Learning the friendly way

Know your customer also known as "KYC" is a regulatory requirement imposed by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and fraud prevention. The requirements for KYC are determined on an industry-by-industry basis. Fintech businesses and the Bank sector typically requires KYC of customers who open a new account with them.

KYC ensures that financial institutions know their customers' identity well enough to understand where funds came from for deposits or how payments will be made before starting to use the company's services. KYC is an efficient first line of defense in combating terrorism financing by verifying customer identities to help identify any potential links to terrorist organizations, bribery, corruption, individuals with a history of money laundering.

KYC is an important measure in anti-money laundering regulations, making it a safety guard for cryptocurrencies. Financial institutions and regulated service providers such as Tap boast robust KYC process to protect our consumers so that you can feel more confident that your funds will remain secure no matter the business environment circumstances.

How does KYC work?

Within the Finance sector, any company or project must meet strict rules and regulations that require to have rigorous identification checks (also called regulatory compliance) such as verification of address information, validation of residency status. Apart from verifying a customer's identity, it's also important to confirm the user's location and address. Your identity documents will provide basic data like your name and date of birth, but more is needed to establish your residence, for example.

During a standard Know Your Customer process, you will be asked for several documents:

-A proof of identity ( such as passport, ID card, driving license)

-A proof of residence

-A selfie (to prove that it's you)

The KYC must be completed at the initial stage as well as on an ongoing basis so that businesses can deliver services or goods to clients. It is a best practice for any business offering financial services to re-verify the identity of their customers at regular intervals to ensure AML. Sometimes new customers have to go through several steps of verification before they can start any financial transaction/investment using the service of the company.

KYC Around The World:

KYC regulations can vary from country to country, but there is a lot of international cooperation on the basic data information needed. For example in America, KYC and AML processes are driven by financial crime prevention legislations such as The Bank Secrecy Act (2001) and Patriot Act (2006). In Europe, KYC compliance regulation falls under EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive with PSD2 providing additional regulatory guidance for all countries within the Union. Internationally however it's been agreed that FATF should coordinate multinational cooperation when it comes to regulatory conditions.

The Benefits: 

In spite of the time it takes to set up accounts, KYC identity verification is worth it when taking into account the benefits, keeping your funds safe, protect you from identity theft, fraud, and other illegal activities is largely the result of robust KYC control. These procedures ensure that financial service providers are not only safe but trustworthy. Trade Crypto with Confidence with regulated companies like Tap boasting robust KYC procedures to safeguard its customer assets and information.

In short: KYC is a common regulatory requirement that financial service providers are obliged to fulfill in order for businesses to operate under the law and consumers should take KYC seriously. KYC requirements differ across the financial sector. It is a necessary measure in anti-money laundering regulations, making it an important safety guard for cryptocurrencies as well as customer assets by preventing fraudulent activity. KYC in the Fintech or Bank sector is generally imposed on new customers who open a new account.

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Overexposure is a common pitfall in trading, which occurs when a trader invests too heavily in a single asset, exposing themselves to a significant amount of risk. If the asset does not perform as expected, the trader's entire portfolio can suffer significant losses.
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To mitigate the risks of overexposure, traders can employ a strategy known as diversification. This involves investing in a range of assets across various industries and sectors, spreading out the risk and increasing the likelihood of positive returns. By diversifying their portfolio, traders can reduce the impact of a single asset's poor performance, as losses in one area can be offset by gains in others.
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Avoiding overexposure is an essential aspect of risk management, as it helps traders balance potential gains against potential losses. While it may be tempting to invest heavily in a single asset that appears to be performing well, this strategy can be risky, as even the most successful assets can experience significant losses due to unforeseen events or changes in the market.
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In addition to diversification, there are several other strategies traders can use to avoid overexposure. These include setting stop-loss orders, which automatically sell an asset if its price falls below a specified threshold, and regularly reviewing and adjusting investment strategies based on market conditions and performance.
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It is also important for traders to conduct thorough research before investing in any asset to ensure they fully understand the potential risks and rewards. By being informed and educated, traders can make more informed decisions about their investments and minimize the risks of overexposure.
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In conclusion, overexposure is a common risk in trading that can have significant consequences for a trader's portfolio. Diversification is an effective way to mitigate the risks of overexposure, and traders can also use other strategies such as setting stop-loss orders and regularly reviewing their investments.

USD Coin is a prominent stablecoin in the cryptocurrency market. Providing a plethora of use cases to both crypto and traditional investors, financial services and traders, USD Coin sits among the top 10 biggest cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation.

In this article, we explore this celebrated stablecoin and all it has to offer in terms of being a traditional investment opportunity, savings relief and digital value settlement service.

USD Coin is relatively new to the market, launching in September 2018. The stablecoin is pegged to the US dollar, meaning that its value will always reflect the price of the dollar on a 1:1 ratio.

This is established by keeping an equivalent amount of the circulating supply in a reserve account, i.e. for every 1 USDC in circulation, $1 needs to be held in reserve. The reserve is a mixture of cash and short-term U.S. Treasury bonds.

What Is The Point Of The USD Coin?

Built on top of the Ethereum network, USDC is a tokenised version of the US dollar that can operate over the internet and public blockchains. It is designed to provide a stable digital currency in an industry prone to volatility.

Setting itself apart in an increasingly saturated stablecoin market, USD Coin has received wide interest due to it providing a strong layer of transparency. The platform maintains strict protocols to ensure that the reserves are always at the correct levels, ensuring holders that they can withdraw 1 USDC for $1 at any given time, by way of enlisting a major accounting firm.

All USD holdings are required to be reported regularly by USDC issuers, which are in turn published by Grant Thornton LLP (as witnessed in the news). Unlike Bitcoin, while the company uses the decentralized network of Ethereum to function, it has a centralized agency controlling it.

Who Created USD Coin?

The coin was created by the Centre Consortium, a foundation consisting of the peer-to-peer payment service company, Circle and cryptocurrency exchange, Coinbase. Circle and Coinbase were the first commercial industry users of the stablecoin.

In 2020, Circle and Coinbase announced an upgrade to the USDC protocol and smart contracts. These upgrades were implemented to increase the cryptocurrency's usability for everyday payments, commerce and peer-to-peer transactions.

Both companies are well-funded and have achieved regulatory compliance, confirming the cryptocurrency's stability and international transparency appeal.

How Does USD Coin Work?

USD Coins are created through a process of minting. Users send USD to the USDC issuer's bank account, which then uses the USDC smart contract to create the equivalent amount of USDC. The digital currencies are then delivered to the user, with the fiat payment held in reserve.

Should the user wish to liquidate their USDC, they can send a request to the USDC issuer who then sends a request to the USDC smart contract to take a certain amount of USDC out of circulation. The issuer then sends the equivalent amount of USD (minus fees) to the user's bank account, taken from the reserve.

USD Coins can be traded through exchanges for other cryptocurrencies, or sent to crypto wallets around the world (provided that they support ERC-20 tokens). The coins are also often used to hedge against cryptocurrencies going through turbulent or crashing market periods.

What Is USDC?

USDC is a fiat-collateralised ERC-20 token hosted on the Ethereum blockchain platform. The stablecoin has an unlimited total supply with currently just under 37 billion USDC in circulation.

The coin provides an easy means of transferring funds internationally at a fraction of the cost and time that sending the traditional fiat would take. It has also proven to be a popular innovation in the DeFi (decentralized finance) space.

How Can I Buy USDC?

If you're looking to add USDC to your crypto portfolio you can do so conveniently through the Tap app. In a recent upgrade, the Tap app has added support for a number of prominent cryptocurrencies, including USDC.

Users can simply exchange one of the supported cryptocurrencies for USDC, or purchase USDC using fiat money. These can then be stored in the unique wallets integrated into your Tap account.

When referring to the yield on an investment, this indicates the earnings generated over a certain period of time. It is generally presented in percentage form and includes the interest or dividends relevant to the initial investment. 

While returns are calculated using the difference in value at two specific points in time, the yield will calculate the total (net) value earned over a period of time. This provides an invaluable tool in helping you understand the potential value of an investment. 

Basic yield is calculated as the net realised return divided by the initial investment amount. For example, if an investor bought $100 worth of Bitcoin which grew to $2,000 in the next year, then the formula would look like this:

$1,900 / $100 = 19
-> which translates to 1900%. 

There are several different formulas based on the type of yield you wish to calculate. These include:

• Yield on Stocks
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• Yield on Bonds
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• Yield to Maturity

• Yield to Worst

• Yield to Call

A high yield isn’t necessarily a good thing. Should the market’s decline or the company pays out high dividends the yield will still reflect as high. Always do your own research when considering an investment, or trust a financial advisor. 

Bienvenue dans le monde délicieux des cookies ! Mais attention, nous ne parlons pas de ces douceurs sucrées que vous grignotez à l'heure du thé. Nous sommes ici pour lever le voile sur les mystérieux et ô combien importants cookies qui existent dans l'immense paysage de l'internet. Ces cookies ne sont pas tangibles, ils sont plutôt de petits morceaux de données qui se promènent dans le cyberespace, façonnant et améliorant votre expérience en ligne. Dans cet article, nous décomposons ce que sont exactement les cookies et comment ils impactent nos interactions en ligne.

Que sont les cookies ?

Ces merveilles numériques jouent un rôle vital dans l'amélioration de nos expériences en ligne. Alors, que sont exactement les cookies et pourquoi votre ordinateur les stocke-t-il ?

Lorsque vous passez d'un site web à un autre, votre ordinateur conserve un petit fichier au nom de chaque site que vous visitez. Ce fichier est le cookie. Le nom "cookie" vient en fait d'un terme de programmation appelé un magic cookie, inventé par le programmeur Lou Montulli, et ajoute du piquant à vos aventures en ligne.

Mais pourquoi les ordinateurs stockent-ils ces petits fichiers ? Les cookies aident les serveurs web à se souvenir de vous, assurant une expérience de navigation fluide et personnalisée. Disons que vous effectuez une action sur un site web, comme passer en mode sombre ou vous connecter avec vos identifiants. Votre ordinateur prend note de cela et sauvegarde l'information dans un cookie.

Lorsque vous revisitez ce site à l'avenir, votre ordinateur restitue l'information stockée dans le cookie au site web. C'est comme si votre ordinateur agissait en tant qu'assistant utile, rappelant au site vos préférences, vos paramètres sauvegardés, et même les articles laissés dans votre panier d'achat virtuel.

En résumé, les cookies permettent une expérience de navigation fluide et sur mesure.

Les différents types de cookies

Comme pour leurs homologues en pâtisserie, tous les cookies ne sont pas créés égaux. Chaque type remplit une fonction unique dans l'amélioration de votre expérience en ligne. Voici une décomposition des variétés de cookies les plus courantes :

Cookies de session

Ce sont des cookies temporaires qui existent uniquement pendant votre session de navigation. Ils conservent des informations sur vos activités sur un site web, assurant une navigation fluide. Une fois que vous fermez le navigateur, les cookies de session disparaissent, ne laissant aucune trace derrière eux.

Cookies persistants

Contrairement à leurs cousins éphémères, les cookies persistants restent même après la fermeture du navigateur. Ils stockent des informations comme les détails de connexion ou les préférences, rendant vos visites ultérieures plus personnalisées et pratiques.

Cookies de première partie

Ce sont des cookies créés par le site web que vous visitez. Ils aident à se souvenir de vos préférences et paramètres, rendant votre expérience de navigation plus fluide.

Cookies de tiers

Ces cookies proviennent de sources externes, souvent intégrées dans le site web que vous visitez. Ils suivent vos habitudes de navigation, permettant aux annonceurs de diffuser des publicités ciblées en fonction de vos intérêts.

Consentement aux cookies et ces bannières pop-up

Lorsque vous visitez un site web, vous avez peut-être remarqué ces bannières ou pop-ups de consentement aux cookies qui réclament votre attention. Il s'avère qu'elles sont assez importantes. La mise en œuvre de ces notifications aide les sites web à se conformer aux réglementations sur la protection des données et à respecter votre vie privée.

Elles jouent également un rôle vital pour aider les utilisateurs à comprendre l'importance de donner leur consentement et à être conscients de l'utilisation de leurs données. Ainsi, la prochaine fois que vous rencontrerez une bannière de consentement aux cookies, souvenez-vous qu'elle est là pour protéger vos droits et assurer la transparence dans le monde en ligne.

Comment les cookies suivent et analysent votre navigation

Les cookies sont devenus un outil puissant pour suivre et analyser le comportement des utilisateurs sur les sites web. Ils permettent aux propriétaires de sites web de recueillir des données analytiques précieuses et de comprendre les modèles et préférences des visiteurs.

En utilisant des cookies, les administrateurs de sites web peuvent suivre le nombre de pages vues, surveiller le temps passé sur leur site et approfondir leur compréhension de l'interaction des visiteurs avec différents éléments. Ces données les aident à optimiser leurs sites web, à améliorer l'expérience utilisateur et à adapter le contenu aux préférences de leur audience.

De plus, les cookies jouent également un rôle crucial dans la publicité ciblée, permettant aux marketeurs d'afficher des publicités basées sur les habitudes de navigation et les intérêts des utilisateurs. Ainsi, la prochaine fois que vous rencontrerez une publicité personnalisée, vous pourrez remercier ces petits, mais puissants, cookies pour leurs aperçus astucieux.

Comment vous pouvez gérer vos cookies

Gérer et contrôler les cookies vous donne plus de contrôle sur votre vie privée en ligne. Grâce aux paramètres du navigateur, vous pouvez choisir d'accepter, de rejeter ou de supprimer les cookies. Prendre le contrôle de vos préférences en matière de cookies vous permet de personnaliser votre expérience de navigation et de limiter les données collectées par les sites web.

De plus, divers outils de gestion des cookies sont disponibles, facilitant la manipulation des cookies sur différents sites web. Il est important de comprendre les implications de l'acceptation ou du rejet des cookies, car cela peut affecter la fonctionnalité du site web, les expériences personnalisées et même la pertinence des publicités. Trouvez le bon équilibre qui convient à vos préférences en matière de vie privée et à vos besoins de navigation.

Conclusion

Dans l'immense royaume de l'internet, les cookies sont les héros méconnus qui rendent nos expériences en ligne fluides et personnalisées. Ces petits fichiers, stockés par nos ordinateurs au nom des sites web, jouent un rôle crucial dans le souvenir de nos préférences, paramètres et actions.

Ainsi, la prochaine fois que vous rencontrerez une bannière de consentement aux cookies ou que vous remarquerez la personnalisation d'un site web, vous saurez que tout cela est dû à ces petits mais puissants joyaux numériques appelés cookies.

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In this article, we delve into the distinction between revenue and profit, essential for businesses aiming to thrive financially. In a nutshell, revenue represents the total income generated from core operations, while profit is what remains after deducting all expenses. Join us as we explore the nuances between these two crucial concepts and their significance in business success.

What is revenue?

Revenue represents the total income earned by a business through its core operations, such as sales of goods or services. It can also be referred to as the top line of an income statement. It's essential for covering expenses, investing in growth, and generating profits.

Revenue comes from various sources like product sales, service fees, subscriptions, licensing, and advertising. Understanding and managing revenue streams are crucial for sustaining operations, attracting investors, and ensuring long-term viability in competitive markets. Thus, revenue serves as a vital performance indicator for businesses of all sizes and industries.

What is profit?

Profit refers to the financial gain a business achieves after deducting all expenses from its total revenue. On an income statement, profit is typically known as net income, however, the term "bottom line" is more commonly used.  Profits appear on an organisation's income statement in a variety of ways and are used for various purposes and are a key metric indicating a company's financial health and efficiency.

There are two main types of profit:

Gross profit

Gross profit equals revenue minus the cost of goods sold, which consists of the direct material and labour expenses related to creating a company's products.

Operating profit

Operating profit equals gross profit minus other business expenses that are associated with running the company, such as rent, utilities, and payroll.

Essentially, profit is calculated by subtracting total expenses from total revenue. It's vital for business sustainability, expansion, and rewarding stakeholders and accurately measuring and maximising profit margins is essential for achieving long-term success and competitiveness in the market.

Revenue vs profit

When people refer to a company's profit, they are usually referring to the net income, which is what's left after expenses. It is possible for a company to make money but still have a net loss.

In an example below illustrating the importance of understanding revenue and profit, say a company producing light bulbs makes $10 million in the income generated. This sounds great, however, if the company's core business operations and debt add up to $12 million, the company is making a loss. Let's take a look at this example in greater detail below:

Business revenue or Total Net Sales: $10 million

Gross Profit: $4 million (total revenue of $10 million minus COGS of $6 million)

Operating Profit: $2 million (gross profit minus other business expenses such as rent, utilities, and payroll)

Profit or Net income: –$2 million (illustrating that the company is making a loss)

Profit will always be lower than revenue as this amount is determined after deducting all the operating and other costs. 

A look at expenses

Operating expenses, including salaries, rent, marketing, direct costs, and utilities, which are necessary for day-to-day operations, and non-operating expenses, like interest payments or one-time costs, can impact profitability differently. By adequately controlling all expenses, businesses can maximise profit margins, reinvest in growth initiatives, and provide returns to stakeholders.

Overspending on unnecessary costs or failing to budget properly can significantly reduce profit margins, hampering long-term success. Therefore, monitoring and optimising expenses are integral parts of financial management strategies aimed at ensuring profitability and competitiveness in the market. With an effective strategy in place to measure and manage expenses, the price of goods and total sales will hopefully increase. 

The importance of financial metrics

Financial metrics encompass a range of indicators used to assess a company's performance, including revenue growth rate, profit margin, and return on investment (ROI). These metrics provide insights into the effectiveness of business operations, helping organisations gauge their financial health and make informed decisions.

For instance, the revenue growth rate indicates the pace at which a company's sales are increasing over time, while the profit margin measures the proportion of revenue that translates into profit. Additionally, ROI assesses the efficiency of investments by comparing the gains or losses relative to the initial investment, aiding businesses in evaluating their investment strategies and maximising returns.

How to measure business performance

Measuring how well a business is doing means looking at both its revenue and profit. Revenue is all the money a business makes from selling things, while profit is what's left after taking away all the costs. By finding ways to make more money and spend less, a business can increase its financial health. Keeping an eye on important numbers like sales growth and profit margins helps a business see where it's doing well and where it can improve. This helps the business stay strong and competitive in the long run.

In conclusion

Companies base their success on two very important metrics: revenue and profit. While revenue is referred to as the top line, a company's profit is what really matters and is referred to as the bottom line.

It is crucial for investors to take both revenue and profit into account when making investment decisions, and to review the company's income statement in order to get a full view of the company's financial health.

In conclusion, revenue is the income a company makes without factoring in expenses such as debts, taxes, and other business costs. Profit, on the other hand, factors in all company expenses and operating costs.

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