Learning the friendly way

Crypto is never short on surprises, and staying true to its word 2024 has delivered a wild new trend: PolitiFi coins. These politically-themed digital assets have managed to give the election a run for its money in terms of surprises, breaking onto the scene with an eye-popping 782.4% growth in just 8 months. 

To put that into perspective, “traditional” meme coins only managed 90.2% growth in the same time. Political views aside, one thing we can all agree on is that there is never a dull moment in the crypto space. 

What is PolitiFi?

These politically-themed meme coins draw inspiration from famous political figures and events, often in a playful or satirical way. But most of these coins are not officially linked to any real politicians. Much like other meme coins, their value is totally speculative, riding the waves of community buzz and whatever’s trending in the news.

From zero to $2.1 billion

What started as a seemingly niche intersection of politics and crypto has grown into a substantial market worth $2.1 billion as of November 2024. While this represents just 1.77% of the broader meme coin market, PolitiFi's rapid incline tells an intriguing story of how quickly new crypto categories can capture investor attention - and capital.

Politics meets blockchain

What sets PolitiFi apart is its unique responsiveness to real-world political events. For instance, when Donald Trump won the Iowa Republican caucuses in January, MAGA (TRUMP) surged 79.1% in a single day.

Continuing on this narrative, the market has shown similar sensitivity to events ranging from legal verdicts to health scares, with tokens like Jeo Boden (BODEN) and Kamala Horris (KAMA) swinging dramatically on related news. 

The Trump assassination attempt even saw MAGA (TRUMP) rally 41.2%, while Biden's COVID-19 diagnosis caused Jeo Boden to plummet 27.3%.

No jokes, just a new political ecosystem

While most PolitiFi tokens began as satire, some have evolved to serve more practical purposes. MAGA (TRUMP), for instance, channels transaction fees directly to Donald Trump's Ethereum wallet and aligned charities, creating an unconventional yet innovative intersection between cryptocurrency speculation and political fundraising.

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Is crypto a new form of political expression?

Time will tell whether PolitiFi is just another crypto trend, but for now it serves as a new way for people to engage with politics. These tokens mix financial speculation, political commentary, and grassroots fundraising, creating a space where community opinions can be quickly turned into monetary support.

As digital finance, political activism, and social commentary keep overlapping, PolitiFi coins might signal a new era of political involvement. Whether this is a short-lived trend or the start of a big shift in how we connect with political causes is still up in the air.

One thing's for sure: in the unpredictable world of crypto, surprises are the norm, and that’s exactly what makes it exciting.

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We want to inform you that XTP trading will be temporarily paused starting today on the Tap app. We’ll be temporarily pausing XTP trading on the Tap app. This short pause will give us the time we need to complete the integration of ProBit, an exchange that continues to support XTP trading.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the Bitfinex delisting. XTP was removed alongside several other major tokens, and the short notice left limited time to implement an alternative solution. We moved quickly, and the integration with ProBit an exchange that supports XTP is already in progress.

Here’s what you need to know:

• XTP trading will be paused for a few days
• We’re integrating ProBit into our trading engine
• Once that’s done, XTP trading will resume as usual in the app
• We’re also in active talks with several other exchanges to expand access to XTP

We know how important XTP is to many of you, and it’s at the heart of the Tap ecosystem. Thank you for your patience and continued trust. We’ll keep you updated and let you know the moment trading goes live again.

The Tap Team

Dear Tap Community,

We want to share an important update regarding the XTP token and Bitfinex. As part of a broader internal review, Bitfinex has decided to delist several tokens, including XTP along with other notable projects like The Graph (GRT), Notcoin (NOT), and seven others as part of their platform review. This appears to be a broader shift in Bitfinex's listing strategy rather than something specific to XTP.

What’s Next for XTP

The good news? XTP remains at the heart of everything we do! 💙 Our token continues to power all the awesome features you love - our tier structure, rewards, and the entire Tap ecosystem. This change doesn't affect our exciting roadmap or our vision for the future.

Here’s what we’re doing to keep things moving forward:

ProBit Integration in Progress:
Our dev team is already working on integrating ProBit (where XTP currently trades) into our Trading Engine. This will create a seamless trading experience right within our platform!

New Exchange Adventures:
We're in exciting talks with several exchanges to give XTP even more trading homes! While we need to keep the details under wraps for now (those NDAs, am I right?), know that we're pushing hard to create more options for our community.

Community First:
Remember to withdraw your tokens from Bitfinex before July 15, 2025, if you haven't already. We're here to help if you need guidance on this!

The Road Ahead 🛣️

Even in challenging markets, we see incredible opportunities for growth! Here's what's cooking:

• More XTP Utility: We're whipping up new ways for XTP to shine in our ecosystem
• Cool New Features: Q2 is going to bring some exciting platform upgrades
• Let's Talk More: We'll be sharing updates more frequently so you're always in the loop

We're so grateful for this amazing community! 🙏 Together, we've weathered challenges before, and we'll come out stronger this time too. The crypto landscape is always evolving, and we're evolving with it.

We’re deeply invested in the future of XTP - and we’re just getting started. 👏

The Tap Team

Le marché des cryptomonnaies aborde 2025 à un moment charnière. Après des événements marquants en 2024 — comme l’approbation de grands ETFs et une adoption institutionnelle massive — l’univers des actifs numériques évolue peu à peu, passant d’un terrain spéculatif à un marché plus structuré et mature.

Ce tournant ouvre à la fois des opportunités et de nouveaux défis. Voici les tendances majeures à surveiller en 2025.

Note : le marché des cryptomonnaies reste complexe et imprévisible. Les éléments évoqués ici sont basés sur des observations actuelles du marché et ne doivent pas être considérés comme des conseils d’investissement. Pensez toujours à faire vos propres recherches approfondies.

1. L’après-ETF pour Bitcoin

L’arrivée des Bitcoin ETFs a profondément modifié la dynamique du marché. L’histoire montre que dans des actifs traditionnels comme l’or, l’adoption institutionnelle massive a souvent été suivie d’une baisse de la volatilité et d’une appréciation progressive des prix.

Larry Fink, PDG de BlackRock, a d’ailleurs déclaré récemment :

« Cela pourrait ouvrir les vannes de l’allocation institutionnelle et entraîner d’importants flux vers les produits d’investissement Bitcoin, notamment les ETFs Bitcoin spot. »

Que d’autres ETFs soient approuvés ou que de nouveaux investisseurs institutionnels arrivent, 2025 promet d’être une année déterminante à observer de près.

2. L’intégration de la blockchain par les grandes entreprises

L'adoption de la blockchain ne se limite plus aux investissements. Aujourd'hui, plus de la moitié des entreprises du Fortune 100 ont lancé des projets en crypto, blockchain ou Web3 depuis 2020, selon un rapport récent.

Cette tendance montre une volonté d'intégrer la technologie blockchain au cœur des opérations, ouvrant la voie à une nouvelle demande en cryptomonnaies existantes et tokens d’entreprise spécialisés.

3. L’essor de la tokenisation des marchés traditionnels

La tokenisation d’actifs transforme des biens physiques — comme l’immobilier, l’art ou les matières premières — en tokens numériques représentant des parts de propriété. Cela simplifie considérablement les transactions.

Selon Chainlink, le marché des actifs tokenisés pourrait atteindre 10 000 milliards de dollars d’ici 2030. En septembre 2024, ils représentaient déjà 118,6 milliards de dollars, dont 58 % hébergés sur Ethereum.

Outre la simplification des échanges, la tokenisation pourrait aussi réduire les coûts de transaction jusqu’à 90 %, tout en permettant une activité 24/7 sur des actifs traditionnellement peu liquides.

4. L’adoption crypto dans les marchés émergents

Les cryptomonnaies redessinent en profondeur l’économie de nombreux pays en développement. La Banque interaméricaine de développement souligne que les plateformes crypto ont fait baisser les coûts d’envoi de fonds, de 6,4 % à 1,8 % en moyenne.

Le Groupe de la Banque mondiale estime quant à lui que les technologies blockchain pourraient ouvrir l’accès aux services financiers à 250 millions de personnes d’ici 2026.

Dans des pays comme le Venezuela, environ 35 % de la population utilise des cryptomonnaies comme protection contre l’inflation. D’autres pays comme le Kenya, le Rwanda et le Panama innovent déjà en utilisant la blockchain dans des secteurs tels que l’agriculture, l’enregistrement foncier et les services financiers.

5. DeFi 2.0 : la prochaine génération

La finance décentralisée (DeFi) entre dans une nouvelle phase de maturité. Selon Funds Society, la valeur totale verrouillée (TVL) dans les protocoles DeFi devrait dépasser les 200 milliards de dollars d’ici fin 2025.

La DeFi 2.0 ne se limite plus aux prêts ou à l’échange de tokens. Elle s’étend désormais vers la tokenisation d’actifs réels, la gestion automatisée de portefeuilles, et le développement de produits financiers adaptés aux institutions.

Les prévisions estiment également que les échanges sur les DEX (bourses décentralisées) atteindront les 4 000 milliards de dollars, captant environ 20 % du marché total.

En résumé : la DeFi s’étend bien au-delà de ses cas d’usage initiaux, s’ouvrant aux actifs réels et aux services financiers traditionnels.

Le contexte économique

Toutes ces évolutions s'inscrivent dans un contexte économique mondial en pleine mutation. La frontière entre marchés traditionnels et cryptomonnaies devient de plus en plus floue, avec une reconnaissance croissante des actifs numériques comme véritable classe d’actifs à part entière.

Ce que nous réserve l’avenir

Si la volatilité a longtemps caractérisé le marché crypto, l’infrastructure institutionnelle en construction pourrait bien changer la donne.

Entre une meilleure clarté réglementaire, l'arrivée d'acteurs institutionnels et l'adoption grand public, 2025 pourrait marquer le début d'un nouveau cycle, différent des précédents.

Tap experienced a significant growth in our user base during Q1 2023. While this was a cause for celebration, it also attracted the unwanted attention of fraudsters. Lured by our platform's quick onboarding and seamless fiat and crypto transactions, these fraudsters exploited remote access tools like Teamviewer and Anydesk to abuse vulnerable individuals . In response, we felt compelled to implement a robust and necessary Anti-Scam Protection Feature.

This feature, while stringent and non-negotiable, is not designed to control our users' app preferences. Instead, it is a forceful, yet crucial measure to ensure their safety and protect the integrity of our platform.

Regulatory Responsibility: As a regulated financial entity, we're duty-bound to shield our users from potential threats and foster safe digital practices. Our Anti-Scam Protection Feature stands as testament to this commitment. It doesn't merely warn users about potentially risky apps; it mandates their removal to ensure the secure use of our services.

Proactive Measures: Scams utilizing remote access tools can be highly sophisticated and often slip past even the most vigilant defenses. Our feature is a stringent proactive measure, akin to a car's seatbelt, designed to preemptively avert such situations.

User Autonomy: At Tap, we deeply value our users' autonomy and their ability to manage their digital safety. However, we also acknowledge that scammers' tactics can be complex and deceptive. The Anti-Scam Protection Feature is our firm stand against such threats, ensuring all users can safely navigate the digital banking landscape.

At Tap, we go beyond secure transactions. Our vision is to create a 'super app' that caters to everyone's needs. We prioritize the protection and well-being of all our customers, including our beloved pops and nans. Understanding the older generation's vulnerability to scams, we are committed to making digital banking accessible and safe for people of all ages. This feature is a significant step towards that vision.

Now, it's crucial to understand an often-overlooked concept outside the payments industry – the "fraud threshold." This measure ensures that financial platforms don't profit from fraudulent transactions. While a high fraud rate may inflate revenues temporarily, it risks losing critical payment services like GBP - Faster Payments and Euro SEPA transfers over time.

Weighing the pros and cons of our Anti-Scam Protection Feature provides a clearer perspective:

CONS:

• Potential displeasure amongst users of apps like Teamviewer, Anydesk, and others.
• Possible loss of a few users.
  

PROS:

• Protection of user life savings.
• Deterrence of scammers.
• Preservation of crucial payment relationships.
• Ensuring availability of payment rails for all our users.
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The Anti-Scam Protection Feature is an assertive measure, and we understand it may cause some inconvenience. But it's an essential step in our commitment to providing a safe, secure, and accessible digital banking environment for everyone.

Crypto ATMs have been around since 2013 and while their initial integration was slow, just 7 years later there are over 30,500 Bitcoin ATMs around the world. Providing a convenient means of buying and selling the world’s biggest digital currency, here we explore how crypto ATMs can propel crypto adoption.  

Cryptocurrencies have come a long way since the advent of Bitcoin in 2009, and with each passing year more firmly establish themselves in the traditional financial landscape. Bitcoin ATMs are here to support this drive and further establish the digital currency in everyday lives, around the world. And not just Bitcoin ATMs, there are also a number of other cryptocurrencies supported which we’ll cover in more detail below.

History of Bitcoin ATMs

The first Bitcoin ATM launched in October 2013 in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The coffee shop was one of roughly 20 in the area that accepted the digital currency at the time. Created by an American company Robocoin (which later closed in 2015) and a Vancouver-based company called Bitcoiniacs, the ATM used palm scans to authenticate users and allow for a maximum trade of $3,000 worth of Bitcoin a day.  

A month and a half later, another Bitcoin was installed in Bratislava, Slovakia, becoming Europe’s first Bitcoin ATM. A few months after that, Bitcoin ATMs started popping up in the United States, and adoption steadily increased. By 2015, there were a total of 329 crypto ATMs around the world, 500 in 2016, which doubled to 1,000 by 2017.  

The number of crypto ATMs continued to double each year, reaching a total of 6,400 in early 2020. At the start of 2021, there were just under 14,000 of these machines around the world, increasing quickly to over 30,000 by the end of the year. It’s safe to conclude that the power of crypto ATMs has been recognised, and continues to grow as adoption heads in the same direction.  

Crypto ATMs vs traditional ATMs

The most significant differences between the two are that the traditional ATMs are operated by a bank while crypto ATMs are connected to the relevant blockchain via the operator, these two can both accept and dispense cash.  

From a regulatory standpoint, crypto ATMs need to follow the AML/KYC (anti-money laundering and know your customer) regulations outlined by the jurisdiction they are operating in. This will also affect the limits of both deposits and withdrawals allowed by the machine, and in some regions, the ATM will also require a money transmitter licence.  

The downside to crypto ATMs is the fees. Fees can range from 7% - 25% depending on the operator, the location and the trade. While they allow for quick and easy purchase or sale of various cryptocurrencies with fewer KYC verifications necessary than on a traditional exchange, this does come at a price. However, the crypto ATMs also allow users to tap into the relevant network who might not otherwise have access to an online exchange or bank account.  

Of the over 30,500 crypto ATMs around the world, the following cryptocurrencies are currently supported:

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Lightning BTC (LBTC)
• Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Dash (DASH)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• Zcash (ZEC)
• Monero (XMR)
• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Tether (USDT)
• Ripple (XRP)
  

How crypto ATMs are fueling adoption

These decentralized crypto ATMs have seen a huge growth in popularity over the last 5 years, allowing users to easily exchange one fiat currency for a digital one. Providing an easy means of transaction in over 75 countries, crypto ATMs are facilitating a seamless means in which to travel - instead of exchanging one fiat for another, simply withdrawal the fiat at a crypto ATM on arrival.

While crypto ATMs and adoption go hand in hand, it might lend closer to a chicken/egg conversation (which came first) as both operations are fueled by the other. With more crypto ATMs, more people can gain access to the peer-to-peer based payment system thus increasing adoption, while growing adoption creates more of a demand for crypto ATMs.  

In the coming years, we will more than likely see the continued growth of crypto ATMs around the world, alongside a similar growth in crypto adoption as the digital currencies become more integrated into the financial sector and our daily lives.