ETH
Ethereum is an open-source blockchain platform invented by Vitalik Buterin in 2015. In addition to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum also provides a platform for creating smart contracts, which are computer programs that automatically execute when preset conditions are met. The native currency of the Ethereum platform is Ether (ETH). Ether is used to compensate participants who execute smart contracts and is also used as a digital currency for transactions. In addition, Ethereum is often used to create digital tokens in initial coin offerings (ICOs), a popular method of raising funds for cryptocurrency projects.
XRP
XRP is a cryptocurrency created by Ripple Labs Inc., the technology company that developed the Ripple payment system. XRP is designed to facilitate faster and cheaper cross-border remittances.
Ripple (the network) is designed to allow seamless transfers of any currency, whether it be dollars, euros, pounds, yen or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. XRP (the cryptocurrency) is used as a bridge currency in the Ripple network to facilitate the transfer of other currencies.
This means that if a bank in the United States wants to send money to a bank in Europe, it can use the Ripple network to convert dollars into XRP, and then quickly send the XRP to the European bank, where it can be converted into euros. This process will be faster and cheaper than traditional methods of transferring funds overseas.
THERE IS
Cardano is an open-source blockchain platform created by blockchain technology company Input Output Hong Kong (IOHK). Cardano was co-founded by Charles Hoskinson, one of the co-founders of Ethereum. The native currency of Cardano is ADA.
Cardano aims to implement a new decentralized value exchange system that is secure and sustainable. Its design approach is based on academic research and rigorous methodology.
What makes Cardano unique is that it is designed around a layered architecture. It has a settlement layer that handles ADA transactions and a separate computation layer that handles smart contracts. This separation is designed to increase the platform’s flexibility and facilitate upgrades.
Cardano is commonly used to send and receive digital funds. The platform is also designed to serve as the basis for a wide range of financial applications and provide solutions for digital identity, supply chain traceability, and more.
MATIC
Polygon, formerly known as Matic Network, is a layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum that aims to provide faster and cheaper transactions on the Ethereum blockchain while maintaining its security and decentralization. Polygon’s native cryptocurrency is MATIC.
Polygon uses a technology called the Plasma framework, which allows it to process transactions off-chain before completing them on the Ethereum mainnet. The technology enhances Ethereum’s scalability by addressing its limitations in speed, cost, and complexity.
In addition to being a scaling solution, Polygon is also a mature, easy-to-use multi-chain Ethereum ecosystem. This means it allows developers to create and connect decentralized applications (dApps), issue tokens, and implement other blockchain functions on multiple chains within the Ethereum network.
All in all, Polygon helps improve Ethereum’s performance and interoperability, making it more efficient in a variety of use cases ranging from decentralized finance (DeFi) to gaming and NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
LTC
Litecoin is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency created by former Google engineer Charlie Lee in 2011. It was one of the early alternatives to Bitcoin and is often referred to as the silver to Bitcoin’s gold.
The Litecoin network is based on a blockchain that is able to handle a greater volume of transactions than Bitcoin due to its faster block generation rate. This results in faster transaction confirmation times and a more efficient process for participants.
Litecoin's native cryptocurrency, LTC, can be used for a variety of purposes similar to other currencies. It can be used for purchases with various merchants, for online transactions, and as an investment or speculative trading asset.
Like Bitcoin, Litecoin also uses a Proof-of-Work consensus algorithm to secure its network. However, it uses a different hashing algorithm called Scrypt, which is more memory-intensive and thus makes the mining process more democratized.
Essentially, Litecoin aims to provide a more scalable and efficient alternative to Bitcoin, offering faster transaction times and a more accessible mining process.
LINK
Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network that enables smart contracts on various blockchain platforms to interact with real-world data and external APIs. Chainlink aims to bridge the gap between the on-chain and off-chain worlds by providing a reliable and secure way for smart contracts to access necessary off-chain information.
The functionality provided by Chainlink is critical to many decentralized applications (DApps) in the emerging decentralized finance (DeFi) space. For example, a lending platform’s smart contract may need access to real-time price data for certain assets to manage loans and collateral; Chainlink can provide this data in a reliable and tamper-proof manner.
In addition, Chainlink uses an internal cryptocurrency called LINK in its operations. Node operators provide data services and are paid in LINK tokens, and users of data services are paid in LINK. In essence, Chainlink is an important component in blockchain infrastructure, allowing for more complex and practical blockchain applications, making a significant contribution to the continued development of the blockchain ecosystem.
Uniswap
Uniswap is a decentralized trading protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain. Unlike traditional centralized exchanges that rely on order books to match buyers and sellers, Uniswap uses an automated liquidity protocol. This means that trades are executed directly against liquidity pools.
These pools are filled by liquidity providers who deposit an equal value of both tokens. In return, they receive liquidity tokens that can be redeemed at any time for their share of the pool. When trades occur, a small fee is paid to these liquidity providers.
Uniswap's main function is to allow trustless, permissionless, and decentralized trading of Ethereum-based tokens (called ERC-20 tokens). This promotes high accessibility and transparency of trading operations. Uniswap is a key component of the emerging decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, and it has inspired many other decentralized trading models.
Additionally, Uniswap has a native utility token called UNI. UNI token holders can participate in the governance decisions of the Uniswap protocol and vote on various proposals related to the development and operation of the platform.
Cosmos
Cosmos is a decentralized network of independent blockchains, each powered by a Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus algorithm such as Tendermint consensus. Also known as the “Internet of Blockchains,” Cosmos aims to solve some of the blockchain industry’s biggest challenges — scalability, usability, and interoperability.
The main purpose of Cosmos is to enable different blockchains to interact and communicate with each other, creating an ecosystem of blockchains that can scale and interoperate, rather than exist in isolated silos. It does this through a central blockchain called the Cosmos Hub, which is connected to other blockchains or "zones" through a novel protocol called Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC).
Cosmos also includes a framework for building custom blockchains, called the Cosmos SDK. The software development kit simplifies the process of building a blockchain, allowing developers to focus on application development by providing common blockchain functionality out of the box.
ATOM is the native cryptocurrency of the Cosmos network. It is used for staking, as a spam prevention mechanism, and for network governance.
In summary, Cosmos is a framework for interoperability and scalability between various blockchains, helping to realize the vision of a decentralized blockchain internet.
XMR
Monero (XMR) is a cryptocurrency that emphasizes privacy, fungibility, and decentralization. It was launched in 2014 and runs on the CryptoNote protocol, which is significantly different from the protocol used by Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies.
The main purpose of Monero is to act as digital cash with strong privacy features. By default, all transactions in the Monero network are obfuscated, meaning they are untraceable and unlinkable. This is achieved through the use of stealth addresses (hiding the recipient's address), ring signatures (mixing the sender's input with other inputs to obscure the origin), and ring confidential transactions (hiding transaction amounts).
While Monero’s use has been controversial due to its potential for illegal purposes, it has also been praised for providing privacy, which many consider a fundamental right in the digital age. Monero’s fungibility (the property that ensures that each unit of a currency is interchangeable with any other unit) also helps it maintain its value and prevent censorship of specific coins.
In summary, Monero is an important tool for those who prioritize privacy and fungibility in their cryptocurrency transactions.
UN
OKB is the native utility token of the OKEx cryptocurrency exchange. This Ethereum-based token offers various benefits to its holders in the OKEx ecosystem.
OKB is primarily used to access various services and privileges on the OKEx platform. These may include discounts on trading fees, priority access to new features and trading pairs, and eligibility to participate in token sales held by the platform's Jumpstart program. In some cases, OKB can also be used as collateral for certain financial operations of OKEx.
Additionally, the OKEx exchange follows the OKB “buyback and burn” program, where a portion of the exchange’s profits are used to buy back and permanently remove (or “burn”) OKB tokens from the circulating supply. This process is designed to maintain the value of the token over time.
In summary, OKB is an integral part of the OKEx cryptocurrency trading ecosystem, providing utility to its users and supporting the operational aspects of the platform.
XLM
Stellar is an open-source, decentralized cryptocurrency-to-fiat transfer protocol. It supports cross-border transactions between any currency pairs. It was created in 2014 by Jed McCaleb, co-founder of Ripple and developer of the eDonkey network.
Stellar's primary function is to act as a bridge between different currencies, financial systems, and people, aiming to provide low-cost financial services to eliminate poverty and promote personal growth. Its network allows for fast, reliable, and cheap transfers of funds, making it particularly useful in areas where access to traditional banking services is limited.
Stellar’s native digital currency is called Lumens (XLM). XLM has a variety of uses within the Stellar network, including spam prevention and a small role in facilitating multi-currency transactions.
Additionally, Stellar allows users to issue, transfer, and exchange digital representations of all forms of currency — dollars, pesos, bitcoins, just about anything.
In short, Stellar is a powerful, flexible financial infrastructure designed to empower individuals and institutions around the world.
ARB
Arbitrum is a layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum that aims to increase transaction throughput and reduce fees while maintaining security and decentralization. Developed by Offchain Labs, Arbitrum runs on top of the Ethereum blockchain and utilizes a technology called Optimistic Rollup to enhance Ethereum’s scalability.
Arbitrum's main function is to relieve congestion on the Ethereum network. It does this by executing transactions off-chain while maintaining the security of the Ethereum mainnet. Users can interact with the Ethereum network as usual, but computation and storage requirements are managed off-chain in a more efficient manner.
Arbitrum does this by batching multiple transactions together off-chain and then submitting a single cryptographic proof (a “rollup”) to the Ethereum network. If there is a disagreement about the outcome of a transaction, the protocol has an “optimistic” mechanism to resolve the dispute while ensuring security.
Arbitrum is particularly beneficial for decentralized applications (dApps) that require high performance and low fees, such as decentralized exchanges, gaming platforms, etc.
All in all, Arbitrum is an important enhancement to Ethereum’s scalability, enabling the network to process more transactions while maintaining security and decentralization.
VET
VeChain is a blockchain platform designed to enhance supply chain management and business processes. Its goal is to simplify these systems and enable secure and transparent information flow, efficient collaboration, and high-speed value transfer.
The VeChain platform uses two native tokens: VeChain Token (VET) and VeChainThor Energy (VTHO). VET is the main token used for transactions and other activities. VTHO, on the other hand, is used to power transactions - similar to gas in Ethereum. It is generated as a reward for holding VET tokens.
VeChain's main function is to strengthen supply chain and product lifecycle management. It does this by using tamper-proof distributed ledger technology to ensure the authenticity and quality of goods. Every piece of information about a product can be recorded and verified on the VeChain blockchain, creating a trustless distributed business ecosystem.
Its applications extend beyond the supply chain to include automotive, food safety, apparel, etc. VeChain uses a combination of blockchain technology and their in-house built smart chips to track items throughout their lifecycle.
In summary, VeChain provides a complete blockchain-based solution to track items at every stage of the supply chain, making it easier for businesses to ensure the authenticity and quality of their goods and for consumers to verify the products they purchase.
STX
Stacks, formerly known as Blockstack, is a decentralized computing network and application ecosystem designed to bring smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) to Bitcoin. The Stacks 2.0 blockchain expands Bitcoin’s design to include smart contracts and dApps without modifying Bitcoin’s protocol itself.
The native cryptocurrency of the Stacks network is STX. It is used as fuel to execute smart contracts, process transactions, and incentivize miners in the Stacks network.
One of Stacks’ innovative features is the “Proof of Transfer” (PoX) mining mechanism. This consensus algorithm leverages the security of Bitcoin while enabling new functionality by using Bitcoin as “fuel” to mine new STX tokens.
Additionally, Stacks allows developers to build dApps using a new language called Clarity, which is designed for predictable behavior, providing developers with a secure way to build complex protocols.
In short, Stacks brings smart contracts and dApps to Bitcoin in a secure and scalable way. Its native token STX is integral to the functionality of the Stacks network and is used to execute smart contracts, process transactions, and incentivize network participation.
WHERE
Decentraland is a decentralized virtual reality platform powered by the Ethereum blockchain. In this virtual world, users can buy land, build on it, explore it, and even monetize it.
Land and assets in Decentraland are represented by non-fungible tokens (NFTs), ensuring digital scarcity and ownership.
Each piece of land in Decentraland is represented by LAND, an ERC-721 token, which means that each token is unique and owned by an individual user. Users can build a variety of things on their LAND, including interactive games, stores, performances, and other experiences.
Decentraland’s native cryptocurrency, MANA, is an ERC-20 token that is used for a variety of transactions within the platform. This includes purchasing LAND, participating in Decentraland’s governance, paying for goods and services, and more.
Decentraland also includes a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) structure where MANA holders can vote on policy updates, LAND auctions, and the types of content allowed in the Decentraland universe.
In short, Decentraland is a virtual world where users can own, build, explore, and trade digital assets, all managed by the users themselves. The MANA token facilitates interaction in this world, enabling a vibrant, user-driven digital economy.
Finally, there are still many things that are not written down, such as specific opportunities and specific decisions. These things are often not something that can be summarized in one article.
