of ERC-20), and it plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. The ecosystem is supported by many smart contract developers, security auditors, node operators, and data providers. Anyone can become a node operator on Chainlink.

LINK compensates these node operators for retrieving data from external data sources, converting it into a blockchain-readable format, off-chain data computation, and uptime guarantees. LINK first caught the public eye when it stormed to $52.7 in May 2021.

Of course, several keen investors had their eyes on the token long before that. According to [Coingecko data](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/chainlink), at the time of writing, the cryptocurrency's price is $8. The market cap of the crypto token is just over $3.93B, with a 24-hour trading volume of nearly $720M.

The crypto asset has a total supply of 1B tokens and a circulating supply of over 491M tokens. As mentioned, LINK reached an all-time high of 52.7 on 10 May, 2021, and an all-time low of $0.149 on 29 November, 2017. Let us see how the cryptocurrency has fared in the past 12 months.

![link.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/link_3a6a1a8187.png)
 
Source: [Coingecko](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/chainlink)

If we look at the above chart, 2022 was quite a rocky year for the digital asset (the same holds true for the entire industry!). After reaching the summit of $18.08 on 4 April, the cryptocurrency slumped to $6.58 on 13 May. That said, LINK has had a great start to 2023.

The crypto asset started the year at $5.57, and at the time of writing, it is at its highest yet (this year, of course), at $8.

## LINK price prediction 2023

It is near impossible to predict the price LINK could reach in 2023. That said, the signs are positive and the market is showing signs of recovery after a horrid end to 2022 [following the SBF saga](/news/article/sam-bankman-fried-bail-co-signers-revealed).

LINK has already crossed the $8 barrier. With the [Ethereum Shanghai Hard Fork](/news/article/ethereum-shanghai-upgrade) around the corner, we could see a push toward $10 very soon. Will LINK match its all-time high levels in 2023? Unlikely. But we may see LINK push towards $20, as it did in April 2022.

Anything is possible, and if macroeconomic conditions ease up and we head into a bull market (never say never), the sky's the limit. We advise you to trade wisely and follow market updates on a daily basis before making a long-term investment decision.

## Can Chainlink reach $10,000?

Okay, let us do the maths. At LINK's current supply of 491M tokens, for each token to be valued at $10,000 would mean that the cryptocurrency's market cap is a crazy $491B!
Impossible? No.

Likely? Probably not.

To put it into perspective, the world's most valuable crypto asset, Bitcoin (BTC), has a market cap of just over $460B at the time of writing. LINK is ranked 23rd on the list of crypto assets with the highest market cap.

LINK is more likely to hit the three-digit mark in the future than the five or even four-digit mark. Historically speaking, LINK seems to be a sound investment, as it does not abide by usual altcoin movements, meaning it is relatively less volatile than other cryptocurrencies. That said, DYOR at all times, and hope for the best.


Can Chainlink Reach $10,000?

[ShadowSwap](https://shadowswap.xyz/) decentralised exchange (DEX), a protocol built on Core Blockchain, has announced the launch of an Initial Farm Offering (IFO) model to maximise community engagement and strengthen the Core ecosystem.

The IFO model features the iSHDW initiative, thereby permitting users to commit the DEX ecosystem’s native token, SHDW, to take part in upcoming IFOs on the ShadowPad launchpad.

## What is the ShadowSwap IFO model and how does it work?

The ShadowSwap IFO model promotes the stability of SHDW through the iSHDW mechanism and provides pre-launch support (in the form of IFOs) to projects launching on Core via the ShadowPad.

The iSHDW mechanism is relatively easy to understand. iSHDW works in the form of credits. For example, 1,000 iSHDW enables you to commit 1,000 SHDW in upcoming IFOs on ShadowPad.

It should be noted that iSHDW is not a new token. Rather it is a mechanism to determine the maximum amount of SHDW a user can commit to the IFO system. You can obtain iSHDW by [staking SHDW in Shadow Pools](/news/article/best-crypto-staking-platform). The longer the staking duration, the more iSHDW will be allocated to you.

The lock duration threshold is set for six weeks. This basically means that you will not receive the full iSHDW allocation if you stake SHDW for a period below six weeks. You will receive the full allocation if you stake the cryptocurrency for a lock period meeting or surpassing the threshold.

This, of course, will come with the [passive income you earn](/news/article/metamining-earning-passive-income-from-bitcoin) through staking in Shadow Pools. This move will improve the stability of SHDW, as users will stake the crypto token to receive maximum iSHDW allocation and participate in IFOs. ShadowSwap has also launched token vesting.

According to a [tweet](https://twitter.com/Shadowswap_xyz/status/1636997687185637376?s=20) published by the DEX on 18 March, the token vesting feature "gradually releases tokens, boosting IFO allocation for users and avoiding supply shocks on project launching as we have seen across all IFOs/IDOs done on Core".

These moves will lead to healthier project launches on Core and encourage solid community building and engagement. It is likely that large IFO raises will take place, encouraging developers to build on Core and launch via the ShadowPad.
 
![shadowswap.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/shadowswap_50f9a526e7.png)

Source: [Twitter (arewa_crypto)](https://twitter.com/arewa_crypto/status/1637002146657845250?s=20)

Overall, the move seems to be a solid one, with ShadowSwap promising a Twitter user that a "special Q&A" session will be conducted for further details into the IFO model.


pink image of shadowswap icon and pile of NFTs

ShadowSwap Launches IFO Model to Enhance Core 

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, is set to suspend British pound sterling deposits and withdrawals for all users by 22 May, 2023. Binance GBP deposits and withdrawals for new users were halted on 13 March, 2023.

## What led to the Binance GBP suspension decision?

According to a Binance spokesperson, Paysafe, [the cryptocurrency exchange’s fiat partner](/news/article/kraken-crypto-exchange-plans-bank-launch) for GBP deposit and withdrawal services via debit/credit card and bank transfers, "will no longer be able to provide these services from 22 May, 2023".

As of Monday, these services have been suspended for new users.

That means new Binance users [CANNOT deposit and withdraw](/news/article/binance-suffers-1bn-outflows) in the fiat currency. How soon Binance will tie up with a new fiat partner for GBP deposit and withdrawal services is yet to be seen.

Given that there are still a couple of months until the suspension kicks in, it is likely that the centralised exchange (CEX) will announce a new partner by then. At the time of writing, Binance is exploring alternatives and insists that fewer than 1% of its user base will be [affected by this decision](/news/article/binance-linked-to-bitzlato).

It is worth noting that all “other methods of depositing and withdrawing other fiat currencies as well as buying and selling crypto” [on the cryptocurrency exchange](/news/article/bestchange-find-the-best-crypto-rates) remain “unaffected”.

That means existing users from the UK can avail themselves of GBP and all other fiat currency options until 22 May. If the crypto exchange does not find a solution to this dilemma, UK users will have to resort to other fiat currency options post-suspension.

If a Binance UK user wishes to convert their US dollar (USD), for example, to GBP, they can use services such as XE.com.
 
![binance.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/binance_f54589d340.png)

Source: [XE.com](https://www.xe.com/)

XE.com is an international money transfer service that is simple to use. With real-time exchange rates, low fees, and quick transfers to over 170 countries in more than 100 fiat currency options, you can trust the [service to convert any fiat currency](/news/article/dai-to-gbp) you withdraw on Binance to GBP.

To utilise the service, create an account with your email address, enter the recipient’s bank details, address, and payment information, double-check the entered details, obtain the expected delivery date, and send your money transfer! Of course, solutions like XE.com are a last resort.

The popular crypto exchange should be able to sort out the GBP situation soon.


red image of binance trading app and bitcoins on a table

Binance GBP Deposits and Withdrawals Suspended

A crypto firm backed by US rapper Jayceon Terrell Taylor, also known as "The Game", had its licence revoked by the US Securities and Exchange Commission [for violating securities laws](/news/article/sec-probe-paxos-over-busd) after falling short of submitting the necessary periodic reports.

The crypto startup, called ParagonCoin Limited, leverages blockchain technology for the legal cannabis sector and was founded in 2017 by Jessica VerSteeg.

## Why was ParagonCoin Limited’s registration revoked?

According to a class-action suit against ParagonCoin Limited in January 2018, the cryptocurrency startup [allegedly violated securities laws](/news/article/crypto-exchange-kraken-faces-sec-probe) in the initial coin offering (ICO) it held back in 2017, raising $70M.

The cannabis crypto firm promoted its native token 'PRG' as a currency for the legal cannabis industry and hired American rapper The Game to promote its offering. 

However, it failed to register its token sale with the SEC.
As such, a civil penalty was imposed on the cryptocurrency startup, requiring it to pay a fine of $250,000, register its token PRG as a security, and file periodic reports with the SEC.

The SEC was prompted to commence legal proceedings against the firm in February 2022, as it violated the [terms of its settlement with the SEC](/news/article/paul-pierce-settles-with-sec). ParagonCoin Limited failed to file a report since March 2019, in which the company stated that it lost more than $10M in 2018.

According to the SEC, the cannabis cryptocurrency startup ignored a delinquency letter sent to it by the SEC.
Additionally, [the SEC pointed out](/news/article/sec-crypto-enforcement-warning) that ParagonCoin Limited did not reply to its order commencing proceedings in February 2022, nor did it respond five months later to offer reasons why it should not be found guilty as things stand.

This is not the first mess The Game and the startup have found themselves in. However, this could be the last for ParagonCoin Limited. Back in 2021, both the rapper and the cryptocurrency startup's executives were found to be liable for more than $12M in a class-action lawsuit. You can read more here.

It is yet to be seen what steps ParagonCoin Limited will take to salvage the situation. Rapper The Game, meanwhile, continues to thrive in the Web3 space, with numerous partnerships in place, including as co-founder of the popular Web3 live-streaming platform, Shiller.


red image of rapper "the Game" and Paragon coin logo

Rapper The Game's Crypto Firm Licence Revoked

In a recent [podcast episode](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2iBhhDShX30sfdKOiU2agw) of The Scoop, The Block's Frank Chaparro and Kraken Chief Legal Officer Marco Santori discussed the crypto exchange's plan to launch a bank.

Kraken's ultimate goal is to support other crypto companies finding it difficult to establish a relationship with banks.

## US banks hesitant to accept crypto firms as new clients

Given increased crypto regulatory actions in the US, banks are hesitant about taking on cryptocurrency firms as new clients. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), led by Chair Gary Gensler, believes that most crypto assets offered by cryptocurrency companies are securities, thereby [subject to regulation.](/news/article/sec-probe-giving-advice-for-crypto-trading)

Following the unceremonious decline of major industry [players such as FTX](/news/article/ftx-funds-political-donations-to-be-recovered) and BlockFi, the SEC has put the US-based segment of the industry under the microscope. Following a [reported SEC probe of the Kraken](/news/article/crypto-exchange-kraken-faces-sec-probe) crypto exchange over unregistered securities, the cryptocurrency trading platform agreed to pay a $30M fine.

This resulted in the Kraken [suspending its staking operations](/news/article/crypto-tumbles-as-kraken-suspends-staking) with retail investors. This decision by the SEC did not go well with the community, investors, and even politicians.

That said, there is a silver lining for Kraken, and it is in the form of a [recent incident involving Silvergate](/news/article/silvergate-bank-crisis-sees-crypto-tank). In early March 2023, Silvergate 'missed' the deadline for 10K filings. This led the SEC to warn the bank about its capacity to carry on as a "going concern".

As a result, Ledger, Circle, Paxos Trust Company, Coinbase, and several other high-end industry clients publicly cut ties with the cryptocurrency bank. This led Kraken crypto exchange to decide to launch its own bank and support cryptocurrency firms.
 
Scrolling to the bottom of Kraken's [website](https://www.kraken.com/bank), you will see the Kraken Bank option. The facility has yet to be launched, but you can sign up for updates by filling out a short form.

According to the website, Kraken is "planning a phased launch in 2022". This may be a typing error, or the webpage needs to be updated with the latest content. It should be noted that the trading platform is the first cryptocurrency firm to be handed a US state banking charter.

Operating as an independent affiliate of the Kraken network of products, the “[Bitcoin bank](/news/article/crypto-banks-access)" will be based out of Wyoming, with a forward-facing regulatory framework. Good news may follow later this year.


Kraken Crypto Exchange Plans Bank Launch 

Flare Token (1FLR) is the native cryptocurrency of [Flare Network](https://flare.network/), a robust EVM-based Layer 1 (L1) blockchain that has two protocols: Flare Time Series Oracle (FTSO) and State Connector. These protocols enable developers to create an ecosystem of powerful, decentralised interoperability applications. Read on to unearth our FLR price prediction for 2023.

![flare.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/flare_7033b6507d.png)
 
The Flare motto is "#ConnectEverything", and with an ever-increasing stance towards interoperability and composability in the crypto sphere, Flare is a blockchain of great potential. Naturally, the FLR price will be affected by all the attention the ecosystem is receiving.

## 1FLR price prediction: basics of the crypto token

According to [Coingecko data](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/flare-token), the FLR price is nearly $0.03634 at the time of writing. The crypto asset has a circulating, total, and maximum supply of 4B (4,000,000,000) tokens.

With a market cap of just over $2.25M, it is safe to say that Flare is currently in the nascent stage of adoption - the best is yet to come (please DYOR before investing).

The FLR price achieved an all-time high of around $0.0026 on 23 October, 2021. The most popular decentralised crypto exchanges to purchase and trade 1FLR are Quickswap and SushiSwap. With a 24-hour trading volume of just $1,091, we can assume that trading of the crypto token is not ‘hot’ at the moment.

That said, the cryptocurrency is a fascinating long-term investment option. There are factors to consider when making a 'significant' purchase decision. Here is what makes 1FLR stand out.

## What makes Flare special?

1FLR powers the [Flare ecosystem of decentralised applications](/news/article/flare-network-explained) (DApps). As mentioned before, the core protocols of the blockchain, FTSO and State Connector, play a pivotal role in enabling developers to create DApps.

FTSO is an oracle network that delivers trusty, decentralised data to DApps on Flare. State Connector allows for reliable, decentralised data procurement from external blockchain ecosystems and the internet.

By using Flare’s pricing and interoperability protocols coupled with scalable EVM-based smart contracts, developers can build with more data to serve numerous ecosystems, thereby expanding the reach and value of their products.

Developers can build their own bridges, securely relay data, utilise state from any connected blockchain ecosystem, and take advantage of decentralised price and data and scalable EVM smart contracts.

These smart contracts make use of a low-carbon consensus algorithm. Furthermore, Flare offers an enterprising grants system for promising teams.

The Flare Ecosystem Support Program gives financial and resource support to projects and entities within the blockchain ecosystem. Grants are awarded in 1FLR and Songbird (SGB) quarterly in the quest to accelerate the growth of the network.

These grants are awarded after a stringent internal application and evaluation procedure. Additionally, developers are free to attend Developer Q&A sessions every week on Wednesday at 15:00 UTC. These sessions are a must for project advice and feedback and Flare-focused engineering questions.

In our humble opinion, Flare is an ecosystem of much promise, and the 1FLR [price could skyrocket](/news/article/ethereum-pow-price-prediction) soon. Please visit the website, join the community on Telegram and Discord, and explore all socials and documents before making an investment decision.

On a final note, do study the project's Twitter. Several fascinating developments are under way and all signs point towards an investment gem.


FLR Price Prediction 2023: Is $1 Possible?

DeFi Llama is a premier decentralised finance (DeFi) [analytics dashboard](/news/article/compass-nft) that primarily tracks the total valued locked (TVL) of blockchains and their decentralised applications (DApps).

In this guide, we have summarised each of the platform's offerings.
 
## Why should I use DeFi Llama?

If you look at the above image, you will see that the platform offers a variety of dashboards to track decentralised finance data (left-hand side of your screen). 

This includes Yields, Liquidations, Volumes, Fees/Revenue, Raises, Hacks, and more. Simply click on a category of your choice to view and analyse relevant data.

With the [help of available dashboards](https://defillama.com/), you can keep track of the entire decentralised finance sphere and conduct in-depth research into all major blockchains and DApps.
What makes this data even more interesting is that it allows you to visualise the [growth of the sector](/news/article/how-can-features-of-blockchain-support-sustainability-efforts) over time and see how major blockchains and DApps have developed.

While the available information may seem like an overload to new users, it is a fantastic opportunity to gain insights into potential gems if you figure out where to look, among other possibilities (please DYOR!).
 
For example, if we look at the above chain-by-chain breakup of the crypto sphere, we see that Ethereum (ETH) dominates the space, with a TVL of over $30B. Ethereum boasts 670 protocols at the time of writing, and if we click on it, we will see the collection of protocols on the blockchain.
 
With the help of this data, we can determine the categories of Ethereum protocols, their TVL, TVL statistics, etc. This information could help us find great opportunities (again, DYOR!).

If we click on Lido (LDO), for example, further insights into the protocol, including important links, token information, methodology, competitors, raises, treasury, yields, fees, and revenue breakup, are available.
 
It should be noted that this is just one way of using the platform. To put it into perspective, there are 2,176 protocols listed on DeFi Llama currently - numerous data metrics are available and the number of possibilities is endless.


DeFi Llama: A Decentralised Analytics Dashboard 

Calvaria: Duels of Eternity [is a play-to-earn (P2E)](/news/article/nakamoto-games-premier-blockchain-system) battle card game with a Mexican-inspired storyline based in the afterlife and its own crypto token, $RIA. Led by Maxwell Borowski, Jeremy Robb, Paul Reed, Justina, and Co., the goal of the Calvaria team is to accelerate the mass adoption of blockchain gaming.

## Calvaria crypto: What is it?

Supported by KuCoin, Windvane, and Polygon Studios, the Calvaria Universe is set in two cities - Arcilla Divina and Miaquilia - and The Void. The platform is built on Polygon.
 
The Calvaria team claims to serve as a "bridge" between cryptocurrency and the world, saying it is an "ambassador to [gamify the learning process](/news/article/what-is-gamefi), guiding users into crypto". But it fails to get the first thing right: keeping it simple. Arcilla Divina is described in a complicated manner and does not capture the reader’s attention.

What we can decipher from this description is that the 'dark' city will perpetually take new forms, with "the buildings themselves" warping, degenerating, and even seeming to "tremble at times".
 
The main characters of Arcilla Divina are Santa Muerte, El Maldito, and El Pesado.

![calvaria1.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/calvaria1_f475b58119.png)
 
Miaquilia is described as the “greatest of human cities, both a marvel and a testament to mankind's collective imagination”. The futuristic city constantly takes “new forms as architects, engineers, and artists make bids for alterations''. The city boasts of “large dining halls, pleasure domes, and libraries”.
 
The main characters of Maquilia include Quetzalqoatl, Ocelotl, and Yahui.

![calvaria2.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/calvaria2_fe1505447e.png)

 
As the name suggests, The Void is an “endless yet murky black expanse” comprising a temple and ivory forests. Those who arrive at The Void are “granted true unconscious and final rest, a sleep to never awaken from”.
 
The character cast of The Void is The Void, Crowing Dusk, and Eye of Void.

![calvaria3.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/calvaria3_49a769b51b.png)
 
These nine characters are part of the Calvaria battle card game. Each character card has a distinguished set of abilities. The game's goal is to defeat opponents using complex tactics and strategies to win rewards in the form of the platform's native currency, $RIA, collectible NFT tokens, and numerous upgrades.

The platform has a dedicated NFT marketplace. Players can compete in the single-player mode, play against one another, and participate in seasonal tournaments.

Each game resource (decks, unique cards, and upgrades) belong to players and can be sold on secondary markets (such as OpenSea and Rarible).

## Calvaria crypto $RIA utility and tokenomics

$RIA is an ERC-20 token that fuels the Calvaria ecosystem, thereby maintaining economic stability. The token can be purchased on BKEX, LBank, Changelly, and Uniswap (TBA at the time of writing). The crypto [asset can also be won](/news/article/crypto-gaming-coins) as a reward upon playing the game.

The crypto token has a fixed supply of 1,000,000,000 $RIA. Here is a breakdown of the tokenomics:

•	Staking pool: 25%

•	Prize pool: 20%

•	Presale: 15%

•	Reserve and Burn: 15%

•	Operations: 8%

•	INO: 6%

•	Team: 5%

•	Liquidity: 4%

•	Advisors: 2%

The $RIA presale (Q4 2022 to January 2023) was successful, with the pledged 150,000,000 tokens being sold and more than $3M being raised over five stages. As per [Coingecko data](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/calvaria-doe), the cryptocurrency is currently trading at $0.033.

Presale investors can now claim their crypto tokens by [visiting the website](https://calvaria.io/) and connecting the same wallet they used to purchase the cryptocurrency. To proceed, click on the “CLAIM” button. You should receive the tokens in your wallet almost immediately.

You must have some Ethereum (ETH) in your wallet for the transaction to take place. Please enter the below information into your wallet to see the deposited $RIA:

Token address: 
0x9b110Fda4E20DB18Ad7052f8468a455de7449eb6
Decimals: 18
Symbol: RIA
Name: Calvaria: Duels of Eternity
INO and seed participants will receive their cryptocurrency via airdrop.

## What is next for Calvaria crypto?

The alpha version of the game will launch in Q2 2023. Meanwhile, several INOs and NFT drops are set to take place in Q1 2023. The official game launch will take place in Q3 2023.

While the game looks fantastic on paper, there are several areas for the team to work on. As mentioned before, simplicity is key. The website content should be worked on.

Recently, upon launching $RIA on BKEX, several users faced issues with deposits and withdrawals of the cryptocurrency on BKEX. With mainstream launch and adoption around the corner, Calvari must take greater onus in such situations.

![calvaria4.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/calvaria4_776b5a040f.png)
 
Source: [Twitter (@CalvariP2E)](https://twitter.com/CalvariaP2E/status/1623187342881333250?cxt=HHwWhIDRhbqS3IYtAAAA)

To put it into perspective, a user commented that “the launch of your token was really bad”.

All said and done, investors are excited, and rightly so.


Calvaria Crypto: An Epic P2E Game

US payment goliaths Visa and Mastercard are pausing the launch of certain [crypto-based services and products](/news/article/visa-crypto-wallet-plans-outlined) in the wake of numerous high-profile collapses in the crypto industry, such as [FTX](/news/article/ftx-funds-political-donations-to-be-recovered) and BlockFi.

The bankruptcies/shortcomings of several major players in the industry, current market conditions, and [increased regulatory scrutiny](/news/article/imf-crypto-regulation-g20-summit) have led Visa and Mastercard to change their plans with immediate effect.

## Why have Visa, Mastercard pushed back the launch of crypto services and products?

Over the past few years, card giants such as Visa and [Mastercard explored partnerships](/news/article/mastercard-start-path) with leading crypto firms. They set up dedicated teams to survey and potentially integrate blockchain technology into their products and services.

In April 2022, Mastercard and Nexo teamed up to launch the world’s first [crypto-backed payment card](/news/article/nexo-card-or-binance-card).

In October 2022, [Visa announced](/news/article/visa-crypto-consulting) global debit card agreements with disgraced cryptocurrency exchange FTX as part of an expanded partnership. Following the downfall of the crypto trading platform a few weeks later, Visa terminated the partnership in November.

In 2021, American Express said it would consider using cryptocurrency to redeem reward points.

An unnamed American Express spokesperson said that while the organisation continues to explore the significant use cases of blockchain technology, crypto will not replace their "core payment and lending services", "in the near term".

While Visa and Mastercard have put a halt to [crypto service and product](/news/article/visa-bitcoin-debit-card-review) rollout at the time of writing, they are optimistic about the future of blockchain technology. Their cryptocurrency-centric strategy and focus remain unchanged.

In a conversation with [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/), a Visa spokesperson said the high-profile failures seen recently in the sector act as "an important reminder" that there is a long way to go before cryptocurrency is "part of mainstream payments and financial services".

Talking to Reuters, a Mastercard spokesperson commented on how the company intends to continue to apply blockchain technology to “build more efficient systems” that “help address current pain points”.
It should be noted that the delayed launch of cryptocurrency services and products by massive payment corporations like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express and the halt on the forging of new partnerships is not a poor reflection of blockchain technology. Instead, it is a sign of the times.

With [global crypto regulatory frameworks](/news/article/australia-crypto-regulation) being built as we speak, it makes the utmost sense to explore blockchain technology further and play the waiting game while the market settles and consumer/investor confidence rebuilds itself.


visa and mastercard cards with red filter

Visa, Mastercard Pause Crypto Services Launch 

Ocean mining crypto may require you to purchase a mining hardware setup. It is important to factor in the volatility of Ocean Protocol (OCEAN), the number of competing OCEAN miners, the cost and power of the mining rig (note: crypto mining [consumes considerable energy](/news/article/norway-bitcoin-mining), and profitability metrics before investing.

There are many hardware rig options on the market today. We have made it easy to choose one best suited to Ocean mining crypto and your requirements.

![oceanmining.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/oceanmining_9736398af3.png)

## Ocean crypto options: mining hardware rigs

There are several Ocean mining crypto options, but before we explore them, let's revise some crypto mining basics.
The power of a crypto hardware rig is determined in the form of hashrate.

The greater the hashrate, the more guesses your hardware setup can make to solve cryptographic puzzles (and earn cryptocurrency as a reward). When there are a large number of competing miners, mining difficulty increases, and it is beneficial to have a system with greater computational power.

If you are considering investing in a long-term crypto-mining option, we recommend purchasing an ASIC miner. An ASIC rig comprises a motherboard, ASIC chip, and cooling system. Here is a list of the [best options](https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/best-asic-miners/) for the same.

Avoid mining with a GPU setup, as they are more expensive than ASIC miners and generate less power. DO NOT mine with a CPU!
It should be noted that earning a return on investment (ROI) may take a few months. Mining setups produce significant noise and heat and [consume considerable electricity](/news/article/sustainable-mining) (as mentioned before).
You may also have to invest in repair work, as these setups run 24/7 and are prone to wear and tear.

We have great news for you if you do not want to invest in hardware. [The IQMining platform](https://iqmining.com/) makes it possible to mine OCEAN without purchasing hardware equipment. Simply sign up, purchase a cloud mining contract, and withdraw your profit to a compatible digital wallet (more on this later).

![ocean2.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/ocean2_8cae447f68.png)

Source: [IQMining](https://iqmining.com/)

The above chart displays the list of available cryptocurrencies, price in USD, hashrating algorithm, block number, and network H/S. Please study each of these concepts and make an informed investment decision.

IQMining makes it possible to mine hundreds of altcoins from the comfort of your home. The shortest available contract spans a duration of one year. You can avail yourself of a lifetime contract as well!

## Everything you should know about OCEAN

The OCEAN utility token is an ERC-20 token that powers the Proof of Work (PoW) Ocean Protocol ecosystem - an ecosystem of next-gen tools to unlock data at a large scale. You can purchase the cryptocurrency at a number of [popular cryptocurrency exchanges](/news/article/coinmama-crypto-exchange), including Binance, Kraken, Uniswap, and Crypto.com.

The digital asset can be stored in any wallet with ERC-20 compatibility. We recommend hardware wallet options, as they are the safest. [Some wallets to choose from](/news/article/best-crypto-wallet-uk-top-picks) include Ledger, Trezor, and MetaMask. Once you have purchased/mined the digital token, you can earn additional rewards via staking.

The longer you stake OCEAN, the more staking and voting rewards you receive. If you stake OCEAN, you will receive veOCEAN tokens corresponding to the staking period.

For example, if you stake X OCEAN for one year, you will receive 0.25X veOCEAN. For a two-year staking period, you will receive 0.5X veOCEAN. For three and four-year staking durations, you will receive 0.75X and X veOCEAN, respectively. veOCEAN holders will receive rewards from Data Farming and community fees.

The price of the crypto asset at the time of writing is nearly $0.46, according to [CoinMarketCap data](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/ocean-protocol/). Do factor in the digital asset's price, the potential of the ecosystem in the long-term, and each of the listed metrics when making an Ocean mining crypto decision


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