Learning the friendly way

Today, TikTok ranks as the fifth largest social media platform globally, used by 31% of social media users and 30% of all internet users worldwide. Taking things one step further, TikTok is also busy revolutionising social media shopping through its TikTok Shop. Looking to dive in?

If you’re unsure how TikTok Shop works or what payment options are available, you’re in the right place. This guide covers everything you need to know about TikTok Shop payment methods.

What is TikTok Shop?

TikTok Shop is an integrated marketplace where you can purchase products directly through the app. Here you'll find everything from trending fashion items to electronics, all available from both independent sellers and major brands. *It’s worth noting that these are third-party sellers and not from TikTok directly. 

You’ll also need an account to use it. 

Finding TikTok Shop

Getting started is simple:

• Download the TikTok app and create an account if you haven't already
• Look for the Shop icon at the bottom of your screen
• Start browsing products through videos, lives, or the Showcase tab

What payment methods are available on TikTik Shop?

TikTok Shop offers several convenient payment methods to suit your preferences and location:

Card payments

• All major cards accepted (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover - yes, you can also use your Tap card)
• Both credit and debit cards are welcome

Digital wallets

• Apple Pay (iOS users)
• Google Wallet (Android users)
• PayPal

Buy Now, Pay Later

• Klarna: Split larger purchases into four interest-free payments

Making your first purchase

Ready to start shopping? Follow these simple steps:

• Find a product you love
• Click "Add to Cart"
• Hit "Check out" when ready
• Enter your shipping details and billing address
• Select your preferred payment method
• Review your order
• Confirm and place your purchase

Managing your payment methods

To add or change your payment method:

• Visit your TikTok profile
• Select "Your orders"
• Tap "Payments"
• Add new payment methods or set your preferred option

Shopping tips

• Always verify seller ratings and reviews before purchasing
• Check product descriptions and shipping information carefully
• Keep track of your orders through the TikTok app
• Enable notifications to track your order status
• Purchases are eligible for Tap cashback rewards

With these payment options and your Tap card at hand, you're ready to explore everything TikTok Shop has to offer.

‍

In today's global economy, managing your finances, both crypto and fiat, across borders has never been more important. With this in mind, we’ve created innovative solutions for both personal and business users with the Tap Personal Account and Tap Business Account. 

While both accounts share some core features, they each cater to specific needs. Let's dive into the details to help you choose the right account for your financial journey. 

Shared features: the Tap advantage

Both Tap Personal and Tap Business accounts offer a range of powerful features designed to simplify your financial life:

• Multi-currency capabilities: Hold, send, and receive money in multiple currencies.
• Competitive exchange rates: Enjoy favourable rates when converting between currencies.
• Low-fee international transfers: Send money abroad without breaking the bank.
• Tap card: A versatile debit card for spending in multiple currencies worldwide.
• User-friendly mobile app: Manage your finances on the go with ease.
• Cashback rewards: earn up to 8% Cashback on any card or online transactions.
• Money management on the go: Get real-time notifications on transactions and monthly statements.

Tap Personal Account: personal finance, globalised

The Tap Personal Account is perfect for individuals who:

• Live, work, or travel internationally
• Need to send money to family or friends abroad
• Want to shop online in different currencies
• Seek a hassle-free way to manage personal finances across borders
• Are savvy investors looking to manage multiple currencies in one secure location

Key features of the Tap Personal Account include:

1. Easy account opening: Get started quickly with a simple online process.
2. Free local account details: Receive payments like a local in multiple countries.
3. Instant transfers: Send money to other Tap users in seconds, for free.

Tap Business Account: powering global commerce

The Tap Business Account is tailored for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses
• Companies with international operations
• Startups looking to scale globally

In addition to the features shared with the Tap Personal Account, the Tap Business Account offers:

1. Multi-currency access: Easily set up checkout payment channels for crypto and major national currencies with access to local and international payment rails.
2. Crypto to fiat: Receive and send over 45 cryptocurrencies directly from your account with an institutional-grade OTC desk. 
3. Payment links: Get an individual IBAN and receive and send payments in EUR and GBP with SEPA Instant
4. White card labelling service: Create customisable cards for your business or clients using the integrated service. 
5. Cheaper payroll payments: Avoid bank fees when making multiple payments efficiently, perfect for paying salaries or multiple suppliers.
6. Access to an account manager: each company is assigned a dedicated account manager.

Making the right choice

Choosing between a Tap Personal Account and a Tap Business Account depends on your specific needs:

• If you're an individual looking to simplify your personal international finances, the Tap Personal Account is your go-to solution.
• For businesses of any size aiming to streamline their global financial operations, the Tap Business Account offers the advanced features you need to thrive in the international marketplace.

Both accounts reflect Tap's commitment to providing innovative, user-friendly financial solutions for our increasingly connected world. Whether you're planning your next international adventure or expanding your business across borders, Tap has you covered.

Ready to take control of your global finances? Visit withtap.com to learn more and download the app, and sign up for the account that best suits your needs.

While these terms might seemingly be used interchangeably, there are in fact fundamental differences between them. Whether you're brand new to the industry, looking for a new investment opportunity, or have been in the market for a while, distinguishing between the three will be a valuable endeavour. When it comes to the business of blockchain assets and the information surrounding it, we know all about it. Let's get into it.

What Are Digital Assets?

Digital assets are non-tangible assets that are created, traded and stored in a digital format. This includes everything from a website to a spreadsheet to a logo, anything uniquely identifiable that holds value. In the context of digital assets vs cryptocurrencies vs tokens, both cryptocurrencies and tokens are digital assets as they're created, stored and traded using blockchain technology. 

Through blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies and tokens utilize an advanced encryption technique known as cryptography. This maintains their security and ensures that the digital assets cannot be counterfeited or double-spent. Each individual asset represents something, whether it be content, value or a tangible item.

What Are Cryptocurrencies?

While cryptocurrencies fall under the umbrella of digital assets, they too hold a unique characteristic. In order for a digital asset to be classified as a cryptocurrency, it must be created on its own unique blockchain (often referred to as a blockchain's native token). 

Cryptocurrencies can be traded as a medium of exchange or store of value, depending on the platform for which it is built. On top of that, cryptocurrencies can also be used to pay transaction fees for using the network, or as an incentive to ensure the network is well-maintained. 

Typically, cryptocurrencies are decentralized meaning that they do not rely on a central entity to maintain the network, instead, they are operated using code to facilitate transactions and issuance. Built using blockchain or distributed ledger technology (DLT), cryptocurrencies use cryptography to secure each network in an automated, trustless manner and avoid any fraud.
Bitcoin, as it is created using its own blockchain and acts as a form of digital money, is an example of a cryptocurrency.

What Are Tokens?

Tokens differ from cryptocurrencies in that they are created on top of existing blockchain networks and not their own. A prime example is any ERC-20 token built on top of the Ethereum network, while these are still digital assets, they are classified as tokens due to their use of an existing blockchain. DAI, COMP and USDT are all examples of tokens that utilize the Ethereum blockchain.

While some are also mediums of exchange or stores of value, tokens provide more varied use cases. For example, some tokens are used to play games while others might be used for services specific to that platform, or across the greater decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape. 

There are a number of token standards available which each serve different use cases, the majority of which are built on Ethereum. The most common, the ERC-20 token standard, allows for the creation of a token that can then be used across a range of compatible dapps (decentralized apps). Another common token standard is the ERC-721 which is used to create non-fungible tokens, NFTs.

Tokens are typically characterized by the following:

• Permissionless
• Programmable
• Trustless
• Transparent

Tokens tend to take on much wider use cases, such as representing both tangible (property, art) and non-tangible (processing power, governance rights) which cryptocurrencies are integral to the running of the blockchain network. ‍

In Conclusion

Digital assets encompass both cryptocurrencies and tokens, while cryptocurrencies are built using a unique blockchain, and tokens are built on top of an existing blockchain. As the blockchain industry and the regulation around it continue developing, it is likely that the token standards and the range of use cases across both cryptocurrencies and tokens will continue to develop to provide a vast array of social and economic solutions.

‍

Bitcoin options trading has been making waves as a small yet significant catalyst in Bitcoin’s latest price surge. The launch of Bitcoin options linked to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF brought new energy to the market, attracting attention from both big institutions and everyday investors. 

But this bull run isn’t just about options trading, it’s driven by growing confidence in Bitcoin’s future, boosted by market trends, technological progress, and changes in regulations. Let’s take a closer look at what Bitcoin options trading is and how it fits into this exciting rally.

What are Bitcoin options?

Options trading is a type of financial trading where you buy or sell the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell an asset, like Bitcoin, at a specific price within a set time frame. Essentially, you’re betting on whether the price of that asset will go up or down.

There are two types of options: calls and puts. A call option lets you buy the asset at a certain price (if you think the price will rise), while a put option lets you sell it at a certain price (if you think the price will drop). Instead of buying the asset outright, you’re paying a smaller fee, called a premium, for the option to trade later.

Traders typically use options to hedge risk or profit from price movements without directly owning the asset. In the case of Bitcoin, options trading allows investors to manage volatility while taking advantage of its price swings, making it a popular tool in the fast-moving crypto market.

The game-changer: Bitcoin ETF options

January 2024 marked a historic moment when the SEC approved spot Bitcoin ETFs, and now we're seeing the next evolution with Bitcoin ETF options. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) made waves when its options began trading on the Nasdaq, quickly becoming one of the most exciting new financial products on the market.

The numbers tell the story: In just the first hour of trading, IBIT saw 73,000 options contracts traded, instantly placing it among the top 20 most active non-index options. 

Why Bitcoin ETF options matter

The introduction of Bitcoin ETF options is significant for several reasons:

1. Accessibility: Anyone can now trade Bitcoin options through traditional brokerage accounts, no crypto exchange is required.
2. Regulated environment: These products trade on established exchanges like Nasdaq, offering a level of oversight that many crypto platforms can't match.
3. Market sophistication: The availability of ETF options helps mature the Bitcoin market, potentially leading to more stable prices over time.

The new Bitcoin ETF options landscape

The Bitcoin ETF options market is growing fast, with big names like BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), and ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) leading the way. These funds are already offering or planning to offer options trading, giving investors more choices than ever before.

As the market develops, experts expect to see even more innovative products, including covered call funds, buffer funds, trend-following strategies, and other option-based investment tools. This rapid growth is certainly making the crypto space more dynamic and accessible for more “traditional” investors.

Final thoughts

The launch of Bitcoin ETF options is a big step forward for the crypto market as it continues to grow and evolve. While these options bring exciting opportunities they also come with their own risks and complexities, so whether you’re curious or serious about trading, it’s important to fully understand how they work before diving in.

Before Bitcoin was launched in 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto designed the cryptocurrency to have a maximum supply of 21 million coins. As part of the greater plan, the number of new Bitcoin that enter circulation decreases at regular intervals, thus maintaining the total supply. These intervals are known as halvings, and affect everything from market value to investing strategies to potential profitability. Let's get into it.

What is the Bitcoin halving?

Roughly every 4 years, or every 210,000 blocks that are mined, the network undergoes a halving where the block reward for miners is reduced by 50%. This reward is earned by verifying transactions and adding a new block to the blockchain. 

The halvings process decreases the rate at which new Bitcoins enter circulation, gradually depleting the remaining supply until the final satoshi is mined, expected to be around 2140. After that, miners will solely rely on transaction fees as an incentive to validate blocks.

The most recent Bitcoin network halving took place in April 2024, when the mining reward was reduced from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC.

‍

Why does the halving occur?

The Bitcoin halving is pre-programmed into Bitcoin's core code and is not something that can be changed - it's set in stone. Designed to control and slow down the release of new Bitcoins over time results in fewer and fewer Bitcoin being minted after each halving event. 

This limited supply is a key part of what gives the digital currency its deflationary nature and potential for increasing value. As the supply is capped at 21 million, the dwindling new supply hitting the market reinforces Bitcoin's artificial scarcity.

Previous Bitcoin halvings

Below we look at previous halvings and how these affected the price of Bitcoin. Historically, 12 - 18 months after halvings, Bitcoin has reached a record high. While this is not the rule of thumb, it has certainly been witnessed. 

2009 - Bitcoin launches

Date: 3 January 2009

Block reward: 50 BTC

2012 - Bitcoin’s first halving

Date: 28 November 2012

Block: 210,000

Block reward: 25 BTC

Price before halving (November 2012): Around $12

Next all-time high after halving: $1,156 (November 2013)

2016 - Bitcoin’s second halving

Date: 9 July 2016

Block: 420,000

Block reward: 12.5 BTC

Price before halving (July 2016): Around $650

Next all-time high after halving: $19,891 (December 2017)

2020 - Bitcoin’s third halving

Date: 11 May 2020

Block: 630,000

Block reward: 6.25 BTC

Price before halving (May 2020): Around $8,800

Next all-time high after halving: $69,000 (November 2021)

2024 - Bitcoin’s fourth halving

Date: 19 April 2024

Block: 840,000

Block reward: 3.125 BTC

Price before halving (April 2024): Around $65,000

At the time of writing, next all-time high after halving: $99,655.50 (November 2024) 

Taking a look at the future dates, the next halving is expected to take place in 2028, when the block reward will be reduced to 1.5625 BTC. Thereafter, in 2032 and 2036. This will continue until all Bitcoins have been mined, which is expected to be in 2140. 

Potential impacts of the recent halving

The next Bitcoin halving event is expected to have several potential impacts on the cryptocurrency. First and foremost, it will reduce the supply of new Bitcoins entering circulation by 50%, substantially decreasing its inflation rate. This scheduled supply rate reduction enhances Bitcoin's hardcoded scarcity which could lead to increased demand if investors view reduced supply as more desirable. Higher demand coupled with tightened supply could potentially drive up Bitcoin's price.

However, the halving will also cut block rewards for miners by 50%, which could force some smaller mining operations to shut down if their expenses outweigh newly reduced revenues. This may result in mining becoming less decentralised as larger entities with greater economies of scale are able to continue operating profitably. This could lead to further consolidation of the mining hashrate among a smaller number of big players.

Regardless of price movement, the most recent halving holds significance for Bitcoin's disinflationary issuance schedule, which will continue until the final Bitcoin is mined around 2140. This systematically shrinking supply reinforces Bitcoin's key value proposition as a deflationary asset, with absolute scarcity built into its design. Understanding this info highlights why some investors see Bitcoin's scarcity as a central role in its potential long-term value.

How will the rest of the crypto market be impacted?

We can confirm that Bitcoin's halving creates a ripple effect across the entire cryptocurrency market. While it directly impacts Bitcoin, it can also cause broader market shifts affecting many altcoins as investors start adjusting their portfolios during this time, which can lead to increased volatility and capital moving between digital assets. 

Established cryptocurrencies like Ethereum often respond to Bitcoin's market changes, though their reactions aren’t always predictable. Smaller, less-known coins may face even greater uncertainty. Because crypto markets are so interconnected, even indirect effects from the halving can create big waves, making it a key event that influences the entire ecosystem.

Should I invest during a Bitcoin halving?

Sure, navigating Bitcoin halving speculation can feel like walking through a maze. Investors often debate the best timing - before, during, or after the event - but there's really no universal playbook. 

The cryptocurrency market moves in mysterious ways, influenced by countless global factors, and past halvings have shown dramatically different market behaviors, making predictions challenging. While some see these events as potential opportunities, others view them with caution. 

The key is understanding that no single strategy guarantees success. Individual research, a clear view of personal risk tolerance, and a broad understanding of market dynamics are essential for anyone considering involvement in this volatile landscape.

The bottom line

The Bitcoin halving is a highly significant event worth learning about as it enforces the cryptocurrency's hardcoded disinflationary monetary policy. While past halvings have led to powerful bull markets and substantial price appreciation, as illustrated above, it's important to understand that future price movements remain unpredictable and cannot be relied on. 

Bitcoin's value is influenced by a complex array of factors beyond just supply dynamics, including adoption rates, regulatory developments, and overall market sentiment. Though artificially constrained supply can increase scarcity, demand is ultimately the driving force behind long-term valuations. 

‍

Hey there, Community! ✨

We've got some exciting news to share, and it's all about making your life a little bit easier and a whole lot clearer. We're thrilled to announce our partnership with TapiX – and before you wonder what this is all about, let me break it down into plain English, just for you.

No More Guessing Games 🎲

Ever looked at your transaction history and thought, "Where on earth did I spend that money?" We've all been there, scratching our heads, trying to decipher cryptic names or puzzling out just which coffee shop that was.

Here's where TapiX comes in – and why we're so excited about it. TapiX turns those confusing codes and names into information you can actually understand. We're talking real names of stores, complete with local language and all the details to make it click instantly. Yes, that means no more guessing games!

A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words 📷

But why stop at names? When you look at your transactions, you can now see actual logos and images – making it even easier to spot at a glance where you've been shopping. It's like turning your transaction history into a colourful gallery of your spending habits.
‍

Pinpoint Shopping Locations📍

Ever got a charge from a store and wondered, "When did I go there?”. Now, you won't just see the name; you'll get the exact location. We're talking street address, city, even zip codes – perfect for those "Aha!" moments.
‍

Extra Details at Your Fingertips 🫰

And there's more. Want to revisit a store but can't remember the name? You can now access additional details like website links, opening hours, and more for the store and companies that support it. It's like having a little assistant tucked away in your transaction history.

Why This Matters to You 👀

We believe managing your money should be as straightforward as shopping. That's why we partnered with TapiX – to transform your transaction list from a boring spreadsheet into a clear, understandable, and even helpful part of your daily life.

Here's what it boils down to: less time puzzling out your past spends and more time enjoying your present. Whether you're a budgeting pro or just trying to keep track of where your money's going, we think you'll love this new feature.

It's All About You 💙
At Tap, everything we do is aimed at giving you a better experience. We listen, we care, and we act on what you need. This partnership? It's all about making your financial life clearer and simpler.

We're here to help you make sense of your spending, save time, and maybe even discover some new favourite spots along the way. And this is just the beginning – we're always looking for ways to improve your experience.

So go ahead, take a look at your updated transaction history, and see the difference for yourself.

Here's to clearer, simpler, and more enjoyable finances.

Warmly,

The Tap Team.

‍