Learning the friendly way

Since launching in 2017 Tron has taken the world by storm with its blockchain technology-based operating system. Users around the world have flocked to the Tron blockchain network released by the Tron Foundation to create dapps (decentralized apps) and smart contracts, attracting plenty of investors at the same time. 

In a pool of a large number of digital assets, below we explore what Tron is and what it brings to the crypto industry.

What is Tron (TRX)?

The Tron blockchain is a platform on which developers can create dapps, smart contracts and tokens through its delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) model. Initially built on the Ethereum blockchain with an ERC-20 token, in 2018 the Tron protocol moved onto its own blockchain and created the Tron TRX tokens. 

That same year the Tron foundation acquired Bit Torrent, the biggest file-sharing site on the internet. In 2019, the platform launched the Bittorrent token, essentially releasing a second token under the same umbrella company. 

The aim behind the platform was to provide developers with a space in which they can create blockchain-based products, as well as better reward content creators for their efforts. The Tron network allows viewers to directly reward the creators using the TRX token, cutting out the middle-media-man and subsequent losses. 

With a higher TPS (transaction per second) processing capability, Tron establishes itself above its peers. According to the platform, Tron can handle up to 2,000 TPS, a high increase from the likes of Bitcoin’s 6 TPS and Ethereum’s 25 TPS.

Who created the Tron network?

The Tron power concept was created and launched by Tron founder Justin Sun (Sun Yuchen), a two-time recipient of the “30 Under 30” Forbes’ accolade. Before Tron, Sun launched an audio content platform Peiwo and worked as a representative for Ripple where he earned the attention of big investors.

Justin Sun is currently acting as the CEO of the Tron Foundation.

How does the Tron protocol works?

The Tron platform uses a DPoS model and consists of three layers: the core layer, the application layer and the storage layer. 

The Core Layer is responsible for computing instructions written in either Java or Solidity (the programming language Ethereum uses) and sending them to the Tron Virtual Machine which in turn executes the function.

The Application Layer is used by developers and allows them to create apps and wallets compatible with the relevant software and powered by TRX. 

The Storage Layer is designed to divide the state data (the data that maintains the status of smart contracts) and the blockchain data (the data that holds the transactional history).  

Through the DPoS system, 27 “super representatives” on the network take turns to validate the transactions and maintain the blockchain data. These representatives are chosen every 6 hours and when chosen earn TRX for their contributions to the network. 

Users can vote for super representatives and engage in staking by locking their TRX in an account and receiving Tron Power in return. Tron Power can then be used to vote for the super representatives, and when returned to TRX, lose the ability to vote. 

Block creation time on the Tron network is three seconds, with the current block reward set at 32 TRX. 

There are also three different nodes that users are able to operate: witness nodes, full nodes and Solidity nodes. Witness nodes can vote on protocol decisions and propose blocks, full nodes are responsible for broadcasting transactions and blocks to the network while Soliditiy nodes sync the blocks from the full nodes and provide APIs. 

What is TRX?

TRX is the native token to the Tron network. Initially created as an ERC-20 token, when the coin was launched on the Tron network holders of the ERC-20 version were able to swap them out and receive the new version. All ERC-20 tokens were then burnt. 

TRX is needed for using applications on the Tron network, staking, and participating in Tron’s consensus system

How can i buy Tron?

If you’d like to get your hands on TRX you will soon be able do so conveniently through your Tap app. In a recent onboarding of cryptocurrencies, Tap will soon be including TRX in its portfolio, allowing users to easily invest and hold the token through several convenient payment options. 

FAQs

What is the Tron foundation?

The Tron Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Singapore that is responsible for developing and providing software solutions to the Tron ecosystem.

What is Tron power?

Tron Power is an energy/bandwidth rental and investment platform for the Tron community.

What is the TRX supply?

There is no cap on the TRX token supply, at the time of writing the circulating supply of TRX tokens is 92.5 billion.

We are delighted to announce the listing and support of Maker (MKR) on Tap!

MKR is now available for trading on the Tap mobile app. You can now Buy, Sell, Trade or hold MKR for any of the other asset supported on the platform without any pair boundaries. Tap is pair agnostic, meaning you can trade any asset for any other asset without having to worries if a "trading pair" is available.

We believe supporting MKR will provide value to our users. We are looking forward to continue supporting new crypto projects with the aim of providing access to financial power and freedom for all.

MKR, the governance token fueling the network, comes from the same platform that created DAI, the algorithmic stablecoin soft-pegged to the US dollar. MKR serves both the decentralized autonomous organization, MakerDAO, and the software platform, Maker Protocol, both built on the Ethereum blockchain. These two platforms generate DAI and allow users to issue and manage the DAI stablecoin.

MKR is an ERC-20 token and acts as a governance and utility token to the Maker Protocol with no fixed supply. The token gains value as the use of the Maker Protocol increases as the supply is reduced when the Protocol is working effectively and increased when governed poorly. MKR tokens are created or destroyed through surplus auctions and debt auctions.

Get to know more about Maker (MKR) in our dedicated article here.

Made up of the Overledger blockchain operating system and QNT token, the goal of the Quant Network is to allow multiple blockchains to work together and to give more flexibility when it comes to linking different global networks, services, and chains. With an impressive founder and resilience to the bear market, QNT has made a considerable impression in the industry.

What Is The Quant Network?

The Quant Network was designed to connect blockchains and networks on a global scale, prioritising interoperability and trust functions between them using the Overledger operating system, the first OS built for blockchains.

The Overledger network acts as the backbone of the project and is not a blockchain but rather an Application Programming Interface (API) gateway that allows developers to build decentralised multi-chain applications (known as Mapps) and bridges the gap between various blockchain networks.

The Quant project believes that this technology will be the foundation on which the future digital economy will be built. In light of this, the network has been working with central banks in the US and UK to build Central Bank Digital Currencies (CDBCs).

Founded in 2015 the platform officially launched in 2018 following a successful ICO earlier that year. July 2020 marks the launch of the world’s first blockchain operating system in July 2020, Version 1.0.

Who Created The Quant Network?

Quant was founded by Gilbert Verdian, a cybersecurity expert who has held government-level positions around the world. These positions include the UK Treasury, the Australian Department of Health, and the US Federal Reserve, and private sector roles at HSBC Bank, Mastercard’s Vocalink, BP, and more. 

With over two decades of experience in the cybersecurity space, Verdian learned the power that blockchain technology holds when it comes to solving a plethora of security problems related to the exchange of digital assets and information on a global level. 

Verdian sits as the chair of the UK Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology committee and is a member of the EU’s Blockchain Observatory and the Federal Reserve. 

In 2017, Colin Paterson and Paolo Tasca joined the project as co-founders, each bringing their own impressive experience. Paterson, acting Chief Technology Officer, is a cybersecurity expert having worked with Deutsche Bank and Vocalink and acted as the chief information officer of NSW Ambulance, the CISO of eHealth NSW, and the security lead of the Ministry of Justice, UK, prior to joining the project. 

Tasca, Chief Strategist, serves as the Executive Director of the University College London (UCL) Centre for Blockchain Technologies, Executive Board Member of the DEC Institute, and as Co-Chair of the Hedera Treasury Management and Token Economics Committee.

How Does The Quant Network Work?

The Quant network is centred around the Overledger feature. With Overledger, businesses can connect their preexisting technology infrastructures with a number of blockchain ledgers using an easy-to-use API.

APIs are software that creates or processes requests between two programs, acting as an intermediary. Many online applications rely on APIs, including finance trading software and social media sites.

The Overledger operating system lets developers launch Mapps, which are decentralised applications that work with numerous existing blockchains. Overledger operates in a similar manner to Windows, Android, or Macintosh OS in that it allows applications to run on it. The technology sits between underlying blockchain infrastructure and allows the Mapps to communicate seamlessly with multiple blockchains.

In order to access Overledger and build Mapps on the network, developers are required to hold QNT tokens and use these tokens to pay transaction fees, as well as a fiat-based annual licence. The platform also allows developers to create their own tokens using its QRC-20 token standards (similar to Ethereum ERC-20 tokens) as well as create QRC-20 smart contracts. These functionalities were created in a drag-and-drop style so that anyone with no prior experience can create them.

As an example, a developer within the ecosystem could create a smart contract that incorporates both the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks. The interconnected smart contract could stipulate that Jane will pay Sandy 1 BTC only once Paul has paid Jane 1 ETH.

What Is QNT?

QNT is an ERC-20 token that is used to access the Overledger network and validate transactions on the network. There is a maximum supply of 14.6 million QNT tokens, of which over 80% are in circulation (at the time of writing).

All product users, developers, and gateway operators are required to purchase annual licences, used to maintain platform efficiency. These licence fees are converted to QNT and locked up in the Quant treasury. If a user does not renew their licence, they forfeit their fees, discouraging them from dumping tokens on the market if the price increases.

Transaction fees for using Overledger are paid for in QNT to gateway operators. Since its launch in August 2018, QNT has seen consistent price growth and activity on the network.

Where Can I Get QNT?

You can simply buy / sell QNT through the Tap app, one of the most secure solutions in the crypto space as being a fully regulated crypto fintech. Using a range of cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies on offer, users can exchange any of the supported currencies to build a healthy portfolio that can be safely stored in its unique wallet linked to your account. Find links to download the app from the Tap website.

We are delighted to announce the listing and support of Chain (XCN) on Tap!

XCN is now available for trading on the Tap mobile app. You can now Buy, Sell, Trade or hold XCN for any of the other asset supported on the platform without any pair boundaries. Tap is pair agnostic, meaning you can trade any asset for any other asset without having to worries if a "trading pair" is available.

We believe supporting XCN will provide value to our users. We are looking forward to continue supporting new crypto projects with the aim of providing access to financial power and freedom for all.

Founded in 2014, Chain provides organisations with the infrastructure they need to build better financial services from scratch. The Chain token (XCN) is a utility and governance token for the Chain Protocol that allows its holder to vote on protocol improvements and various community-driven programs. XCN can be used for premium access, discounts, and payment of commercial fees on Sequence and other Chain ecosystem products.

Get to learn more about XCN in our dedicated article here.

With rising inflation rates and economic downturns around the world, there's plenty of speculation that we're headed for another global recession. While the media tends to paint the darkest picture, it's always worth being prepared. In this article we're providing five action points you can do now to ensure that your finances remain recession-proof.

The National Bureau of Economic Research defines a recession as “a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and that lasts more than a few months. It's worth noting that these are a natural part of the economic cycle and are completely unavoidable. The best thing you can do is be educated and prepared with a reliable plan in place to overcome any economic downturn.

According to a study conducted by Empower and Personal Capital, 74% of consumers in the U.S. are concerned over an impending recession. While some analysts believe the recession has already started, Goldman Sachs has predicted there is a 30% chance of one materializing while UBS has forecast "no recession".

Whichever side of the fence you sit on, it can't hurt to be prepared. While it sounds dark and gloomy, we're here to help you prepare for a recession.
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Anxious about an incoming recession?
Here are 5 steps to get yourself recession ready

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1. Try to eradicate debt

The first step of most financial plans, paying off high-interest debt is a valuable practice. The recent increase in interest rates by the Federal Reserve has seen credit card rates rise over 17% for the first time in two years. Analysts are predicting that these interest rates will continue to rise in the coming months. Avoid credit card debt and the high-interest rates associated with them.

If you are carrying high-interest-rate debt, your best port of call would be to strategically manage this, with the intention to pay it off as soon as possible. With recessions oftentimes come job cuts, and if this happens to you paying off your debt now will be a worthy exercise. Known that in times of recession, interest rates will increase.

2. Lessen your expenses

Consider your monthly living expenses and what you spend money on and see where you can make cuts in order to prepare for the "worst case scenario". Consider what would happen if you were to receive a lower salary, if you were to lose your job, or if you were suddenly faced with an emergency (more on emergency savings next).

While these can take place at any stage, having a plan will help you to be prepared should you come face to face with this. Monitoring your monthly expenses is, either way, a great opportunity to stay on top of your finances and improve your financial situation.

3. Establish your emergency savings fund (and bulk it up)

If you haven't already done so, establish an emergency fund. Financial advisors define an emergency fund as three to six months' worth of living expenses. This emergency fund is to be used for unexpected expenses like home repairs, a car issue, a medical emergency etc. This is separate from your retirement account, and acts as a cash cushion should you need it.

As you prepare for a recession, it's advised to bulk up your emergency fund to be at least six months' worth of expenses/salary. This personal budget will act as your financial safety net should you need it, a rainy day fund. For bonus points, try to keep this in interest-generating savings accounts. 

4. Update your resume

In the unfortunate event of losing your job in a recession, it will bode well to build your resume up before the time so that you can immediately start searching for a new job. During recessions, the job-seeking market tends not to favor job seekers so being prepared beforehand may work out to be to your advantage.

Alternatively, if you were considering advancing your education or going back to school, this could be a prime time to do so. This will not only improve your chances of employment in the future but also allow you time to emerge when the job market is more favorable.

5. Stick to long-term investment plans

In times of recessions it might seem tempting to cut back on retirement savings or pull investments, but try to hold strong. These investments are for the long term and will lose significant value if pulled prematurely, especially in the crypto and stock market.

Focus on managing your emotions and consider the long-term benefits. After the recession moves into its next economic phase would you rather have your long-term investment in place, or have to start again? Especially if your investments are linked to a retirement portfolio. For ease of mind, know that historical data proves that a bull market lasts longer than a bear market.

Whether you're invested in crypto, gold, or the stock market, stick to your long-term strategy and don't be tempted to make decisions based on fear, they rarely turn out to be good ones.‍
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Closing thoughts on surviving economic downturn

Recessions tend to carry a lot of fear mongering news, however, did you know that the recession in 2020 only lasted for two months? While they're times of little to no economic growth, they are just as quickly corrected and allow new innovations, services, and economic activity to ignite. Consider it a breeding ground for new opportunities.
Use the time beforehand to prepare for a recession by managing your expenses, freeing yourself from high-interest rates, and building an appropriate savings account to see you through. If in doubt, consider speaking to a financial advisor who can professionally guide you in building a solid financial plan. 



Disclaimer: This article is intended for communication purposes only, you should not consider any such information, opinions or other material as financial advice. This communication should be read in conjunction with Tap’s Terms and Conditions.

Whether you're trying to navigate the world of Crypto Twitter or preparing for Web 3.0, understanding the lingo is imperative to understanding the information available and fitting in. You might be very familiar with the English language, but don't let that fool you, crypto slang on social media is a language of its own.

While you might be familiar with concepts such as mining and smart contract, here we upgrade you to the next level of crypto jargon content. Below we run you through the 20 biggest acronyms and terms you need to learn when embarking on your Crypto Twitter journey. Good luck!

20 Top crypto terms and acronyms

Apeing In 

Apeing in refers to buying a token or more commonly an NFT right after launch without doing the necessary research. Also sometimes expressed as "I aped", this is usually a result of being fearful you're going to miss out on potential gains. Always DYOR. 

Bag Holder 

This term refers to an investor that is holding a cryptocurrency or NFT that they cannot sell for a higher price, and cannot sell at the current price (as it is too low). While this isn't entirely negative, it's not very positive either. Bag holders will simply need to wait out the market dip.

BUIDL

First made famous by Ethereum founder, Vitalik Buterin in 2018, buidl is an obvious typo of the word build and refers to "build useful stuff". The concept revolves around developers utilizing blockchain technology, to hopefully, provide a solution to the industry as a whole. 

BTFD 

Standing for Buy The F** Dip, BTFD has been described as a "prominent investment lesson". Buying the dip is when investors accumulate cryptocurrency during a bear market when the prices are trading at less than their value. Quoting Warren Buffet, "be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful."

DAO

DAO stands for decentralized autonomous organization and acts as a form of venture capital funding, replacing a board of directors with open-source coding. Operating entirely automatically, everyone is granted ownership and is involved in the decision-making. DAO essentially describes the structure of Web 3.0 companies. 

dApps

You may be familiar with this term already, decentralized applications are any digital apps built on top of a blockchain network. Instead of operating off of a centralized computer system, dapps harness the power of blockchain and are maintained and operated by the network on which they're built. 

Ethereum, Solana and Cardano are popular platforms on which developers built their dapps, with no limit to what industry these dapps can be built for, from payments to entertainment to supply chain management.

Diamond Hands

This term refers to an investor who will never sell. Diamond hands push through the losses, gains and volatility, resisting the dips and the peaks. These are hardcore hodlers who strongly believe in a project's vision. 

DeFi

Another term you're likely to have come across is decentralized finance, DeFi. DeFi is a sector of the crypto industry that provides traditional financial products and services only using blockchain technology, like lending, borrowing and providing liquidity. The aim of DeFi products is to remove the centralized nature of banking and make things more accessible to the masses. PancakeSwap, Aave and The Graph are examples of DeFi platforms. 

Degen

Degen is short for degenerate risk-taker, someone who makes highly risky bets without due diligence. While this is typically frowned upon in the real world, in the crypto world this is a badge of honour. Being a degen and making money fast is the ultimate flex. We still recommend that you DYOR beyond just the project's website. 

DYOR

Possibly the most important phrase when it comes to investing in cryptocurrencies and NFTs: always do your own research. Never follow anyone's advice blindly, no matter how much money they've made, instead always look into a project before investing in it. DYOR takes a firm stand in reminding you that you are accountable and responsible for your investment choices. 

GMI

A term of endearment in the crypto space, GMI stands for Gonna Make It, used to reassure someone that they're on the right track. Often thrown around on Twitter and Discord, GMI offers someone an affirmation in their decisions. 

On that note, NGMI stands for Not Gonna Make It. Usually used when someone makes a mistake or does something crazy, or when someone makes ignorant comments about the crypto space when they know little about it. It can be brutal out there, but DYOR and you'll be ok.  

Genesis Collection

Similar to how the first block on a blockchain is referred to as the genesis block, a genesis collection is the first NFT collection created by an artist. Buying items from a genesis collection is a symbol of early support and usually comes with some added benefits. Following the transaction for the digital currency, holders might be treated to early releases, insider info or concert tickets.

HODL

While we're familiar with what HODL refers to (holding onto a cryptocurrency for a long time in order to tap into possible future gains), many might not be aware that it has been gifted an acronym of its own. We say gifted because the term originated from a typo in a Bitcoin forum. HODL has affectionately been expanded to Hold On for Dear Life, encouragement for when markets dip and weak hands consider selling.

Metaverse

A hot topic at the moment, but do you know what it means? The metaverse refers to an alternative reality that exists in the digital realm. This digital space allows users to work, play, socialize and do business, interacting with others as they do. The metaverse can be described as a combination of VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality) and 3D worlds.  

NFT 

This is a big one. It stands for Non-Fungible Tokens and refers to anything that someone can create store and sell on the blockchain but is not fungible. Each NFT is unique and cannot be used interchangeably like most other cryptocurrencies. Also note that an NFT is a token standard and can be built on various blockchains, while ETH for instance is the native token to Ethereum and cannot be used by other blockchains. 

Shill

Shill refers to someone promoting a particular cryptocurrency to create excitement for it, usually to their own financial benefit. The purpose of shilling a coin is to generate hype that will hopefully lead to mass buying. Most platforms frown against shilling as it's essentially part of the same family tree as pump and dumps. 

Paper Hands 

The opposite of diamond hands, paper hands are quick to sell, often too early. Giving in to pressure and volatility, paper hands sell when the financial risk is too high (as opposed to waiting out the dip). 

P2E

P2E stands for play to earn and is a concept in gaming where players can earn an in-game asset that holds value outside of that ecosystem. Axie Infinity, for example, is a game in which users can earn AXS, which is traded on many big exchanges. Gods Unchained and Evaverse are other P2E games.

RUG

Sometimes referred to as a "rug pull", rug is used to describe a situation where the founders of a project run away with the raised funds. These scams are not uncommon in the unregulated world of cryptocurrencies, however, they have become much fewer and far between since the earlier days. Their actions often send the crypto price plummeting to zero and cause huge losses among investors.