Sedan Bitcoin lanserades 2009 har ett konstant flöde av alternativa kryptovalutor – så kallade altcoins – dykt upp på marknaden. Många av dem är skapade för att bygga vidare på det Bitcoin introducerade. Även om Litecoin och Ethereum skiljer sig mycket åt i design, har de båda utvecklats för att förbättra svagheter i Bitcoins nätverk.

I den här artikeln tar vi en närmare titt på Litecoin och Ethereum, och jämför hur de fungerar – från koncept till verklig användning.

Litecoin-nätverket

Litecoin är en digital valuta som skapades som en hård fork från Bitcoins blockkedja. Syftet var att skapa en "lättare" version av Bitcoin, vilket också avspeglas i namnet. Den är byggd för att vara ett effektivt betalmedel i peer-to-peer-nätverk, och LTC är dess ursprungliga token.

Med liknande kodbas som Bitcoin har Litecoin-nätverket förbättrats för att erbjuda snabbare och billigare transaktioner. Det var aldrig tänkt att konkurrera ut Bitcoin, utan att fungera som ett komplement.

Litecoin lanserades 2011 av Charlie Lee – en före detta Google-ingenjör och MIT-alumn – tillsammans med ett utvecklingsteam. De ökade både blockstorleken och det totala utbudet av tokens, som är satt till maximalt 84 miljoner LTC.

Transaktioner per sekund

Idag kan Litecoin-nätverket hantera cirka 56 transaktioner per sekund. Detta är betydligt mer än Bitcoins 7 och även mer än Ethereums nuvarande 30, även om det förväntas öka i och med övergången till Ethereum 2.0.

Transaktionsavgifter

Litecoin utmärker sig även med mycket låga och stabila transaktionsavgifter – till skillnad från de flesta andra krypton som tenderar att bli dyrare vid hög belastning.

Blockstorlek och transaktionstid

Transaktioner bekräftas i genomsnitt på 2,5 minuter i Litecoin-nätverket, jämfört med 10 minuter på Bitcoin-nätverket. Det gör Litecoin till ett snabbt, energieffektivt och kostnadseffektivt alternativ.

Mining

Litecoin använder en Proof of Work-modell för att validera transaktioner, men använder en annan hash-algoritm – Scrypt – som kräver särskild hårdvara. Detta gör det även möjligt att simultant mine:a Litecoin och Dogecoin.

Ethereum-blockkedjan

Ethereum är en decentraliserad plattform som låter utvecklare skapa smarta kontrakt och decentraliserade appar (dapps). Ethereum är känt för sin neutralitet, säkerhet och oföränderlighet, vilket gör det till ett populärt verktyg för utvecklare över hela världen.

ETH är den ursprungliga kryptovalutan på plattformen.

Syftet med Ethereum

Ethereum skapades för att gå ett steg längre än Bitcoin, genom att erbjuda en plattform där nya blockchain-projekt kan utvecklas. Det har lett till en våg av innovation inom allt från finans till spel och konst.

Gasavgifter

Alla åtgärder på Ethereum-nätverket kräver så kallade gasavgifter, som betalas i ETH. Dessa avgifter varierar beroende på hur belastat nätverket är – något som ibland kan göra transaktioner dyra.

Smarta kontrakt

Smarta kontrakt är kodade överenskommelser som automatiskt utförs när vissa villkor är uppfyllda. Detta skapar möjligheter för decentraliserade applikationer utan behov av mellanhänder.

Total tillgång

Ethereum har inget fast maxantal tokens, vilket gör att utbudet kan växa över tid. Det finns dock en gräns på hur många nya ETH som kan skapas per år – maximalt 18 miljoner.

Framtida utveckling

Ethereum använder idag Proof of Work, men är i färd med att övergå till Proof of Stake – ett energieffektivare och mer hållbart alternativ för nätverksvalidering.

Litecoin vs Ethereum – vad är bäst?

Litecoin är byggt för att vara ett snabbt och billigt sätt att skicka pengar. Ethereum erbjuder mer än så – det är en hel plattform för att bygga nästa generations blockchain-projekt.

Vilket som är bäst beror helt på vad du är ute efter:

• Vill du bygga dapps eller skapa smarta kontrakt? Då är Ethereum det naturliga valet.
• Behöver du skicka pengar snabbt och billigt, eller föredrar du ett deflationärt utbud? Då är Litecoin ett starkt alternativ.

Båda nätverken har engagerade communities, aktiva utvecklingsteam och unika funktioner. Fundera över dina egna behov och mål innan du väljer vilken kryptovaluta som passar dig bäst.

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We are delighted to announce the listing and support of Quant (QNT) on Tap!

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

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 Quant protocol was designed to remove barriers commonly encountered on blockchains in communication, interoperability and scaling.

QNT is an ERC-20 token from the Quant blockchain that provides digital access to a particular application or service and is used to access the Overledger network and validate transactions on the network.

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.

Get to know more about Quant  (QNT) in our dedicated article here.

It's no secret that discussing finances is often considered taboo. Oftentimes, people quickly become uncomfortable when the topic is brought up. But why is talking about money so awkward for most people?

It's because most people are still afraid to discuss about savings openly for a wide variety of reasons from shame, embarrassment, or simply fear of their financial privacy.

However, there are many reasons why saving (and actively building a savings account) is important, and we think that today is a great opportunity to break the stigma around discussing savings openly. Here's what you need to know about starting to save, several ways to save money, and how Tap can help you in your saving quest.

The stats on talking about money

Discussing finances can be an uncomfortable subject for many people, as revealed by a recent survey. In fact, the survey found that over half of respondents, 56%, consider talking about money a taboo topic. Debt emerged as the most controversial financial topic, with 45% of those surveyed expressing discomfort discussing it.

The survey also highlighted that people are more likely to open up about their finances if others do the same. This means that breaking the taboo around money talk can have a positive impact on our financial well-being. By being more transparent about our saving methods, we can help others learn and achieve their own financial goals.

Below are a few ways to get you started with how to save money more efficiently.

How to get started: start saving money

It's never too late to start your savings journey. Whether you're starting your first job, looking to make a down payment on a house, or you're already retired, setting aside money for savings is an important step in building your wealth. Here are a few simple steps to take and ways to save money.

Establish your savings goals

In order to get started, first calculate how much money you need to save each month to reach your financial goals. This will help you determine how much money you need to set aside each paycheck.

Create a budget

The first step is always the most difficult, but it's important to be honest with yourself about your current situation. Review your finances on a regular basis and consider how much you would like to save as well as what that savings goal entails. Build this savings plan to be realistic, making a savings plan you're never going to stick to is only a waste of your time.

If your monthly bills exceed your income, it might be time to make a budget. Look at what you spend on grocery shopping, auto insurance, energy costs or online shopping and see if your monthly budget has room for some cuts. While homeowners insurance and utility bills can't be neglected, consider if there are cheaper alternatives in your area for the things you can afford to cut on - you never know where you might be able to save some extra dollars.

In doing so you are already taking the first step toward your quest to save money.

See where you can cut spending and save money

Take a closer look at your spending habits. Where are you wasting money? Are you eating out too often? Do you have a lot of expensive subscriptions? Once you identify your problem areas, you can start making changes to better save money.

For example, if you're spending too much on eating out or buying lunch, try cooking at home more often. If you have a lot of subscriptions, see if there are any you can live without and consider canceling an expensive subscription service. There are plenty of ways to save money and build wealth, get creative!

Set up a savings account

Next, you can open a savings account and make sure to deposit money into it regularly. This account should be a separate savings account from your checking account so that you're not tempted to spend the money.

You can opt for a saving account programme which allows you to put money in an account that generates extra cash for you, paid out monthly or yearly. The key in this process is to make sure the money is going into savings before you have a chance to spend it.

Also consider putting unexpected income in these accounts, like a tax refund.

Review and adjust

Finally, in your efforts to save money make sure to review your budget regularly and adjust your savings goals as necessary. By following these simple steps, you can start saving money and building your wealth today.

Don't forget to give yourself some breathing room. It's important to have money set aside in an emergency fund, but that doesn't mean you should never spend any of your savings. Indulge in some of your favorite things every once in a while and appreciate all that you've worked for!

Consider paying off credit card debt and building an emergency fund as equally important to building your savings account. If you're making use of passive income generation you could use these earned funds to pay off one of the two. Savings accounts might sound scary but the truth is they're simple, important, and integral to save money.

Here are some of the best saving tips that we think everyone should know:

• Don't wait to start saving money. The more time you give yourself to spend it the greater the temptation will be. Transferring a fixed percentage of your income into savings accounts as soon as you receive it is an excellent way to make sure you're putting some money away as soon as you get paid.  
• If you're always frugal with your money, you'll only be frustrated and won't achieve your savings goals. From time to time, remember to give yourself a little treat!

Closing thoughts

Saving money is something that everyone has to do, and it can be made easier by doing it with others. No matter your situation, there are probably other people around you who know exactly how you feel and with whom you could share advice that could help you both save money more efficiently.

Open that savings account today and start building a better financial future. Whether you cut your monthly bills to make a down payment or save money for your emergency fund or dream vacation, putting money aside for your future is always a good idea.

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The Sandbox is a pioneer in the movement to incorporate blockchain technology into the gaming sector. Created in 2011, The Sandbox is an play-to-earn game that allows users to be both creators and players, with the ability to monetize their in-game assets and earn SAND tokens.

Powered by the SAND token, the Sandbox’s native token serves as the foundation for all transactions and interactions. SAND tokens can be obtained by playing games, selling digital assets on the Sandbox Marketplace, participating in competitions, or buying it through a reliable exchange. 

What is the Sandbox platform?

The Sandbox is an Ethereum-based play-to-earn gaming ecosystem and metaverse that allows players to create, share, and monetize in-world assets and gaming experiences. The platform combines the powers of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO), DeFi and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

The Sandbox metaverse offers players a space to interact with one another and the games they have created.

The Sandbox is made up of three main components: 

1. VoxEdit, which allows users to create and animate 3D objects in the metaverse (i.e. animals, people, tools, etc). These are known as ASSETS and utilize the ERC-1155 token standard which allows both fungible and non-fungible (NFTs) to be minted at the same time. 
2. The Sandbox Game Maker, where users can create 3D games for free.
3. The Sandbox Marketplace, where users can sell their ASSETS for SAND tokens. 

Who created The Sandbox?

Initially developed as a mobile gaming platform by Pixowl in 2011, The Sandbox was intended to be a competitor to Minecraft. It quickly grew very popular and soon had more than 40 million downloads worldwide. However, in 2018, the co-founders Arthur Madrid and Sebastien Borget decided to explore the potential of creating a 3D metaverse on the blockchain.

The new and improved platform allows users to truly own their creations, in the form of NFTs, and earn rewards while participating in the ecosystem. The Sandbox team introduced the new Sandbox project in 2020 and it became one of the fastest-growing games in the cryptocurrency world, alongside Axie Infinity and Decentraland. 

The following year the platform raised $93 million and attracted over 50 reputable partnerships, including CryptoKitties, Snoop Dogg and The Walking Dead. 

How does The Sandbox work?

The Sandbox is a dynamic virtual world filled with user-generated content. Players can create and develop their own NFTs, including avatars, virtual goods, and even games, using the platform's VoxEdit and Game Maker. They can also interact with other players as well as monetize these NFTs by selling them on the Sandbox Marketplace, fueled by the SAND token.

The Sandbox's VoxEdit

VoxEdit offers artists and players user-friendly software to create, rig, and animate NFTs. The NFTs are in voxel format, square 3D pixels that look like lego blocks, which can quickly be edited to create different shapes. Users can design and create everything from animals and game tools to avatar-oriented weapons and clothing to any goods that you can use in The Sandbox. 

All these virtual goods can then be exported and traded as NFTs on the Sandbox Marketplace for SAND token.

The Sandbox's Game Maker

The Game Maker is designed to allow users to test their 3D game creations within the metaverse. With no prior coding experience needed, the program allows users to design and organize various objects and elements in a space called LAND (including the VoxEdit NFTs).

The Game Maker allows users to curate quests, place buildings, and characters, edit terrains, etc. Users can then share their designs with the greater community or sell them on the Sandbox Marketplace.

The Sandbox Marketplace

The Sandbox ecosystem has its very own NFT marketplace was launched in April 2021 and creates a space where users can trade ASSETS (in-game assets) with the native token, the SAND token.

The ASSETS (NFTs) can be anything from wearables to buildings to entities, and can then be used within the platform in the Sandbox game and incorporated into LAND to create unique games using the Game Maker. The Sandbox's marketplace is accessible to all users on the platform.

What are SAND tokens?

Sandbox, referred to as SAND, is an ERC-20 token with a supply of 3 billion. The token functions as a utility token, governance token, and can be used for staking.

SAND as a utility token facilitates all interactions and transactions within the Sandbox ecosystem. In order to take part in the activities available on the platform, from playing the games to buying LAND, trading ASSETS or customizing avatars, users will need to own SAND. The LAND tokens are ERC-721 tokens while ASSETS are user-generated NFTs.

The native token also functions as a governance token within the Sandbox ecosystem, allowing SAND token holders to vote on changes made on the platform through the Sandbox DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) structure. 

Lastly, the token can be staked on the platform, allowing holders to earn rewards and a share in the revenue from all SAND transactions. Staking offers the bonus advantage of allowing users to increase their chances of finding valuable game resources designed to boost ASSETS' rarity, known as GEMs and CATALYSTs. These are valuable when looking to create assets and play games.

There are two ways to acquire SAND: either through playing games and contests in The Sandbox, or by purchasing it on a cryptocurrency platform like Tap.

How can I buy the SAND token?

For those looking to incorporate The Sandbox into their crypto portfolios, or simply enter the metaverse gaming sector, we have great news. The Tap app has recently added SAND to the list of supported currencies, allowing anyone with a Tap account to easily and conveniently access The Sandbox market. 

Users can buy SAND by using balances in either their crypto or fiat wallets or with your debit card, you can also buy the cryptocurrency with traditional payment options like bank transfers. Through the integrated wallets on the platform, users can also store and manage their SAND holdings easily and conveniently. 

If you know anything about the NFT craze in the cryptosphere, you’ve likely heard of the wildly successful Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). Expanding on this concept is the ApeCoin ecosystem, a cryptocurrency positioning itself at the forefront of Web3. ApeCoin is controlled by the ApeCoin DAO, a decentralized autonomous organization of which all APE holders can become a part.

What is the ApeCoin ecosystem?

ApeCoin is an ERC-20 utility and governance token used within the APE ecosystem. The founding roots of ApeCoin lie in the NFT series Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), a creation by Web3 company Yuga Labs. 

Enjoying viral success and arguably one of the most successful NFT collections to date, the 10,000 unique BAYC cartoon drawings earned cult status when their prices soared and big celebrities started buying them. To date, the most expensive BAYC NFT sold for a staggering $3.4 million.

ApeCoin, the fungible token, and a number of products and services make up the ApeCoin ecosystem. The coin is governed by the ApeCoin DAO, of which all token holders are eligible to become members. The ApeCoin DAO makes decisions on matters such as governance rules, partnerships, projects, Ecosystem Fund allocations, and more. The Ecosystem Fund supports community-driven initiatives and was allocated 62% of the ApeCoin supply when launched. 

In April 2022, Yuga Labs started minting virtual land in their Otherside metaverse, using ApeCoin for payment. ApeCoin is used to facilitate all transactions taking place in this virtual world.

Who created ApeCoin?

ApeCoin was created by Yuga Labs, inspired by the Bored Ape Yacht Club project. Supported by the Ape Foundation, ApeCoin is governed by the ApeCoin DAO which creates a framework for permissionless governance processes. These decentralized authoritative frameworks are designed to create a fair and inclusive ecosystem in which the coin can flourish. 

Within the Ape Foundation is an administrative council known as the "Board" which is responsible for implementing the decisions made by the ApeCoin DAO members. This Board is voted in by the ApeCoin DAO members on an annual basis and is not controlled by Yuga Labs. 

How does ApeCoin work?

ApeCoin grants holders access to exclusive games and services within the Ape Ecosystem and can be used for transaction purposes on the Otherside metaverse. It also acts as a tool in which third-party developers can tap into the Ape Ecosystem by incorporating APE into their own projects, games, and services. 

Animoca Brands, for instance, created a play-to-earn (P2E) game called Benji Bananas that utilizes ApeCoin, incentivizing and rewarding players with APE. 

From a governance perspective, holders of APE can become members of the ApeCoin DAO which vote on decisions impacting the ecosystem's functioning and growth. This might include anything from which partnerships the ecosystem should pursue to how funds are allocated. These decisions are then implemented by the ApeCoin Foundation, the 5-member Board acting as the DAO's legal representative. 

What are APE tokens?

ApeCoin (APE) is an ERC-20 token compatible with the Ethereum blockchain and any supported wallet. The coin was launched in March 2022, with all 1 billion tokens minted at once. When minted, 62% of the coins were allocated to the Ecosystem Fund which are then allocated to community-based projects based on Ape DAO decisions. 30.25% were released into circulation for the community to engage with. 

How can I buy the APE token?

If you’d like to become an ApeCoin holder or incorporate APE into your investment portfolio you can do so easily with the Tap mobile app. Through your account, you can gain access to the APE market using a range of supported crypto and fiat currencies. 

When loading your account with fiat, all bank transfers are free, and once you have a positive balance, users can use the funds to pay bills both within and outside of the crypto service ecosystem directly from the app. Buy, sell, store and trade APE from the secure location of your Tap app. 

Axie Infinity är ett blockkedjebaserat strids- och samlarsystem där spelare kan föda upp, strida med och handla digitala varelser kallade Axies. Inspirerat av Pokémon och Tamagotchi kombinerar Axie Infinity spelvärlden med blockkedjeteknik och de populära NFT:erna (icke-fungibla tokens).

I takt med att Tap lägger till nya kryptovalutor, har AXS tagits upp på grund av sin höga handelsvolym, engagerade community och starka spelupplevelse. Genom att kombinera avancerad teknik med spelmekanik står Axie Infinity i frontlinjen för nästa generations spelplattformar. Här nedan får du veta mer om denna decentraliserade innovation.

Vad är Axie Infinity (AXS)?

Axie Infinity bygger på Ethereum-blockkedjan och använder NFT:er för att representera unika spelkaraktärer, förmågor, markplättar och andra tillgångar i spelet. Spelare kan tjäna både Axie Infinity Shards (AXS) och Smooth Love Potions (SLP) under spelets gång.

Varje Axie har unika attribut, med över 500 möjliga kroppsdelar fördelade över olika klasser som exempelvis beast, bird, plant och aquatic – med allt från vanliga till legendariska sällsynthetsnivåer. Det gör Axies till eftertraktade tillgångar i spelet och de bygger på Ethereum-standarden för NFT:er.

Vem skapade Axie Infinity?

Axie Infinity grundades 2018 av Trung Nguyen och Aleksander Larsen, tillsammans med Viet Anh Ho. De arbetar genom spelstudion Sky Mavis i Vietnam, ett teknikfokuserat företag med stark inriktning på blockkedjespel.

Projektet har lockat investerare som Blocktower Capital och Mark Cuban, och lyckades i sin sista finansieringsrunda genom Binance Launchpad samla in nästan 3 miljoner USD.

Hur fungerar Axie Infinity?

I spelet strider spelare med sina Axies – NFT:er som är unika och som har olika attribut som påverkar deras förmåga i strid. Dessa attribut inkluderar hälsa, moral, skicklighet och snabbhet.

Axies delas in i olika klasser som Aquatic, Beast, Bird, Plant och Reptile samt specialklasser som Dawn, Dusk och Mech. Varje Axie har sex kroppsdelar (rygg, öron, ögon, horn, mun och svans), vilket påverkar deras egenskaper i spelet.

Axies kan också födas upp, där varje uppfödning kräver både AXS och SLP. En Axie kan födas upp maximalt sju gånger, med ökande kostnad i SLP för varje gång.

En annan aspekt av spelet är mark: spelare kan köpa och sälja virtuella hem till sina Axies – dessa kallas Lunacias. Det finns också en marknadsplats inom spelet där spelare kan köpa och sälja Axies och tillgångar.

Vad är Axie Infinity Shards (AXS)?

AXS är spelets styrningstoken och bygger på Ethereum-standarden ERC-721. Dessa tokens används inte bara i spelet, utan även för att ge innehavare möjlighet att påverka spelets framtid genom röstning. AXS kan också handlas på externa börser.

SLP används istället som en ren spelvaluta för att föda upp Axies. Både AXS och SLP har blivit populära även utanför spelvärlden.

Kan man tjäna något genom att spela Axie Infinity?

Axie Infinity är ett av de mest framstående spelen i den växande "play-to-earn"-ekonomin. Här är tre sätt som spelare kan tjäna belöningar på:

Sälja SLP

Genom att delta i strider (Arena Mode), spela uppdrag (Adventure Mode) eller slutföra dagliga uppgifter kan spelare tjäna SLP. Dessa kan sedan säljas på externa marknadsplatser.

Föda upp sällsynta Axies

Genom att föda upp unika kombinationer kan spelare skapa sällsynta Axies som kan säljas vidare på spelets marknadsplats. Vissa Axies har sålts för hundratusentals kronor.

AXS-staking

I framtiden kommer det att vara möjligt att "stakea" AXS – det vill säga låsa sina tokens i smarta kontrakt – för att få belöningar över tid.