Compound Finance – Decentralized Lending Protocol Review There are dozens of different platforms in the world of decentralized finance. The most popular DeFi platforms are decentralized cryptocurrency lending and borrowing services. These offer incredible benefits to both lenders and borrowers, primarily because there is no third party in the middle requiring elaborate paperwork and taking a cut of all transactions. Compound Finance is the first DeFi lending platform to…
@Heath in May 2021
Is Bitcoin A Better Investment Than Gold? Over the past few years, gold has proved to be a safe haven commodity for investors. However, the recent pandemic seems to be a positive turning point for its fierce competitor bitcoin. the reputation of the digital asset as a safe commodity waxed stronger during the economic meltdown and the value and adoption have been on the rise since then. The result has been a greater interest in digital assets and more people choosing to buy…
How to protect your crypto assets from hackers In what is regarded as the most famous and biggest hack in bitcoin history, about 850,000 BTC ($460 Million at the time) was stolen from the Mt.Gox exchange in 2014. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Gox Also in 2020, about $3.8 billion worth of crypto was stolen in more than 120 hack attempts by cybercriminals. Two things give crypto traders nightmares in the crypto world. The volatility of the crypto asset prices. The fear of…
Central Bank Digital Currency Case Study – South African (Rand) Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are booming and interest by individuals, corporations and even governments is increasing. Presently, up to 80% of banks globally are exploring or trying to implement Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Countries like China are amongst the leading countries on this quest. https://decentralised.africa/central-bank-digital-digital-currencies-explained/ Many South Africans are joining…
Simple Tips to Help You Maximize Crypto Trading Profits Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that doesn’t require much introduction. It is the leading digital asset in terms of market cap and a top trend that has been around for a while. With increased popularity and adoption comes the debate around the best way to make money with Bitcoin. There are several ways to make money with the asset, it all depends on your investing approach or trading strategy. Buying and selling bitcoin or…
Risk-free crypto trading, is it real? Over the course of the last decade, cryptocurrencies have experienced unprecedented growth and garnered a lot of interest across a range of demographics from all over the world. Interest in digital currencies is spiking globally and search terms such as “how to buy Bitcoin” have seen an uptick in interest according to Google trends. This is just one of many indicators that suggests a notable influx of people are entering the blockchain…
Different Types of Crypto Exchanges Explained The noticeable increase in adoption and use of cryptocurrencies worldwide can largely be attributed to the availability of digital asset exchanges. They play a pivotal role in spurring the growth of bitcoin and other digital currencies. There are different types of exchanges you can buy bitcoin and other crypto assets from so before looking at the various types of exchange platforms available on the market, it’s important to…
Is Bitcoin the best performing asset class of the decade or the biggest bubble? Bitcoin gained over 100.3% in Q1 of 2021. In Dec of 2019, it had recorded more than 9,000,000% gains since its creation a decade ago. If you consider its performance since it began being traded on public markets in 2011, Bitcoin’s cumulative gains have eclipsed 20,000,000%, which by far outpaces cumulative gains of US Large Caps, which recorded returns of approximately 300%. On an annualized…
Buying Bitcoin: The Risks & How to Overcome Them Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency. Although decentralised and fairly accessible to most investors and traders, there are some inherent risks associated with digital currencies. These need to be addressed in order that people can devise the proper risk mitigation strategies in case they wish to buy bitcoin and hold the crypto asset as an investment or trade it.…
Is it too late to buy bitcoin? Cost averaging with South African (Rand) case study During the first quarter of 2021, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies grew and made new all-time highs. Even though the market has had some notable corrections recently, it still appears the interest in cryptocurrencies is not waning. Many people, especially those who are still new to the crypto markets wonder whether it is too late to buy bitcoin now and also where the bitcoin price might be…
DeFi 101 DeFi is a new financial sector. It has been around for about two years but has only recently begun to see significant growth. Over the last year alone, the total value “locked” in DeFi exceeded 50 billion USD and continues to rise. Users are rushing into the space for many reasons, but primarily due to the high interest rates offered by DeFi applications, which have exceeded 2000% in some cases. https://defipulse.com/ This activity has drawn the attention of famous…
Popular Platforms for Buying & Selling Bitcoin in Africa **Top platforms for exchanging digital assets in Africa** **Luno** Luno is a South African founded and globally recognised digital asset exchange based in Cape Town and operating across many countries. Luno is popular in South Africa and Nigeria especially. https://www.luno.com/invite/NPAMV The exchange offers users the opportunity to buy and sell cryptos such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, and Bitcoin Cash. Also…
What is Yield Farming? **Back in 2017…** Cryptocurrency exploded into the mainstream. Everyone was talking about blockchains, Bitcoin, and ICOs. Now, in 2020, the buzzwords have changed, the landscape has evolved, and digital assets have got smarter and more interesting. People are talking about DeFi, liquidity pools, and, as you will learn about here, yield farming. https://decentralised.africa/defi-101/ https://decentralised.africa/liquidity-pools/ In this article, we will…
A Beginner’s Guide to Buying & Selling Bitcoin in South Africa Bitcoin doesn’t require much introduction, it’s been around for the last decade. It is currently the leading and most valuable crypto asset. The crypto continues to maintain its relevance despite the price volatility. It’s not a surprise that the interest in BTC is high in South Africa. Many people have a lot of questions to ask about the digital asset in the country. This is because South Africa is one of the…
If you bought Bitcoin last year, how much would you have made today? Digital currencies, particularly Bitcoin have become some of the most talked about, speculative, and controversial investment vehicles today. While on the one hand, the blockchain powered industry is providing opportunities that many are taking advantage of and profiting from – on the other hand, there are more ponzi and fraud schemes wreaking havoc online, resulting in great losses for unsuspecting wealth…
Best digital currency exchange platforms in Africa The African continent has embraced a variety of digital currencies including stablecoins, mostly due to the volatility of local currencies. https://decentralised.africa/what-is-a-stablecoin/ A significant amount of cryptocurrency trading takes place in key markets on the continent, in places such as Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, just to name a few. The trading volumes especially…
African banks embracing digital currencies In view of remarkable developments in the crypto sector worldwide, the question is, which African banks are gaining first mover advantage in the crypto space? Like in other sectors of the economy, institutions that gain early entry into the digital asset market space will have a competitive advantage. As the saying goes, “early birds catch the fattest worms,” the same may apply to banks that adopt cryptocurrency in their operations…
Huobi Digital Asset Trading Platform Review Huobi was founded by Leon Li in 2013 and has its headquarters in Singapore, despite being registered in Seychelles. It’s arguably the biggest and most popular exchange in Asia and boasts over 1,300 employees. Before China’s crypto ban in 2017, it was the biggest and most active exchange in the PRoC, with some arguing that it still is, in spite of the ban, however, Huobi is working hard to shut down accounts and stay on the right…
Publish0x Review 2021 Publish0x is an open publishing platform much like Medium but with cryptocurrency tipping integrated. A crypto agnostic publishing platform that rewards both authors and readers in crypto, the Publish0x online publishing platform was founded by Dan Bainbridge of BigBirdVC. The project hasn’t done an ICO for their own token but instead the platform integrates other crypto assets, starting with ETH ERC20 tokens which users can withdraw to their Web3…
What is a better store of value – Bitcoin or Gold? An asset/commodity that offers protection against inflation and the loss of value of other assets during normal times or crises can be said to satisfy the store of value/wealth property. In simple terms, to regard an asset as a store of value, it should be able to retain its value and also appreciate over time. Over the years, bitcoin and gold have been the main assets that come to mind when you talk about a store of value.…
What is Better – Storing your Savings in Bitcoin or Fiat? We live in the 21st century where everything is becoming digitized, the internet is providing solutions to our everyday problems. Businesses are going online, cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology are reshaping our financial institutions, and artificial intelligence is replacing manpower. People now prefer to buy bitcoin and use it for transactions ahead of fiat currencies like the Rand.…
DeFi Glossary DeFi is gaining serious momentum. As people look for alternatives to the centralised financial world, new tools and services are popping up everyday. However, along with those innovations comes a huge amount of acronyms and expressions that can easily fly right over your head. If you want some explanations that are written in everyday terms, you’ve come to the right place. Bookmark this page so you can revisit us the next time you’re stumped by terminology.…
Top 3 Yield Farming Crypto Platforms **Venus** https://venus.io/ Venus is described as decentralised marketplace for lenders and borrowers. It is additionally also recognised as a money market & synthetic stablecoin protocol. According to the Whitepaper, Venus is aimed at enabling the decentralised stablecoin, VAI, which is built on the Binance Smart Chain and backed by a basket of stablecoins and crypto assets. https://decentralised.africa/what-is-a-stablecoin/ Venus is…
What It Takes To Be A Successful Business On Digital Platforms The concept of "free as a business model" has existed since the advent of commerce. It has long been understood, from the times of age-old merchants who pioneered world exploration, to the more recent years which have been largely dominated by modern day business and social entrepreneurs. Whether we consider the actions of luggage carriers who used to offer ship boarding assistance free of charge to passengers,…
Blockchain in Business Q&A w/ IBM In this interview with Chief Technology Officer, IBM Blockchain Services for Middle East & Africa, Anthony Butler, I speak to the IBM Distinguished Engineer who highlights how distributed ledger technology is transforming multiple industries. ***IBM has been working on blockchain technology for many years and has been developing blockchain-based global trade solutions for industrial supply chains. Is there any particular reason your company…
Why You Need To Redefine Yourself Away From 'Job Titles' In Today's Workplace *Job titles constrain. As an independent party in the global workforce, I'm free to express my personality and showcase my capabilities more accurately.* Until now I hadn't even given the subject concerning the classification and identification of capabilities by job titles much concentrated thought, only the occasional consideration that any adaptive species is bound make when confronted with…
Why Strategic Networking Is The Nexus Between Entrepreneurs And Success Whether you have just established your start-up business or have been enterprising for years, connecting and networking with other entrepreneurs is crucial to building a solid foundation for long-standing partnerships. Some call it business networking but I prefer the terms strategic or tactical networking, and not in the military sense of the words, but rather more in line with pro-engagement. In any…
Forget Malcom Gladwell's 10,000-Hour Rule. We Live In The Age Of Lifelong Learning. *In the age of near-constant innovation and disruption, what you spent 3.5 years learning may very well be redundant by the time you become an 'expert'.* Let's face it; in the broader framework within which those talents find their application, it's probably safe to say there is no such thing as a world-class creative. Granted, there are individuals with above average creative faculties, and…
Top 10 lessons I learned from networking with other entrepreneurs Naturally, no one is interested in your idea. You have to persuade and prove you’re capable of turning the idea into a business success. Do something you’re passionate about instead of chasing the trend. Success is not guaranteed and failure is almost inevitable if you don’t love what you’re doing. Constantly seek well-thought-out criticism but don't let people who you may respect tell you it can’t be done…
Distributed Ledger Technology Explained **Introduction** A distributed ledger refers to a distributed record of transactions maintained through a consensus among a network of peer to peer nodes. A consensus is important for record-keeping. Before adding a fresh block to the chain, there are rules to follow. The most popular form of distributed ledger technology is the blockchain. The blockchain offers the foundation for cryptocurrencies as well as other applications.…
How Changes In Workplace Culture Influence Workspace Design Workplace culture is changing how businesses operate and is driving the demand for alternative workspaces. The more remote work gets popular, the more redundant the office cubicle is becoming. Our attitudes about why, how, and where we work are changing. Unlike previous generations, it can be argued that the workforce of today and the future place a higher premium on self-determination and flexibility than higher…
Top 3 Platforms for Trading Tokenized Stocks **Mirror.Finance** Mirror is a smart contract powered DeFi protocol that makes the creation of synthetics/fungible assets using the Terra blockchain possible. These synthetic assets are called Mirrored Assets (mAssets). Such assets are meant to track the price of real world assets by mimicking price behaviour. The purpose of Mirror synthetics is for them to be utilized as key building blocks in smart contracts. This enables…
Top 3 Metaverse Crypto Tokens **What is the Metaverse?** The Metaverse is defined as a parallel digital universe or virtual-reality space shared by a collective of users, wherein they can interact with the real world, computer-generated environments and virtual assets offering ecosystem participants unique experiences. The metaverse essentially brings together many aspects including enhanced physical reality, augmented reality, and virtual worlds. Metaverse is also generally…