Learning the friendly way

You might have come across the term p.a. in traditional investment cycles, but how does it relate to crypto? In this article, we’re breaking down what p.a. means, how to get in on it and how it relates to the crypto industry. 

What does P.A. mean?

P.a. is an investment term that stands for per annum. This refers to the interest an investor can gain over a year's period and provides insight into the yields that the investment will generate. This is calculated on a simple basis and not compound. 

You might see digital wallet platforms offering reward rates of 8% p.a. Or 14% p.a., this tells the potential investor that the platform will provide 8% of the initial investment, over a 12 month period. 

PA can also stand for price action, a popular term used on crypto Twitter. In this piece we're focusing on the annual interest rates version.

How can users make money with crypto assets?

There are several ways in with industry participants can earn cryptocurrency. Below we outline the most widely used, and safest options. Be sure to check each option with the relevant blockchain network as these will differ from network to network.

Crypto Mining

Crypto mining can be a lucrative means of generating a passive income, however, the costs might run high depending on where you live and what cryptocurrency you are mining. Each network has its own way of minting new coins, which require different hardware and electricity means. 

Bitcoin, for instance, is a Proof of Work network that requires miners to use large amounts of energy as they race to finish a complex cryptographic puzzle. The first to complete this is rewarded with mining the next block and receiving the associated payoffs. 

Bitcoin requires a large amount of electricity, not practical in areas with high electricity costs, and either a graphics processing unit (GPU) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which can also be costly. 

If you wish to get involved with mining cryptocrrencies be sure to do adequate research on what will be required and what income this could generate before investing any money. 

Crypto Staking

Crypto staking is an alternative minting solution for Proof of Stake networks, such as Cardano and soon-to-be Ethereum. Crypto staking requires users putting their funds in a smart contract usually for a predetermined lock up period to confirm transactions on the network. This will typically require a minimum amount, so as to ensure that individuals hold a “stake” in the network and will act on good intentions. 

When crypto traders stake the minimum balance, a node will deposit these funds into a staking pool on the network, similar to a deposit. The bigger the stake, the higher the chances of that user, now referred to as a node, being chosen to verify transactions. When the node is chosen to confirm transactions, they will create a new block and receive a reward for adding it to the blockchain.

Reward rates are specific to each blockchain network so be sure to check the details relevant to platform on which you wish to stake. As a security mechanism, the staked coin in the network is typically taken away if the node acts with ill intent.

Passive Income

There are a number of crypto initiatives that allow users to earn passive income through their crypto assets. These work in a similar way to holding funds in a wallet, however, these wallets will likely be on a cryptocurrency exchange or DeFi wallet and the user will typically not be able to access the funds for a certain period of time. 

Over the duration the user will earn interest as stipulated in the initial agreement. Note that p.a. Values are subject to change with market fluctuations, rising when prices rise and falling when an asset’s price takes a dip. This typically works in the same way as a savings account.

Its worth noting that the onus lies on the traders to pay taxes on any income generated. It is important to check the crypto specific tax laws in your region.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for communication purposes only, you should not consider any such information, opinions, or other material as financial advice.

Investing is not as easy as the internet makes it seem, with every profit comes plenty of research behind it. Not to mention all the strategies. Similar to trading, investing can at times be time-consuming and demanding. While investing, whether in the stock market or cryptocurrencies or any other asset classes, is beneficial in so many aspects, it can also come with some trial and error. In this article, we take a look at the time-tested dollar-cost averaging and explain why this is considered to be a low-risk strategy.

What is DCA?

DCA is an abbreviation for dollar-cost averaging. You may be wondering what DCA is? To put it simply, DCA is an investment strategy that sees people investing gradually over time rather than dropping a lump sum of money into assets.

Let's say an investor has a total of $10,000 to invest monthly, lump-sum investing would see them entering all that money into an asset market while DCA would have them investing $500 each week or month. Not only does DCA provide your leeway to pay your bills while still investing, but it also protects you from excess loss. While lump-sum investing does have its perks, it also has the potential for big losses.

By investing only what you are willing to lose, you are at no risk of financially crippling yourself. DCA ensures you do not lose all your money on an investment, whereas one wrong trade in lump sum trading can greatly set you back. DCA is a great way for newbies to test the markets and trust in an investment before moving forward, seasoned traders are also a fan of DCA as it allows them to diversify their funds in a more structured way. 

The point of DCA is to avoid market watching and big losses, DCA is the practice of routinely investing smaller amounts, timed over regular intervals, regardless of price. This typically allows the investor to buy an asset at an average cost of a long period of time.

Why and how to use DCA

The how is easily answered, as already stated prior, it is as simple as allocating a set amount aside each month with the plan to invest. You invest your set amount a month routinely, regardless of the price, growing your total shares. But the real question is why? Why is this strategy so popular and why is it so highly recommended? Let's get into it. 

The benefits right from the get-go are clear, you hold less risk of losing everything at once. As the traders' tale goes, only put in what you are willing to lose. Lump-sum investments do not take this approach with caution, putting it all on the line, or a large portion at least.

DCA means that you are continuously putting in small amounts that do not greatly limit your day-to-day life while still growing the value of your portfolio. DCA is a longer-term investment strategy. It also eliminates some of the risks involved with investing.

With DCA, the markets don't matter, you are buying your assets at whatever price they are at and reaping the profits when the price climbs. But also, by purchasing every week rather than all at once, you have the option and ability to buy in on the volatile markets getting better prices per share than someone who puts it all in at once.

This strategy also helps you manage emotional investing, forcing you to hold onto your investment despite FUD being spread, ensuring you don't sell low or buy high.

The DCA conclusion

While there are many investment strategies out there, this is a favoured strategy by many investors, that is not to say it is the only or best strategy, just one to consider. There are many perks that come with DCA, and that's what we wanted to highlight in this piece for you today. DCA provides a sense of commitment that is hard to find, ensuring you secure your space in the market without any added risks. There will always be risks involved with investing, but the DCA strategy finds some ways to minimise those risks in comparison.

If you’re in the process of applying for a passport chances are strong that you already know the importance of needing one. Whether you’re in a terrible hurry because you forgot to check the expiry date before booking your trip or maybe lost your passport ahead of an urgent cross-border meeting, we’ve got you covered. The UK offers a service that allows applicants to fast-track their application. 

Find everything you need to know about the process below, including the fees involved. And why might we, a fintech platform, be informing you about fast-tracking passports? Because we’re in the business of travel. With our world-friendly app that allows users to seamlessly switch between currencies as they swipe their cards around the world, we understand not every process is this simple. Now that we’ve covered that, let’s get into why you’re really here. 

How to fast-track your passport application

Getting a passport in the UK can sometimes be a lengthy process, but luckily there are options available to speed things up. Normally, it can take up to 10 weeks to receive a new passport through the standard application process. While it may be quicker in some cases, it's always best to be prepared for a wait.

The one-week fast-track option

The first option is the 1 week Fast Track service. This service allows you to renew an adult or child passport, replace a lost or stolen passport, or update your details. You can book an appointment for this service up to 3 weeks in advance and will need a debit or credit card.

How to apply

To apply for the 1 week Fast Track service, follow these steps:

1. Visit your local Post Office branch to obtain an application form (these are not available online).

2. Book your fast-track passport appointment online.

3. Pay the fee.

4. Take your completed application form and the required supporting documents to your appointment. There is a booklet accompanying the application form that provides a list of the necessary documents.

5. Once you have completed these steps, your new passport will be delivered to your home address within a week of your appointment. It's important to note that someone needs to be present to sign for the passport upon delivery.

The costs*

The cost for the 1 week Fast Track service is £155 for an adult passport and £126 for a child passport.

The same-day fast-track option 

If you need your passport even faster, there is also the Online Premium service. With this service, you can collect your new passport on the same day as your appointment. However, please note that this service is only available for adult passport renewals issued after 31 December 2001. 

If you have an adult passport issued before this date, you will need to use the one-week fast-track service or the standard application process.

How to apply

To use the Online Premium service, you can simply apply and book an appointment online. The earliest appointment you can get is 2 days after applying.

The cost*

The cost of this service is £193.50 for an adult passport. 

Who can use these services?

It's important to know if you are eligible for these fast-track passport services. If you are applying for your very first UK passport, unfortunately, you won't be able to use either of the fast-track services (unless applying for a child's first-time passport in which case you can use the one-week fast-track option). For everything else, you will have to go through the standard application process instead.

In conclusion

Remember, it's always best to plan ahead and apply for your passport in advance to avoid any last-minute stress and government regulation curveballs. However, if you do find yourself in need of a passport urgently, these fast-track services can be a lifesaver.

If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to the appropriate passport office or visit their website for more information (listed below). They will be able to provide you with the most up-to-date details and guidance regarding the fast-track process.

*Please note that the fees were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. Check the website page listed below to find the relevant information.

References:

• GOV.UK - Passport application service
• GOV.UK - 1 week Fast Track service
• GOV.UK - Online Premium service

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Saviez-vous qu'il existe cinq façons différentes d'exprimer notre amour à travers l'argent ? Ci-dessous, nous décomposons les cinq langages d'amour originaux, puis expliquons comment ceux-ci peuvent être intégrés dans un contexte financier. Après tout, le savoir, c'est le pouvoir.

Les cinq langages d'amour originaux

Les cinq langages d'amour originaux ont été introduits pour la première fois par le Dr. Gary Chapman dans son livre "Les 5 langages de l'amour : le secret des couples qui durent", offrant un aperçu de la façon dont nous exprimons notre amour et comment nous espérons le recevoir. Les cinq langages d'amour sont :

Paroles d'affirmation

Exprimer l'amour et l'appréciation par des compliments verbaux ou écrits, des éloges et des mots gentils.

Donner de l'attention

Montrer de l'amour en accordant une attention exclusive et en passant un temps de qualité significatif ensemble.

Offrir des cadeaux

Démontrer l'amour par des cadeaux réfléchis et significatifs, impliquant généralement à la fois donner et recevoir des cadeaux.

Gestes d'attention

Exprimer l'amour en accomplissant des actes de gentillesse et de service pour l'autre personne.

Contact physique

Montrer de l'affection et de l'amour par le contact physique, comme des câlins, des baisers et se tenir la main.

Ces langages d'amour aident les individus à comprendre comment ils préfèrent donner et recevoir de l'amour. Le livre affirme également que reconnaître et parler les uns des langages d'amour des autres peut renforcer les relations.

Quels sont les langages d'amour financiers ?

En prenant les piliers originaux, nous avons créé cinq langages d'amour financiers pour vous donner une idée de la façon dont vous vous manifestez financièrement dans les relations (familiales, amoureuses ou autres). Que vous partagiez un appartement avec votre frère, une entreprise avec un ami, ou un compte joint avec un partenaire, tout le monde pourra se retrouver dans ces langages d'amour financiers. Après tout, gérer l'argent de manière positive est la pierre angulaire de toute relation saine.

Les cinq langages d'amour financiers

Il est précieux d'être attentif à vos propres schémas, ainsi qu'à ceux de ceux que vous aimez. En reconnaissant le langage d'amour financier de votre partenaire, vous pourriez mieux comprendre comment créer plus d'harmonie dans la relation en comprenant ce qui les pousse à dépenser de l'argent. Sans plus tarder, plongeons dans les cinq langages d'amour financiers.

Communication ouverte

Bien qu'il y ait peu de sujets moins agréables à aborder que l'argent, avoir une communication ouverte et honnête en ce qui concerne les finances est non seulement précieux, mais essentiel. Avoir la compétence, ou avoir affûté la compétence devrions-nous dire, de parler des questions financières avec un être cher est un exploit, et pour certains, le langage d'amour financier le plus naturel. Ces discussions vous feront probablement vous sentir renforcé et plus connecté aux personnes qui vous entourent, ce qui rend plus facile d'être sur la même longueur d'onde.

Gestes d'attention : édition financière

Alors que les gestes d'attention originaux consistent à faire des choses qui rendent la vie de ceux que vous aimez un peu plus facile, dans ce contexte, les gestes d'attention concernent des tâches liées à l'argent telles que les impôts ou la gestion du budget. Avoir quelqu'un qui fait vos impôts par amour pourrait être un peu ambitieux, donc regardons les alternatives. Il pourrait s'agir d'organiser le budget des vacances ou de créer un plan d'action pour aider votre ami à sortir de la dette, ou simplement de réparer quelque chose pour vous afin de vous faire économiser de l'argent.

L'amour dans les économies

Bien que cela ne semble pas être l'option la plus sexy, planifier l'avenir et avoir une sécurité financière est un acte d'amour inestimable. Que ce soit par le biais d'investissements, de plans de retraite ou même d'un fonds d'urgence, quoi de mieux pour dire "je t'aime" que "faisons une décision financière pour vieillir ensemble". Le langage d'amour de certaines personnes consiste à exprimer leur affection en fournissant, alors pourquoi ne pas les laisser mettre leurs compétences en planification et leur diligence à l'épreuve et vous couvrir de leur amour ? Cela pourrait même vous aider à atteindre vos objectifs financiers encore plus rapidement.

Vivre une expérience ensemble :

Le langage d'amour financier de cette personne consiste à exprimer son attachement à travers des expériences et du temps de qualité, en dépensant de l'argent pour faire un voyage, en passant une soirée passionnante ou simplement en vivant une nouvelle aventure. En investissant du temps et des expériences, vous dites tout simplement que vous appréciez passer du temps avec eux plus que vous appréciez les gains monétaires.

L'art d'offrir :

Le dernier langage d'amour financier que nous avons pour vous aujourd'hui tourne autour de l'acte de donner des cadeaux. Êtes-vous quelqu'un qui aime gâter ses amis avec des présents, ou adorez-vous gâter votre partenaire avec quelque chose de merveilleux ? Alors celui-ci est pour vous. Bien que cela ne devrait jamais impliquer de vider votre compte bancaire, investir votre amour (et votre argent) dans un cadeau approprié est un excellent moyen de montrer de l'affection. Rappelez-vous, c'est souvent la pensée qui compte plutôt que l'étiquette de prix.

Quel est votre langage d'amour financier ?

Avec lequel de ceux-ci vous identifiez-vous le plus ? Parfois, en identifiant ces besoins intrinsèques, nous sommes en mesure de mieux comprendre non seulement nous-mêmes, mais aussi nos attentes envers les autres. Quel que soit votre langage d'amour financier, veillez à verser le plus grand amour dans vos propres finances et à travailler régulièrement pour atteindre vos objectifs financiers.

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Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer l'intégration du token Chain (XCN) sur Tap ! XCN est désormais disponible pour le trading sur l'application mobile Tap. Vous pouvez dès aujourd'hui acheter, vendre, échanger ou conserver XCN pour n'importe quel autre actif pris en charge sur la plateforme, sans limitation de paires. Tap est agnostique en termes de paires, ce qui signifie que vous pouvez échanger n'importe quel actif contre un autre sans vous soucier de la disponibilité d'une "paire de trading".

Nous sommes ravis d'accueillir XCN sur notre plateforme, enrichissant ainsi les options disponibles pour nos utilisateurs. Chez Tap, nous nous efforçons de diversifier constamment notre offre en intégrant de nouvelles cryptomonnaies, offrant à chacun l'opportunité d'explorer de nouvelles perspectives.

Fondée en 2014, Chain fournit aux organisations l'infrastructure nécessaire pour construire de meilleurs services financiers à partir de zéro. Le jeton Chain (XCN) est un jeton utilitaire et de gouvernance pour le protocole Chain, permettant à ses détenteurs de voter sur les améliorations du protocole et divers programmes pilotés par la communauté. XCN peut être utilisé pour un accès premium, des réductions, et le paiement de frais commerciaux sur Sequence et d'autres produits de l'écosystème Chain.

Apprenez-en plus sur XCN dans notre article dédié ici.

So you decided to go deeper into the fundamentals of investing and learn what an APY is. You've come to the right place, let's get you started with this perplexing "APY" term.

What Is APY?

In conventional finance, a savings account frequently offers both a low-interest rate and an annual percentage yield (APY). Let's look at what they are and what they mean.

• The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is the annual return from the principal and accumulated interest on investments or savings, expressed as a percentage.
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• The simple interest rate is the amount earned on the original deposit. 

Assume an account at a bank offers a yearly interest rate of 5%. If someone deposits €2,000 into the account, it will be worth €2,100 after a year with the 5% yearly interest rate.                                           

The Difference Between Interest Rate, APY and APR

The APY takes into account the impact of compounding, whereas the interest rate does not. The APY is the projected rate of return earned annually on a deposit after taking compound interest into account.

Compounding interest is the interest that a person accrues from their initial deposit, as well as the interest they earn from their original investment (or in other words, the initial deposit amount plus the interest generated).

The terms APY and APR are frequently used interchangeably, although they represent two different things. These words are sometimes confused due to their close resemblance. However, APY and APR aren't the same things.

The APR (annual percentage rate) is a formula that determines how much interest you'll pay when borrowing money and is the rate of return earned if your funds are invested in an interest-bearing account. 

When a person takes out a loan, their lender sets an APR that varies based on the loan. APRs are either fixed or fluctuating depending on the type of loan the user requires. However, the APR is a rather basic interest rate and does not take compounding into account, unlike APY. 

How Is APY Calculated?

APY represents your rate of return, also known as the amount of earnings or profit you can make. Of course, your ultimate earnings will vary depending on how long you keep your assets invested while the holding period will influence how much you will earn. 

APY measures the rate of the annual return earned on any amount of money or investment after taking into account compounding interest.

The following is the formula for calculating APY:

APY = (1 + p/n)ⁿ − 1

Where:

p = periodic rate of return (or annual APR)

n = number of compounding periods each year
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Bear in mind that an APY can be calculated in a variety of ways depending on the provider.