November 2025 could be a turning point for crypto. From ETFs to major network upgrades, here are six catalysts that could shape the market.
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As we move into November 2025, the crypto-market is gearing up for one of its most intriguing phases yet. From spot-ETF momentum to narrative shifts, network upgrades and real-world asset tokenization, multiple catalysts are aligning. Here are six key developments to watch.
1. Seasonality & Historical Momentum Could Kick In
While "Uptober" fell short of expectations, November could tell a different story. Historically, it's been one of the strongest months for digital assets, with Bitcoin in particular averaging +42.31% gains in recent years.
When combined with the renewed ETF narrative, increased whale accumulation, and a stronger appetite for risk assets, market momentum appears to be building. Participants are closely monitoring how these dynamics could influence sentiment, especially as trading volumes and key technical levels come into play. If Bitcoin maintains stability around the $100K zone and Ethereum shows signs of renewed strength, November could become a more active month for crypto markets compared to October.
2. Ether’s Next Move Could Set the Tone for Altcoins
The final weeks of 2025 may prove pivotal for Ethereum (ETH). Although retail accumulation has paused somewhat, wallet-level data shows large holders (1,000 to 100,000 ETH wallets) added roughly 1.6 million ETH in October (around $6 billion), it’s a sign that whales and larger holders are staying active as the year winds down.
If ETH begins to break out or even stabilize around current levels, it could unlock the broader altcoin market, which has been lagging for months. The playbook that many are hoping for is the following one: ETH strength leads to improved risk appetite, which in turn sparks an altcoin rotation as investors seek higher risk exposure.
Ethereum remains the accepted benchmark for gauging sentiment across the non-Bitcoin segment of the market, and its performance frequently acts as a catalyst for capital flows into smaller assets. Keeping an eye on its fundamentals (from staking yield to liquidity shifts on major exchanges) will be important. In many ways, ETH could potentially become the gatekeeper to the next phase of the market’s recovery and the tone-setter for the coming months.
3. ETF Comeback After Delays
The recent U.S. government shutdown briefly froze several crypto-spot ETF filings, leaving the “ETF narrative” in suspense. But now the pause is over for Bitwise’s Spot Solana ETF. It has finally launched with strong early inflows, and the broader momentum is returning.
With this foundation, November could reignite the ETF trade in earnest, we may finally see filings for Ethereum staking products, new spot-Bitcoin funds and renewed institutional interest. If filings begin to stack up and regulatory engagement deepens, this could mark the next major inflection for how crypto is accessed in traditional portfolios.
4. Altcoins at an Inflection Point
The broader altcoin sector enters November under pressure as the Altcoin Season Index sits near 29, signaling a reset after October’s downturn. But inflection points often follow pressure. If ETH sets the tone (as many are hoping for), mid-cap and high-beta altcoins (such as SOL, AVAX, NEAR) could begin to capture rotation flows.
Traders might want to watch for flow changes such as increased volumes, wallet relocations and new project launches. While caution is still prevailing, this may be the window where sentiment begins to swing back into “altcoin season”.
5. Major Network Upgrades
Technical infrastructure is not just background noise; it often creates catalyst-events. For example, Ethereum’s upcoming Fusaka Upgrade (scheduled for early December) is designed to increase layer-2 data capacity and reduce transaction costs.
Meanwhile, various Layer-2 ecosystems are preparing upgrades and cross-chain activations. One such upgrade, Shibarium Upgrade’s security overhaul on the Shiba Inu network. These events may ignite renewed network activity, developer interest and capital flows into ecosystems ready to scale.
6. Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization Accelerates
The tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), such as real estate, bonds, equities, is moving from niche to mainstream. For instance, according to Standard Chartered, this market is projected to grow to around $2 trillion by 2028. Institutional interest is burgeoning, and regulatory frameworks are emerging.
As November unfolds, we may see announcements of large tokenization initiatives or new platforms bridging DeFi and traditional finance. For crypto holders and ecosystem observers, this means the familiar “crypto only” narrative is expanding into real-asset integration, a meaningful broadening of the opportunity set.
The Verdict
November 2025 is shaping up to be more than just another month. Spot-ETFs potential, ETH’s path, altcoin rotation, seasonal tailwinds, infrastructure upgrades and RWA tokenization all sit in motion. Each one individually is significant; together they create a multi-vector setup.
For those in the crypto space, whether you're holding long-term, actively trading, or building the next wave of infrastructure, November is likely to be eventful. This isn't a month to coast on autopilot. Track where capital is flowing. Pay attention to which narratives are gaining momentum and which are fading. The players are moving, and the pieces are falling into place.
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Kryptobranschen kan ibland kännas som ett eget språk – men vi hjälper dig att reda ut vad tickers egentligen handlar om. Tickers introducerades redan på 1800-talet för att förenkla aktiehandel, genom att visa en förkortning av företagsnamnet istället för hela namnet. Samma princip används idag inom krypto. Här guidar vi dig genom hur du undviker förvirring kring kryptotickers.
Vad är en kryptoticker?
En kryptoticker är en förkortning som representerar en viss kryptovaluta på centraliserade och decentraliserade börser. Till exempel står BTC för Bitcoin och ETH för Ethereum.
Kan två kryptovalutor ha samma ticker?
Nej, eftersom flera kryptovalutor ofta listas och handlas på samma börs behöver varje enskild valuta en unik ticker. Ibland händer det dock att mindre projekt kopierar en känd ticker för att få uppmärksamhet – detta är ofta ett varningstecken på att något inte står rätt till.
För att förenkla det hela har vi delat upp tickers i olika kategorier: betalningsvalutor, stablecoins, meme-mynt, utvecklingsfokuserade plattformar och ett spelprojekt.
Betalningsfokuserade kryptovalutor
Sedan Bitcoin lanserades 2009 har många projekt försökt skapa förbättrade versioner av digitala pengar. Flera har till och med använt namnet "Bitcoin" i sina egna projekt – vilket lett till viss förvirring.
BTC – Bitcoin
Det första och största kryptovalutan. Bitcoin är fortfarande den mest spridda digitala valutan.
LTC – Litecoin
En lyckad "fork" av Bitcoin med snabbare och billigare transaktioner.
XRP – Ripple
En valuta som fokuserar på snabba och billiga gränsöverskridande transaktioner.
Stablecoins
Stablecoins är kopplade till traditionella fiatvalutor för att undvika den prisvolatilitet som krypto är känt för. Dessa används ofta inom DeFi-projekt.
USDC – USD Coin
Kopplad till amerikanska dollarn. Lanserades av Circle och Coinbase 2018.
USDT – Tether
Världens första stablecoin, lanserad 2014. Även denna är kopplad till USD.
Meme Coins
Sedan Dogecoin blev en snackis har många försökt rida på vågen – oftast med låg marknadsvärdering. Här fokuserar vi på de två största:
DOGE – Dogecoin
Det första meme-myntet, lanserat 2013 som en "fork" av Litecoin.
SHIB – Shiba Inu
Lanserad 2020 som ett bredare ekosystem jämfört med Dogecoin, med fler funktioner.
Utvecklingsfokuserade kryptovalutor
Flera projekt har följt i Ethereums fotspår genom att erbjuda plattformar för utveckling av dApps och smarta kontrakt. Här är några av de mest populära:
ETH – Ethereum
Den mest använda utvecklingsplattformen, lanserad 2015. Känd för sina smarta kontrakt och breda användningsområden.
ADA – Cardano
Grundad av en av Ethereums medskapare. Fokuserar på akademisk forskning och hållbar utveckling.
DOT – Polkadot
Möjliggör kommunikation mellan olika blockkedjor – s.k. interoperabilitet.
LINK – Chainlink
En orakellösning som kopplar smarta kontrakt till externa datakällor.
SOL – Solana
En snabb och billig plattform för dApps och smarta kontrakt. Ett alternativ till Ethereum.
Spelplattform
MANA – Decentraland
Decentralands inhemska valuta. Används i det virtuella speluniversumet och kan även handlas på externa börser.
Sammanfattning: Så undviker du tickerförvirring
Vi hoppas att den här guiden hjälper dig att känna dig mer hemma bland kryptotickers – särskilt om du är i startgroparna för din resa inom digitala tillgångar.
För dig som vill köpa, sälja eller lagra kryptovalutor på ett enkelt och säkert sätt erbjuder Tap en användarvänlig lösning. Alla valutor i appen visas med aktuell kurs, så att du kan ta kontroll över din kryptoupplevelse direkt från mobilen.
I en rad nya kryptotillgångar som nu stöds i Tap-appen är Chainlink en av de senaste att listas. Plattformen har gjort sig känd som en av de största inom oracles – en teknik som möjliggör kommunikation mellan verklig data och blockchain-applikationer.
Men vad är Chainlink egentligen – och varför ska du bry dig i en värld där det redan finns många andra decentraliserade lösningar? Det handlar om att Chainlink löser ett avgörande problem som länge begränsat användningen av smarta kontrakt i verkliga affärssituationer.
Vad är Chainlink (LIN)?
Chainlink är ett decentraliserat oracle-nätverk som fungerar som en bro mellan verklig data och blockkedjeteknik. Målet? Att smarta kontrakt ska kunna använda verkliga data – som väder, valutakurser eller sportresultat – för att fungera automatiskt.
Smarta kontrakt är digitala avtal som automatiskt genomförs när vissa villkor är uppfyllda. Problemet? De kan inte "se" vad som händer utanför blockkedjan. Chainlink löser detta genom sitt nätverk av oracles – dataleverantörer som hämtar in information från verkliga källor och matar in den i blockkedjebaserade applikationer.
Dessa oracles belönas med Chainlinks egna token, LINK, och rankas utifrån pålitlighet och korrekt data, vilket gör systemet både smart och säkert.
Vem grundade Chainlink?
Chainlink har sitt ursprung i ett projekt från 2014 kallat SmartContract, grundat av Sergey Nazarov och Steve Ellis. De utvecklade en lösning för att koppla smarta kontrakt till verkliga datakällor och bankbetalningar.
Det första officiella Chainlink-nätverket lanserades 2017, efter en framgångsrik ICO som drog in 32 miljoner USD. Whitepapret – som lade grunden för tekniken – kom samma år, och projektet har sedan dess växt till en nyckelspelare inom blockchain.
Hur fungerar Chainlink?
Chainlink gör det möjligt för smarta kontrakt att använda extern data. Det fungerar ungefär så här:
- Oracle Selection
Användaren skapar ett Service Level Agreement (SLA) som beskriver vilken typ av data som behövs. Plattformen parar ihop detta med oracles som kan leverera den efterfrågade informationen. LINK-tokens sätts in som säkerhet. - Data Reporting
Valda oracles hämtar in datan från externa källor, bearbetar den och skickar den tillbaka till det smarta kontraktet. - Result Aggregation
Chainlink-nätverket analyserar svaren och utvärderar datans noggrannhet. Resultatet matas sedan in i kontraktet, samtidigt som varje oracle får ett pålitlighetsbetyg.
Chainlink använder en Proof-of-Stake-modell för säkerhet, där oracles som stakar mer LINK prioriteras.
Vad är det som gör Chainlink unikt?
Chainlink låter blockchain-appar interagera med verkliga händelser – säkert och pålitligt. Det kan handla om att hämta in valutakurser, API-data, väderinformation eller banktransaktioner – i realtid.
Istället för att varje utvecklare behöver skapa egna datakällor för sina smarta kontrakt, erbjuder Chainlink en decentraliserad, flexibel lösning som kan användas direkt – utan extra integrationer eller avgifter.
Vad är LINK-tokenen?
LINK är den inbyggda kryptovalutan i Chainlink-nätverket och används för att:
- Betala noder (oracles) för att hämta, verifiera och leverera data.
- Staka i nätverket som säkerhet – högre stakade mängder ger prioritet.
- Belöna pålitliga oracles och stimulera nätverkets tillväxt.
LINK är en ERC-20 token som fungerar på Ethereum-nätverket och är en av de mest använda utility-tokens i DeFi-sektorn.
Hur kan jag köpa Chainlink?
Vill du lägga till LINK i din portfölj? Det är enkelt i Tap-appen.
- Handla LINK direkt med andra kryptovalutor eller fiat-valutor.
- Använd debetkort eller kreditkort (Visa eller Mastercard) för att köpa LINK direkt i appen.
- Lagra och hantera dina LINK-tokens säkert i den integrerade plånboken.
Redo att ta steget? Utforska Chainlink via Tap och få direkt tillgång till ett av kryptovärldens mest spännande projekt.
Cryptocurrency whitepapers are detailed documents that outline the project's intentions, products, and infrastructure. While there isn't a rule on what needs to be included, most projects aim to share as much information about how the project aims to succeed in the hopes of building investors' trust, and interest.
Some of the topics typically covered include a summary of the project's team, goals, products, features, and tokenomics. When researching a blockchain or cryptocurrency project, whitepapers are a very good place to start.
What is a whitepaper?
A typical cryptocurrency whitepaper is usually a report or guide that teaches its readers about a certain topic or problem. As an example, developers might make a whitepaper covering their software to inform users about what they are constructing and why.
In the crypto space, a whitepaper is released by a project and assists in outlining the technical guidelines and core features of the project. While many whitepapers focus on specific coins or tokens, they can also be concentrated around various types of projects, like decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, for example.
Cryptocurrency whitepapers will typically consist of statistics and diagrams outlining the project's core date, as well as the governing structure of the project, the team involved in creating and leading it, and their roadmap (current and future development plans).
What value do crypto project whitepapers serve?
Despite not being worth a monetary value, whitepapers play an important role in the crypto space. While there are no official criteria for creating them, whitepapers are integral to investors, researchers, developers, and industry insiders.
A great place to start for anyone interested in a project is to read through the whitepaper. If you're considering investing, it's best to meticulously read through it again. Whitepapers often provide insights into the project's potential red flags and a means to monitor whether they are sticking to their forecasted timeline.
A number of blockchain projects that have crashed displayed subtle warning signs in their whitepaper, like promising a deliverable without providing any evidence on how it will be executed.
How does one make a cryptocurrency whitepaper?
There are no official rules or outlines that projects need to follow when creating a crypto whitepaper, each blockchain project may determine what is best for that individual situation. As mentioned earlier, these are often the first official documents outlining the project to potential investors, so thorough and informative content depicting the project's structure, goals, and roadmap is best included.
Whitepapers should always be neutral, and avoid persuasive language or making too many promises. This is essentially a "business plan" in the crypto sense released to investors or the public prior to launching.
What info is included whitepaper?
Objectives
Whitepapers are created by founders to provide a comprehensive overview of both the project and the goal. For instance, Bitcoin's whitepaper describes the project's core objective as "A purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution."
While Ethereum's whitepaper describes its intention as "The intent of Ethereum is to create an alternative protocol for building decentralized applications."
In a good cryptocurrency whitepaper, the project will outline what specific problem it aims to solve, and how it will improve various aspects of people's lives. Be cautious of projects that promise the world but have little in the way of evidence to back these claims. In the ICO boom of 2017, thousands of projects overpromised and underdelivered (if they delivered at all).
Blockchain specifications
Whitepapers will typically include how the cryptocurrency will work and function in the greater crypto ecosystem. This might outline technical aspects like the consensus mechanism the blockchain will utilize and how the decentralized aspect of the network will function.
Tokenomics
Another core piece of information that should be included in a project's whitepaper is the tokenomics. This will include information on the token, how it will be allocated, whether will it participate in token burns, or any incentive mechanisms.
Roadmaps
Roadmaps (a project timeline)are not just useful to see how a project aims to deliver on its objectives, but also provide insights into whether the project can keep up with its promises. While missing a deadline isn't a deal breaker in the crypto space, being open and communicating why is important.
Readability
A well-articulated whitepaper will typically be written in a manner that anyone can understand them. However, its important for the new blockchain project to also include certain technical specifications to provide evidence of the project's competence. Anyone can write a whitepaper, it takes technical know-how to create a blockchain platform.
Tips for reading a cryptocurrency whitepaper
- first and foremost, ALWAYS read a project's whitepaper before investing
- read whitepapers with a pinch of salt, they must be neutral and not over-promise
- Look into the team members and their experience in the crypto and blockchain realm
- a great idea doesn't necessarily mean it will be used or adopted
- look for technical explanations that showcase the project's understanding
Examples of crypto projects’ whitepapers
The Bitcoin whitepaper (2008)
The instigator of the entire cryptocurrency industry, Satoshi Nakamoto, an anonymous individual or group, published the Bitcoin whitepaper in 2008. The paper is called "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System."
The whitepaper explains how Bitcoin can be used as a more efficient and decentralized form of money, outside the traditional banking model. It gives technical explanations of how the peer-to-peer Bitcoin network allows users to send digital currency without intermediaries. The whitepaper also outlines how the Bitcoin network is resistant to censorship and double-spending attacks.
The project launched two months later in January 2009.
The Ethereum whitepaper (2014)
While Bitcoin launched the crypto industry, Ethereum played a pivotal role in the development of the blockchain space. The Ethereum whitepaper was published in 2014 by a young developer named Vitalik Buterin and titled "Ethereum whitepaper: A Next Generation Smart Contract & Decentralized Application Platform."
In the Ethereum whitepaper, Vitalik outlines how the platform's intentions differ from Bitcoin's. The whitepaper outlined how the platform would allow developers to create and launch decentralized applications (now commonly known as dapps) and included technological solutions that backed these goals, such as the Ethereum Virtual Machine and smart contracts.
In conclusion
Crypto whitepapers are not legally regulated, meaning that anyone can write one. Although a cryptocurrency whitepaper should provide readers with an understanding of what the project plans to do and how, it's crucial, if you're interested in a particular project, to consider red flags and risks when reading through the document.
Decentralized Finance, or DeFi, opens up a whole world of financial services for you, ranging from straightforward banking services to complex financial instruments similar to those used by hedge funds and investment bankers. But here’s the twist: it all operates with cryptocurrencies instead of traditional cash.
In DeFi, you can stake your cryptocurrency in what are called smart contracts, which essentially means locking up your funds to earn interest, known as Annual Percentage Yield (APY). As a token of appreciation for staking your funds and providing liquidity, DeFi projects grant you special project-specific tokens. These tokens aren’t just a thank-you note—they give you a say in the project’s future decisions and carry some speculative value too.
Before we get started, let us first address several terms you are likely to come across in this piece:
- Financial institutions are your traditional banks
- Centralized exchanges are crypto exchanges that are operated by a managing company
- Decentralized exchanges are crypto exchanges that are not managed by one company and typically work in a peer-to-peer manner.
- DeFi is decentralized finance and refers to the industry in which regular users can engage various financial services requiring only an internet connection.
How smart contracts work in the DeFi space
A smart contract is a digital agreement that automatically executes once the predetermined criteria have been met. These computer codes are facilitated by blockchain technology and rely on the blockchain that they are built on.
At the moment, your bank account from financial institutions might give you the right to a certain amount of monthly interest at a fixed rate. The deal is reached through a formal application procedure - which can take many days - that is handled by a mix of people and software and is acknowledged in writing. Once successful, the bank account is opened and you have access to the services.
A smart contract, on the other hand, uses a programming language (e.g. Solidity on Ethereum) to map out the mathematical aspects of an agreement - how much interest is due when and where it should be paid - while the underlying Ethereum blockchain executes the contract for a fee, making it transparent and unchangeable.
The ups and downs of the DeFi ecosystem
owever, it’s not all smooth sailing. DeFi can offer higher returns than traditional banks, which is quite appealing, but it also comes with higher risks. For instance, if something goes wrong with a smart contract, or you lose access to your private keys, there’s no safety net to catch you.
To dip your toes into DeFi waters, you’ll need a digital wallet like MetaMask and some funds from a cryptocurrency exchange. Once you’re set up, you can participate in various DeFi activities like lending or staking, each with its own set of fees depending on the network you’re using.
Additionally to the higher returns, DeFi tokens have also seen a rise in value, with some entering the top 20 and top 10 biggest cryptocurrencies based on market cap.
Furthermore, the value of DeFi tokens has surged, with some climbing into the top ranks of cryptocurrencies by market cap. This growth indicates a strong interest and a robust market presence, which can be exciting for anyone involved in the space.
However, it's not all smooth sailing. DeFi comes with its own risks that you should be aware of. For instance, executing smart contracts can get pricey, especially during times of network congestion. If you're looking to cut down on fees, you might want to explore alternatives to popular platforms like Ethereum, which can be more cost-effective.
Also, not all smart contracts are built the same. Some may have vulnerabilities that could put your funds at risk if not properly managed or if an error in the contract execution occurs. This highlights the importance of being careful with where and how you invest your digital assets.
Moreover, the decentralized nature of these platforms means that you’re in full control—which sounds great until you realize there is no safety net. If you lose access to your private key or make a transaction mistake, there's no customer service line to call for a do-over.
Ensure you vet various DeFi protocols before engaging
In general, more established Defi protocols with a higher total value of assets secured within them (also referred to as Total Value Locked, TVL) are safer. This is due to the fact that their code has been more thoroughly audited and "battle-tested".
Newer platforms will typically offer higher APYs in order to entice investors and build up liquidity. While this may sound lucrative, always ensure that you've done your research in order to understand exactly how the protocol operates and who is behind the project.
Here are a few things to look out for:
- Has the protocol's code been professionally audited?
- How long has the project been live?
- What is the platform's TLV? (The higher the better)
Finding your top Defi protocol
There are a number of "well-established" DeFi platforms that have proven reliable and trustworthy in recent years. While the risks are still prevalent, these are the most established options when looking to enter the DeFi space with the leading DeFi protocols.
How to use DeFi protocols (Get started in DeFi)
Jumping into the world of DeFi protocols can be quite an adventure. Here’s a simple guide on how to get started :
First, you'll need a digital wallet, and MetaMask is a popular choice. It's user-friendly and a common gateway for engaging with DeFi platforms.
Once you have your digital wallet, you'll need to move your cryptocurrencies into it. This is usually done through a transfer from a centralized exchange. For example, if you have a Tap wallet, you can transfer Ethereum (ETH) or other supported assets directly into your MetaMask wallet. Remember, DeFi protocols operate with cryptocurrencies, not traditional bank funds.
With your wallet set up and your funds in place, you can connect to any DeFi application that interests you. You can then engage with various features of the platform, such as depositing funds into a lending protocol. Keep in mind that actions like depositing, staking, unstaking, or withdrawing will typically involve network fees, which vary by blockchain.
That’s all there is to it! With these steps, you can start exploring the different functionalities and opportunities within DeFi at your own pace.
Understanding the risks associated with DeFi
While we've stressed that using tried and tested DeFi platforms provide a higher level of security, there are still risks associated with the DeFi space.
Below are some more steps you can do in order to secure your cryptocurrency assets and decrease the chance of losing your funds.
- Consider insurance, look into options for insuring your assets to help mitigate potential losses.
- Research the team behind the project, do your due diligence.
- Familiarize yourself with the platform's operations and features. For instance, if a platform advertises a certain return rate, such as 10% APY, delve into how they achieve those figures.
- Don’t commit more than you can afford to lose
Decentralized finance is one of the most innovative and promising areas in cryptocurrency. It is also a harsh environment, however, that demands some expertise before stepping in.
Before you place any funds into Defi protocols and become one of the many liquidity providers, ensure that you've fully vetted the project and considered the pros and cons of what it has to offer. Also ensure that you understand how the platform operates.
The DeFi space can be both lucrative and devastating, it is complex and requires a good amount of know-how. If you wish to get involved, take the time to really understand both the opportunities and the challenges it presents first. This way, you can engage with DeFi more cautiously and equipped with the necessary knowledge. And remember with Defi everything is at your own risk.
The Lightning Network is a second layer solution that enables Bitcoin users to make fast and cheap transactions without compromising on security. The layer two technology allows users to enjoy the benefits of both the Bitcoin and Lightning Network layers simultaneously. Learn more about the Lightning Network solution below.
The Bitcoin trilemma
In order to compete with other payment channels like Visa, the Bitcoin network must be able to process transactions much faster and at a fraction of the cost. However, this scaling cannot come at the expense of decentralization or security.
The "Bitcoin trilemma" is a term used to outline the conflict between these three principles, scaling, security, and decentralization.
The aim of Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, and other forks was to increase the block size in order to make Bitcoin transactions faster and more affordable on-chain.
However, these attempts failed to produce an effective method to transact quickly and inexpensively on-chain while still maintaining Satoshi's design. Hence, the Bitcoin Lightning Network.
The lightning network payment channels solution
Is it possible for the Bitcoin network to have it both ways, to keep its original architecture while also functioning as a fast micropayments network? The answer is yes, and thanks to the advent of Lightning Network transactions, Bitcoin can be used for everyday transactions like paying for a cup of coffee.
The Lightning Network is a type of layer two solution that is compatible with the Bitcoin service. This off-chain solution was first conceptualized in 2015 by Joseph Poon and Thaddeus Dryja.
The Lightning Network works by removing the burden of micropayments from the Bitcoin blockchain and instead utilizes multiple payment channels, which are controlled via multi-signature (multi-sig) Lightning Network wallets.
Why the lightning network?
How quickly can the Bitcoin network process transactions? Bitcoin is presently capable of processing between 2 and 7 transactions per second.
Visa, the current payment channel that drives your debit and credit card transactions, handles 150 million transactions each day, that's 24,000 transactions per second.
In order to make Bitcoin a competitive service to Visa, the Lightning Network needs to be implemented. This channel ensures that micropayments are instantly and cost-effectively executed, and is able to process thousands to hundreds of thousands of transactions instantly.
The core concepts of how the Lightning Network works.
So how does the Lightning Network work? This layer 2 solution works on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, allowing thousands of micropayments to be executed at one time. This lowers the costs and increases the transaction speed of the initial transaction. There are three core components of the Lightning Network: the nodes, channels, and invoices.
Lightning Network Nodes
This software connects with other nodes in order to form a network that connects to the Lightning Network to facilitate the sending and receiving of Bitcoin.
Lightning Network Channel
Users of the Lightning Network establish payment channels with one another so that they may conduct transactions off-chain, which can then be settled (closed) on the mainchain (on-chain).
Invoices
Invoices are QR codes that represent requests for Lightning Network payments on the Lightning Network. Invoices include all of the data necessary to complete a payment on the network, such as the payment amount, which blockchain the invoice is associated with, expiration date, payee pubkey, routing hints, and other information.
How to use the lightning network
In order to make use of the Bitcoin Lightning Network, you will need to open a compatible Lightning Network wallet. Once you have downloaded and signed up for the wallet, you will need to send funds. Simply locate the wallet address of the Lightning Network-enabled wallet and send the funds via your normal payment channel. Once the funds appear in your wallet, you can then send transactions via the Lightning Network to other enabled wallets.
Building wealth doesn't have to wait until you're settled down and "old". In fact, the sooner you start the better. Whether you want to buy a house one day, or start saving for retirement, starting to generate wealth earlier on will help you achieve these goals sooner.
Your 20’s & 30’s pose an excellent opportunity to build wealth as these years allow you to learn from your mistakes and take risks with a minimal downside (far fewer than if you started this process when you've got a family to support or an upcoming retirement).
There are two important notions to remember: this is not a get-rich-quick scheme, nor does it need to be complicated. Building wealth is more about setting yourself up on the fast but responsible track to wealth in later years.
8 Tips on how to build wealth
Below are 8 tips on how to stay on the straight and narrow when it comes to generating wealth.
- Create a living expenses budget and stick to it
It might not sound glamorous, but budgeting and saving money is not as bad as you think. Creating a budget for your living expenses (and sticking to it) is one of the surest ways to grow your money in the long term. Explore options like the 50/30/20 rule or 70/20/20 rule to establish what to spend on needs, wants, and savings each month and provide frameworks that allow you to save more money.
Living on a budget doesn't mean skimping on luxuries, it simply means managing spending money on luxuries and not overspending. It also trains us not to live paycheck to paycheck and instead determine exactly what we are spending our money on and ultimately save more money for the things we want to do in life (like buy a house or build a healthy retirement fund).
Financial independence takes work but is not entirely out of reach for anyone. One needs to start building a financial plan today in order to accumulate wealth further down the line.
2. Start eradicating your debt (from credit card debt to student loan debt)
Prioritise paying off your debt and living within your means in order to build your personal capital. Of course, sometimes debt is unavoidable, but bouncing back is imperative to building wealth down the line. Consider saving up to pay off your debt before using those savings for investments.
The 20/10 rule stipulates that you use a maximum of 20% of your annual net income on consumer debt, while each month you use no more than 10% of your net monthly income to pay off this debt. Ideally, stay away from consumer debt entirely and prioritize paying off anything you owe so that you can have more money in the long run.
3. Explore the working world
Your 20s are a great time to try new things in the job world. Explore new opportunities and build your experiences to grow your earning potential down the line. Consider each new job experience an opportunity to grow your skill set and increase your earning potential as you ascend the corporate jungle gym.
While a job might not pay more money, the experience it gives you can leverage your next job and result in greater financial success. It also might help you find money-minded friends, a great benefit to have when building wealth and personal capital.
4. Increase your income streams and make more money
While you're gaining experience in the working world consider building multiple income streams through side hustles, your own business or freelance gigs. Not only will this too contribute to a wider skill set, but will also create additional income streams which can be used for investments or holidays. You can build wealth while enjoying life, and additional income streams are the surefire way to do this and achieve financial freedom.
5. Educate yourself on finances
You're more likely to grow financially if you understand finances. Never underestimate the power of being financially literate and having the right money mindset. Use your twenties to read books, articles, and blogs to gain both knowledge and street-smartness to help you navigate your journey to financial freedom.
6. Investing
First, and as a continuation of the point above, do your own research before investing in any asset class. Investing from an early age can have ample benefits (read up on compound interest for one), but doing so without understanding how investments work can have dire consequences. Educate yourself or consult a professional, and start small. You don't need a huge amount of capital to get started.
7. Build an emergency fund
An emergency fund is 3-6 months' worth of living expenses and is a major contributor to financial wellness and laying the right financial foundation for later in life. Emergencies in life are inevitable, whether it be a medical emergency, a family crisis, or a car or house emergency, and an emergency fund is a surefire way of avoiding financial ruin as a result.
Learn more about building an emergency fund in our 7 simple steps to start (and build) your emergency fund article.
8. Get started with your retirement fund
It might not sound sexy, but starting to save for your retirement in your 20s is ideal. Starting to save for retirement when it's right around the corner isn't advised, so why not start now so that it can grow into something substantial by that time? Imagine what two to three decades of retirement savings might look like, compared to a few years.
As always, do your research and start small. You might even find that you can retire much earlier than expected. This is the number one mistake that young people make today.
In Conclusion
There's no time like the present to start considering your financial situation and what you can do now to make it prosper in the years to come. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes and use the time to take educated risks, the earlier you start working on your growing wealth journey, the better.
Even if you're not earning a lot, be diligent and consistent and you will see results. Start building these habits now and you will reap the rewards along the way.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for communication purposes only, you should not consider any such information, opinions, or other material as financial advice.