Learning the friendly way

The holiday season, with all its glitter, cheer and tradition, can sometimes feel like a whirlwind of emotions and expenses. Between those persuasive commercials and the relentless social media ads and influencers, it can feel like an added pressure on your finances that you just don’t have the energy to fight off at the end of the year.

But fret not, taming holiday spending isn't as tricky as wrapping a bowling ball, even if your loved ones are living it up in the holiday splurge zone while you're in the "I'm on a budget" Santa hat.

We’re here to help you sleigh the festive season without sending your bank account into winter hibernation. Here are five realistic financial boundaries to implement with friends and family this festive season. 

Create a budget

Who could have predicted this? Well, it's not exactly breaking news, but a well-crafted budget is your trusty reindeer reins. And no, it's not here to rain on your festive parade, it's the voice of reason when things get a little too merry.

Planning a holiday budget may not sound like a barrel of laughs, but trust us, it's the key to unlocking financial serenity this season. Here's your step-by-step guide to make it a tad more enjoyable:

Step one: Snuggle up with your favourite holiday treat and get comfy. Plot out your budget, factoring in gifts, decorations, travel, and entertainment.

Step two: Be brutally honest with yourself about your spending limits and keep expectations in check. Keep it realistic, and don’t ignore your January Voice of Reason.

Step three: Now, manage and follow your budget as if your life depended on it. It's your financial GPS, steering you away from the treacherous cliffs of overspending. Be in the business of staying disciplined, and both your wallet and future self will be singing your praises.

Be picky with your social calendar

Finding the right balance during the holiday season can be a bit tricky, especially if you're the life of the party who never turns down a chance to celebrate. While holiday gatherings are undeniably fun, they can also put a strain on your wallet, what with buying gifts or splurging on new outfits for every Friendsgiving or seasonal bash on your invite list.

So, what's the secret sauce? Simple, really: set a cap on how many events you'll attend, and fill your calendar with wallet-friendly or no-cost activities. 

Think about hosting a cosy Christmas cocktail night at home instead of hitting up pricy holiday pop-up bars, enjoying potluck dinners at friends instead of eating out, or even just swapping holiday-themed books with your pals. These options let you savour the holiday spirit without breaking the bank.

Propose a gift swap instead of playing Santa to all

The fastest way to empty your pockets during the festive season? Showering gifts on everyone you adore. It's undeniably heartwarming, as the holidays are all about giving, but if your mission is to rescue your finances, it's crucial to stick to that budget.

Here's the savvy play: suggest a group gift exchange like Secret Santa or White Elephant, where each person is responsible for a single present. This gem of an idea works wonders, especially if you're accustomed to playing Santa for your entire office or friend gang, at the cost of any good times in January.

Now, we get it. Your love language might be gift-giving and holding back your desire to gift everyone can be challenging. However, it'll save you a ton of money in the long run. Bonus? You might discover that you can give a more heartfelt gift when you're not fretting over multiple purchases or chasing down the perfect presents for everyone. Happier you, happier everyone.

Embrace the cash or debit approach

Taming the holiday spending frenzy calls for some clever tactics. Swap that tempting credit card for cash or a trusty debit card when you head off on your festive shopping adventures. With this approach, you'll stick to spending only what's safely nestled in your bank account.

It's like Santa himself keeping a watchful eye on your wallet, ensuring you don't venture into the land of overspending. When you physically see those bills leave your hand or the numbers dip in your account, it becomes a tangible reminder to stay within your budget. 

So, this holiday season, let your cash or debit card be your financial guardian and keep the festivities merry without the budget hangover.

Master the art of responsible online shopping

Last but not least, yes, online shopping is still spending. The allure of online deals and discounts can be irresistible, leading to overspending in the blink of an eye. To conquer this digital shopping realm, establish a strict limit on your online purchases and banish impulsive buying tendencies.

But there's more: declutter your inbox by unsubscribing from those tempting promotional emails. It's like building a fortress around your financial willpower. With fewer temptations, you're less likely to get lured into spontaneous shopping sprees.

Final thoughts

Navigating the holiday whirlwind without emptying your pockets is doable. Craft a budget, stick to it, and then lean into the festivities around you. Sticking to these boundaries will not only protect your mental health but also ensure a festive season filled with cheer, not financial stress. Because, after all, aren’t Aunt Linda’s questions about what you’re doing with your life stressful enough?

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We’re excited to share some great news with our UK community and GBP users! 

Starting today, Tap has reintroduced GBP bank transfer deposits for all users. This makes it simpler than ever to fund your account and and dive into the world of crypto.

What’s New?

✅ GBP Bank Transfers Are Back!
After a brief pause, UK users can once again deposit funds seamlessly via bank transfers. This highly requested feature is now live, giving you more flexibility to top up your Tap account instantly. 

✅ A Boost for A Large Part Of Our User Base
UK customers have always been a driving force behind Tap’s growth, accounting for a large part of the platform activity. With bank transfers reinstated, we anticipate even greater engagement, trading, and spending—helping to fuel momentum across the entire Tap ecosystem.

✅ Frictionless Crypto Access
Combine your GBP deposits with instant crypto conversions and spend globally using your Tap Mastercard. This is all part of our mission to seamlessly bridge traditional finance and blockchain innovation.

Why This Matters

In recent months, UK users were limited to card deposits. Now, with bank transfers back, we’re unlocking:

• Higher deposit limits for serious traders.
• Reduced fees compared to card transactions.
• Faster funding to take advantage of crypto market opportunities.

December 2023 proved Tap’s resilience—we hit a record £451k in monthly revenue even without full GBP transfer access. Now, with this critical feature restored, the possibilities are even greater! 

‍Words from Our CEO

‍Arsen Torosian, CEO of Tap, shared:
“Reinstating GBP bank transfers reignites a key growth engine for Tap. UK users are our most active community, and this upgrade empowers them to move faster in today’s surging crypto markets. December’s record revenue was just the beginning—we’re now poised to scale rapidly.” What’s Next?

• Update your Tap app to start using GBP bank transfers today.
• Share the news! Tag a friend who’s been waiting for this feature.
• Stay tuned for more upgrades as we roll out new tools to enhance your financial freedom.
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Join the Conversation! Follow us on X (Twitter) and LinkedIn for real-time updates.
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Etherscan is a free and widely used blockchain explorer that allows anyone to see any transactions made on the Ethereum platform. Not just transactions, blocks, gas fees, wallet addresses, smart contracts, and other on-chain data can be found on the page. Learn more about what Etherscan is and how it works below.

What is Etherscan?

As mentioned above, Etherscan is an Ethereum-based blockchain explorer. Aside from offering a peek into the advantages of blockchain technologies, Etherscan also provides an insightful look at the status of transactions, gas fees, smart contracts and dapp content. Etherscan is the tool that leverages blockchain's transparent nature.

Acting as a search engine and source of blockchain information, one doesn't need an account to access anything. However, users can create an account in order to access extra functionalities associated with their Ethereum portfolio, such as developer tools, enabling notifications for incoming transactions, and creating data feeds. Whether you're investing in a dapp, monitoring a wallet, or depositing funds to a blockchain-based game, all activity can be tracked through this browser-based service.

Why is Etherscan popular?

Etherscan is the most widely used Ethereum blockchain explorer and is highly regarded in the industry due to its seamless experience. While it won't allow you to store or trade ETH, it offers a reliable look into the functioning of the network, blockchain analytics and all Ethereum and Ethereum-based token activity.

Using Etherscan also provides a better understanding of how the blockchain works, providing insights into its operations and potential ability to spot suspicious blockchain activity (like project leaders selling their tokens, or large whale movements that will affect the token's price). 

How to use Etherscan

Whether you're wanting to look up a transaction or verify the validity of a smart contract, you can use Etherscan. Below we will guide you through how to look up a transaction.

How To Find A Transaction On Etherscan

Understanding how to track your transactions can be a powerful tool in the world of cryptocurrency, from seeing how many confirmations it has gone through to the amount of gas fees paid. 

Each transaction on the blockchain is given a transaction ID (TXID) or transaction hash which identifies the specific transaction (similar to a person's identity number). It looks something like this: 

0x3349ea4144aed83291f87b3904b02f8f1e76c3b5bfed0d95a000fafddaed01bc

In order to get the real-time updates on a transaction, you will need to enter this TXID into the space provided on the Etherscan website. 

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It will then display all the information pertaining to this transaction, as below:

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See our breakdown of the terminology below.

Etherscan terminology

Transaction Hash: the TXID associated with your particular transaction.

Status: status of your transaction (in progress, failed, successful) 

Block: the number of the block that your transaction was included in (block confirmations indicate the number of blocks that have followed since then). 

Timestamp: the date and time that this transaction was executed.

From: the wallet address that the transaction was sent from

To: the wallet address or smart contract receiving the transaction.

Value: the value of the transaction.

Transaction Fee: the gas fees or transaction fees paid.

Gas Price: the cost per unit of gas at the time of the transaction execution (displayed in Ether and Gwei).

How to Find gas prices on Etherscan

When using the Ethereum network you will be required to pay gas fees in order to conduct any activity. Gas fees are assigned to blocks and fluctuate depending on how busy the network is at the time. 

Etherscan provides a Gas Tracker which observes the current gas prices and indicates how busy the network is at the time. 

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In conclusion

Etherscan is a great tool for anyone using Ethereum or any other cryptocurrencies relating to its ecosystem. From confirming transactions to checking gas prices, this tool provides a great oversight of the network, highlighting the transparent benefits of using digital assets.

When it comes to investing in crypto, many people think about either mining cryptocurrencies or buying them outright on a crypto exchange. But what about those who want more control over their digital wallet? For the everyday crypto-investors, there's a viable cost-free alternative to earning more crypto: staking also known as "coins staking." Crypto staking allows you to generate more cryptocurrencies using your crypto holdings.

There are many new terms entering the financial world, but staking may be one of them that you should know. What exactly is it? Crypto staking is a relatively new concept that has the potential to revolutionize how we invest in cryptocurrency.

While it may appear complex at first, learning about the benefits of crypto-staking can help you make more educated decisions when investing in cryptocurrency.

In this article, you'll learn the ins and outs of staking. We've broken it down so that even if your experience level with cryptocurrencies is at beginner or below, you'll be able to start staking yourself. Let's get started!

What Is Staking?

Staking crypto is the process of locking crypto assets in a wallet to earn rewards. Doing so allows users to contribute to verifying transactions and building consensus on blockchain networks.

The procedures for validating cryptocurrency are known as "proof-of-stake" or "proof-of-work" depending on the sort of the cryptocurrency you're dealing with and the technologies that support it. Each of these methods aids blockchain networks in achieving consensus, or confirmation that all transaction data agrees.

It also requires participants to make that consensus possible. Staking is the act of investors who keep their cryptocurrency in their crypto wallet and actively participate in network consensus-making processes. Stakers, in essence, are approving, verifying and confirming transactions on the blockchain.

In crypto staking, coin holders can lock up their coins (staking) for some time period from hours to years in exchange for stakes back from the platform or network.

Staking crypto can be passive income generating - crypto holders who stake their coins will receive rewards for helping validate transactions on blockchain networks, often through an interest system similar to that of traditional fiat currency.

How does crypto staking work?

For the investor, crypto staking is a passive process. When a Staker stakes its assets (that is, leaves them in their crypto wallet), the network may utilize those assets to create new blocks on the blockchain.

The block's information is "written" into it, and the investor's assets are used to validate it. Because coins already contain "baked-in" data from the blockchain, they may be utilized as validators. The Staker is then rewarded financially for allowing his or her tokens to be used as validators by the network.

The pros and cons of Staking.

Because staking crypto is a passive investment, there are virtually close to no disadvantages. However, it's important to consider the block rewards earned by staking coins you own, as well as cryptocurrency's volatility in general—if the value of the coin drops, so does the value of your staking interest earned.

Is crypto staking profitable?

The advantage of staking is that anyone can make returns from it, with various yearly returns rates, staking is an easy way to generate passive income.

Staking is a type of passive income similar to stock dividends. It only requires you to keep the proper assets in the right location for a specific length of time. Compound interest will enhance the earnings potential over time as long as a user stakes their coins.

The value of the coin being staked must also be considered. Assuming this value stays constant or rises, staking may be profitable. However, if the price of the coin falls, profits could rapidly diminish. If you don't want to risk a downward trend in volatility.

Closing thoughts

Staking is a method for earning rewards using your cryptocurrency assets or coins. It's comparable to generating interest on cash savings or receiving dividends on stock possessions.

Stakers allow their cryptocurrency/cash to be used in the blockchain validation process and are compensated by the network for its use. Staking may provide a new way for crypto investors or currency holders to generate returns.

Ethereum Naming Service is a branch from the original blockchain network which aims to make the crypto space, particularly within the DeFi and Web3 sectors, more user-friendly and accessible. Similar to how Domain Name Service made the internet more accessible, Ethereum Name Service aims to do the same and become a fundamental component of these sectors.

What is Ethereum Name Service (ENS)?

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a decentralized naming system that simplifies sending and receiving payments in the Ethereum network. It works like a domain name service (DNS) uses IP addresses, but instead for Ethereum crypto addresses, allowing users to register human-readable names that are mapped to their Ethereum addresses. This makes it easier to remember and share addresses, instead of having to remember long strings of characters.

For example, a user could register the domain name "myname.eth" and associate it with their Ethereum wallet address. Once registered, anyone can send payments to "myname.eth" instead of the complicated Ethereum address.

Users can register a name through various ENS domain registrars or directly through the ENS manager. Once registered, the name is added to the Ethereum Name Service Registry, and the user becomes the owner of that name. ENS uses a hierarchical system of domains similar to the DNS system used for the internet. 

Once registered, the user can then set the resolver, which is a smart contract that provides information about the Ethereum wallet address associated with the ENS name.

The resolver can be thought of as a mapping function between the name and the Ethereum wallet address. When someone sends a payment to an ENS name, the resolver is queried to retrieve the associated Ethereum address. Once the Ethereum wallet address is retrieved, the payment can be sent directly to the address.

ENS also allows users to add additional data to their domain names, such as an IPFS hash or a swarm hash, making it possible to associate decentralized content with a domain name. For example, a user could associate an IPFS hash with their domain name, making it possible to access decentralized content using a human-readable name.

Who created Ethereum Name Service?

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) was initially part of the Ethereum Foundation and proposed by Nick Johnson in 2016 as a way to simplify the process of sending and receiving payments in the Ethereum network. Nick Johnson is a software engineer that previously worked at Google and the Ethereum Foundation. 

The ENS system was launched as a separate entity in May 2017 as a decentralized naming service on the Ethereum blockchain. Since its launch, ENS has been widely adopted by the Ethereum community and has become an essential part of the Ethereum ecosystem.

How does Ethereum Name Service work?

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) system is similar to the DNS (Domain Name System) used on the internet. Users can register an ENS domain name under the .eth top-level domain and associate them with their Ethereum addresses by using the platform's smart contracts.

This means that instead of sending payments to complicated and hard-to-remember Ethereum crypto addresses, users can simply send payments to easy-to-remember domain names. For example, instead of sending funds to 0x71C7656EC7ab88b098defB751B7401B5f6d89, users can instead send funds to tap.eth. 

The system uses two smart contracts to make this possible: the registry and the resolver. 

ENS Registry

To use ENS, users must first register a name through a registrar. Registrars are entities that facilitate the registration of domain names under the .eth top-level domain and store all the domains. Once a user has registered a name, it is added to the ENS Registry, and the user becomes the owner of that name.

ENS Resolver

The next step is to set the resolver, which is a smart contract that provides information about the Ethereum address associated with the ENS domain. Resolvers can be set by the user or they can use one of the default resolvers provided by ENS. Once the resolver is set, users can associate their Ethereum crypto address with their ENS name. This is done by adding a record to the resolver that maps the ENS name to the wallet address.

ENS allows users to add additional data to their ENS domains, such as an IPFS hash or a swarm hash. ENS also supports subdomains, which are domains that are associated with a parent domain name. This makes it possible to create a hierarchical naming system that is similar to the DNS system used on the internet.

What is the ENS token?

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) did not have its own token until recently. In 2021, the ENS team announced the launch of a new governance token called ENS, which is separate from the old ERC-20 token with the same name. 

The new ENS token is used for governance and voting purposes and is not used to pay for the registration or renewal of ENS domain names. Instead, users need to pay in ETH to register their “.eth” domains, with an idea of the costs reflected below (subject to change due to market fluctuations, please review the ENS website for accurate costs):

$5 in ETH per year, for a five+ character .eth ENS domain;

$160 in ETH per year, for a four-character .eth ENS domain;

$640 in ETH per year, for a three-character .eth ENS domain.

The higher prices are due to the supply of three- and four-character .eth names being smaller. 

The total supply of the new ENS token is 100 million, and they were distributed through a community airdrop in 2021.

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What is the ENS DAO?

The ENS DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) is a community-governed organization that oversees the development and management of the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) ecosystem. It is responsible for making decisions about the future direction of the ENS system, including upgrades, changes to policies, and new feature development. The organisation is governed by the ENS token holders, who have the right to vote on proposals and decisions related to the ENS ecosystem.

The organization is an important part of the ENS ecosystem, as it ensures that the system is developed and managed in a decentralized and community-driven manner. It allows stakeholders to have a voice in the decision-making process and ensures that the system remains responsive to the needs of the community.

What is the ENS Foundation?

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of the ENS ecosystem. It oversees the development of the ENS system, promotes its adoption, and provides support to users and developers.

The ENS Foundation is involved in a wide range of activities related to the ENS ecosystem, including organizing community events, providing guidance, and funding the ongoing development of the ENS system. It plays a critical role in supporting the growth and development of the ecosystem alongside the ENS DAO, which is responsible for making decisions about the future direction of the ENS system.

How can I buy ENS tokens?

Tap's mobile app enables users to easily acquire, trade and securely store Ethereum Name Service (ENS) in an integrated wallet. Users can buy and sell the ENS token using a variety of supported crypto or fiat currencies. The app also provides a reliable space to store ENS tokens and other digital assets. By downloading the Tap mobile app, users can unlock the potential of a range of cryptocurrencies and fiat wallets.

Sure, crypto markets reacting negatively to macroeconomic policy shifts is nothing new, but these “worse than expected” Liberation Day tariff announcements have been particularly brutal. 

Looking at the numbers, the sweeping tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump have resulted in mass liquidations. Almost a week later, $8.27 trillion has been wiped from global stock markets and $233 billion from crypto markets, bringing the overall crypto market cap down 8.5%.

But how exactly do tariffs influence crypto? The immediate reaction was a sharp downturn, with big names like Bitcoin falling below $82,000, and later $74,700, and Ethereum dropping to lows of $1,400. 

In the long term, could these economic policies position crypto as a safe haven? Let’s explore the interplay between trade policy, traditional finance, and crypto prices.

Firstly, what are tariffs, and how do they affect the markets?

In a nutshell, tariffs, or taxes on imported goods, create ripple effects across various financial markets. Historically, they have had an impact on:

• Foreign exchange (FX) markets: The USD typically strengthens when tariffs are imposed, as more global investors seek stability, and in response, a stronger USD often puts downward pressure on Bitcoin and altcoins.
• Equities: Stocks, particularly in sectors reliant on global trade, tend to decline as tariffs increase business costs and disrupt supply chains.
• Inflation & interest rates: Tariffs can contribute to higher consumer prices, influencing Federal Reserve policy and liquidity conditions, which in turn affect investment in risk assets like crypto.

The interconnected nature of these macroeconomic factors proves once again that digital assets are not insulated from traditional market turbulence. Let’s explore the damages.

Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement

So, what happened? On 3 April, Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff on U.S. imports, with 60 countries, including Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, facing tariffs of up to 50%. Companies in the EU will see 20% tariffs, all taking effect a week later. 

Previously announced 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and foreign-made cars remain in place.

How the crypto market responded

Never missing a beat, the crypto market reacted swiftly to the tariff announcements:

• Bitcoin has dropped ~10% since February. On 3 April, the price fell from $87,106 to $82,526 in a matter of hours, falling to lows of $74,700 days later. 
• Ethereum followed a similar trajectory, dipping to lows of $1,430.
• Altcoins were hit harder, with SOL dropping nearly 25% to $97.52 - its first dip below $100 since February 2024.
• Crypto-related equities tanked, with Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) down 15%, and mining firms like MARA Holdings and Riot Platforms losing 11%.
• Correlation with equities strengthened, as the Nasdaq and S&P 500 also experienced sharp declines.

According to technical analysis, the overall market cap formed a bear flag pattern, signaling potential price declines (this pattern appears after a sharp drop, followed by a temporary upward channel). If the price breaks below this channel, a further decline is likely.

Source: Emmaculate, published on TradingView, April 3, 2025

Why Bitcoin might bounce back

A note from the bears. Despite the initial sell-off, Bitcoin could see a rebound for several reasons:

• Bitcoin as "digital gold": During economic uncertainty, BTC has historically been viewed as a hedge against inflation and fiat devaluation.
• Institutional movements: Exchange outflows suggest that institutions are holding rather than panic-selling, reducing BTC liquidity and potentially driving prices higher in the future.
• Monetary policy shifts: If the Federal Reserve pivots toward rate cuts or quantitative easing (QE), Bitcoin could benefit from increased liquidity.

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has argued that such macro conditions could push BTC toward $150,000 in the next cycle.

Do tariffs + the U.S. Dollar = a crypto opportunity?

The impact of tariffs on the U.S. dollar has direct implications for crypto:

• Reduced exports and lower bond demand could weaken the USD over time.
• A weaker dollar typically boosts Bitcoin, as investors look for alternative stores of value.
• Grayscale suggests that Bitcoin could benefit from a fragmented monetary landscape, particularly as central banks diversify reserves away from USD.

Tariffs, regulation & crypto’s role in the financial system

Trump’s policies could indirectly accelerate crypto adoption by:

• Increasing the use of crypto for trade settlements due to currency uncertainties.
• Encouraging alternative reserve assets beyond the U.S. dollar.
• Aligning with a potentially pro-crypto regulatory stance under a second Trump administration.

What should crypto investors do now?

Crypto investors should watch a few key things closely:

• When and how the new tariffs are rolled out, and if any changes are made along the way
• How other countries respond, especially with their own tariffs
• Changes in crypto regulations, as governments adjust to the new economic climate
• How money moves between traditional markets and crypto, which can impact prices and sentiment

• Consider long-term portfolio strategies, as crypto’s role in a shifting financial landscape could strengthen.

Conclusion: Tariffs may hurt now, but crypto could emerge stronger

While recent tariffs triggered a downturn across both traditional and crypto markets, it’s worth noting that this was driven more by uncertainty than fundamentals. As has previously been the case, crypto’s response is often tied to macro trends, with Liberation Day tariffs being no exception. 

The bottom line is that market dynamics are changing. As liquidity patterns shift and capital moves differently, crypto’s role within broader portfolios continues to evolve. While this can have both a positive and negative impact on portfolios, continuing to stay informed is the wisest step one could take. 

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