MKR, the governance token fueling the network, comes from the same platform that created DAI, the algorithmic stablecoin soft-pegged to the US dollar. MKR serves both the decentralized autonomous organization, MakerDAO, and the software platform, Maker Protocol, both built on the Ethereum blockchain. These two platforms generate DAI and allow users to issue and manage the DAI stablecoin. 

What is Maker (MKR)?

Developed in 2015 and officially launched in December 2017, Maker is a revolutionary project that was built to host and generate DAI, a community-managed cryptocurrency that has its value soft pegged to the US dollar. The MakerDAO forms part of the larger Maker Protocol which allows DAI to maintain its value and operate without the need for a third party. The Maker Protocol requires both tokens to operate: DAI and MKR. 

To understand MKR, one must first be familiar with the DAI stablecoin. DAI serves as a loan option for borrowers, with the platform allowing users to take out a loan in DAI tokens by locking another cryptocurrency, such as ETH. When the borrower pays back the DAI that was borrowed, they are able to reclaim the collateral used for their loan. However, if its value drops below a predefined level it could automatically be sold off.

The Maker ecosystem is one of the first DeFi projects to enter the market, years before the movement took off. The DeFi sector revolves around providing decentralized financial products powered by smart contracts to the masses. 

Though the DAI stablecoin is best known as a service offered by the Maker Protocol, the MKR token is actually the crypto asset that secures changes to maintain its functioning. The governance token MKR gives holders voting rights over the Maker Protocol's development, such as what cryptocurrencies can be accepted as collateral and the price at which these assets will be sold if liquidation is to occur. The MKR price appreciates in value based on the success of DAI. 

The Maker protocol accepts a range of cryptocurrencies, including ETH, MANA, and BAT, as collateral.

Who created the Maker platform?

Established in 2015, the Maker Protocol was developed by a team of tech-savvy developers spearheaded by Rune Christensen. As time progressed, this collective eventually organized and formed into an official entity known as the Maker Foundation, a corporation located in the Cayman Islands.

In 2017, the Maker team raised a remarkable $12 million in funding by selling MKR tokens to some of the most influential venture capital firms at the time including Andreessen Horowitz, Polychain Capital, and 1Confirmation. A year later, another $15 million worth of MKR tokens were bought by Andreessen Horowitz, who expressed the intention to help govern the DAI system by participating in the MakerDAO. 

In 2019, the project raised another $27.5 million from venture firms Paradigm and Dragonfly Capital Partners for expansion to Asia. 

How does the Maker Protocol work?

When the Maker Protocol launched, 1 million MKR tokens were created. These tokens gave holders voting rights on key decisions through a process called Executive Voting.

First, the sentiment of MKR holders is measured on a new proposal through Proposal Polling before committing any changes to the software. The Executive Vote then takes place, and once the highest amount of MKR token holders commits to a proposal and the vote is passed, the winning proposal is implemented into the Maker Protocol. The number of tokens holds more president than the number of token holders, i.e. 10 holders with 1,000 tokens each will outvote 100 token holders with 50 tokens each. 

Non-MKR holders also have the opportunity to participate in the vote via threads in the MakerDAO forum however the MKR holders have the final say.

DAI Savings Rate

MKR holders also have a say in how much DAI holders can earn if they save DAI tokens on the platform, known as the DAI Savings Rate. In previous years this amount has varied between 0% and 8.75%. Following the recent market crash, MKR holders voted to make the DAI Savings Rate zero to encourage holders to sell their DAI and bring the price back into equilibrium.

When the DAI price drops below $1, MKR holders can vote to raise the DAI Savings Rate to encourage more users to hold DAI which increases the price.

What is MKR?

MKR is an ERC-20 token and acts as a governance and utility token to the Maker Protocol with no fixed supply. The token gains value as the use of the Maker Protocol increases as the supply is reduced when the Protocol is working effectively and increased when governed poorly. MKR tokens are created or destroyed through surplus auctions and debt auctions.

Surplus Auctions

The Maker system holds a Surplus Auction when the fees collected exceed an amount decided by MKR holders. DAI that surpasses this threshold must be purchased with MKR in order to settle the auction. This MKR is then destroyed reducing the total supply and thus increasing the token price.

Debt Auctions

Conversely, if the Maker system is underperforming its locked coins are sold for a lower value than before, causing it to raise capital via a Debt Auction. Through this process, new MKR tokens are created and auctioned for DAI. This in turn increases the MKR tokens and reduces the price. 

In this light, MKR holders are incentivized to keep the platform performing optimally in order for it to generate more fees and thereby reduce the MKR supply.

How can I buy Maker (MKR) tokens?

Anyone looking to add Maker MKR tokens to their crypto portfolio can securely purchase Maker tokens through the Tap app. The mobile app allows anyone with an account to conveniently and safely purchase cryptocurrencies through an effortless trading experience. 

Users can buy /sell Maker MKR tokens using both crypto or fiat currencies, and safely store the tokens in the unique crypto wallet integrated into the app. Download the Tap app today to tap into the Maker ecosystem today.

Made up of the Overledger blockchain operating system and QNT token, the goal of the Quant Network is to allow multiple blockchains to work together and to give more flexibility when it comes to linking different global networks, services, and chains. With an impressive founder and resilience to the bear market, QNT has made a considerable impression in the industry.

What Is The Quant Network?

The Quant Network was designed to connect blockchains and networks on a global scale, prioritising interoperability and trust functions between them using the Overledger operating system, the first OS built for blockchains.

The Overledger network acts as the backbone of the project and is not a blockchain but rather an Application Programming Interface (API) gateway that allows developers to build decentralised multi-chain applications (known as Mapps) and bridges the gap between various blockchain networks.

The Quant project believes that this technology will be the foundation on which the future digital economy will be built. In light of this, the network has been working with central banks in the US and UK to build Central Bank Digital Currencies (CDBCs).

Founded in 2015 the platform officially launched in 2018 following a successful ICO earlier that year. July 2020 marks the launch of the world’s first blockchain operating system in July 2020, Version 1.0.

Who Created The Quant Network?

Quant was founded by Gilbert Verdian, a cybersecurity expert who has held government-level positions around the world. These positions include the UK Treasury, the Australian Department of Health, and the US Federal Reserve, and private sector roles at HSBC Bank, Mastercard’s Vocalink, BP, and more. 

With over two decades of experience in the cybersecurity space, Verdian learned the power that blockchain technology holds when it comes to solving a plethora of security problems related to the exchange of digital assets and information on a global level. 

Verdian sits as the chair of the UK Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology committee and is a member of the EU’s Blockchain Observatory and the Federal Reserve. 

In 2017, Colin Paterson and Paolo Tasca joined the project as co-founders, each bringing their own impressive experience. Paterson, acting Chief Technology Officer, is a cybersecurity expert having worked with Deutsche Bank and Vocalink and acted as the chief information officer of NSW Ambulance, the CISO of eHealth NSW, and the security lead of the Ministry of Justice, UK, prior to joining the project. 

Tasca, Chief Strategist, serves as the Executive Director of the University College London (UCL) Centre for Blockchain Technologies, Executive Board Member of the DEC Institute, and as Co-Chair of the Hedera Treasury Management and Token Economics Committee.

How Does The Quant Network Work?

The Quant network is centred around the Overledger feature. With Overledger, businesses can connect their preexisting technology infrastructures with a number of blockchain ledgers using an easy-to-use API.

APIs are software that creates or processes requests between two programs, acting as an intermediary. Many online applications rely on APIs, including finance trading software and social media sites.

The Overledger operating system lets developers launch Mapps, which are decentralised applications that work with numerous existing blockchains. Overledger operates in a similar manner to Windows, Android, or Macintosh OS in that it allows applications to run on it. The technology sits between underlying blockchain infrastructure and allows the Mapps to communicate seamlessly with multiple blockchains.

In order to access Overledger and build Mapps on the network, developers are required to hold QNT tokens and use these tokens to pay transaction fees, as well as a fiat-based annual licence. The platform also allows developers to create their own tokens using its QRC-20 token standards (similar to Ethereum ERC-20 tokens) as well as create QRC-20 smart contracts. These functionalities were created in a drag-and-drop style so that anyone with no prior experience can create them.

As an example, a developer within the ecosystem could create a smart contract that incorporates both the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks. The interconnected smart contract could stipulate that Jane will pay Sandy 1 BTC only once Paul has paid Jane 1 ETH.

What Is QNT?

QNT is an ERC-20 token that is used to access the Overledger network and validate transactions on the network. There is a maximum supply of 14.6 million QNT tokens, of which over 80% are in circulation (at the time of writing).

All product users, developers, and gateway operators are required to purchase annual licences, used to maintain platform efficiency. These licence fees are converted to QNT and locked up in the Quant treasury. If a user does not renew their licence, they forfeit their fees, discouraging them from dumping tokens on the market if the price increases.

Transaction fees for using Overledger are paid for in QNT to gateway operators. Since its launch in August 2018, QNT has seen consistent price growth and activity on the network.

Where Can I Get QNT?

You can simply buy / sell QNT through the Tap app, one of the most secure solutions in the crypto space as being a fully regulated crypto fintech. Using a range of cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies on offer, users can exchange any of the supported currencies to build a healthy portfolio that can be safely stored in its unique wallet linked to your account. Find links to download the app from the Tap website.

Since launching in 2017 Tron has taken the world by storm with its blockchain technology-based operating system. Users around the world have flocked to the Tron blockchain network released by the Tron Foundation to create dapps (decentralized apps) and smart contracts, attracting plenty of investors at the same time. 

In a pool of a large number of digital assets, below we explore what Tron is and what it brings to the crypto industry.

What is Tron (TRX)?

The Tron blockchain is a platform on which developers can create dapps, smart contracts and tokens through its delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) model. Initially built on the Ethereum blockchain with an ERC-20 token, in 2018 the Tron protocol moved onto its own blockchain and created the Tron TRX tokens. 

That same year the Tron foundation acquired Bit Torrent, the biggest file-sharing site on the internet. In 2019, the platform launched the Bittorrent token, essentially releasing a second token under the same umbrella company. 

The aim behind the platform was to provide developers with a space in which they can create blockchain-based products, as well as better reward content creators for their efforts. The Tron network allows viewers to directly reward the creators using the TRX token, cutting out the middle-media-man and subsequent losses. 

With a higher TPS (transaction per second) processing capability, Tron establishes itself above its peers. According to the platform, Tron can handle up to 2,000 TPS, a high increase from the likes of Bitcoin’s 6 TPS and Ethereum’s 25 TPS.

Who created the Tron network?

The Tron power concept was created and launched by Tron founder Justin Sun (Sun Yuchen), a two-time recipient of the “30 Under 30” Forbes’ accolade. Before Tron, Sun launched an audio content platform Peiwo and worked as a representative for Ripple where he earned the attention of big investors.

Justin Sun is currently acting as the CEO of the Tron Foundation.

How does the Tron protocol works?

The Tron platform uses a DPoS model and consists of three layers: the core layer, the application layer and the storage layer. 

The Core Layer is responsible for computing instructions written in either Java or Solidity (the programming language Ethereum uses) and sending them to the Tron Virtual Machine which in turn executes the function.

The Application Layer is used by developers and allows them to create apps and wallets compatible with the relevant software and powered by TRX. 

The Storage Layer is designed to divide the state data (the data that maintains the status of smart contracts) and the blockchain data (the data that holds the transactional history).  

Through the DPoS system, 27 “super representatives” on the network take turns to validate the transactions and maintain the blockchain data. These representatives are chosen every 6 hours and when chosen earn TRX for their contributions to the network. 

Users can vote for super representatives and engage in staking by locking their TRX in an account and receiving Tron Power in return. Tron Power can then be used to vote for the super representatives, and when returned to TRX, lose the ability to vote. 

Block creation time on the Tron network is three seconds, with the current block reward set at 32 TRX. 

There are also three different nodes that users are able to operate: witness nodes, full nodes and Solidity nodes. Witness nodes can vote on protocol decisions and propose blocks, full nodes are responsible for broadcasting transactions and blocks to the network while Soliditiy nodes sync the blocks from the full nodes and provide APIs. 

What is TRX?

TRX is the native token to the Tron network. Initially created as an ERC-20 token, when the coin was launched on the Tron network holders of the ERC-20 version were able to swap them out and receive the new version. All ERC-20 tokens were then burnt. 

TRX is needed for using applications on the Tron network, staking, and participating in Tron’s consensus system

How can i buy Tron?

If you’d like to get your hands on TRX you will soon be able do so conveniently through your Tap app. In a recent onboarding of cryptocurrencies, Tap will soon be including TRX in its portfolio, allowing users to easily invest and hold the token through several convenient payment options. 

FAQs

What is the Tron foundation?

The Tron Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Singapore that is responsible for developing and providing software solutions to the Tron ecosystem.

What is Tron power?

Tron Power is an energy/bandwidth rental and investment platform for the Tron community.

What is the TRX supply?

There is no cap on the TRX token supply, at the time of writing the circulating supply of TRX tokens is 92.5 billion.

UNI est le token natif de la plateforme d’échange automatisée Uniswap, construite sur Ethereum. Acteur majeur de la DeFi, Uniswap est aujourd’hui quasiment devenu synonyme d’échange décentralisé et de trading automatisé de tokens liés à la finance décentralisée.

De son développement à son fonctionnement, en passant par ses récompenses et son offre totale, découvrons tout ce qu’il faut savoir sur cette cryptomonnaie emblématique de l’automated market maker (AMM).

Qu’est-ce que Uniswap (UNI) ?

Comme mentionné plus tôt, Uniswap est une plateforme d’échange décentralisée qui facilite le trading automatisé d’actifs de la DeFi. Sa particularité ? Tout se fait grâce à des smart contracts, sans intervention humaine ni entreprise centrale pour superviser les opérations — une approche qui pousse encore plus loin la philosophie décentralisée introduite par Bitcoin.

Uniswap a été créé pour apporter de la liquidité à l’écosystème DeFi. La plateforme permet à n’importe qui de créer un pool de liquidité pour n’importe quelle paire d’actifs numériques. Lancée fin 2018, Uniswap a connu un essor fulgurant avec l’explosion du mouvement DeFi. Malgré la complexité technique, traders et utilisateurs du monde entier ont rapidement adopté la plateforme.

Portée par la montée en puissance du liquidity mining et du yield farming, Uniswap a vu son activité exploser, avec un nombre croissant de tokens investis et échangés.

Face aux plateformes centralisées, Uniswap offre à tous la possibilité d’échanger des tokens, sans vérification d’identité ni formalité administrative. L’absence de KYC permet aux utilisateurs de swapper librement une grande variété de tokens, en fonction des pools de liquidité disponibles.

Qui a créé Uniswap ?

Uniswap a été créé par Hayden Adams, un développeur Ethereum. Son objectif était d’introduire les automated market makers (AMM) dans l’écosystème Ethereum. Adams a travaillé en étroite collaboration avec le fondateur d’Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, pour concevoir et mettre en œuvre le protocole.

Il raconte d’ailleurs que c’est un post de Buterin qui l’a inspiré à créer la plateforme. En peu de temps, Uniswap est devenu l’un des plus grands moteurs de transformation du marché crypto.

Comment fonctionne Uniswap ?

L’un des éléments les plus innovants de la plateforme est l’introduction du modèle Constant Product Market Maker. Ce mécanisme de tarification repose non pas sur la rencontre d’un acheteur et d’un vendeur, mais sur une équation constante : x multiplié par y = k.

Pour ajouter un token à Uniswap, les utilisateurs doivent le financer avec une quantité équivalente d’ETH et de tokens ERC-20 concernés. Par exemple, si vous souhaitez ajouter un token appelé FIRE, vous devrez lancer un smart contract Uniswap dédié et créer un pool de liquidité contenant à parts égales du FIRE et de l’ETH.

Dans cette équation, x représente le nombre d’ETH dans le pool, y le nombre de tokens FIRE, et k la valeur constante qui équilibre l’offre et la demande pour déterminer le prix. Ainsi, lorsqu’un utilisateur achète du FIRE avec de l’ETH, le stock de FIRE diminue et celui d’ETH augmente, ce qui entraîne la hausse du prix du token FIRE.

La plateforme permet à tout token ERC-20 d’être échangé, avec un processus simple de création du smart contract et du pool de liquidité nécessaire. En mai 2020, Uniswap V2 a été lancé, permettant les échanges directs de tokens ERC-20 entre eux, ainsi que la prise en charge de tokens ERC-20 auparavant incompatibles comme OmiseGo (OMG) et Tether (USDT).

Pour trader sur Uniswap, les utilisateurs doivent disposer d’un portefeuille compatible, tel que MetaMask, Fortmatic, WalletConnect ou Portis Wallet.

Comment fonctionne le token Uniswap (UNI) ?

Lancé en septembre 2020, UNI est le token de gouvernance de la plateforme. Lors de son lancement, 400 tokens UNI ont été distribués gratuitement à chaque portefeuille ayant utilisé la plateforme avant le 1er septembre de cette année-là. En seulement 24 heures, 66 millions des 150 millions de tokens distribués ont été revendiqués !

Selon la plateforme, la création du token Uniswap visait à « consacrer officiellement Uniswap comme une infrastructure publique et autonome, tout en protégeant ses qualités d’indestructibilité et d’indépendance ».

Au-delà de son potentiel de gouvernance, détenir des tokens UNI donne aux utilisateurs le droit de voter sur l’avenir de la plateforme. Cela permet à la communauté de prendre part aux grandes décisions sans intermédiaire. Les détenteurs participent ainsi à la gestion de plusieurs initiatives clés d’Uniswap, telles que le trésor communautaire UNI, eth ENS, l’activation des frais de protocole, les tokens de liquidité SOCKS, ou encore la liste par défaut Uniswap (tokens.uniswap.eth).

Le lancement de UNI a également été perçu comme une réponse directe à SushiSwap, une autre plateforme DEX qui avait cloné Uniswap tout en ajoutant son propre token, SUSHI.

UNI est un token ERC-20, basé sur la blockchain Ethereum.

Qu’est-ce que Uniswap Version 3 ?

Plus connue sous le nom de Uniswap V3, la dernière version du protocole a été lancée le 5 mai 2021. Cette mise à jour a permis d’améliorer l’efficacité du capital pour les fournisseurs de liquidité, de moderniser l’infrastructure, et d’optimiser l’exécution des transactions pour les traders.

Avant le lancement de V3, le token natif de la plateforme avait d’ailleurs atteint son plus haut historique.

Où acheter Uniswap (UNI) ?

Pour ceux qui souhaitent ajouter Uniswap (UNI) à leur portefeuille crypto, l’application Tap propose une solution simple et sécurisée. Il suffit de télécharger l’application, de créer un compte et de suivre le processus rapide de vérification. Une fois validé, vous pouvez facilement approvisionner votre compte avec des fonds (crypto ou monnaie fiduciaire) et acheter des tokens UNI.

Vos UNI seront ensuite stockés dans votre portefeuille sécurisé sur Tap, prêts à être utilisés pour différentes fonctions ou simplement conservés.

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When learning about paper wallets it's likely that you came across this option nestled safely in the “cold wallet” section in the different types of cryptocurrency wallets. While the popularity of paper wallets has somewhat declined, there are still a strong number of crypto enthusiasts that still appreciate the completely offline storage option. Let's explore what is a paper wallet and whether it's suited to your crypto needs.

What is a paper wallet?

For those needing a recap, a paper wallet is a piece of paper that holds both one’s public and private keys in both alphanumeric form and QR codes. Known as a non-custodial cold storage wallet, paper wallets allow the holders to manage their own private keys and remain entirely offline. A private key is a unique code that grants a user ownership of their wallet and digital funds, akin to a pin code for a bank account.

Creating paper wallets is incredibly simple, and can be completed in a matter of seconds. As a paper wallet "functions" offline, this makes them free from hackers, unlike a software wallet which is operated online. However, the paper wallet still carries its own set of risks in that the piece of paper cannot get damaged or lost.  Many Bitcoin paper wallets have been lost due to the paper fading or the information becoming illegible.

The objective of keeping a paper wallet is to keep the private key safe whether its for a Bitcoin paper wallet or one designed to hold any other cryptocurrency. Each crypto wallet will be designed to store one specific cryptocurrency.

The term Bitcoin wallet is a generic term for any type of crypto wallet, whether a paper wallet, a software wallet or any type of online wallet or hot wallet. The only distinguishing factor is that the digital wallet only holds Bitcoin.

Precautions for using paper wallets

While storing the paper wallet securely in a safe location makes the top of the list here, other precautions to take are listed below:

Quality printer

Always use a good quality printer. Ensure that your paper wallet is printed with a high-quality inkjet printed to ensure that the characters on the paper don’t fade or bleed over time. Should this happen you could lose access to your funds. 

Don’t share private keys

Never share your private keys with anyone. Paper wallets are designed to show the public key QR code on one side and the private key on the other. When sharing your public key with someone be sure not to accidentally share the private key as then they could gain access to your funds. 

Be sure to set up a change address

If you don't set up a change address before sending funds from a paper wallet, the leftover funds will go to waste. A change address is a separate wallet address that picks up the change from a transaction. 

If you have, for example, 100 BTC in your Bitcoin paper wallet and only spend 0.50 BTC, the remaining  99.5 BTC will either be sent to the change address or lost from your own paper wallet entirely. 

Paper wallets are not designed to be used for sending funds, but instead for receiving and storing funds for the long term. Hot wallets (as opposed to paper wallets) are better suited to users looking to frequently send and receive funds. There are plenty of crypto wallets on the market, ensure that you find the most convenient one for you.

Alternatively, funds can be stored in a yield-generating account where your funds can earn interest. Tap offers a wallet of this nature conveniently located on the app, which allows users to hold several crypto and fiat currencies and earn rewards based on each currency. The longer the funds remain there, the higher the yield.

While paper wallets remain offline, there are still risks associated with them. Be sure to adhere to the above precautions in order to keep your funds safe. 

Are paper wallets still relevant?

In the early days of crypto trading, paper wallets were strongly advised due to the offline safety of storing private keys. They began to be popular around the end of 2010 but unfortunately have been on a decline in more recent years as innovation in the industry has picked up momentum. A paper wallet is resistant to online attacks as long as it's made correctly; you can't hack a piece of paper.

In the past, people could create and print paper wallets for their crypto right from their exchange accounts. But now experts believe that hardware wallets are a more secure option, so most major exchanges don't offer this service anymore.

While some die-hard crypto traders still believe in the solid security of paper wallets, there are plenty of more innovative options available on the market today. 

Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer l'intégration du token Chain (XCN) sur Tap ! XCN est désormais disponible pour le trading sur l'application mobile Tap. Vous pouvez dès aujourd'hui acheter, vendre, échanger ou conserver XCN pour n'importe quel autre actif pris en charge sur la plateforme, sans limitation de paires. Tap est agnostique en termes de paires, ce qui signifie que vous pouvez échanger n'importe quel actif contre un autre sans vous soucier de la disponibilité d'une "paire de trading".

Nous sommes ravis d'accueillir XCN sur notre plateforme, enrichissant ainsi les options disponibles pour nos utilisateurs. Chez Tap, nous nous efforçons de diversifier constamment notre offre en intégrant de nouvelles cryptomonnaies, offrant à chacun l'opportunité d'explorer de nouvelles perspectives.

Fondée en 2014, Chain fournit aux organisations l'infrastructure nécessaire pour construire de meilleurs services financiers à partir de zéro. Le jeton Chain (XCN) est un jeton utilitaire et de gouvernance pour le protocole Chain, permettant à ses détenteurs de voter sur les améliorations du protocole et divers programmes pilotés par la communauté. XCN peut être utilisé pour un accès premium, des réductions, et le paiement de frais commerciaux sur Sequence et d'autres produits de l'écosystème Chain.

Apprenez-en plus sur XCN dans notre article dédié ici.