The digital currency industry has experienced accelerated growth in 2021, with many new trends emerging. With the rise of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, we have seen the development of NFTs, Metaverse, and GameFi, concepts that have spread to the global technology realm. And before we look at the broad scope of what’s going on, we’ll run through a quick guide to these popular concepts that are likely to shape the crypto space in 2022.

## Trend 1: NFTs

NFT or non-fungible token refers to scarce digital asset with unique identification codes and metadata. Created on smart contracts, it can be compared with collectible or limited art objects, such as an autographed Michael Jordan basketball or Salvator Mundi painting. The most important thing is that any of these scarce tokens works like a key with proof of ownership via a digital signature recorded on the Blockchain.

---

Learn more about NFTs in our related article «[Crypto NFT: Reshaping the Art World](https://www.finscanner.io/blog/post/crypto-nft-reshaping-the-art-world/)».

---

The NFT idea has become of interest within the framework of popular media, game studios (Ubisoft), luxury brands (Gucci), music and sports (NBA). With the injection of conservative money, the demand for collecting continues to grow. To check out some of the leading NFT platforms see the following profiles on the Finscanner marketplace:

[OpenSea](https://www.finscanner.io/products/opensea/) — is one of the first NFT marketplaces on the market. It is a reliable decentralized service with a large selection of tokens. In the future, developers promise to add more blockchain networks to the protocol to keep the platform competitive.

[NBA Top Shot](https://www.finscanner.io/products/nba-top-shot/) — is an NFT project from Dapper Labs on the Flow blockchain, which can be called a marketplace of short videos of the best moments from NBA games, presented in the form of unique collectibles, non-fungible tokens (NFT). The project is officially licensed by the NBA. Each token holder receives digital rights at a short video of some moment of the game, and therefore adds something unique to his collection, which he can dispose of at his own discretion.

[Rarible](https://www.finscanner.io/products/rarible/) — is a marketplace that invites users to trade liquid intellectual property and any digital content licensed through NFT tokens. One of the advantages is a simplified interface for creating NFT tokens in a few clicks. Another feature is the lack of pre-moderation when creating tokens.

## Trend 2: Metaverse

The Metaverse concept has exploded following the renaming of Facebook to Meta. In essence, it is a virtual world in an online space where users can experience all aspects of social interaction, commerce, entertainment, and other things. It goes hand in hand with NFTs, where the tokens play a central role as digital assets in a 3D environment.

Just as in NFTs, companies and users are rushing to stake their claim on the Metaverse industry which has the potential to be worth a trillion dollars in the future. On the other hand, the metaverse market itself has not fully formed yet, as, by its nature, it is technically more complex and combines many components. Currently, corporations are limited to being present in popular projects - they create sites for visiting in Metaverses and purchase various virtual lands and real estate.

Here are some of the leading Metaverses: [Decentraland](https://www.finscanner.io/products/decentraland/), The Sandbox, Meta.

## Trend 3: GameFi

GameFi or Game Finance refers to the mixing of the game industry and decentralized finance (DeFi). The concept, which began to gain popularity in 2021, includes various developments such as NFT and allows players to earn money by playing games or interacting with other users on the Internet. This game model is known as Play-To-Earn. In this case, Metaverse can be a great wrapper for GameFi, while NFT serves as a backbone for in-game items as it allows players to retain ownership inside the game and monetize their activities. Here are some of the popular GameFi games:

Axie Infinity — is one of the biggest blockchain games in the world. Players collect, train, and battle creatures — NFTs called Axies — to progress through the game. 

[Decentraland](https://www.finscanner.io/products/decentraland/) — is another top blockchain game with an open virtual world where players buy and sell digital real estate, while exploring locations from a space adventure to a medieval dungeon maze to entire villages crafted from the minds of community members.

## Giants will swallow the world

<OuterLink url="https://grayscale.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Grayscale_Metaverse_Report_Nov2021.pdf" text="Grayscale’s projections" /> show that Metaverse will become a trillion-dollar industry, which reveals the appetite of the giant companies for Metaverse. Among the major companies involved, one can note Facebook (changed name to Meta), Twitter (introduced verified NFT profile photos), and Samsung (plans to sell NFTs on its web platforms and TVs). Traditional gaming giants such as Ubisoft and Epic Games have also suggested that GameFi is the future of their blockchain-based gaming strategy. As the industry develops, the number of corporations involved will only increase, which in turn will inspire further progress in the implementation of new solutions to the virtual market.

## What's with GameFi and Metaverse experience?

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/02/17/2aa907c9781894a810db8f2874fb013247ce77b3.jpg)

---

“Users are looking for fun. Even profitable games will eventually become dull and less profitable unless players won't be entertained. That's the reality! Most projects still don't understand it. It is not enough to be a pioneer in this environment. Winning the battle for control of the metaverse will require a combination of NFTs, GameFi, and modern, eye-catching graphics.“

---

Beyond the entertainment and innovative factors, early adopters should consider:

* **Robust tokenomics** (so that the game can stay approximately equally profitable for both small-capital players and whales); 

* **Projects' fundamentals and vision** (small teams can easily miss the expertise in the field of technology or game experience, therefore partners and advisors play a crucial role).

If with the NFTs there is a clear understanding of the usage and functionality, then Metaverse and GameFi pose a huge challenge for all developers. No one wants to compromise the user experience with low quality or security. Thus, there are still a lot of technological routines ahead before we see full-fledged mass adoption and compliance with the interests of modern users.

*Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Finscanner finds it particularly worthwhile to conduct a comprehensive due diligence review and highlight the right questions to remove any informational asymmetry. We also consider it our duty to once again warn you that any investments in volatile assets or raw projects may involve the risk of loss.*

The digital currency industry has experienced accelerated growth in 2021, with many new trends emerging.

Trends of 2022 — NFT, Metaverse and GameFi

If you'd like to implement innovation in your startup or business, you better be looking for transaction facilitators between crypto and fiat. Once you have dropped off skepticism and examined the [advantages of crypto payment gateway](https://www.finscanner.io/blog/post/what-is-crypto-payment-gateway/), you are no longer have any reservations about accepting cryptocurrency payments. With this kind of intermediary company, your business can meet the needs and respond to the interests and aspirations of the international community that keeps pace with the times.

Ready to stay abreast with the rapidly-evolving cryptocurrency industry? It's time to overview some of the best crypto payment gateways available on the market. Today, we'll consider how these solutions compete against each other in providing quality services.

*Please note: These recommendations are in no particular order of preference. The indicated score rating of the company is not the main criteria by which the current list was formed. However, its importance should not be underestimated. The score consists of a combination of the following components: TrustPilot score, general pricing of the services, social media presence, the popularity of the service, onboarding difficulty, and support quality.*

## Bitpay

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/07/e595c9ec9dcf68726b487b5027784f9f33139ece.png)

[Bitpay](https://www.finscanner.io/products/bitpay/) is an experienced large crypto payment gateway founded in 2011. The company offers powerful tools such as hosted checkout, payment buttons, invoicing, and protection from crypto price fluctuations. Also, it enables online merchants to accept currencies such as bitcoin as a form of payment. Bitpay is remarkable for its partnerships with top international companies like Amazon, Master Card, Delta, Bol.com, etc.

✅ **Pros:** No hidden fees, custom transaction, protection from market volatility 
❌ **Cons:** Not many cryptocurrencies supported

**Cryptocurrency:** Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, DOGE, Litecoin, XRP, + stablecoins 
**Fiat Currency:** 8 currencies 
**Features:** Multi-user login access, email billing tools, ecommerce, donation and retail payment tools, QR code invoicing system, automatic payment exception handling, quickbooks IIF downloads, NFTs support 
**Pricing:** 1% per transaction

## CoinsPaid (Cryptoprocessing)

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/07/308ee939fbaa5054a0a2baabf5f8099a3009ef6d.png)

[CoinsPaid](https://www.finscanner.io/products/coinspaid/) is a large cryptocurrency payment gateway processing platform that operates under Dream Finance OU, registered and licensed in Estonia. Founded in 2014, the company provides customers with a range of services, including crypto payment processing, a personal wallet, and a B2B exchange service that offers a fixed rate hedging service. 

✅ **Pros:** Protection from market volatility, support for a broad number of currencies, fee discounts using CPD token 
❌ **Cons:** Not many cryptocurrencies supported

**Cryptocurrency:** 19 currencies (including native token) + stablecoins 
**Fiat Currency:** 41 currencies 
**Features:** Built-in instant exchange, explorer, automatic payouts, invoices, OTC desk, native CPD token, staking 
**Pricing:** From 0.8% per transaction

## CoinPayments

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/07/69ec29c6b625a76e9aabf22cc4121025931cd9a6.png)

[CoinPayments](https://www.finscanner.io/products/coinpayments/) is a long-running service for cryptocurrency payments available on all major e-commerce platforms. Headquartered in Canada, CoinPayments offers various tools such as custom API integration options, invoice builder, shopping cart plugins, and more.

✅ **Pros:** Low fees, support for a large number of cryptocurrencies 
❌ **Cons:** Not as secure as cold storage wallets

**Cryptocurrency:** 175+ currencies (including stablecoins) 
**Fiat Currency:** 9 currencies 
**Features:** Shopping cart plugins, payment buttons, invoice builder, mobile app, point of sale tools, auto forward, cryptocurrency vault, auto coin conversion 
**Pricing:** 0.5% per transaction 

## GoCrypto

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/07/c90a511618a1cf78cfb33d2696df1088aa8d9a95.png)

[GoCrypto](https://www.finscanner.io/products/gocrypto/) is a global payment network operated by Eligma Ltd (registered in Slovenia). It offers automatic processing of the payments and its several steps, such as routing and swapping of the funds, acceptance of payment, fee collection, execution of smart contracts, or settlement to a cryptocurrency address etc.

✅ **Pros:** No hidden fees, first 3 months without fees, available in many countries, support for a broad number of currencies 
❌ **Cons:** n/a

**Cryptocurrency:** 40+ currencies (including stablecoins) 
**Fiat Currency:** 4 currencies 
**Features:** WebPOS, hardware POS, cashier systems, merchant dashboard, plug-ins, native GoC token 
**Pricing:** From 1.25% per transaction 

## NOWPayments

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/07/d41488435f96b238bc01cef205ab3fcfc9d99af1.png)

[NOWPayments](https://www.finscanner.io/products/nowpayments/) is a crypto payment gateway founded in 2019 by ChangeNOW (a non-custodial service for crypto exchange) and incorporated in Seychelles. The platform offers accepting payments, converting crypto assets, and automatic exchange powered by ChangeNOW. NOWPayments is also remarkable for the opportunity to accept crypto payments on online e-commerce providers, like Magento 2, OpenCart, WooCommerce, WHMCS, Zen Cart, PrestaShop, Ecwid, and more. 

✅ **Pros:** Potentially low fees, support for a broad number of currencies, available plugins for a number of ecommerce sites 
❌ **Cons:** Additional fees for settlements in other currencies

**Cryptocurrency:** 50+ currencies (including native token) 
**Fiat Currency:** 6 currencies 
**Features:** Dashboard, widgets, plugins, API, invoicing, billing tools, subscriptions in crypto 
**Pricing:** From 0.4% per transaction

Find more crypto services at the [Finscanner Marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/) and explore all the benefits for your business!

Have questions? Feel free to [contact us](https://www.finscanner.io/contacts/) directly today!

If you'd like to implement innovation in your startup or business, you better be looking for transaction...

Best Crypto Payment Gateways to Connect to in 2022

There are many payment gateway providers on the market that you can integrate with your website for a small maintenance fee or a fixed monthly fee, depending on the number of transactions your website expects. It's worth noting that for low-volume sales, a simple payment gateway will be the most effective option in the short term, as monthly payments can cut revenue more than processing fees.

If you are running a startup or business, then you are surely looking for the best option for accepting card payments online or in a store. In this regard, Finscanner has compiled a list of excellent non-crypto payment gateways on the market so you can provide your customers with the quality service they need in 2022.

---

### Related article: [Crypto Payment Gateway](https://www.finscanner.io/blog/post/what-is-crypto-payment-gateway/)

---

**Please note:** These recommendations are in no particular order of preference. The indicated score rating of the company is not the main criteria by which the current list was formed. However, its importance should not be underestimated. The score consists of a combination of the following components: TrustPilot score, general pricing of the services, social media presence, the popularity of the service, onboarding difficulty, and support quality.

## Stripe Payments UK LTD

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/01/95e632cc445b68f58efdb873ca8069a983eb5bc6.png)

[Stripe Payments](https://www.finscanner.io/products/stripe-payments-uk-ltd/) is a powerful e-money institution incorporated in the UK, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, specializing in e-commerce. The company offers POS systems, payment platform, billing platform, prepaid cards. The main difference of this service is that it provides several flexible tools to customize your own payment processes.

✅ **Pros:** Built-in APIs and developer tools, no monthly fee mobile payments, transparent pricing with no setup 
❌ **Cons:** Requires technological expertise, limited functionality for in-person businesses

**Currency:** 135+ currencies
**Business focus:** Software platform for running Internet business.
**Pricing:** 
1.4% + €0.25 for European cards 
2.9% + €0.25 for non-European cards 
0.4% per paid invoice, first 25 invoices free per month 

## Square

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/01/0bdf570d93f3ac4c3c6bdc659c2ecd7548696995.png)

[Square](https://www.finscanner.io/products/square/) is another advanced electronic money institution incorporated in the United Kingdom, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, best known for its POS system. The company offers comprehensive payment gateways with a massive selection of APIs, payment terminals, and card acceptance to merchants. The main difference of this service is that it provides extra features such as customer relationship tools, employee management tools, and advanced reporting.

✅ **Pros:** No monthly fee, excellent feature sets, transparent flat-rate pricing, excellent tools to improve connections with target audience 
❌ **Cons:** Not suitable for large businesses, limited third-party marketplaces 

**Currency:** 25 currencies 
**Business focus:** Payment solutions for businesses. 
**Pricing:** 
2.9% + 30¢ (online card payment) 
2.6% + 10¢ (in-person card payment) 
no fee for invoice 


## Adyen 

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/01/7ed9d687750ddbec182045e40946e85f956997a2.png)

[Adyen](https://www.finscanner.io/products/adyen/) is a payment processing company appealing for small businesses that want to accept payments across multiple sales channels. The company offers gateway, processing, acquiring, and settlement of payments, accepting more than 250 payment methods. The main difference of this service is that it provides an ability to analyze transaction data to benefit from data insights to learn customer behavior.

✅ **Pros:** No monthly and setup fees, used by major firms like Uber, Spotify, Microsoft and eBay 
❌ **Cons:** Complex pricing model, limited functionality for in-person businesses

**Currency:** 150 currencies 
**Business focus:** Online payments. 
**Pricing:** Adyen charges a processing fee + commission per transaction which varies depending on payment method and country. Starting from: $0.10. Learn more <OuterLink url="https://www.adyen.com/pricing" text="here" />.

## Authorize.net

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/01/d362660f2d042057920ddee938c97e7f66eb6feb.png)

[Authorize.net](https://www.finscanner.io/products/authorize-net/) is a Visa-owned online payment gateway, specializing in e-commerce. The company offers virtual terminal, phone, recurring, mobile, e-check, and virtual point-of-sale (POS) payments, accepting international payments using more than 140 payment solutions, along with a wide selection of software integrations. The main difference of this service is that it provides flexible options that include an All-in-One option or Payment Gateway Only package.

✅ **Pros:** Designed for any business, easy to set up and use 
❌ **Cons:** Monthly fee, requires separate merchant account, lack of reporting and in-person payment features

**Currency:** 12 currencies 
**Business focus:** Online payments. 
**Pricing (Payment Gateway Only/All-In-One Account):** 
**Monthly fee:** $25 
**Transaction fee:** ¢10 per transaction + ¢10-cent daily batch fee/ 2.9% + ¢30

## Verifone (2Checkout)

![This is an image](https://admin.finscanner.io/storage/2022/04/01/9aafc782d50297b19520b46cd62f80876385aa7d.png)

[Verifone](https://www.finscanner.io/products/2checkout-verifone/) is a payment provider that is commonly used by online merchants. The company offers global payments, subscription billing, pre-configured and customizable reports, and additional integrations. The main difference of this service is that it is strictly online and available as a plugin for major e-commerce platforms, and can process a wide range of global currencies.

✅ **Pros:** No monthly charges, flat-rate pricing model, used by major firms like ABBYY, Absolute, HP Software, Kaspersky Lab 
❌ **Cons:** Can only accept payments online

**Currency:** 87 currencies 
**Business focus:** Online payments. 
**Pricing:** 
2SELL: 3.5% + $0.35 per sale 
2SUBSCRIBE: 4.5% + $0.45 per sale 
2MONETIZE: 6.0% + $0.6 per sale

After reviewing our best pick of traditional payment gateways, one should also pay attention to the alternative evolving payment methods. The growing market demand for currencies like bitcoin opens up new business potential. If you are considering such innovations for your business, then we are glad to inform you that soon we are about to highlight our best pick of crypto payment gateways. Stay tuned!

Find more financial services at the [Finscanner Marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/) and explore all the benefits for your business!

Have questions? Feel free to [contact us](https://www.finscanner.io/contacts/) directly today!

There are many payment gateway providers on the market that you can integrate with your website...

Non-Crypto Payment Gateways to Look Out For in 2022

The growth rate of the crypto industry is increasing every year. Thus, according to the <OuterLink url="https://www.statista.com/statistics/730876/cryptocurrency-maket-value/" text="data" /> provided by Statista, as of November 2021, the total market cap of cryptocurrency reached $3 trillion, having exceeded the peak value of the previous year by approximately 300%. 

While more people have warm feelings for cryptocurrencies, and governments implement regulatory mechanisms, a large number of businesses position themselves as crypto-friendly, leading to a positive response from customers. Society gains a better grasp of the industry itself, which means an increased demand and interest in new opportunities. In this article, we will consider the benefits of accepting crypto and provide solutions for your business.

## The reasons why to accept crypto

* **Reason 1: Digitization Time.** Most businesses and banks are already switching to digital currency only, and as accessibility and popularity grow, the process will only intensify. The very nature of the blockchain makes peer-to-peer digital transactions possible without the intermediary 
of a financial institution.

* **Reason 2: More Profit.** Сryptocurrency transactions on a blockchain can eliminate intermediaries, thereby increasing business profits. Accepting crypto as a form of payment on your website means you can avoid high transaction fees. Typically, bitcoin payments can be sent/received at either very low cost or none at all, depending on the amount of data sent or the wallet used.

* **Reason 3: Every Second Counts.** A long wait for a bank transfer can cause unnecessary emotions. By accepting cryptocurrency on your website, you can avoid long transaction times. Increasingly, digital currency transactions take place in real-time. Each customer purchase is an instant flow of funds. Isn't that great?

* **Reason 4: Security Comes First.** The decentralized nature eliminates the potential for a single point of failure, making it more resilient than traditional currencies. Every blockchain transaction is verified and secured. Businesses are also protected from chargebacks because customers need to show proof of funds before the transaction is completed. Meanwhile, there is a crypto harmonization process across countries in terms of [KYC](https://www.finscanner.io/blog/post/what-is-kyc-how-important-is-it-for-the-global-crypto-community)/[AML](https://www.finscanner.io/blog/post/what-is-aml-what-role-it-plays-in-crypto-industry) regulation, making it more reassuring as a payment option.

* **Reason 5: Out of the Limit.** International transactions are easy by now. Accept payments internationally with cost-effective fees and little to no processing wait times. Make your business a go-to abroad.

## Here is how to do it right

<dl>
 <dt>
 Start by setting up a crypto wallet.
 </dt>
 <dd>
 It works just like a bank account, where you send and receive digital money. The best option is a multi-crypto wallet that holds different types of cryptocurrency as it saves you the inconvenience of opening many crypto wallets for different cryptocurrencies. Learn more about <InnerLink text="how to store your crypto assets and different types of wallets" url="https://www.finscanner.io/blog/post/how-to-store-your-crypto-assets-different-types-of-wallets/" />.
 </dd>
 <dt>
 Integrate crypto payments.
 </dt>
 <dd>
 Crypto processors provide several ways in which you can accept payment on your website. Some of these methods include payment buttons and invoices. With dozens of processors to choose from, Finscanner is pleased to present the following ones as excellent examples: 

[Bitpay](https://www.finscanner.io/products/bitpay/)—is a popular payment gateway enabling businesses to accept cryptocurrencies. Based in North America, Europe, and South America, Bitpay offers various tools such as hosted checkout, payment buttons, invoicing, and protection from crypto price fluctuations. Settlements are supported in Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, Ether, Gemini US Dollar, Circle USD Coin, Paxos Standard USD, Binance USD, Dai, Wrapped Bitcoin, and Ripple in 240 countries. 

[Coinspaid](https://www.finscanner.io/products/coinspaid/)—is a large cryptocurrency payment gateway processing platform. The company operates under Dream Finance OU, registered and licensed in Estonia. CoinsPaid provides customers with a range of services, including crypto payment processing, a personal wallet, and a B2B exchange service that offers a fixed rate hedging service. 30+ cryptos and 20+ fiat currencies are supported.

[Coinpayments](https://www.finscanner.io/products/coinpayments/)—is a long-running service for cryptocurrency payments available on all major e-commerce platforms. Headquartered in Canada, CoinPayments offers various tools such as custom API integration options, invoice builder, shopping cart plugins, and more. It accepts over 50 different types of cryptocurrency in 120 different countries.
 </dd>
 <dt>
 Evolve.
 </dt>
 <dd>
 By adopting cryptocurrency into your arsenal, you have already stood out from the competition and opened up new features for your customers. Accepting cryptocurrency payments keeps your business looking forward and innovative while enhancing your brand image. Continue keeping an eye on the evolving industry to succeed!
 </dd>
</dl>

Looking for more crypto and financial services? [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/) is the right place for you to get started! We provide a comprehensive overview of global banks, electronic money institutions, payment service providers, crypto platforms, and more.

Apply to any desired financial product today just in a few easy clicks! Feel free to [contact us](https://www.finscanner.io/contacts/) directly.

The growth rate of the crypto industry is increasing every year.

2022 is a Great Time to Accept Cryptocurrency on Your Website

Some may assume that cryptocurrency is a kind of gambling where you make money betting on red/black like when playing American roulette. Under certain conditions, they are right. Without a proper understanding of the market and evaluation of cryptocurrency, novice investors probably flush their money down the toilet and wait till something pops up.

While there is still no intelligence artificial software, like “Rehoboam” («Westworld», 2016), to predict the future of an asset with absolute certainties, savvy investors have several ways to measure the potential of a cryptocurrency. In this article, we will cover the most important factors to consider when evaluating the potential of a cryptocurrency to invest or trade.

---

Disclaimer: cryptocurrencies have potential benefits and come with potential risks. The following information is just a precautionary way to help you analyze cryptocurrency. One must not consider it as financial or investment advice.

---

## All-in on the oldest & robust Bitcoin?

The underlying and dominant nature of Bitcoin makes it the best cryptocurrency investment as it would seem at first glance. Indeed, Bitcoin is on track to remain the market leader for years to come. However, many altcoins are expanding their presence and influence, becoming more and more investment-attractive assets. Thus, many of them have climbed more than 400%, while the Bitcoin returns have reached just 70% over 2021.

At the same time, one may raise concerns about altcoins’ long-term viability. Created during the market boom periods, many of them crashed for one reason or another. Some of them have been detected as outright exit scams, defrauding those who do not exercise due diligence on their investments. That is why it is important to understand how to separate the wheat from the chaff.

## Factors to look at when evaluating crypto

Any crypto investment initiatives are approached cautiously and are subject to careful scrutiny. Here are several important factors to tell a lot about the value and trajectory of each particular asset.

### Uniqueness and function

Unfortunately, most of the existing crypto projects are copies of other projects and are not unique in their nature and functions. When Bitcoin was launched in 2009, it was the only digital currency to combine decentralization and anonymity. The pristine nature of bitcoin is unique. This explains why Bitcoin remains the most popular.

To properly assess the potential of a digital currency, take a critical look at the uniqueness of its features, the new solutions to existing issues, the uniqueness of its technical work, and how it can stand out in the market. Here, the project’s whitepaper may come in handy to examine this kind of information.

### The team behind the project

It is good when the project team is verified and well-known in the industry. But quite often, team members may be unknown in the industry. As such, it is essential to study the listed team members, their experience, and track record to help you predict how far the project can go. Here one can study not only the web page and whitepaper but also look up all available sources of information.

### Media activity and potential investors

The project’s media appearance and the activity of its community show how well the ideas and features of the cryptocurrency are accepted and how far it can spread. With the sparkling interest in the project on behalf of large investors, the chance of success in its further development increases significantly. Make sure to check out the project’s coverage on popular crypto news media and its social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, or Telegram. At the same time, be aware that some reviews may be biased and activity is fake.

### Tokenomics

Wonder how and why does the cryptocurrency is implemented into the ecosystem? Look into tokenomics. It represents the structure within which the introduced asset operates. A well-designed cryptocurrency must have the ability to withstand inflationary pressures, must-have utility in its ecosystem, must be fungible, and store value.

### Cryptocurrency indicators

This is one of the most important factors in evaluating the potential of a cryptocurrency, if not the most important one. Here one must seriously consider Market Capitalization, Circulating Supply, and Trading Volume (24h). These metrics provide excellent information to know how far the price can go.

The circulating supply is an important indicator through its multiplication with the price and its division with the market capitalization. Besides, the smaller the size of the circulating supply of a coin, the faster it is for the price to rise or fall when there is a change in the size of its market cap.

Market capitalization is a price of an asset multiplied by the total amount of assets available in the market. Market Capitalization = Circulating Supply × Price. In other words, the price of the cryptocurrency is equal to Market Cap divided by the Circulating supply.

## Where to buy?

After doing your personal thorough research on a particular cryptocurrency, the next step is to choose a reputable exchange. The Finscanner team has prepared a set of excellent major exchanges for you to start with:

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/0*ZYaaTeTRzqqjrCs6)

* [Bitcoin.com](https://www.finscanner.io/products/bitcoin-com) — an exchange registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Here one can trade more than 200 digital assets. As main advantages, the platform highlights that it is secure, fast and that they have dedicated 24/7 support.
* [OKEx](https://www.finscanner.io/products/okex) — a cryptocurrency exchange created in 2014 by Chinese developer Star Xu. It makes it easy to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies by offering over 400 trading pairs, including pairs with fiat. OKEx offers advanced financial services as well as excellent guides for anyone new to crypto. There are investment programs, a referral program, and additional bonuses.
* [Binance](https://www.finscanner.io/products/binance) — a crypto exchange founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and registered in the Cayman Islands. It is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of trading volume, with more than 1.4 million transactions per second. The exchange strictly adheres to US regulations, is compatible with multiple devices, and provides safe and convenient trading.

---

Related: [Top-10 Crypto Exchanges to Begin 2022](https://www.finscanner.io/blog/post/top-10-crypto-exchanges-to-begin-2022/)

---

Find more crypto exchanges and services at the[ Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/all) to explore all industry opportunities! Feel free to [contact us](mailto:support@finscanner.io) directly today to get a consultation!

ome may assume that cryptocurrency is a kind of gambling where you make money betting on red/black like when playing American roulette.

How to Evaluate Cryptocurrency’s Value?

The year 2021 has become a real challenge for many cryptocurrency exchanges. The platforms have witnessed a huge number of new users, transactions, listings, events, and, of course, pressure from the authorities. All these strength tests already speak volumes. We would like you to know that all the presented crypto exchanges below are already regarded as decent platforms.

We review these crypto exchanges to help you decide which one makes sense for you and your specific needs. Speaking of the criteria, we mainly would like to focus on varying fees, available trading pairs, popularity, and user experiences. Below, we have listed the top crypto exchanges we recommend, and you can dive into their profiles at the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/) to find in-depth information.

---

**Always keep in mind that cryptocurrencies are speculative investments and should only be made if you are willing to accept wild price volatility and a decent risk of losing everything.**

---

## 1. Binance

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*Q4MHoOXJnZx4GQoMi_PLhg.png)

Founded in 2017, [Binance](https://www.finscanner.io/products/binance) is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of trading volume, with more than 1.4 million transactions per second. The exchange strictly adheres to US regulations, is compatible with multiple devices, and provides safe and convenient trading.

Available cryptocurrencies: **500+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **0.1%/0.1%**

Editor’s rating: **★4.8/5**

Features:

* 15 bn average daily trading volume.
* Basic and advanced exchange interfaces for trading.
* A rewards center offering challenges and giveaways.
* API keys for integrating other software tools.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.

## 2. Kraken

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*isZtJwBMliBoIMSDHiza0w.png)

Being the oldest crypto exchange founded in 2011, [Kraken](https://www.finscanner.io/products/kraken) is a secure, popular platform with a beautiful design and a wide range of services within the framework of cryptocurrency trading. Beginners can get by with the main Kraken platform, while advanced and expert crypto enthusiasts may prefer Kraken Pro and the advanced margin and futures features.

Available cryptocurrencies: **80+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **0.16%/0.26%**

Editor’s rating: **★4.4/5**

Features:

* 1 bn average daily trading volume.
* An updated and shorter verification process.
* 95% of assets are kept in cold storage.
* Simple and pleasant interface.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.

## 3. Huobi

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*BM8yZZnb5_PLc5U7xPUSvA.png)

Founded in 2013, [Huobi](https://www.finscanner.io/products/huobi) provides safe, professional, and reliable world-class services to its customers around the world. Huobi, under the Huobi Group, is the world’s leading digital asset.

Available cryptocurrencies: **300+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **0.2/0.2%**

Editor’s rating: **★4.4/5**

Features:

* 2.5 bn average daily trading volume.
* Great track record for safety.
* Supports 57 fiat currencies to fund an account.

## 4. WhiteBit

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*5gP1Pf5h-O8G5ATVze-ynQ.png)

Founded in 2017, [WhiteBit](https://www.finscanner.io/products/whitebit) is a promising crypto exchange platform that offers basic and pro-trade tools and additional opportunities for passive earnings.

Available cryptocurrencies: **150+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **0.1%/0.1%**

Editor’s rating: **★4.4/5**

Features:

* 800 mln average daily trading volume.
* SMART staking function to earn up to 30% APR.
* More than 95% of funds are being stored on cold wallets.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.
* Strong customer support in multiple languages.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.

## 5. CEX.IO

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*2b3wLrCbnKB3ZzuxAmaPGA.png)

Founded in 2013, [CEX.IO](https://www.finscanner.io/products/cex-io) is a multi-functional cryptocurrency exchange that maintains licenses and registrations in the UK, US, Canada, Gibraltar, and other jurisdictions.

Available cryptocurrencies: **80+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **0.10–0.25%/ 0–0.16%**

Editor’s rating: **★4.2/5**

Features:

* 20 mln average daily trading volume.
* Supports traders in more than 99% of countries worldwide, including 48 US states.
* Institutional services for businesses and advanced traders.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.

## 6. OKEx

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*rD3Ky6J_jokVpriw7_sV0w.png)

Founded in 2014, [OKEx](https://www.finscanner.io/products/okx/) offers advanced financial services as well as excellent guides for anyone new to crypto. There are investment programs, a referral program, and additional bonuses.

Available cryptocurrencies: **250+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **0.15%/0.2%**

Editor’s rating: **★4.2/5**

Features:

* 5 bn average daily trading volume.
* Offline cold storage measures.
* Up to 100x leverage on Perpetual swap and future markets.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.

## 7. Bitstamp

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*TwfZhnyZLBqmyZjcCejBIg.png)

Being the oldest crypto exchange founded in 2011, [BitStamp](https://www.finscanner.io/products/bitstamp) is Europe’s first licensed cryptocurrency exchange that gives customers reliable and secure access to a cryptocurrency wallet.

Available cryptocurrencies: **50+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **0.15%/0.25%**

Editor’s rating: **★4.2/5**

Features:

* 350 mln average daily trading volume.
* Provides several APIs for custom business applications.
* 98% of assets are stored offline.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.

## 8. Bitfinex

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*yf_00uIHQa9Pa4E9EzB7jQ.png)

Founded in 2012, [Bitfinex](https://www.finscanner.io/products/bitfinex) is the leading cryptocurrency exchange for experienced traders from around the world.

Available cryptocurrencies: **100+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **0.10%/0.20%**

Editor’s rating: **★4.2/5**

Features:

* 1 bn average daily trading volume.
* Stores 99.5% of its user funds in a cold storage system.
* Offers advanced order types.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.

## 9. KuCoin

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*74sUlBLCRh2IxKeD9a1Pdg.png)

Founded in 2017, [KuCoin](https://www.finscanner.io/products/kucoin) is a convenient platform that has grown its user base to over 8 million in just 4 years and serves one in four crypto holders worldwide.

Available cryptocurrencies: **400+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **0.1%/0.1%**

Editor’s rating: **★4/5**

Features:

* 5 bn average daily trading volume.
* Simple sign-up process.
* Offers benefits to users with their KCS native currency.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.

## 10. Gemini

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*SD5vHtSGhlqSmPqJKYuW1Q.png)

Founded in 2015, [Gemini](https://www.finscanner.io/products/gemini-europe-ltd) is an American cryptocurrency exchange that is a New York-based trust company regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS). All dollar deposits are held in banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Available cryptocurrencies: **50+**

Fees (Maker/Taker): **1.99%/1.99%**

Editor’s rating: **★4/5**

Features:

* 200 mln average daily trading volume.
* Insurance plan and the majority of assets are held in offline cold storage.
* Offers multiple products.
* Compatible with Web, iOS, Android.

---

Find more crypto exchanges at the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/) to buy your favorite cryptocurrency, send, receive or exchange it, and explore other functions as well!

Feel free to [contact us](mailto:support@finscanner.io) directly today to get a consultation!

The year 2021 has become a real challenge for many cryptocurrency exchanges.

Top-10 Crypto Exchanges to Begin 2022

When you first start in the crypto industry, it can be overwhelming because of the many different coins and ways to make money. It is easy to get frustrated with bad investments and trading. However, to confidently earn income, you should consider cryptocurrencies that have indeed proven resilient.

Even if you missed out on the early rise, it’s not too late to make money on crypto today. Armed with staking features, we’ve got some really good earning opportunities here. What’s more, staking and time are the main weapons of a passive crypto investor. In a nutshell, this is all it takes to become wealthier one day.

In this article, you’ll learn about staking crypto, what it is, and how it can be your good extra source of income.

---

**Please note:** Finscanner does not provide any investment advice, and the material is published for informational purposes only. Cryptocurrency is a volatile asset that can lead to financial losses.

---

## What is Staking?

Cryptocurrency staking is a popular option for passive earnings on digital assets. To receive income, you need to store cryptocurrency on your account. The access of coins in the wallet allows the investor to join the project network to ensure the operability of the blockchain. As gratitude for such work, the user receives a reward in the form of a cryptocurrency.

Here we are talking about the Proof-of-Stake (POS) consensus, which has come to replace its outdated Proof-of-Work (POW) predecessor. Thus, Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency in terms of capitalization, also [plans](https://ethereum.org/en/eth2/) to switch to the Proof-of-Stake. The transition will mark a complete change in the principle of issuing new coins.

The best association with the staking process is bank deposits. But unlike bank deposits, the staking interest rates are much higher. Plus, you, as the holder, benefit in all scenarios:

* Growing market. In this scenario, the value of the assets as well as the value of staking rewards increase. A passive crypto investor doubles his gains.
* Falling market. In this scenario, the value of the assets decreases, however, the investor offsets some of these losses with staking rewards.

## Staking types

<dl>
 <dt>
 Locked Staking
 </dt>
 <dd>
 The user chooses for what period he locks his assets on the account. For example, if the locking period is 3 months, then it will be impossible to claim rewards earlier.

With this type of staking, users receive fixed rewards. Such deposits usually have a higher interest rate, so this option is chosen by those who ultimately want to get more money.
 </dd>
 <dt>
 Flexible Staking
 </dt>
 <dd>
 In this case, the user decides when to stop participating in the validation process. Interest will be accrued until the network member cancels the staking function.

Flexible staking is suitable for those who do not like to freeze their digital funds for a long time and prefer to make flexible asset management.
 </dd>
 <dt>
 DeFi Staking
 </dt>
 <dd>
 Interest rates in decentralized finance are higher, and the entry threshold is lower. In conventional blockchains using PoS, it is difficult to earn more than 10% per year. In DeFi, the user can expect a return of 100% per annum and higher. However, the risks are also higher.
 </dd>
</dl>

## What are the rewards?

The final rate of return is determined by the choice of the coin, the staking period, and the type of staking. In most cases, payments are 2–15% per annum of the amount of assets on the account. Ultimately, the rewards depend on the risks you are willing to take.

Let’s say you decide to start making crypto with crypto and finally make more crypto with a more amount of crypto. The action process is simple here: the interest in the form of crypto, accrued on the invested capital, increases the starting size of your investments at the beginning of the next period, and hence the amount of future income. Add the potential growth in the value of the cryptocurrency itself, and you get the most result that crypto investors could ever dream of.

## How big can you dream

Your desired million-dollar mark will depend on your initial investment, monthly replenishment, and the period.

---

**Let’s take an example.**

You were lucky, and you did everything as correctly as possible. You invested $5,000 to buy 1000 N tokens when the price was at the dip. The staking rate — 15%. Let’s say a bull market started, and you kept investing 700 N tokens every month whatever the price was. This wonderful scenario has lasted for 2 years. Once again, you predicted the end of the bull market and decided to stop just before the bear market began.

**So what is the result?**

After performing mathematical calculations and assuming that the price of your cryptocurrency has increased 10 times during the bull market, you get the coveted million!

**Still don’t believe?**

Well, when it comes to compound interest and bull market opportunities, everything is possible. By initially buying 1000 N tokens and replenishing 700 N tokens monthly, you accumulate about 20,099 N tokens over 2 years. With all those conditions mentioned, the total value of your assets will be around $1,005,000.

---

## There is no guarantee

Having a clear understanding of the risks of cryptocurrencies themselves and their volatility, it is worth asking the question: “Are there any risks for cryptocurrency staking?”. Staking can provide promising profits, however, it can also lead to some notable setbacks that you should take into account before staking a cryptocurrency. Here are some risks you may find:

* **Liquidity.** There is no guarantee that you can convert crypto assets back to cash or other coins, as this depends on supply and demand.
* **Lock-up period.** There is no guarantee that your lock-up period will end before the price falls.
* **Loss or theft.** There is no guarantee that your funds won’t be stolen or lost because of fraud or project failure.
* **Staking interest rate.** There is no guarantee that the staking interest rate won’t change.

## Stake crypto in 3 steps

### 1. Learn about cryptos that offer staking

Do proper research before starting staking. You should only buy crypto if you feel confident it’s a good long-term investment. Do not rely only on high staking interest rates as the risks are higher.

There are lots of cryptos you can consider. Here are a few of the biggest: Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT). Ethereum (ETH) can also be considered in the future.

### 2. Choose cryptocurrency exchanges

The reason why you need to carefully consider the choice of a crypto exchange lies not only in its reliability but also in the availability of a built-in staking feature. At the Finscanner Marketplace, you can find the right one. Here is a set of suitable top exchanges:

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*tljD37IuD1DzGYQL4MYfRw.png)

* [Binance](https://www.finscanner.io/products/binance) — a crypto exchange founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and registered in the Cayman Islands. It is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of trading volume, with more than 1.4 million transactions per second. The exchange strictly adheres to US regulations, is compatible with multiple devices, and provides safe and convenient trading.
* [Coinbase](https://www.finscanner.io/products/coinbase) — a second-largest crypto exchange founded in 2012. It is based in the U.S. and has over 68 million verified users, supported in more than 100 countries. More advanced users can access additional features and order types through Coinbase Pro, available to any Coinbase user.
* [Kraken](Kraken) — an oldest crypto exchange established in 2011, owned by Payward Inc., and is headed by CEO and co-founder Jesse Powell. It has low trading fees and a range of available cryptos that can make it a good choice for investors just starting with cryptocurrency and those who are more experienced.

### 3. Start staking

Once you’ve figured out what and where to buy, it’s time to research how staking works for that particular cryptocurrency. This will help you to choose the staking method that works best for you and offers the most rewards.

Find more crypto products and services at the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/crypto).

When you first start in the crypto industry, it can be overwhelming because of the many different coins and ways to make money.

Is Staking A Stepping-Stone to Your First Million?

Cryptocurrencies were supposed to become independent means of payment. However, volatility makes this process quite difficult. The solution is stablecoin — a special type of digital coin that is utilized as a stable medium of exchange, allowing to fix profits and keep the balance from drops during the shifts in currency value.

## The nature of stablecoin

In 2014, in connection with the digital transformation of the financial sector, stablecoins emerged. They represent a form of cryptocurrency that still has all the main advantages like low cost of transactions, high speed of payments, anonymity, etc. Most importantly, it is devoid of high volatility.

Resilience to price fluctuations of stablecoins is achieved by pegging them to various assets classes, like fiat currencies, precious metals, digital currencies, or by reproducing some elements of monetary policy used by central banks on a decentralized basis (concept of Seigniorage Shares).

In January 2021, there was about $30bn worth of coins in circulation. By October, this had risen to more than $130bn. This fact indicates the significant potential of stablecoins for making transfers and payments. Nowadays, stablecoins are becoming more often used for trading and conducting large transactions.

## When are stablecoins used?

Stablecoins provide the same value to investors, traders, and exchanges as fiat money. The most popular stablecoins are USD Tether (USDT), True USD (TUSD), Paxos Standard (PAX), USD Coin (USDC), and Binance USD (BUSD).

During a period of volatility, non-cryptocurrency investors allocate part of their portfolios in cash, bonds, or money market funds, while crypto investors switch to stablecoins. It allows them to move faster and confidently between transactions. As the market goes through different cycles, many choose to hold stablecoins for some time. For example, during a bull run, investors and traders find it wise to record some profits and convert those profits to stablecoins.

In general, stablecoins serve as the primary vehicle for day-to-day transactions as well as other applications. Such applications could include their use to trade goods and services across blockchain networks, decentralized insurance solutions, financial derivatives contracts, financial applications such as consumer loans, and prediction markets.

Such transactions are only possible when the transaction currency remains stable.

## Part of the current financial architecture

International payment systems strive to maintain a dominant position in the payment services market, using their advantages in the form of brand awareness, user confidence and established infrastructure to compete with alternative financial platforms that are gaining popularity.

In March 2021, Visa became the first international card payment system to [conduct transactions](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210329005171/en/Visa-Becomes-First-Major-Payments-Network-to-Settle-Transactions-in-USD-Coin-USDC) using the USD Coin (USDC) stablecoin through the [Crypto.com](https://www.finscanner.io/products/crypto-com) blockchain platform. As Jack Forestell, executive vice president and chief product officer of Visa, noted, it “…marks a major milestone in our ability to address the needs of fintechs managing their business in a stablecoin or cryptocurrency, and it’s really an extension of what we do every day, securely facilitating payments in all different currencies all across the world.”

In early 2021, Mastercard [announced](https://www.mastercard.com/news/perspectives/2021/why-mastercard-is-bringing-crypto-onto-our-network/) the start of work with stablecoins: customers will be able to use them for both investments and transactions. It also [partnered](https://www.mastercard.com/news/ap/en/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/november/mastercard-partners-with-leading-digital-currency-companies-across-asia-pacific-to-launch-the-region-s-first-crypto-linked-payment-cards/) with leading digital currency companies across the Asia Pacific to launch the region’s first crypto-linked payment cards.

## Where to buy stablecoins?

Many aspiring investors and traders start their crypto journey by buying stablecoins. To make it easier for you, start by choosing an exchange. There are plenty of crypto exchanges around the world to provide you access to thousands of cryptocurrencies. Almost all of them have at least one type of stablecoin. To find the one that suits you, the Finscanner team has prepared a set of excellent major exchanges for you to start with:

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/0*qQgKNOpRKeGPRNEb)

* [FMFW.io (Bitcoin.com Exchange)](https://www.finscanner.io/products/bitcoin-com) — an exchange registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Here one can trade more than 200 digital assets. As main advantages, the platform highlights that it is secure, fast and that they have dedicated 24/7 support.
* [OKEx](https://www.finscanner.io/products/okex) — a cryptocurrency exchange created in 2014 by Chinese developer Star Xu. It makes it easy to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies by offering over 400 trading pairs, including pairs with fiat. OKEx offers advanced financial services as well as excellent guides for anyone new to crypto. There are investment programs, a referral program, and additional bonuses.
* [Binance](https://www.finscanner.io/products/binance) — a crypto exchange founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and registered in the Cayman Islands. It is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of trading volume, with more than 1.4 million transactions per second. The exchange strictly adheres to US regulations, is compatible with multiple devices, and provides safe and convenient trading.

Find more crypto exchanges and wallets at the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/crypto) to buy your first stablecoin, send, receive or exchange your assets, and explore other functions as well!

Feel free to contact us directly today to get a consultation!

Cryptocurrencies were supposed to become independent means of payment.

What Are Stablecoins?

We are all familiar with the inner understanding of the value of things, which gradually developed in the learning process of knowing the surrounding economic situation. However, when it comes to fiat currency, value comes from trust. As long as society believes in the fiat system, money will have value. The same can be said for Bitcoin.

You may not have thought about it, but the Bitcoin code gives it the characteristics of a traditional fiat currency, including scarcity, divisibility, portability, fungibility, and recognition. The main difference is that its decentralized structure has created a unique transparent financial system without intermediaries. Most importantly, it provided a revolutionary way to solve the problem of transferring value around the world. It can be used as a store of value, like gold, but unlike its physical counterparts, Bitcoin can be transported from one end of the world to another via communication channels in a matter of minutes.

Bitcoin is not easy to understand, and for many aspiring bitcoiners, the issue of assessing its true value is very acute. Let’s take it point by point.

## Valuable features

* **Scarcity.** Unlike traditional paper currencies, which can be printed indefinitely, Bitcoin has introduced a digital scarcity: there can only be 21 million BTC. While fiat currencies are subject to annual inflation and lose some of their value, Bitcoin inflation is limited and controlled.
* **Divisibility.** One bitcoin can be divided into 100,000,000 satoshis. One satoshi is equal to 0.00000001 BTC, the smallest unit of bitcoin at the moment. This level of separation is built into the original bitcoin code. The division level can be changed to 16 or more decimal places if necessary, which means that Bitcoin offers infinite divisibility.
* **Portability.** Bitcoin can be transferred over the Internet, satellites, or even radio waves, making it the most advanced currency ever.
* **Durability.** As long as computers are serving the network, Bitcoin is 100% durable. It cannot be destroyed like physical cash and is more reliable than fiat currencies and precious metals.
* **Auditability.** Its blockchain ledger provides a permanent record of all transactions, and the open-source accessibility of the ledger allows anyone to view and verify previous or ongoing transactions and addresses.
* **Decentralization.** Nobody controls Bitcoin. Unlike traditional money, the bitcoin network and its transactions are not subject to censorship, control, or alteration. The decentralized nature of Bitcoin also eliminates the potential for a single point of failure, making it more resilient than traditional currencies.
* **Availability.** You don’t need to have a verified bank account to own or receive bitcoins. All you need is basic computer knowledge and an internet connection. The availability of bitcoin makes it extremely convenient for countries with insufficient financial access.

## Closing line

A general lack of knowledge and misunderstanding has led some to question whether Bitcoin has any value at all. However, as we can see, this is not the case. Ultimately, Bitcoin operates on a very secure network, and the cryptocurrency has significant value that its community, investors, and traders place on it. The more the network of Bitcoin users and sellers grows, the more secure and advanced the system itself becomes, the higher the value in fiat terms.

### Ready to buy your first Bitcoin? Here are Finscanner’s picks for the excellent Bitcoin and crypto exchanges:

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*wjUlgyHTj3CC6lNzrCUxpg.png)

* [FMFW.io (Bitcoin.com Exchange)](https://www.finscanner.io/products/bitcoin-com) — an exchange registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Here one can trade more than 200 digital assets. As main advantages, the platform highlights that it is secure, fast and that they have dedicated 24/7 support.
* [OKEx](https://www.finscanner.io/products/okex) — a cryptocurrency exchange created in 2014 by Chinese developer Star Xu. It makes it easy to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies by offering over 400 trading pairs, including pairs with fiat. OKEx offers advanced financial services as well as excellent guides for anyone new to crypto. There are investment programs, a referral program, and additional bonuses.
* [Binance](https://www.finscanner.io/products/binance) — a crypto exchange founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and registered in the Cayman Islands. It is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of trading volume, with more than 1.4 million transactions per second. The exchange strictly adheres to US regulations, is compatible with multiple devices, and provides safe and convenient trading.

Find more crypto products at the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/crypto) to buy your first crypto, connect cryptocurrency payment gateways, send, receive or exchange your assets, and explore other functions as well!

Feel free to contact us directly today to get a consultation!

We are all familiar with the inner understanding of the value of things, which gradually developed in the learning...

Why Do Bitcoins Have Value

In recent years, cryptocurrencies have become an important feature of the global financial system. With the emergence of the first decentralized cryptocurrency Bitcoin in 2009, the total value and variety of cryptocurrencies in circulation have increased dramatically. Such demand and popularity of the industry are associated with new security and privacy capabilities without banks and government control and interference.

However, for regulated financial institutions (FIs), the opportunities offered by cryptocurrencies and distributed ledger technology (DLT) pose significant operational and regulatory challenges. The anonymity of transactions gives the green light to fraudsters, criminals, and terrorists. With the features of blockchain technology, criminals can easily dispense with traditional money in settlements among themselves and then freely withdraw funds through exchanges and other exchange services. Ultimately, this factor undermines legal confidence in cryptocurrencies. Regulators and law enforcement agencies are seriously concerned about this issue and are demanding transparency from businesses.

Previously, we have discussed the [Know-Your-Customer (KYC](https://www.finscanner.io/blog/post/what-is-kyc-how-important-is-it-for-the-global-crypto-community) and customer identification procedures on which existing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML) regimes depend. Today we will take a look at how criminals use cryptocurrency to launder money, how anti-money laundering measures work, and what it means for the global crypto community.

## Anti-money laundering

AML stands for regulations and laws that prevent the movement and laundering of illegal funds. AML is closely associated with the FATF (Financial Action Task Force), created in 1989 to promote international cooperation. For example, anti-money laundering measures target the financing of terrorism, tax fraud, and international smuggling.

AML policy does not allow criminals to legalize proceeds. For example, if a financial institution suspects that a customer is using funds stolen during a hacker attack, it simply freezes the account pending further investigation. Today, there is a sufficient number of software and services on the market that identify the source of funds and have a “blacklist” of bitcoin addresses. This does not always require direct contact with a potential criminal, he may not even know about the investigation, which gives an additional advantage to both business and law enforcement agencies.

## Role in Crypto

Cryptocurrency markets are potentially vulnerable to a wide range of criminal activity and financial crimes:

* Trafficking in illicit goods
* Hacking and identity theft
* Market manipulation and fraud
* Facilitating unlicensed businesses

In addition, the anonymity, liquidity, and borderless nature of cryptocurrencies make them highly attractive to potential money launderers. With crypto, there is the same three-stage process as cash-based money laundering:

<dl>
 <dt>
 Placement.
 </dt>
 <dd>
 At this stage, illegal funds enter the financial system through intermediaries such as financial institutions and exchanges.
 </dd>
 <dt>
 Layering.
 </dt>
 <dd>
 At this stage, the structuring of transactions is carried out, which makes it difficult to decipher the traces of illegal funds.
 </dd>
 <dt>
 Integration.
 </dt>
 <dd>
 At this stage, illegal money is returned to the economy with a clean status.
 </dd>
</dl>

In turn, the main activity of a regulator or a cryptocurrency exchange that has introduced the AML procedure takes place in three stages:

<dl>
 <dt>
 Identification of suspicious activities is automatically marked.
 </dt>
 <dd>
 It can be, for example, large inflows or outflows of funds, inconsistent behavior, say, an increase in the number of withdrawals from an inactive account.
 </dd>
 <dt>
 Suspension of user’s ability to deposit or withdraw funds (during or after the investigation).
 </dt>
 <dd>
 This is used to exclude possible money laundering activities. A Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) is then generated.
 </dd>
 <dt>
 Reporting of illegal activity to law enforcement and financial regulators.
 </dt>
 <dd>
 The stolen funds are returned to their rightful owners if possible.
 </dd>
</dl>

Regulatory pressure to move away from anonymity and introduce AML measures wherever cryptocurrency markets touch the traditional financial services sector is causing the cryptocurrency market to be at odds. Most cryptocurrency exchanges take a proactive approach to combating money laundering, however, some don’t.

## Find the best solution

Whether you are a law-abiding adherent of anonymity or would like to meet all legal requirements, we at Finscanner will make sure to find the most acceptable crypto option for you!

Here are some of the Centralized Crypto Exchanges available at our marketplace:

* [Binance](https://www.finscanner.io/products/binance) — a crypto exchange founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and registered in the Cayman Islands. It is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of trading volume, with more than 1.4 million transactions per second. The exchange strictly adheres to US regulations, is compatible with multiple devices, and provides safe and convenient trading.
* [Okex](https://www.finscanner.io/products/okex) — a cryptocurrency exchange created in 2014 by Chinese developer Star Xu. It makes it easy to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies by offering over 400 trading pairs, including pairs with fiat. OKEx offers advanced financial services as well as excellent guides for anyone new to crypto. There are investment programs, a referral program, and additional bonuses.

By contrast, you can also take advantage of the Decentralized Crypto Exchanges:

* [Uniswap](https://www.finscanner.io/products/uniswap) — an open-source decentralized exchange protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain and operated by smart contracts. The popularity of the Uniswap decentralized exchange is breaking records as it ranks first in the Ethereum (ETH) network. Full decentralization, anonymity, availability of a large number of coins.
* [PancakeSwap](https://www.finscanner.io/products/pancakeswap-cake) — a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange powered by the Binance blockchain. The exchange was founded in 2020 and has already gained great popularity in DeFi. Today, its daily turnover is over $ 800 million.

The [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/) is the right place to find your cryptocurrency exchange, wallet, DeFi project, and more! Feel free to reach out to us today and explore all crypto opportunities!

In recent years, cryptocurrencies have become an important feature of the global financial system.

What is AML & What Role It Plays In Crypto Industry?

### No other planet has grabbed our collective attention like Mars.

---

Since ancient times, the secret of the Red Planet has excited many minds and imaginations. And if earlier it was associated with mysticism, today we can proudly talk about the design of high-tech innovations for any special requirements, where payments are no exception.

## Mars invasion

Given the growing population, the question arises about the colonization of the planets of the solar system. At this stage of space exploration, Mars is the most suitable place for this purpose. But first, it makes sense to transform the planet so that it becomes more habitable. The process will necessarily be the subject of “space economy” formation. Here the scope of activity extends beyond the state level and affects the broad interests of multiple commercial enterprises. As the space becomes increasingly privatized and requires more technology-intensive, its link with crypto is growing thick.

---

### Thousands of people will fly into space, and no one is going to take cash with them.

---

## Crypto needs more space!

At the first stage, **cryptocurrency is a source of funding for new space programs and companies**. With its help, the future cashless interplanetary voyages receive timely and accessible funding from crypto moguls.

* Winklevoss twins [back](https://news.yahoo.com/winklevoss-twins-back-payload-outlet-121417962.html) Payload, a new outlet covering the business of space.
Geometric Energy Corporation announces the dogecoin-funded mission, with DOGE-1 representing a 40-kilogram cube satellite flying as a payload on a Falcon 9 rocket.

* Geometric Energy Corporation [announces](https://twitter.com/geometricenergy/status/1391427729791365136) the dogecoin-funded mission, with DOGE-1 representing a 40-kilogram cube satellite flying as a payload on a Falcon 9 rocket.

At the second stage, space is a **place to deploy infrastructure to improve crypto networks**. Here the distance and the autonomy of end-to-end encrypted satellite communications and key storage greatly enhance the security of data and transactions, which can be vulnerable to cyberattacks and hacking if hosted exclusively on physical earth servers.

* Biteeu successfully [launches](https://ambcrypto.com/biteeu-the-first-space-based-digital-currency-exchange/) its digital security infrastructure into space.
* [Blockstream](https://blockstream.com/satellite/) plans to build a floating web of satellites to beam BTC payments.
* SpaceChain corporation [works](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spacechain-sends-blockchain-technology-to-the-international-space-station-300970208.html) to integrate space and blockchain technologies to facilitate deep space communication and commerce.

Finally, crypto becomes the **monetary standard of future extraterrestrial settlements**. On Mars, people will need as many comforts from home as possible. Fast payments are essential whether you are paying the bill or even helping a family member with some ETH on Earth.

## Your first transaction

In theory, your first transaction from Mars has great geolocation potential. However, the safety of the landing site is still critical. There are some no-go zones, where your spaceship won’t land for sure. However, the good news is that Mars has as much land area as our own Earth. This means potentially a plethora of places where you could make your first footprint, open your crypto wallet, enter the public address, type the amount of crypto you wish to send, and successfully make your first transaction!

Here are eight landing sites [evaluated](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/prelaunch/landing-site-selection/eight-potential-sites/) by scientists and engineers to be very promising:

* Columbia Hills, Gusev Crater
* Eberswalde
* Holden Crater
* Jezero Crater
* Mawrth Vallis
* NE Syrtis
* Nili Fossae
* SW Melas

## Value of crypto on Mars

It is fair to say that the commercialization of Mars will give new opportunities to a wide variety of business sectors, and crypto, given its mind-blowing potential, will not stay outside. The presence of cryptocurrencies in space will create models of an open economy that expand the possibilities of new projects, especially Mars ones. This new socio-economic model will support a globally shared and sustainable commercial space program. In turn, satellite technology with blockchain nodes will optimize collective intelligence, creating more opportunities for collaborative workflows. Eventually, these will reduce inefficiency and bring down the cost of space-based application development.

Since the space business opportunity is in the drafting stage, for now, we suggest you find your crypto providers on the planet Earth.

[Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/) is at your service! Feel free to reach out to us today to get started!

Since ancient times, the secret of the Red Planet has excited many minds and imaginations.

How to pay on Mars?

In a [recent](https://www.finscanner.io/blog/post/what-is-defi-and-how-can-it-liberate-your-access-to-finance) article, we talked about the exponential growth of the DeFi sector and looked at the alternative reality of finance. One of the in-demand services that it provides is the exchanges where cryptocurrencies are being traded. Unlike centralized exchanges, which don’t allow you to have complete control over your assets, DEXs operate on the principle of anonymity. This is the exact principle that helped to increase the interest in crypto in the first place.

As the crypto industry developed, government regulators began to pay attention to crypto exchanges, demanding to legitimize this activity by introducing customer identity verification and providing account information upon request. It is not hard to guess that these measures have caused the outrage of many crypto evangelists, which has only increased the demand for decentralized services. Many users have a strong sensitivity regarding Satoshi Nakamoto’s idea to build a decentralized world. The approach here lies in a transparent financial system that provides greater financial inclusion for everyone and at the same time protects the privacy of people when making transactions. Here the DEXs have never been truer.

## What is DEX?

DEX is a decentralized exchange for trading digital assets directly between participants (P2P) without any financial intermediaries. It does not store users’ funds and personal data and acts only as a type of pair matching that allows people to place orders and buy and sell cryptocurrency.

DEXs are aimed to change the financial user experience offering users to trade directly with each other on-chain. The process relies on smart contracts and on-chain data to facilitate peer-to-peer transactions through which digital assets can be passed from one wallet to another. As a result, users who trade assets through a DEX remain anonymous, as all transactions are encrypted and the identity of those who participate is reduced to their wallet number.

## The way it works

Most decentralized exchanges use automated market makers (AMMs), which are protocols that provide liquidity to all assets in the market. Instead of an order book, as on traditional exchanges, assets are automatically traded following predefined mathematical formulas.

Decentralized exchanges perform without the need to store the assets themselves. Instead, the exchange creates pools of liquidity from tokens traded through its trading terminals. The capital to fund liquidity pools is provided by users in exchange for a percentage of commission fees.

The DEX algorithm sets the asset price following the dynamics of supply and demand. The token pooling fee is also adjusted depending on these dynamics.

## How you can benefit

To summarize DEX’s features, we can highlight the following benefits:

* **Privacy.** Centralized crypto exchanges may ask you for a KYC procedure, but DEXs work based on anonymity. So, no need to worry about the security of your data.

* **Cheaper Transaction Fees.** Centralized exchanges bear the additional cost of setting up and maintaining your account. Whereas, decentralized crypto exchanges work on the principles of automation and self-regulation.

* **Reliability.** A decentralized nature makes the hacking risk almost next to impossible. If you are an investor who is most concerned about hacking issues, this is the best choice for you.

* **Full access.** You have complete control over your funds, private keys, and transactions, and at the same time, full responsibility for your actions.

* **Wide choice.** Users can trade new and obscure cryptocurrencies that previously were difficult to exchange elsewhere.

* **Financial Inclusiveness.** Many institutions restrict people from certain jurisdictions from using their services. DEXs create a much more inclusive and fair ecosystem because anyone from anywhere in the world can utilize them.

## Find the right one

For those, who have not yet decided which decentralized cryptocurrency exchange is the best fit, Finscanner has prepared the most popular user choices:

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*GUkIB0_q0AR6sOakPaaICg.png)

* [Uniswap](https://www.finscanner.io/products/uniswap) — an open-source decentralized exchange protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain and operated by smart contracts. The popularity of the Uniswap decentralized exchange is breaking records as it ranks first in the Ethereum (ETH) network. Full decentralization, anonymity, availability of a large number of coins.

* [PancakeSwap](https://www.finscanner.io/products/pancakeswap-cake) — a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange powered by the Binance blockchain. The exchange was founded in 2020 and has already gained great popularity in DeFi. Today, its daily turnover is over $ 800 million.

* [SushiSwap](https://www.finscanner.io/products/sushiswap) — a decentralized exchange created on the basis of Uniswap that allows users to trade digital tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. In addition to cryptocurrency trading, there is a lending market and tools for passive earnings.

Find more decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and crypto-related products at the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/)! Feel free to reach out to us today and explore all digital opportunities!

In a recent article, we talked about the exponential growth of the DeFi sector and looked at the alternative reality of finance.

What Are DEXs and How You Can Benefit From Using Them?

Imagine a world where there are no banks and brokers. Could we still have a financial industry? According to the model of decentralized finance (DeFi), such an alternative reality has every reason to exist. The emerging sector promises to bring greater transparency, control, and yield to all financial instruments we use today for both customers and businesses.

For those at the forefront of finance and technology, this alternative has been looming for several years. Although the initial share of DeFi in the scale of the cryptocurrency market was relatively small, this sector has grown exponentially in 2021, attracting many traders and investors with its capabilities. In the [recent](https://finscanner.medium.com/finscanner-weekly-news-e8cedadcbab8) Finscanner news digest, we have noted another DeFi burst of the total value growth.

## New path with DeFi

At its core, DeFi is a blockchain-based, immutable and trustless ecosystem that verifies transactions without third-party intervention. The most recognizable platform for decentralized financial applications/services is predominantly Ethereum.

Decentralized finance encompasses all aspects of traditional financial services and transactions, including currency, loans, insurance, bonds, credit cards, stocks, futures, options, interest-bearing accounts. Any internet user can interact with the ecosystem and manage assets through peer-to-peer (P2P) and decentralized applications (dApps).

## DeFi intends to:

* Expand access to financial instruments in countries with a weakly developed or unstable banking sector;
* Create a decentralized marketplace with the cost of services not overstated by the centralized authorities or intermediaries;
* Provide passive income from cryptocurrency assets;
* Significantly reduce commission fees for transfers, loans, deposits.

## How is it being used?

DeFi is moving toward establishing complex financial ecosystems that run based on rules; thus, eliminating the need for traditional institutions. These rules can dictate action, automate transactions, and create immense efficiencies in the marketplace. For today, DeFi space offers the following range of products and services:

* Decentralized exchanges (DEXs). DEXs facilitate peer-to-peer financial transactions and let users retain control over their money.

* E-wallets. Wallets operate independently of the largest crypto exchanges, giving * investors and traders access to cryptocurrency and blockchain-based applications. Learn more about different types of wallets here.

* Yield farming. The process involves lending cryptocurrency. In return, lenders get interest and sometimes fees.

* Non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs create digital assets out of typically non-tradable assets, making them unique and verified. You can learn more here.

* Flash loans. These are fast uncollateralized loans enforced by smart contracts. One probably can draw the same analogy with decentralized arbitrage.

Most centralized financial instruments and technologies develop slowly over time due to all sorts of regulatory requirements. On the other hand, decentralized applications exist outside of these rules, leading to tech benefits.

## Prepping for DeFi

Once you learn the DeFi basics, you will require a cryptocurrency wallet installed. Ideally, it should support Ethereum and can also connect to various DeFi protocols.

Let’s say you would like to try Eidoo wallet:

1. Find Eidoo-related service at Finscanner marketplace. See the profile [here](https://www.finscanner.io/products/eidoo-card).
2. Click on the “Apply” button.
3. Download the official Eidoo App on your device.
4. Click on “Create a new Wallet” to create a new address and follow the instructions.

After that, you can explore DeFi space however you like. Most likely, you will start from Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs). Here are some of the exchanges you can find on our marketplace:

* [Uniswap](https://www.finscanner.io/products/uniswap) — an open-source decentralized exchange protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain and operated by smart contracts. The popularity of the Uniswap decentralized exchange is breaking records as it ranks first in the Ethereum (ETH) network. Full decentralization, anonymity, availability of a large number of coins.

* [PancakeSwap](https://www.finscanner.io/products/pancakeswap-cake) — a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange powered by the Binance blockchain. The exchange was founded in 2020 and has already gained great popularity in DeFi. Today, its daily turnover is over $ 800 million.

Find more cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets, DeFi projects, and other crypto-related products at the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/all)! Feel free to reach out to us today and explore all crypto opportunities!

Imagine a world where there are no banks and brokers. Could we still have a financial industry?

What is DeFi, and how can it liberate your access to Finance?

Art represents a special type of aesthetic, cognitive, and communication human activity that tends to adapt to all modern trends. People have ceased to perceive art only as a kind of classical physical expression of creativity. With ever greater frequency, we see how art is breathing in the digital alternative. In recent years, the so-called non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have caused an industry boom. For newcomers, the NFT market may seem complicated as the use of blockchain technology in the art world is an unusual thing. But interest is soaring. Thus, according to [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/technology/nft-sales-volume-surges-25-bln-2021-first-half-2021-07-05/), citing DappRadar data, NFT sales in the first quarter of 2021 amounted to $1.23 billion, and in the second quarter $1.24 billion. These numbers are well ahead of the first half of 2020 when NFT’s sales were $13.7 million.

## What are NFTs?

Using blockchain technology, NFT can maintain its uniqueness in the digital space, avoiding the possibility of plagiarism and copying. In this way, it brings an opportunity to protect the original work of art. The artist’s “pet project” represented in the form of digital tokens is encrypted with his/her signature on the blockchain. It gives access to digital accounting, as well as verification of authenticity and art ownership. Art created in this manner has a unique value assigned to the highest bidder.

Think of a computer file combined with proof of ownership and authenticity — that’s what NFT is. In combination with smart contracts, users have the flexibility for a wide range of NFT use cases. For users and artists, it is a prospect of the formation of advanced contractual structures and agreements. Underlying mechanisms of the blockchain make smart contracts transparent, tamper-proof, and verifiable in real-time. For example, a user can access a gif embedded in NFT through a smart contract. Simply put, the author of the work and the user accept the terms using a smart contract. The user pays an agreed amount, and then he gets access to a particular file. This kind of deal makes easy any arbitration process in the future.

## Crypto art evolution

The history of NFT begins on May 3, 2014, when a man named Kevin McCoy first minted his non-fungible token called Quantum. Its cost was $1.4 million.

Crypto art received a significant impetus during the creation of the Ethereum blockchain network in 2015. It became the starting point for young startups to sell their ideas, bypassing the regulatory schemes. This blockchain has become the guiding link for art. A prominent example of NFT is [CryptoKitties](https://www.finscanner.io/products/cryptokitties). This online game appeared in 2017, where players are the owners of the Stoner Cats NFT on the Ethereum blockchain. With 100 cats and a family tree function at the first release, the game found resonance and interest. The average selling price of a CryptoKit is up to $100, while individual CryptoKitties are selling for over $300,000.

Over time, the crypto art market has gained the prospect of further development. Another impulse was the development of trading platforms for gamers, where players can purchase unique game items for themselves and trade them depending on the in-game market situation.

Being fed up with years of creating free content on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, many digital artists have decided to dive into crypto art. These artists see NFTs’ future transform both the creative process and the way the world values ​​art. With an opportunity of verified ownership, people have new potential to develop their creative careers and gain more payback in the corresponding amount.

## To begin your NFT journey

Crypto art became a trending market today. With Finscanner, you can have easy access to many leading NFT platforms. Here are some you may find interesting:

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*bbj6zo1wG4vxGeFE2g-Rkg.png)

* [OpenSea](https://www.finscanner.io/products/opensea) — is one of the first NFT marketplaces on the market. It is a reliable decentralized service with a large selection of tokens. In the future, developers promise to add more blockchain networks to the protocol to keep the platform competitive.

* [NBA Top Shot](https://www.finscanner.io/products/nba-top-shot) — is an NFT project from Dapper Labs on the Flow blockchain, which can be called a marketplace of short videos of the best moments from NBA games, presented in the form of unique collectibles, non-fungible tokens (NFT). The project is officially licensed by the NBA. Each token holder receives digital rights at a short video of some moment of the game, and therefore adds something unique to his collection, which he can dispose of at his own discretion.

* [Rarible](https://www.finscanner.io/products/rarible) — is a marketplace that invites users to trade liquid intellectual property and any digital content licensed through NFT tokens. One of the advantages is a simplified interface for creating NFT tokens in a few clicks. Another feature is the lack of pre-moderation when creating tokens.

Feel free to find more NFT projects at the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/all) to explore all the opportunities of the crypto art world!

Art represents a special type of aesthetic, cognitive, and communication human activity that tends to adapt to all modern trends.

Crypto NFT: Reshaping the Art World

Regulators around the world are aiming to create global standards for major cryptocurrency platforms across the globe. Basically, these standards apply to all financial institutions and are known as Know Your Customer (KYC) or identity verification. Its essence is that users of the service, upon registration or after it, must provide documents identifying their identity, for example, a valid ID card, driver’s license, photo.

Why is KYC verification necessary? What does it mean for the global crypto community? Today, we’ll take a closer look at these questions and more in this article. But first things first. What exactly is the KYC procedure?

## KYC, or Identity Verification

Between 2000 and 2010, most jurisdictions enacted legislation governing KYC and AML (Anti-Money Laundering Laws). As a result, banks and related financial institutions have become compulsory to comply with the requirements of anti-money laundering legislation.

In the crypto community, the KYC procedure was accepted with a grain of salt, as users were afraid to disclose their data, which could fall into the hands of fraudsters. Moreover, the KYC procedure in its essence contradicts the very idea of ​​anonymity in the use of cryptocurrencies. However, the growing popularity, infrastructure development, and adoption show a gradual mood swift in many countries.

KYC procedure refers to the verification of a customer’s identity, typically by a financial institution. ID document requirements vary depending on an institution or even a region. That is why sometimes there are more rigorous restrictions applied, and sometimes less. If users do not complete the KYC procedure, they may not access all the features on a cryptocurrency exchange. For example, the [Binance](https://www.finscanner.io/products/binance) exchange provided such limited access to its customers. Users could create accounts, use basic functions, and perform limited transactions without submitting KYC information. Recently, however, it changed its policy, and from now on, only fully verified users can use the exchange.

KYC requirements are becoming mandatory on many cryptocurrency exchanges. They are aimed to combat illegal activities and identify suspicious behavior at an early stage, ensuring that transactions comply with regulations and laws.

## Role in Crypto

In the crypto industry, the widespread use of the KYC procedure always has its supporters and opponents. Thus, among the crypto evangelists, the first of whom is, of course, Satoshi Nakamoto, the idea is to build a decentralized world. The approach here lies in a transparent financial system that provides greater financial inclusion for everyone and at the same time protects the privacy of people when making transactions.

On the other hand, the KYC verification gives access to a much wider crypto payments adoption and opens doors to the rest of the world. Weighing all circumstances, we can get a thorough picture of what KYC can do:

* **Build trust.** Peer-to-peer platforms are an easy place to scam and trick users. Any oversight can lead to the inevitable loss of money with no way to return it. It’s much easier to get support and get your funds back in case of fraud with the KYC procedure.
* **Lower risks of crime & hacks.** There is a wide range of illicit activities such as tax fraud, bribery, corruption, terrorist funding, etc. The cryptocurrency market is at high risk from criminals and hackers due to the lack of clear regulation.
* **Stabilize the crypto market.** When the systems assess risks to protect its users, the market becomes more stabilized through increased trust, and therefore use.
* **Ease the crypto regulations.** In the light of upcoming crypto market regulations, many institutions will be a step ahead by gearing up to comply with the requirements.

Obviously, there are some flip sides to KYC. In some ways, KYC requirements make cryptocurrency exchanges similar to traditional financial institutions by giving power to a centralized authority. Besides, the existing fears of private information safety are not unfounded. In order to address users’ concerns, crypto exchanges, first of all, have to provide robust KYC systems to secure consumer information and prevent any loopholes in the software.

## Find the best solution

The crypto market is maturing. That is why many financial institutions make a safe bet to put effort into customer security measures early on to become the most successful in the long run. Some users may adhere to the concept of complete anonymity, but Binance and other major exchanges are trying to comply with the KYC requirements.

**Whether you are a decentralization supporter or would like to meet all legal requirements, we at Finscanner will make sure to find the most acceptable crypto option for you!**

Here are some of the Centralized Crypto Exchanges available at our marketplace:

[Binance](https://www.finscanner.io/products/binance) — a crypto exchange founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and registered in the Cayman Islands. It is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of trading volume, with more than 1.4 million transactions per second. The exchange strictly adheres to US regulations, is compatible with multiple devices, and provides safe and convenient trading.

[Okex](https://www.finscanner.io/products/okex) — a cryptocurrency exchange created in 2014 by Chinese developer Star Xu. It makes it easy to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies by offering over 400 trading pairs, including pairs with fiat. OKEx offers advanced financial services as well as excellent guides for anyone new to crypto. There are investment programs, a referral program, and additional bonuses.

By contrast, you can also take advantage of the Decentralized Crypto Exchanges:

[Uniswap](https://www.finscanner.io/products/uniswap) — an open-source decentralized exchange protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain and operated by smart contracts. The popularity of the Uniswap decentralized exchange is breaking records as it ranks first in the Ethereum (ETH) network. Full decentralization, anonymity, availability of a large number of coins.

[PancakeSwap](https://www.finscanner.io/products/pancakeswap-cake) — a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange powered by the Binance blockchain. The exchange was founded in 2020 and has already gained great popularity in DeFi. Today, its daily turnover is over $ 800 million.

The [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/all) is the right place to find your cryptocurrency exchange, wallet, DeFi project, and more! Feel free to reach out to us today and explore all crypto opportunities!

Regulators around the world are aiming to create global standards for major cryptocurrency platforms across the globe.

What is KYC & How Important Is It For The Global Crypto Community?

Since its launch in 2009, Bitcoin has remained the flagship cryptocurrency, outperforming altcoins in value and capitalization. In 2021, large companies began investing in cryptocurrency, such as Tesla, MicroStrategy, The Motley Fool, and others. Gradually, Bitcoin is turning into a legal investment asset, finding more and more recognition. However, some institutional investors and individuals need a legal framework to be able to invest. And many believe that Bitcoin ETF can solve this problem.

## What is ETF?

ETF is an Exchange-Traded Fund that buys securities of various companies and collects them in an investment portfolio, then selling shares to investors. It represents a type of security that acts as a certificate for a portfolio of stocks, bonds, commodities, or cryptocurrencies. The price of this security follows the index based on certain underlying assets. ETF shares are traded on the stock exchange like regular securities and often have lower fees than other types of funds.

In the United States, an ETF provider applies to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to register a fund. The latter classifies the shares of such funds as securities.

For investors, ETF is an opportunity to invest in a whole basket of assets at once. For example, you can buy shares in the S&P 500 ETF, thereby investing in the 500 largest companies in America.

## Bitcoin ETF

A Bitcoin ETF follows the same principle. The fund buys cryptocurrency and sells its shares to investors on the stock exchange. In this way, investors make money on crypto without buying it directly from specialized cryptocurrency platforms. It helps to cut out any issues of complex storage and security procedures required of cryptocurrency investors. In addition, investors are not exposed to the risks of hacking trading platforms, fraud by dishonest exchange owners, or phishing attacks. The depository monitors the work and transparency of the fund, the fund reports to the regulator (SEC).

*Learn how to store your crypto assets safely [here]*(https://finscanner.medium.com/how-to-store-your-crypto-assets-different-types-of-wallets-c878e61d64a4).

As a result, a Bitcoin ETF combines the best parts of two popular investments: the ease and security of investing in ETFs and access to the popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

So, to summarize, Bitcoin ETF has several advantages, namely:
* No need to go into the details of storing crypto safely yourself;
* An online broker is significantly more secure, faster, and less prone to outages than * * * purchasing directly from a crypto exchange;
* Clear tax implications and guidance for traditional financial products.

However, it does not seem logical for some people and crypto-enthusiasts to invest in a Bitcoin ETF, and here is why:

* Crypto markets run 24/7, while ETFs can only be bought and sold during market trading times;
* Bitcoin is free to hold on your own, but ETFs charge management fees;
* ETFs require you to trust third-party custodians, which is contrary to the very essence of the anonymous concept of Bitcoin.

## Should I invest in Bitcoin ETF?

Based on the above, it is up to you to decide if a Bitcoin ETF is the right financial instrument for investing in Bitcoin. There are several benefits to investing in Bitcoin ETFs. And if they appeal to you, then ETFs are a good choice. Of course, everyone has their own approach to investment, risk tolerance, and ideology of digital assets. For example, Bitcoin evangelist Andreas M. Antonopoulos considers such fund as a “terrible idea.” According to his review, ETFs will make the cryptocurrency market more centralized and prone to aggressive manipulation by institutional investors.

On the other hand, a Bitcoin ETF allows investors in traditional markets to access Bitcoin in a regulated space. It can also be a good way to spread cryptocurrencies as assets more widely in terms of “investment” among institutional investors. All these can eventually accelerate the process of cards/payment solutions for Bitcoin, making it a handy medium of exchange.

## Other ways to invest in cryptocurrency

You can always invest directly in cryptocurrency, as most of the users do. There are many types of cryptocurrencies to choose from apart from Bitcoin, like Ethereum and Tether (stablecoin).

Ready to invest? Here are [Finscanner’s](https://www.finscanner.io/) picks for the excellent Bitcoin and crypto exchange:

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*1-Apzl9ZQ4V8xsKjAb_sRQ.png)

* [FMFW.io (Bitcoin.com Exchange)](https://www.finscanner.io/products/bitcoin-com) — an exchange registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Here one can trade more than 200 digital assets. As main advantages, the platform highlights that it is secure, fast and that they have dedicated 24/7 support.
* [OKEx](https://www.finscanner.io/products/okex) — a cryptocurrency exchange created in 2014 by Chinese developer Star Xu. It makes it easy to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies by offering over 400 trading pairs, including pairs with fiat. OKEx offers advanced financial services as well as excellent guides for anyone new to crypto. There are investment programs, a referral program, and additional bonuses.
* [Binance](https://www.finscanner.io/products/binance) — a crypto exchange founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and registered in the Cayman Islands. It is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of trading volume, with more than 1.4 million transactions per second. The exchange strictly adheres to US regulations, is compatible with multiple devices, and provides safe and convenient trading.

Find more crypto products at the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/crypto) to buy your first crypto, connect cryptocurrency payment gateways, send, receive or exchange your assets, and explore other functions as well!

Since its launch in 2009, Bitcoin has remained the flagship cryptocurrency, outperforming altcoins in value and capitalization.

What is a Bitcoin ETF?

It becomes much easier to acquire some amount of crypto assets these days. First of all, in order to send or receive cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, you need to open an appropriate wallet to store your assets. And this is where many users are confused by the variety of crypto storage options. Today [Finscanner](https://finscanner.io/) will give you a hand with storing your crypto by reviewing several types of wallets, with a prime focus on reliability and security.

## What is a cryptocurrency wallet?

First of all, a cryptocurrency wallet is not a physical wallet and represents a tool to store your public and private keys. Both are used to send and receive cryptocurrency using transactions. A public key represents your login with a set of letters and numbers. It means that a user can share his public key (address) with another user to receive funds. Meanwhile, a **private key should never be shared with anyone**. It provides access to your crypto funds taken as a password. Any person who has your private key can access the funds in your wallet. Most importantly, if you lose your private key, you will lose access to your funds.

The functionality of crypto wallets completely differs from financial companies serving accounts with centralized digital assets. If the latter independently keep records of transactions, then wallets only provide an interface for conveniently making transfers, conversions, and other operations. If you lose your crypto wallet, you can either open a new one or restore it, as long as you have the seed phrase or private key safely backed up.

## Types of crypto wallets

Now that you know some background information about the crypto wallet in general, let’s talk about the different types of wallets. There are at least 5 types of wallets: online, mobile, desktop, hardware, and paper. Each one has different security considerations. All these types are divided into two overarching categories: hot and cold wallets.

* **Cold wallets** are offline wallets (not accessible via the internet) that are considered the most secure way to store your crypto. Here your keys are stored on a medium or device offline, making them resistant to hacking attempts. If your computer gets compromised through a virus or a hacker, your crypto is still safe, since hackers would need physical access to your wallet. A cold wallet works best in case you are willing to hold crypto long-term. These include: hardware wallets and paper wallets.

* **Hot wallets** are online wallets (accessible via the internet) that are considered to be more convenient since you can easily access and trade with them, making them optimal for traders and frequent users. The downside is they are connected to the internet 24/7, therefore more vulnerable to hackers and not as secure as cold wallets. As a practical matter, users try not to leave large amounts of their funds in a hot wallet. These include: browser wallets, crypto exchange wallets, desktop, and mobile wallets.

## Types of hot wallets

* **Browser wallets**. A good internet connection and an updated browser version are enough to launch this type of wallet. All the functionality for conducting transactions is available directly on the wallet’s website — quite convenient, but extremely unsafe. The private key and personal data of users can be stored both on the user’s device and on the company’s servers. In the second case, before choosing a wallet, you need to evaluate security measures, work experience, and feedback about its developer, because the safety of your funds will be directly at stake.

* **Crypto exchange wallets**. Most crypto exchanges have their own built-in wallet for working with the platform’s cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. This type of wallet is suitable for those who plan to trade their crypto or conduct transactions frequently. However, it should be borne in mind that such wallets are custodians, they store private keys and technically have access to all users’ coins.

* **Desktop and mobile wallets**. Desktop and mobile wallets are downloaded and installed on your personal computer or mobile device using the operating system of your choice. Both desktop and mobile wallets provide a high level of security; however, they cannot protect you from security breaches, hacks, and viruses, so you should do your best to avoid malware and viruses.

## Types of cold wallets

* **Hardware wallets**. This type of wallet is generally viewed as the most secure storage option, isolating private keys from the internet by keeping them offline in a USB-connected device and giving holders full control of their crypto. A hardware wallet must be received directly from a manufacturer to provide the highest security.

* **Paper wallets**. It is the most simple type of cold storage as public and private keys are handwritten or printed on a piece of paper. When printed, they often include QR codes that can be scanned to execute transactions. The public and private keys are created online or offline, using a paper wallet generator on a website or by downloading software.

## Pros and cons

![This is an image](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*fSQlF3ppkkJS4vn6sgkPeg.png)


## Open your crypto wallet with the Finscanner marketplace

Here are some of the crypto wallets available on the Finscanner marketplace:

* [Spectrocoin](https://www.finscanner.io/products/spectrocoin) (mobile) — an all-in-one solution for Bitcoin. Services offered include a wide range of Bitcoin solutions, from exchanges to Bitcoin e-wallets. SpectroCoin builds its business policy on Bitcoin’s philosophy of making financing quicker, frictionless, and flexible. Our service provides a solution for each client’s needs instead of asking them to adapt to us. That includes every aspect of service, starting from the number of payout methods to the range of support languages available.

* [Coinspaid](https://www.finscanner.io/products/coinspaid) (desktop & mobile) — provides cryptocurrency payment services and personal wallets. We enable customers to operate worldwide, decrease costs and reach new markets whilst using our reliable cryptocurrency processing services and the wallet app. CoinsPaid operates under Dream Finance OU, registered and licensed in Estonia. Dream Finance OU has two brands: CoinsPaid — a personal wallet focusing on B2C clients, and CryptoProcessing.com — a crypto processing service for B2B customers.

* [Exodus](https://www.finscanner.io/products/exodus) (desktop & mobile) — a multi-cryptocurrency wallet that boasts an easy-to-use UI. You can keep your 0x, Aragon, Augur, Basic Attention Token (BAT), Bancor, Civic, District0x, EOS, Edgeless, FirstBlood, FunFair, Gnosis, Golem, iExec RLC, Matchpool, Metal, Numeraire, OmiseGo, SALT, SingularDTV, Storj, Status, WeTrust and Wings all in one place and easily calculate and organize your savings with their pie chart portfolio. Exodus has a built-in exchange that allows you to instantly trade the supported coin between themselves. The backup wizard will allow you to keep your wallet safe and ready for later use. Exodus is partially open source.

Find more cryptocurrency wallets on the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/crypto) to connect cryptocurrency payment gateways, securely store, send, receive or exchange your blockchain assets, and explore other functions as well!

## Tips to keep your crypto assets safe

* Once you have figured out different types of wallets, crypto keys, and certain pros and cons, let’s talk about the best practices to keep your crypto secure.
* Use strong, unique passwords and never reuse passwords across your accounts. This is basic advice for any of your accounts, so let’s not dwell on it too much.
* Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible. It adds a second layer of security to your account. Use apps like Google Authenticator.
* Diversify your wallets. Same as “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. At least use a couple of cold storage for long-term holdings and at least one online wallet for trading and transactions.
* Have a backup of your private keys/seed phrase. Just in case back them up and keep them in different locations. You don’t want to have a heart attack by losing access to all your holdings.
* Double-check before sending crypto. Some malicious programs can edit and paste a wrong transaction address whenever you send a transaction.
* Privacy comes first. The less people know about your digital assets, the better it is for your security.

## Closing line

With the growing use of the digital space for financial settlements, it is essential to rethink how you manage your funds. The crypto industry provides you with your own bank, where you are the only one responsible for its safety. Here, cryptocurrency wallets are the main element of your bank’s infrastructure. That is why, before using any type of wallet, it is important to understand the principles of its operation. By implementing the best practices above, you can significantly reduce the risks and fully enjoy owning cryptocurrencies.

If you are ready to take action and enter the crypto industry now, check out the [Finscanner marketplace](https://www.finscanner.io/marketplace/crypto) to find your best solution!

It becomes much easier to acquire some amount of crypto assets these days...

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