What is a bear market? A bear market, also known as a market downturn, refers to a period when asset prices begin to fall by at least 20% compared to the previous peak. In this phase, the market is characterized by pessimism and uncertainty, and investors are more likely to sell their assets, fearing further declines. When market sentiment is negative, a sell-off often occurs, further exacerbating the decline. Unlike a bull market, a bear market can lead to significant losses if appropriate measures are not taken. Investors try to protect their capital by selling risky stocks and investing in safer instruments, such as bonds or gold. This is exactly what we are seeing in the market right now. For retail investors, it is a good opportunity to catch their entry point and wait for events that could trigger a reversal. However, be cautious; the process can drag on for months or even years, so invest wisely!
What is a bear market? A bear market, also known as a market downturn, refers to a period when asset prices begin to decline by at least 20% compared to the previous peak. During this phase, the market is characterized by pessimism and uncertainty, and investors are more likely to sell their assets, fearing further declines. When market sentiment is negative, a sell-off of stocks often occurs, further exacerbating the decline. Unlike a bull market, a bear market can lead to significant losses if appropriate measures are not taken. Investors try to protect their capital by selling risky stocks and investing in safer instruments, such as bonds or gold. This is exactly what we are seeing in the market right now. For retail investors, it is a good opportunity to catch their entry point and wait for events that could signal a reversal. However, be cautious; the process may drag on for months or even years, so invest wisely!
According to the creator of the system — Satoshi Nakamoto — money should be freely (without external control) transferred from its owner to the recipient (who becomes the next owner) and to avoid inflation, any centralized money issuance should be canceled. This became the main principles of the Bitcoin system. New bitcoins appear exclusively according to an algorithm, which predetermined their quantity and appearance time, and which does not depend on the decisions of any government bodies, organizations, or individuals. Approximately every 10 minutes a new block is added to the blockchain and the one who generated it receives a fixed amount of bitcoins "from the system", meaning these are new bitcoins that did not exist before. Initially, this reward was 50 bitcoins (see also the Mining section)
In general, it is possible to obtain bitcoins in two ways: as a reward for generating the next block (mining) or from someone as a transfer to your address, for example, in exchange for traditional currency or provided goods (services).
According to the creator of the system — Satoshi Nakamoto, — money should be transferred freely (without external control) from its owner to the recipient (who becomes the next owner) and to avoid inflation, any centralized money issuance must be canceled. This became the main principles of the bitcoin system. New bitcoins appear solely according to an algorithm that defines their quantity and time of appearance in advance, and which does not depend on the decisions of any state bodies, organizations, or individuals. Approximately every 10 minutes, a new block is added to the blockchain, and the one who generated it receives a fixed number of bitcoins as a reward 'from the system', meaning these are new bitcoins that did not exist before. Initially, such a reward was 50 bitcoins (see also the Mining section).
In general, it is possible to obtain bitcoins in two ways: as a reward for generating the next block (mining) or from someone as a transfer to your address, for example, in exchange for traditional currency or provided goods (services).
Ripple — a real-time gross settlement system, currency exchange, and remittance network developed by Ripple Labs. It is also sometimes referred to as the Ripple Transaction Protocol (RTXP) or simply Ripple protocol. Built on a distributed open-source internet protocol, a consensus ledger, and its own cryptocurrency called XRP. Launched in 2012, Ripple aims to provide 'secure, instant, and nearly free global financial transactions of any size with no chargebacks.' It supports tokens that represent fiat currency, cryptocurrency, commodities, or any other unit of value, such as miles for frequently flying passengers or mobile minutes. Essentially, Ripple is based on an open distributed database or ledger that uses a consensus process to enable payments, exchanges, and remittance of funds in a distributed ledger.
#USCryptoReserve United States President Donald Trump on Sunday announced his government would create a national strategic crypto reserve that would include five cryptocurrencies, adding he would make the US “the crypto capital of the world”.
In a statement on his Truth Social network, Trump said a crypto working group, which was set up following his inauguration in January, is pressing forward with the reserve’s creation, fulfilling promises he first made to crypto lobbyists during his election campaign.
Following his Sunday announcement, values of the named currencies, including Bitcoin, soared, following what has been a weeks-long slump.
#VIRTUALWhale In a two story house from a local residence, on the living room, there is a lanky tall girl wearing glasses who is facing an old, antique computer. A series of keyboard noises resounded on this silent room as her focus is solely on the screen of the computer.
'Just a bit more!' She thought, excitement slowly budding within her. Until a final press of the Enter key, she stood up with a look of accomplishment. "Finally!"
In front of her screen, majority of her desktop is being occupied by a black and white panel. From there is just a black dot. Besides it is another panel where a string of characters full of programming jargons are located.
The glasses girl took a breathe as she slowly put her hands on the mouse. The cursor slowly moves onto the [DEPLOY] option. A click, and then the black dot on the panel made a pulse. The programming panel on the side automatically closing after it.
The black pixelated dot continue to create pulses, which can be vaguely heard by her low quality speakers. The sound is honestly choppy, and the girl is thinking about changing it if she have money.
In fact, she is thinking about changing into a better one, having felt it hard to program with this low quality computer.
"But if my theory is correct..." She mutters, staring carefully at the black pixel.
The pixelated dot slowly pulses for awhile, before a prompt was suddenly made.
$ETH Ethereum is a pioneer in the use of smart or intelligent contracts based on blockchains. When deployed on the blockchain, a smart contract becomes similar to a self-operating computer program that automatically executes when certain conditions are met. On the blockchain, smart contracts allow code to operate exactly as programmed without any possibility of downtime, censorship, fraud, or third-party interference. It can facilitate the exchange of money, content, property, shares, or any other values[2].
The Ethereum network hit the market on July 30, 2015, with the release of the first 72 million Ethereum. As Ethereum greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of blockchain implementation, it is being adopted by both major players such as Microsoft, IBM, Acronis, the R3 banking consortium, and new startups[3][4][5][6].
Inventor and co-founder of Apple Steve Wozniak stated that Ethereum could become as influential as Apple in the long term[7].
Understanding Onchain Analysis Onchain analysis, also known as blockchain analytics, involves examining blockchain data such as transactions and wallet address holdings to understand the actions of market participants on respective blockchains in real time. This unique insight into market movements, absent in traditional finance, provides participants with a different approach to research and due diligence.
Public blockchains such as Ethereum, Solana, and Bitcoin are transparent digital ledgers, auditable by anyone and everyone. Every transaction and event on these chains is visible and publicly accessible, allowing anyone, anywhere, at any time, to access and analyze it.
This transparency ushers in a different paradigm in trading. It enables real-time monitoring of transactions, providing a deep understanding of market activities. Consequently, users who effectively utilize onchain analytics can make more informed decisions and identify opportunities early.
Understanding Trend Analysis Trend analysis tries to predict a trend, such as a bull market run, and ride that trend until data suggests a trend reversal, such as a bull-to-bear market. Trend analysis is helpful because moving with trends, and not against them, will lead to profit for an investor. It is based on the idea that what has happened in the past gives traders an idea of what will happen in the future. There are three main types of trends: short-, intermediate- and long-term.
A trend is a general direction the market is taking during a specified period of time. Trends can be both upward and downward, relating to bullish and bearish markets, respectively. While there is no specified minimum amount of time required for a direction to be considered a trend, the longer the direction is maintained, the more notable the trend.
Trend analysis is the process of looking at current trends in order to predict future ones and is considered a form of comparative analysis. This can include attempting to determine whether a current market trend, such as gains in a particular market sector, is likely to continue, as well as whether a trend in one market area could result in a trend in another. Though a trend analysis may involve a large amount of data, there is no guarantee that the results will be correct.
#ActiveUserImpact The metric has many uses in software management such as in social networking services, online games, or mobile apps, in web analytics such as in web apps, in commerce such as in online banking and in academia, such as in user behavior analytics and predictive analytics. Although having extensive uses in digital behavioural learning, prediction and reporting, it also has impacts on the privacy and security, and ethical factors should be considered thoroughly. It measures how many users visit or interact with the product or service over a given interval or period.[1] However, there is no standard definition of this term, so comparison of the reporting between different providers of this metric is problematic. Also, most providers have the interest to show this number as high as possible, therefore defining even the most minimal interaction as "active".[2] Still the number is a relevant metric to evaluate development of user interaction of a given provider.
This metric is commonly assessed per month as monthly active users (MAU),[3] per week as weekly active users (WAU),[4] per day as daily active users (DAU)[5] and peak concurrent users (PCU).[6]
Coin-Specific Signals A Coin-specific signal is exactly what the name indicates.
It is a signal for a specific coin, usually based on analysis of price movement specific to that coin, or news and updates related to the coin and it’s adoption, popularity, media buzz, etc. This signal does not consider the rest of the market or other coins, unless there is a reason for another coins impact to the specific coin (Such as with tokens in the ETH blockchain).
Pros: Coin-specific signals can create better chances of making huge gains if you put enough money into position at the right time.
This kind of signal is a surgical knife, not a broad paddle.
Cons: Because the signal is not reacting to the macro market, if macro-market movement happens suddenly, you can loose big, especially if you bet your entire farm on a single specific-coin and the market decides, “not today sir, sorry”.
I tested a few specific signals this year, and while I was able to pull some small gains testing, ultimately I abandoned the specific signals, opting to search for a better source of Market-Mover Signals.
Defining the prevailing market sentiment can be a critical factor in making informed trading decisions. The Sentiment Index addresses this need by offering a comprehensive analysis of a variety of data.
What is market sentiment in forex? In forex trading, market sentiment refers to the overall attitude or feeling of traders towards a particular currency pair or the market as a whole. It reflects the collective mood of traders, whether they are optimistic (bullish sentiment) or pessimistic (bearish sentiment) about future price movements. While market sentiment is a general feeling, tools such as sentiment indices allow you to measure it more precisely.
The Sentiment Index can be a valuable tool for intraday currency trading. The Index is based on transaction flow information and is designed to show long and short ratios in the most popular currencies and currency pairs consolidated by liquidity consumers and providers.
Liquidity consumers are represented by individual clients, brokers, investment companies and hedge funds. The sentiment ratio of this group is the percentage of longs or shorts in the overall amount of open trades, executed by the liquidity consumer. The index also includes liquidity from individual bids and offers of the foregoing participants if it is not provided on a regular basis.
Liquidity providers are represented by centralized marketplaces and a number of banks which continuously provide ask and bid prices on the market. The sentiment ratio of this group is opposite to liquidity consumers data because, for each trade executed through SWFX, there are two equal and offsetting over-the-counter transactions.
The index reflects the distribution of the current market conditions and is updated every 30 minutes.
What is wallet screening? Wallet screening is the process of analyzing cryptocurrency wallet addresses to assess their risk levels and identify any connections to illicit activities or high-risk entities. It is a critical component of cryptocurrency compliance and blockchain intelligence, helping to ensure that digital assets are not used for illicit purposes such as money laundering, fraud, or terrorism financing.
Wallet screening leverages advanced blockchain analytics to flag suspicious addresses and enhance transparency within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
How does wallet screening work? Wallet screening involves examining blockchain wallet addresses against known databases of high-risk or sanctioned entities. The process typically includes:
Database matching: Wallet addresses are compared against blacklists, watchlists, and other databases maintained by regulators, law enforcement, and private organizations. Behavioral analysis: Patterns of transactions are analyzed to detect unusual activity, such as rapid transfers, high-frequency transactions, or use of mixers and tumblers. Risk scoring: Each wallet is assigned a risk score based on its activity, connections, and any associations with flagged entities. Real-time monitoring: Advanced tools continuously monitor wallet activity to detect any changes in behavior or new connections to illicit activities.
#LitecoinETF According to Cointelegraph, daily transactions on the Litecoin network have reached $9.6 billion as exchange-traded fund (ETF) issuers began offering their Litecoin ETFs in the United States. This surge in activity coincided with a significant increase in Litecoin’s market cap, which grew by 46% between February 2 and 19, as reported by Santiment on February 21. The report attributes this to a significant increase in network utility, with the network processing $9.6 billion in daily transaction volume over the past week.
Litecoin’s daily transaction volume was around $2.8 billion in late August, representing a 243% increase in five months. In addition, Litecoin’s price has more than doubled since early November, outpacing the overall cryptocurrency market’s 42% growth over the same period. This growth is partly driven by expectations surrounding a potential Litecoin ETF, which comes 13 months after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the first Bitcoin ETFs.
#GasFeeImpact What Are Gas Fees? On blockchain platforms, especially on Ethereum, gas fees are the payments users make to miners or validators when performing a transaction or executing a smart contract. These fees mainly compensate miners (or validators) for the computational work, transaction validation, and maintenance of the blockchain network's security.Since blockchain operates in a decentralized manner, transactions and smart contract executions are not handled by a single entity, but rather by multiple nodes (miners) across the network. Gas fees play a critical role in incentivizing miners to participate in the transaction process. The fees paid by users not only ensure that transactions are processed on the network but also serve as an economic driver to keep the blockchain network running.
How Are Gas Fees Calculated? Gas fees are calculated based on two main factors: Gas Limit and Gas Price.
Gas Limit
Gas Limit refers to the maximum amount of gas a user is willing to pay for a transaction. Each operation (such as a transfer or smart contract execution) requires a certain amount of computational resources in the blockchain network. More complex operations require more gas.
For example, a simple transfer may require 21,000 gas, whereas executing a complex smart contract could require millions of gas.
The Litecoin project was conceived and created by Charlie Lee as an alternative to Bitcoin, whose source code was taken as a basis. The project was launched on October 13, 2011.
The Litecoin payment system is supported by the simultaneous operation of a large number of copies of the client program, the open source code of which was published on GitHub on October 7, 2011. As of February 2014, the current version of the client is 0.8.6.2. The new version includes improvements in security and performance of the client program and the network as a whole. Also, in version 0.8.6.1, the transaction fee was reduced by 20 times. Other clients may also be released.
In April 2013, Litecoin was referred to in the news as an alternative/reserve/replacement for Bitcoin.
In November 2013, the market capitalization of Litecoin in US dollars increased significantly, rising by 100% within 24 hours.[2] Various ranges of price fluctuations are marked in history — 1 LTC at the beginning of last year could be purchased for $5, and by the end for $370.[3] In August 2021, the market capitalization of Litecoin was $12.2 billion.[4]
What is the XPR Network? The XPR Network represents a significant advancement in blockchain technology, positioning itself as a first-level proof-of-stake blockchain. The platform is distinguished by its use of WebAssembly (WASM) smart contracts, which are key to achieving high performance, scalability, and sustainable computing in the blockchain ecosystem. The network is designed to support a wide range of applications, including token development, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), exchanges, and lending markets, making it a versatile foundation for developers.
One of the key features of the XPR Network is its commitment to facilitating a seamless development experience. It provides a WebSDK along with connected libraries focused on front-end development, ensuring accessibility, speed, and the absence of transaction fees, commonly referred to as "gas fees" in the blockchain context. This approach not only simplifies the development process, but also encourages innovation in the developer community.
What is the XPR Network? The XPR Network represents a significant advancement in blockchain technology, positioning itself as a first-tier proof-of-stake blockchain. The platform is distinguished by its use of WebAssembly (WASM) smart contracts, which are key to achieving high performance, scalability, and sustainable computing in the blockchain ecosystem. The network is designed to support a wide range of applications, including token development, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), exchanges, and lending markets, making it a versatile foundation for developers.
One of the key features of the XPR Network is its commitment to facilitating a seamless development experience. It provides a WebSDK along with connected libraries focused on front-end development, ensuring accessibility, speed, and the absence of transaction fees, commonly referred to as "gas fees" in the blockchain context. This approach not only simplifies the development process, but also encourages innovation in the developer community.
$XRP What is the XPR Network? The XPR Network represents a significant advancement in blockchain technology, positioning itself as a first-level proof-of-stake blockchain. The platform is distinguished by its use of WebAssembly (WASM) smart contracts, which are key to achieving high performance, scalability, and sustainable computing in the blockchain ecosystem. The network is designed to support a wide range of applications, including token development, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), exchanges, and lending markets, making it a versatile foundation for developers.
One of the key features of the XPR Network is its commitment to facilitating a seamless development experience. It provides a WebSDK along with connected libraries focused on front-end development, ensuring accessibility, speed, and the absence of transaction fees, commonly referred to as "gas fees" in the blockchain context. This approach not only simplifies the development process, but also encourages innovation in the development community. #LTC&XRPETFsNext?