Learning the friendly way

While you’ve likely come across the world of cryptocurrencies, you most probably have stumbled upon the term “blockchain”. But what is the blockchain solution? Blockchain is not only the revolutionary technology behind cryptocurrencies, it also has a large use case outside of the cryptocurrency and even the finance sector.

In the decade since blockchain technologies and digital ledger technology came to light, a host of blockchain networks have been created, most with their own digital currency. As the industry has grown and new blockchain networks have emerged, innovation in the space has increased significantly.

From the Ethereum blockchain providing a platform on which developers can create digital assets and smart contracts to corporate organizations implementing a private blockchain in order to streamline their services, the technology is propelling mankind forward in ways not witnessed in decades.

The blockchain solution provides much more than just digital assets, and industries far beyond just the payment processing ones are catching on. With traditional business networks incorporating the technology, the world of permissioned blockchain is igniting.

What is Blockchain?

Blockchain is a decentralized, transparent, immutable technology that keeps a public record of all information entered. Designed to record and distribute information, not to be edited. Also referred to as a public ledger, a blockchain keeps a record of all information ever inputted and stores it chronologically in blocks.

These blocks are linked to each other through a hashing system, which ensures that no one can ever tamper with the previous records, or try to manipulate the information on them. The “chain” of blocks make up the blockchain database.

The decentralized technology is not typically run by one entity, but rather from a variety of computers (also known as nodes) that make up the network, and work together to validate transactions and all information added to the blocks. Blockchain can be used in two forms, as a public blockchain or as private blockchain networks.

The public version allows anyone to view all information on the network, while the private reserves the information for members granted access.

The Advantages of Blockchain Technology

Powerful Technology

Invented in 2008 alongside Bitcoin by an anonymous entity Satoshi Nakamoto, blockchain is the technology that fueled the new way that money is transacted. Not only that, the technology offers incredible use cases far beyond the financial world. 

Fully Trusted, Fully Automated

One of the key features of blockchain is its ability to function without a central authority. The technology is designed to be maintained by various operating systems on the network, with full autonomy dispersed evenly. Information is stored on the blockchain in such a way that everyone can view it but no one can go back and tamper with it.

Powering Industries

While blockchain is the technology behind crypto, it also offers an incredible backbone to a diverse range of industries outside of this space. Companies like Nestle, Microsoft and Walmart are onboarding blockchain, proving to offer a strong and highly adaptable infrastructure to financial, property, and supply chain management entities. The number of blockchain companies is growing by the day.

The Core Benefits of a Blockchain Network

Decentralized

Blockchain networks are designed to be entirely decentralized meaning that there is no one central authority. The entire network is maintained by nodes (computers) around the world and no single entity has control. 

Immutable

Once the information has been added to a blockchain, no one can tamper, edit, or remove it. As information is verified and added to blocks, this solidifies its presence on the blockchain forever. 

Transparent

Blockchain offers a transparent view of all the activity that takes place on the network. This takes away the need for any checks or balances as all the information is available at any given time, in real-time.

What is the Difference Between a Public Blockchain and Private Blockchain?

When understanding what is blockchain, a common question is whether blockchain is secure. The answer is yes, blockchain is very secure.

Due to its decentralized nature, the technology requires a network of operators (computers) to verify and input all the information. As soon as one tries to input incorrect information or conduct illicit transactions, the network will recognize this and reject it immediately. 

The difference between a public and private blockchain is that public blockchain networks are open for anyone to see, while private blockchains are closed to an organization or a selected group of people.

Cryptocurrency networks are examples of public blockchain networks in that anyone can view all the transaction data. For a private blockchain, however, users will need special permission to access this information.

How is Blockchain Tamperproof?

Each block is made up of three things: the hash code of the previous block, the relevant information, and its own hash code.

When a new block is added, the new block will again have the hash of the previous block, the relevant information, and its own hash. This special sequence of hashes ensures that all blocks are stored chronologically, in a linear fashion, meaning that you cannot tamper with one block's information without tampering with every block after that.

Tampering with blocks would take an enormous amount of computing power and is largely considered impossible. Hence the security of using a digital asset or digital currency.

Blockchain Explained: How Does It Work

At its core, blockchain records and distributes information to a wide network of users that participate in verifying the information and maintaining the network. Let’s take a deeper look at Bitcoin transactions to further explain how blockchain works. 

If one user wanted to send a portion of Bitcoin to another user, they would require the user’s wallet address. Each wallet is made up of two codes, a public and private key, which enable the user to receive BTC (through the public key), as well as access BTC and conduct transactions (through the private key). The sender will then input the receiver’s wallet code and send the amount of Bitcoin they desire. 

This transaction will then enter a pool of transactions waiting to be verified by a miner on the network. The miner will ensure that the sender owns the amount they are sending, and verify the transaction along with a number of other transactions.

On the Bitcoin network, the size of one block is 1MB, which equates to roughly 3,200 transactions able to be stored in one block. When building a blockchain network, the size of the blocks can be increased or decreased to suit the use case. 

Once the transaction has been verified, the miner will record transactions processed and ensure they are added to the chain. The transaction ledger will then be distributed to the rest of the operators on the network. This new version will then override the older versions, and so on as more blocks are added.

Once the block is added to the blockchain and distributed, the funds will reflect in the receiver’s wallet. No need for a bank account or legal contracts, Bitcoin (and other digital currencies) operate entirely separately from traditional banking institutions and allow for the fast, efficient and cost-effective transaction of value.

Fraudulent transactions cannot take place as this will be flagged long before the block is added to the chain. Blockchain work in such a way that network participants can immediately flag ill actors and dismiss fraudulent financial transactions.

Understanding the Difference Between Blockchain and The Bitcoin Blockchain

The burning question: how does blockchain compare to Bitcoin. The answer is that it doesn’t, there are two separate, co-dependent technologies. Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency, is built on blockchain technology and requires it to function. There is no Bitcoin without blockchain technology.

Consider it the backbone of all cryptocurrencies. Blockchain technology, however, is an adaptable technology that can be used outside of the cryptocurrency industry. The technology can be used in any industry, provided that they require a transparent, immutable public ledger. 

One thing the two do have in common is that they were both introduced to the world at the same time. While the concept of blockchain technology was initially invented by researchers W. Scott Stornetta and Stuart Haber in 1991, it was referred to as distributed ledger technology (DLT) and was created purely to store office documents.

The anonymous entity Satoshi Nakamoto built on this and ultimately solved the double spending problem it was plagued with. In 2008, Nakamoto released both blockchain technology and Bitcoin in a whitepaper titled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.

The Bitcoin blockchain refers to the network, while blockchain technology refers to the technology as a whole.

In Conclusion

What is blockchain? Blockchain technology is the transparent, immutable storage of information. As mentioned earlier, this technology has use cases far outside of just the cryptocurrency and financial ecosystems.

Industries like renewable energy, supply chain management, and even farming sectors are now incorporating blockchain technology into their business systems, empowering them with a fully automated and safe means of storing records. 

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Investing has become an increasingly important part of many people's financial plans, as it offers the potential for greater returns than simply leaving money in a savings account. By investing your hard-earned money, you can potentially build wealth over time and secure a better future for yourself and your family.

But what exactly is investing? Put simply, investing involves putting your money into assets with the goal of making more money. There are various types of investments available to individuals, from stocks and bonds to mutual funds and real estate investments. Understanding how each type works is key to making smart investment decisions that will help you meet your financial goals.

Investing can also involve investing in time and labor, especially when it comes to business operations. These investments are similar in that one expects to see returns. While no investment carries a guarantee, understanding what they are and how they operate will assist you in making smart financial decisions. 

What is an investment?

When you invest, you're essentially trading current resources (like time or money) for an asset that has the potential to grow in value. Ideally, if you choose to invest in the right asset at the right time, your investment could gain value. As an example, when you trade on the stock market, you are buying stock with capital in the hope that in time the asset will grow in value and sell for more money than the initial capital investment. 

There are plenty of different types of investments one could use to grow their money, from stocks and bonds to commodities and cryptocurrencies, as well as mutual funds and real estate properties. The concept behind every investment is that it will make more money for the investor in the long term.

A smart investment allows an individual to not only make money but increase their total net worth. However, it's crucial to remember that every type of investment is speculative and there is always a possibility you will lose some or all the money you put in. For example, if you purchase stock shares or a piece of property, the value could decrease soon after you buy it. For this reason it is imperative that one assesses their risk tolerance before investing in something so as not to lose money.

The definition of an investment is not constant and can change depending on the situation. For instance, in macroeconomics, investing refers to purchasing items now that will be used later to generate income. While a company or individual from one nation might invest in business properties located in another country, such as building a factory which is known as foreign direct investments.

What are the different types of investments?

With a variety of options available, each investment type carries its own potential for returns, risks, and other factors such as tax implications and management fees. Below we highlight several options available to the everyday trader that can be used individually or together as part of an investment strategy to contribute to their financial goals.

Stock Market

By investing in stocks on the stock market, you are purchasing fractional ownership of a public listed company. People generally invest in stocks with the aspiration that their value will have gone up by the time they sell them. In order to make a profit from selling stock, the price will need to have grown enough to cover any trading costs and transaction fees associated with the trade. 

Investing in certain stocks might also make you liable to dividend payouts, where a company distributes profits to shareholders (holders of stock) based on the company's performance. 

Read more about investing in stocks in our What Are Stocks article. 

Mutual funds

Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool the money of many investors and invest in a variety of different assets such as stocks, bonds, and other securities. A mutual fund is managed by an investment professional who makes all the decisions about where to put the money within the fund.

These professionals seek to maximize returns for investors while maintaining a certain level of risk. Mutual funds are a great way for investors to diversify their portfolios, as the fund’s holdings may include stocks from many different companies and sectors. Additionally, mutual funds reduce the amount of research required to make an informed investment decision since all decisions are made by the fund manager. Investing in a mutual fund may come with higher fees than other investments.

Bonds

By purchasing a bond, you are essentially loaning money to a government, company, or other borrowing entity. In return for your loan, the debtor (the bond issuer) is required to repay both the debt and any associated interest payments. 

However, it's worth noting that on occasion companies and countries default on their bonds, meaning that they can't make scheduled payments to the bondholders which will result in the investor losing money. This is almost always a last resort option as these establishments know that defaulting will scare off investors going forward.

A bond is a fixed-income instrument that pays periodic interest payments until the agreed-upon end date when the final payment is made and the loan's original amount is repaid.

Commodities

Commodities are raw materials that can be traded for one another, such as gold, beef, and gas, expanding to foreign currencies and indexes. Funds that invest money in commodities will typically invest in resources such as precious metals (silver, gold), energy resources (natural gas, oil), and primary agricultural products (wheat). 

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that are operated on decentralized networks free from government or financial institutional control. While considered high-risk, several cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) have shown incredible gains over the last decade. Various investment accounts in mainstream firms are starting to incorporate cryptocurrencies into their portfolio.

Other investment options (real estate investments, etc)

Other investment options include real estate, options, futures, and certificates of deposit. 

Before investing in any of the asset classes mentioned above it is imperative that one understands the financial instruments and their own risk tolerance entirely, as well as the terms involved in the investment, the fees or transaction costs and the risks involved. 

It is also important for savvy investors to understand the tax implications of their investments and the capital gains tax they might be required to pay on any investment returns.

How do investments work?

While each asset class might differ slightly, they all require an upfront investment of capital. The intention is that this will later create a return in a monetary form of higher value. 

When investing in financial products such as bonds, stocks, or a mutual fund, investors will typically have to set up an investment account with a professional such as a brokerage firm or money manager. This person can then advise on which products to invest in and manage your portfolio.

Investing in real estate will involve buying a house, usually done by making a down payment or investing in real estate investment trusts. These properties can either be used to live in or rent out and generate future income. The intention here is that the house appreciates in value over a certain period of time and can later be sold at a higher price. Depending on the property and area these types of investments can range from high risk to low risk.

How investments drive economic growth

Investments are not just for personal or corporate benefits, they play a big role in driving the broader economy. Through factors like building consumer demand and job creation, investing can play a direct role in economic growth. 

For instance, a company might decide to sell stocks and issue corporate bonds in order to raise capital. This capital can then be used to build a factory, create a new product line and hire new employees. This then drives the greater economy while also building the company's and investors' wealth. 

In another example, governments might use the funds raised from corporate bonds to fund public projects, fix the roads, or build social programs in communities. Or individuals might use gains made from investments to further their education or save for retirement. With more income comes more consumerism, in turn contributing to economic growth.

How to start investing

If you're ready to start investing, you will first need to determine your risk tolerance and which asset class you wish to pursue. If you're just starting out, start small and grow instead of taking on too many things at once. Gaining an understanding of your risk tolerance will help you to navigate where start investing.

Research

Before you begin, ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the market you wish to invest in, and understand all the associated risks. Always do your own research, and don't rely on one outlet or individual to be the sole source of information. If the option is available, consider hiring a professional to assist you. 

Understand market movements

Another important aspect to understand before investing is that markets will always have fluctuations. Even if they grow over long periods of time, they will still go through periods of increases and declines. Don't rely on past performances to dictate future outcomes. 

Open an account

To get started in investing you will need to open an investment account that allows you to both buy and sell the financial instrument. Looking at investing in stock, some investors will open a brokerage account that will execute trades on their behalf, while others might use a portfolio manager who oversees all their investments. Always do your research before parting ways with your money.

Have your financial affairs in order first

While investing is designed to create wealth, it is important to have a grasp on your personal finance beforehand, and ideally have an emergency fund set up for any unforeseen expences (so that you won't have to tap into your investment accounts).

Conclusion

An investment is the act of buying an asset with the intention that it appreciates in value over time. Before people invest it is imperative that one establishes their risk tolerance to establish how much risk one has to navigate.

Investments can be managed by professionals or individually, depending on the investors preference. It is also important to note that return on investments will typically be imposed by capital gains taxes, depending on the jurisdiction. 

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You've likely come across the term "ERC-20" in your crypto endeavours, with plenty of these token standards currently ranked in the top 10 (even top 100) cryptocurrencies. But what does ERC-20 actually mean, and what is a token standard? In this piece, we're uncovering everything you need to know about these popular crypto terms.

To start things off, ERC stands for Ethereum request for comment.

What is a token standard?

Let's start at the beginning. When Ethereum was created to provide developers with a platform on which to build decentralized apps (Dapps), the team incorporated several token standards. 

These token standards allow new projects to create, issue and deploy various functioning tokens on the blockchain. Each token standard is a smart contract that holds a set of particular "rules" that must be followed in order to be created.

In recent years a number of blockchain platforms that provide Dapp creation functionality have created their own token standards, however, for the sake of this article we are only looking at Ethereum.

The most popular token standards on Ethereum are the ERC-20, ERC-721, ERC-777, and ERC-1155 tokens. Each holds its own functionality and would be utilized depending on what the Dapp intends to use it for, i.e. will it be a transferable asset or be used to hold ownership rights. 

What is an ERC-20 token?

By far the most popular token standard utilized on the Ethereum network, the ERC-20 token is a fungible token that can be bought, sold and traded in the blockchain ecosystem. To date over 350,000 ERC-20 tokens have been created. 

Similar to the functioning of other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin, ERC-20 tokens also hold value and are able to be bought and sold, however, they operate solely on the Ethereum blockchain. This means that all ERC-20 transactions conducted are executed on the Ethereum blockchain network.

The rules associated with this particular token ensure that it can function optimally on the Ethereum blockchain, and must be submitted to the community leadership for approval prior to its launch. While some rules are mandatory and others optional, the required ERC-20 rules are as follows:

• total supply: defines the total supply of the token
• balance of: indicates how many tokens are in a wallet address
• transfer To, Transfer From: must be able to be transferred from one user to another
• allowance: ensures that wallets have a sufficient amount before making a transaction
• approve: checks total supply against transactions

The optional elements are centred around the token's name, its ticker symbol and how many decimal places it would have %u200BFor instance, Ethereum's token name is Ether, its ticker symbol is ETH and it is divisible by up to 18 decimal places.

Examples of ERC-20 tokens are Augur (REP), Basic Attention Token (BAT), Maker (MKR), USD Coin (USDC) and OmiseGO (OMG).

Can you mine ERC-20 tokens?

ERC-20 tokens, unlike Ethereum and its native coins (ether), cannot be mined. That is, new tokens are 'minted' when a planned initial token offering (ICO) or security token offering (STO) event takes place. Usually, these events involve users sending ether to a smart contract address and in return receiving the newly minted ERC-20 token.

An ERC-20 token is technically a smart contract so it's possible for the developer team behind an ERC-20 token to issue new tokens at will. However, this isn't recommended because users would be less likely to trust these tokens if they could be minted at will. There must be a measure of scarcity in order for tokens to be valuable.

The pros & cons of ERC-20 tokens:

Some of the main benefits of ERC-20 tokens include: 

Fungible

Fungible ERC20 tokens are interchangeable, just like cash. Although the coins are technically distinct, they function in exactly the same way. You can trade one for another and they will be functionally equivalent, just like cash or gold.

Fungible tokens are fantastic, and there's a lot of value in the technical aspect. On a technical level, it's worth noting that fungible tokens don't add extra value to goods. They're typically beneficial in a variety of commercial scenarios.

Broad adoption

The popularity of ERC-20 tokens is quite apparent in the cryptocurrency industry. The number of exchanges, wallets, and smart contracts that already support newly-launched tokens has made it easy for new projects to integrate with them. There is plenty of developer support and documentation to go around.

Flexibility

The first thing to note about ERC-20 tokens is that they are highly flexible and may be used in a variety of circumstances and applications. This is due to the fact that these tokens are very customizable. They can be used in a lot of different scenarios such as Loyalty points programs, in-game currencies, or digital collectibles such as NFT's.

Some of the main cons of ERC-20 tokens include:

Mainstream

The popularity of ERC-20 tokens is also their greatest weakness. There are so many projects using the same standard that it's difficult to stand out from the crowd without differentiating your token in some way. Moreover, since they're essentially all the same on a technical level.

Fraud and Scams

It takes minimal effort to create a simple ERC-20 token, meaning that anyone could do it for good or bad purposes. As such you want to be careful with what you're investing in when considering blockchains projects because there are some Pyramid schemes masquerading as legitimate projects out there and trying to get unsuspecting investors involved in their scams. As a result, when looking at blockchain projects, you need to be cautious with what you invest in.

Other ERC Token Standards

While there is a large range of ERC tokens available, below we've outlined the most popular ones (excluding the ERC-20 one as it is listed above). 

ERC-721 

This token standard is for a non-fungible token (NFT) which gained huge popularity in the last year across the gaming and digital art worlds. These tokens represent ownership of something, and cannot be used interchangeably. 

ERC-777 

An evolution of the ERC-20 token, the ERC-777 provides more usability, particularly pertaining to its ability to mint or burn tokens. It also holds improved transaction privacy and an emergency recovery function. 

ERC-1155

This token standard allows for the creation of both utility tokens and non-fungible tokens. Making trading more efficient, the token standard allows for bundling of transactions which in turn saves costs. 

Learn more about cryptocurrencies and blockchain

You can learn more about crypto basics from our specially created Learn centre, which covers everything a trader ought to know about cryptocurrencies and the blockchain industry. 

The financial industry has seen significant growth within its digital sector due to the adaptation required during Covid-19. With the increased interest in digital payments has come the rise of virtual cards.

Shopping online and online purchases continue to break barriers that traditional financial institutions never predicted. While these institutions do allow users to do online shopping, there are still a lot of limitations and risks to be wary of. 

Every time you shop online, you risk your account number and details being stolen and used against you. Credit card companies have had to evolve, and one way they have done that is through the introduction of an actual account-linked virtual card.

How do virtual credit cards and debit cards work?

Virtual cards are stored on your mobile device and can be used to make contactless payments in store or online. A virtual card has its own unique card number, CVC, and expiration date. These virtual cards are simply a copy of your physical card, linked to your bank account, and stored on your application or phone. Think of it as an online account and card.

Virtual cards are very similar to an actual credit or debit card, with the main difference being that they only exist digitally, and can not be used to withdraw physical cash. Virtual credit cards provide the same features and mechanics as traditional credit and debit cards. 

A virtual credit card still has an expiry date and 16-digit account number, and CVV codes. They are connected to payment networks like Visa and Mastercard and are generally accepted by merchants who use physical card machines, similar to Apple and Google Pay. 

Your virtual card information and virtual credit card number are stored digitally, eliminating the risk of someone stealing your card and simply entering your details when shopping online. 

Virtual credit cards act as digital wallets, providing more advanced security and ease of online access. Virtual cards are created for one-time use or act as a temporary account number, but what are the benefits of a limited-use virtual card number? Let’s get into it.

Benefits of a virtual credit card

The first and foremost virtual credit card feature benefit that you can expect is an enhanced layer of security. To combat fraudulent activity, a data breach, and account information being stolen, virtual cards have randomly generated and disposable card numbers. This makes virtual cards one of the safest payment methods, eliminating physical and confirmed details, meaning your temporary information can not be stolen or lost. If your info is compromised, you can cancel it without having to create a new bank account or waiting for a new card in the mail.

Control and customization is an additional layer of benefits users can expect from using virtual credit cards. Users can customize how many virtual account numbers they want, set spending limits, choose their preferred currencies, and more. Similar to a normal debit card account, you can also create recurring payments with merchant details, as tailored to the amount, time, and so on.

Some virtual credit cards provide users with point-earning rewards or store credit when used. Credit card companies can also easily access your information to improve your credit score based on your recurring payments set up. 

Creating multiple virtual debit cards allows you to distribute, allocate, and track funds with ease. This means at the end of the day, you have more visibility of your funds going in and out and can create a dedicated virtual debit card for a specific area of your financial responsibilities.

Getting your virtual card number

Whether you are trying to manage your funds with your debit or credit cards accounts, a virtual card can make matters easier. All you need is a debit or credit card account, such as the one offered by Tap and you can create your unique virtual card at the click of a button. With some traditional banks you can even create multiple cards if you want, each with its own unique account number and expiration date. 

These digital wallets and accounts provide ease when you want to shop online, avoid physical wallet and card theft, as well as easier fund management. A virtual debit card is a big part of the future, as we move into the digital era.

Experience a whole new world of digital payments and money management from the safety of your mobile device. You should be able to use your virtual card at any merchant that accepts debit and credit card payments, or contactless transactions, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. Create your virtual account number today and enjoy purchases online and in-store. The future of payments is here.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are all about decentralised, worldwide, financial independence and liberty. Cryptocurrencies are borderless, censorship-resistant digital currencies that can be used by anybody with internet access. 

As a result, crypto, at least in principle, appears to be the perfect solution for international travellers or "digital nomads." With the added advantage of having the Tap app, users can instantly and seamlessly use their cryptocurrencies as they would regular fiat currencies when travelling around.

With the growth rate of blockchain technology and crypto adoption increasing, it's only natural that we're seeing more options to spend and travel the world using cryptocurrency.

In this article, we'll look at a variety of different ways to spend your crypto while travelling with Tap and how to spend seamlessly with your Tap card. We will explore why people choose to use their crypto to travel and how the exploding $1 trillion travel market is important for the cryptocurrency industry. 
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Entirely Cashless

‍The beauty of travelling with crypto is that it is entirely cashless. You won't have to worry about dealing with foreign currency exchanges when entering or leaving a different country as all of your money is kept digitally online in your app. 

With the Tap card, users can use their crypto balances to load their card and freely swipe away worldwide. The card allows for seamless payments at millions of merchants around the world, with the merchant none the wiser. 

The option to upgrade to more premium accounts allows you to reduce or completely eliminate any FX fees. Get empowered and enjoy the best out of your money wherever you go.

Reduces Risk

Instead of being a target for muggings looking to steal cash, being entirely digital bypasses this risk.

Accessible

Should something happen at home you can easily and quickly send funds back. Operating 24/7 and only requiring an internet connection, sending money back home can be completed at a moment's notice. Send funds to your friends and family via crypto or fiat for free on their Tap account. 

Discounts

Last but not least, many companies offer discounts to users paying with cryptocurrencies. From travel to retail, and everything in between, users can enjoy added discounts just by utilising crypto. 

Should an event arise that you do need cash, users can easily withdraw cash from a regular ATM using their Tap card. Paying significantly lower fees than you would with your standard bank card, the Tap card allows you to seamlessly integrate into the foreign country with peace of mind. 

How To Travel Abroad With Tap

This is the ultimate crypto vacation guide showing you how to buy everything that you might need through the Tap app for that epic crypto vacation abroad.
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Flights

CheapAir.com was the first US online travel agency to open its doors to crypto, getting into the game as early as 2013. The company currently allows holidaymakers to make payments using Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and Dash.

In 2020, Travala and Expedia merged to give users access to millions of hotels and villas worldwide payable in over 30 popular types of cryptocurrencies. There is also Destinia.com in Spain, airBaltic in Latvia, Surf Air in the US, and Peach Aviation in Japan.

Conveniently buy everything you need with your Tap app by scanning the company’s QR code and confirming the transaction. Alternatively, you can make online purchases using your Tap card. 
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Accommodation

Travala, CheapAir.com and Destinia all allow users to book flights and accommodation in one smooth transaction. On Destinia look out for the GoCoin merchant plugin.

Booking.com has partnered with flight planner, A Bit Sky, to provide a location with both flight and accommodation options.

Savvy accommodation-seekers can look to Airbnb-style crypto startups like 99Flats in India or CryptoCribs on Reddit, or head over to XcelTrip,a decentralized travel ecosystem, which provides access to 400 airlines and 1.5 million hotels.
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Food and Drink

CoinMap is an app for anyone and everyone wanting to find crypto-friendly companies. Felix Weis, as well as numerous other cryptocurrency influencers, has credited CoinMap with being the saviour for finding the closest cafe, bar, or restaurant that accepts Bitcoin, including international chains such as Subway and local providers who use crypto merchants. Say goodbye to walking around with boatloads of cash and just take your Tap app along instead. 

Holidaymakers can also look to using crypto to buy a gift card which can be purchased online through Gyft or eGifter, with eGifter offering a 5% discount for purchases made with Bitcoin. eGifter offers gift cards to restaurants like Papa John, Taco Bell, Dunkin’ Donuts, TGI Fridays, UberEats and more.
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Getting Around

Expedia, A Bit Sky, Destinia, and CheapAir all offer access to transfers or car rentals in their services, while Gyft and eGifter offer Uber vouchers. There is also SpendBitcoin.com, which locates different crypto-accepting services in an area, simply chose the car filter option.
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Things To Do

Again, Gyft and eGifter provide access to options like Groupon where you can find local activities on offer, or head to purse.io for any last-minute Amazon purchases (snorkel, anyone?).
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Travel The Tap Way‍

Both the Tap card and the Tap app can provide a seamless and cost-effective solution to using both fiat and cryptocurrencies when travelling. Simply load your wallet with crypto and fiat currencies, and pay directly from the app or use the card to pay at millions of merchants around the world. Say hello to easy travel and plenty of discounts. 

With a range of coins on offer and an integrated smart engine that ensures the best possible prices in real time, travelling with cryptocurrencies and Tap is as smooth a ride as it gets.

With a range of coins on offer and an integrated smart router, Tap lets you store and manage your digital assets wherever, whenever. There are no border delays or inconvenient payment processes to worry about while travelling with crypto only speed and convenience. Tap is as seamless a journey as it gets. 

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Τον Μάρτιο του 2022, η Chain επαναπροσδιόρισε το token της από CHN σε XCN και γνώρισε ευρεία επιτυχία. Το κοινό, πολλαπλών περιουσιακών στοιχείων, κρυπτογραφικό καθολικό έχει λάβει σημαντική προσοχή από την αγορά και αυξήθηκε σε αξία σχεδόν κατά 50% τους πρώτους μήνες μετά την κυκλοφορία.

Έπειτα, μετά την εφαρμογή αναβαθμίσεων που περιλάμβαναν την Αποκεντρωμένη Αυτόνομη Οργάνωση της Chain (DAO), την κυκλοφορία beta του προϊόντος Chain Cloud, το staking του XCN, καθώς και την εισαγωγή σε διάφορα ανταλλακτήρια κρυπτονομισμάτων, η Chain (XCN) έφτασε στην υψηλότερη τιμή της στην ιστορία της. Ένα αξιόλογο επίτευγμα για το οικοσύστημα της Chain, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη ότι η ευρύτερη αγορά κρυπτονομισμάτων βρισκόταν σε πτώση εκείνη την περίοδο.

Τι είναι το Chain;

Το Chain είναι μια υποδομή cloud blockchain που επιτρέπει στις εταιρείες να δημιουργούν και να παρέχουν βελτιωμένες λύσεις χρηματοοικονομικών υπηρεσιών μέσω του μοναδικού κλειστού blockchain δικτύου τους. Αυτό τους δίνει την ευκαιρία να αναβαθμίσουν την τεχνολογία τους σε blockchain χωρίς να αντιμετωπίζουν τους κινδύνους που συνδέονται με τα μεγαλύτερα δημόσια δίκτυα. Η πλατφόρμα τους επιτρέπει να εκδίδουν, αποθηκεύουν και μεταφέρουν ψηφιακά περιουσιακά στοιχεία στα ιδιωτικά ανεξάρτητα δίκτυα της εταιρείας τους μέσω διαφόρων προϊόντων του οικοσυστήματος Chain.

Σύμφωνα με το whitepaper της πλατφόρμας, το πρωτόκολλο Chain ορίζει ότι "επιτρέπει στους συμμετέχοντες να εκδίδουν και να ελέγχουν τα περιουσιακά στοιχεία τους προγραμματιστικά χρησιμοποιώντας ψηφιακές υπογραφές και προσαρμοσμένους κανόνες."

Σχεδιασμένο για να βελτιώνει τα τρέχοντα προβλήματα στον τομέα των χρηματοοικονομικών εκκαθαρίσεων, το πρωτόκολλο Chain προσφέρει βελτιωμένες λύσεις για τα πάντα, από τα τέλη μεταφοράς μέχρι τη διαφάνεια των συναλλαγων, τις καθυστερήσεις εκκαθάρισης, τα θέματα ασφάλειας και την αναστρεψιμότητα των συναλλαγών.

Άλλα προϊόντα του οικοσυστήματος Chain περιλαμβάνουν μια τυπική και μια premium επιλογή τόσο ενός προϊόντος RPC/API (Remote Procedure Call API) όσο και μιας υπηρεσίας  γνωστής ως Sequence.

Το τυπικό RCP/API παρέχει στους χρήστες πρόσβαση σε διάφορες υπηρεσίες εντός του Chain Cloud που τους επιτρέπει να αναπτύσσουν προϊόντα σε δημόσια blockchains. Οι premium επιλογές πρόσβασης παρέχουν πρόσθετες λύσεις και τη δυνατότητα να αναπτύσσουν σε ιδιωτικά δίκτυα. Αυτή η  premium επιλογή χρεώνει ένα ετήσιο σταθερό ποσό σε XCN.

Το Sequence παρέχει στους χρήστες της πρόσβαση στην υπηρεσία λογιστικής cloud blockchain της Chain, όπου μπορούν να διαχειρίστουν τα υπόλοιπα σε τοκενοποιημένη μορφή. Και πάλι, υπάρχει μια τυπική επιλογή ή μια premium επιλογή πρόσβασης με πρόσθετα οφέλη, πληρωτέα σε XCN.

Το πρωτόκολλο προσφέρει επίσης στους χρήστες ολοκληρωμένες λύσεις που καλύπτουν τον "σχεδιασμό, ανάπτυξη, συμβατότητα, πώληση και χρήση" NFTs μέσω του προϊόντος Sequence NFT.

Η Αποκεντρωμένη Αυτόνομη Οργάνωση της Chain (DAO) διαχειρίζεται το σύνολο του Πρωτοκόλλου Chain, το οποίο διέπεται από τους κατόχους του token XCN. Για να συμμετέχουν στην Chain DAO και στη διακυβέρνηση του Chain, οι κάτοχοι XCN πρέπει να δεσμεύουν(stake) τα tokens τους.

Ποιος δημιούργησε το Chain;

Το δίκτυο blockchain Chain ιδρύθηκε το 2014 από τον Adam Ludwin, προσφέροντας μια λύση στα σύγχρονα χρηματοοικονομικά συστήματα. Οι προγραμματιστές λάνσαραν το Chain Core αφου συγκέτρωσαν πάνω από $40 εκατομμύρια μέσω χρηματοδότησης και στρατηγικών συνεργασιών με εταιρείες όπως Nasdaq, Orange, Capital One και Citigroup.

Το 2018, η πλατφόρμα πωλήθηκε στην Lightyear Corp., μια θυγατρική του Stellar Development Foundation, αλλά από το 2021, η εταιρεία λειτουργεί πλέον ως ιδιωτική εταιρεία με νέα γραφεία, μετόχους και νέο διοικητικό συμβούλιο.

Πώς λειτουργεί το πρωτόκολλο Chain;

Το Chain επιτρέπει την ύπαρξη και συνεργασία πολλαπλών, ανεξάρτητων δικτύων blockchain, ακόμη και αν αυτά λειτουργούν από διαφορετικές εταιρείες. Χρησιμοποιώντας την αρχή της ελάχιστης εξουσίας, διατηρείται ο έλεγχος των περιουσιακών στοιχείων ξεχωριστός από τον έλεγχο του ledger συγχρονισμού, ώστε όλοι να παραμένουν ασφαλείς.

Το πρωτόκολλο cloud Chain επιτρέπει σε οποιονδήποτε συμμετέχοντα/χρήστη στο δίκτυο να ορίζει και να εκδίδει περιουσιακά στοιχεία δημιουργώντας τα δικά του "προγράμματα έκδοσης." Μετά την έκδοσή τους, οι μονάδες ενός περιουσιακού στοιχείου φυλάσσονται από "προγράμματα ελέγχου," τα οποία γράφονται σε μια ευέλικτη ολοκληρωμένη γλώσσα προγραμματισμού που μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί για τη δημιουργία προηγμένων έξυπνων συμβολαίων(smart contract) για τα δίκτυα blockchain.

Μια ομάδα "υπογραφόντων μπλοκ" ασφαλίζει κάθε δίκτυο. Το σύστημα προστατεύεται από διακλαδώσεις όσο η πλειοψηφία των “υπογραφόντων μπλοκ” ακολουθεί το πρωτόκολλο. Για μεγαλύτερη αποδοτικότητα, το πρωτόκολλο αναθέτει τη δημιουργία μπλοκ σε έναν μόνο "γεννήτορα μπλοκ." Οποιοσδήποτε κόμβος στο δίκτυο μπορεί επίσης να επικυρώσει μπλοκ και να υποβάλει συναλλαγές.

Το λογισμικό Chain Core είναι μια επιχειρησιακή λύση που χρησιμοποιεί το Chain Protocol. Μια έκδοση ανοιχτού κώδικα για προγραμματιστές, του Chain Core είναι διαθέσιμη για λήψη. Επι προσθέτως το Chain χρησιμοποιεί ένα ελεύθερα προσβάσιμο testnet για τη διαχείριση του δικτύου blockchain Chain.

Τι είναι τα XCN tokens;

Το XCN είναι το εγγενές token του οικοσυστήματος Chain και λειτουργεί τόσο ως token χρησιμότητας όσο και ως token διακυβέρνησης. Οι κάτοχοι έχουν τη δυνατότητα να ψηφίζουν σε κοινοτικά προγράμματα και σχέδια βελτίωσης πρωτοκόλλου μέσω της Chain DAO. Το κρυπτονόμισμα προσφέρει επίσης εκπτώσεις σε premium πλάνα, έναν τρόπο πληρωμής για τα τέλη Chain Cloud και Sequence, όπως και την ανάπτυξη κόμβων.

Παράλληλα με την επαναπροσαρμογή του CHN σε XCN, η Chain λάνσαρε επίσης το νέο έξυπνο συμβόλαιο Chain Token στο blockchain του Ethereum. Οι κάτοχοι του CHN έλαβαν XCN tokens με αναλογία 1:1.000. Το Chain (XCN) έχει μέγιστο εφοδιασμό του ύψους 53,47 δισεκατομμυρίων.

Πώς μπορώ να αγοράσω το XCN token;

Για όσους επιθυμούν να ενσωματώσουν το Chain στα κρυπτονομίσματά τους, τα πράγματα έγιναν πολύ πιο εύκολα. Η εφαρμογή Tap πρόσθεσε πρόσφατα το XCN στη λίστα των υποστηριζόμενων νομισμάτων, επιτρέποντας σε οποιονδήποτε έχει λογαριασμό Tap να έχει εύκολη και άνετη πρόσβαση στην αγορά Chain.

Οι χρήστες μπορούν να αγοράσουν/πουλήσουν XCN χρησιμοποιώντας τα διάφορα υπόλοιπα τους είτε από τα κρυπτονομισματικά είτε από τα νομισματικά τους πορτοφόλια ή μπορούν να αγοράσουν το κρυπτονόμισμα με παραδοσιακές μεθόδους πληρωμής όπως τραπεζικές μεταφορές. Μέσω των ενσωματομένων πορτοφολιών στην πλατφόρμα, οι χρήστες μπορούν επίσης να αποθηκεύουν και να διαχειρίζονται εύκολα και άνετα τα XCN τους.