Learning the friendly way

When it comes to understanding Bitcoin, an important aspect to get familiar with is the mining of it. As we explore what is Bitcoin mining and how does it work, we aim to empower you with a greater understanding of how the network functions as well as how blockchain technology facilitates the operations on the backend. Adaptable to many industries outside of the cryptocurrency space, blockchain technology is at the forefront of the tech revolution. Understanding how Bitcoin mining works is the first step to understanding the technology too. 

What does Bitcoin mining entail?

Forget about shovels and dark tunnels, Bitcoin mining is the decentralized manner in which transactions are verified and new coins are minted. Mining also plays a vital role in the maintenance and operation of the network, ensuring both the security and integrity of the platform at all times. The actual process of Bitcoin mining involves miners using sophisticated computers to solve complex cryptography problems.

The Bitcoin network is made up of a number of nodes (computers) and miners around the world that communicate with each other and constantly share the updated record of the blockchain. The blockchain stores all transactions in a transparent and immutable manner, allowing anyone to view it from wherever they are, however, no one can make any changes.

How does Bitcoin mining work?

Let’s say someone in Japan wants to send money to someone in America through the Bitcoin network. The user in Japan would initiate a transaction from their chosen wallet, pay a network fee, and execute the transaction. This transaction would then enter a mempool, a pool of transactions that are waiting to be confirmed. Typically mempools work on a “first come first serve” basis, however, users can opt to pay a higher network fee should they want to push their transaction further forward in the que. 

Miners will then pick up a number of transactions in the mempool and attempt to solve the complex cryptographic puzzle that will lead them to mining the block. The first miner to solve the puzzle is rewarded with the task of verifying the transactions and adding them to a block, in turn receiving the network fees as well as the block reward. Each block on the Bitcoin network can hold 1MB of transactional data. 

While many miners will attempt to solve the math problem using their own resources, only one miner will be successful. This has sparked a conversation, largely fueled by Elon Musk’s recent tweet, over the electricity consumption it takes to mine Bitcoin. Tesla, the company that Musk heads, recently withdrew Bitcoin from their payment options due to the un-eco friendly manner in which the network operates, as it goes against their company ethos. 

Once the miner has verified the transactions, ensuring that the wallet addresses exist and that there are available coins in the senders’ account, all the transactions are added to a block. This block is then added to the blockchain after the most recently added block, each block indicating the hash code of that block and the block before. This ensures that no one can tamper with the order or edit the content of any blocks. 

The user in America will then receive a notification confirming that their wallet has received the BTC, however it will need to go through three confirmations (sometimes more) before being accessible. Each confirmation is represented by a new block added to the blockchain following the block with your transaction. 

What is a block reward?

The block reward is a monetary reward given in Bitcoin to the miners for adding a new block to the blockchain. It is also the process used to mint new coins and in the process enter them into circulation. Alongside the block rewards, the miner responsible for adding the new block to the blockchain will also receive the network fees of each transaction verified within that block. 

This makes Bitcoin mining a lucrative endeavour, however, the start up costs are significant and your success rate will depend on the equipment, power, and cost of electricity in your area.

What is the halving mechanism?

As Bitcoin will only ever have 21 million coins released, Satoshi Nakamoto created a mechanism that ensures the slow release of coins over time. This is called the halving mechanism, and it automatically executes every 210,000 blocks. During the halving the block reward is halved, ensuring that the cryptocurrency remains deflationary in nature.

This means that for every 210,000 blocks added to the blockchain, the block reward given to the miners will halve. To date there have been three halvings in Bitcoin’s history, with the last one taking effect in May 2020. The block reward is currently 6.25 BTC for every block added to the blockchain.

Want to enjoy the benefits of Bitcoin without mining?

There’s another way to get in on the Bitcoin action without the use of sophisticated hardware and high electricity consumption. Users can tap into the Bitcoin network by buying BTC directly from their phones through the Tap Global app. The process is simple, takes minutes, and allows you to own your very own BTC. Through the Tap app users can also trade, store and spend their cryptocurrency, with advanced technology facilitating the process on the backend to ensure smooth and secure trading.

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In this article, we’re exploring the most recent addition to the list of supported cryptocurrencies on the Tap App, one of the highly esteemed top 20 cryptocurrencies based on market cap, Algorand (ALGO).

What is Algorand (ALGO)?

Algorand is a decentralized blockchain platform that supports the development of a wide range of dapps (decentralized applications). The platform has been used to create dapps across industries like real estate, copyright, microfinance and more. Launching the same month as its ICO, the Algorand mainnet officially went live in June 2019. 

The Pure-Proof-of-Stake (PPoS) network was created to improve efficiency and transaction times within the crypto space, as well as reduce transaction costs. With no mining (due to the PPoS consensus), Algorand represents a more sustainable and energy-reserving contribution to the space. 

A unique aspect of the platform is that as new ALGO enter circulation with the creation of each new block, the newly minted coins are distributed to everyone who holds a certain amount of ALGO in their wallets. 

While the project is relatively new, it has received the backing of big names and has seen impressive company interest. In June 2021, Arrington Capital bet $100 million on the platform after launching a fund supporting initiatives building on Algorand, while fintech infrastructure provider Six Clovers launched a cross-border payment system on the platform. 

The platform was also selected to host the Marshall Islands CBDC. 

Who created Algorand?

The blockchain platform was created by Silvio Micali, a highly regarded contributor to the crypto space and recipient of the 2012 Turing Award. The MIT computer science professor was recognised for his fundamental contributions to “the theory and practice of secure two-party computation, electronic cash, cryptocurrencies and blockchain protocols.” 

The Algorand whitepaper was co-authored by Stony Brook University professor Jing Chen.

When first conceptualised in 2017, Micali wanted to create a platform that not only provided digital transactions but also tracked assets like titles and property. The platform also allows for the creation of smart contracts (decentralized digital agreements) and tokens. 

How does Algorand work?

The Algorand platform is divided into two layers: layer 1, responsible for ​​ensuring the network’s security and compatibility, and layer 2, responsible for more complex developments. 

Layer 1 supports asset creation, smart contracts, and atomic swaps between assets while layer 2 is reserved for more compound smart contracts and dApp development. These two layers allow the network to process transactions more efficiently, with simple transactions taking place on layer 1, while more complex smart contracts are executed off-chain. 

Through the pure proof of work consensus, the two-phase block production is conducted through a propose and vote system where users who stake ALGO are randomly selected to validate and approve each block as it is created. Stakers only need to hold 1 ALGO in order to generate a participation key necessary to become a Participation Node. 

These nodes are coordinated by Relay Nodes which are not actively involved in the verification process but are responsible for facilitating communication among the Participation Nodes.

The more of the native cryptocurrency a user holds, the more likely they are to be selected. This consensus ensures that the platform is secure, decentralized and able to process transactions in seconds as opposed to minutes (as on other networks).

Algorand is able to process over 1,000 transactions per second (TPS) and validate transactions in less than five seconds.

What is ALGO?

ALGO is the native token to the Algorand platform. As the newly minted coins are distributed to all users holding ALGO (whether on an exchange or in a non-custodial wallet) and not just the nodes verifying transactions, holders of the token are able to earn a 7.5% annual percentage yield (APY). 

A total of 10 billion tokens were minted, with roughly 6.8 billion in circulation at the time of writing. These tokens are gradually entered into circulation through predetermined distribution channels. The token distribution for ALGO is as follows:

• 3.0 billion. To be injected into circulation over the first 5 years, at first via auction.
• 1.75 billion. Allocated to participation rewards.
• 2.5 billion. Allocated to relay node runners.
• 2.5 billion. Allocated to the Singapore-based Algorand Foundation & Algorand, Inc.
• 0.25 billion. Allocated to end-user grants. 

How Can I Buy ALGO?

If you’re interested in accumulating this leading blockchain token, you can do so effortlessly through the Tap app. As part of a new string of supported tokens, Tap users will now be able to buy, sell, trade and store the cryptocurrency that everyone is talking about. 

This year has proven to be historical both in terms of substantial market fluctuations as well as regulatory development across a wide range of jurisdictions. As leadership around the world gears up to provide a much needed regulatory framework surrounding the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry, we explore the factors these bodies will need to consider in order to find the balance between implementing crypto regulation without stifling innovation.  

Why regulation is necessary

There has long been a stigma in the industry against the regulation of cryptocurrencies, with many believing it will hinder the free-world currency. As Bitcoin and subsequent cryptocurrencies were created to oppose the constructs placed on people’s finances by governments and financial institutions, some feel that regulation will disarm the decentralized nature of its use. 

This is however untrue. With regulation comes widespread education and, many believe,  adoption. With more frameworks in place constituting what one can and cannot do with the digital assets, comes clearer concepts of what the currency can achieve, and more fingers in the pie, so to speak.

At this point, it would be foolish to assume that a wave of regulation is a remote possibility. Governments around the world are in the midst of creating their own regulation and enforcement memorandums, some being more public about it than others. 

What factors crypto regulation policymakers need to consider

For many industry insiders, this move is a positive step forward, and a vital one if the industry is to become an integral part of daily life, as anticipated. According to Everett Rogers’ technology adoption lifecycle model, as more investors outside of the blockchain industry turn to digital currencies purely based on the regulation in place, the lifecycle of adoption steadily increases. 

As the key goal here is to protect investors from financial losses, there is concern that any stifled, misguided policies will hinder the innovation and prosperity of cryptocurrencies. Hence, here are the following factors that deem most important when walking the tightrope trying to find a balance between the two goals. 

• Market Participation

In order to properly understand and implement policies regarding the crypto market, prominent figures in the industry should be consulted. Typically, most governments don’t have a team of crypto-enthusiasts to converse with. 
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Market participants should be at the centre of their debates and should provide valuable insight as well as vast expertise into how digital payment systems function. Policymakers need to ensure that they are collaborating with appropriate expertise should they wish to get this right.

• Gradual Implementation

While it might seem tempting to build and implement a highly complex regulatory framework around an industry that is just over a decade old overnight, this process needs to be done slowly and intricately if it intends to succeed.
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There is little need to rush to impose policies across the board without proper and thorough examination and reflection. Instead of barring the industry with sanctions that might make little sense, policymakers should consider taking a slow and steady approach to build regulation governing the industry, as the consequences of not doing so can be dire. 

• Deserved Recognition

Giving credit where credit is due, cryptocurrencies are unique assets and cannot be treated with the same standards as stocks, commodities, etc. The digital currencies process distinctive characteristics that need to be respected and celebrated as opposed to sanctioned by people in power who do not understand their worth. 
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Therefore, outdated policies need to be rebuilt if they wish to be constructive. 
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As the first globally decentralized industry, the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry requires a slow and steady implementation of regulation, one that materializes organically as opposed to in a rushed, authoritarian manner. By opening a dialogue between policymakers and private-sector expertise, the process can be developed and debated at a pace that guarantees success.

Regulation Efforts To Date In The US

Considering that an estimated 46 million people in the United States hold cryptocurrency and that the DeFi (decentralized finance) industry has grown by over 6,000% this year alone, a number of regulatory bodies in the US have geared up to take action. 

Various bodies have taken different ventures into the crypto regulation space, with the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets studying stablecoins, Congress introducing legislation that ensures “comprehensive” crypto regulation, and the SEC threatening and suing cryptocurrency companies at an alarming rate.
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To date, the SEC has been in a complicated legal battle with RippleLabs, the company behind XRP, and scared Coinbase from launching a Lend feature with threats of legal action if they do so. Tom Emmer, a lawmaker interested in blockchain, has called out the SEC for their threatening manner, citing that:
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“I disagree with [SEC Head Gary Gensler] strenuously when he suggests that almost all of these [crypto products] are securities. I think the vast majority of cryptocurrency offerings or related offerings are actually currencies or commodities. The SEC is not involved. If the SEC were to deem one of these coins a security, the value of that token would plummet. And those retail investors would be seriously hurt — that’s directly the opposite of his mission and his authority.”

Finally, the international pioneer in combating money laundering, the Financial Action Task Force, has issued a draft guidance report encouraging countries to regulate unhosted wallets in an attempt to hold those who profit from these accountable. 

Regulation Efforts To Date In The UK

The United Kingdom has also set about to regulate cryptocurrency trading, however, in a less disruptive manner. The regulatory body, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), targeted trading platforms requiring them to present information required in order to verify and certify their company practices. 

One of the largest crypto trading platforms failed to do so and subsequently lost the right to provide services to UK citizens. While trading of digital assets in the UK is not strictly prohibited, the platforms offering these services are required to be registered with the FCA and prove that they comply with anti-money laundering rules, particularly in the crypto derivatives market. 

More recently, the deputy financial stability officer for the Bank of England, Jon Cunliffe, called for crypto regulation to be pursued as a matter of urgency, warning that crypto poses “a rapidly growing threat to the global economy.”

Cunliffe went on to compare the 2008 financial market crash to what could occur should the crypto markets take on a similar crash. He noted that the instigator in the crash, the $1.2 trillion subprime market, was but a tiny portion of the $250 trillion global financial system at the time, and a significantly smaller segment of the market than what the cryptocurrency market is today.

This is largely due to a report released by the IMF (International Monetary Fund), calling for governments to create a regulatory framework around the world. The report further warned that heightened adoption could weaken fiat currencies, destabilise capital flows, and promote tax evasion. 

With Regulation Comes Growth

As this technical revolution continues to develop and grow, regulatory bodies around the world must work constructively to build and implement regulations that support the benefits that cryptocurrencies have to offer and allow society to evolve into a superior version of itself as a result.

There is little doubt that the cryptocurrency market is now on the top of the agenda for central bank leaders and finance ministers around the world. While cryptocurrencies weren’t designed to be contained by (government-constructed) laws, regulation is a necessary step forward in the worldwide adoption of digital assets. Regulation should be viewed as an accolade instead of a hindrance. 

With more structural framework, comes an indubitable acceptance that cryptocurrencies have entered mainstream financial markets, proving that they are indisputably here to stay.

n the world of finance and technology, benchmarks are a vital tool for measuring performance and quality. A benchmark is a standard or point of reference used to evaluate the performance or quality of something, such as investment returns or the efficiency of software and hardware systems. This article will explore what benchmarks are, why they are used, provide examples, and explain how to use benchmarks to make more informed investment decisions.

What is a Benchmark?

A benchmark is a standard of comparison used to evaluate the performance or quality of something. In finance, benchmarks are often used to compare the performance of investments to a specific market index. For example, the S&P 500 index is a commonly used benchmark for evaluating the performance of a portfolio of stocks.
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Benchmarks are also used in the technology industry to evaluate the efficiency and performance of hardware and software systems. For example, a computer's processing speed may be benchmarked against industry standards to determine how well it performs compared to other computers on the market.

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Why are Benchmarks Used?

Benchmarks are used for a variety of reasons. In finance, benchmarks are used to evaluate the performance of an investment or a portfolio of investments. By comparing the performance of an investment to a benchmark, investors can determine whether their investment strategy is successful or not.
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In the technology industry, benchmarks are used to evaluate the efficiency and performance of hardware and software systems. By benchmarking a computer or a software system against industry standards, developers can determine how well their product performs compared to other products on the market.
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Examples of Benchmarks
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There are many different benchmarks used in finance. Here are a few examples:
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1. S&P 500 Index - This is a benchmark used to evaluate the performance of a portfolio of stocks in the United States. It is widely used by investors as a measure of the overall performance of the U.S. stock market.
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2. Dow Jones Industrial Average - This is another benchmark used to evaluate the performance of the U.S. stock market. It is based on the stock prices of 30 large U.S. companies.
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How to Use Benchmarks

To use a benchmark, you first need to select the appropriate benchmark for your needs. For example, if you are evaluating the performance of a portfolio of stocks, you would select a stock market index such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
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Once you have selected a benchmark, you can compare the performance of your investment or product to the benchmark. If your investment or product outperforms the benchmark, then it is considered successful. If it underperforms, then you may need to adjust your investment strategy or product development.
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How Do Benchmarks Help You Make More Informed Investment Decisions?

Benchmarks help investors make more informed investment decisions by providing a standard of comparison for investment performance. By comparing the performance of an investment to a benchmark, investors can determine whether their investment strategy is successful or not.

For example, if an investor's portfolio of stocks outperforms the S&P 500 index, then the investor can be confident that their investment strategy is successful. However, if the portfolio underperforms the S&P 500, then the investor may need to reevaluate their investment strategy.

Benchmarks also help investors identify trends in the market. By tracking the performance of a benchmark over time, investors can identify trends in the market and adjust their investment strategy accordingly.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, benchmarks are a fundamental tool used in finance and technology to measure performance and quality. They provide a standard of comparison that helps investors and developers evaluate the success of their investments and products.

Using benchmarks to evaluate investment performance and product efficiency can help you make more informed investment decisions. By comparing the performance of your investments or products to industry standards, you can determine whether your investment strategy or product development is successful or not.

Overall, benchmarks are an essential tool for evaluating performance and quality, and understanding how to use them is crucial for success in finance and technology.

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With the recent rise in meme tokens and dog-themed coins, any coins with a Shiba Inu (a Japanese breed of dog) mascot seem to attract all the right kinds of attention. With the real Shiba Inu (SHIB) token winning "investment vehicle" of the year in 2021 after posting unbelievable gains, many are still wondering whether Shiba Inu is still a good token?

Where Did It All Begin?

A golden rule of getting in crypto is to understand exactly what you're buying in before taking the plunge. Before we explore Shiba Inu's history, we must start at the beginning with Dogecoin. Dogecoin was the original meme token and entered the crypto scene in 2013. The coin was designed to provide a "light-hearted" alternative to Bitcoin, poking fun at the seriousness of the crypto community at the time with its Shiba Inu logo. 

As it turned out, Dogecoin built a strong and loyal following that has stuck by the coin ever since. It wasn't until 2020 when Tesla CEO Elon Musk became vocal on Twitter about the cryptocurrency that DOGE truly went viral. 

What is Shiba Inu Coin?

Musk's interest in Dogecoin aligned nicely with the launch of Shiba Inu, which officially went live in August 2020. It wasn't long before SHIB climbed the ranks and became the biggest meme token on the market based on market capitalization, albeit for a brief moment. While it was dubbed in comparison as the "Doge Killer", Dogecoin still held the most value. It's worth noting that each time Musk mentioned Dogecoin in writing, Shiba Inu enjoyed some of that success and popularity as displayed by its growth.

Shiba Inu is an ERC-20 token built on the Ethereum platform that powers the Shiba Inu network. The platform features a range of products, from an exchange to an art incubator, and is compatible with a wide range of apps due to its Ethereum based nature. Trading for a fraction of a US cent, Shiba Inu offers a cost-effective way to enter the crypto market. Several businesses have also started accepting the cryptocurrency, allowing customers to pay for sales with SHIB.

How Is Shiba Inu Different From Dogecoin?

A great place to start when trying to understand SHIB is to determine the differences between these two biggest meme tokens. Starting with Dogecoin, the network provides a fast and cheap peer-to-peer payment system that is commonly used for tipping on social media platforms. 

Shiba Inu on the other hand is a little bit more complex. The platform provides a decentralized exchange (DEX) known as ShibaSwap which allows users to earn interest, as well as two other tokens, BONE and LEASH. The project describes itself as an experiment in decentralization. 

Shiba Inu is built on top of the Ethereum protocol, with the tokens created using various token standards, SHIB being an ERC-20 token. This makes it highly compatible with ETH wallets and most DeFi apps, while DOGE requires a specific wallet. These are all reasons as to why investors are calling it the Doge Killer.

Does Shiba Inu (SHIB) Have a Future?

In 2021, Shiba Inu saw gains of 53,241,775%. Investors that bought $2 worth of SHIB on 1 January would have been sitting on millions of dollars worth of returns at the height of the bull run. That's enough to make any digital currency enthusiast look twice. 

So far in 2022, the markets have been predominately down, with Bitcoin and Ethereum falling roughly 35% from their highs in November. Shiba Inu on the other hand has lost around 70% of its value since its all-time high in October 2021. Despite this, it has seen upward swings since, gaining a large amount of value in early February. 

The surge is believed to be contributed to by an Italian fast-food chain called Welly's. Welly's is also Shiba Inu-themed and accepts the cryptocurrency as a form of payment. Two other believed catalysts are the upcoming Shibarium (Shiba Inu's latest blockchain project) designed to reduce transaction fees and the project's vocalized intentions of entering the metaverse. 

Can Shiba Inu Coin Reach $1?

A popular question among crypto afficionados is whether Shiba Inu can reach $1. While there is certainly speculation in the market that this is possible over a substantial period of time, as with any cryptocurrency there is no guarantee on how much money it will be worth in the future. With the price affected by supply and demand economics, there will need to be a considerable amount of hype and demand for the cryptocurrency in order to it to reach that value.

While Shiba Inu could be a promising token should it skyrocket again, it is still considered to be a risky token. The cryptocurrency certainly has an attractive price point and a number of use cases, however, it is also in its early stages as a crypto and is currently less widely accepted when compared to other cryptocurrencies.

As the world waits on authority news regarding the regulatory framework surrounding cryptocurrencies, there are definitive hurdles that need to be reached before the Shiba Inu coin reaches $1, should it do so. There are currently over 545 trillion SHIB in circulation. For your protection, ensure that you never put more funds than you're willing to lose.

How Can I Buy Shiba Inu In The UK?

In love with SHIB or Shiba inus in general? Should you wish to purchase some Shiba Inu (SHIB) with your British pounds (GBP), you can do so easily and securely through the Tap mobile app, from where you can also store the tokens. Tap accepts GBP and supports faster payments for lightning-fast top-ups while allowing users to buy, sell, and engage in a number of cryptocurrency markets and services.

How Can I Buy Shiba Inu In Europe?

In love with SHIB in europe? We got you covered. Should you wish to purchase some Shiba Inu ( SHIB ) with Euros, you can do so with ease and securely through the Tap mobile app, from where you can also store the tokens. Tap accepts Euro and supports SEPA transfers to enable all EU & EEA traders and investors to buy, sell, and engage in a number of cryptocurrency markets and services. 

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While cryptocurrencies have been around for over a decade we continue to learn and observe new things in the market to this day. Over the years many trading patterns have been repeated, regulation has changed the nature of the game and of course, volatile price movements have played out.

While this sounds unpredictable and scary, it has also allowed trading analysts to observe the cyclical nature of these activities. This information allowed investors and customers to better understand the crypto market cycles, and more importantly, use them to their advantage. 

In this article, we'll show you how to not only understand the crypto market cycles but how to identify and use them to your advantage.

What are market cycles?

Reaching beyond the cryptocurrency market and across a wide range of assets, market cycles are no stranger to stocks, commodities, etc. They are regular occurrences and can be summarised as the stages in between the all-time high and the low of a market. Whether trading traditional stocks, money, or assets built on blockchain technology, market cycles are prevalent across the board.

The length of a market cycle can vary and will depend on what style of trading one is conducting (short term/long term) however they are always categorised by four main components. These phases in the cycle are categorized by the accumulation, markup, distribution, and markdown phases and will be outlined based on analysis and research below.

The four phases of a market cycle

1. Accumulation phase

This takes place when the market has reached a low and prices have flattened. While many view this as a negative stage in the market cycle, many others (particularly ones with experience in the crypto market) view it as a prime time to buy the asset. When traders accumulate the undervalued asset, this is referred to as "buying the dip" and is often a lucrative endeavour. 

These low price swings are often paired with a lot of indecision in the market as weak hands exit the market and long term traders enter it, representing a period of consolidation. This typically happens before an uptrend. The accumulation phase is over when the market sentiment moves from a negative stance to a neutral one. During this phase, a lot of money is both entering and leaving the market at the same time.

2. The markup phase

As the sentiment shifts, the market begins to climb and more stability takes shape. Typically more experienced traders will continue buying, further igniting the bullish trend, and in turn saturating the crypto's buying power. This will eventually fuel FOMO, drawing many buyers into the market and in turn pushing up the price. 

As the market greed increases and trading volumes spike, the markup phase will see high-profile investors begin to sell. This slows the price increases and causes a pullback in the market. As the accumulation phase saw a move from negative to neutral sentiments, the markup phase represents a shift from neutral to bullish to euphoria. 

3. Distribution phase

With the price reaching its peak, the mixture of sellers and buyers send the market into sideways trading. The sentiment is a combination of greed, fear and hope as some believe the market could spontaneously surge again. Typically, the distribution phase is coloured with many bullish price indicators such as head and shoulder trading patterns and double or triple tops, however, the sentiment will eventually shift to a negative space, easily triggered by bad news.

The distribution phase can take place over a short period of time, or last months on end, depending on the number of consolidations, breakouts, and pullbacks and is known to be the phase with the highest levels of volatility. The distribution phase will witness the sentiment turning negative.

4. The markdown phase

The markdown phase is the fourth and final phase in the market cycle and can be the most upsetting for inexperienced traders caught off guard. While some traders might sell at a loss, others maintain their positions looking to leverage a later phase of the next cycle.

The markdown phase sees a decline in price and is a strong indicator that a bottom is approaching. When the price reaches half of its peak value there is generally another mass sell-off, driving the downtrend further into the red. The sentiment is unequivocally negative. 

Example of a crypto market cycle

Looking at the Bitcoin network, many traders believe the cycles revolve around the halvings. Bitcoin halvings are when the miners' rewards for mining a new block are reduced by half, which takes place every 210,000 blocks (roughly every 4 years).

To date, three Bitcoin halvings have taken place, each one instigating a bull run in months to follow. The most recent halving took effect on 11 May 2020, when the BTC price was trading at $8,600. Just 7 months later the price reached $40,000 for the first time in history, setting off a string of all-time high records. To date, the highest Bitcoin price that has been reached is $68,789.63 in November 2021 but went on to lose 40% of its value over the next two months. 

Market cycles are based on the cryptocurrency's overall trading patterns and not on any exchange activity. In a perfect world, the cryptocurrency's trading patterns will reflect the four phases mentioned above in this set order, allowing a set amount of time between transitions.

With time, crypto customers will be able to identify these phases, allowing any individual to build strategies around when to open or close a position, leading to the best trade result. While there is still risk involved, understanding the data surrounding the cyclical nature of trading patterns will assist in getting the best out of a digital asset project.

Crypto supercycles

Crypto supercycles are a unique phenomenon in the blockchain industry. They involve price fluctuations across the entire crypto market, influenced by the increasing adoption of blockchain technology. This concept is more speculative than concrete, lacking well-defined parameters. It revolves around factors like the rise of institutional investors and retail adoption. Opinions vary regarding the existence of the supercycle (notably, Bitcoin's value has surged more than fivefold in a year). This market cycle stands out for its series of all-time highs, with minimal significant or lasting declines. Irrespective of the presence of a crypto supercycle, individuals can consider capitalizing on the market cycle by purchasing Bitcoin during the accumulation phase as prices gain traction after hitting a low point.

For those keen on comprehending crypto trading cycles, it's prudent to formulate a personal strategy for navigating diverse market cycles, as mentioned earlier. Analyzing market trends and patterns has the potential to be rewarding. While some individuals pursue day trading and financial services as a full-time occupation, studying the markets and their behaviors can in some instance also be a profitable part-time pursuit.

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