<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"><channel><title>Nft on Stephen Ajulu</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/tags/nft/</link><atom:link href="https://ajulu.netlify.app/tags/nft/feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><description>Hello, I'm Stephen Ajulu, a seasoned multidisciplinary tech professional with over a decade of experience. I build impactful solutions using design, tech, and engineering in the pursuit of impact.</description><generator>Hugo -- gohugo.io</generator><language>en-us</language><managingEditor>ajulu.b22uf@aleeas.com (Stephen Ajulu)</managingEditor><webMaster>ajulu.b22uf@aleeas.com (Stephen Ajulu)</webMaster><copyright>Stephen Ajulu.</copyright><lastBuildDate>Fri, 03 Mar 2023 08:16:00 +0300</lastBuildDate><item><title>The Future of Daily Tech: How NFTs will Impact Your Future</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-future-of-daily-tech-how-nfts-will-impact-your-future/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Mar 2023 08:16:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-future-of-daily-tech-how-nfts-will-impact-your-future/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;The world of tech is constantly evolving, and one of the most exciting developments in recent years is the rise of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;NFTs are a type of digital asset that use blockchain technology to verify ownership and uniqueness, and they are quickly becoming a hot topic in the tech world. In this article, we will explore the future of daily tech and how NFT technology will be a part of our daily lives.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The world of tech is constantly evolving, and one of the most exciting developments in recent years is the rise of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).</p>
<p>NFTs are a type of digital asset that use blockchain technology to verify ownership and uniqueness, and they are quickly becoming a hot topic in the tech world. In this article, we will explore the future of daily tech and how NFT technology will be a part of our daily lives.</p>
<h3 id="introduction">Introduction</h3>
<p>As we move further into the digital age, more and more of our daily lives are taking place online. From shopping to socializing to working, the internet has become an integral part of our daily routine. With the rise of NFTs, we are now seeing a new era of digital ownership and value, and this is set to have a profound impact on how we interact with technology in the future.</p>
<h3 id="what-are-nfts">What are NFTs?</h3>
<p>Before we dive into how NFTs will be used in daily tech, let&rsquo;s take a moment to define what they are. Non-Fungible Tokens are a type of digital asset that is unique and cannot be replicated. They are created using blockchain technology, which verifies ownership and ensures that they are one-of-a-kind. NFTs can take many forms, including artwork, music, videos, and more. They can be bought, sold, and traded just like physical assets, and their value is determined by supply and demand.</p>
<h3 id="how-will-nfts-be-used-in-daily-life">How will NFTs be used in daily life?</h3>
<p>The potential uses for NFTs in daily tech are vast and varied. Here are just a few examples of how NFT technology could be integrated into our daily lives:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Digital Ownership</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>One of the most significant ways that NFTs will be used in daily tech is through digital ownership. With NFTs, individuals can prove ownership of digital assets, such as artwork, music, and videos. This will enable creators to sell their work directly to consumers, cutting out middlemen like record labels and art dealers. Consumers will have the assurance that they are purchasing a one-of-a-kind item, and creators will have a new revenue stream.</p>
<ol start="2">
<li><strong>Gaming</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>Gaming is one area where NFTs are already being used extensively. NFTs can be used to represent in-game items, such as weapons, armor, and skins. This means that players can buy, sell, and trade items with each other, just like physical assets. In addition, NFTs can be used to represent unique in-game achievements, such as completing a difficult quest or reaching a high level. This will give players a new way to show off their accomplishments and could lead to a more competitive gaming landscape.</p>
<ol start="3">
<li><strong>Real Estate</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>Another area where NFTs could have a significant impact is real estate. With NFTs, individuals can prove ownership of digital assets, such as virtual real estate. This could lead to a new era of virtual property ownership, where individuals can buy and sell virtual real estate just like physical real estate. This could be especially appealing in the world of virtual reality, where individuals can create and own their own digital spaces.</p>
<ol start="4">
<li><strong>Identity Verification</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>NFTs could also be used for identity verification. With NFTs, individuals can prove ownership of their digital identity, such as social media accounts, email addresses, and more. This could help prevent identity theft and give individuals more control over their online presence.</p>
<ol start="5">
<li><strong>Content/File Verification</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>Verification is becoming increasingly important in the digital age, especially as we face challenges such as deep fakes and AI-generated content. These technologies make it easier than ever to create content that is indistinguishable from the real thing, which poses a significant threat to our ability to trust the information we consume online. One potential solution to this problem is the use of NFTs. Because NFTs are created using blockchain technology, they are virtually impossible to counterfeit. This means that NFTs could be used to verify the authenticity of digital content, such as photos, videos, and audio recordings.</p>
<ol start="6">
<li><strong>Intellectual Property Protection</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>NFTs can also be used to protect intellectual property, such as copyrighted works or patented inventions. By using NFTs to establish ownership and authenticity, creators can protect their intellectual property and prevent unauthorized use.</p>
<ol start="7">
<li><strong>Supply Chain Management</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>NFTs could also be used for supply chain management, which would help ensure the authenticity and traceability of goods. By using NFTs to track the movement of goods from production to consumption, companies could more easily prevent counterfeiting and ensure that goods are ethically sourced.</p>
<ol start="8">
<li><strong>Ticketing and Event Management</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>NFTs could be used to create verifiable digital tickets for events, such as concerts or sports games. By using NFTs to represent tickets, event organizers could more easily prevent fraud and ensure that attendees have a seamless experience.</p>
<ol start="9">
<li><strong>Education</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>NFTs could also be used in education, by providing a way to track the authenticity and ownership of digital credentials, such as diplomas or certificates. This would help prevent fraud and make it easier for people to verify their educational achievements.</p>
<ol start="10">
<li><strong>Personal Finance</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>NFTs could have applications in personal finance, by providing a way to track the ownership and authenticity of assets such as stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrencies. This would help prevent fraud and make it easier for individuals to manage their investments.</p>
<ol start="11">
<li><strong>Healthcare</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>NFTs could also be used in healthcare, by providing a way to track the ownership and authenticity of medical records and prescriptions. This would help ensure that patients receive the correct treatments and prevent fraud.</p>
<ol start="12">
<li><strong>Social Media</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>Finally, NFTs could have applications in social media, by providing a way to verify the authenticity and ownership of digital content shared on social platforms. This would help prevent the spread of fake news and misinformation, and make it easier for creators to monetize their content.</p>
<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>
<p>The rise of NFT technology is set to have a profound impact on daily tech. From digital ownership to gaming to real estate and identity verification, NFTs are poised to become a ubiquitous part of our digital lives.</p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/photo-1643101681441-0c38d714fa14.png" medium="image"/></item><item><title>25 Upcoming NFT Projects to Invest in and Get In on Early</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/25-upcoming-nft-projects-to-invest-in-and-get-in-on-early/</link><pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2023 16:02:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/25-upcoming-nft-projects-to-invest-in-and-get-in-on-early/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;NFTs might just be the hottest thing in the crypto sphere. When shopping for the best NFTs to invest in, such as Bored Ape Yacht Club or CryptoPunks, you’ll be spending at least 70 to 80 ETH. While NFTs are still relative newcomers to the art world, they’re drawing a significant amount of buzz and collectors are willing to pay a premium for top NFTs. The time to buy is when new NFT projects are just getting off the ground, and that means getting on the &lt;a href="https://learn.bybit.com/nft/what-is-nft-whitelist/"&gt;whitelist&lt;/a&gt; or VIP list. So how do you invest in the best upcoming NFT projects?&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>NFTs might just be the hottest thing in the crypto sphere. When shopping for the best NFTs to invest in, such as Bored Ape Yacht Club or CryptoPunks, you’ll be spending at least 70 to 80 ETH. While NFTs are still relative newcomers to the art world, they’re drawing a significant amount of buzz and collectors are willing to pay a premium for top NFTs. The time to buy is when new NFT projects are just getting off the ground, and that means getting on the <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/nft/what-is-nft-whitelist/">whitelist</a> or VIP list. So how do you invest in the best upcoming NFT projects?</p>
<p>It can be tough to cut through the digital clutter and discover the NFT projects that really resonate with you — or the NFT projects that are most likely to succeed. How can you decide which NFTs to invest in? With the right investment plan, knowing what you want from top NFTs, and active involvement in upcoming NFT projects, you can be prepared for anything that comes your way.</p>
<h2 id="what-are-nfts">What Are NFTs?</h2>
<p>An <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/crypto/what-is-a-non-fungible-token/">NFT</a> (non-fungible token) is unique data stored on a digital ledger that acts as a collectible digital asset. Popular <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/nft/what-are-blue-chip-nfts/">blue chip NFTs</a> such as <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/defi/what-is-bored-ape-yacht-club-nft-collection/">BAYC</a> and <a href="https://www.coolcatsnft.com/">Cool Cats</a> hold value, much like physical art, making them among the best NFTs to invest in. Recently, there’s been a huge stir on the scene, since speculators are on the lookout for top upcoming NFT projects so they can make a quick buck. However, it’s important to note that while it can be profitable to flip these top NFT projects, it’s also possible for them to skyrocket in value once <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/FOMO">FOMO</a> kicks in.</p>
<h2 id="how-to-find-worthwhile-upcoming-nft-projects">How to Find Worthwhile Upcoming NFT Projects</h2>
<p>NFTs are popular, with a plethora of new and upcoming NFT projects launched weekly — if not daily. How can you find the best NFTs to invest in?</p>
<p>Several factors can play a role in your decision to invest in new NFT projects, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>The community behind the new NFT projects, which may be on Discord, Twitter, Instagram, or another social media platform</li>
<li>The plans outlining the road maps of the new NFT projects</li>
<li>The founders, who may include notable artists, celebrities, or tech gurus</li>
<li>Availability on popular platforms, including <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/nft/what-is-magic-eden/">Magic Eden</a> or <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/nft/what-is-opensea/">OpenSea</a></li>
<li>Unique properties of top NFTs</li>
<li>The amount you want to spend</li>
</ul>
<p>Some upcoming NFT projects may also feature physical as well as digital assets, which can play a role in your investment decisions. These might include physical copies of digital art — or it could mean memberships, access to special features in gaming worlds, or special access to digital or real-world events. These may also be considerations when determining which NFTs are the best for you to invest in. Visiting sites such as <a href="https://rarity.tools/">rarity.tools</a> can be a great way to narrow your options for which NFTs you want to invest in.</p>
<h2 id="best-nfts-to-invest-in">Best NFTs to Invest In</h2>
<h3 id="1-illuvium">#1: <a href="https://www.illuvium.io/">Illuvium</a></h3>
<p>For gamers, Illuvium might just be one of the most exciting upcoming NFT projects in which to invest. Illuvium is a fantasy <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/role-playing-video-game">role-playing game</a> built on the <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/altcoins/what-is-ethereum-and-how-does-it-work/">Ethereum</a> blockchain. Introduced in January 2021 as a decentralized collection of NFTs, it’s one of the best new NFT projects.</p>
<p>Players can earn one of more than 100 Illuvials, each of which has a different affinity, class, and ability. You can capture, fuse, upgrade, and store your Illuvials, and enjoy shiny, cosmic, or holographic designs in fighter, rogue, and empath classes. Illuvials can be used in battles and can capture enemy Illuvials that have been defeated. They can also merge and become more powerful, or create synergy with other Illuvials.</p>
<p>To help facilitate easy trading of your assets with your peers, you can trade them instantly with no gas fees. Store your in-game Illuvials in shards and your NFTs in <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/investing/best-non-custodial-wallets-crypto/">crypto wallets</a>. NFTs grant you staking power, allowing you to vote on future changes in the project. Follow Illuvium on<a href="https://twitter.com/illuviumio/?lang=en"> social media</a> for the latest news and updates.</p>
<h3 id="2-imaginary-ones">#2: <a href="https://opensea.io/collection/theimaginaryones">Imaginary Ones</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://www.imaginaryones.com/">Imaginary Ones</a> is an art lover’s dream and is an excellent option as one of the best NFTs to invest in. Based on the Ethereum network, Imaginary Ones is an exciting 3D art project with an initial drop of 8,888 unique NFTs designed to spread “love, positivity, and creativity.” The project was created by Singaporean artists <a href="https://twitter.com/cmttat">Cmttat</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/heygentlewhale">Gentle Whale</a>, and the team that designs Imaginary Ones has more than a decade of experience working with such top clients as Apple, Samsung, and Nike.</p>
<p>Supporters are encouraged to follow Imaginary Ones on Twitter for an opportunity to get on the whitelist for upcoming NFT project drops, and for information about new NFT projects and how to avoid high gas fees.</p>
<h3 id="3-invisible-friends">#3: <a href="https://invisiblefriends.io/">Invisible Friends</a></h3>
<p>As an upcoming NFT project that’s built up a tremendous amount of hype in recent months, Invisible Friends by <a href="https://twitter.com/motionmarkus">Markus Magnusson</a> should definitely be on your radar if you’re an NFT collector. Thanks to its novel concept of attaching clothing to its invisible walking characters, the NFT project has caught the eyes of many investors and collectors. Beyond its attention-grabbing art style, many liken Invisible Friends to other best NFTs to invest in like <a href="https://doodles.app/">Doodles</a> and Cool Cats because the NFT’s designs are simple, bright, and easy to digest upon first inspection.</p>
<p>Although not much is yet known of the roadmap Markus has in mind, we do know that owning an Invisible Friends NFT grants you access to the 3D Invisible Collection sometime later this year and future collections from the Random Character Collective. Minting will be on 23rd February for those lucky enough to get whitelisted so active community members and owners of <a href="https://www.slimhoods.com/">SlimHoods</a> and <a href="https://moodrollers.com/">MoodRollers</a> will be duly rewarded. Fear of missing out on the Invisible Friends hype train? Make sure you keep a close eye on their <a href="https://discord.com/invite/rndm">discord server</a> so you can stay updated on any Invisible Friends news.</p>
<h3 id="4-hape-prime">#4: <a href="https://opensea.io/assets/0x4db1f25d3d98600140dfc18deb7515be5bd293af/1">HAPE Prime</a></h3>
<p>Built on the Ethereum blockchain, the 3D HAPE Beast Prime tokens are scheduled to be released this month. The 3D-meta-ready Apes are the brainchild of London-based Digimental, which has designed and styled the collection, creating new art and fashion for the apes and begetting a whole new metaverse.</p>
<p>Also associated with the Bored Ape Yacht Club, <a href="https://opensea.io/Digimental">Digimental</a> has given each HAPE Beast a sharp, clean image with crisp lines and brilliant colors. The initial mint includes 8,192 unique HAPE Beasts, all of which feature plenty of customization options, providing plenty of choices.</p>
<p>The HAPE Beast NFT tokens are built on the Ethereum blockchain, and the gas wars opened in mid-January, granting potential buyers the opportunity to mint their HAPE Beasts at a price of just 0.2 ETH. <a href="https://discord.gg/hapebeast">HAPE Beast’s Discord</a> has so far attracted more than 330,000 members seeking community and the sense of style promised by the HAPE Beasts. Follow them on social media for the latest news and updates with regard to their upcoming NFT projects.</p>
<h3 id="5-dape">#5: <a href="https://www.degenape.academy/">DAPE</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://upcomingnft.net/event/dape-nft/">Degenerate Ape Academy</a>, or DAPE, is one of the best <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/altcoins/what-is-a-solana-sol-coin/">Solana</a> NFT projects. It’s led by Obbotis1, head of project management; Monoliff, in charge of the art and development team; and Conorholds, who manages development. DAPE contains 10,000 unique monkeys acting as an interface for users to exchange digital assets. Buyers own all intellectual property rights to their new top NFTs — which are protected by smart contracts — and can mint as many monkeys as they like.</p>
<p>Monkeys have various characteristics, including clothing, skin, fur, and glasses, with plenty of possible combinations. The features are classified according to a hierarchy ranging from common and uncommon to rare and mythical, which helps NFT investors and traders understand the likelihood of minting. For fans of the BAYC, this can be an excellent alternative and one of the best Solana NFT projects. If you’re looking for upcoming NFT projects to invest in, you really can’t go wrong here.</p>
<p>DAPE is Solana’s first million-dollar NFT collection, as well as one of the most hyped collections in the NFT space. Collectors can easily access and invert these NFTs affordably, making them incredibly popular with buyers of all skill levels — especially for those who want to get in on the ground floor of one of the best Solana NFT projects in the crypto marketplace today.</p>
<h3 id="6-stoner-ape-club">#6: <a href="https://opensea.io/collection/sac">Stoner Ape Club</a></h3>
<p>As one of the best NFT tokens that’s related to chasing the dragon, this collection of 6,666 stoner apes is ready to help you kick back and relax. Each ape is unique, based on hundreds of uncommon features, and designed to create a one-of-a-kind neighborhood. There’s a wide variety of competitions, sneak peeks, and more to start whitelists and minting designed to get followers excited about their upcoming NFT projects.</p>
<p>Among the principal minds behind the Stoner Ape Club are Kreo, Brandon Delgados, Alex Arteaga, and Truls Aandal. Collectors of top NFTs and gamers whose stated goal was to create an NFT-loving community, initially created branded products that included rolling trays and papers. However, they soon expanded with the idea of a metaverse, a virtual dispensary, and more. The whitelist presale began on January 29, 2022, with 4,000 spots opening, and the public sale for the remaining 2,666 spots opened the next day. Buyers earned whitelist access through events like giveaways and quizzes. <a href="https://twitter.com/StonerApeClub?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Follow them</a> to stay updated on what NFTs to invest in.</p>
<h3 id="7-star-atlas">#7: <a href="https://play.staratlas.com/">Star Atlas</a></h3>
<p>If there’s one upcoming NFT project we have to talk about, it’s <em>Star Atlas</em>, an exciting blockchain-based game set in the year 2620 with brilliant cinematic quality and immersive content. These features set it squarely among the best NFT projects built on the Solana blockchain. It’s fast, secure, and efficient, completing about 50,000 <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/glossary/definition-transactions-per-second-tps/">TPS</a>, with super-low transaction fees and an innovative deflationary mechanism that enables players to enjoy higher rewards for engaging in risky activities. For gamers considering what NFTs to invest in, <em>Star Atlas</em> is a great choice.</p>
<p>Their latest drop in December 2021 included more than $3 million in NFT spaceships, which are part of their Galactic Asset Offerings. Revenue from the sales will be used to develop the <em>Star Atlas</em> metaverse. Additional in-game items are available for purchase during the NFT drops. Follow them on <a href="https://twitter.com/staratlas?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">social media</a> for information about their latest drops and new NFT projects.</p>
<h3 id="8-pixelmon">#8: <a href="https://pixelmon.club/">Pixelmon</a></h3>
<p><em>Pixelmon</em> might most readily be compared to Pokémon for its highly addictive collectible top NFTs and fun, quirky gaming style. This play-to-earn metaverse is easy to get drawn into. You can trade, train, and battle your Pixelmons against others in the Pixelmon gaming world. For both gamers and collectibles fans, this new NFT project is one of the most exciting to arrive on the scene in a while.</p>
<p>The first generation of NFTs, called Genesis, will have more than 100 unique species, and there will be a total of 10,000 droppings. Phase 1 will roll out in the second quarter of 2022, and Gen 1 eggs will be available for purchase and minting in the Pixelverse, which includes land and a variety of housing units that you can purchase or rent.</p>
<p>Pixelmon uses a dutch auction style, starting with a specific set price and then allowing community members to purchase NFTs at their chosen prices, which can mitigate the risk of gas wars, in addition to lowering fees. This can also help increase funding and improve the overall quality of the metaverse. Follow the progress of Pixelmon’s new NFT projects <a href="https://twitter.com/ThePixelmon?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">here</a>.</p>
<h3 id="9-cryptoon-goonz">#9: <a href="https://opensea.io/collection/cryptoongoonz">Cryptoon Goonz</a></h3>
<p>Tattoo artist <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanTat2s?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">@SeanTat2s</a> is the creative genius behind Cryptoon Goonz, one of the most talked about up-and-coming NFT projects. It has an old-school Mickey Mouse-esque look and feel. These fun, throwback cartoon-style NFTs live on the Ethereum blockchain and are styled with unique hip-hop and streetwear designs. They’re full of fresh, feisty references and are ready to spice up your crypto collection, with a <a href="https://www.cryptoongoonz.com/other">Discord community</a> that’s more than 10,000 strong. A total of 7,000 characters will be released, with each one consisting of eight properties of various rarities ranging from common to ultra-rare. Note: A few of these NFTs even have special hidden attributes.</p>
<p>Follow their <a href="https://twitter.com/Cryptoon_Goonz?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">social media</a> for a chance to get on the whitelist.</p>
<h3 id="10-wonderpals">#10: <a href="https://twitter.com/WonderPals?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">WonderPals</a></h3>
<p>WonderPals is still in progress, scheduled to release sometime in the first quarter of 2022. This NFT collection can be described simply as wholesome. It includes 10,000 cotton candy-colored characters with simple, clean lines and bright, sunny faces. For fans of collectibles, these top NFTs are cute, fun, and friendly.</p>
<p>Created through a collaboration with <a href="https://coolmansuniverse.com/">@CoolmanUniverse</a>, some of these sweet drops of sunshine even have a few special traits for their holders to enjoy. The stated promise of <a href="https://www.wonderpals.com/#about">WonderPals</a> is to spread joy and kindness throughout the year, and if you decide to collect them, we think you’ll agree. If you’re looking for NFTs to invest in, this is a great choice. You can follow them on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wonderpalsnft/">social media</a> for an opportunity to join their Discord and get an invitation to their whitelist for more upcoming NFT projects.</p>
<h3 id="11-solsand">#11: <a href="https://solanart.io/collections/solsand">SolSand</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://solsand.io/"><em>SolSand</em></a> brings NFTs to the gaming metaverse, promising to build a new paradigm offering its users the opportunity to build the worlds of their dreams in the upcoming Solanaverse. As one of the best Solana NFT projects, the digital art has a unique stylized look and feel, designed specifically for those who love anime art.</p>
<p><em>SolSand</em> NFT holders are assigned specific plots of land in the Solanaverse and are airdropped $VERSE, in-game tokens, and currency. Verified holders receive entry to the Sand Society, which grants them access to the whitelist for special releases and information on upcoming NFT projects.</p>
<p>While <em>SolSand</em> goes beyond the idea of conventional art, it builds on philosophies and ideas. The Solanaverse will be a fully augmented VR metaverse, with the NFTs acting as the keys allowing access, making it one of the best Solana NFT projects. The first generation was minted on January 15, 2022, with future generations yet to be announced. <em>SolSand</em> will be minted in drops of 2,500 each.</p>
<p>Follow them on <a href="https://twitter.com/SolSand_io?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">social media</a> for the latest updates and information on their upcoming NFT projects and tokens.</p>
<h3 id="12-gooniez-gang">#12: <a href="https://gooniezgang.com/">Gooniez Gang</a></h3>
<p>The Gooniez Gang is a collection of 7,777 NFT tokens in the form of 3D metaverse characters. From the minds behind <em>Transformers</em> and <em>X-Men</em>, this gang of brilliant, sleekly designed collectible duck-billed Gooniez is ready to burst onto the scene and take the NFT world by storm. Each Goonie has a unique look and feel. During the first phase of the project, designers are working to establish strong community support, and so far they’re right on point. Followers love the Gooniez.</p>
<p>Once the project is live, the early buyers will have access to exclusive Gooniez merchandise featuring individual NFTs. They’ll also have a stake in the project, which means they can vote for events, donations, and the future direction of the Gooniez Gang. Follow them on <a href="https://twitter.com/GooniezNFT">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gooniezgangnft/">Instagram</a> for the latest info and the opportunity to be whitelisted.</p>
<h3 id="13-crypto-baristas">#13: <a href="https://opensea.io/assets/0xb66a603f4cfe17e3d27b87a8bfcad319856518b8/9720425186420365222353899819497168751076639606951250294350818944954633551881">Crypto Baristas</a></h3>
<p>Do you love coffee as much as you love crypto and learning about what upcoming NFT projects to invest in? Then Crypto Baristas is just the project for you — and one of the best NFTs to invest in for the experience alone. It was initially designed by Coffee Bros., a New York City-based roastery, which is using the new NFT projects to fund its brick-and-mortar cafe. Its cute and caffeinated baristas are available on the Rarible platform, and the income the top NFT tokens bring in will be used to fund a real-life cafe, with a focus on art and innovation.</p>
<p>The first season will feature 60 digitally hand-drawn characters, with three new characters being released each week. Holders of top NFT tokens will enjoy discounts on merchandise, drinks with coffee partners, and a staking interest in the project’s future. Follow them on <a href="https://twitter.com/cryptobaristas?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">social media</a> for their latest news.</p>
<h3 id="14-autograph">#14: <a href="https://autograph.io/">Autograph</a></h3>
<p>Autograph might just be one of the best NFTs to invest in for sports and celebrity fans. Co-founded by Tom Brady, Autograph is more of an experience than a project. One of the more vibrant new NFT platforms, it focuses on athletes but is soon expanding into the field of entertainment with digital experiences and memorabilia. Autograph uses the Polygon blockchain, which relies on Ethereum but uses less energy, thus lowering gas fees.</p>
<p>Its top NFTs have attracted some pretty big names, partnering with such athletes as Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter, Naomi Osaka, Usain Bolt, and Wayne Gretzky. It’s also attracted celebrities outside the realm of sports, including <a href="https://www.theweeknd.com/">The Weeknd</a>, and the horror series, <em>Saw</em>. The project intends to expand soon and has announced a deal with DraftKings. It’s also finalizing other partnerships and will be disclosing them soon. Stay tuned for more of Autograph’s upcoming NFT projects by following them on <a href="https://twitter.com/Autograph?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a>.</p>
<h3 id="15-soundxyz">#15: <a href="https://www.sound.xyz/">Sound.xyz</a></h3>
<p>The soundtrack of our lives just got a little richer thanks to Sound.xyz. If you’re a music fan, this is definitely one of the best upcoming NFT projects to invest in. This novel startup takes auditory and visual NFTs and connects musicians to listeners by creating a suite of tools through which music is released directly to the public. So far, Sound.xyz has raised $5 million through a variety of artists, crypto angel investors, and other funding.</p>
<p>Sound.xyz has the potential to change the way music is introduced, produced, and delivered. Users can support the artists they love, and artists can work directly with listeners to create art that resonates. Artists can produce a limited supply of top NFTs when releasing music, and listeners who purchase top NFT tokens have the opportunity to leave a comment at a certain moment in a specific song. They can also trade the NFTs, after which time the new owner can overwrite the original comment on the token.</p>
<p>Sound.xyz has been dropping 25 comments-as-tokens tied to individual singles, priced at 0.1 ETH each, and 25 collectors will be designated to receive an additional token. If you’re looking for the best NFTs to invest in, this one should absolutely be on your list.</p>
<h3 id="16-celopunks">#16: <a href="https://opensea.io/assets/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/47929989441841974331943911587974273193984077643216056272095487307232604848129">CeloPunks</a></h3>
<p>Built on the Celo Network, <a href="https://celopunks.club/">CeloPunks</a> is the first official collection of NFTs on the Celo marketplace. Collectors looking for NFTs to invest in will certainly love these top NFTs, and with good reason.</p>
<p>Created as an homage to the <a href="https://opensea.io/collection/og-punks">OG Punks</a>, CeloPunks are simple, digital trading cards that grant holders a stake in the Celo ecosystem and voting rights in any upcoming NFT projects. Along with stake functionality, holders will also be able to use their NFTs to earn $CPUNK tokens passively.</p>
<p>Multiple collections are in the works, and there will be a few super-rare NFTs available as well. Only those who stake $CPUNK LP tokens will have access to these super-rare top NFTs. Follow the project’s progress and receive inside information about their projects on the <a href="https://twitter.com/celopunks?lang=en">Celo social media feed</a>.</p>
<h3 id="17-turners-digital-paintings">#17: <a href="https://lacollection.io/?utm_term=nft%20painting&amp;utm_campaign=USA-En-G%C3%A9n%C3%A9rique&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;hsa_acc=6293340725&amp;hsa_cam=15568505182&amp;hsa_grp=132755619482&amp;hsa_ad=569590577962&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-1204425746808&amp;hsa_kw=nft%20painting&amp;hsa_mt=b&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiArt6PBhCoARIsAMF5wah8Wj-gD9Yy-EIVJU-gkZMfMYxELZjSwvaYRTi9dGZ8fscZqHaBssAaAiYdEALw_wcB">Turner’s Digital Paintings</a></h3>
<p>Have you ever wanted your very own NFT masterpiece? For a limited time, you can purchase a J.M.W. Turner watercolor in digital form, thanks to the British Museum. Turner has been called “the painter of light,” and he was arguably the most influential watercolor painter. His landscapes and seascapes are breathtaking. For a limited time, you have the opportunity to own one or more of his works.</p>
<p>Classical art fans seeking NFTs to invest in, newcomers to NFT projects, and anyone interested in top NFT projects will love this venture. One of the first marriages between traditional and digital art, it might just change the way NFTs are seen among the general public.</p>
<p>The British Museum is selling digital copies of these Turner watercolors as NFTs. This collection of 60 paintings was bequeathed to the museum by Robert Wylie Lloyd, a former Christie’s chairman and art collector. The 20 chosen to create NFTs will be divided into three categories. Four will be open editions, seven will be super-rare, and nine will be ultra-rare. The private sale begins on February 8, 2022, and the public sale begins the next day. This is a great opportunity for you to get in on one of the best NFTs to invest in — and a chance to get your hands on some fantastic art, too.</p>
<h3 id="18-world-of-women">#18: <a href="https://worldofwomen.art/">World of Women</a></h3>
<p>Crypto has a bit of a reputation as a “boy’s club,” but World of Women is turning that image on its head. If you want to support women in tech, then this might be a great NFT to invest in. World of Women has 10,000 brilliant works representing women. Created by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFNIKeZeODY">Yam Karkai</a>, WoW’s top NFT tokens sold out almost immediately when launched, generating more than $40 million in just two weeks. The first pieces have already become collector’s items, and the project holds immense promise as more influencers discover and promote it. Follow WoW on <a href="https://twitter.com/worldofwomennft?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a> for the latest updates and information on their new NFT projects.</p>
<h3 id="19-metavillage">#19: <a href="https://solanart.io/collections/metavillage">Metavillage</a></h3>
<p><em>Metavillage</em>, one of the best Solana NFT projects currently available, is part of the Solana metaverse. These top NFTs consist of 9,159 randomly generated islands. You can own your village and “play to pay,” earning a passive income of village coins.</p>
<p>What makes this project one of the best NFTs to invest in is its road map, which ensures that a percentage of the presale profits will maintain the project’s liquidity for Village Coins and LP tokens. This will help the token maintain a steady price for the next stage of the project. Players who find Golden Totems or Golden Sharks on their islands will win cash prizes.</p>
<p>Growing a vibrant community is a major priority for the <em>Metavillage</em> team, which recently completed its first minting on January 16, 2022. The Phase 2 launch was on January 22, 2022. Much like <em>Decentraland</em>, the game is designed with many built-in benefits for its NFT holders, with robust infrastructure and an exciting design, making it a clear front-runner as one of the best Solana NFT projects. To stay on top of the latest updates and information, follow them on <a href="https://twitter.com/metavillageNFT?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a> or join <a href="https://metavillage.app/">their Discord</a> for a chance to get on the whitelist and discover what makes them one of the more promising upcoming NFT projects.</p>
<h3 id="20-otaku-origins">#20: <a href="https://otakuorigins.io/">Otaku Origins</a></h3>
<p>Otaku Origins is a must-have — and one of the best NFT projects to invest in for anime fans. A special algorithm generates each Otaku NFT from one of more than 200 exquisite traits, drawn from eight categories, each of which influences their value. The collectible characters provide NFT holders with access to the Otaku <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/glossary/dao/">DAO</a> and metaverse, which will serve as launchpads for emerging artists and authors, with versatile tools for branding, publishing, and marketing.</p>
<p>Authors and artists even have access to funding and can incorporate their Otaku NFT character designs into their art, whether that includes comics, anime, <a href="https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/all-about-japanese-manga">manga</a>, or games. If you love anime and crypto, this is one pairing you can’t afford to pass up. Otaku Origins is one of the year’s best upcoming NFT projects to invest in.</p>
<h3 id="21-the-flyfish-club">#21: <a href="https://opensea.io/collection/flyfish-club">The Flyfish Club</a></h3>
<p>As with some of the other new NFT projects that have made this list, these top NFTs are about experiences, making them more than just collectible items. The Flyfish Club (FFC) comes from the brilliant mind of Gary Vaynerchuk, who’s well-known as the creator of <a href="https://veefriends.com/">VeeFriends</a>.</p>
<p>FFC is the first of the new NFT projects designed as a members-only private dining club, featuring a cocktail lounge, intimate <a href="https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/eat-and-drink/2019/06/star-thai-sushi-siesta-key-omakase">omakase room</a>, and outdoor spaces. Members of the Flyfish Club have access to the private, 10,000-square-foot restaurant in New York City, as well as the restaurant’s other spaces, with the opportunity to bring guests. You’ll be able to lease or resell your membership as desired. If you love good food and one-of-a-kind experiences, this is undeniably one of the best NFTs to invest in right now.</p>
<p>Keen on joining this upcoming NFT project? Memberships start at 2.5 ETH.</p>
<h3 id="22-moonbirds">#22: <a href="https://opensea.io/collection/proof-moonbirds">Moonbirds</a></h3>
<p>Moonbirds is one of the hottest <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/crypto/what-is-a-non-fungible-token/">NFT </a>collections in 2022 with a current floor price of 26.5 ETH. It consists of 10,000 utility-enabled <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/nft/nft-pfps-profile-pictures?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">profile pictures (PFP)</a>. The collection was available for mint at 2.5 ETH and sold out in minutes.</p>
<p>Moonbird holders have the option to ‘nest’ their NFT to receive additional rewards. Nesting is similar to staking except the NFT doesn&rsquo;t leave the holder’s wallet, where holders accrue enhanced drops and rewards slowly over time, incentivizing long-term holding.</p>
<p>Besides displaying them as profile pictures, Moonbirds provide holders with access to the private <a href="https://www.nftportal.xyz/proof?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">PROOF </a>(the Moonbirds developer) <a href="https://discord.gg/PROOF?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Discord </a>server, where they will be invited to take part in exclusive Moonbird-related drops, giveaways, and meetups. Furthermore, owning a Moonbird grants the holder early access to all future PROOF projects, such as their recent announcement on the PROOF metaverse titled Highrise. Stay tuned for more by following them on <a href="https://twitter.com/moonbirds?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter </a>as PROOF continues to expand and provide further utilities to Moonbird holders.</p>
<h3 id="23-memeland">#23 <a href="https://www.memeland.com/?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">MemeLand</a></h3>
<p>MemeLand is a collection of 9,999 NFTs called Captains. Created by the developers of the social media platform 9GAG, each Captain is said to be loaded with benefits, including access to a secret club, an NFT marketplace, actual events, and future 9GAG projects. The goal is to enable creators by providing a bridge between web2 and <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/web3/what-is-web-3?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">web3 </a>communities.</p>
<p>MemeLand NFTs will eventually generate a fixed amount of $MEME tokens for a particular duration, rewarding Captain holders in the form of &lsquo;<a href="https://learn.bybit.com/investing/yield-farming-vs-staking?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">passive income</a>&rsquo;. $MEME can also be earned by staking assets or producing content that can be used in the MemeLand metaverse for governance and transactions.</p>
<p>9GAG recently released a premium membership of 420 exclusive NFTs titled &lsquo;<a href="https://opensea.io/collection/youtherealmvp?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">YOU THE REAL MVP</a>&rsquo;. The perks include free mints for two main collections, whitelists for all future NFT collections, MVP role, and access to their MVP <a href="https://discord.gg/memelandhttps://www.memeland.com?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Discord </a>lounge.</p>
<p>If you are interested in participating in their presale, you can visit their Discord and stand a chance to win a raffle for a place on the Memelist (whitelist). Information about its minting cost and release date has not been announced so do keep a look out on their <a href="https://twitter.com/MEMELAND?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a> for updates.</p>
<h3 id="24-mavrix">#24 <a href="https://mavrix.cc/?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Mavrix</a></h3>
<p>If you are a fan of Augmented Reality (AR), Mavrix or ‘Multiverse Augmented Virtual Reality Interactive Xperience’ is a project that you should seriously consider. The team is developing an interactive AR gaming experience where users have the ability to view themselves wearing their NFTs using an AR app downloadable on both Android and Apple. Mavrix holders will also be entitled to the benefits of another AR treasure hunt game that is currently in development and expected to finish in 2023.</p>
<p>The team will be giving away 0.2 ETH for the first 90 days following the release of Mavrix, plus a weekly giveaway of 1 ETH for the next 3 years. The project has dedicated 30% of the funds generated from royalties to the community wallet and will allow holders to vote on any future development. The project will consist of 9,999 NFTs expected to launch on July 31st, 2022. For more updates on the project, you can follow them on their <a href="https://twitter.com/mavrixNFT?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">social media</a> platforms.</p>
<h3 id="25-mekarim">#25 <a href="https://mekarim.com/?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">MekaRim</a></h3>
<p>For those that enjoy <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/crypto/top-nft-games?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">play-to-earn</a> games like <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/altcoins/what-is-axie-infinity-axs?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Axie Infinity</a> or <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/altcoins/what-is-gods-unchained-gods?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Gods Unchained</a>, MekaRim is an upcoming Transformers and Gundam-inspired, play-to-earn game expected to release in Q4 of 2023. The collection includes 10,000 3D robots with over 100 traits available for presale mint at 0.15 ETH on July 16th, 2022. Following this, two public sales will be held for those who missed the whitelist mint.</p>
<p>Each NFT acts as an avatar for the game and gives early access to holders during their beta launch. Additionally, holders will also be entitled to airdrops, and exclusive digital items, and their in-game currency $CORE will power the entire social media. The team has partnered with <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Bloomberg </a>and <a href="https://crypto.com/?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Crypto.com</a> amongst others which will be beneficial for marketing the entire ecosystem. Follow MekaRim on their<a href="https://twitter.com/mekarim_nft?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor"> social media</a> for more updates on their presale.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://learn.bybit.com/nft/upcoming-nft-projects/">25 Upcoming NFT Projects to Invest in and Get In on Early | Bybit Learn</a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/how-to-buy-and-sell-nfts-aio-bot-1280x720.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>An Introduction in Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, Tokens, Smart Contracts</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/an-introduction-in-blockchain-cryptocurrencies-tokens-smart-contracts-nfts-web3-defi-gamefi-and-dein-crash-course/</link><pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2022 18:20:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/an-introduction-in-blockchain-cryptocurrencies-tokens-smart-contracts-nfts-web3-defi-gamefi-and-dein-crash-course/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello there, today I&amp;rsquo;ll be covering definitions:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-is-blockchain"&gt;What is blockchain?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A &lt;strong&gt;blockchain&lt;/strong&gt; is a growing list of records, called &lt;em&gt;blocks&lt;/em&gt;, that are linked together using &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography" title="Cryptography"&gt;cryptography&lt;/a&gt;. Each block contains a &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_hash_function" title="Cryptographic hash function"&gt;cryptographic hash&lt;/a&gt; of the previous block, a &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_timestamping" title="Trusted timestamping"&gt;timestamp&lt;/a&gt;, and transaction data (generally represented as a &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree" title="Merkle tree"&gt;Merkle tree&lt;/a&gt;). The timestamp proves that the transaction data existed when the block was published in order to get into its hash. As blocks each contain information about the block previous to it, they form a chain, with each additional block reinforcing the ones before it. Therefore, blockchains are resistant to modification of their data because once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello there, today I&rsquo;ll be covering definitions:</p>
<h2 id="what-is-blockchain">What is blockchain?</h2>
<p>A <strong>blockchain</strong> is a growing list of records, called <em>blocks</em>, that are linked together using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography" title="Cryptography">cryptography</a>. Each block contains a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_hash_function" title="Cryptographic hash function">cryptographic hash</a> of the previous block, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_timestamping" title="Trusted timestamping">timestamp</a>, and transaction data (generally represented as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree" title="Merkle tree">Merkle tree</a>). The timestamp proves that the transaction data existed when the block was published in order to get into its hash. As blocks each contain information about the block previous to it, they form a chain, with each additional block reinforcing the ones before it. Therefore, blockchains are resistant to modification of their data because once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"><strong>Learn more</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-a-cryptocurrency">What is a cryptocurrency?</h2>
<p>A <strong>cryptocurrency</strong> is any form of currency that exists digitally or virtually and uses cryptography to secure transactions. Cryptocurrencies don’t have a central issuing or regulating authority, instead, they use a decentralized system to record transactions and issue new units.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/how-to-buy-your-first-cryptocurrency/"><strong>Here is how you can buy your first cryptocurrency</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-are-crypto-tokens">What Are Crypto Tokens?</h2>
<p>The term token refers to a special virtual currency token or how cryptocurrencies are denominated. These tokens represent fungible and tradable assets or utilities that reside on their own <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchains</a>. Crypto tokens are often used to fundraise for crowd sales, but they can also serve as a substitute for other things. These tokens are usually created, distributed, sold, and circulated through the standard <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/initial-coin-offering-ico.asp">initial coin offering (ICO)</a> process, which involves a crowdfunding exercise to fund project development.</p>
<h2 id="what-is-a-smart-contract">What is a smart contract?</h2>
<p>A <strong>smart contract</strong> is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_program" title="Computer program">computer program</a> or a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transaction_Protocol_Data_Unit" title="Transaction Protocol Data Unit">transaction protocol</a> that is intended to automatically execute, control, or document legally relevant events and actions according to the terms of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract" title="Contract">contract</a> or an agreement. The objectives of smart contracts are the reduction of the need for trusted intermediates, arbitrations, and enforcement costs, fraud losses, as well as the reduction of malicious and accidental exceptions.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-smart-contracts-smart-contracts-explained/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-an-nft">What is an NFT?</h2>
<p>A <strong>non-fungible token</strong> (<strong>NFT</strong>) is a unique and non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a digital <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledger" title="Ledger">ledger</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain" title="Blockchain">blockchain</a>). NFTs can be associated with reproducible digital files such as photos, videos, and audio. NFTs use a digital ledger to provide a public <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_of_authenticity" title="Certificate of authenticity">certificate of authenticity</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_(property)" title="Title (property)">proof of ownership</a>, but it does not restrict the sharing or copying of the underlying digital file. The lack of interchangeability (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungibility" title="Fungibility">fungibility</a>) distinguishes NFTs from blockchain <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrencies" title="Cryptocurrencies">cryptocurrencies</a>, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin" title="Bitcoin">Bitcoin</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-web-3">What is Web 3?</h2>
<p><strong>Web3,</strong> also known as <strong>Web 3.0</strong>, is an idea for a new iteration of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet" title="Internet">Internet</a> that is based on public <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain" title="Blockchain">blockchains</a>. The term was coined in 2014 by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethereum" title="Ethereum">Ethereum</a> co-founder <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Wood" title="Gavin Wood">Gavin Wood</a>, and the idea gained interest in 2020 and 2021 from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrency" title="Cryptocurrency">cryptocurrency</a> enthusiasts, large technology companies, and venture capitalist firms.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/web-3.0-explained-part-1/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-defi">What is DeFi?</h2>
<p><strong>Decentralized finance</strong> (commonly referred to as <strong>DeFi</strong>) is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain" title="Blockchain">blockchain</a>-based form of finance that does not rely on central financial <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediary" title="Intermediary">intermediaries</a> such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brokerage" title="Brokerage">brokerages</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exchange_(organized_market)" title="Exchange (organized market)">exchanges</a>, or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank" title="Bank">banks</a> to offer traditional <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_instrument" title="Financial instrument">financial instruments</a>, and instead utilizes <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_contract" title="Smart contract">smart contracts</a> on blockchains, the most common being <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethereum" title="Ethereum">Ethereum</a>.[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><em>citation needed</em></a>] DeFi platforms allow people to lend or borrow funds from others, speculate on price movements on a range of assets using derivatives, trade <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrencies" title="Cryptocurrencies">cryptocurrencies</a>, insure against risks, and earn <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest" title="Interest">interest</a> in savings-like accounts. DeFi uses a layered architecture and highly composable building blocks.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-gamefi">What is GameFi?</h2>
<p><strong>GameFi</strong> also known as Game Finance, is the gamification of financial systems to create profit from playing play-to-earn crypto games.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/gamers-assemble-play-games-to-earn-free-crypto/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-dein">What is DeIn?</h2>
<p>Decentralized Insurance also known as DeIn or DeFi Insurance is where rather than purchasing insurance coverage from one specific individual or company, you can purchase coverage from a decentralized pool of insurance providers. Interestingly, any individual or company can work as an insurance provider by locking up capital in the decentralized capital pool. The individual or company providing capital to the pool can qualify as a <a href="https://101blockchains.com/how-liquidity-provider-tokens-work/">liquidity provider</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-insurance-built-on-the-blockchain-is-a-game-changer/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h3 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h3>
<p>I am a follower of the above simply because of how much disruption of traditional methods blockchain can create. In one way or the other blockchain technology is the future of processing. Currently, as of writing this post, there are Decentralized Supply Chain Management, Decentralized Full Proof Voting, Decentralized Real Estate, Decentralized Data Protection, and Decentralized Loyalty + Royalty Programs.</p>
<p><strong>Learn more here:</strong> <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/the-importance-and-benefits-of-blockchain-technology/"><strong>The Importance and Benefits of Blockchain Technology</strong></a></p>
<p>Blockchain <strong>increases trust, security, transparency, and the traceability of data shared across a business network</strong> — and delivers cost savings with new efficiencies. Blockchain for business uses a shared and immutable ledger that can only be accessed by members with permission.</p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/1644357966865.png" medium="image"/></item><item><title>How To Buy NFTs</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/how-to-buy-nfts/</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/how-to-buy-nfts/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, have been all the rage in the digital art community in recent months. In short, NFTs are blockchain-backed certificates of ownership for digital objects, such as videos and images. Just like with a physical painting or sculpture, an NFT represents that you own a unique piece of content (and it&amp;rsquo;s yours to keep forever), even though that content is purely digital. And just like with physical artworks at auction houses like Christie&amp;rsquo;s and Sotheby&amp;rsquo;s, some NFTs can sell for staggering amounts of money—like this &amp;ldquo;anime girl&amp;rdquo; GIF that sold for over $500k. So how can you jump on this emerging trend? First things first: here&amp;rsquo;s what you need to know about NFTs before you buy one:&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, have been all the rage in the digital art community in recent months. In short, NFTs are blockchain-backed certificates of ownership for digital objects, such as videos and images. Just like with a physical painting or sculpture, an NFT represents that you own a unique piece of content (and it&rsquo;s yours to keep forever), even though that content is purely digital. And just like with physical artworks at auction houses like Christie&rsquo;s and Sotheby&rsquo;s, some NFTs can sell for staggering amounts of money—like this &ldquo;anime girl&rdquo; GIF that sold for over $500k. So how can you jump on this emerging trend? First things first: here&rsquo;s what you need to know about NFTs before you buy one:</p>
<p>NFTs are blockchain-backed certificates of ownership for digital objects, such as art or video clips.</p>
<p>NFTs are blockchain-backed certificates of ownership for digital objects, such as art or video clips. They’re a novel way to own a piece of digital culture — one that you can use to show off on social media, trade with your friends and admirers, and even sell back to the artist if you want.</p>
<p>NFTs aren&rsquo;t limited to digital art, either. They could be used for many other purposes: for example, you could use them as tickets for an event like Burning Man or as vouchers for a trip around the world (you&rsquo;d just have to make sure everyone has an Ethereum wallet).</p>
<p>You can buy and sell NFTs with real-world money, but they only exist online.</p>
<p>NFTs are digital tokens that exist only online.</p>
<p>You can buy them with real-world money on exchanges, dapps, and decentralized exchanges.</p>
<p>You can also sell them for cash or other cryptocurrencies.</p>
<p>NFTs are part of the greater cryptocurrency ecosystem, and they&rsquo;re traded on decentralized ledgers called blockchains.</p>
<p>NFTs are part of the larger cryptocurrency ecosystem. They&rsquo;re traded on decentralized ledgers called blockchains. The Ethereum blockchain is the most popular network for NFTs, but it&rsquo;s slow, expensive, and congested.</p>
<p>The following sections explain how NFTs work in more detail and introduce you to some of the key players in this space.</p>
<p>The most popular network for NFTs is currently Ethereum, which is the same network used by popular cryptocurrencies like Ether (ETH) and USD Coin (USDC).</p>
<p>If you&rsquo;re looking to buy non-fungible tokens (NFTs), your first step is to determine which network you&rsquo;d like to use. The most popular network for NFTs is currently Ethereum, which is the same network used by popular cryptocurrencies like Ether (ETH) and USD Coin (USDC).</p>
<p>Ethereum&rsquo;s blockchain is also used for more general purposes—for example, it can be used to create smart contracts or host initial coin offerings (ICOs).</p>
<p>If you want your NFTs on a different network than Ethereum&rsquo;s blockchain, then chances are good that someone else has already built a tokenization platform with that functionality.</p>
<p>However, the Ethereum network has become increasingly congested in recent months, causing transaction fees to increase dramatically.</p>
<p>However, the Ethereum network has become increasingly congested in recent months, causing transaction fees to increase dramatically. Transaction fees are a way to pay the network for processing transactions—they&rsquo;re paid in ETH, so you&rsquo;ll need some ETH in your wallet before you can make an NFT purchase. You may be wondering how much these transaction costs are going to run up on your bill. Unfortunately for us all, there&rsquo;s no easy answer; transaction fees are calculated by the network and vary based on things like gas price (a measure of how much &ldquo;fuel&rdquo; is required for a given transaction), gas used per byte of data sent across the blockchain (the more bytes you send at once means more gas consumption), and total demand on nodes at any given time—if everyone tries to use their Ethereum address right now instead of later when there&rsquo;s less congestion on Ethereum itself then that means higher load times which leads back around again&hellip;</p>
<p>Alternative networks like Polygon and Solana offer lower fees and faster transaction processing times than Ethereum.</p>
<p>Ethereum is the most popular network for NFTs, but it&rsquo;s not the only option. In fact, Polygon and Solana offer benefits that Ethereum doesn&rsquo;t: low fees, fast transaction times, and higher scalability.</p>
<p>Polygon is a network for hosting new applications and games that are built on decentralized architecture. It uses its own native token (PLG) as a payment method for all transactions within the platform. Polygon also has a built-in governance system that allows users to vote on whether or not they want to include new features into the ecosystem or change existing ones; this means that users have more control over how their experience of using Polygon evolves over time.</p>
<p>Solana offers similar benefits to those found in Ethereum; however, it can process transactions more quickly than other blockchains because it supports an algorithm called “Proof of History” rather than Proof of Work (PoW). PoW consumes large amounts of electricity and takes longer than PoH because every transaction needs to be verified by several computers simultaneously before being added as part of an ever-growing blockchain record; this makes scaling up networks like Bitcoin difficult because there would need to be more hardware available when demand increases significantly over time - leading us back into familiar territory where no one knows what they&rsquo;re doing yet again!</p>
<p>NFTs are a novel way to own a piece of digital culture; here&rsquo;s how you can get started with them.</p>
<p>NFTs are a novel way to own a piece of digital culture; here&rsquo;s how you can get started with them.</p>
<p>NFTs are blockchain-backed certificates of ownership for digital objects, such as art or video clips. For example, you might purchase a virtual cat from CryptoKitty and then sell it to someone else later on. These tokens represent ownership of whatever they refer to — in this case, the cat — and can be traded on marketplaces like OpenSea or Rarebits for other NFTs or cryptocurrencies like ether (ETH).</p>
<h2 id="1-create-a-web3-wallet">1. Create a Web3 Wallet</h2>

<h5 class="additionalreading">Also Read: <a href=""></a></h5>







<p>To get started, you’ll need an Ethereum-compatible crypto wallet, in other words, <em>a web3 wallet</em>, and fund it with enough ETH. You can use a crypto wallet to purchase, sell, store, and swap crypto assets.</p>
<ul>
<li>OpenSea works with all significant Ethereum web3 wallets. You can see which crypto wallets you can use on OpenSea <a href="https://support.opensea.io/hc/en-us/articles/1500007978402-Wallets-supported-by-OpenSea">here</a>. However, Metamask is the most popular one, that’s why we’ll use it in our instructions.</li>
<li>To download Metamask, visit <a href="https://metamask.io/download/">metamask.io/download</a> and choose your browser. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave are supported. Mobile extensions for iOS and Android are also available.</li>
<li>After choosing the extension, click on “Get Started.”</li>
<li>Click on “Create Wallet.”</li>
<li>You’ll be prompted with a screen that shows a new seed phrase for your wallet. This seed phrase is a long string of words that Metamask automatically creates. You will require it in the future to recover your wallet. If you lose it, nobody can help you get your funds back. That’s why you should save it in a secure place.</li>
<li>Next, create your password. This password will be the only thing you’ll require to log into your wallet in the future, provided that you connect from the same device. If you need to use your wallet on another device in the future, you’ll have to use the seed phrase we mentioned above. It’s worth emphasizing that you should never lose your seed phrase.</li>
<li>After this step, you’ll be prompted to confirm your seed phrase by choosing the words that appear on the screen in the same order as they appear in your seed phrase.</li>
<li>Your MetaMask download will be completed, and the MetaMask icon will be shown in the top right corner of your browser window.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="2-connect-your-metamask-wallet-to-opensea">2. Connect your MetaMask wallet to OpenSea</h2>
<p>Once your wallet is up and running, head over to <a href="http://opensea.io/">OpenSea.io</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li>Click on the wallet icon in the upper right corner and choose MetaMask. You’ll be requested to sign for approval to connect your wallet to OpenSea.</li>
<li>You can create a username, write a bio, and add your social channel links when your wallet is connected. But these steps aren’t required to buy NFTs. Connecting a wallet is enough for that.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="3-fund-your-metamask-wallet-with-ethereum">3. Fund your Metamask wallet with Ethereum</h2>
<p>To buy NFTs, you need Ethereum cryptocurrency. You can buy it on central exchanges like <a href="https://accounts.binance.com/en/register?ref=CL2JFAB6">Binance</a>, <a href="https://www.coinbase.com/join/ajulu_v">Coinbase</a>, or <a href="https://www.kraken.com/">Kraken</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li>Creating an account on these exchanges all work in similar ways. You need to undergo a verification process by providing an ID or Passport.</li>
<li>Once you’ve been verified, you can buy Ethereum. Depending on the exchange you choose, different payment options are possible. Usually, you’re able to pay with a credit card for the first time. Some exchanges also work with bank transfers.</li>
<li>After this step, you should transfer Ethereum from the exchange to your MetaMask wallet. Again, the process is similar in every exchange. You need to copy your MetaMask address for receiving currencies and paste it into the appropriate “send” field found in the cryptocurrency exchange for Ethereum withdrawals. This section is usually found on your exchange balance. Click on the withdrawal button and paste your MetaMask wallet address and confirm.</li>
<li>Based on the cryptocurrency exchange you choose, there might be an additional security step like Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), in which case you need to enter a verification code during the above process.</li>
<li>Ethereum transfers are usually fast. But depending on the busyness of the network, it may take up to an hour in rare cases.</li>
</ul>
<p>Once your wallet is funded with enough ETH, you can search for an NFT to buy on OpenSea.</p>
<h2 id="3-search-an-nft-on-opensea">3. Search an NFT on OpenSea</h2>
<p>There’re millions of NFTs on OpenSea. It’s a good idea to know about the platform’s searching and filtering options.</p>
<ul>
<li>The Explore lists all active NFT categories. You can choose one category to see all NFTs within that category in one place.</li>
<li>Under the stats tab, you can see the highest demand collections in the last 24 hours, seven days, 30 days, or all time.</li>
<li>To explore more filtering options, go to <a href="https://opensea.io/assets" title="https://opensea.io/assets">https://opensea.io/assets</a>. You’ll see the options listed on the left-hand side of the website.</li>
</ul>
<p>You can view the results based on the status, price, blockchains, categories, and currencies you can use as payment methods.</p>
<h2 id="4-buy-nfts">4. Buy NFTs</h2>
<p>Using search options allows you to find new NFTs based on various criteria. When you’ve found the NFT you want to buy, click on it to get to its own page.</p>
<ul>
<li>There are two purchasing choices on each NFT page: Buy Now and Make Offer. To acquire the NFT at the specified price, select “Buy Now” and follow the directions in your wallet. It’s worth noting that OpenSea charges a variety of fees. In effect, this implies you’ll always pay more than the NFT’s retail price.</li>
<li>You can try to purchase NFTs at a lower price than the current set price by making offers. Select the “Make an Offer” option. You’ll be asked to choose the currency you’d want to pay in. WETH, USDC, and DAI are the only three methods for making offers. You’ll have to pay a one-time gas fee if you haven’t made any purchases with these currencies in your wallet before.</li>
<li>Some owners choose to sell their NFTs through timed auctions, especially if there is a great demand for them. As a buyer, you’ll need WETH to create your bid by clicking the Place Bid button, precisely like you would for fixed-price NFTs.</li>
<li>Confirm the transaction on your Metamask wallet as the last step. It’s worth noting that you’ll have to pay a gas fee which can sometimes be more expensive than the NFT itself. Wait during less busy hours as a solution.</li>
</ul>
<p>There are more NFT marketplaces:</p>
<ol>
<li><a href="https://foundation.app">Foundation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://rarible.com/">Rarible</a></li>
<li><a href="https://superrare.com/">SuperRare</a></li>
<li><a href="https://magiceden.io/">Magic Eden</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.binance.com/en/nft/home?ref=C2NIWDDM">Binance NFT</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/c/221109/552039/9251?subId1=cbq-row-6804213267239653000&amp;sharedId=hawk&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fnft.coinbase.com%2F">Coinbase NFT</a></li>
</ol>
<p>Conclusion</p>
<p>While NFTs are a fun and novel way for artists to sell their work and for collectors to own pieces of digital culture, the trend is still in its early days. As such, it&rsquo;s important to understand how they work before purchasing them—especially since you may have to pay a hefty transaction fee depending on which network you use. Still, if you&rsquo;re interested in getting involved with NFTs, we hope that this article has been helpful. Happy hunting!</p>
<p><a href="https://unstoppabledomains.com/?ref=d066811aa8ea4f2"><img src="/images/unstoppabledomainsad.webp" style="width: 100%; height: auto;"></a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/dylan-calluy-e4tbps9k_po-unsplash.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>How To Buy Your First NFT Web 3.0 Domain: Ethereum Naming Service</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-second-way-to-buy-your-first-nft-web-3.0-domain-ethereum-naming-service/</link><pubDate>Mon, 27 Dec 2021 14:11:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-second-way-to-buy-your-first-nft-web-3.0-domain-ethereum-naming-service/</guid><description>&lt;h3 id="refresher"&gt;Refresher&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;NFT domains are domains that live on a public blockchain and give users complete ownership of their stored data. The main benefits to owning one are simplifying crypto transactions by replacing long complicated wallet addresses with the domain name and easily creating and hosting websites on web3.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 id="what-is-the-ethereum-naming-service"&gt;What is the Ethereum Naming Service?&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ethereum Name Service is a blockchain protocol for users who want to have their own unique and memorable usernames over Web 3.0. Using the service allows you to nail all of your wallet addresses and decentralized websites to a single unique name. For instance, “alice.ETH.” This makes you more recognizable and easier to find across the decentralized space.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3 id="refresher">Refresher</h3>
<p>NFT domains are domains that live on a public blockchain and give users complete ownership of their stored data. The main benefits to owning one are simplifying crypto transactions by replacing long complicated wallet addresses with the domain name and easily creating and hosting websites on web3.</p>
<h3 id="what-is-the-ethereum-naming-service">What is the Ethereum Naming Service?</h3>
<p>Ethereum Name Service is a blockchain protocol for users who want to have their own unique and memorable usernames over Web 3.0. Using the service allows you to nail all of your wallet addresses and decentralized websites to a single unique name. For instance, “alice.ETH.” This makes you more recognizable and easier to find across the decentralized space.</p>
<p>The service also allows you to use your domain name to create a decentralized website or to link an existing domain to your <strong>Ethereum</strong> (CCC:<a href="https://investorplace.com/cryptocurrency/eth-usd/"><strong>ETH-USD</strong></a>) wallet.</p>
<h3 id="how-to-buy-an-eth-domain">How to buy an &ldquo;.ETH&rdquo; domain?</h3>
<p>How to Register Your First &ldquo;.ETH&rdquo; Domain</p>
<ol>
<li>Go to <a href="https://app.ens.domains" title="https://app.ens.domains">https://app.ens.domains</a></li>
<li>Use the search bar to find a domain you want.</li>
<li>Tap on your chosen name to see an estimate of how much it will cost.</li>
<li>Get a free Ethereum wallet. I recommend <a href="https://rainbow.me">Rainbow</a> or <a href="https://metamask.io/">MetaMask</a></li>
<li>Buy enough Ethereum using the wallet to cover the cost of your domain (add a little extra just in case)</li>
<li>Go back to the ENS domain website, click the menu in the top right and connect your new wallet.</li>
<li>Once connected, you’ll be able to click the blue “Request to Register” button on the domain.</li>
<li>Open your wallet &amp; confirm the first transaction request. The transaction may take a few minutes, and then you’ll see a 1-minute countdown begin on the ENS site.</li>
<li>After the 1-minute countdown is done, you’ll be able to finalize your registration. Click the register button to initiate a transaction in your wallet.</li>
<li>Confirm the transaction in your wallet, then wait for it to complete.</li>
<li>You now have your very own ENS name! Congratulations!</li>
<li>Lastly, go to your account on the ENS website and set your reverse record to the new name you&rsquo;ve purchased.</li>
</ol>
<p>You can now use your &ldquo;.ETH&rdquo; address to send/receive Ethereum and other crypto assets. In the future, it’ll be used for more things too!</p>
<p>If you&rsquo;d like to learn more, go check out the previous article <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/how-to-buy-your-first-nft-web-3.0-domain/"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/0_r24ox8zwoe0gfp1g.png" medium="image"/></item><item><title>How To Buy Your First NFT Web 3.0 Domain: Unstoppable Domains</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/how-to-buy-your-first-nft-web-3.0-domain/</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Dec 2021 13:31:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/how-to-buy-your-first-nft-web-3.0-domain/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;Today i&amp;rsquo;d like to help you buy your first NFT Web 3.0 domain. We&amp;rsquo;ll talk about what they are, where you can get one and how to buy/use one.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;First,&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 id="what-is-an-nftweb3-domain"&gt;What is an NFT/WEB3 Domain?&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;NFT domains are domains that live on a public blockchain and give users complete ownership of their stored data. The main benefits to owning one are simplifying crypto transactions by replacing long complicated wallet addresses with the domain name and easily creating and hosting websites on web3.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today i&rsquo;d like to help you buy your first NFT Web 3.0 domain. We&rsquo;ll talk about what they are, where you can get one and how to buy/use one.</p>
<p>First,</p>
<h3 id="what-is-an-nftweb3-domain">What is an NFT/WEB3 Domain?</h3>
<p>NFT domains are domains that live on a public blockchain and give users complete ownership of their stored data. The main benefits to owning one are simplifying crypto transactions by replacing long complicated wallet addresses with the domain name and easily creating and hosting websites on web3.</p>
<p>If you haven’t heard yet, NFT domains are the newest kids on the block(chain) and they have the power to change what we know of as the internet today. But before we dive into all that goodness, let’s take a step back to run through what traditional domains are and define NFTs — that way, you can truly understand the superpowers behind NFT domains.</p>
<p>Typically, you interact with a traditional domain when you type the address (like Twitter.com) into your browser. But did you know traditional domains were originally built to do so much more on the internet? Think of functionalities like email and payments. Hard to believe, right?</p>
<p>But as we can see, traditional domains haven’t progressed much beyond displaying websites. This might be because traditional domains have been controlled by centralized servers since the internet was created. This made it much more difficult for developers to innovate on top of that technology.</p>
<p>Luckily for us, the tech that powers NFT domains (a.k.a. blockchains) opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for us on the web!</p>
<h2 id="what-is-an-nft">What is an NFT?</h2>
<p><em>NFT (non-fungible token): a digital certificate of authenticity used to assign and verify ownership of a unique digital or physical asset. Unlike fungible tokens, NFTs are not interchangeable with one another.</em></p>
<h3 id="how-do-they-work">How Do They Work?</h3>
<p>Great question! NFT domains are essentially a suite of smart contracts, which is a fancy term to describe software written on a public blockchain. This means that instead of one company controlling your data online, the power is transferred back to you as the user. And by being built on blockchains, anyone can look at the data stored there, creating a level of ultimate openness and transparency.</p>
<p>On top of that, there is the benefit of enhanced security — only you hold the power to make updates to your NFT domain, which minimizes worries about servers getting hacked or domains getting stolen.</p>
<p>All that to say, blockchain superpowers give everyone a safer way to surf the internet while also giving control back to you over what gets shared and where it gets shared.</p>
<p><em>Cool, I’m starting to get the power of blockchain but am still not 100% sure what I can DO with an NFT domain?</em></p>
<h3 id="uses-of-an-nft-domain">Uses of an NFT Domain?</h3>
<ol>
<li>Simplify crypto transactions by replacing all your complicated wallet addresses with your domain name as your username.</li>
<li>Use your domain to receive 275+ coins and tokens across multiple blockchain networks.</li>
<li>Login to apps with your domain name as your universal web3 username.</li>
<li>Unlike traditional domains, fully own and control your domain. You buy it once, you own it for life!</li>
<li>Easily create and host websites, ranging from personal websites to NFT galleries.</li>
</ol>
<h3 id="reasons-to-get-one">Reasons to get one?</h3>
<h2 id="1-zero-renewal-fees">#1) Zero Renewal Fees</h2>
<p>Unlike traditional .com domains, you fully own and control your Unstoppable Domain, so you never have to pay renewal fees. Ever. You buy it once, you own it for life!</p>
<h2 id="2-seamless-crypto-payments">#2) Seamless Crypto Payments</h2>
<p>No longer fear your payments getting lost in the ether (pun intended). Instead of copy and pasting your wallet address (which is similar to a bank account number and can look like: 0xc6b0562605d35ee710138402b878ffe6f2e23807), use an Unstoppable Domain as your one-stop-shop username to store all of your wallet addresses for sending and receiving crypto.</p>
<h2 id="3-multi-chain-compatibility">#3) Multi-Chain Compatibility</h2>
<p>Your NFT domain comes with the superpower to receive over 275 supported coins and tokens, with many more on the way! Now you can navigate crypto transactions with ease, regardless of the blockchain network. <a href="https://support.unstoppabledomains.com/support/solutions/articles/48001185621-what-cryptocurrencies-are-currently-supported-"><strong>Browse the complete list of supported cryptocurrencies here.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="4-decentralized-websites">#4) Decentralized Websites</h2>
<p>Want to create a website on the decentralized web? <a href="https://support.unstoppabledomains.com/support/solutions/articles/48001181925-build-website"><strong>Create one</strong></a> in just a few clicks with our pre-made templates. Own any NFTs? Create a <a href="https://support.unstoppabledomains.com/support/solutions/articles/48001185412-launching-an-nft-gallery"><strong>gallery-style website</strong></a> to show off your favorite collectibles as your collection grows. We&rsquo;ll be adding more features and templates in the future, so stay tuned here.</p>
<h2 id="5-own-your-identity-on-web3">#5) Own Your Identity on Web3</h2>
<p>As the world shifts to web3, it’ll be more important than ever to own your part of the new internet. By owning an Unstoppable Domain, you’ll not only help progress the digital world, you’ll ensure your identity is secured for the next wave of technology.</p>
<h3 id="how-to-get-one">How to get one?</h3>
<ol>
<li>To buy one visit this link and follow the prompts: <a href="https://unstoppabledomains.pxf.io/qnXOv5"><strong>Register for Unstoppable Domains</strong></a><strong>.</strong></li>
</ol>
<p><a href="https://unstoppabledomains.pxf.io/qnXOv5"><img src="/images/unstoppabledomainsad.webp" style="width: 100%; height: auto;"></a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/unstoppable-1280x720.png" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Smart Contract, NFT, Web 3, DeFi and GameFi 101:</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/cryptocurrency-blockchain-smart-contract-nft-web-3-defi-and-gamefi-101-definition/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2021 07:15:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/cryptocurrency-blockchain-smart-contract-nft-web-3-defi-and-gamefi-101-definition/</guid><description>&lt;h3 id="what-is-a-cryptocurrency"&gt;What is a cryptocurrency?&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A &lt;strong&gt;cryptocurrency&lt;/strong&gt; is any form of currency that exists digitally or virtually and uses cryptography to secure transactions. Cryptocurrencies don&amp;rsquo;t have a central issuing or regulating authority, instead, they use a decentralized system to record transactions and issue new units.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/how-to-buy-your-first-cryptocurrency/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Here is how you can buy your first cryptocurrency&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 id="what-is-blockchain"&gt;What is blockchain?&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A &lt;strong&gt;blockchain&lt;/strong&gt; is a growing list of records, called &lt;em&gt;blocks&lt;/em&gt;, that are linked together using &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography" title="Cryptography"&gt;cryptography&lt;/a&gt;. Each block contains a &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_hash_function" title="Cryptographic hash function"&gt;cryptographic hash&lt;/a&gt; of the previous block, a &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_timestamping" title="Trusted timestamping"&gt;timestamp&lt;/a&gt;, and transaction data (generally represented as a &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree" title="Merkle tree"&gt;Merkle tree&lt;/a&gt;). The timestamp proves that the transaction data existed when the block was published in order to get into its hash. As blocks each contain information about the block previous to it, they form a chain, with each additional block reinforcing the ones before it. Therefore, blockchains are resistant to modification of their data because once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3 id="what-is-a-cryptocurrency">What is a cryptocurrency?</h3>
<p>A <strong>cryptocurrency</strong> is any form of currency that exists digitally or virtually and uses cryptography to secure transactions. Cryptocurrencies don&rsquo;t have a central issuing or regulating authority, instead, they use a decentralized system to record transactions and issue new units.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/how-to-buy-your-first-cryptocurrency/"><strong>Here is how you can buy your first cryptocurrency</strong></a></p>
<h3 id="what-is-blockchain">What is blockchain?</h3>
<p>A <strong>blockchain</strong> is a growing list of records, called <em>blocks</em>, that are linked together using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography" title="Cryptography">cryptography</a>. Each block contains a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_hash_function" title="Cryptographic hash function">cryptographic hash</a> of the previous block, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_timestamping" title="Trusted timestamping">timestamp</a>, and transaction data (generally represented as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree" title="Merkle tree">Merkle tree</a>). The timestamp proves that the transaction data existed when the block was published in order to get into its hash. As blocks each contain information about the block previous to it, they form a chain, with each additional block reinforcing the ones before it. Therefore, blockchains are resistant to modification of their data because once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h3 id="what-is-a-smart-contract">What is a smart contract?</h3>
<p>A <strong>smart contract</strong> is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_program" title="Computer program">computer program</a> or a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transaction_Protocol_Data_Unit" title="Transaction Protocol Data Unit">transaction protocol</a> that is intended to automatically execute, control, or document legally relevant events and actions according to the terms of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract" title="Contract">contract</a> or an agreement. The objectives of smart contracts are the reduction of need in trusted intermediates, arbitrations, and enforcement costs, fraud losses, as well as the reduction of malicious and accidental exceptions.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-smart-contracts-smart-contracts-explained/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h3 id="what-is-an-nft">What is an NFT?</h3>
<p>A <strong>non-fungible token</strong> (<strong>NFT</strong>) is a unique and non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a digital <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledger" title="Ledger">ledger</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain" title="Blockchain">blockchain</a>). NFTs can be associated with reproducible digital files such as photos, videos, and audio. NFTs use a digital ledger to provide a public <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_of_authenticity" title="Certificate of authenticity">certificate of authenticity</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_(property)" title="Title (property)">proof of ownership</a>, but it does not restrict the sharing or copying of the underlying digital file. The lack of interchangeability (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungibility" title="Fungibility">fungibility</a>) distinguishes NFTs from blockchain <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrencies" title="Cryptocurrencies">cryptocurrencies</a>, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin" title="Bitcoin">Bitcoin</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h3 id="what-is-web-3">What is Web 3?</h3>
<p><strong>Web3,</strong> also known as <strong>Web 3.0</strong>, is an idea for a new iteration of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet" title="Internet">Internet</a> that is based on public <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain" title="Blockchain">blockchains</a>. The term was coined in 2014 by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethereum" title="Ethereum">Ethereum</a> co-founder <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Wood" title="Gavin Wood">Gavin Wood</a>, and the idea gained interest in 2020 and 2021 from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrency" title="Cryptocurrency">cryptocurrency</a> enthusiasts, large technology companies, and venture capitalist firms.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/web-3.0-explained-part-1/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h3 id="what-is-defi">What is DeFi?</h3>
<p><strong>Decentralized finance</strong> (commonly referred to as <strong>DeFi</strong>) is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain" title="Blockchain">blockchain</a>-based form of finance that does not rely on central financial <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediary" title="Intermediary">intermediaries</a> such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brokerage" title="Brokerage">brokerages</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exchange_(organized_market)" title="Exchange (organized market)">exchanges</a>, or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank" title="Bank">banks</a> to offer traditional <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_instrument" title="Financial instrument">financial instruments</a>, and instead utilizes <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_contract" title="Smart contract">smart contracts</a> on blockchains, the most common being <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethereum" title="Ethereum">Ethereum</a>.[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><em>citation needed</em></a>] DeFi platforms allow people to lend or borrow funds from others, speculate on price movements on a range of assets using derivatives, trade <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrencies" title="Cryptocurrencies">cryptocurrencies</a>, insure against risks, and earn <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest" title="Interest">interest</a> in savings-like accounts. DeFi uses a layered architecture and highly composable building blocks.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h3 id="what-is-gamefi">What is GameFi?</h3>
<p><strong>GameFi</strong> is also known as Game Finance, is the gamification of financial systems to create profit from playing play-to-earn crypto games.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/gamers-assemble-play-games-to-earn-free-crypto/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/newhype101definition.png" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Top GameFi Games Right Now</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/top-gamefi-games-right-now/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2021 16:40:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/top-gamefi-games-right-now/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;For players looking to get involved in these blockchain-based games and start earning cryptocurrency and NFTs, here is a breakdown of some of the leading&lt;a href="https://dappradar.com/rankings/category/games"&gt; games&lt;/a&gt; currently available.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 id="alien-worlds"&gt;Alien Worlds&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In this game, players join an alien universe consisting of several planets where they must fight for scarce resources and mine the game’s native cryptocurrency, trillium (TLM). Players can also battle each other, go on quests and earn additional income by renting out their land to others.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For players looking to get involved in these blockchain-based games and start earning cryptocurrency and NFTs, here is a breakdown of some of the leading<a href="https://dappradar.com/rankings/category/games"> games</a> currently available.</p>
<h3 id="alien-worlds">Alien Worlds</h3>
<p>In this game, players join an alien universe consisting of several planets where they must fight for scarce resources and mine the game’s native cryptocurrency, trillium (TLM). Players can also battle each other, go on quests and earn additional income by renting out their land to others.</p>
<p><a href="https://alienworlds.io/">Alien Worlds</a> was the first game to <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/inside-alien-worlds-the-biggest-game-in-the-metaverse">break through 100,000 users</a> and currently boasts over 2.5 million players. This was, in part, due to its free-to-play nature and the fact its metaverse world spans multiple blockchains including WAX, Ethereum, and Binance Smart Chain.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Native crypto token:</strong> <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/alien-worlds/">trilium (TLM)</a></li>
<li><strong>Blockchains:</strong> Native WAX blockchain, but also runs off Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain (BSC)</li>
<li><strong>Monthly user base:</strong> <a href="https://dappradar.com/wax/games/alien-worlds">1,000,000</a></li>
<li><strong>The initial investment required:</strong> You are required to buy NFT game cards such as land in order to mine.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="cryptoblades">CryptoBlades</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.cryptoblades.io/">CryptoBlades</a> is a web-based role-playing game that emulates traditional games like Skyrim or Dark Souls. Players can battle monsters or complete in-game raids to earn SKILL tokens. To help with battles, players can craft weapons to build an advantage over their opponents or boost their power. These items can then be traded in an open marketplace.</p>
<p>The gameplay itself is straightforward. There are four main components – fire, earth, lightning, and water – allocated to each character, weapon, attribute, and enemy. Each component will have its strengths and weaknesses, which players must then utilize and build strategies to beat their opponents.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Native crypto token:</strong> <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/cryptoblades/"><strong>c</strong>ryptoblades (SKILL)</a></li>
<li><strong>Blockchain:</strong> Binance Smart Chain</li>
<li><strong>Monthly user base:</strong> <a href="https://dappradar.com/binance-smart-chain/games/cryptoblades-1">510,000</a></li>
<li><strong>The initial investment required:</strong> Users will need to purchase around 0.2 BNB to play and pay for transaction fees in-game.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="axie-infinity">Axie Infinity</h3>
<p>A Pokemon-inspired universe where you can buy, take care of, breed, and trade digital monsters called <a href="https://axieinfinity.com/">“Axies</a>.” Axie Infinity runs off its own specifically built sidechain so that it can optimize gameplay and scale effectively.</p>
<p>The game has a high earning potential but requires high involvement to breed, care for and trade rare or unique Axies. These monsters can battle each other to earn SLP tokens or be sent on quests for resource farming.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Native token:</strong> <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/axie-infinity/">axie infinity (AXS)</a> and <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/smooth-love-potion/">smooth love potion (SLP)</a></li>
<li><strong>Blockchain:</strong> Ethereum</li>
<li><strong>Monthly user base:</strong> <a href="https://dappradar.com/ethereum/games/axie-infinity">308,000</a></li>
<li><strong>The initial investment required:</strong> You need to purchase three Axies from the in-house marketplace before you can play.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="upland">Upland</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.upland.me/">Upland</a> is an NFT metaverse made to parallel our world where players can buy, sell and trade properties linked to real-world addresses. Users can then play, run businesses and connect with other Uplanders across the world.</p>
<p>Players have an Upland avatar that can roam throughout a city to look for available properties for purchase. Or they can visit other players’ properties. To earn special UPX rewards and increase a property’s earnings, users can complete a Collection. This is similar to Monopoly; the more properties you have of a single color, the more valuable they are.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Native token:</strong> <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/upland/">upland (UPX)</a></li>
<li><strong>Blockchain:</strong> EOS</li>
<li><strong>Monthly user base:</strong> <a href="https://dappradar.com/eos/games/upland">155,000</a></li>
<li><strong>The initial investment required:</strong> To open an account, you need to first purchase a virtual property.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="splinterlands">Splinterlands</h3>
<p>This is a <a href="https://splinterlands.com/">digital collectible card game</a> where players build up a collection of cards with various abilities and stats and use them to battle other players. Each card is represented by an NFT and is tradable or can be exchanged on the open market. The game relies on one-on-one fighting where players are randomly assigned battle parameters.</p>
<p>Both players then have a limited amount of time to build a deck of cards they will use to fight each other.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Native token:</strong> <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/dark-energy-crystals/">dark energy crystals (DEC)</a> and <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/splinterlands/">splintershards (SPS)</a>, which is the governance token</li>
<li><strong>Blockchain:</strong> Hive blockchain</li>
<li><strong>Monthly user base:</strong> <a href="https://dappradar.com/hive/games/splinterlands">120,000</a></li>
<li><strong>The initial investment required:</strong> You must buy the summoner’s spellbook for $10 if you want to unlock the play-to-earn features and receive DEC tokens.</li>
</ul>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/gamefi-how-to-earn-crypto-playing-games-online/">CoinDesk</a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/610c1dd3ee4ef2b5089f768e_playtoearn.jpeg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Gamers Assemble: Play Games To Earn Crypto! GameFi Explained</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/gamers-assemble-play-games-to-earn-free-crypto/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2021 16:35:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/gamers-assemble-play-games-to-earn-free-crypto/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;GameFi is one of the hottest new trends to emerge from the crypto industry, combining decentralized finance (&lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/"&gt;DeFi&lt;/a&gt;) and non-fungible tokens (&lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/"&gt;NFTs&lt;/a&gt;) with &lt;a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/08/06/binance-smart-chain-beats-ethereum-by-some-metrics-thanks-to-latest-gamefi-craze/"&gt;blockchain-based online games&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Unlike many traditional online games, which operate on a “pay-to-win” model and allow players to purchase upgrades in order to gain an advantage over others, GameFi introduces a “&lt;a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/07/29/a-play-to-earn-account-beats-a-bank-account/"&gt;play-to-earn&lt;/a&gt;” model. This concept involves giving players financial incentives to play and progress through games. In some cases, this has allowed gamers to earn a &lt;a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/05/11/for-filipinos-axie-infinity-is-more-than-a-crypto-game/"&gt;full-time income&lt;/a&gt; by doing so.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>GameFi is one of the hottest new trends to emerge from the crypto industry, combining decentralized finance (<a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/">DeFi</a>) and non-fungible tokens (<a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/">NFTs</a>) with <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/08/06/binance-smart-chain-beats-ethereum-by-some-metrics-thanks-to-latest-gamefi-craze/">blockchain-based online games</a>.</p>
<p>Unlike many traditional online games, which operate on a “pay-to-win” model and allow players to purchase upgrades in order to gain an advantage over others, GameFi introduces a “<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/07/29/a-play-to-earn-account-beats-a-bank-account/">play-to-earn</a>” model. This concept involves giving players financial incentives to play and progress through games. In some cases, this has allowed gamers to earn a <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/05/11/for-filipinos-axie-infinity-is-more-than-a-crypto-game/">full-time income</a> by doing so.</p>
<h3 id="how-it-works">How it works</h3>
<p>All objects in these types of games are expressed as <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2021/03/12/how-to-create-buy-and-sell-nfts/">NFTs</a> – digital tokens used to prove ownership of scarce intangible items. Think of things like plots of land, avatars, costumes, weapons, and gold bars. Once players find and accrue these items through gameplay, many have the option to trade these with others in <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2021/07/12/nft-marketplaces-a-beginners-guide/">digital marketplaces</a> for different NFTs or sell them in exchange for cryptocurrency.</p>
<p>Depending on which game is played, users can increase their earning potential by dedicating time leveling up and improving their characters, creating monetized structures on their land that other gamers pay to use, or by competing against others in tournaments.</p>
<p>In order to keep track of what every player owns, all NFTs and cryptocurrency transaction data are stored on a public blockchain. This is a type of <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/what-is-a-distributed-ledger/">distributed, digital record-keeping</a> technology maintained by a global network of computers. Leveraging this technology in gaming provides a number of benefits, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Players can easily prove ownership of their in-game items.</li>
<li>There is no single point of failure, meaning players will no longer be at risk of <a href="https://pvplive.net/world-of-warcraft-bug-reverting-players-characters/">losing track of what they own</a> if the underlying gaming company experiences technical issues.</li>
<li>Items accrued during gameplay cannot be counterfeited, removed, or destroyed.</li>
<li>Game-native cryptocurrencies can be sent and received without the need for intermediary settlement, clearing, or custody.</li>
</ul>
<p>Some <a href="https://mobox.io/#/">games</a> also include DeFi elements such as <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/4-tips-to-maximize-your-crypto-investment/">staking</a>, where players can lock away certain tokens in order to earn annual interest, and other rewards they can save to purchase other in-game items or unlock new content.</p>
<h3 id="what-you-need-to-play">What you need to play</h3>
<p>In order to take part in any of these play-to-earn games, users will need to do the following:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Create a cryptocurrency wallet:</strong> To store their virtual currency and NFTs, and make in-game transactions. Which wallet you need will depend on which blockchain the game was built upon. For example, MetaMask – an Ethereum-based crypto wallet service – will work with any GameFi game built on Ethereum.</li>
<li><strong>Purchase starter items:</strong> All GameFi games are free to download. However, many require players to first purchase characters, native crypto tokens, decks of cards, or upgrades in order to begin.</li>
<li><strong>Pre-funded crypto wallet:</strong> You will need to pre-fund your crypto wallet with a particular cryptocurrency in order to purchase starter items and proceed. <a href="https://cryptoblades.gitbook.io/wiki/getting-started">Cryptoblades</a>, for example, requires users to download <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFIN_ieh6U">MetaMask</a>, purchase Binance coin (BNB) and exchange it for the game’s native cryptocurrency, SKILL.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="where-did-gamefi-come-from">Where did GameFi come from?</h3>
<p>The emergence of GameFi comes from a combination of factors that dates back to 2017 and the emergence of the NFT phenomenon <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2019/09/12/cryptokitties-creator-raises-11-million-from-warner-a16z-to-launch-blockchain/">CryptoKitties</a>. The digital collectibles economy proved a viral success, with CryptoKitties amassing over <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2020/03/05/the-team-behind-cryptokitties-is-one-step-closer-to-leaving-ethereum/">14,914 users a day</a> at its peak. CryptoPunks, a collection of 10,000 pixelated NFT characters also built on Ethereum, enjoyed similar success, surpassing<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/20/cryptokitties-raises-12m-from-andreessen-horowitz-and-union-square-ventures/"> $1 billion in sales </a>over 2018.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the success of these NFTs showed both the good and bad sides of the state of blockchain technology at the time. Games like CryptoKitties caused heavy congestion on the <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/loveable-digital-kittens-clogging-ethereums-blockchain">Ethereum network, leading to extreme spikes in transaction fees </a>and much slower than normal transaction confirmation times. These technical issues highlighted a clear gap in the market for more efficient and scalable platforms that could handle the rising demand from online gamers and virtual asset collectors.</p>
<p>Since then, a number of new “<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/09/01/solanas-sol-token-nearly-tripled-in-august-as-investors-bet-on-ethereum-killers/">Ethereum killer</a>” blockchains have emerged that promise faster transaction speeds, greater scalability, and cheaper fees. These include the likes of <a href="https://twitter.com/CoinDesk/status/1431980810631061513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Solana</a> and <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/08/19/cardano-nears-all-time-high-as-investors-await-smart-contracts/">Cardano</a>, both of which have recently set new <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/08/20/cardano-price-hits-all-time-high-overtakes-binance-coin-as-third-most-valuable-crypto/">all-time highs</a> as investors <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/08/16/solana-terra-hit-all-time-highs-as-markets-disregard-last-weeks-defi-hacks/">bet big</a> on new dapp competitors.</p>
<p>The proliferation of decentralized finance (<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/what-is-defi">DeFi</a>) platforms over 2020 was the next critical component enabling GameFi’s growth, introducing a range of blockchain-native financial platforms that run entirely using smart contracts. This provided the infrastructure for decentralized exchanges where in-game cryptocurrencies could be launched from and traded, as well as additional features like <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2021/07/13/defi-lending-3-major-risks-to-know/">lending</a> and <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2020/08/20/binance-launches-defi-staking-with-cryptos-kava-and-dai/">staking</a>.</p>
<p>In September 2020, <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/what-is-yearn-finance-yfi-defi-ethereum">Yearn.finance</a> founder and DeFi developer Andre Conje tweeted about the <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreCronjeTech/status/1303969754907107329">gamification of monetary policies</a> in a decentralized environment. He recognized the multiple benefits DeFi and NFTs could bring to the online gaming industry, and GameFi applications quickly started to form. Axie Infinity was one of the first play-to-earn games to take off in a big way, surpassing <a href="https://twitter.com/news_of_bsc/status/1424686970442223617?lang=en">$1 billion in revenue</a> on Aug. 9, 2021.</p>
<p>Coming Soon: <strong>Top GameFi Games</strong></p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/gamefi-how-to-earn-crypto-playing-games-online/">CoinDesk</a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/gamefi.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Applications and Use Cases of Blockchain Technology</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/applications-and-use-cases-of-blockchain-technology/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2021 13:01:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/applications-and-use-cases-of-blockchain-technology/</guid><description>&lt;h3 id="1-money-transfers"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. Money transfers&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The original concept behind the invention of &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"&gt;blockchain technology&lt;/a&gt; is still a great application. Money transfers using &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"&gt;blockchain&lt;/a&gt; can be less expensive and faster than using existing money transfer services. This is especially true of cross-border transactions, which are often slow and expensive. Even in the modern U.S. financial system, money transfers between accounts can take days, while a blockchain transaction takes minutes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 id="2-financial-exchanges"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Financial exchanges&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Many companies have popped up over the past few years offering decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges. Using &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"&gt;blockchain&lt;/a&gt; for exchanges allows for faster and less expensive transactions. Moreover, a &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/"&gt;decentralized exchange&lt;/a&gt; doesn&amp;rsquo;t require investors to deposit their assets with the centralized authority, which means they maintain greater control and security. While &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"&gt;blockchain&lt;/a&gt;-based exchanges primarily deal in cryptocurrency, the concept could be applied to more traditional investments as well.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3 id="1-money-transfers"><strong>1. Money transfers</strong></h3>
<p>The original concept behind the invention of <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain technology</a> is still a great application. Money transfers using <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> can be less expensive and faster than using existing money transfer services. This is especially true of cross-border transactions, which are often slow and expensive. Even in the modern U.S. financial system, money transfers between accounts can take days, while a blockchain transaction takes minutes.</p>
<h3 id="2-financial-exchanges"><strong>2. Financial exchanges</strong></h3>
<p>Many companies have popped up over the past few years offering decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges. Using <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> for exchanges allows for faster and less expensive transactions. Moreover, a <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/">decentralized exchange</a> doesn&rsquo;t require investors to deposit their assets with the centralized authority, which means they maintain greater control and security. While <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a>-based exchanges primarily deal in cryptocurrency, the concept could be applied to more traditional investments as well.</p>
<h3 id="3-lending"><strong>3. Lending</strong></h3>
<p>Lenders can use <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> to execute collateralized loans through <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-smart-contracts-smart-contracts-explained/">smart contracts</a>. Smart contracts built on the <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> allow certain events to automatically trigger things like a service payment, a margin call, full repayment of the loan, and release of collateral. As a result, loan processing is faster and less expensive, and lenders can offer better rates.</p>
<h3 id="4-insurance"><strong>4. Insurance</strong></h3>
<p>Using smart contracts on a <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> can provide greater transparency for customers and insurance providers. Recording all claims on a blockchain would keep customers from making duplicate claims for the same event. Furthermore, using smart contracts can speed up the process for claimants to receive payments.</p>
<h3 id="5-real-estate"><strong>5. Real estate</strong></h3>
<p>Real estate transactions require a ton of paperwork to verify financial information and ownership and then transfer deeds and titles to new owners. Using blockchain technology to record real estate transactions can provide a more secure and accessible means of verifying and transferring ownership. That can speed up transactions, reduce paperwork, and save money.</p>
<h3 id="6-secure-personal-information"><strong>6. Secure personal information</strong></h3>
<p>Keeping data such as your Social Security number, date of birth, and other identifying information on a public ledger (e.g., a blockchain) may actually be more secure than current systems more susceptible to hacks. Blockchain technology can be used to secure access to identifying information while improving access for those who need it in industries such as travel, healthcare, finance, and education.</p>
<h3 id="7-voting"><strong>7. Voting</strong></h3>
<p>If personally identifiable information is held on a blockchain, that puts us just one step away from also being able to vote using blockchain technology. Using blockchain technology can make sure that nobody votes twice, only eligible voters are able to vote, and votes cannot be tampered with. What&rsquo;s more, it can increase access to voting by making it as simple as pressing a few buttons on your smartphone. At the same time, the cost of running an election would substantially decrease.</p>
<h3 id="8-government-benefits"><strong>8. Government benefits</strong></h3>
<p>Another way to use digital identities stored on a blockchain is for the administration of government benefits such as welfare programs, Social Security, and Medicare. Using blockchain technology could reduce fraud and the costs of operations. Meanwhile, beneficiaries can receive funds more quickly through digital disbursement on the blockchain.</p>
<h3 id="9-securely-share-medical-information"><strong>9. Securely share medical information</strong></h3>
<p>Keeping medical records on a blockchain can allow doctors and medical professionals to obtain accurate and up-to-date information on their patients. That can ensure that patients seeing multiple doctors get the best care possible. It can also speed up the system for pulling medical records, allowing for more timely treatment in some cases. And, if insurance information is held in the database, doctors can easily verify whether a patient is insured and their treatment is covered.</p>
<h3 id="10-artist-royalties"><strong>10. Artist royalties</strong></h3>
<p>Using blockchain technology to track music and film files distributed over the internet can make sure that artists are paid for their work. Since blockchain technology was invented to ensure the same file doesn&rsquo;t exist in more than one place, it can be used to help reduce piracy. What&rsquo;s more, using a blockchain to track playbacks on streaming services and a smart contract to distribute payments can provide greater transparency and the assurance that artists receive the money they&rsquo;re owed.</p>
<h3 id="11-non-fungible-tokens"><strong>11. Non-fungible tokens</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/">Non-fungible tokens</a>, or NFTs, are commonly thought of as ways to own the rights to digital art. Since the blockchain prevents data from existing in two places, putting an NFT on the blockchain guarantees that only a single copy of a piece of digital art exists. That can make it like <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/communication/media-stocks/art-investment/">investing in physical art</a> but without the drawbacks of storage and maintenance.</p>
<p>NFTs can have varied applications, and ultimately they&rsquo;re a way to convey ownership of anything that can be represented by data. That could be the deed to a house, the broadcast rights to a video, or an event ticket. Anything remotely unique could be an NFT.</p>
<h3 id="12-logistics-and-supply-chain-tracking"><strong>12. Logistics and supply chain tracking</strong></h3>
<p>Using blockchain technology to track items as they move through a logistics or supply chain network can provide several advantages. First of all, it provides greater ease of communication between partners since data is available on a secure public ledger. Second, it provides greater security and data integrity since the data on the blockchain can&rsquo;t be altered. That means logistics and supply chain partners can work together more easily with greater trust that the data they&rsquo;ve provided is accurate and up to date.</p>
<h3 id="13-secure-internet-of-things-networks"><strong>13. Secure Internet of Things networks</strong></h3>
<p>The Internet of Things (IoT) is making our lives easier, but it&rsquo;s also opening the door for nefarious actors to access our data or take control of important systems. Blockchain technology can provide greater security by storing passwords and other data on a decentralized network instead of a centralized server. Additionally, it offers protection against data tampering since a blockchain is practically immutable.</p>
<h3 id="14-data-storage"><strong>14. Data storage</strong></h3>
<p>Adding blockchain technology to a data storage solution can provide greater security and integrity. Since data can be stored in a decentralized manner, it will be more difficult to hack into and wipe out all the data on the network, whereas a centralized data storage provider may only have a few points of redundancy. It also means greater access to data since access isn&rsquo;t necessarily reliant on the operations of a single company. In some cases, using blockchain for data storage may also be less expensive.</p>
<h3 id="15-gambling"><strong>15. Gambling</strong></h3>
<p>The gambling industry can use blockchain to provide several benefits to players. One of the biggest benefits of operating a casino on the blockchain is the transparency it provides to potential gamblers. Since every transaction is recorded on the blockchain, bettors can see that the games are fair and the casino pays out. Furthermore, by using blockchain, there&rsquo;s no need to provide personal information, including a bank account, which may be a hurdle for some would-be gamblers. It also provides a workaround for regulatory restrictions since players can gamble anonymously and the decentralized network isn&rsquo;t susceptible to a government shutdown.</p>
<h3 id="blockchain-is-in-its-infancy">Blockchain is in its infancy</h3>
<p>Blockchain technology has only been around for a dozen years, and businesses are still exploring new ways to apply the technology to support their operations. With the growing amount of digital data used in our lives, there&rsquo;s a growing need for the data security, access, transparency, and integrity blockchain can provide.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/financials/blockchain-stocks/blockchain-applications/">The Motley Fool</a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/mit-algorand-01.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>What are NFTs? Non Fungible Tokens Explained</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/</link><pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:36:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;Hi there! Today i&amp;rsquo;d like to talk about NFTs and all the hype surrounding them right now. To begin, we must first know what they are. So,&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 id="what-is-an-nft"&gt;What is an NFT?&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;An NFT is a digital asset that represents real-world objects like art, music, in-game items, and videos. They are bought and sold online, frequently with &lt;a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/what-is-cryptocurrency/"&gt;cryptocurrency&lt;/a&gt;, and they are generally encoded with the same underlying software as many cryptos.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Although they’ve been around since 2014, NFTs are gaining notoriety now because they are becoming an increasingly popular way to buy and sell digital artwork. A staggering &lt;a href="https://www.coindesk.com/what-are-nfts"&gt;$174 million&lt;/a&gt; has been spent on NFTs since November 2017.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi there! Today i&rsquo;d like to talk about NFTs and all the hype surrounding them right now. To begin, we must first know what they are. So,</p>
<h3 id="what-is-an-nft">What is an NFT?</h3>
<p>An NFT is a digital asset that represents real-world objects like art, music, in-game items, and videos. They are bought and sold online, frequently with <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/what-is-cryptocurrency/">cryptocurrency</a>, and they are generally encoded with the same underlying software as many cryptos.</p>
<p>Although they’ve been around since 2014, NFTs are gaining notoriety now because they are becoming an increasingly popular way to buy and sell digital artwork. A staggering <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/what-are-nfts">$174 million</a> has been spent on NFTs since November 2017.</p>
<p>NFTs are also generally one of a kind, or at least one of a very limited run, and have unique identifying codes. “Essentially, NFTs create digital scarcity,” says Arry Yu, chair of the Washington Technology Industry Association Cascadia Blockchain Council and managing director of Yellow Umbrella Ventures.</p>
<p>This stands in stark contrast to most digital creations, which are almost always infinite in supply. Hypothetically, cutting off the supply should raise the value of a given asset, assuming it’s in demand.</p>
<p>But many NFTs, at least in these early days, have been digital creations that already exist in some form elsewhere, like iconic video clips from NBA games or securitized versions of digital art that’s already floating around on Instagram.</p>
<p>For instance, famous digital artist Mike Winklemann, better known as “Beeple” crafted a composite of 5,000 daily drawings to create perhaps the most famous NFT of the moment, “EVERYDAYS: The First 5000 Days,” which sold at Christie’s for a <a href="https://decrypt.co/60971/beeples-nft-artwork-sells-for-60-3-million-in-christies-auction">record-breaking $69.3 million</a>.</p>
<p>Anyone can view the individual images—or even the entire collage of images online for free. So why are people willing to spend millions on something they could easily screenshot or download?</p>
<p>Because an NFT allows the buyer to own the original item. Not only that, it contains built-in authentication, which serves as proof of ownership. Collectors value those “digital bragging rights” almost more than the item itself.</p>
<h3 id="how-is-an-nft-different-from-cryptocurrency">How Is an NFT Different from Cryptocurrency?</h3>
<p>NFT stands for non-fungible token. It’s generally built using the same kind of programming as cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, but that’s where the similarity ends.</p>
<p>Physical money and cryptocurrencies are “fungible,” meaning they can be traded or exchanged for one another. They’re also equal in value—one dollar is always worth another dollar; one Bitcoin is always equal to another Bitcoin. Crypto’s fungibility makes it a trusted means of conducting transactions on the blockchain.</p>
<p>NFTs are different. Each has a digital signature that makes it impossible for NFTs to be exchanged for or equal to one another (hence, non-fungible). One NBA Top Shot clip, for example, is not equal to EVERYDAYS simply because they’re both NFTs. (One NBA Top Shot clip isn’t even necessarily equal to another NBA Top Shot clip, for that matter.)</p>
<p>How Does an NFT Work?</p>
<p>NFTs exist on a blockchain, which is a distributed public ledger that records transactions. You’re probably most familiar with blockchain as the underlying process that makes cryptocurrencies possible.</p>
<p>Specifically, NFTs are typically held on the Ethereum blockchain, although other blockchains support them as well.</p>
<p>An NFT is created, or “minted” from digital objects that represent both tangible and intangible items, including:</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> Art</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> GIFs</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> Videos and sports highlights</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> Collectibles</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> Virtual avatars and video game skins</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> Designer sneakers</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> Music</p>
<p>Even tweets count. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey sold his first-ever tweet as an NFT for <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/22/jack-dorsey-sells-his-first-tweet-ever-as-an-nft-for-over-2point9-million.html">more than $2.9 million</a>.</p>
<p>Essentially, NFTs are like physical collector’s items, only digital. So instead of getting an actual oil painting to hang on the wall, the buyer gets a digital file instead.</p>
<p>They also get exclusive ownership rights. That’s right: NFTs can have only one owner at a time. NFTs’ unique data makes it easy to verify their ownership and transfer tokens between owners. The owner or creator can also store specific information inside them. For instance, artists can sign their artwork by including their signature in an NFT’s metadata.</p>
<h3 id="what-are-nfts-used-for">What Are NFTs Used For?</h3>
<p>Blockchain technology and NFTs afford artists and content creators a unique opportunity to monetize their wares. For example, artists no longer have to rely on galleries or auction houses to sell their art. Instead, the artist can sell it directly to the consumer as an NFT, which also lets them keep more of the profits. In addition, artists can program in royalties so they’ll receive a percentage of sales whenever their art is sold to a new owner. This is an attractive feature as artists generally do not receive future proceeds after their art is first sold.</p>
<p>Art isn’t the only way to make money with NFTs. Brands like Charmin and Taco Bell have auctioned off themed NFT art to raise funds for charity. Charmin dubbed its offering “NFTP” (non-fungible toilet paper), and Taco Bell’s NFT art sold out in minutes, with the highest bids coming in at 1.5 wrapped ether (WETH)—equal to $3,723.83 at time of writing.</p>
<p>Nyan Cat, a 2011-era GIF of a cat with a pop-tart body, sold for nearly <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/22/business/nft-nba-top-shot-crypto.html">$600,000 in February</a>. And NBA Top Shot generated more than <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2021/03/30/nba-top-shot-dapper-labs-valuation-funding-round/7058307002/">$500 million in sales</a> as of late March. A single LeBron James highlight NFT fetched more than $200,000.</p>
<p>Even celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Lindsay Lohan are jumping on the NFT bandwagon, releasing unique memories, artwork and moments as securitized NFTs.</p>
<h3 id="how-to-buy-nfts">How to Buy NFTs</h3>
<p>If you’re keen to start your own NFT collection, you’ll need to acquire some key items:</p>
<p>First, you’ll need to get a digital wallet that allows you to store NFTs and cryptocurrencies. You’ll likely need to purchase some cryptocurrency, like Ether, depending on what currencies your NFT provider accepts. You can buy crypto using a credit card on platforms like Coinbase, Kraken, eToro and even PayPal and Robinhood now. You’ll then be able to move it from the exchange to your wallet of choice.</p>
<p>You’ll want to keep fees in mind as you research options. Most exchanges charge at least a percentage of your transaction when you buy crypto.</p>
<p>Popular NFT Marketplaces</p>
<p>Once you’ve got your wallet set up and funded, there’s no shortage of NFT sites to shop. Currently, the largest NFT marketplaces are:</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> <a href="https://opensea.io/"><strong>OpenSea.io</strong></a>: This peer-to-peer platform bills itself a purveyor of “rare digital items and collectibles.” To get started, all you need to do is create an account to browse NFT collections. You can also sort pieces by sales volume to discover new artists.</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> <a href="https://rarible.com/"><strong>Rarible</strong></a>: Similar to OpenSea, Rarible is a democratic, open marketplace that allows artists and creators to issue and sell NFTs. RARI tokens issued on the platform enable holders to weigh in on features like fees and community rules.</p>
<p><strong>•</strong> <a href="https://foundation.app/"><strong>Foundation</strong></a>: Here, artists must receive “upvotes” or an invitation from fellow creators to post their art. The community’s exclusivity and cost of entry—artists must also purchase “gas” to mint NFTs—means it may boast higher-caliber artwork. For instance, Nyan Cat creator Chris Torres sold the NFT on the Foundation platform. It may also mean higher prices — not necessarily a bad thing for artists and collectors seeking to capitalize, assuming the demand for NFTs remains at current levels, or even increases over time.</p>
<p>Although these platforms and others are host to thousands of NFT creators and collectors, be sure you do your research carefully before buying. Some artists have fallen victim to impersonators who have listed and sold their work without their permission.</p>
<p>In addition, the verification processes for creators and NFT listings aren’t consistent across platforms — some are more stringent than others. OpenSea and Rarible, for example, do not require owner verification for NFT listings. Buyer protections appear to be sparse at best, so when shopping for NFTs, it may be best to keep the old adage “caveat emptor” (let the buyer beware) in mind.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/nft-non-fungible-token/">Forbes</a></p>
<p><a href="https://unstoppabledomains.com/?ref=d066811aa8ea4f2"><img src="/images/unstoppabledomainsad.webp" style="width: 100%; height: auto;"></a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/nft-art-what-is-it.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>6 Metaverse Tokens You Could Invest In</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/6-metaverse-tokens-you-could-invest-in/</link><pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2021 15:47:34 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/6-metaverse-tokens-you-could-invest-in/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;Ready, Player One? The metaverse is coming.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The “metaverse” might be a new term for many, but it has actually been around for decades. The metaverse is the zenith of all science fiction fantasies that were played out in films such as ‘Ready Player One’, &amp;lsquo;Sword Art Online&amp;rsquo; and ‘Tron.’&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It’s therefore not a surprise that companies such as Facebook are investing heavily in the metaverse. But, what exactly is the metaverse, and what tokens should you know about if you are looking into investing in it?&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ready, Player One? The metaverse is coming.</p>
<p>The “metaverse” might be a new term for many, but it has actually been around for decades. The metaverse is the zenith of all science fiction fantasies that were played out in films such as ‘Ready Player One’, &lsquo;Sword Art Online&rsquo; and ‘Tron.’</p>
<p>It’s therefore not a surprise that companies such as Facebook are investing heavily in the metaverse. But, what exactly is the metaverse, and what tokens should you know about if you are looking into investing in it?</p>
<p>Read on to learn more about the metaverse and what investment opportunities exist in the crypto markets that provide you with exposure to the growth of the metaverse.</p>
<h2 id="what-is-the-metaverse">What is the Metaverse?</h2>
<p>Before we take a look at the metaverse investment options you can consider, let’s first take a look at what the metaverse is.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>The metaverse is a convergence of both our physical and digital lives — a new phase of the Internet that will see the coming together of augmented reality (AR), extended reality (XR), and virtual reality (VR) with our physical world.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The world as we know it today will change greatly with the arrival of the metaverse. The metaverse will provide an alternative digital universe where human beings will not only be able to live and work in, but also play.</p>
<p>So, why should you care about the metaverse?</p>
<p>As an investor, why should you invest in it? According to Bloomberg, the metaverse’s market size is expected to grow to $800 billion dollars( 89 Trillion Kenyan Shillings) by the year 2024. This signifies how lucrative the metaverse could become in the coming years.</p>
<p>But, what metaverse investments can you make? How can you get started investing in the metaverse? What tokens should you consider investing in?</p>
<h3 id="decentraland-mana">Decentraland (MANA)</h3>
<p>A metaverse token you should know about is <strong>MANA</strong>, Decentraland’s token.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>Decentraland is a blockchain-based virtual reality platform where users get to buy, sell, and develop land, all while playing games, creating content, and interacting with each other.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Decentraland is the biggest virtual universe in the NFT space and is represented as a non-fungible ERC-71 token known as <strong>LAND</strong>. Each parcel of LAND on Decentraland is unique and owners can choose what they get to do with their portion of land.</p>
<p>Users can purchase LAND on the platform using MANA. Besides being used to purchase LAND, MANA is the main token used in Decentraland. As a native utility token, it’s used to pay for goods and services. It’s also built on Ethereum and can be bought and sold for other cryptocurrencies or for fiat currency.</p>
<p>MANA’s total supply is fixed at 2.6 billion MANA. That means that there will never be more than 2.6 billion MANA at any given time.</p>
<h3 id="axie-infinity-axs">Axie Infinity (AXS)</h3>
<p>Axie Infinity is an NFT-based online video game that uses the Ethereum-based digital tokens <strong>AXS</strong> and SLP. In the play-to-earn game, players breed, raise, and battle their digital pets known as Axies. The Axie Infinity game uses the governance token AXS.</p>
<p>Token holders are able to vote and shape the direction of the game world. This is different from traditional games, where the game developers make all the decisions. AXS owners are not only able to stake their tokens and earn more, but they are also able to vote for different governance proposals.</p>
<p>The Axie universe also uses the Smooth Love Potion (SLP) token. The SLP token is primarily used for breeding purposes. Players can earn the SLP token by winning adventures and battles in the game. The main difference between the SLP and AXS token is that it’s not a governance token. Hence, it’s not used to vote. The AXS token has a total supply of 270 million.</p>
<h3 id="enjin-coin-enj">Enjin Coin (ENJ)</h3>
<p>Enjin Coin is another metaverse token that you could look into. It’s an Ethereum-based token that seeks to make it easy for individuals, brands, and businesses to use NFTs. However, NFTs that are built with Enjin use the ERC-1155 standard, which is different from the commonly used ERC-721 standard.</p>
<p>NFTs minted within the Enjin environment are directly backed by <strong>ENJ</strong>. ENJ is the native currency used on the platform. Whenever a new NFT is produced on the network, a certain amount of ENJ is minted into the token. These locked funds are what give the newly built tokens real-world value.</p>
<p>Additionally, Enjin recently raised close to $19 million that will be used to build Polkadot-based blockchain for NFTs. ENJ token has a maximum supply of 1 billion tokens.</p>
<h3 id="the-sandbox-sand">The Sandbox (SAND)</h3>
<p>With a maximum supply of 3 billion, <strong>SAND</strong> is another token that should be on your metaverse radar. The Sandbox is a virtual world that, like most platforms on this guide, is built on the Ethereum blockchain.</p>
<p>On the platform, players are able to build, monetize, and own their gaming experience. The platform uses the SAND token, which is an ERC-20 utility token that is used for governance, staking, and transfers.</p>
<h3 id="star-atlas-atlas">Star Atlas (ATLAS)</h3>
<p>Star Atlas is a huge online multiplayer game that occurs in a virtual gaming metaverse. The game is built on Unreal Engine 5 and features real-time, cinema-quality environments.</p>
<p>In the game, there are three major factions that exist and are competing for control and resources. The game is also partly a flight simulation and also allows for role-playing.</p>
<p>The Star Atlas game is currently being built on the Solana blockchain and players will use the <strong>ATLAS</strong> tokens. ATLAS tokens will be the in-game currency that will be used to purchase assets as well as buy NFTs in the NFT marketplace. The ATLAS token has a maximum supply of 36 billion.</p>
<h3 id="metaverse-index-mvi">Metaverse Index (MVI)</h3>
<p>The <strong>Metaverse Index (MVI) token</strong> is another interesting example of a metaverse token. Represented by an ERC20 token, the token is built to capture the trend of business, entertainment, and sport migrating to virtual worlds.</p>
<p>With the MVI token, owners are able to get exposure to a wide variety of tokens from various crypto projects that encompass sectors like online gaming, NFTs, and virtual worlds.</p>
<p>Think of the Metaverse Index token as a metaverse ETF but for the crypto markets. The Metaverse Index token has a maximum supply of 39,602 tokens.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://trustwallet.com/blog/7-metaverse-tokens-you-should-know-about">7 Metaverse Tokens By Trust Wallet Blog</a></p>
<p>To buy any of these cryptocurrencies I suggest you use Binance.</p>
<p>Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange that is currently the largest exchange in the world in terms of the daily trading volume of cryptocurrencies.</p>
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<h3 id="register-by-visiting-this-link-binance">Register by visiting this link: <a href="https://accounts.binance.com/en/register?ref=CL2JFAB6"><strong>Binance</strong></a></h3>
<p><a href="https://unstoppabledomains.pxf.io/qnXOv5"><img src="/images/unstoppabledomainsad.webp" style="width: 100%; height: auto;"></a></p>
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