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We are delighted to announce the listing and support of BitDao (BIT) on Tap !

BIT is now available for trading on the Tap mobile app. You can now Buy, Sell, Trade or hold BIT 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 BIT 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.

BitDAO is building a decentralized token economy open to everybody. Managed by BIT token holders and one of the largest decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs),  BitDAO is committed to growing the DeFi ecosystem through partner projects and a decentralized economy.

BitDAO is governed and administered by the holders of BIT tokens. It works on the DAO mechanism, a common governance structure within the crypto space. The DAO framework gives BIT token holders power over BitDAO decisions and actions through a system of voting on proposals.

Get to know more about BitDao (BIT) in our dedicated article here.

We are delighted to announce the listing and support of Synthetix (SNX) on Tap!

SNX is now available for trading on the Tap mobile app. You can now Buy, Sell, Trade or hold SNX 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 SNX 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.

Synthetix is a groundbreaking decentralized asset protection protocol that permits users to mint, hold, and trade derivatives across different asset classes such as commodities, fiat currencies, stocks, and even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Synthetix provides a decentralized, permissionless, and censorship-resistant platform that allows users to gain exposure to both crypto and non-crypto assets without the need for ownership of these assets. This enables anyone with an interest in DeFi to join the industry through the use of synthetix assets regardless of whether they hold the actual assets or not.

Get to know more about Syntheticx (SNX) in our dedicated article here.

We are delighted to announce the listing and support of Enjin (ENJ) on Tap!

ENJ is now available for trading on the Tap mobile app. You can now Buy, Sell, Trade or hold ENJ 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 ENJ 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.

Playing an important role in the adoption of Web3, Enjin provides a platform of software products designed to allow anyone to harness the power of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) through the development, trade, monetization, and marketing of blockchain assets.

Powering the ecosystem is the Enjin Coin (ENJ), a token used to back the value of NFTs and other assets minted on the platform. When an asset is minted it locks ENJ tokens into a smart contract and effectively removes the tokens from circulation.

Enjin Coin (ENJ) is the native token of the Enjin ecosystem. Built on the Ethereum blockchain and compatible with multiple gaming platforms, the Enjin Coin is an ERC-20 token that allows the in-game items created on the platform to be traded with real-world value. The ENJ token has a maximum supply of 1 billion coins.

Get to know more about Enjin (ENJ) in our dedicated article here.

We are delighted to announce the listing and support of Chiliz (CHZ) on Tap!

CHZ is now available for trading on the Tap mobile app. You can now Buy, Sell, Trade or hold CHZ 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 CHZ 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.

Chiliz is a fintech company that uses blockchain technology to create new ways for fans to support and engage directly with their favorite sports teams. The company's goal is to be the leading provider of fintech solutions for sports and entertainment businesses around the world. Chiliz enables its users to trade tokens to show their support for professional sports teams.

Chiliz fans can buy their favorite team's Fan Tokens using the native Chiliz token " CHZ " on socios.com, the crowd management platform that Chiliz uses. Sports fans staking $CHZ on Socios.com also have opportunity to receive new Fan tokens as well as a up to 10% $CHZ bonus yield.

Many investors have made a lot of money through the stock markets, however, in recent years a new asset class has entered the scene. Not just any asset class, the best performing asset in the last decade. While conservative investors have steered clear, many investors have incorporated cryptocurrencies into their investment portfolios. 

In this article, we explore the differences between crypto vs stocks. While investments are driven by profits, understanding the difference between the two and what each one is is arguably fundamental to making any money from them. 

What Are Stocks? 

Stock, also referred to as equity or shares, is a financial product sold by companies that offer a percentage of ownership in the company. These "certificates of ownership" entitle the holder to dividends from the company's market performance. 

Stock in a company holds equal risk and reward. Should the company have a bad year, the stock price will reflect this with a decline in the unit price, but should it perform very well the price will increase. The profits are shared through a simple transaction.

These financial products are legally considered securities and are used by businesses or governments to raise capital from the market, offering the holder part ownership in the company selling the stock. Stocks are traded on authorised stock exchanges, of which there are over 60 around the world. The most popular are NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) which manage the sales of stocks relevant to that platform.

What Are Cryptocurrencies?

Cryptocurrencies are digital assets native to blockchain platforms. The first cryptocurrency launched in 2009 and provided an alternative cash system that allowed users to transact and store their funds without the authorisation of a third party. As a solution to the global financial crisis plaguing the world at the time, Bitcoin offered a decentralized solution to people taking control of their own money.

Following the launch of development-focused Ethereum several years later, cryptocurrencies started to offer solutions beyond just payment platforms. There are over 20,000 cryptocurrencies on the market today, ranging from utility tokens to governance tokens to meme tokens. 

Cryptocurrencies are defined as using blockchain technology to facilitate and maintain the network. Blockchain ensures that all transactions are recorded in a public ledger for anyone to see and are immutable. They also use cryptography to ensure the security of the network established through an elaborate means of information.

Cryptocurrencies can be traded on the following platforms, each incurring its own fees:

• peer-to-peer exchanges, where cryptocurrencies are directly traded between two users
• Decentralized exchanges, largely unregulated exchanges where there is no central authority 
• Centralized exchanges, operated as a business with an entity in charge and managing operations as well as regulatory obligations

Cryptocurrencies are largely considered to be "digital commodities" around the world, however, most countries are in the process of building a legal framework to better identify and regulate the new asset class. 

Due to their incredible growth and price gains over the last decade, cryptocurrencies have become a widely popular investment vehicle for both retail and institutional investors. 

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Cryptocurrency?

As is the case with profits gained from any investment, individuals are required to pay taxes on their crypto earnings. While this remains largely unregulated, most countries have created a legal framework that requires users to pay on any profits made. These levies are then paid to the government and contribute to the functioning of the country. The onus lies on the individual to establish what these laws are and adhere to them.

What Are The Difference Between Crypto vs Stocks

Below we flesh out the differences between these two financial products to build a better understanding of the two. We'll be looking at:

Ownership 

Arguably the biggest difference between crypto and stocks is the ownership rights. Stock provides the holder with ownership rights vehicle cryptocurrency typically doesn't (in the traditional financial ownership sense at least). 

Cryptocurrencies are designed in such a way that their decentralized nature ensures that no one owns the network. Some cryptocurrencies provide governance rights that allow the holders to vote on network changes and have a say in the development of the project. 

Risk vs reward 

The cryptocurrency market is renowned for being more volatile providing considerably higher risks and rewards when compared to the stock markets. 

In a 5 year comparison, at the time of writing, NASDAQ has seen 167% growth while Bitcoin has seen 3,574% growth. 

Liquidity

Stock markets typically hold more liquidity as most stocks can be traded across exchanges and quickly converted to cash. Cryptocurrencies, particularly the smaller capped coins, hold less liquidity, although the bigger ones like Bitcoin and Ethereum can easily be traded on most exchanges. Bigger crypto exchanges have more liquidity due to the higher trade volumes on the platform. 

Regulation

Another big difference between crypto and stocks is the regulation aspect. While all stock exchanges have at least one government entity regulating all activity on the platforms, cryptocurrency is largely unregulated around the world.

Regulation in the crypto space is a developing topic as many countries are working to legally define the asset and implement it into their financial system. Having said that, most centralized exchanges are regulated, complying with laws in the countries in which they operate. For safe crypto trading ensure the platform you're using is regulated.

Investment Reasons

While both stocks and cryptocurrencies are largely invested in for profit-seeking reasons, the alternative motivators vary substantially. Some investors also invest in stocks due to the initiatives that the company supports. 

Cryptocurrencies on the other hand offer several more alternative investment motivators, including:

• Getting involved in the blockchain and dapp space
• Making use of its decentralized nature and lack of centralized authority
• Exploring a more discreet means of transacting and storing value
• Supporting an innovative product that offers a high-impact solution

In Conclusion

Stocks are a more popular and regulated investment vehicle while cryptocurrencies offer a higher risk vs reward opportunity. While stocks are considered securities are largely regulated, cryptocurrencies offer higher use case potential and have proven to have higher ROIs.

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You've likely heard a Bitcoin maximalist tell you that crypto is the future and will eventually replace fiat currencies. While that's unlikely to happen overnight or any time soon, we're exploring the question looking at many factors that will contribute to this tech-forward proposition. 

While investor interest has certainly infiltrated mainstream culture, cryptocurrencies need to overcome several obstacles before they become a viable replacement. The obstacles include practical application, a willingness from merchants to embrace digital currencies, the market's volatility, and usability. Bearing that in mind, there have still been a number of shifts indicating that crypto adoption is certainly on the cards.

El Salvador Legalises Bitcoin

In June 2021, the president of the small Central American country, Nayib Bukele, announced that Bitcoin would officially be accepted as legal tender. The president also announced plans to create a Bitcoin City with the intention of becoming "the financial centre of the world.". 

Rolling out a number of services to support this concept, including a national wallet named Chivo, the endeavour cost a large amount of taxpayers' money, and not all were happy about this. 

On the other hand, Bukele was praised for being a revolutionary in the tech field, and a pioneer in the movement to shift from fiat to crypto. It's worth noting that there were mixed reactions on both sides of the crypto fence, some favouring the movement while others expressed concern over it being too premature. 

New York Mayor Accepts Salary In Crypto

In a move to make New York City the crypto capital of the world, the current mayor, Eric Adams, has stuck to his word and accepted his salary in crypto. As part of his campaign, the politician promised to accept his first three paychecks in cryptocurrency and received his first instalment in a combination of Bitcoin and Ethereum in January. 

Adams has also been vocal about his support for the NYC Coin, a digital currency that would take on similar functions as the Miami Coin released in 2021. Adams confirmed in a statement:

"New York is the centre of the world, and we want it to be the centre of cryptocurrency and other financial innovations. Being on the forefront of such innovation will help us create jobs, improve our economy, and continue to be a magnet for talent from all over the globe."

Rise In CBDCs

Venezuela is another country to adopt a pro-crypto attitude albeit born from less savoury conditions. Following a bout of hyperinflation, many turned to cryptocurrency as an alternative store of value, and as an income source as mining in the area with such low electricity prices was very lucrative. 

This eventually led to the country creating its own digital currency, the Petro, released in 2018. Cryptocurrencies released by the government in this nature are referred to as central bank digital currencies, CBDCs. 

The Bahamas and Nigeria also recently released their pilot central bank digital currencies to test the functionality and national responsiveness of the people. The "Sand Dollar" in The Bahamas is believed to be born from a combination of centralized banks being destroyed by hurricanes and accessibility to money across the various islands. 

Nigeria confirmed that the move was in line with needing a more digital approach to finances as the country has a considerably young population (in 2020, 43% of the population was aged 0 - 14 years).

A number of other countries have also announced plans to "explore" CBDcs, with China also currently rolling out a pilot program in several cities across the country. Decentralized digital currencies play an advantageous role over fiat currencies in countries affected by corruption and with largely remote areas. 

The Future Of Crypto

The future looks bright for the integration of cryptocurrencies into our traditional financial space. While it's unlikely that crypto will entirely replace fiat currencies (anytime soon or ever) it is likely that they can work alongside each other. With the rise in CBDCs around the world and the increase in mainstream crypto integration, the world has certainly taken notice of the vast benefits of using cryptocurrencies and the innovation in the space. 

Tap remains ahead of the curve with its mobile app allowing users to pay for everything using cryptocurrencies from their portfolios. Simply select which cryptocurrency you would like to use and Tap will liquidate it for the local currency of the relevant account and send the required amount of fiat funds without any hassle for you. Simple and efficient, Tap is paving the way for the future. 

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