If you only know one thing about Cameron Winklevoss, it might be that he was part of the team that created Facebook.
You may not know that his story didn't end when Facebook became a household name.

Cameron has continued to be a successful entrepreneur, and he has even ventured into the world of cryptocurrency. Here, we take a closer look at Cameron Winklevoss and his impressive career.

## Who are the Winklevoss twins, and what do they do?

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are identical twins who are perhaps best known for their role in the early days of Facebook.

The two were born in 1981 and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. They attended Harvard University, where they studied economics. While at Harvard, they met Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook.

Cameron and Tyler eventually sued Zuckerberg, claiming that he had stolen their idea for a social networking site. An out-of-court settlement saw the twins receiving $65 million in cash and stock.

The twins have turned their attention to investing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in recent years. They are estimated to be worth billions of dollars after making wise investments in this fledgling industry.

What is the backstory to their legal battle with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg over the origins of Facebook?
Cameron and his brother, Tyler, first came up with the idea for Facebook while attending Harvard University. They asked Mark Zuckerberg, a fellow student, to help them develop the site.

However, after the site was running, Cameron and Tyler accused Zuckerberg of stealing their idea and taking credit for himself.

Despite the settlement mentioned earlier, Cameron asserts that he was wronged by Zuckerberg and that Facebook should have been his.

How did they eventually settle with Zuckerberg, and what did they receive in return?

After a lengthy legal battle, the two parties settled on a deal which included a seat on Facebook's board of directors.

The settlement also included a provision that granted them 1.2% of Facebook's shares. Today, Cameron and Tyler's stake in Facebook is worth billions of dollars.
What investments have the Winklevoss twins made since then, and how have they done so far?

The twins have been busy investing their fortune. In 2013, they invested $11 million in bitcoin, purchasing 1% of all outstanding bitcoins at the time. It proved a good investment, as the price of [Bitcoin](/news/category/bitcoin-news) has surged in recent years.

## What is their opinion on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies?

Cameron Winklevoss, one of the early investors in Bitcoin, believes that the cryptocurrency is still in its early stages and has much growth potential.

Cameron and his brother started investing in Bitcoin in 2012, when each Bitcoin was worth around $12. At that time, they bought about 1% of all the Bitcoins in circulation.

He believes that Bitcoin still has room to grow, citing its limited supply and increasing demand as two significant factors.

Cameron also points to the many big institutions now investing in Bitcoin, which he sees as a positive sign for cryptocurrency's future.

How has their experience as entrepreneurs shaped their views on business and life?

Cameron Winklevoss is one of the most famous entrepreneurs in the world. He has also started several other successful businesses.

Cameron has become an outspoken advocate for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. He is now a partner at [Gemini,](https://www.gemini.com/) a cryptocurrency exchange.

In an interview, Cameron talked about how his entrepreneurial experiences have shaped his views on business and life in general.

He said that "entrepreneurship is all about making the impossible possible. It's about seeing opportunities where others see only risk".

Cameron also said that entrepreneurship taught him the importance of "thinking big" and taking risks. These lessons have helped him become a successful investor and businessman


Cameron Winklevoss: Facebook's “Other Half” 

## Are you using [Binance](https://www.binance.com/en) Bridge?

If you're a Binance user, then you know that their BNB tokens are essential to using the exchange. But what happens if you want to use those tokens on a different platform? 
Or what if you want to sell them for another currency?
That's where the Binance Bridge comes in. You can easily convert your BNB tokens into any other currency with this tool.

Here we discuss how to use the Binance bridge and explain why it's such an important tool for Binance users.

## What is the Binance Bridge?

It is a tool that allows users to convert their BNB tokens into any other currency easily. This can be helpful for two reasons.
To begin with, it allows users to use their BNB tokens on different platforms. It also provides a way to sell your BNB tokens for another currency.

## How to Use the Binance Bridge?

The Binance Bridge is easy to use. To convert your BNB tokens into another currency, all you need is the address of the destination wallet. Then, enter the amount of BNB tokens you want to convert and click "Convert." The Binance bridge will take care of the rest.

After a successful conversion, you can see the results in the "Transactions" tab on the top right corner. You will receive a confirmation email when the conversion is complete. The Binance Bridge supports multiple trading pairs and can be used to convert between any supported pair (such as BNB/[ETH](/news/category/ethereum-news-today) and BNB/[BTC](/news/category/bitcoin-news).

## How Do You Set Up a Bridge Binance?

Binance Bridge is a service that helps you easily connect your Binance account to another application. To set up Binance Bridge, log in to your Binance account and go to the settings page.

Then, click on the "API" tab and generate a new API key. Next, open the Binance Bridge application and input your Binance API key.
Finally, choose the Binance account you want to connect to and click "OK." That's it! Binance Bridge will now help you easily manage your Binance account from within another application.

## How Do We Bridge Binance to MetaMask?

To bridge Binance to MetaMask, you will first need to create a Binance account and to deposit some funds. Then, install the Binance Bridge extension into your MetaMask wallet.

Once you have installed the extension, you are able to connect your Binance account to your MetaMask wallet and use your Binance funds in MetaMask.
This will allow you to use your Binance funds to interact with decentralised applications (dApps) in MetaMask. To disconnect your Binance account from MetaMask, you simply remove the Binance Bridge extension from your MetaMask wallet.

## Conclusion

In addition to converting cryptocurrency from one wallet to another, the Binance Bridge app can be used to convert BNB tokens directly to fiat currency.
This way, users do not have to move their funds to another wallet and can enjoy the benefits of the platform with minimal hassle. 


Binance Bridge: Easily Convert BNB Tokens 

Are you looking for cryptocurrency books to help you learn more about Bitcoin and blockchain technology? You're in the right place.

Here, we recommend some of the best books on the market for getting started in cryptocurrency.

Each book provides an in-depth look at Bitcoin and blockchain technology and will teach you all you need to know about these exciting new technologies.

So, without further ado, let's get started!

### Ethereum: Blockchains, Digital Assets, Smart Contracts by Henning Diedrich

This book is a great starting point for anyone looking to learn about Ethereum and blockchain technology. It provides a comprehensive overview of Ethereum and covers blockchains, digital assets, and smart contracts.

Additionally, the author has years of experience in the cryptocurrency industry and is well-known for his work on the Ethereum project.

The book opens with a focus on what blockchain is, how it works, and why it's so important for cryptocurrencies. The second part provides an introduction to Ethereum and explains how it works.

Chapter 3 goes into the technical details of the Ethereum protocol and its consensus algorithm, the Casper proof of stake (PoS) model.

Finally, chapters four to six provide a deeper dive into the three main use cases for Ethereum: decentralised apps (dApps), smart contracts, and decentralised exchanges (DEX).

What you will learn with this book is Ethereum's core concepts, blockchains, digital assets, and smart contracts, and you will understand the difference between permissioned and permissionless blockchains.

Summing up, the book is an excellent resource for those looking to understand how Ethereum works and how it can be used to create smart contracts.

### Blockchain Revolution by Don and Alex Tapscott

For anyone looking to learn about the potential of blockchain technology, this is a good read. It covers everything from the history of blockchain to its current and future applications.

The authors are also well-known experts on blockchain technology. Their book provides an excellent overview of this exciting new technology.

### Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas M. Antonopoulos

This book is a comprehensive guide to Bitcoin, covering everything from the basics to more advanced topics such as mining and security.

Andreas Antonopoulos is a well-known Bitcoin expert, and his book provides a great introduction to this exciting cryptocurrency.

The author has been a speaker at many conferences, including the Bitcoin conference in San Jose and the Scaling Bitcoin conference in Hong Kong.

He has also featured on [BBC](https://www.bbc.com), [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/world/?region=world), Wired, Time, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, CNET, PCWorld, and others.

## Conclusion

In conclusion, there's a vast amount of information online about cryptocurrency, but it's scattered across different websites, forums, blogs, and social media platforms.

Where do you start and what information do you trust? And it's even harder to figure out which books, articles, videos, and podcasts will help you learn about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology the best.

That's why we made this list. It features everything from beginner-friendly to in-depth technical guides, whitepapers, and books

For more [Business news](/news/category/crypto-business-news).



Cryptocurrency Books: Learn About the Best 

[The Dragons' Den](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006vq92) Bitcoin is a scam and they have stolen a lot of money from people. We will look at what Dragon's Den Bitcoin is, how you can spot this scam, and how to prevent yourself from being scammed.

The famous TV show Dragons' Den name has been used to promote illegitimate products on the Internet. Many people have lost money by investing in bogus schemes and products.

Firstly, Dragons' Den Bitcoin is not real. It was created by someone who wanted to make money from people looking for an easy way to invest in [Bitcoin](/coins/btc). It is fake. We will discuss what makes this phony investment so appealing and why people fall for it.

## What is Dragons' Den?

Dragons' Den, produced by the BBC, is a popular UK TV show. It's a reality show where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to experts in the business field and ask for investments. The show is famous worldwide and there are many spin-offs in other countries. The show features a panel of investors known as "dragons" who are willing to invest their own money in business ideas that they like. The Dragons' questions, interrogations, and demands can be intimidating. However, the participants are always up for the task.

## What is the Dragons' Den Bitcoin scam?

The Dragons' Den Bitcoin scam is a fake investment opportunity created to steal your money. It claims, falsely, that it is associated with the popular BBC show. The scam has different versions, but all have one thing in common: they ask you for money in exchange for an investment opportunity that does not exist. The scammers use high-pressure tactics to convince you to invest in their fake Bitcoin trading platform and steal your money. They present you with false claims about what will happen if you do not act on their offer.

Scammers have been luring unwitting investors into trading with their money by exploiting photographs of personalities from the TV show Dragons' Den. Their photographs and comments have enticed users into a get-rich-quick Bitcoin scam on websites and social media.

The Dragons Den Bitcoin scam is an example of how fake sites use the names of well-known public figures, celebrities, and TV shows to promote a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s not a real investment opportunity.

We are seeing a new twist on a classic cryptocurrency fraud, and victims are being duped out by scammers who promise high returns on investments in Bitcoin.

So far, some of the versions of the Dragons Den Bitcoin scam include:

- A fake news report claiming Deborah Meaden, one of the original investors on Dragons' Den, made a £250,000 investment in Bitcoin after seeing how it had been making people huge fortunes.
- A fake interview with Sarah Davies and Jenny Campbell, two new investors on Dragons' Den, claiming they had invested in Bitcoin after they saw how it was helping people make money.
- A fake interview with Peter Jones claiming he was starting a Bitcoin investment program after seeing how it had been making many people rich.

The fraudsters present themselves as legitimate businesses and offer exceptionally high returns on investment. But rather than investing your money, the fraudsters are stealing it. They use fake celebrity endorsements to convince people that the "opportunity" is genuine.

These scammers have no relation to the real Dragons, but hope people will be fooled into sending money for cryptocurrency investments. There are legitimate ways to invest in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but you must research these thoroughly before investing your money.

## What to look out for:

If you're offered an amazing opportunity to invest in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency out of the blue, proceed with extreme caution – or avoid it altogether! These fraudsters are highly convincing and manipulative, often using very subtle tactics to lure you in.

The BBC has investigated several Bitcoin trading platforms and found that some are legitimate, but others are not.

It is reported that some people have lost up to £200,000 after being lured into scams by fake social media posts.

The scammers promised high returns for investors.

They'll tell you that Bitcoin is about to explode onto the mainstream market. This isn't true.

## Conclusion

Dragons' Den bitcoin is a scam. It is not legit. It's a fake get-rich-quick scheme that promises investors huge profits within a short period. People should carry out thorough checks before putting any money into schemes, especially those they hear about through unsolicited emails or adverts online.



Dragons’ Den Bitcoin: Legit or a Scam? 

Coinbase Twitter tweeted a link to the article titled “The crypto guide to taxes” in the last days of March 2022. 

The tweet came a few weeks to tax season 2022 in the United States of America, and with the deadline for submitting personal gains to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fast approaching.

Coinbase tweets towards the end of March were on blockchain analytics, promotions for new accounts, and advanced trading on the cryptocurrency exchange. 

For Coinbase Twitter news to focus on crypto taxes means representatives of the platform continue to get messages from account holders on what activities constitute paying cryptocurrency taxes.

## Coinbase Twitter Reminder

Coinbase users have a cause to worry about Coinbase taxes. This is the primary reason why it is not surprising to find millions of verified Coinbase users asking the question of which crypto transactions are taxable? 

According to Coinbase, numerous kinds of crypto transactions are considered taxable events. Several crypto activities are taxable, but some of them are not. 

When you sell and convert crypto, you should know that you must pay crypto capital gains tax.

With that said, activities such as mining and holding digital collectibles in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and buying and holding crypto are non-taxable events.

Therefore, if you know that you have staked, spent, converted, sold, and earned crypto, you should prepare to pay taxes on cryptocurrency gains.
Taxes on personal income come in different rates and brackets, and the cryptocurrency tax is the same. Cryptocurrency tax rates fall under ordinary income or capital gains.

The rate of token tax depends on factors such as the method of obtaining the crypto and the duration you held onto the digital coins. 
IRS crypto taxes is similar to paying taxes on stocks. Therefore, you will pay relatively lower rates if you decide to HODL (hold onto your tokens for at least one year before selling them). 

You will pay taxes on crypto if you are involved in swapping tokens. A great example is trading crypto pairs such as BTC for ETH, ETH for ADA, ADA for BNB, and others. In the eyes of the IRS, swapping means you have sold your Bitcoin to buy Ethereum, Ethereum to buy Cardano, and Cardano to buy Binance Coin. In such a situation, you will realize gains or losses.

The same holds for spending. For example, you buy $20,000 worth of ETH and a price spike increases your investment by 300% to $80,000. You use your ETH to buy an automobile worth $80,000. You are then subject to paying capital gains tax on cryptocurrency.

The only way to avoid paying taxes on crypto is to use good old cash. Although it is not impossible, it would be difficult to find an exchange that accepts cash as a payment method in the current climate of crypto regulation. To put it simply, buying crypto with cash is not taxable, so you would not be having any IRS crypto problems once tax season takes center stage.

If you are a trader who transfers digital currencies between wallets such as Coinbase wallets (non-custodial wallet) and Coinbase Exchange accounts (custodial wallet), you are not subject to reporting detailed activities of such transfers.

Suppose you sent no more than $15,000-worth of crypto to friends and acquaintances. In that case, you are not eligible to file taxes on cryptocurrency.

Reporting your crypto activities and paying the necessary crypto trader tax is imperative.

The IRS has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to paying taxes. Failure to adhere to crypto and taxes rules could lead to steep penalties. 
You can use CoinTracker (a trusted aggregator for tax services) to help you sort out your taxable crypto activities. 

Although Coinbase Twitter news has done its part in shedding more light on crypto and taxes, the onus falls on you, as a crypto user, to make arrangements for capital gains on cryptocurrency.

More [Business news](/news/category/crypto-business-news).



Coinbase Twitter Shares Crypto Tax Guide 

[Coinbase](https://www.coinbase.com/places/united-kingdom) account restricted 2021 was searched for by some of the 89 million verified users of the biggest exchange in the United States, measured by volume. There are growing reports of accounts of many customers temporarily disabled.

Coinbase account restricted 2022 continues to gain grounds as millions of customers continue to deal with limitations on their accounts. It is not surprising to see why is my Coinbase account still restricted gaining millions of hits on search engines.  

According to Coinbase, if an account holder violates the User Agreement, they may restrict access to essential features of the customer's account, such as buying and selling cryptocurrencies. Factors contributing to buy/sell services being disabled include a high risk of fraud. Per regulations, Coinbase adheres to anti-money laundering rules which helps counter-terrorism financing.

As a result, the exchange has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to activities intended to lead to personal financial gain at the expense of others.

Once this happens, customers hold onto their digital currency wallets, although they will not be able to engage in buying and selling activities.
Plus, as Coinbase provides a custodial wallet, funds remaining in the wallets in the form of accepted fiat currencies like the Great Britain Pound (GBP), Euro (EUR), United States Dollar (USD), and Canadian Dollar (CAD), can be withdrawn to a verified bank account linked to the Coinbase account.

Coinbase, by daily volume, is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally. The exchange supports more than 50 cryptocurrencies and several markets. Statista's report on the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, based on 24h volume, was last conducted on March 28, 2022. Coinbase Exchange finished in 11th place. It recorded around $3.26 billion for the day.

Therefore it is not appropriate for millions of users to bump into such blocks which prevent them from going about their trading activities effortlessly. Coinbase competes with Binance, Upbit, CoinFLEX, OKX, and others. Finding out your Coinbase account is restricted countless times may not bode well for the platform's fortunes.

Now that you know why your account is still restricted, the next step is how do you resolve a restricted Coinbase account? 

## How do I resolve a restricted Coinbase Account? 

Several Coinbase accounts restricted after verification have this issue resolved within 10 business days of going through a resolution process.
If your Coinbase account is restricted, follow the steps below to remove this restriction.

First and foremost, ensure that personal accounts attached to your Coinbase accounts, such as email, have been secured with multi-factor authentication.
Secondly, with details of your Coinbase account intact, perform a password reset that guarantees access to your custodial wallet. 

Thirdly, provide essential details to Coinbase Support. At this stage, Coinbase will require details of your last successful sign-in and who authorized access to the account.

You will be asked to provide information on transactions that you did not authorize, including the time of transactions and the amount of money involved.

In addition to these, you must provide specifics on how the multi-factor authentication set and passwords of emails were compromised.
Lastly, Coinbase will ask for additional information that can help them understand the nature and purpose of the attack.
 
## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

How long does it take to unrestrict a Coinbase account? 
Coinbase restricted accounts are treated as high-priority cases. You'll need patience as Coinbase uses 10 business days to investigate the necessary security reports that will help resolve the problem completely.

More [Business news](/news/category/crypto-business-news).


Coinbase Account Restricted: What’s the buzz?

Mastercard and [Bakkt](/news/tag/bakkt) have [announced](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005487/en/Mastercard-and-Bakkt-Partner-to-Offer-Innovative-Crypto-and-Loyalty-Solutions) that they are joining forces to enable crypto card payments. The aim is to make it easier for banks and financial firms to offer and accept crypto payments.

The partnership will roll out in the next few months. The project aims to pave the way for firms that want to offer crypto by letting them use [Mastercard’s network](/news/article/mastercard-crypto-asia) of banks and other financial institutions.

## Mastercard Look to Make Crypto Easier

"To spend cryptocurrency globally today, you need a very complex ecosystem," said Kelly Loefller, CEO at Bakkt, and chief market and corporate development officer at Mastercard.

"We will continue to work with merchants and consumers to make it easy for them to use cryptocurrency."

"Cryptocurrency is going to play a foundational role in the future of our new payment system. We feel that by joining forces, we'll be able to deliver more value".

## Some Reluctant to Trade Crypto

The new system is also designed to appeal to institutional investors who are still reluctant to trade crypto because of volatility and complexities.

"Every asset class can benefit from a more efficient and speedier processing cycle," Loefller said.

"That's what we're trying to accomplish here." 

Increasingly promising news of investment in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is spreading throughout the traditional banking world, with this being one of many collaborations. There have also been rumours that Mastercard will hire new staff as part of their expanding interest in cryptocurrency over the coming years. Is this the first of many crypto collaborations for major companies? We will have to wait and see. 



Mastercard & Bakkt Partner to Accept Crypto

There is one cryptocurrency you may not have heard of but is sure to make a big splash in 2022 and beyond. 

Hedera Hashgraph describe themselves as a third generation cryptocurrency platform which uses Direct Acyclic Graph technology instead of the regular blockchain often associated with Bitcoin and Ethereum. What this means is that Hedera Hashgraph can process 1000’s more transactions at lightening speeds at little to no cost and with Smart Contracts about to be launched on the platform you can expect to hear much more about Hedera Hashgraph in the weeks to come.

## An enterprise grade network platform for Web 3.0 and beyond

The brainchild of Dr Leemon Baird, Hedera Hashgraph is currently the most used, sustainable enterprise led public network allowing businesses and individuals to create decentralised applications (dApps) on the market today. The platform has been designed to be fairer and more efficient therefore circumnavigating some of the issues faced by more traditional networks on offer today. The statistics speak for themselves - 

![Hedera.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Hedera_4c863a7992.png)

Funded through an ICO in August debate and decide 2018 Hedera went live in September 2019 and to date almost 50% of its 50 billion native tokens (HBAR) are in circulation. HBAR is the fuel that powers the Hedera network allowing users to access a myriad of Web 3.0 applications such as smart contracts, file storage and more general transactional services. With rumours of HBAR staking becoming available to the public soon 2022 is shaping up to be quite a year for Hedera Hashgraph.

## Gossip about gossip

What sets Hedera apart from some of its competitors is its gossip protocol. In short, this unique network structure ensures that nodes only have to confirm the most minimum details passed to them from the previous nodes. This then of course ensures lightning-fast transaction times and much lower costs than competitors.

Like Ethereum the Hedera Hashgraph is responsible to a Governing Council of members which support the decentralised aims of the project via the management of network nodes as well as participating in governance rights. With companies as large as Boeing, Google, LG, Avery Denison and IBM already on the council it is easy to see why Hedera has such a promising future.

## Super-fast speeds and little to no cost

As I mentioned earlier, Hedera Hashgraph does not use a conventional blockchain model and instead relies on a Direct Acyclic Graph (DAG) framework which many cite as the third incarnation of the blockchain. Essentially a Proof of Stake network at heart the main difference between DAG network and traditional Proof of Stake models is the ability to scale and provide extremely fast transactions at little to no cost.

The average transaction fee on Hedera is $0.0001 and finality (completion) is reached in under 5 seconds. As the above table shows Hedera has the ability to process 10,000 transactions per second which when compared to a Proof of Work model shows there is just no comparison, that being said, is it any wonder some of the world’s biggest names have chosen to become Hedera Governing Council members?

## Crypto as software not an alternative to money

The main use cases for the Hedera network cover the all the major markets in crypto today. The Hedera platform is able to -

•	Provide a token service allowing users to mint NFTs with just a few lines of code.

•	Provide a consensus service which acts as a layer of trust for any application built upon it.

•	Allow developers to build DApps through the integration of smart contracts.

•	Provide users with a decentralised file service facility.

Just last Friday, Google Cloud announced their plans to provide cloud file storage solutions to the crypto industry in particular to Hedera, Theta and Dapper Labs. The fact that Google is a Hedera governing council member underlines how much interest both parties have invested in providing the network platforms of the future. 

Famed celebrity ‘Shark Tank’ investor Kevin O’Leary recently stated crypto has evolved into software rather than an alternative form of money although it has to be said many people understood this from day one. O’Leary said of Hedera “Great team, good engineers. What’s the economic premise that would keep that growing? Boeing want a quasi-centralised/decentralised platform, they want the best of both worlds. HBAR can deliver that, check the box 


Hedera Hashgraph: Best performer of 2022?

In the summer of 2021, Formula One announced a partnership with one of the fastest-growing crypto exchanges, with over 10 million users worldwide, as the inaugural global partner of the new Sprint series. This important partnership elevates crypto to mainstream multi-media and introduces crypto to a mass audience who may not have any previous knowledge or awareness on the subject.

Then in February 2022, Formula One world champions, [Red Bull Racing](https://www.redbullracing.com/int-en), announced details of a sponsorship deal with a Singapore-based crypto exchange worth a reported $150 million. Although details on the deal are scant, it is understood to be the largest cryptocurrency sponsorship deal in international sport, signalling continued adoption and legitimacy for crypto.

The three-year deal sees the crypto exchange become a Red]Bull Racing ‘principal team partner’, with the aim to grow fan engagement and manage the issuance of the forthcoming fan token. The deal comes after the company became the main sponsor of the Argentinian national football team in November.

Lewis Hamilton, who is arguably the most famous and successful F1 driver currently racing for Mercedes, is sponsored to wear the branding of another crypto exchange. Further expanding global awareness across the Formula 1 fanbase.

## Fan tokens

Fan tokens are digital assets that enable sports teams, leagues, clubs, associations, and players to strengthen engagement with fans around the world. The rise of this unique area of digital assets is expected to continue throughout the year and into the near-term future, as more and more household names look to get involved. 

Holders of fan tokens are permitted to access a variety of fan-related membership perks such as voting on club decisions, rewards, merchandise design, and unique fan experiences. Fan tokens have the ability to democratise and organise fan engagement while giving the fan the opportunity to feel more involved. Unlike [NFTs](/news/category/nft-news), fan tokens are interchangeable and just like fiat, can be exchanged for merchandise, VIP experiences, and much more.

The world-class football player, Lionel Messi, recently signed a new contract with the French team PSG in which a percentage of his payment is being paid in the PSG Fan token. How long will it be before F1 drivers start getting paid in fan tokens by their teams?

## “At the forefront of technological innovation”
 
In a statement, Red Bull Racing team principal, Christian Horner, stated  that “the team’s passion to exist at the forefront of technological innovation, to set the competitive pace and to disrupt the status quo.” Horner went on to say that the partnership with the crypto exchange would enliven “the fan experience in F1 through digital innovation……  and will help us build a deeper, more immersive, and unique connection with the team for fans around the world.”



Formula One Teams Make Moves in Crypto

For all the attention that crypto receive, the global public’s basic cryptocurrency knowledge is still noticeably lacking.

That’s the finding of [Cryptoliteracy.org](https://cryptoliteracy.org/). The organisation announced its launch in early November, describing itself as an ‘_…industry initiative promoting broad consumer education of digital currency_’ and declaring its site to be the ‘_…home of the official Crypto Literacy Quiz’._

Most intriguing of all are the results of what [CryptoLiteracy.org](https://cryptoliteracy.org/) is calling its inaugural Crypto Literacy Survey.

## Widespread Lack of Knowledge

Apparently, 96% of what the organisation describes as _American crypto or bitcoin-aware internet users_ demonstrated that they were unable to score highly enough to pass a quiz about the basic facts of cryptocurrency. The percentage was an even higher - 99% - for Brazilian and Mexican users falling under the same definition.

The response to this widespread lack of knowledge is ostensibly to make the month of November _Crypto Literacy Month_, with the organisation being the self-appointed vanguard of an effort to promote a basic knowledge and understanding of cryptocurrency among the ‘bitcoin aware’ global public.

## Key Takeaways

The organisation’s quiz was a simple 17 question assessment that touched on the topics of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, in particular), blockchain, DeFi, types of wallets, NFTs and the public’s ‘general sentiment’ towards cryptocurrencies.

Three key takeaways from the quiz results were:

*   Crypto is coming up short on its ‘purported’ mission of financial _inclusion_. On average, cryptocurrency owners are younger, wealthier, and more male than the overall population

*   Nine out of 10 respondents were NOT aware that Bitcoin was limited to 21 million

*   Those who _own_ cryptocurrency know the most _about_ cryptocurrencies, meaning ownership of crypto is directly connected to a higher performance on a test of cryptocurrency literacy

You can improve your own crypto knowledge with the free tools found on [Learn Moni](/learn).

## Should Crypto be in the Educational Curriculums?

The incoming Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, wants to see cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies more prominent in educational curriculums, though he did not indicate if meant elementary and/or high school education.

Adams has a history of ‘cheerleading’ digital assets like Bitcoin since he took office in landslide fashion earlier in November. Recently, Adams publicly stated that he would ‘…take his first three paychecks in bitcoin’ once he formally takes office in January and has even initiated efforts to launch what can best be described as a New York-specific cryptocurrency that would compete with MiamiCoin – a newer cryptocurrency that has enjoyed some surprising levels of success.

## Concerns for Obama

These ambitions are meeting resistance from some influential people. One of them, an economic advisor that served former US President Barack Obama, took to Twitter recently to share concerns about Adams’ crypto aspirations tweeting: ‘Not only is this a bad economic strategy for NYC and a bad investment decision, it also seems like a conflict of interest.’

The former advisor compared the New York Mayor’s cheerleading to someone buying a large stake in the stock of a company and then putting policies in place to influence the prices of that company’s stock.

It’s not like _that_ hasn’t been done before…

General Public Largely ‘Uninformed’ on Crypto

Just a few years shy of making the remark that cryptocurrencies were “rat poison,” celebrity investor, Warren Buffet, took actions that couldn’t be any more contrary to his disparaging remarks – a $1 billion investment in a digital bank that’s at the heart of the cryptocurrency revolution.  Widely heralded as the “sage of Omaha” for his uncanny ability to accurately anticipate big moves in the market, Buffet’s recent investment is likely to be interpreted as another watershed moment in the dynamic history of the cryptocurrency market, and could produce very favourable tailwinds that could wash away the market’s abysmal January losses.

Every investor seems to know of Warren Buffett, presumably because he’s one of the wealthiest people in the world.  Buffett’s father was in the US. Congress, and was politically connected with financial ties.  By 30, Buffet became a millionaire after demonstrating substantial prowess with mathematical formulas.  Buffett purchased Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, a company that started in textiles back in 1839 but then expanded into managing investments.  He converted it into the largest holding company in the world by scooping up troubled assets and restoring their health. 

## $1 Billion Worth of Shares Purchased

One can only imagine what the 91-year-old man with a reported net worth of nearly $110 billion has planned for a swan song once his [$1 billion investment](https://www.altfi.com/article/8850_warren-buffett-doubles-down-on-brazilian-fintech-nubank-with-1bn-stake) achieves its intended purpose. Buffet’s blockbuster investment was made public when his company entered an SEC filing earlier in the week.  The details of the filing show that $1 billion worth of shares were purchased by the massive holding company in a Brazilian digital bank called Nubank - the largest bank of its kind in Latin America.

This wasn’t the first time Buffet has taken interest in cryptocurrency-related assets.  In the summer of 2021, Buffet’s company had already established a $500 million stake in Nubank – the largest cash infusion the bank had ever received.  Nubank went public in December of 2021 but, surprisingly, Nubank has been in operation since 2013.  Originally aspiring to cause some havoc in the Brazilian banking market, an environment with a reputation for super-charged interest rates and shoddy customer service, Nubank offered to be the digital financial alternative that had a user-friendly app.

## Huge Success for Nubank

Fast forward to the present, Nubank now offers many of the same options that any other financial institution would, including checking and savings accounts.  The scope of Nubank’s services has recently expanded to include personal loans and life insurance.  In terms of success, Nubank can boast about its 48 million customers spread out across Brazil, Columbia, Argentina, and Mexico. Nubank’s market capitalisation currently sits at $33 billion and has the distinction of being the largest digital bank in the world.  Much of that success was surely made possible by Buffet’s earlier cash infusion.

Nubank is a fintech and does not facilitate direct trading in cryptocurrencies, but the bank does have an investment unit called NuInvest that provides a way to invest in a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Any investor knows that anything Berkshire Hathaway is willing to sink a billion dollars into is worth following.  It appears that fintech firms will be making headlines in 2022.


Warren Buffet Suddenly Backpedals on Crypto 

The world loves an underdog, and the cryptocurrency market is no different.  Recently, the crypto-market’s 2nd most capitalised digital asset, Ether, acquired the backing of the [wealth and asset management division of Morgan Stanley](https://www.morganstanley.com/what-we-do/wealth-management/?cid=ppc-71700000088238971:700000002375621:58700007479779948:p67225276587&gclid=Cj0KCQiA3rKQBhCNARIsACUEW_YNit0Yu2BI-5Ptsa4FaGgIT3dncUlMVQy6Q2rEn9YJnDTVKYGBhGMaAnREEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds), a leading global investment bank with over 60,000 employees worldwide.

The investment banking powerhouse recently raised eyebrows with the distribution of a 20-page report filled with information demonstrating the financial firm’s confidence in the [Ethereum](/news/category/ethereum-news-today) blockchain.  Authored by investment strategist, Denny Galindo, the report details how the Ethereum blockchain technology can be more effective in terms of its practical application to solving real-world problems than  its rival and cryptocurrency’s reigning champion: Bitcoin.  

## Investors Should Consider Ethereum

Whaaat?  No, we’re for real.  In the report, Galindo presses the fact that Ethereum has a multitude of features that places the technology head-and-shoulders above the rest of its crypto-competitors, including Bitcoin.  The key takeaway from Galindo’s report was that investors should be considering the digital cryptocurrency, Ether, as a stand-on-its-own investment from the more wildly popular and more heavily capitalised Bitcoin cryptocurrency.

The report goes into an analysis of how the Ethereum blockchain technology and Bitcoin are akin to one another in two significant ways: both offer a decentralised form of currency and have a component of digital scarcity.  What the report also implies, is that the Ethereum blockchain technologies seem to be evolving in a way that leads experts to believe that they can be used for much more than a simple payment mechanism.  Galindo goes on to say that the pace at which the Ethereum blockchain is innovating clearly demonstrates an attachment to a “larger collection of activities.” 

## Will Ethereum Reach New Highs in 2022?

The cryptocurrency investment community is viewing the report as prophetic; a huge tailwind that the entire cryptocurrency market can ride to new highs in 2022.  Despite the market’s rocky start this year, there is still a feeling of momentum that is suggesting that 2022 could be a very big year for Ethereum.  There are many, many innovations happening in the world of blockchain technologies, and a lot of them are happening on the Ethereum blockchain.  Among them, the blockchain serves as an app store that is owned by no one and facilitates the operation of decentralised finance applications (DeFi) and the exchange of increasingly popular non-fungible tokens (NFTs).  

While Galindo promotes his belief that the Ethereum blockchain offers a much wider array of applications than Bitcoin, he does “pump the brakes” in his report by saying it shouldn’t be considered an open endorsement to “buy” Ether, the digital coin that trades on the Ethereum network.  Rather, the report is ultimately intended to be an educational supplement, or a primer, to help investors bone up on the Ethereum blockchain, especially considering that it is far less understood than its bigger brother, Bitcoin. 

Ethereum is ranked 28th in terms of being the world’s most valuable asset (ranked by market cap.) currently valued at $368 billion. If a bit of perspective would help, Walmart is valued at $370 billion.


Ethereum’s New Mega-Booster – Morgan Stanley News

The continued worldwide adoption of crypto and blockchain took another giant leap forward today with the announcement of tax implications and the issuance of CBDC’s from the Indian Ministry of Finance.

As part of the national budget for the forthcoming year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced any income from the transfer of ‘virtual digital assets’ is to be subject to a 30% tax. Sitharaman went on to declare that a digital Rupee would most likely be released sometime between 2022 and 2023 providing a clear sign that India is one step ahead in its proposed release of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). 

## Largest crypto market in the world.

In a long and detailed speech lasting over two hours, Ms Sitharaman said “there has been a phenomenal increase in transaction in virtual digital assets. The magnitude and frequency of these transactions have made it imperative to provide for a specific tax regime.”  

India is believed to have one of the largest crypto markets in the world with as many as 15 million individual crypto investors. This figure has increased significantly in recent years despite the Royal Bank of India attempting to ban cryptocurrency trading in 2018 when it ordered banks not to facilitate crypto trade. More recently, in December 2021, the RBI was still pushing for a complete ban as it believed partial restrictions would not work. Therefore, although today’s announcement from the Ministry of Finance comes somewhat out of the blue it just goes to show the growth and strength of this nascent asset class is practically unstoppable.

## Indian CBDC less than a year away?

While many countries continue to explore the issuance of a CBDC few seem to have made as much progress as India. As you may imagine China lead the pack with South Korea, Canada, and the European Union all still deep in the developmental phase. 

In a press release from April 2021, The Bank of England announced plans of a ‘CBDC Taskforce’ to explore the possibility of creating its own CBDC, a statement in the following November however indicated that any plans to release ‘Britcoin’ to the general public may not come to fruition until 2025. India is well ahead in the development and release of its CBDC and while this may sound impressive it is worth remembering that every nation has a different economic framework with associated requirements. 

Speaking of CBDC’s specifically Sitharaman said that digital currencies would be “issued using blockchain and ‘other technologies’ by the RBI starting 2022-23. This will give a big boost to the economy." 

While there was no mention of crypto per se, the Minister preferred to use the term ‘Virtual Digital Asset.’ Additionally, many crypto proponents believe that ‘other technologies’ may be a nod towards third generation consensus protocols which technically don’t use a blockchain. With such a short timeline until launch India will be sure to experience a mass scramble for legitimate and up to date information, digital and hardware wallets and as can be expected the endless search for new opportunities for revenue. Watch this space.


India to Tax All Crypto Trade by 30%

Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies seem to be rallying after a frightful start to the 2022 trading season, but not before we stood in horror watching the digital assets market sink to its lowest levels since last summer earlier this month.  The world’s most popular and heavily capitalised cryptocurrency, [Bitcoin](/coins/btc), sank well below the “psychological” $40,000 _floor_ last week, to an anaemic value of $32,982.  Bitcoin recovered some of its footing this week, reaching a price of $36,000, as aggressive investors began to dip their toes back in the digital waters – that’s progress, but certainly well off the bellwether’s high of $69,000 last November.

2021 was arguably one of the most astonishing years for cryptocurrencies as the market finally broke through a ceiling of sorts and achieved a state of “mainstream adoption”.  Interest in digital assets soared as the first ever Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) was introduced on the New York Stock Exchange last fall (under the ticker “[BITO](https://www.proshares.com/our-etfs/strategic/bito)”), El-Salvador formally adopted Bitcoin as legal tender, and interest in Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) reached a fever pitch after the artist known as Beeple, sold his NFT artwork, called “Everydays: The First 5000 Days,” last Spring for a mind-numbing $69 million.

All this interest and hoopla over cryptocurrencies sent the value of the digital assets market past the $2 trillion mark.

We get it.  After all the euphoria we experienced during cryptocurrency’s 2021 trading season, and the subsequent market crash that has erased the last 6 months of progress, the thought of having to report the profits from those crypto-purchases last year to a governmental authority probably sounds terribly unappealing.  Take heed.  If you’ve experienced any thoughts or are considering concealing profits that you’ve made from any cryptocurrency trades from the tax man, it wouldn’t be a prudent course-of-action. 

Am I being paranoid?  Hardly.  The IRS in America has been perfectly clear in the fact that they are watching cryptocurrency as closely as they ever have.  This will become all too evident when you look at page one of your tax returns this year.  On it, there is likely to be a _yes_ or _no_ option at the top of the first page asking about your ownership of _any_ “virtual currency.”

After the year cryptocurrencies had in 2021, and the 5000% gains experienced by some assets, trust us, the tax professionals are hardly _the least_ informed on what’s happening in the digital assets market.  So, don’t try feigning ignorance.  Claiming that “you didn’t know” isn’t an option for 2021, or beyond.

Being willfully dishonest on a government document can subject you to penalties that include perjury.  That’s a bad way to start 2022.  In the last analysis, any _selling_ and _buying_ of any type of digital assets that took place in 2021 _is expected_ to be reported.  If the extent of your trading was buying and simply holding, you likely won’t owe a thing…yet.

The time to ask questions of your tax professional is before you file, not after.

Cryptocurrency Mainstream Adoption Rises

Should we be concerned?  So far, 2022 has put the digital assets market squarely in ‘bloodbath’ territory, and investors are making for the hills once again.  What is it about the month of January that that brings out the absolute _worst_ in cryptocurrency investors?  At least, that’s what the history of this youthful market has taught us.  However, we’ve seen the bottom fall out on earlier occasions, and, unlike the [Dotcom bubble of 2000](https://www.thebalance.com/what-was-the-dotcom-bubble-5209336), cryptocurrencies have been able to pull off some rather remarkable ‘come backs’ in their history.

Cryptocurrencies are a rapidly evolving market, but it _is still_ a nascent market - miles away from maturity.  Heck, it’s scarcely even regulated!  So long as digital assets, and the [blockchain technologies](https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/financial-services/fintech/bitcoin-blockchain-cryptocurrency.html) behind them, continue innovating, finding their rightful place in the market, cryptocurrencies are going to remain a highly volatile environment.  What we’re seeing again this month is that trademark volatility.

## Cryptocurrency or Dotcoms?

The distinction between cryptocurrencies and the dotcoms of the late nineties is that investors suddenly realized, mostly in March of 2000, that many of the online companies with a “.com” at the end of the web address had business models that simply weren’t viable, as well as wildly unprofitable.  In the case of cryptocurrencies, there is an evolution of new technologies taking place - financial innovations.  Digital currencies are designed with the intention of redefining how the world uses money.  How it evolves is a question yet to be answered, but for now, investors are still largely convinced that the difference between profitability and loss has more to do with timing than any other factors.  Every cryptocurrency investor should expect that, no matter what digital coin they invest in, it’s likely to encounter huge fluctuations in valuation.  Again, this is the kind of volatility we should expect from an immature market.

So how many of us a year from now will look back, and wish we’d only _bought more_ cryptocurrency this month?

## A new Global Finance

The momentum that seems to buoy cryptocurrencies every time the market tanks is the belief that cryptocurrencies genuinely represent the very early stages of a new version of global finance that operates on these new blockchain technologies.  Where’s my proof?  Look at the ATMs that are getting as much utilisation as a public phone booth nowadays.  Find me one member of the Gen Z demographic that’s visited a bank recently.  You may have difficulty _finding a millennial_ that’s ever physically walked into a bank. In modern society, conducting financial transactions has become a predominantly online experience.  The pandemic of the last two years has only galvanised that trend.

Instead of walking up to an ATM or going into a branch, society handles their finances via tablets, smart phones, and laptops.

The advent of digital assets suggests that the most innovative concepts of finance are possibly yet to be revealed.  The blockchain technologies powering cryptocurrencies represent faster, more prudent means of exchanging currency and it is expected to transform global finance.  2021 was simply a watershed year for cryptocurrencies, despite them being banned by the Chinese government.  There’s still more excitement than there is trepidation in this market, and that means 2022 is shaping up to be another active year. 

In other words, the best is yet to come.



Crypto Market is Down – Bloodbath or Bargains?

Crypto investors are accustomed to market crashes. Smart investors cash out at the right time and invest in the downtrend, while those experiencing fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) contribute to the market collapse by panic selling. 

The latest crypto crash has erased over $1 trillion in market value. Market-definers [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) and [Ethereum](/coins/eth) plummeted to lows not seen in months and most altcoins have recently suffered greatly. Of course, several factors have contributed to the latest market crash, but we won't dive into them.

Instead, we will explore the consequences of the market plummet. How are investors reacting to the meltdown? 

## Ethereum is a mixed market 

According to Glass node metrics, the total Ethereum value in the ETH 2.0 Deposit Contract reached a five-month low of roughly $20.9 billion. The previous low of roughly $21.2 billion was observed on Sep. 21. 

While this statistic represents one position, the number of users with at least 0.01 Ethereum in their crypto wallets has reached an all-time high (ATH) of nearly 22 million. 

The statistics appear to indicate that holders with large Ethereum investments cashed out at the right time driving the market price down and leading a number of new investors to add Ethereum to their holdings at a relatively advantageous discounted price. 

Investors are keeping an eye on Open Interest in Perpetual Futures Contracts as well, as it reached a one-month high of nearly $65 million at crypto exchange Kraken. Notably, the previous one-month high was on Jan. 22. This indicates an increasingly upward trend. 

It should be noted that the number of Bitcoin addresses with over 100 Bitcoins is at a three-month low of almost 16,000. The previous three-month low was on Jan. 22 (surprise surprise). This indicates an increasingly downward trend. 

A correlation between the last two statistics? I think so. Folks, Ethereum is here to stay and 2022 will be a good year for the crypto asset. Hold tight!



What Does the Latest Crypto Crash Mean for Ethereum?

2022 has started out with a noticeable lack of love for cryptocurrency investors, but the standing consensus among the cryptocurrency Brain Trust is that digital assets _will_ continue to draw new investment dollars this year, despite having to weather the current volatility.

Halfway through January, and already there are some newsworthy events to suggest that 2022 will be another wild ride.

## Wal-Mart Files Paperwork Signaling Expansion into Crypto and NFTs

The world’s second largest retailer (behind Amazon) has apparently seen enough, and now mega-force, Wal-Mart, wants in on the crypto-craze after watching how remarkably well digital assets performed in 2021.  Wal-Mart has already [submitted formal applications](https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=97197301&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch) with the US Patent office for selling virtual goods, and another filing suggests that the retailer wants to begin offering Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) as well. 

NFTs are perhaps the biggest juggernauts to come out of the digital assets market in 2021.  While an NFT isn’t entirely the same as a cryptocurrency, they share many characteristics.  The key distinction is that NFTs are _non-fungible_ tokens, whereas cryptocurrencies are.  Fungible simply means “tradeable.” 

Based on a review of the patent office filings, Wal-Mart has been putting an extensive amount of time and considerable resources into preparing for their inevitable expansion into the digital assets market.

They’re not alone.  Given the growing popularity of the metaverse, and since Facebook announced a rebranding to “[Meta](/news/article/facebook-metaverse-nft/),” signaling their intention to expand into the metaverse, there has been a “gold rush” of sorts among many major brands to adopt their own forms of crypto-currencies, NFTs, or both.

## Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, Pumps Dogecoin with (another) Tweet

Is it a move to pump the market?  Who’s to know for sure, but after weeks of suggesting the possibility, Tesla’s celebrity CEO, Elon Musk, officially announced that the all-electric car maker would begin accepting the cryptocurrency [Dogecoin](/coins/doge) for Tesla branded merchandise.  The announcement was made [via Musk’s Twitter account](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1481873421390680065) on Jan. 14th.

It’s been a remarkable journey for the cryptocurrency that was originally launched as a mockery.  Most crypto enthusiasts know well enough by now that favourable news like this can be announced for the sole purpose of _pumping_ the value of digital assets like Dogecoin.  In this case, the Tesla CEO’s Twitter announcement sent Dogecoin skyward, but only momentarily.  Dogecoin shot up from .17 cents per coin up to .20, but then fell back to pre-announcement levels within 72 hours.

## Arkansas offering Bitcoin and a Bicycle to Young Tech Talent

If living in the US ever had any appeal, then the state of Arkansas might be worth checking out.  In addition to being the only state in America with [an active diamond mine](https://www.thetravel.com/finding-a-diamond-at-crater-of-diamonds/) that the public can visit, the [Northwest Arkansas Council (NAC)](https://nwacouncil.org/), in collaboration with the southern state’s major employers, is offering remote employees an incentive that includes $10,000 in bitcoin…_if_ you’re willing to relocate to the state.

Thousands of prospects have already submitted their interest.  Conditions are that you must be 24 years old and have at least two years of work experience.  The only ostensible catch is you need to “set up shop” within six months of being accepted and willing to sign a one-year lease or buy a home in the Arkansas area.

“This move was designed to attract more participants in blockchain technologies to help build up the region’s tech economy," says NAC Communications Director, Nate Green.

Wal-Mart, Tesla Lead Early 2022 Crypto Headlines

Who could possibly deny that 2021 was _the_ year for cryptocurrencies? Looking back on the market’s recent achievements, we see a pattern of events that are nothing short of remarkable.  Despite it being the _same_ year that the Chinese government took steps to effectively _ban_ cryptocurrencies across the board, digital assets still had enough momentum to go on an absolute tear last year.

It was the year that major players in the banking sector adopted cryptocurrencies as an offering to their institutional investors, and mainstream society finally decided to buy in.  There were also newcomers that added fuel to the market’s acceleration - NFTs (non-fungible tokens) took the arts and entertainment worlds by storm, _and_ society was introduced to the metaverse once Facebook announced that they would be rebranding as “Meta.”

As we enter another year that’s expected to be just as eventful as the last, the lexicon of cryptocurrency is evolving rapidly.  Below are the marquee “buzzwords” that every investor should take the time to understand before investing in the modern cryptocurrency market:

## Buzzwords

**Blockchain**: Ultimately, a blockchain is a decentralized ledger of all the transactions that happen across a peer-to-peer network.  It is a digital ledger that can store data of _any_ kind, including information about cryptocurrency transactions. 

These digital ledgers are essentially a chain consisting of individual “blocks” of data.  As new data gets added to the network, a new “block” gets created and is then connected to the “chain.  The cool thing about using blockchain technology is that all the transactions can be confirmed _without_ the involvement of a central clearing entity or “middleman.” 

**Metaverse**: Think [Roblox](https://www.roblox.com/) and [Fortnite](https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/home) – the metaverse is a virtual world.  It is a broadly dispersed, interoperable network of 3D worlds that users can experience simultaneously for maximum social connection.  The metaverse is powered by a wide array of technologies, including cloud computing, infrastructure, user-generated content, and hardware. 

Over the past three years, mega-forces like Google, Apple, and Amazon have invested billions on the creation of the metaverse meaning expectations for the metaverse are incredibly high.

**DeFi**: Here we have the operational _core_ of the cryptocurrency phenomenon.  DeFi is an acronym for _decentralized finance_.  It’s hard to accurately define a $100 billion financial technology that is anticipated to bring down Big Finance and all those traditional, money-hungry bankers, but by using [smart contracts](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/smart-contracts.asp) that operate using DeFi technology, it is precisely what DeFi is being developed to achieve.

**dApps**: _Decentralized Applications_ are like any digital app you might find on a smartphone or laptop, with the bonus of employing blockchain technology to prevent users’ data from falling into the hands of the company who is behind the app.  For example, cryptocurrency is decentralized money, and dApps are decentralized applications.

**NFT (Non-fungible Tokens)**: The Christie's auction house sold perhaps the most well-known NFT in 2021 - just a [smattering of images](https://www.christies.com/features/Monumental-collage-by-Beeple-is-first-purely-digital-artwork-NFT-to-come-to-auction-11510-7.aspx) done by a digital artist known as _Beeple_…that brought in nearly $70 million. 

NFTs burst onto the stage in 2021 and they rightfully demand our attention.  In the simplest terms, Non-fungible tokens are pieces of digital content that are linked to the blockchain, the same technologies that power cryptocurrencies like [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) and [Ethereum](/coins/eth).  NFTs are entirely unique and not interchangeable, which means that no two NFTs are alike.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but as Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies continue being adopted by mainstream society, the above terms will grow increasingly more important as more traditional investors dip their toes into the cryptocurrency market.

Core Crypto-Terms Investors Need to Know in 2022