Learning the friendly way

Numeraire is a groundbreaking crypto project that powers the world's first AI-driven, crowd-sourced hedge fund. Founded by South African technologist Richard Craib in October 2015, Numerai represents a revolutionary approach to financial markets where thousands of data scientists compete to build the best machine learning models for stock market predictions.

This is reportedly the first crypto to be created and released by a hedge fund, making it a unique player in both the crypto and traditional finance spaces. The platform has gained significant attention for its innovative approach to combining artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and collective intelligence to create investment strategies.

TLDR

AI-powered hedge fund: Numeraire (NMR) is an Ethereum token that powers Numerai, a hedge fund based in San Francisco that uses artificial intelligence for decision-making and trades without human emotion.

Data science tournament: Numerai hosts the world's hardest data science tournament, rewarding participants with NMR tokens for creating models that enhance the fund's investment returns, with over $200,000 paid out every month.

Crowd-sourced predictions: Participants use Numerai's encrypted data to create machine learning models and submit predictions for evaluation, with successful models earning NMR rewards.

Staking mechanism: Users must hold NMR to participate in Numeraire features, stake NMR on outcomes, and conduct payments within the ecosystem.

What is Numeraire (NMR)?

Numeraire creates a unique ecosystem where data science meets finance through blockchain technology. Instead of relying on traditional investment analysts, Numerai crowdsources its investment decisions by running continuous tournaments where data scientists from around the world compete to build the best prediction models.

Here's how it works: Numerai provides encrypted financial data to participants, who then use machine learning and artificial intelligence to create models that predict stock market movements. The best-performing models are used to guide the hedge fund's actual trading decisions, and their creators are rewarded with NMR tokens.

What makes this approach special is that it combines the collective intelligence of thousands of data scientists with the transparency and incentive structure of blockchain technology. This creates a hedge fund that is theoretically more robust and less prone to the biases and emotional decisions that can affect traditional fund managers.

The platform has attracted some of the world's brightest data scientists, who compete not just for financial rewards but also for the intellectual challenge of building models that can consistently outperform financial markets.

Who created Numeraire?

Numeraire was founded by Richard Craib, a South African technologist who established the company in October 2015. Craib attended the University of Cape Town in 2007, where he studied Mathematics and Economics, later transferring to the University of California, Berkeley as an exchange student.

Before founding Numerai, Richard gained experience in global equity markets and worked at Prudential (M&G). His background in both mathematics and finance gave him the unique perspective needed to envision how machine learning could revolutionise hedge fund management.

Based in San Francisco, Craib has built Numerai into what he describes as "a new kind of hedge fund built by a network of data scientists". His vision was to create a hedge fund that could harness the collective intelligence of data scientists worldwide while using blockchain technology to create proper incentives and transparency.

How does Numeraire work?

The Tournament System

The heart of Numeraire is its ongoing data science tournament. Every week, Numerai releases new encrypted financial data to participants. This data includes information about thousands of stocks, but it's anonymised and encrypted so that participants can't identify specific companies or engage in insider trading.

Data scientists download this data and use it to train machine learning models that predict which stocks will outperform others. They then submit their predictions, and Numerai evaluates how accurate these predictions were against actual market outcomes.

Staking and Rewards

To participate meaningfully in the tournament, data scientists must stake NMR tokens on their predictions. This creates "skin in the game" - if their models perform well, they earn more NMR tokens. If their models perform poorly, they lose some of their staked tokens.

This staking mechanism ensures that participants are incentivised to submit their best models rather than random predictions. It also creates a self-regulating system where the most successful data scientists accumulate more tokens and thus have more influence on the fund's decisions.

Model Aggregation

Numerai doesn't just use one winning model. Instead, it combines the predictions from many high-performing models to create a "meta-model" that guides the hedge fund's actual trading decisions. This ensemble approach is typically more robust than relying on any single prediction model.

What Is NMR?

NMR is the native token of the Numerai ecosystem. It also facilitates:

• Tournament Participation: Data scientists must stake NMR tokens to participate in the prediction tournaments and earn rewards for successful models.
• Incentive Alignment: The staking mechanism ensures that participants are motivated to submit their best work, as poor performance results in token loss.
• Governance Rights: NMR holders can participate in decisions about the platform's future development and rule changes.
• Value Accrual: As the hedge fund grows and more data scientists participate, the demand for NMR tokens increases, potentially driving up their value.
• Reward Distribution: Numerai pays out over $200,000 every month to successful participants, making NMR a direct way to earn from machine learning expertise.

The token operates on Ethereum as an ERC-20 token, making it easily tradable and compatible with the broader DeFi ecosystem.

How can I buy and sell NMR?

NMR tokens can be easily bought and managed through the Tap app, which provides a simple interface for buying, selling, and securely storing NMR along with your other crypto holdings.

It's worth noting that NMR's performance is directly linked to Numerai's hedge fund success and the expansion of its global data science network. 

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When you find a platform that makes managing crypto easy and actually enjoyable, it’s only natural to spread the word. With Tap’s Referral Program, you can turn that good deed into rewards and help your friends unlock premium features while you earn bonuses every time they join and trade. Win-win.

Quick highlights:

• Both you and your friend earn bonuses when they upgrade from Essential to a higher tier
• Your bonus is immediately available, while your friend's is locked for 12 months (helping them build long-term wealth)
• Friends have 60 days after completing verification to upgrade and qualify
• Bonus amounts vary based on which premium tier your friend chooses

Why share Tap with your friends?

Think about the last time a friend's recommendation genuinely improved your life. Maybe it was an investment tip that paid off, or a service that simplified something complicated. Financial platforms work the same way - when you find something that truly helps, it's worth sharing.

Cus let’s be honest, the digital asset world can feel overwhelming for newbies. Between choosing the right platform, understanding different service tiers, and navigating security requirements, many people never move beyond basic accounts. That's where your recommendation becomes valuable.

Your friends will likely trust your judgment because you've already explored the platform, experienced the premium features, and can speak authentically about the difference between Tap's Essential tier and the upgraded options.

Understanding Tap's user privilege tiers

One thing that sets Tap apart is its tiered approach to services. Rather than offering the same basic experience to everyone, they provide increasingly valuable features that mirror the financial situation of the user:

Essential - The starting point for all new users 

Plus - Enhanced features for growing portfolios

Prime - Advanced tools for serious investors 

Premier - Professional-grade capabilities 

Platinum - Premium institutional-level access 

Prestige - The ultimate tier for sophisticated users

When your friends start with an Essential account, they get a taste of what Tap offers. But the real value unlocks when they upgrade to higher tiers, accessing features that can significantly impact their digital asset strategy.

How Tap's referral program works

Here's the straightforward process:

Step 1: Share your unique link 

Every verified Tap user gets a personal referral link in their app. This tracks anyone who signs up through your recommendation. Open the app, click on your profile picture and select Refer a Friend. 

Step 2: Your friend creates their account 

Using your referral link, they’ll need to open an account and complete their KYC (Know Your Customer) verification (standard security procedures for financial platforms).

Step 3: The 60-day window 

Once their verification is approved, your friend has 60 days to upgrade from Essential to any higher tier (Plus, Prime, Premier, Platinum, or Prestige).

• The 60-day upgrade window encourages new users to actively explore the platform and make an informed decision about premium features and which one best suits their needs. 

Step 4: Bonuses are credited 

When they upgrade, you both receive bonuses. Yours is immediately available, while theirs is locked for 12 months to encourage long-term wealth building. Reward amounts vary based on the tier they upgrade to.

Step 5: Claim your bonus 

You'll need to claim your bonus through the mobile app as it won't be automatically added to your balance. Go back to where you found the referral link and select Your Rewards.

Important program details

Eligibility requirements:

• You must have a verified account in good standing
• Both parties must complete the KYC requirements
• Maintain compliance with Tap's terms and conditions

Geographic availability:

• Currently available for Tap customers globally
• US customers will have access announced at a future date

Ready to start referring?

Tap’s referral program lets you earn rewards just by introducing friends to the premium features you already love. When you share your upgrade experience, you’re not just helping friends discover smarter tools, you’re essentially giving them a shortcut to better digital asset management.

Remember, your referral means more because it’s real, based on your own journey with Tap’s premium tiers. When you refer people who’ll genuinely benefit, everyone wins: you earn bonuses, your friends level up their portfolio game, and Tap grows with the kind of users who truly get it.

So don’t spam - share smart. Thoughtful referrals lead to better rewards all around.

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You may have heard of bear and bull markets; both referring to economic conditions within a market. Think about how a bull attacks, lifting you up with its horns. 

A bull  market or bullish market describes a condition within a financial market where the prices are rising or are expected to rise. The term "bull market" is most often used to refer to a financial market but refers as well to any asset that is tradable such as bonds, real estate, commodities, and currencies. Bull markets indicate investor confidence, optimism, and expectations that strong results will continue for an extended period of time.

There are two ways to What is a Bull Market?

A bull market refers to a financial market condition in which the prices of securities or assets are rising or expected to rise over an extended period. In a bull market, investors are optimistic about the future prospects of the market and are willing to buy securities, pushing prices higher.
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Bull markets are often associated with economic growth, strong corporate earnings, and low unemployment rates. In these conditions, investors are confident that businesses will continue to perform well and that the overall economy will continue to expand, leading to higher stock prices.
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Recognizing a Bull Market

To recognize a bull market, investors need to look for a sustained period of rising prices across the market or a specific asset class. This period can last anywhere from a few months to several years.
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Another way to recognize a bull market is through technical analysis. Technical analysts look at charts and other market indicators to identify patterns that signal a market trend. In a bull market, technical analysts may look for higher highs and higher lows in price movements over time.
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Impact of a Bull Market

A bull market can have a significant impact on the economy, businesses, and investors. When the stock market is performing well, businesses may have easier access to capital and credit, which can lead to increased investment and growth.
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A bull market can also lead to increased consumer confidence, as investors feel more optimistic about the economy and their financial futures. This can lead to higher consumer spending, which can, in turn, fuel economic growth.
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On the other hand, a prolonged bull market can lead to a market bubble, where prices become overinflated and unsustainable. This can lead to a market correction, where prices drop significantly, and investors may suffer losses.
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In conclusion

Bull markets can have a significant impact on the economy, businesses, and investors. Recognizing a bull market and understanding its impact can help investors make more informed investment decisions. However, it's essential to remain vigilant and avoid investing solely based on market trends, as market bubbles can lead to significant losses.

approach a bull market: selling stock for high profits or holding in hopes of rising prices in the future. Alternatively, you can also buy more assets, but most would not recommend buying on a high.

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In market terminology, a bull market is a period of generally rising prices and investor optimism. The term "bull market" comes from the market that rises steadily and consistently like a healthy bull. A bear market is the opposite: It refers to a condition when prices are falling and investors are pessimistic about future market value. Historical market cycles are well defined and provide a good understanding of market trends.

It's all about cycles

The market cycle helps investors to know whether they should invest or hold back their crypto coins. To avoid making wrong market choices, investors should know market cycles so they can decide whether the crypto market is on the rise or not.

The market cycle helps people to know when the market is already booming and ready to take a plunge. This helps traders to decide which crypto coin to buy at its lowest value, hold it until market bull cycle and then sell it to make a very good profit.

The Bull Market:

A Bull market is a long run of increasing prices and investor optimism where buyers outnumber sellers. As the market bull cycle goes on, more investors will see the market as their opportunity to buy low and sell high. The result is a market cycle that is not as steep as it had previously been.

The Bear Market:

A Bear market is the opposite of a Bull market where prices are falling and investors have low expectations for future market values. The market cycles are frequently broken up into bull markets and bear markets. This market cycle happens when market prices fall and investors sell their coins, this causes market prices to drop even more until the trend reverses.

The case of the Dead/flat market

A Dead market is a term used to describe a period of time where there is not much movement in either direction but it is not a market downturn by any means. This market cycle can occur after prolonged market cycles such as bull (rising trend market) and bear (falling trend market).

The market is not a straight line, it goes up and down so even though the market has gone on for a considerable time without any market fluctuation, market volatility will eventually return.

The market can be dead for a long time but it could cause worry within investors so they should know where market cycles stand.

Since market cycles are consistent it is better to be ready for market volatility, this will help you make informed market decisions when market cycles return.

In conclusion: the market cycle is a repeating market trend that describes market fluctuations over time. When market prices increase, it is called a bull market; when prices fall, it's called a bear market. Knowledge of market cycles is an important asset for investors in the crypto market as the knowledge of swings, downturns and upturns can help make better-informed decisions with investing in cryptocurrencies.

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Polkastarter represents one of the leading decentralised launchpad platforms in the blockchain ecosystem, focused on empowering early-stage crypto projects to raise funds and launch tokens. First launched in December 2020, it has established itself as a prominent player in the Initial DEX Offering (IDO) space, providing a secure and efficient environment for project launches.

The platform has facilitated the launch of over 100 projects, demonstrating its significant impact on the crypto funding landscape. Polkastarter also features a dedicated marketing team, including video production and design, providing support beyond just the technical infrastructure.

TLDR

Multi-chain launchpad: Polkastarter is a decentralised platform that enables crypto projects to conduct token sales and fundraising campaigns across multiple blockchain networks.

Fixed-price swaps: The platform's main offering is its fixed-swap smart contract, which allows projects to easily launch liquidity pools that execute orders at a fixed price, rather than using traditional AMM models.

Cross-chain support: Polkastarter currently supports Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Celo, and Avalanche, providing flexibility for projects across different ecosystems.

Native token (POLS): POLS serves as the platform's utility token, providing access to IDO participation, governance rights, and various platform benefits.

What is Polkastarter (POLS)?

Polkastarter is a decentralised launchpad platform designed to democratise access to early-stage crypto investments through Initial DEX Offerings (IDOs). The platform serves as a bridge between innovative blockchain projects seeking funding and investors looking for early access to promising tokens.

The platform's core innovation lies in its fixed-swap mechanism, which provides predictable pricing for token sales rather than the variable pricing models used by automated market makers. This approach offers greater transparency and certainty for both projects and investors during token launch events.

Beyond the launchpad functionality, Polkastarter runs an internal incubation and advisory program, bringing together experience and lessons learned from 100+ project launches to nurture and grow Web3 projects, helping to ensure that projects launched on the platform receive proper guidance and support.

The platform takes security seriously by carefully reviewing each project before allowing it to launch. This screening process helps ensure that only legitimate, high-quality projects reach investors, protecting users from scams and poorly developed tokens.

Who created Polkastarter?

Polkastarter was founded in 2020 by Daniel Stockhaus, Tiago Martins, and Miguel Leite. The founding team brought together diverse expertise in business development, technology, and product management to address the growing need for reliable fundraising infrastructure in the decentralised finance space.

Daniel Stockhaus serves as CEO and Co-founder, leading the platform's strategic direction and business development efforts. Under his leadership, the platform has grown from a startup concept to one of the most recognised launchpad platforms in the crypto industry.

The founding team recognised the challenges faced by early-stage crypto projects in accessing capital and the difficulties investors encountered in finding legitimate investment opportunities. Their solution was to create a platform that could serve both sides of this equation while maintaining high standards for security and project quality.

How does Polkastarter work?

Launchpad mechanism

To participate in token launches, users need to hold POLS tokens, with different amounts unlocking various access levels. The more POLS you hold, the better your chances of getting into popular launches and the more you can invest.

Projects set fixed prices for their tokens rather than using changing market prices. This means investors know exactly what they're paying and how many tokens they'll get before they invest.

Multi-chain infrastructure

Polkastarter works across several different blockchains, so projects can pick the one that best fits their needs. Some chains have lower fees, others are faster, and some have different user communities.

Project curation and support

As mentioned above, before any project can launch on Polkastarter, it goes through a thorough review process. The team checks the technology, verifies who's behind the project, and evaluates whether the business makes sense.

Projects also get help with marketing, strategy advice, and technical support to give them the best chance of success both during their launch and afterwards.

What Is POLS?

POLS is the native utility token of the Polkastarter ecosystem, serving a range of functions within the ecosystem:

• Tier access: Users must hold and stake POLS tokens to access different participation tiers in IDO launches, with higher holdings providing better benefits and guaranteed allocations.
• Governance rights: POLS holders can participate in platform governance decisions, voting on proposals that affect the platform's future development and policies.
• Staking rewards: Token holders can stake their POLS to earn rewards while maintaining their tier status for IDO participation.
• Platform fees: POLS can be used to pay for various platform services and may provide discounts on transaction fees.

How can I buy and sell POLS?

POLS tokens are available on Tap, allowing verified users to easily buy, sell, and trade the token. Before investing in POLS, we encourage you to consider how useful the token is on the Polkastarter platform and how much the launchpad space is growing. The token’s value depends largely on the platform’s success and how widely IDO fundraising is adopted.

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Harvest Finance is a decentralised yield farming protocol that automates the process of earning maximum returns on crypto investments. Launched in 2020 on the Ethereum blockchain, it functions as a yield aggregator that automatically moves users' funds between different DeFi protocols to capture the highest available yields. It now operates on additional blockchains such as Binance Smart Chain and Polygon.

The platform was designed to solve one of the biggest challenges in DeFi yield farming: the time and expertise needed to constantly monitor and switch between different protocols to maximise returns. Instead of users having to do this manually, Harvest Finance does it automatically, making yield farming accessible to everyone.

TLDR

Automated yield farming: Harvest Finance is a DeFi protocol that automatically farms the highest yields available from various DeFi protocols and pools, optimising returns using advanced farming techniques.

Yield aggregator: Harvest Finance serves as a yield aggregator where assets are deposited into strategic vaults to maximise their yield.

Vault system: Users deposit their crypto assets into specialised vaults, receiving fTokens in return that represent their share of the vault and accumulated rewards.

Native token (FARM): FARM is the governance token that allows holders to vote on protocol parameters and share in farming revenue. FARM token holders can vote on proposals for the operational treasury and may receive a fee from Harvest operations

What is Harvest Finance (FARM)?

Harvest Finance simplifies the complex world of yield farming by creating an automated system that does the hard work for users. When you deposit your crypto into a Harvest vault, the protocol automatically deploys your funds to various DeFi platforms that offer the best returns at any given time.

Think of it like having a professional fund manager for your crypto, but instead of a human making decisions, smart contracts automatically move your money to wherever it can earn the most. The protocol automatically farms the highest yield by moving funds between farming pools on your behalf, eliminating the need for users to constantly research and switch between different platforms.

The platform supports various types of assets including stablecoins, popular cryptocurrencies, and liquidity pool tokens. When you deposit assets, you receive fTokens (like fUSDC for USDC deposits) that represent your share of the vault and track your earnings over time.

Harvest Finance's goal is to make yield farming more accessible by automating the process and optimising the potential returns using the latest farming techniques, bringing sophisticated DeFi strategies to everyday users.

Who created Harvest Finance?

The founders of Harvest Finance remain anonymous, which was common for many DeFi projects launched in 2020. The team is completely anonymous, though the project succeeded in attracting a relatively sizable community and has been involved in the community by doling out grants.

Despite the anonymous nature of the founding team, Harvest Finance has built a strong reputation in the DeFi community through its transparent operations and community involvement. The token was distributed via fair launch with no token sales to investors, demonstrating the team's commitment to decentralised principles.

The project launched during the height of the 2020 DeFi summer when yield farming became extremely popular, and the anonymous team capitalised on the growing demand for automated yield optimisation tools.

How does Harvest Finance work?

Vault Strategy System

The platform operates through a system of specialised vaults, each designed for different types of assets and risk profiles. When you deposit crypto into a vault, you receive fTokens that represent your share of that vault's total holdings.

The magic happens behind the scenes, where the protocol's strategies automatically deploy your funds to various DeFi protocols like Compound, Curve, Uniswap, and others based on where they can earn the highest yields. The system constantly monitors yield opportunities and automatically rebalances to maximise returns.

Automated Yield Optimisation

Harvest Finance's protocol design automatically farms the highest available yields and distributes the profits to users in the pool. This means users don't need to understand the complexities of different DeFi protocols or spend time managing their positions.

The protocol uses sophisticated algorithms to determine the best allocation of funds across different yield farming opportunities, taking into account factors like APY rates, smart contract risks, and gas costs for rebalancing.

Profit Sharing Model

When the automated strategies generate profits, these are shared among all users in the vault proportional to their deposits. A portion of the profits is also distributed to FARM token holders who stake their tokens in profit-sharing pools, creating an additional incentive layer for the community.

What is FARM?

FARM serves as the governance and profit-sharing token of the Harvest Finance ecosystem:

• Governance Rights: Holders can vote on protocol parameters and propose or veto the introduction of new Vaults, giving the community control over the platform's direction.
• Profit Sharing: FARM, when deposited in Profit Sharing pools, becomes a means of participating in farming revenue, allowing token holders to earn a share of the protocol's success.
• Protocol Incentives: Harvest at launch required a native crypto so as to be able to incentivise yield farmers, and allow Harvest to stake other platforms and collect rewards in return.
• Community Participation: The token creates alignment between users and the protocol's long-term success, as both benefit from higher yields and more efficient farming strategies.

FARM operates as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, making it compatible with the broader DeFi ecosystem and easily tradeable on decentralised exchanges. While FARM is originally an ERC-20 token, it also exists on other blockchain platforms such as Polygon and Binance Smart Chain, expanding to multiple blockchains to offer yield farming opportunities across different ecosystems

How can I buy and sell FARM?

For those looking to participate in automated yield farming, FARM tokens are readily available through the Tap app. You can purchase, sell, and store FARM tokens securely while managing them alongside your broader crypto portfolio.

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