One of the first stablecoins to come into existence, Dai was launched in 2017 and is maintained and regulated by MakerDAO. Using a series of smart contracts, Dai maintains a value of $1, or very close to it. Due to the coin’s soft peg to the US dollar, the Dai stablecoin not only provides a stable long-term store of value but also a strong medium of exchange. 

Let’s explore what Dai is and how it contributes to the crypto ecosystem. 

What Are Dai tokens?

Dai is an ERC-20-based stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. While more stablecoins hold the fiat currency to which they are pegged in reserves, the Dai stablecoin instead uses several cryptocurrencies to ensure it holds its peg. 

Supported cryptocurrencies include Ethereum (ETH), (BAT), USD Coin (USDC), Wrapped Bitcoin (wBTC), Compound (COMP), and many more. With a wide range of collateralized cryptocurrencies, user risk is decreased and Dai's price stability is increased.

Dai is issued and operated by the Maker Protocol and the MakerDAO (decentralized autonomous organization). Designed to provide a means of lending and borrowing crypto assets, the Dai stablecoin was at the forefront of the DeFi revolution. 

Holders of Dai can also earn interest. The platform also has another coin, MKR, which allows holders to set the Dai Savings Rate (DSR) and act as guarantors for Dai. This ensures that MKR tokens can be liquidated if the system fails. This structure motivates guarantors to ensure that the Dai system and its collateralized coins operate properly.

How do you generate Dai?

Users can generate Dai by paying collateral assets. Dai is created when users deposit ETH or any supported cryptocurrency as collateral. The equivalent amount of Dai is then issued and the user will receive Dai tokens.

If the Dai holders want the collateral assets back, the borrowed Dai can be paid back (plus a stability fee) and the collateral assets will be released. This Dai is then removed from circulation.

History of the Dai Stablecoin

The MakerDAO was first launched in 2015 by Rune Christensen and is the longest-running protocol on the Ethereum blockchain to date. It holds more than 2.3 million ETH in its protocol, approximately 2% of Ethereum’s total supply.

When first created, only Ether could be used as collateral, however, in 2019 more cryptocurrencies were added to this list. The Dai price has always been soft pegged to the US dollar.

How Does DAI Work?

The Dai cryptocurrency is an ERC-20 token that can be bought on both centralized and decentralized exchanges (DEXs). Users can also generate and borrow Dai by using MakerDAO's Oasis Borrow dashboard to establish a Maker collateral vault and put Ethereum-based assets in as collateral.

In its original use, the Maker protocol stored collateral in smart contracts known as maker collateral vaults. These smart contracts held collateral in escrow until the borrowed Dai was repaid, also known as collateralized debt positions (CDPs). The value of the security you send always exceeds the amount of DAI you receive otherwise the collateral will be liquidated. 

The Dai platform is one of the most integrated digital assets in the blockchain industry and can be utilized across decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and blockchain-based games, among other places.

The Advantages of DAI

No Minimum Amount Required

There is no minimum account balance required to use DAI, as there is with most other types of money. A lot of people around the world do not have the minimal amount of assets needed in order to qualify for a bank account, but there is no minimum balance requirement for utilizing DAI.

Price Stability

DAI can serve as a safe alternative store of money and access to financial inclusion for people who live in places where the economy is unstable.

Decentralized Financial Inclusion (smart contracts)

As DAI is a transparent and permissionless system, it allows users to have greater freedom over their money. Zimbabwe and Myanmar, for example, have been recognized as countries where people are limited in their ability to access fiat currency due to daily or monthly withdrawal restrictions on bank accounts imposed by the government.

Passive Income

Users can use DAI tokens to earn money through lockup and interest generation through the DAI Savings Rate system. Because DAI is based on the Ethereum blockchain, it doesn't have its own staking mechanism.

Owners of DAI tokens, on the other hand, may profit by putting DAI into a MakerDAO smart contract. This unique smart contract system protects the user's money and allows for immediate withdrawal.

Quick And Cost-Effective Transactions

In many cases, international wire transfer fees can be extremely high, and the time it takes to complete a transaction might be inconvenient. Global transactions between two users' wallets are made more transparent and efficient due to DAI's low transfer fees and quick processing times.

Operates 24/7

Traditional financial institutions operate only during "business" hours. As a result, transactions through such organizations may be delayed for days and will only finalize after banking institutions are open and transfers have been completed. Transactions can now be completed at any time of the year and on any day of the week using DAI and the Ethereum blockchain.

Continuously Vetted

The MakerDAO system has been found to conduct thorough checks and studies in order to guarantee the platform's security. Developers formally validate all smart contracts and core protocol elements that make up the system's internal architecture through mathematical analysis. Always DYOR (Do Your Own Research) and fully understand any DeFi protocol before using it.

Aave är ett av de ledande protokollen inom decentraliserad finans (DeFi) och gör det möjligt för användare att låna ut och låna över 20 olika kryptotillgångar – helt utan mellanhänder. Genom att modernisera det klassiska konceptet med utlåning, låter Aave användare hantera sina tillgångar på ett decentraliserat sätt. AAVE-tokenen fungerar dessutom som en rösttoken som ger användare inflytande över plattformens framtid.

Vad är Aave?

Aave utvecklades för att möta den växande efterfrågan på decentraliserade penningmarknader. Protokollet är byggt på Ethereum och gör det möjligt att låna och låna ut ett brett urval av kryptovalutor – från altcoins till stablecoins.

Tokenen AAVE har två huvudfunktioner: den fungerar som ett verktyg för att få rabatt på avgifter och som en styrningstoken för att rösta på framtida förbättringar av Aave-protokollet.

Genom att sätta in kryptotillgångar i särskilda likviditetspooler på Aave kan långivare tjäna ränta. Samtidigt kan låntagare använda sina kryptotillgångar som säkerhet för att ta lån direkt från samma pooler.

Protokollet lanserades ursprungligen i november 2018 under namnet ETHLend (med tokenen LEND) men genomgick en omprofilering efter kryptovintern 2018 och relanserades som Aave – vilket betyder "spöke" på finska.

Vem skapade Aave?

Aave grundades av Stani Kulechov, en självlärd programmerare och tidig blockkedjeentusiast. Han saknade bra utlåningslösningar på Ethereum och bestämde sig därför för att skapa en själv tillsammans med ett utvecklingsteam. Projektet föddes efter en ICO i november 2017, långt innan begreppet "DeFi" ens blivit etablerat.

Kulechov har också studerat juridik och började koda redan i tonåren. Målet med Aave var att ta ETHLend till nästa nivå och öppna upp för fler kryptotillgångar än bara ETH.

Hur fungerar Aave?

Istället för att manuellt matcha långivare och låntagare använder Aave en algoritm som automatiskt kopplar ihop lån med tillgängliga medel i protokollets likviditetspooler.

• Långivare sätter in sina kryptotillgångar och tjänar ränta baserat på hur mycket som används i poolen.
• Låntagare sätter in säkerhet (collateral) för att kunna låna.
• Räntan varierar beroende på efterfrågan – högre användning ger högre ränta, vilket lockar fler långivare.

Alla lån kräver överbelåning, det vill säga att låntagaren måste sätta in mer i säkerhet än vad som lånas. Om säkerhetens värde faller under ett visst tröskelvärde kan lånet automatiskt likvideras.

Aave erbjuder även så kallade flashlån, vilket innebär att man kan låna utan säkerhet så länge lånet återbetalas inom samma block.

Vad är AAVE-token?

AAVE är en ERC-20-token med flera viktiga funktioner:

• Säkerhetsmodul (Safety Module): AAVE fungerar som reservkapital för protokollet. Om det skulle uppstå brist på medel används AAVE för att täcka upp. Endast token som är deponerade i modulen kan användas för detta, och långivare som deltar får avkastning i form av AAVE.
• Styrning (Governance): AAVE-ägare kan föreslå och rösta på förändringar i protokollet, som exempelvis justeringar av marknadsparametrar eller hur medel i reservfonden ska användas. En token motsvarar en röst.

Protokollet använder dessutom 80 % av avgifterna på plattformen till att köpa tillbaka och bränna AAVE-tokens, vilket minskar cirkulationen. Resterande 20 % används för att belöna långivare.

Totalt finns det en maxgräns på 16 miljoner AAVE.

Hur köper jag AAVE?

Nu är det enklare än någonsin att lägga till AAVE i din portfölj. I Tap-appen kan du köpa och sälja AAVE direkt med dina kryptosaldon eller med traditionella betalningsmetoder som banköverföring.

Du kan också lagra dina AAVE-tokens säkert i den integrerade plånboken i appen – och ha full kontroll på ett och samma ställe.

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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.

We are delighted to announce the listing and support of Maker (MKR) on Tap!

MKR is now available for trading on the Tap mobile app. You can now Buy, Sell, Trade or hold MKR for any of the other asset supported on the platform without any pair boundaries. Tap is pair agnostic, meaning you can trade any asset for any other asset without having to worries if a "trading pair" is available.

We believe supporting MKR will provide value to our users. We are looking forward to continue supporting new crypto projects with the aim of providing access to financial power and freedom for all.

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.

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.

Get to know more about Maker (MKR) in our dedicated article here.