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Crypto
Hodling vs trading: What are the pros and cons ?

HODLing vs. trading: wondering which strategy is right for you? Explore the pros and cons of each approach to managing your cryptocurrency portfolio.

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There's a time-old debate over whether hodling or trading leads to better profits when it comes to buying into the cryptocurrency market. While both are great options, in the article below we look at the pros and cons of each option and weigh them up.

What is trading?

Trading refers to the buying and selling of financial instruments, assets, or commodities in financial markets with the aim of making a profit. Trading requires continuous monitoring of the charts and frequent study, whether in the commodities or stock market. Crypto trading involves buying and selling crypto at various intervals, whether minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Despite the greater risks involved, the potential for big percentage returns attracts individuals to trading.

If you want to trade crypto assets, it's essential to have a basic knowledge of the industry and how events in the news may influence Bitcoin's price. Remember to set stop losses and take profits so that you can protect your trade.

The pros of trading

  • Potentially sizable profits

Crypto is known to be a volatile market and it's not uncommon to see price movements of 30% or above when crypto trading. With some strong analytical skills, one can observe, analyze and trade these waves and yield sizable profits.

  • You're in control

Some people make a living trading part-time or full-time, particularly day trading. Day trading is where you enter and exit positions typically within a 24-hour period. Either way, you are in control of your own hours and workload, allowing you to take a break after you've met or exceeded your daily or weekly earnings targets.

The cons of trading

  • Need to know trading fundamentals and technical analysis

Before you commence trading, you must acquire the skills to conduct fundamental and technical analysis of charts. This process demands dedicated effort and a time commitment.

  • Need to be able to manage emotions

The prices of cryptocurrencies can change rapidly, making this a more risky proposition than long-term holding. You must be prepared to sell a losing cryptocurrency when it's plunging or decide to hodl for it to recover. Anything might happen in this fast-paced market, so you must make wise decisions without getting emotional.

What is hodling?

The term first came about in 2013 from a misspelled work in a BitcoinTalk Forum. The inebriated trader made the now infamous typo, and the word stuck. Almost a decade later, the term "hodl" remains a permanent fixture in the crypto ecosystem. Some have since branded it as "Hold On for Dear Life".

The term refers to holding a particular cryptocurrency for long periods of time, ignoring market volatility and knuckling through a bear market. As a passive strategy designed for long-term time frames, hodling requires a trader to simply buy a cryptocurrency and hold it in a secure place for months or even years until it reaches your price target.

You can buy Bitcoin or your favorite cryptocurrency at regular intervals if you're planning to HODL. This term is associated with buying a small amount of Bitcoins weekly or monthly. For example, let's say you have $1,000 to buy over time.

In this case, you might purchase $30 in Bitcoin each week or $50 worth every month. By staggering your buys like this rather than putting it all at once, you minimize the likelihood of price fluctuations having as much impact on the price per coin. This strategy prefers to buy Bitcoin over trade Bitcoin.

The upside to hodling

  • Minimal effort

Hodling requires initial research into the cryptocurrency you wish to buy in (very important ans crucial to do your own research). From there establish your budget and strategy.

  • Minimal stress

The crypto market is known for its significant swings in value. Thankfully with hodling there is no need to time the market for entry and exit positions or watch the chart all of the time.

  • Minimal trading fees

Save money on trading fees by conducting on a few transactions, versus the many you will need to do when day trading. Some countries won't even charge tax on your crypto gains after a certain period of time (but be sure to check this in your area).

The downside of hodling

  • Need patience

As hodling is a long-term strategy approach it requires patience and mental endurance. If you decide to use the Hodling strategy you'll need to manage emotions during tough market fluctuations and might need to wait years before being able to cash in on any ROI (return on investment).

  • Funds are locked in

Because this is a long-term strategy, your funds would be inaccessible for an extended period. This could lead to missed opportunities to allocate resources elsewhere in the crypto space or any other market.

However, this can be avoided by leaving your funds in a crypto interest account. Tap provides users access to yield-generating wallets that allow you to enjoy both the long-term price gains as well as the returns.

In Conclusion: hodling vs trading

If you're a novice cryptocurrency investor, proceed with caution. There is no right or wrong answer to which of these strategies is "superior" and you could always combine both methods to match your portfolio depending of your risk appetite. Always keep in mind that before making any decisions, always do your homework, research about the asset you wish to purchase and about diversifying your portfolio to reduce risk regardless of the strategy you pick.

Crypto
How crypto is expanding economic freedom

Discover how cryptocurrency is transforming the way we think about money and empowering individuals and communities around the world.

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Since the advent of cryptocurrencies in 2009, the world has seen a substantial shift in the way that people transact and manage their money online. The first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, sparked a wave that has impacted almost every corner of the globe, significantly shifting the financial landscape as we know it. Let’s explore how crypto is expanding economic freedom on a global scale.

What is economic freedom?

Before we evaluate how this $2 trillion industry is contributing to financial liberation, let’s first establish what economic freedom is. Explained simply, the term refers to measures that grant users the freedom to manage their money, property, and labour in each country, which is then compared globally.

More accurately, the measure of economic freedom is determined by using the Index of Economic Freedom, which weighs up 12 factors contributing to a country’s overall measure. This is broken down into 4 categories, each carrying varying subcategories, such as market openness measuring a country’s trade, financial and investment freedom. The others are regulatory efficiency, rules of law, and government size, each with its own subcategories.

This index was first published in 1995 by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal and is used around the world today. This year, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, and Ireland have ranked as the most financially free countries in the world.

Crypto and economic freedom

Cryptocurrencies were first established to provide an alternative monetary solution to the global financial crisis that sent the world into disarray in 2007. Satoshi Nakamoto created the new age payment system to empower individuals to hold control over their own finances, allowing them to manage and transact their money without the control of an authoritarian entity. For the first time in history, people were able to send money overseas without incurring the usual costly and time-consuming setbacks incurred with regular, global fiat transactions.

Due to the decentralized nature in which they are run, people are responsible for managing their own crypto wallets and specialised users on the network positioned across the globe are responsible for verifying and executing transactions. After Bitcoin entered the scene a significant number of new cryptocurrencies have been launched, over 12,000 at the time of writing. While some maintain the same “medium of exchange” model, many new cryptocurrencies have emerged providing alternative solutions to the industry.

Ethereum, the world’s second-biggest cryptocurrency, for example, provides a platform on which developers can create their own decentralized apps and cryptocurrencies, while other cryptocurrencies revolve around faster transaction times, cloud storage and private transactions. Each of these projects utilizes a blockchain network that was designed to improve and innovate the crypto and blockchain space.

Spanning beyond government control and lengthy paperwork, cryptocurrencies are able to provide a global currency that operates entirely online and is not confirmed to the borders of a country. Cryptocurrencies are global, accessible 24/7 and cannot be frozen in accounts.

How crypto is driving economic freedom

Requiring only an internet connection and start-up funds, Bitcoin (and cryptocurrencies in general) allows anyone around the world to create a wallet and start trading. One doesn’t need access to a large bank branch or lengthy paperwork, one simply needs an internet connection and a smartphone.

Curling back to the factors that contribute to economic freedom, cryptocurrencies are able to seamlessly check six of twelve of the categories of the Index of Economic Freedom through their innate properties. 

  • Trade Freedom [Market Openness]
  • Financial Freedom  [Market Openness]
  • Business Freedom  [Regulatory Efficiency]
  • Labour Freedom  [Regulatory Efficiency]
  • Monetary Freedom  [Regulatory Efficiency]
  • Property Rights  [Rule Of Law] 

The remaining categories however revolve around the governments running the nations in question, particularly the rule of law and government size categories. Nevertheless, cryptocurrencies can still assist in creating better-functioning economies and provide the technology that allows for a more open and free financial system.

A free and open financial system

As cryptocurrencies remove the barriers of borders, they allow people to transact their money in the same way that they communicate with each other (through the internet). As the digital age continues to evolve, we are likely to continue seeing a significant increase in the level of economic freedom that crypto provides to users around the world, empowering both the individual and the nation.


Crypto
How crypto is easing international travel

Let’s take a look at how crypto is easing international travel, and how you can use it to your advantage.‍

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Since Bitcoin entered the financial landscape in 2009 it has made immense leaps and bounds in becoming the internationally recognised digital currency it is today. Despite the giant progress, crypto still has the potential to further infiltrate many aspects of society, particularly how we travel. 

This unprecedented technology can ultimately revolutionise the way we live our lives. Let’s take a look at how crypto is easing international travel, and how you can use it to your advantage.

Blockchain in travel

Many are familiar with cryptocurrencies, but few are aware that blockchain is the technology behind them. Blockchain technology, in simple terms, is a giant public ledger that stores data in a chronological, immutable manner. Particularly flourishing in supply chain management and the broader tech space, blockchain is also proving to be a useful asset to companies operating in the travel sector. 

With a wide range of options within the sector, from flights to car rental to hotels, blockchain is slowly starting to prove to be a powerful force in each case. Already several companies have adopted the technology and used it to add more streamlined and efficient services to the travel industry. 

For example, a French company, Sandblock is harnessing the technology and allowing travel companies to create their own loyalty tokens to attract and retain customers. These tokens can then be traded for a variety of services (beyond the company that issued them) or exchanged for alternative coins or fiat currencies. 

Another example is a Swiss-based, blockchain based company called Winding Tree which was designed to minimize fees for travelers while reducing costs for service providers. The non-profit company aims to cut out the middleman adding high fees to travelers' bookings and connect travelers directly to the service providers using smart contracts. 

These are just two in a wide range of companies already implementing blockchain technology into their businesses, illustrating the unlimited potential the nascent technology holds. 

Crypto bridges the gap

Like blockchain, cryptocurrencies are too playing an impressive role in easing cross-border travel, with plenty more room for development and better adoption. 

Cryptocurrencies facilitate seamless transactions without having to exchange one currency for another when going abroad. Say you lived in America and were visiting Australia, you wouldn’t need to exchange your US dollars for Australian dollars incurring high exchange fees and company-chosen exchange rates if you could just scan a QR code that automatically accesses funds in your universal crypto wallet.

Top tourist destinations around the world have started embracing cryptocurrencies, with a large amount likely to follow. For example, several destinations in Queensland, Australia, that provide access to the Great Barrier Reef have started implementing crypto payments into their tourist-focused businesses, and the reception has been impressive (see more below). 

El Salvador on the other hand approved Bitcoin as a legal tender in 2021, effectively making it very simple for any crypto-savvy tourist to travel around. One doesn’t even need to take a fiat card with them as all transactions can be completed using their mobile device. If that’s not the future of travel, what is?

Advantages of using crypto to travel

For the sceptics out there we’ve outlined several advantages of using cryptocurrencies when traveling, below. 

  • It reduces the chance of theft or money loss
  • It eases the booking process
  • It allows users to avoid excessive exchange rates and ATM fees
  • It minimizes the risk of credit card fraud
  • Your smartphone functions as a wallet
  • No left-over currency when you leave the country

Globalisation meets blockchain

With increased awareness around countries and societies around the world, thanks to both mainstream and social media, companies expanding on a global level are becoming more and more common. 

However, this level of globalisation is often plagued with inconsistent means of distributing funds, causing delays, disruptions and unnecessary expenses. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology provide the infrastructure to change these difficulties, stablecoins even more so. 

The mobile revolution

According to a recent study, there are 6.37 billion smartphone users around the world, with 80% of the population in possession of one device. This is a significant rise from 2016’s statistics where only 49% of the world owned a smartphone.

Ownership levels are unsurprisingly highest in developed countries like the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom, where on average 80% of the population own a smartphone. Bangladesh, Pakistan and India are among the lowest percentages, with an average of 27% of the country owning one. 

Despite this, 80% of the developing world are still crypto-capable. All that is required is a smartphone and an internet connection. In the future, more local businesses, hotels, and shops in these countries will set up crypto wallets, enabling them to accept global payments in a matter of seconds (depending on the coin of choice).

This is likely to happen faster in the developing world than elsewhere, as demand for convenient and reliable payment solutions is on the rise. Less developed countries like the Bahamas are already catching on. 

An industry on the up

Crypto is easing international travel and contributing to a growing industry. Since the pandemic emerged, travel was put on a back foot but has since experienced a surge as people seek an alternative change of scenery. Now, cryptocurrency is making travel to remote areas, a growing demand, all the more possible.

Of course, government collaboration is paramount. Brisbane Airport in Australia is the first in the world to accept cryptocurrency at 30 merchants. As mentioned above, Queensland itself is a trailblazer in the crypto world. Agnes Water, a town located at the south of the Great Barrier Reef, has more than 40 businesses that accept Bitcoin. This kind of initiative is precisely what is required from governments and businesses for crypto to help grow the travel industry.

Ironing out foreign currency wrinkles

It is clear that crypto has the potential to revolutionise the way we operate around the world. Cryptocurrencies can make travelling easier and more accessible, and bolster tourism industries in developing countries. Solutions offered by several payment-focused cryptocurrencies could very well take over, as more and more tourists demand easier payment options.

Tap a streamlined cryptocurrency platform, is also contributing to the movement by providing a mobile app that facilitates rapid purchasing, trading, and secure storage of cryptocurrencies.

Crypto
How do Bitcoin and Altcoin transactions work?

Behind the scenes of crypto transactions: Understanding how Bitcoin and Altcoin transactions work.

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You’ve likely heard that cryptocurrencies provide a faster, easier and cheaper way to send money overseas. While this is true, what many people don’t necessarily know is how this is true. In this article we’re going to be fleshing out exactly how Bitcoin and altcoin transactions work, and how you can easily tap into this modern day phenomenon. 

What is Bitcoin, and what are Altcoins?

If you’re new around here, let’s get you up to speed. Bitcoin was first introduced to the world through a whitepaper in 2008 by an anonymous entity by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto (to this day their identity remains a mystery). Following the global financial crisis, Nakamoto wanted to create a currency that was free from banks and governments, instead putting financial power back into the hands of the people.

Using blockchain technology, Bitcoin was able to facilitate the peer to peer transfer of value, allowing users to make global payments at a much faster and cheaper rate than ever before. While it took a few years for Bitcoin to enter the mainstream market, during this time a number of alternative cryptocurrencies were created. In the early days, any alternative cryptocurrency was referred to as an altcoin (alternative coin to Bitcoin), while this notion has stuck, the altcoin market has grown into a sizable 9,000+ strong industry.

While many altcoins, like Ethereum and Litecoin, were created using Bitcoin’s blockchain, not all offer the same exact functionality. Each cryptocurrency that comes into existence is designed to solve a “problem” in the market, whether that be linked to data storage, smart contract functionality, faster payments systems, etc. 

How do Bitcoin and Altcoin transactions work?

Now that we understand the just of what they are, let’s explore how they work. We’ll use Bitcoin as the prime example. So while bank accounts require lengthy paperwork and administrative tasks, creating a Bitcoin “account” simply requires one to open a wallet. These can be found in different formats, with several options available on the market catered to the user's unique needs. Once you’ve created a wallet, you’ll need to load it with Bitcoin which can be done through a platform like Tap. 

Once you have funds in your account, you will be able to send them to another user on the network (note that Bitcoin can only be sent on the Bitcoin network and Ethereum can only be sent on the Ethereum network). To send funds you will indicate on the app (or through the wallet) how much you’d like to send, enter the recipient’s wallet address and then pay a small network fee for executing the trade. 

On the backend your transaction will enter what is known as a mempool, a pool of pending transactions, until it is picked up by a miner. Bitcoin miners are responsible for verifying all transactions on the network, and compete with each other to solve the complex cryptographic puzzle first. The first one to do so is responsible for confirming the next batch of transactions in the mempool and adding them to a block. This block is then added to the blockchain in chronological order to ensure the immutable, transparent qualities of blockchain technology are upheld. Once the block has been added to the blockchain, the miner will receive all the network fees of each transaction verified as well as the block reward to compensate for the time and electricity it took to mine. 

The funds will then leave your wallet and enter the recipient's wallet, and will usually be required to go through 3 confirmations before being able to access the funds. Confirmations are measured by new blocks being added to the blockchain following the block in which the transaction is stored. Three confirmations means that three new blocks need to be added to the blockchain before the funds can be used.

Most altcoins work in a similar fashion, however many use different methods of mining (also known as hashing algorithms) but the concept remains much the same. Miners verify the transactions, add them to a block, the block is added to the blockchain and the transaction is executed.

Οικονομικά
How does APY (Annual Percentage Yield) work?

Unlock the power of APY with our guide to annual percentage yield. Learn how it works, how to calculate it, and how to maximize your returns.

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Welcome to the world of APY (Annual Percentage Yield). If you're looking to delve into the fundamentals of investing and understand how returns are calculated, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll explore the concept of APY, digging into its significance, calculation methods, and how it factors in the power of compounding interest. 

What is APY?

In conventional finance, a savings bank account frequently offers both a low-interest rate and an annual percentage yield (APY). Let's explore these definitions below:

  • The simple interest rate is the amount earned on the original deposit. 
  • The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is the annual return from the original deposit plus accumulated interest on investments or savings, expressed as a percentage.

By definition, the annual percentage yield (APY) is a key metric that reflects the true rates of return on an investment, taking into account the impact of compounding interest. Unlike simple interest, which remains constant over time, compounding interest is calculated and added to the principal at regular intervals (more on this below).

This results in a growing account balance, leading to larger interest payments as time goes on. By harnessing the power of compounding, investors have the potential to see their investments grow at an accelerated pace, enabling them to potentially earn higher returns compared to simple interest calculations.

APY captures this compounding effect and provides a more accurate measure of investment performance. For example, a certificate of deposit (CD) provides a secure investment option with a fixed term and a guaranteed APY, allowing investors to earn a predictable return on their savings over a specific period.

Compound interest and APY

Compound interest is a powerful concept in finance that enables investments to grow exponentially over time. Unlike simple interest, which is calculated only on the initial principal, compound interest takes into account the accumulated interest. This means that with each compounding period, the interest is added to the principal, leading to a larger base for calculating subsequent interest.

Annual Percentage Yield (APY) goes a step further by quantifying the impact of compounding. APY reflects the true rate of return on an investment product, factoring in the compounding effect. It provides a more accurate measure of growth potential and allows for effective comparisons between different investment options in the global market.

To calculate the effective annual rate of return with APY, consider the compounding frequency. Using the APY, you can determine the annual rate that, when compounded at the given frequency, yields the same overall return. This calculation enables investors to assess investment opportunities with all the information, based on their true growth potential, accounting for the compounds factor.

A practical example of APY

Suppose you have $10,000 that you deposit into a savings account with an APY of 5% and the interest is compounded annually. After one year, the 5% APY means that your investment will have grown by 5% of the initial amount, which is $10,000 * 5% = $500. Therefore, at the end of the year, your account balance will be $10,000 + $500 = $10,500.

Now, let's see how compounding interest affects your returns over time. Assuming you keep the money in the account for another year, the 5% APY will be applied to the new balance of $10,500. This results in an additional $525 ($10,500 * 5%) of interest earned, bringing the balance to $11,025.

As time goes on, the compounding effect becomes more pronounced. After five years, your initial $10,000 investment will have grown to approximately $12,762, thanks to the compounding interest.

This example demonstrates how APY takes into account the compounding of interest and enables your savings to grow more significantly over time compared to simple interest calculations.                       

A comparison of the terms: interest rate, APY and APR

The APY takes into account the impact of compounding, whereas the interest rate does not. The APY is the projected rate of return earned annually on a deposit after taking compound interest into account.

Compounding interest is the interest that a person accrues from their initial deposit, as well as the interest they earn from their original investment (or in other words, the initial deposit amount plus the interest generated).

The terms APY and APR are frequently used interchangeably, although they represent two different things. These words are sometimes confused due to their close resemblance. However, APY and APR aren't the same things.

The APR (annual percentage rate) is a formula that determines how much interest you'll pay when borrowing money and is the rate of return earned if your funds are invested in an interest-bearing account. 

When a consumer takes out a loan, their lender sets an APR that varies based on the loan. APRs are either fixed or variable depending on the type of loan the user requires. However, the APR is a rather basic interest rate and does not take compounding into account, unlike APY. 

Investors are typically on the lookout for opportunities that offer high-yield, such as investments with a competitive APY, as they aim to maximize their returns and grow their wealth.

How Is APY Calculated?

APY represents your rate of return, also known as the amount of earnings or profit you can make. Of course, your ultimate earnings will vary depending on how long you keep your assets invested while the holding period will influence how much you will earn. 

APY measures the rate of the annual return earned on any amount of money or investment after taking into account compounding interest.

The following is the formula for calculating APY:

APY = (1 + p/n)ⁿ − 1

Where:

p = periodic rate of return (or annual APR)

n = number of compounding periods each year

Bear in mind that an APY can be calculated in a variety of ways depending on the provider.

Conclusion

APY is a crucial measure reflecting the true rate of return, accounting for compounding interest. By harnessing the power of compounding, investors can potentially earn higher returns. Understanding APY empowers informed investment decisions, leading to wealth accumulation and maximizing growth potential.

 

Crypto
How to apply technical analysis to cryptocurrency

Decoding crypto price movements: A beginner's guide to applying technical analysis in cryptocurrency trading.

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Technical analysis is a method of evaluating the strength and weakness of an asset by collecting historical price data to identify trends. It involves using tools like charts, graphs, indicators or signals in order to compare them from past data in order to make predictions about what's going to happen next with the market for a specific financial instrument such as equities, commodities etc.

Technical analysis is a method of evaluating stocks, crypto or commodities using past market data. The goal here is to determine the future price movements. In contrast fundamental analysis which involves analyzing financial statements in order to assess what fair value would be for that company.

Technical Analysis can be applied to any security with historical trading data, such as forex (foreign exchange), commodities and stocks.

Let’s now dive into the subject and learn more about the different tools and techniques that you can use for cryptocurrency technical analysis.

The Market trend

The most important step in learning how to spot a trend is to figure out what one is. For any beginner in technical analysis, knowing how to identify the trend should be the first order of business. Let’s watch this Chart below:

We can here observe the three different trends:

The Uptrend: In an uptrend, the asset is going up and making higher highs with each wave. Each high is also greater than the last one, resulting in a series of higher lows as well that push prices even further upward.

The Downtrend: A downtrend is a pattern of decreasing price that continues until it breaks. It’s called "downtrend" because the asset keeps going down, making lower highs and lows each time they form.

The sideways trend: The asset trades between a dynamic range of prices in an horizontal channel.

You may as well encounter different terms such as “Bearish” and "Bullish" to refer to a trend. The term, Bullish comes from the bull who strikes upwards with its horns thus pushing prices higher; in contrast, Bearish comes from bear who drives down markets by striking downwards with their paws.

Resistance & Support

Understanding the support and resistance levels of a cryptocurrency can help you time your buying or selling to maximize profit.A technical trader identifies these points on their chart so they know where it's best to enter, when there is a probable upcoming breakout, as well as understanding where not to be hasty with new financial commitments because prices are more prone than ever before to reverse quickly at this price point. When the resistance level is broken, it usually becomes a support level and vice versa.

Support: Support is a level where buyers tend to concentrate, and this will help the downtrend that has been occurring stop or rebound.

Resistance: A level where an uptrend can be expected to pause or rebound. This is a concentration of sellers and indicates that the market may have reached its peak for now.

Candlestick

Candlestick charting is a popular way to track the market trend.  Candlestick chart, is also known as a Japanese candlestick chart (Developed in Japan in the 1700s, historical records indicate that this tool was first used to track rice prices). This type of financial chart is used to track stock prices or other asset prices. The candlestick's shape can vary depending on the high, low, opening and closing prices of a given day.

A candlestick shows both bullish and bearish price movement over its duration, and gives more detailed information than the simple bar charts. A candlestick looks at the prices during a specific time interval, such as a day. The main feature which distinguishes this from other charts is the ability to plot each day's open, high, low and close values on a single chart.

This method of charting involves plotting price data over time on an open, high low and close basis with wicks projecting out from each end of the body for daily bars or just one day in higher timeframe charts.

Bullish candle: The close is above the opening‍‍ (green)

‍Bearish candle: The close is below the opening (red)

Moving average and (MACD)

The moving average is a technical trading indicator that calculates the constantly changing stock price over time. It smoothes out this data by creating an average of different subsets to help investors make decisions on what direction prices are heading and how long they will continue to change in such directions.  A moving average is a customizable indicator meaning that an investor can freely choose whatever time frame they want when calculating an average.

The Moving average convergence divergence (MACD) is a trend-following momentum indicator that looks at the relationship between two moving averages of an asset's price and gives traders an indication to changes in momentum, strength, directionality and duration of a trend for a given asset.

It combine these 2 moving average: 

-A short-term moving average

-A long-term moving average

Chart interpretation:

The lines on the chart below can be interpreted as follows:

-If the green line (MACD) is above or crosses over the orange line (signal), it means that momentum for a certain market is bullish. 

-On conversely, if the green line is below the orange one, then this shows bearishness in terms of momentum 

-When the lines diverge, it denotes a strengthening of the current trend. However, when they converge, this shows that there is likely to be an upcoming reversal in trends.

-When they cross, this signals confirmation that we have evidence for a change in momentum.


Bollinger bands

Bollinger bands attempt to measure market volatility by creating a band around a moving average. This strategy was created by John Bollinger in the 1980s. They serve as a relative indicator of whether prices are high or low on a moving average.

Bollinger bands are typically used by traders who like to use a long-term approach. This technique can be applied to any major currency pair, as well as commodities and stocks. As opposed to short term strategies that try and capture very small price movements, this strategy works best when combined with a directional view where the trader believes that the market will either go up or down in the long run.

The main disadvantage to this technical analysis is that it is not as effective when markets are flat or choppy (trading range). This strategy can also be difficult to use for novice traders who do not have a good understanding of market conditions, and an entry/exit approach.

News are a big influencer of crypto prices

Cryptocurrencies are heavily influenced by speculation, and even a small piece of news can trigger multiple price reactions by investors. 

For example, when Bitcoin Cash was launched on August 1st 2017, it resulted in a sharp decline in the price of Bitcoin as well as other cryptocurrencies as investors feared that a new competitor could undermine the value of existing cryptocurrencies.

The use of advance statistical techniques helps you to take into consideration past data to generate price forecasts. The best way to do this would be to look at historical prices and volumes for cryptos, and compare them to current data. This allows analysts and traders to gain some degree of insight on how the market price will react to future events.

Our aims is to help you grow your knowledge about trading and cryptocurrencies. That's why we're here to help you better understand Cryptocurrencies and trading technics. We want everyone who uses Tap not only to feel informed about market trends but also be inspired by crypto culture, which drives people like you and me into a passionate future for this technology.

If you wish to learn more find more resources in our dedicated education centre available here.

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