You've decided to invest in cryptocurrency, but you don't know where to start... Then this guide is for you. In this article, we will discuss some of the most important concepts you should pay attention to when investing in cryptocurrencies and provide some tips that will help you throughout your investment journey.
Every day in the ecosystem, a new opportunity, platform and cryptocurrency emerges. Some of them will have the potential to value, while the majority will fail. In this guide, we will give you the basic information you will need to take the right step before making an investment move suitable for your individual needs and strategies. In doing so, we will not go into any confusing details.
Different Blockchain Networks
Just as there are operating systems such as macOS, Windows, Linux and Android for different programs and applications, there are also different options in the blockchain area.
Some blockchain networks were designed only to support cryptocurrencies or digital payment services such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero and Dogecoin. Other alternatives offer support for decentralized applications (DApps) running on smart contracts and distributed virtual machines.
Among the most popular blockchain options with smart contract features are Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana, and Avalanche. These blockchain networks all have their own popular DApp options that are really useful and secure. Other alternatives have fewer features. A separate wallet is needed to interact with each of the blockchain networks we mentioned.
Each of these networks, which differ significantly in form, function, purpose and benefit, contains its own opportunity and risk.
Many blockchains with smart contract features are being developed. While some of them successfully continue on their way, many of them fail to achieve their goals. While some are redesigned with a new use cases, some projects are completely shelved.
Tip for beginners: Early-stage blockchain projects often promise a lot of features, but make very few of them a reality. In retrospect, it seems that it takes years for projects to become groundbreaking features to offer. Still, it doesn't hurt anyone to know about the opportunities offered. For this, it would be a good move to recognize different platforms.
What is a Cryptocurrency Wallet?
Anyone who wants to be involved or invest in the cryptocurrency ecosystem needs a digital wallet to manage and store their digital assets. Like the wallets where you store your cash and payment cards, cryptocurrency wallets have different options in terms of form, function, and security.
In general, digital wallets are divided into two categories, which include and without storage.
Custodial wallets: They are wallets held under the control of third parties, such as central exchanges like Binance or digital asset service platforms such as Nexo. This wallet type, which usually stands out with its ease of use, has the ability to work integrated with different products and services. The biggest minus of these solutions, which support multiple cryptocurrencies, can be shown that the user does not have access to their private key. This means that if the platform becomes inaccessible because it has been maintained or hacked, it may not be possible to access assets temporarily and perhaps permanently.
Non-custodial wallets that do not contain storage: They are wallets that do not require relying on third-party central structures to hold or store private keys. Therefore, those who use wallets without storage always fully control their assets and are responsible for their security. Among these types of options are hardware wallets other than mobile and software wallets. There are many benefits to having assets accessible at any time. They support multiple assets as well as integrate with different blockchain networks. However, they are relatively difficult to use and there is a possibility that the accumulations will be damaged due to user error. You can find information about some of the wallets that do not contain storage feature here.
Beginners tip: Every wallet has its pros and cons. If you have a portfolio with a large amount of sums, we recommend that you always place security first. Buying a cold wallet instead of a hot wallet can be a good start.
Cryptocurrency Exchanges
You will probably need to use an exchange to invest in cryptocurrencies. These platforms often offer secure and always accessible environments, allowing you to buy, sell or trade cryptocurrencies.
In general, exchanges are divided into two classes, central (CEX) and decentralized (DEX). Central exchanges are usually faster, cheap to use and easy to access. However, users who want to benefit from this practical structure have to compromise on privacy and absolute ownership of assets. Decentralized exchanges usually have a wider choice of assets. It allows you to retain full control of assets, but it is more difficult and expensive in terms of use.
Most professional cryptocurrency investors can use the exchange to take long, short, or both types of positions, both as part of their trading strategy and to scale up the opportunities they catch.
It may be more accurate for those who are new to the ecosystem to opt for a broker like Coinbase or a spot trading platform like Binance if they want to invest in cryptocurrencies and trade at a simple scale. It is also possible to speculate at more advanced levels through more complex financial instruments such as futures, options, forecast markets, and leveraged tokens.
Beginners tip: No matter whether it's centralized or decentralized, you'll have to use multiple cryptocurrency exchanges within your investment strategy. Therefore, considering security, asset preference, trading options, liquidity and reputation, we recommend that you try a few of the prominent platforms to see which alternative is better suitable for your needs.
What is Crypto Launchpad?
Launchpad services, known as the first DEX supply (IDO) and played a critical role in the sales processes of new projects, were among the most popular names in the cryptocurrency space throughout 2021.
In short, these platforms choose from early-stage projects based on a variety of criteria and initiate a funding round before listing on third-party trading platforms. These tokens are sold at a relatively low price and are usually unlocked periodically, within a certain investment program.
The vast majority of high-performing projects during the year used one or more launchpads, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're successful. A large number of low-quality projects were included in the launchpad services organized by large-scale platforms with an excellent track record.
Launchpad services can vary radically in the way they work, but the vast majority have the following three common features:
Participants are required to have a minimum amount of local tokens set by the platform and stake those tokens on the protocol.
Users are classified into classes according to the number of tokens they hold or stake in their hands. At high levels, there are usually those who invest heavily. These participants provide easy access to projects and encounter fewer secondary requirements.
Manual selection is made by the launchpad team in order to determine the best quality projects that will provide a high level of return to investors.
As with most areas in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, the types launched have a wide variety. There are dozens of different platforms available today. Most of these focus on projects launched on a specific blockchain. For example, Solanium lists projects belonging to the Solana network, while Terraformer is completely interested in the options in the Terra ecosystem. Other protocols can focus on specific sectors or areas, such as NFT, DeFi, gaming, or metaverse projects.
We have listed some prominent alternatives from Launchpad services here. But keep in mind that this list may possibly change over time.
Tip for beginners: Not all launchpad services are built equally. Even the best launchpad options occasionally sign up to failed jobs. That is, the largest launchpad options have offered excellent return opportunities to investors in the past. Some launchpad alternatives create good opportunities, while others resulted in losses. Therefore, it is recommended to do due diligence before processing on any launchpad.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
Decentralized finance (DeFi) has achieved rapid growth by hosting some of the most important use cases of blockchain technology and is often accepted as the next-generation financial infrastructure.
To describe it briefly, DeFi makes it possible for users to create a financial environment through cryptocurrencies. Platform, protocol, additional layer or service provider can be created that will provide traditional financial instruments and services such as bank, loan provider, stock market, insurance market.
As a rapidly growing service environment, the DeFi ecosystem includes countless potential investment options, many of which turn out to be really lucrative over time, while some fall well below expectations and lose their appeal.
Many claim that cryptocurrency investors should learn about the opportunities and risks offered in the DeFi ecosystem at at least at a basic level, where they could suffer a huge loss if they ignore it.
We can list the most commonly used DeFi infrastructure types as follows:
Decentralized exchanges (DEX): Allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies without the need to rely on centralized platforms. Among the most popular platforms are Uniswap, Curve, PancakeSwap and TraderJoe.
Aggregators: Combines data from multiple DeFi services to help users access the best prices and offers through a single interface. For example, 1inch combines multiple DEX data.
Public credit protocols: Used to borrow or issue cryptocurrencies through decentralized pools of assets. Popular names include Aave, Compound, and Venus.
Synthetic assets: They are blockchain-based assets that copy the properties of both real-world and digital assets. Mirror Protocol offers synthetic securities options, while Synthetix makes it possible to trade directly with synthetic assets.
Decentralized marketplaces: They are used to trade digital assets, including NFTs and cryptocurrencies, in peer-to-peer markets. OpenSea and HoDooi, for example.
Yield farming: The main purpose of use is for users with cryptocurrency or liquidity tokens to generate passive income. Examples include PancakeSwap, Pangolin, and WagyuSwap.
Decentralized derivative platforms: They are platforms that enable the creation, purchase and sale of decentralized derivative products. Augur, Injective Protocol and BarnBridge, for example.
Insurance: These platforms, which make it possible to insure cryptocurrency investment positions, ensure that users are protected against various risks such as cyber attack or smart contract errors. It is also possible to make yield farming and earn passive income by providing liquidity to insurance protocols such as Nexus Mutual.
Collateralized stablecoin: Assets with high price volatility that are not directly supported by fiat money (fiat) are called collateralized options. Among them are DAI and TerraUSD (UST).
Launchpad: It can be considered as a DeFi infrastructure that eliminates the need for trust and permission within the scope of the first DEX supply (IDO) activities.
Savings and investment accounts: These platforms are based on the logic that users usually invest their money in the protocol in order to earn passive income through more than one strategy. Orion Money, Bitlocus and Yearn Finance are examples.
As we mentioned before, each blockchain network has its own DeFi infrastructure. However, many platforms prefer to access users through multiple blockchains. Therefore, the DeFi ecosystem is a kind of bottomless well. It can be difficult to follow every new development and new options.
However, there are numerous opportunities to invest and profit through DeFi products and platforms. There are options such as speculating on the local tokens of networks, using leverage for passive income, providing liquidity.
Tip for beginners: Due to the fact that it is a rapidly developing industry, investing in the DeFi space or transferring your money can be extremely risky. Cyber piracy, theft and malfunctions in the protocol are not uncommon at all. Especially on small-scale platforms... Therefore, it is important that you gain experience with the current risks in the DeFi field, know what to avoid.
NFT
Although unique tokens (NFT) have been around for at least as long as cryptocurrencies, it has only recently caught the mainstream's attention.
Nowadays, it is often used to represent the ownership rights of artworks, in-game items, digital collectibles and the like. While the values of some assets increase exponentially over time, others will become unaccepted and worthless.
You may have heard the stories of the rich overnight by buying some of the digital assets in the NFT ecosystem very cheaply and selling them for high sums.
Some investors may be incredibly rich with NFT trading, but they are very small exceptions. It is a fact that most NFT investors will not be able to get rich with the investment they make. Still, there is always the potential to make very high profits. It is technically possible to sell 100 times the purchase price after buying a few NFTs and waiting for a certain period of time.
In general, some factors that determine whether NFTs will be valued or not can be listed as follows:
Rarity: Rare NFT collectables are not always, but more valuable than commonly seen NFT assets. This usually applies to NFT collections with users who want to own it.
Starting price: The closer you pay at the price at which the NFT is launched, the more likely you are to see the token increase in value. In other words, unpreferred collections can even fall below production prices and most never rise.
Popularity (Hype): In many NFT collections, price growth occurs long-term and gradually. The sudden popularity of some collections, in other words, the formation of "hype", can quickly raise the price. This demand can be fast and temporary, just like the hype process.
Utility: Some NFT assets work like utility tokens in blockchain-based games or projects with interactive experience. The more benefits NFT provides within the project, the less useful options it can become valuable compared to.
Designer/Artist: When it comes to NFT artworks, the works created by a well-known artist can achieve an incredible increase in value. For example, an NFT created by renowned digital artist Beeple has the potential to reach millions of dollars at auction.
Supply and demand: If a certain collection of NFTs contains a large number of assets, that is, if its supply is high, its value may decrease, but if excessive demand occurs, the price may increase. As a result, your NFT is likely to be worth more if you sell while the market is still active.
As with many asset classes, success with NFT investment depends on choosing the right asset, market entry and exit strategy, long-term goal, and often some luck. In any case, the more you know about the NFT ecosystem, the more chances you have to identify opportunities with real potential.
Stablecoins
As their name suggests, stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that provide price stability. They are designed to keep their value stable and are used by investors whose priorities are to be protected from temporary price volatility.
Stablecoins are not generally considered speculative assets. However, there may be differences in stablecoin prices that can be profited with arbitrage transactions, albeit very low. Similarly, many price stability algorithm-provided stablecoin projects have mechanisms that reward those who help maintain the price, earnings, and growth (peg) ratio.
At the time of preparing this article, stablecoin options for many popular fiat currencies, including the US dollar (USD), euro (EUR) and Turkish lira (TRY), were on the market.
The three most popular stablecoins pegged to the US dollar are ranked as Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC) and Binance USD (BUSD). The most popular stablecoins pegged to the euro price are STASIS EURO (EURS) and Tether EURO (EURT).
The price stability of these currencies can be achieved in several ways. In the stablecoin issuer's custody account, the asset can be held at a one-to-one rate with real fiat currency. Price stability can be achieved with the algorithm by using over-collateralized variable asset reserves. In addition, the oracle solution can be used to keep the price as close to the fixed price as possible.
Tip for beginners: While you probably won't want to invest in stablecoin options, you may want to learn how they work and how they are traded. Stablecoins can differ significantly in accessibility, stability, and liquidity.
Investment Strategy
Although it depends on options such as character structure, start-up capital, and risk tolerance, investment strategies include deep differences from person to person. Some prefer daily trading by focusing on quick earnings instead of dealing with the big picture, while others prefer a long-term strategy and maintain their assets for months or even years before making a profit.
If you entered this business by targeting long-term investment, you can use the dollar cost average method to reduce price volatility.
But in general, you will also need to use technical analysis (TA) and/or fundamental analysis as part of your asset selection process and entry/output decisions. At a minimum, you'll need a goal to identify attractive investment opportunities and a road plan for when to make profits or reduce your losses.
Tip for beginners: If you have trouble making a profit, you may want to consider investing through crypto funds. These platforms house teams of experienced traders, analysts and experts to manage funds on behalf of their customers and invest in cryptocurrencies. Well-known funds often have past strategies that have achieved success and have historically achieved fruitful results for investors.
Still, you should always do due diligence, not leave the job to chance, checking the reputation, team and past performance of the fund. Keep in mind that not every fund can reflect the truth, and profit is never a guarantee.
Risk Management
The secret to survival in the cryptocurrency investment world is to manage risks correctly. It is necessary to be able to survive for a long time to increase the chances of profiting. This happens with risk management. In practice, risk management means, in addition to controlling the size of positions, carefully selecting investments over the right indicators. As with all investment alternatives, never invest more than the amount you can't afford to lose. Do not put all your eggs in the same basket.
While the diversity of the cryptocurrency ecosystem is increasing day by day, the competition in every part of the sector is heating up. Investing money in almost any project and waiting to make a profit was a strategy that used to work. Nowadays, there are those who lose more than the winner. But those winners, they usually perform incredibly well.
Creating a fragmented portfolio will protect against price volatility and increase the likelihood of correctly predicting the project that will suddenly rise.
Unlike many other markets, the cryptocurrency market involves a few risks that must be accepted, considered and necessarily reduced. These include potential threats such as fraud cases called “exit scams,” protocol failures, government pressures, cyber attacks, and data breaches. Understanding and preventing potential problems to be encountered is an important part of risk management.
A Little Warning
Just like the traditional financial sector, the cryptocurrency industry is unfortunately full of fraud cases. This type of attack is usually aimed at inexperienced investors, but from time to time experienced investors can also fall into sophisticated or cunningly designed scam traps.
To detect or prevent fraud cases, it requires a basic understanding of the cryptocurrency ecosystem and a basic technical knowledge of how the largest cryptocurrencies work.
That is, avoiding certain areas to avoid encountering fraud cases will reduce the risk of getting targeted. Scammers are army on social media and messaging applications such as Twitter, Telegram, Reddit and Discord.
Cryptocurrency fraud cases usually have one or more of the following basic features:
Fake websites and apps: These are made up of fake versions that are extremely similar to the original websites or applications. They are actually designed to steal your recovery password (seed) or private key. In such attempts, it may even be requested to send a manual payment.
Email fraud: Scammers send emails to users in databases leaked to the internet. These usually imitate a real company or person. The fraudulent investment may offer the “opportunity,” or attempts to scam a user account-related issue using an excuse or through a password reset request.
Direct message: Scammers may also appear as trusted members of a community or company. They reach directly to the user and other potential targets via direct message. They may appear to be helping with a problem that the user is facing. They may also offer a discount or offer. If this is a case of fraud, they will attempt to access the funds at some point.
Scammers can be incredibly intelligent, and detecting many of them is not as simple as it seems. However, scammers often take advantage of a few tricks to increase their success rates. Among them are:
Limited time: If there is an offer too good to be true, it is often claimed that the time is very limited. The purpose here is to force the user to take action without correctly assessing the risks or being due diligence. For example, you may be trying to participate in an IDO event that everyone is interested in, and a scammer can send you a direct message about the private investment opportunity, which is only open for five minutes.
Identity theft: Scammers may disguise themselves as people recognized, trusted or respected by the community to make their offers more attractive or pretend to be real. In such attempts, the person's profile photo, e-mail address and username can be copied. In fact, all of the person's accounts, groups, and much more information can potentially be imitated. This is a common method, especially on Telegram.
Fake comment: One of the common cases of fraud in the cryptocurrency space is a bunch of fake comments and testimonials from fake accounts claiming to be taking advantage of the aforementioned offer. For example, in cases of fraud called “Bitcoin doubler,” which is quite common on Twitter, there may be a large number of responses from fake accounts claiming to double their Bitcoin so that users do not suspect it.
Although it does not fall into the fraud class, there is a high percentage of misinformation problem in the cryptocurrency industry. This situation causes new investors to be forced. The best way to avoid the problem of being misinformed is to always stick to official and reliable news sources. Trusting on personal ideas or hearsay can result in disaster.
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