Learning the friendly way

Dans le monde en constante évolution des cryptomonnaies, les investisseurs recherchent des plateformes fiables, simples à utiliser et riches en fonctionnalités. Si les plateformes d’échange crypto se multiplient, il peut être difficile de s’y retrouver. Tap et les exchanges traditionnels proposent tous deux d’échanger des cryptos, mais leur approche et leurs services diffèrent largement. Voici 6 différences essentielles qui font de Tap une alternative unique.

Une plateforme tout-en-un

Tap ne se limite pas à l’achat et à la vente de cryptos. C’est une plateforme complète qui combine services crypto et services financiers classiques dans un seul compte. Vous pouvez détenir, convertir et gérer vos cryptos et vos devises fiat depuis le même espace, sans passer par d'autres applications. À l’inverse, les exchanges classiques se concentrent uniquement sur la crypto, obligeant souvent les utilisateurs à jongler entre plusieurs plateformes pour leurs opérations en euros, livres ou dollars.

Une interface pensée pour tous

Tap a été conçu pour être simple à utiliser, que vous soyez débutant ou trader expérimenté. L’interface est fluide, claire et intuitive, avec des données en temps réel, des ressources éducatives et des outils pour suivre les tendances du marché et prendre des décisions éclairées. Beaucoup de plateformes classiques, en revanche, peuvent sembler complexes ou techniques pour les nouveaux venus.

Conversion instantanée fiat-crypto

Avec Tap, vous pouvez convertir instantanément vos euros ou livres en cryptos (et inversement), à des taux compétitifs, sans frais cachés ni étapes intermédiaires. Fini les délais d’attente ou les processus longs : vous agissez immédiatement, et saisissez les opportunités du marché en temps réel. Les plateformes traditionnelles, elles, exigent souvent des dépôts, des vérifications et des délais avant de pouvoir passer un ordre.

Une large sélection de cryptos

Tap propose plus de 50 cryptomonnaies, dont Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), et bien d’autres. De nouvelles cryptos sont régulièrement ajoutées pour que vous puissiez diversifier facilement votre portefeuille. À l’inverse, certaines plateformes crypto classiques offrent une sélection plus restreinte, ce qui limite vos options d’investissement.

Des échanges sans limite de paires

Tap vous permet d’échanger directement n’importe quelle crypto contre une autre, sans restriction de paires. Vous n’avez pas besoin de passer par un token intermédiaire ou de transférer vos fonds vers une autre plateforme. C’est simple, rapide et beaucoup plus flexible que les exchanges traditionnels, qui imposent souvent des paires limitées.

Sécurité renforcée et conformité réglementaire

Tap est une institution financière régulée et applique des normes strictes de sécurité et de protection des données. Authentification à deux facteurs, cryptage avancé, conformité aux réglementations : votre compte et vos fonds sont entre de bonnes mains. Ce niveau de sécurité n’est pas toujours garanti sur les plateformes classiques, qui peuvent présenter des risques pour les utilisateurs.

Conclusion

Tap se démarque des plateformes crypto traditionnelles grâce à son approche tout-en-un, son expérience utilisateur intuitive, ses conversions instantanées, son offre crypto étendue et sa sécurité de haut niveau. Que vous soyez novice ou trader confirmé, Tap vous propose une solution moderne, fiable et complète pour gérer vos actifs numériques aux côtés de vos devises classiques.

Harnessing a wealth of security strategies, fintechs and banks employ several safeguarding measures to protect your hard-earned money. But, as one might expect, fraudsters continually strive to discover ways to exploit these protections.

In this article, let's delve into the tactics used by criminals to attempt to manipulate you into authorising card transactions inside the Tap app. These aren't transactions that originate from your usual activity, instead, they are crafty attempts at transactions initiated by nefarious individuals looking to exploit your finances.

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Stolen card schemes
The initial phase of this deception involves a criminal acquiring credit or debit card details. Such information could either be procured during genuine organisation data breaches or through responding to deceitful texts or emails, which is widely known as phishing or smishing. These messages often pose as credible businesses. In certain cases, they could even resort to physically stealing your card.

There are some preventive measures you can take to safeguard your personal and financial data: 

1. Cultivate a healthy scepticism when it comes to text messages or emails containing links, especially those urging for payment details or requesting account login.

2. Instead of immediately clicking on links in messages that appear to be from “reputable companies”, consider an alternative method. Use Google to search for them independently (without using the provided link in their message) to ensure their credibility. Conducting your own research can effectively protect you against possible scams.

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Safe account fraud schemes
Scammers get creative to try to trick you out of your money. A common trick is to make you worry about your bank account's safety. They might call you, making it look like it's from a real bank or fintech pretty convincingly — a trick usually known as 'spoofing.'

During such a call, they might ask you to approve a card transfer, suggesting it will move your money to a 'secure place' as protection. To sound convincing, they might even tell you that any payment you can see on your app isn't real and is instead a 'test' of your account's safety.

However, it's crucial to remember that legitimate financial institutions will never prompt you to relocate your finances or process payments to ensure your account's security. Instead, they already have stringent security measures in place to protect your money.

If you receive such a call, take a moment and think. You're better off hanging up and checking things out. Tap support and security team will never call you over the phone. It's always smarter to take a moment to be safe than regret being in a hurry later.

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Impersonating refund scams
An additional technique employed to deceive individuals into authorising a card payment through their app involves fraudulent calls wherein the caller pretends to represent an online store. Picture this: You receive a call with the caller claiming an unauthorised purchase has been made using your card. 

Naturally, your immediate reaction is denial, because you didn't make that purchase.

But here comes the twist. The tricksters would insist that in order to rectify the error and process your refund, you need to confirm the payment in your app. It sounds counterintuitive, right? That's because it is!

In both instances, the authenticity of these scams lies in the detailed knowledge that the fraudster already possesses your card – they have all the information required to initiate a payment (refer to the previous section named 'Stolen card schemes'). 

The illusion of their credibility sparks a false sense of security, leading you to authorise the payment. Unfortunately, when you authorise the payment within the application, you're effectively granting permission for the funds to be debited from your account.


How criminals try to bypass security measures
Criminals continually seek ways to evade security measures, particularly those designed to protect online financial transactions. One such protective measure is 3DSecure, deployed to fortify the safety of your online card transactions. 

3DSecure functions by prompting the cardholder to authenticate certain transactions using their Tap application. This verification process ensures that the individual carrying out the payment is indeed the card's legitimate owner and not an unauthorised party.

Intriguingly, scammers have constructed a strategy to bypass this safeguard. Their preferred method is a telephonic approach, attempting to manipulate unsuspecting individuals into authorising transactions on their behalf.

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What steps can I take to safeguard myself?

When finance meets technology, the world is your oyster - until you encounter a scam. Spotting a scam is your first line of defence. If a random individual approaches you, pressuring you to approve a card payment through your app, hug your inner sceptic. This rings alarm bells for a scam. Should you find yourself in such a pickle, don’t hesitate - hang up, firmly dismiss it, and message the Tap support team to report the incident.

Fortifying your financial fortress is an easier task than before, thanks to the accessibility of financial apps. The Tap app puts the power of financial security in your hands - literally! Located under the 'Cards' tab, you'll find a freeze card toggle. A quick press of this nifty control will lock your card, thus preventing unauthorised transactions.

Just like you wouldn't let a stranger inside your home, it's wise not to accept card payments that you never asked for. This could leave you susceptible to scams, meaning your hard-earned money risks vanishing into thin air.

Despite your best efforts, if you find yourself entangled in a fraudulent scenario - don’t despair. Our customer service team is there for you. Contact them through the Tap app live chat or via email immediately. 

Finally, pay a visit to the security section of our blog, where you will find tips to be armed with extra tips for dodging scams as you proceed on your personal finance journey. Remember, stay savvy, stay safe, and keep nurturing your financial know-how.

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While Bitcoin remains ahead of the pack by a mile, that doesn't mean that it's the only cryptocurrency worth investing in. With thousands of coins on the market, there is plenty of innovative solutions and impressive technology to go around. In this article, we're outlining the 7 crypto coins you should know about, providing a range of Bitcoin alternatives that hold statistical significance. 

Money in the bank is nice, but will it grow to the heights that we've witnessed in the digital currency markets? The answer is probably not. With the right portfolio, an adequate amount of research and solid trading strategies, you could be seeing impressive returns when compared to other assets in the financial sector. Consider the information below to be a strong starting point, and take it from there.

Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum has the biggest market capitalization in the crypto industry after Bitcoin and has held this position for quite some time. The decentralised platform has made headlines in recent months as it shifts from a Proof of Work to a Proof of Stake network, requiring less energy to operate and a new means of rewarding the users for verifying transactions.

Ethereum is highly regarded in the industry for providing the first platform on which developers can create decentralized applications (dapps) and smart contracts. This allowed anyone the chance to build any app across any industry while harnessing blockchain technology. Providing a giant leap forward for blockchain development, Ethereum remains on the cutting edge of innovation. 

Cardano (ADA)

Cardano was created by one of the Ethereum founders and is celebrated for being academically driven. While the project launched without a whitepaper (an unusual beginning for any cryptocurrency), at the time of launching there were over 90 academic papers written by a team of mathematicians, cryptography experts and engineers supporting the project. To this day all upgrades are rigorously tested through peer reviews before being implemented onto the blockchain.

Cardano offers developers a platform on which to build dapps and smart contracts using a proof of stake consensus. With lower fees and faster transactions, this eco-friendlier platform has been well received in the blockchain development community. 

Polkadot (DOT)

Polkadot is a blockchain platform working toward blockchain operability, meaning that it allows various blockchains and oracles to exchange data and value in a secure manner. Through an intricate blockchain structure involving a relay chain and numerous parachains, the proof of stake network provides an innovative solution to connectivity and interoperability in the industry. 

Polkadot was created by one of the Ethereum founders, Gavin Wood, and launched in 2020, quickly making its way to the top of the biggest cryptocurrencies on the market. 

Litecoin (LTC)

One of the original hard forks off of the Bitcoin network, Litecoin is a long-standing payment focused cryptocurrency. Created by a former Google engineer in 2011, Litecoin went on to become an excellent Bitcoin alternative. 

Through several changes to its predecessor's blockchain, the platform offers faster and more cost-effective value transactions over the internet. 

Dogecoin (DOGE)

You will struggle to read cryptocurrency headlines without at least a few mentions of Dogecoin. Dogecoin is the original meme token and has been around since 2013. Designed to poke fun at the seriousness of the crypto industry, Dogecoin went on to become a massive cult favourite and accumulate some big fans along the way. 

The blockchain is a hard fork off of the Litecoin network and provides fast, easy and cheap transactions. Typically sued for micropayments, such as tipping content creators on social media platforms, Dogecoin has seen massive success due to the tweets of Elon Musk and his favourable attitude toward the cryptocurrency. 

Tether (USDT)

Tether is the first stablecoin to enter the market and one of the most successful. Currently ranking as the third biggest cryptocurrency by market cap, Tether sits behind Bitcoin and Ethereum. Designed to combat market volatility, Tether's value is pegged to the US dollar and is always valued at $1. 

Tether was created in 2014 and is managed by a Hong Kong-based company of the same name. The blockchain platform provides not only an effective means of entering the crypto market but a payment solution for companies and individuals looking to conduct fast international payments without the risk of volatility. 

Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

Another fork off of the Bitcoin network, Bitcoin Cash was created in 2017 as a result of a disagreement within the Bitcoin community. With several members torn over the direction of the Bitcoin network, several members chose to create a new blockchain and implement the changes they saw best for the network.

This resulted in a new payment focused blockchain platform offering a faster and cheaper means of the transaction value. Bitcoin Cash remains a strong Bitcoin alternative, with high daily trading volumes.

Create a well-rounded crypto portfolio

By considering these 7 alternative cryptocurrencies listed above, you have the opportunity to create a well-rounded crypto portfolio conveniently from your own home. All of these coins can be accessed through the Tap mobile application. You can easily view their market prices and engage in buying and selling digital currencies directly from your mobile device.

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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. 

Bitcoin has become a worldwide phenomenon due partly to its incredible innovation in terms of technology and cross-border payments, but also because of its unbelievable market performance over the last decade.

The original cryptocurrency was even voted the top performing asset of the past decade, and there is no denying why. So, how does it all work? Today we’re uncovering everything you need to know about the inner workings of the most powerful cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin 101

Before we dive into how Bitcoin works, let’s cover the basics. Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer electronic payment system that was launched in 2009 by Bitcoin's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, an anonymous entity that remains a mystery to this day. The Bitcoin blockchain ignited blockchain technology, propelling it into the 21st century and allowing anyone connected to the internet to embrace the new age of technology.

Bitcoin was designed as a response to the global financial crisis and set to be a decentralized payment system that was exempt from banking institutions’ central authority and errors. Over the past decade, the cryptocurrency has increased in value, hitting $20,000 for the first time in 2017, again in December 2020, before soaring to highs of $68,789.63 in November 2021.

The Bitcoin blockchain network has also paved the way for many other virtual currencies, of which there are currently over 20,000. The industry has grown into a sizable $1 trillion market (valued at one stage at over $3 trillion), most of which has Bitcoin to thank. Bitcoin currently dominates the market with a 40% share and has created a name for itself in the mainstream as more and more businesses decide to accept Bitcoin.

How exactly does Bitcoin work?

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. As previously mentioned, Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer digital currency that does not rely on any third-party financial institutions, banks or governments. Instead, the network and all Bitcoin transactions are operated by a network of nodes (computers) and miners. Users store Bitcoin in a digital wallet.

In simple terms, miners are responsible for verifying transactions while nodes keep records of all the transactions on the Bitcoin network. All transactions are added to the blockchain, which is a public ledger of all activity on the Bitcoin network. This is a simple look at how Bitcoin mining works.

Looking more deeply into this, let’s say one person in Belgium is sending Bitcoin to someone in England. The Belgium person will enter the Bitcoin address (also known as a wallet address) of the recipient and indicate how much they would like to send. The Bitcoin wallet through which it is being sent will calculate the transaction fees, the Belgium person will confirm (also checking they are happy with Bitcoin's price), and the Bitcoin transaction will enter a “mempool” of new transactions.

From here, Bitcoin miners will fight to solve a complex mathematical puzzle and the first one to do so correctly will be allowed mine the next block and verify all pending Bitcoin transactions (the process of Bitcoin mining). The miner will then verify that all senders of the transactions have sufficient balances, and the transactions will be executed.

The miner will then add the new block to the blockchain, and it will be circulated amongst the network. Once all the nodes approve, they will all update their blockchain records with the new block.

The person in England will then get a notification to say that they have received the Bitcoin transaction, and will most likely require 3 confirmations before being able to access the funds (some digital wallets and merchants require 6 confirmations). Confirmations are represented by new blocks added to the blockchain following the block with that specific transaction. Blocks take 10 - 40 minutes to be created due to the Bitcoin mining process.

While this is how Bitcoin transactions take place, other cryptocurrency transactions might vary slightly.

Where do new Bitcoins come from?

Satoshi Nakamoto designed the cryptocurrency to be deflationary in nature, intending the price to increase over time as opposed to decreasing like fiat currencies, offering not only a reliable payment method, but also an investment opportunity. Bitcoin has a fixed supply of 21 million coins, with a certain number being released each year.

Initially, the mining reward for mining a block on the Bitcoin blockchain was 50 BTC, but after every 210,000 blocks (roughly 4 years) the reward halves. In May 2020, the third halving took place, driving the block rewards down to 6.25 BTC per block. This equates to roughly $230,000 at the time of writing.

So where do new Bitcoins come from? Each time a miner verifies a bundle of transactions, the miner will receive each transaction’s network fee and once they have mined enough transactions to complete a 1MB block and add it to the blockchain, they will receive the mining reward too. 

Once the 21 millionth coin has been mined no new coins will ever enter circulation. 

Ready to enter the wonderful world of Bitcoin?

Now that you understand more about the original cryptocurrency and how Bitcoin works, are you ready to enter the market? For easy onboarding, Tap provides a secure platform from where anyone can buy and sell Bitcoin and a number of other cryptocurrencies. Secure, easy to use, and conveniently accessible through a mobile app, Tap is both beginner friendly and perfect for seasoned traders.

Qu’est-ce que l’Onyxcoin (XCN) ?

Anciennement connu sous le nom de Chain (CHN), Onyxcoin (XCN) marque une avancée majeure dans le développement d’infrastructures blockchain destinées aux entreprises. Depuis son rebranding en mars 2022, le protocole s’est imposé comme une solution de référence dans le domaine des blockchains privées.

En résumé : le protocole Onyx fournit une infrastructure cloud permettant aux entreprises de créer et déployer des services financiers via des réseaux blockchain privés.

À quoi sert le jeton XCN ?

Le XCN est le jeton utilitaire et de gouvernance du protocole Onyx. Il alimente les services premium, finance les mises à niveau du réseau et permet aux détenteurs de participer aux décisions via la DAO Onyx intégrée sur Ethereum.

Le protocole se distingue par :

• Une séparation claire entre contrôle des actifs et synchronisation du registre
• La possibilité de créer des actifs via des programmes personnalisés
• Un système de validation par une fédération de « signataires de blocs »
• Un générateur unique de blocs pour des validations rapides

Aperçu du projet

Créé en 2014, Onyx a bénéficié du soutien de grands noms du capital-risque et de partenariats avec des institutions comme Nasdaq et Citigroup. Le protocole s’est peu à peu affirmé comme une alternative fiable, évolutive et indépendante pour les infrastructures blockchain.

Fonctionnalités clés :

• Infrastructure blockchain cloud pour les entreprises
• Outils personnalisables pour l’émission d’actifs
• Contrats intelligents via des « programmes de contrôle »
• Gouvernance décentralisée via la DAO Onyx
• Services standards et premium intégrés

Analyse fondamentale et technique

Données fondamentales

• Offre maximale : 48,47 milliards de XCN
• Environ 65 % actuellement en circulation
• Répartition : 15 milliards pour la fondation, 10 milliards pour la DAO
• Libération mensuelle : 200 millions de XCN, pour maintenir un contrôle progressif de l’offre

Cadre technique

• Réseaux blockchain multiples fonctionnant en parallèle
• Sécurisation des actifs via le principe du moindre privilège
• Validation par signataires désignés
• Création efficace de blocs via un générateur unique

Activité du marché : volume, volatilité, sentiment

Volumes de trading

Les volumes actuels de XCN offrent un aperçu de l'intérêt des investisseurs. Des pics d’activité apparaissent souvent en réaction à des annonces ou à des tendances globales du marché.

Volatilité

XCN présente une volatilité modérée à élevée, influencée par les conditions macroéconomiques et le climat global des cryptos. Cela peut attirer les traders, mais rebuter les profils plus prudents.

Indicateurs de sentiment

Les tendances sur les réseaux sociaux, les discussions communautaires et la couverture médiatique influencent largement le sentiment autour du XCN. Les pics de positivité coïncident souvent avec des mises à jour majeures du protocole.

Prévisions à court terme (1 à 3 ans)

Prix de référence actuel : ~0,012 $ (à la date de rédaction)

Scénarios haussiers

Adoption par les entreprises
Prévision : 0,005 $ – 0,01 $
Moteur : Intégration du protocole dans des systèmes financiers privés

Développements technologiques
Prévision : 0,006 $ – 0,012 $
Impact : Amélioration des performances et réduction des frais

Investissements institutionnels
Prévision : 0,007 $ – 0,015 $
Catalyseur : Intérêt croissant des institutions financières

Scénarios baissiers

Réglementations strictes
Prévision : 0,001 $ – 0,0015 $
Conséquence : Restrictions potentielles sur les opérations

Concurrence accrue
Prévision : 0,0012 $ – 0,0017 $
Risque : Saturation du marché par des solutions similaires

Prévisions à long terme (3 à 5 ans)

Perspectives optimistes

Adoption massive par les entreprises
Prévision : 0,02 $ – 0,05 $
Objectif : Intégration dans les systèmes financiers classiques

Évolution technologique
Prévision : 0,03 $ – 0,06 $
Bénéfice : Avantage concurrentiel renforcé

Croissance du marché crypto
Prévision : 0,04 $ – 0,08 $
Facteur : Acceptation grand public des actifs numériques

Perspectives prudentes

Baisse du marché crypto
Prévision : 0,0005 $ – 0,001 $
Conséquence : Réduction de la confiance des investisseurs

Nouveaux concurrents technologiques
Prévision : 0,0008 $ – 0,0015 $
Risque : Obsolescence relative du protocole

Conclusion

Onyxcoin (XCN) est un projet ambitieux avec un potentiel réel, notamment dans le domaine des blockchains d’entreprise. Son jeton XCN est au cœur de sa gouvernance et de son fonctionnement. Entre scénarios haussiers soutenus par l’innovation et les partenariats, et scénarios plus prudents liés aux conditions de marché, le futur du jeton reste incertain mais prometteur.

👉 Rappel important : ces estimations sont spéculatives et ne constituent pas un conseil en investissement. Faites toujours vos propres recherches et évaluez votre profil de risque avant toute décision.

Consultez la page XCN dans l’application Tap pour suivre les évolutions du prix en temps réel.

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