Some things I've learned after hodling bitcoin since early 2017
1. Never believe anyone's price predictions. 2. Don't "diversify" into other cryptos; none of them are actually decentralized, everything except bitcoin is a shitcoin (yes, really), and it's all gambling. The point of bitcoin is not gambling, but to end modern day slavery (fiat currency). 3. When everyone you know is talking about bitcoin, you're at the top of a bull market. You'll likely be too exuberant to realize it though. It will be obvious in hindsight. 4. Don't "trade some altcoins on the side to get more bitcoin". You are not that smart, and the overwhelming probability is that you will get wrecked. 5. DCA into bitcoin. Ignore your emotions. Don't try to time the market. Just stack what you can every paycheck. 6. Don't be too excited about bitcoin; people will feel like you're scamming them even though you're just trying help. 7. Go to meetups & conferences. Don't be isolated. Bitcoiners are generally very awesome people. 8. When people ask you about how to buy bitcoin, send them to a BITCOIN-ONLY company. Example for why: My cousin bought bitcoin (on Coinbase) during the bull market, then sold it for shiba on the same platform and now she pretty much lost everything. Bitcoin-only companies are the safest option to keep newbies from doing newbie things. 9. Be on #bitcoin twitter and nostr. Obviously if you're reading this, you're already here...but I didn't get on twitter until 2020 and can tell you that it's a lot less lonely hodling bitcoin when you see a bunch of other people on this platform experiencing the same things you are. 10. Be skeptical of influencers. Even me (I'm not a huge account, but still). Some are good, some are bad. Even if they have good intentions, their judgement can be clouded by bad incentives. 11. Stop trying to convince everyone you know that bitcoin will make everything better (even though it will). Instead, be a good resource for the people who eventually reach out to you about it. Be known as "the bitcoin guy" and let people come to you when they're ready. Have good content prepared for them to read/watch when they do. That is all. It's been a great ride so far and I'm happy to know you guys. #bitcoin #dyor #crypto2023
What is Router Nitro Bridge, and how does it work?
The Router Nitro Bridge is a secure, decentralized platform that enables seamless token swaps across different blockchains. For example, you can use the bridge to exchange ETH or other supported tokens for $VANRY on the Vanar blockchain. The process is real-time, ensuring quick and efficient transfers between chains.
VanarChain: Deploy an NFT Contract - ERC721 (Thirdweb)
Using Thirdweb's deployment dashboard anyone can deploy their own NFT contracts easily. This guide will walk you through how to deploy your very own NFT Contract for your own projects and/or for learning purposes. Ensure you have test $VANRY /$VG token in the wallet you will use to deploy NFTcontract by going to faucet.vanarchain.com.Go to third web: thirdweb.com/thirdweb.eth/DropERC721Connect wallet & Sign in.Hit Deploy Button.Fill in image, name, symbol & description for your ERC721 NFT Contract, Define Royalties, royalties recipient address and primary sale address.
Select Vanguard as deployment network.
Hit the deploy button and sign the 2 transactions
You'll be redirected to third web dashboard with more actions for you to do.
CONGRATULATIONS ON DEPLOYING YOUR NFT CONTRACT! Check out third web and the different options you have for your NFTs.Upload your first NFTsSet claim NFTs conditionsMint your first NFT #vanar $VANRY @Vanarchain
Why Build On Plasma? Stablecoin-based payments have numerous key use cases that previously were financially restrictive or not viable with legacy payment rails. This is because stablecoins are permissionless, programmable, cheap and fast.
Use Cases: - Remittances - Micropayments - Global Payouts - Merchant Acceptance - Dollar Access - Permissionless Banking
With over 1.5 billion independent professionals globally and millions of dollars moving across borders and time zones every minute, the need for powerful and modern payment rails is acute. Crypto payments for freelancers solve this issue, offering impressive benefits such as near-instant settlements, dramatically lower transaction costs, and greater financial control and empowerment for digital workers worldwide. Finally, accessible funds in real-time. This guide will walk you through the notable benefits of accepting crypto payment. Continue reading to find out how you can get set up, the best practices for security and tax compliance, how to maximize your earnings with digital currency, and more. Key Takeaways Crypto payments for freelancers typically come as stablecoins like USD₮ or USDC, as they offer a familiar currency thanks to the USD-peg, reduced transfer fees, and rapid settlement times (especially compared to traditional money transfer operators like PayPal or Western Union).Freelancers can easily set up a non-custodial wallet for receiving funds, preferably one that is integrated with different (and efficient) token standards that minimize gas fees and ensure fast transactions, such as ERC-20, Plasma, BEP-20, and TRC-20.Freelancers should manage their volatility and risk appetite appropriately, exploring stablecoins, instant conversion tools, and off-ramps. Why Freelancers Are Turning to Crypto Payments The Rise of the Global Freelance Economy Some experts estimate the annual revenue of the U.S. freelance market alone to be over $1.3 trillion per year. This economic surge is attributed to accessible hardware and fast internet, the acceptance of remote work, and the demand for independent and skilled workers. With this modern shift comes a need for equally modern payment solutions. Freelancers often work for clients in multiple countries, using different fiat currencies. The outdated banking system was never designed for this hyper-fluid global reality, unlike blockchain infrastructure. Limitations of Traditional Payment Systems Traditional cross-border payment methods are found wanting, with expensive, slow, and opaque services some common frictions. Services like PayPal, Wise, and bank wire transfers often charge hefty fees, sometimes more than 5% of the sent amount on international payments. For global freelancers, every cost is noticeable, cutting directly into their take-home income. With some transfers taking 3 to 5 business days, there’s also the cash flow issues to consider, a challenge that can compound for independent contractors. When foreign exchange (FX) markups and weekend delays are added to the mix, those working in the gig economy have every right to be frustrated. How Crypto Solves Cross-Border Payment Pain Points While cryptocurrency in general can solve these limitations well, it’s truly stablecoins that have found a perfect audience with the digital workforce. Crypto payments for freelancers run on decentralized blockchains that bypass slow and expensive banking networks (and their intermediaries). A transfer using a stablecoin like USD₮ may cost just a few cents and settle in minutes, or even seconds, regardless of the sender’s or receiver’s country. For those sending USD₮ on Plasma, the fees are nothing and finality is achieved in less than a second. That’s internet-speed settlement. Digital workers can now access fast, cheap, and predictable transfers, providing them with better access to their hard-earned money than ever before. Understanding Crypto Payments What Are Crypto Payments? Crypto payments involve transferring digital assets, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, but more often stablecoins, directly from one person’s digital wallet to another’s. This is facilitated by a public blockchain network, with all transactions recorded on an immutable and distributed ledger. The levels of transparency and security are unheard of, as crypto transactions rely almost entirely on cryptography, rather than trusting third parties. This makes crypto payments for freelancers a way of offering them complete control over their funds from the moment of payment. How Blockchain Enables Secure, Instant Transactions Blockchain technology was designed by cryptographers that wanted greater security, speed, and transparency. To do this, they grouped transactions into blocks and linked those blocks with ultra-secure blockchain hashing methods to make all data immutable. Network nodes then validate these blocks (confirming their contents). Once confirmed, transactions are irreversible and permanently recorded, ensuring data integrity so that when transfers are made in real-time, freelancers can track them on-chain. Key Terms Every Freelancer Should Know Stablecoins Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged 1:1 to fiat currencies (most commonly the US Dollar). They’ve quickly become the ideal payment rail for millions of global freelancers due to their numerous advantages. Rather than exposing users to volatility, as is common with Ethereum and Bitcoin, stablecoins were engineered to do the opposite, deliver predictability. These qualities have made them ripe for global payments, with nations, businesses, and individuals all leveraging their advantages. Utility and Governance Tokens These tokens are quite different from stablecoins. They serve specific roles within a decentralized application (dApp) or ecosystem, with utility tokens interacting with products and services, while governance tokens offer voting rights. While they may sometimes be used for payment, their fluctuating value generally makes them unsuitable for fixed-price contracts. Gas Fees and Network Confirmations Rather than paying intermediaries or bank fees, when a cryptocurrencies transaction is made, a small network fee is paid to the network validators for processing the transaction. This “gas” fee essentially covers the computational costs associated with the validators’ work. While gas fees vary from blockchain to blockchain some, such as Plasma, have now made zero-fee stablecoin transfers a reality. As for network confirmations, they are the number of blocks that must be added to the chain after your transaction, before it is considered final. This finality ensures that every transfer is completely secure and irreversible. Benefits of Accepting Crypto as a Freelancer Faster Settlements and Real-Time Access to Funds Waiting days for funds is unacceptable and problematic. With crypto, settlement takes anywhere from under a second to just a few minutes, but never days. This makes crypto payments for freelancers an ideal way to remedy any potential cash flow issues. With real-time access to funds, digital workers gain a competitive edge, being able to immediately reinvest their income or pay bills. For freelancers in emerging markets who may be used to waiting weeks for funds to clear, the difference is dramatic. Lower Transaction Costs Compared to Traditional Platforms Centralized payment processors may charge anything from 3% to 7% for international transactions. With crypto, efficient networks charge just a few cents, or perhaps nothing at all, resulting in greater take-home pay for freelancers. For high-volume or recurring payments, these cost savings add up quickly and can make a huge difference over the course of a year. Global Accessibility and Borderless Payments Traditional finance has turned geographical borders into financial barriers, with restrictive regulations and infrastructure-related issues. With crypto payments, this issue is null and void, as it is borderless and permissionless by default. Anyone with an internet connection and a cryptocurrency wallet can send or receive payments, opening up the global talent pool and leaping over banking hurdles. Enhanced Financial Control and Transparency When a payment is made using cryptocurrencies, funds can be sent directly to the freelancer’s self-custodial wallet. This means only the freelancer holds the keys and has sole control over their own assets. The public nature of the blockchain adds an unprecedented layer of transparency, with every transaction verifiable. This puts an end to questions about whether funds have actually been sent or received and provides a clear audit trail for all parties. Opportunities for Earning in Different Digital Assets Accepting crypto as payment allows freelancers to diversify their earnings well beyond fiat currencies. They can choose to receive payment in globally liquid stablecoins such as USD₮, protecting them from local inflation and currency devaluation, or opt for a more risky approach. Some freelancers welcome exposure to crypto volatility, taking payment in coins such as BTC, ETH, and XRP. By holding these currencies, they are one step closer to the Web3 ecosystem and DeFi, where they can stake or lend their digital assets to make a passive income. How to Accept Crypto Payments Setting Up Your Crypto Wallet Hot Wallets vs Cold Wallets Accepting crypto payments as a freelancer requires a decision to be made about whether funds are stored in a hot wallet (online and more accessible), or in a cold wallet (offline and more secure). Hot wallets include most mobile wallets, browser extensions, and crypto exchange wallets. They are convenient, but pose a security risk. Cold wallets (like hardware devices, paper wallets, and metal wallets) are considered the most secure way to store large crypto savings. Custodial vs Self-Custodial Wallets Custodial wallets are provided by crypto exchanges. In this setup, you entrust them with your private keys and hope the exchange doesn’t get hacked. With self-custody wallets, the owner alone holds the keys for maximum control, while hoping that their personal security will prove sufficient. Choosing the Right Blockchain Network Layer 1 vs Layer 2 Networks Layer 1 (L1s) blockchains are foundational networks, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Plasma. Built on top of them are Layer 2 networks (L2s), designed to bundle transactions for higher throughput, lower fees, and improved settlement times. They are often more efficient for payment processing. Cost, Speed, and Reliability Considerations Freelancers need reliability. To meet this demand, they must explore networks with consistently low (or zero) gas fees, as well as sub or multi-second finality. High fees and slow confirmation times on congested or less powerful networks will negate the benefits of switching to crypto. Using Crypto Invoicing Tools How Crypto Invoicing Works Many platforms now allow freelancers to create professional invoices in fiat currency (such as $1,000), before generating a wallet address and QR code for the client to use. This allows them to get paid in crypto at the current market rate, while simplifying the accounting process. Recommended Invoicing Platforms for Freelancers Crypto payments for freelancers are often facilitated by native tools, bringing traditional accounting concepts like recurring invoices, audit trails, and tax compliance to Web3. Many platforms are now designed specifically for digital workers who prefer to be paid in crypto. On/Off Ramping: Converting Crypto to Fiat Exchanges, Stablecoin Issuers, and Payment Processors The process of converting crypto earnings to a local fiat currency is called off-ramping, and it’s typically handled by centralized exchanges (CEXs) and crypto payment processors. For stablecoins like USD₮, the process is usually much faster, as the value is already pegged to a fiat currency. Comparing Fees and Withdrawal Times Freelancers should always compare exchange rates and withdrawal fees between platforms, to preserve the value of their crypto income. Other considerations include processing times, the user experience, and how responsive customer service is. Managing Risks and Security Protecting Your Crypto Earnings Secure Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication Most digital-natives are used to using strong, unique passwords for their online accounts. It’s the same for crypto wallets, except users can also enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), set up Face ID, insert a physical security key, receive SMS texts, or get codes from an authenticator app. Avoiding Phishing and Wallet Scams Be highly skeptical of any communications asking for your private key, seed phase, or passwords. Never, ever, share these things. Use official website links, avoid untrusted software, and do some research about the latest phishing and malware attacks. Reducing Volatility Exposure Using Stablecoins and Instant Conversions The number one way to mitigate volatility is to accept and hold stablecoins (like USD₮). Some invoicing platforms even offer freelancers the choice of instant conversion, automatically swapping the cryptocurrency into a stablecoin or fiat currency on arrival. Diversifying Your Crypto Holdings For freelancers who choose to expose themselves to volatility, spreading your portfolio across multiple different coins can serve as a layer of protection. Remember, only hold what you can afford or are willing to risk, and move your actual savings over to cold storage. Taxes and Accounting for Crypto Income Understanding How Crypto Income Is Taxed Crypto income is generally treated as a taxable income in most jurisdictions, but it’s the duty of the freelancer (or their accountant) to calculate how much. Many countries effectively tax the fiat value of the cryptocurrency at the time it was received. If you later sell the cryptocurrency you’ve been paid with, you may also need to pay capital gains tax. Tracking Your Crypto Earnings in Fiat Value Since tax is applied to crypto on its fiat value at the time it was received or sold, the onus is on freelancers to accurately record the exact fiat value of every payment (as well as the time and date). This established the cost basis for future capital gains calculations. Recommended Crypto Tax and Accounting Tools Specialized software can track your wallet activity, calculate your cost basis, and generate all of the necessary tax forms. These services vary from country to country, but massively simplify complex tax compliance, so it pays for freelancers to find their country’s best platform. Recordkeeping Best Practices for Compliance Freelancers can do some good housekeeping by: Keeping records of all transaction IDs (hashes)Saving wallet addresses that they’ve received funds fromNoting the times and dates of transactionsConverting all crypto value to local fiat currenciesStoring records securelyConsulting with a crypto-aware accountant or tax professionalPursuing personalized advice for their specific situation Finding Freelance Opportunities That Pay in Crypto Where to Find Crypto-Friendly Clients and Platforms It’s not only crypto companies, dApps, blockchains, and Web3 businesses that pay in crypto. Stablecoins have been more widely adopted than many realized, largely due to major payroll solutions integrating them as a payment option for their business clients. What that means is, in effect, almost any business could be paying in crypto, you simply have to ask HR. If you’d like to work in Web3, simply search for relevant keywords, like crypto, blockchain, DeFi, smart contracts, and of course, Web3, along with “jobs”, “careers”, or “freelance”. For professionals, skip the job board and contact talented Web3 recruiters and agents who can help you find your next opportunity. Many of them are active on LinkedIn. High-Demand Crypto Freelance Skills and Roles There is always demand for blockchain developers, Solidity programmers (smart contract developers), crypto copywriters, social media managers, community managers, graphic designers, operations managers, and security professionals. Transitioning From Freelance Gigs to Full-Time Web3 Roles With time, many freelancers transition from accepting crypto to working in it, helping to progress the industry and its countless innovations. In that sense, crypto payments for freelancers are a stepping stone towards a full-time, Web3 role, paid entirely in stablecoin (if desired). Like with any career, it often comes down to experience, personality, commitment, and skill set. What makes Web3 different is that there’s typically less judgement on academic achievements, age, or where the person is from. It’s an inclusive, global, and remote-first industry. The Future of Freelance Payments Mainstream Adoption of Crypto in Remote Work With cryptocurrency payments proving advantageous for remote workers, payrolls integrating blockchain options, and businesses being more open to hiring workers regardless of their location, mainstream adoption improves year on year. This trajectory is great news for freelancers who want more control, faster payments, and to overcome the traditional financial hurdles that have been a major pain point in the past. Integration of AI, Smart Contracts, and DeFi Payroll The normalization of crypto as a payment option has sparked demand for powerful new financial solutions, such as stablecoin payroll, which has normalized paying workers, whether full-time, part-time, or freelance, in digital dollars such as USD₮. This process can be further automated with the use of new AI tools, well-coded smart contracts, Web3 escrow services, and trustless payment options that release payment upon project completion. Why Freelancers Who Adapt Early Will Thrive It’s truly “the sooner the better” for early adopters, as these freelancers can immediately attract clients across the globe, save money on fees, and protect their earnings from local economic instability. These pioneers are leading the way for a new digital economy. Securing Your Digital Dollar Income. The crypto market is moving towards mainstream integration, while institutional capital moves towards digital assets, tokenization, and internet capital markets. This has created a perfect storm for freelancers and digital professionals to enter and enjoy this exciting space. The shift to crypto payments for freelancers is a decisive move towards financial freedom, especially for those embracing stablecoins and secure wallet practices. By leveraging the blockchain, they can bypass banking, cut costs, and gain full autonomy over their global income. The next step is to utilize a powerful system built specifically for this purpose. @Plasma took speed and cost demands, and built an institutional-grade network that is optimized for stablecoin settlement, with zero-fee USD₮ transfers and sub-second finality.
Vanar chain introduces its very own native gas token, VANRY, as a fundamental component of its ecosystem. VANRY takes on the crucial role of facilitating the payment of gas fees for transactions conducted on the Vanar Chain. This native gas token not only streamlines the process of transaction fee settlement but also contributes to the overall efficiency and affordability of interacting within the Vanar ecosystem. #vanar$VANRY @Vanarchain
Neutron is built on a flexible, modular knowledge architecture designed to make information accessible, verifiable, and intelligent. At the heart of this system is the Seed, a compact unit of knowledge enhanced by AI.
Neutron isn’t just a knowledge store. It’s an intelligence engine built to help individuals and teams extract meaning, uncover patterns, and make better decisions using their own data. With built-in AI and optional blockchain verification, Neutron turns information into insight.
Cross-Platform Analytics Neutron brings together your entire digital ecosystem. By connecting tools like Gmail, Google Drive, Slack, and CRMs, it can answer complex questions that span across platforms. Examples include: What are the recurring themes in our customer feedback?Which sales prospects mentioned pricing objections in emails and meetings?What decisions were made about remote work in Q3?Where are the blockers across Asana, Slack, and GitHub? Neutron helps you see the full picture by linking people, timelines, documents, and decisions. Intelligent Insights The AI behind Neutron surfaces connections that are easy to miss. It helps you identify: Communication networks — who is collaborating and how oftenProject timelines — how initiatives develop and who contributesDecision points — when key choices were made and what triggered themKnowledge gaps — where critical information might be missing It doesn’t just find data. It helps you understand why things happened. Context-Aware Memory Neutron remembers what you've asked, understands the conversation, and builds on it. Example: You: “Show me the Q3 budget discussion.” Neutron: [Finds emails, spreadsheets, and meeting notes] You: “Who pushed back on the marketing increase?” Neutron: [Surfaces names, comments, and context] It works like a colleague who knows your data inside out and never forgets. Source Citations Every AI-generated answer includes links to the original content. That might be: EmailsDocumentsMeeting notesSeeds used in the response This level of traceability builds trust. You always know where the insight came from and can verify it instantly. Semantic Business Search Forget keyword matching. Neutron uses meaning-based search to understand what you're really looking for. You can: Search “budget concerns” and find relevant expense discussionsLook for “client feedback” across emails, CRMs, and surveysFind “project delays” in task managers, email threads, and Slack updates It works across formats and languages, including PDFs, emails, and Markdown files. Cross-Source Querying Neutron doesn’t silo your tools. It lets you ask a single question and pull information from everywhere at once. Try prompts like: “Find everything related to the Johnson account.”“What was discussed about the API launch in GitHub, Slack, and Drive?”“Show decisions made about hybrid work across emails, meetings, and documents.” No need to jump between tools or tabs. Neutron connects it all. Time-Based Intelligence Neutron understands how things evolve over time. This helps you track change, spot trends, and understand momentum. You can ask: “What changed about pricing strategy last month?”“How has the client relationship developed over the last two quarters?”“Which projects are running behind based on recent updates?” It’s built for people who want not just answers, but clarity over time.
Plasma is secured by PlasmaBFT, a high-performance implementation of Fast HotStuff written in Rust. It combines the safety of Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus with low-latency finality, enabling the high throughput and deterministic guarantees required for stablecoin-scale applications.
Blockchain developers code new ideas fast, and ship them even faster. The industry has expanded beyond its peer-to-peer cryptocurrency origins into a globally transformative force we all benefit from. The 9 main benefits of blockchain technology are: Enhanced security and data integrity Greater transparency and trustImproved efficiency and speedCost savings and operational optimizationTraceability and provenanceUser empowerment and controlFraud reduction and risk managementAccessibility and inclusionInnovation and adaptability There’s immense knowledge to be gained from this article, regardless of your background. In particular, acquire a deeper understanding of the core benefits of blockchain technology and how it creates and unlocks tangible world value. Key Takeaways Immutability and cryptography are what make the blockchain such a unique technology, one that is secure, protects data from tampering, and mitigates fraud risks.Public blockchains build trust with participants by being transparent and using shared or distributed ledgers that provide a single, verifiable source of truth.Blockchains can use smart contracts to automate processes, reduce intermediaries, boost efficiency, lower operational costs, and tap into new forms of traceability for supply chains (and their vast data sets). The 9 Main Benefits of Blockchain Technology 1. Enhanced Security and Data Integrity Cryptographic Protection and Immutability Security is both compelling and critical for blockchain technology. It typically appears as cryptographically hashed transactions that are linked to form a “chain” of “blocks”. This linking makes it practically impossible to alter past records or commit fraud. Once a transaction is on the blockchain, it’s theoretically immutable forever. No changes, no duplication, no modification, and no deletion, unless you have the computational power to alter all subsequent blocks (which nobody in the world should have, thanks to the distributed network). As a result, blockchain technologies unlock cryptographic integrity and authenticity of data, highly frustrating to hackers and cybercriminals. Mitigating Fraud and Cyber Risks The decentralized nature of public blockchains means there’s no single point of failure. For private blockchains, it’s a different story, but with distributed networks, data is shared across many nodes rather than a central location. This way of distributing blockchain data makes it much harder for cybercriminals to compromise the entire system. To achieve a successful network takeover, a bad actor would actually need to take control of the majority (in some cases more) of the network’s computing power to alter records. Attacks like these are so difficult and expensive to launch that they are practically impossible, providing a robust and effective defense against unauthorized access and penetration. Known as a 51% attack, they are incredibly rare, especially on established networks. 2. Greater Transparency and Trust Shared Ledgers for Accountability The distributed nature of blockchain naturally offers transparency, which in turn delivers absolute trust and accountability among everyone in a network. With a shared ledger, all participants in the network have access to the same, identical version of the transaction history. When everyone can see the same information without needing a central authority, blockchain technology removes information asymmetry and allows everyone to operate confidently from the exact same source of truth. Permanent, Verifiable Records The moment a transaction is recorded on the blockchain, it becomes essentially permanent, generating an unalterable audit trail for all activities. These verifiable records are important for things like dispute resolution, regulatory oversight, and compliance. By holding an undeniable history and source of truth that can be accessed and confirmed by anyone on the network, you have a permanent vehicle for trust and mutual confidence. 3. Improved Efficiency and Speed Reducing Intermediaries in Transactions The blockchain can significantly improve efficiency and speed, partly because it is able to remove intermediaries from transactions and instead go peer-to-peer. Traditional transactions might involve banks, payment processes, brokers, and more, each adding time, cost, and complexity. With smart contracts especially, there’s no reason not to automate many of these steps, reducing complexity and the need for third parties. Direct, business-to-business or peer-to-peer transactions deliver a streamlined workflow that accelerates processes. Goodbye bottlenecks. Streamlining Verification and Settlement When you look at how traditional finance approaches transaction verification and settlement, you’ll see that it’s a lengthy process. There are manual checks to consider, along with reconciliation across different systems. Blockchains are different, they handle settlement much faster. Thanks to every network’s unique consensus mechanism and how it updates the distributed ledger, finality can be achieved in near-real-time. Whether for finance, supply chain, or data transfers, everything moves much, much quicker. 4. Cost Savings and Operational Optimization Lower Administrative Overhead No intermediaries and no manual routing means the blockchain can deliver some serious savings, both time and financial. Fewer admin, reconciliation, data entry, and auditing tasks (as well as fewer human errors) means less need for staff and overheads. Business can redirect resource savings to more intentional strategic initiatives, operating on a much leaner and more efficient business model. Automation Through Smart Contracts By switching to self-executing smart contracts that contain the terms of an agreement directly within their code, users can ensure that actions occur when pre-defined conditions are met. The new, higher level of automation permitted by the blockchain proves that there’s little need for escrow, legal arbitration, and manual intervention in many modern day situations. Imagine, for example, if payment were released when delivery was confirmed. Smart contracts enable it. The blockchain’s approach to contract enforcement delivers substantial cost savings, especially related to legal fees and admin processing. This has kickstarted a new era of efficiency and trustlessness, where trust is rarely needed. Now, it’s hard-coded. 5. Traceability and Provenance Tracking Assets Across Supply Chains While the blockchain may have an unwarranted reputation for secrecy, it’s actually the most transparent system ever. It provides the unparalleled ability to track assets from their origin to their destination. This traceability and provenance opens up a world of possibility. For global supply chains dealing with immense tracking complexity, the blockchain’s single, unified record of every step can eliminate fragmented data and handover issues. From raw product to finished goods, the ledger can deliver an end-to-end digital trail for concerned businesses. Consumer Confidence and Regulatory Compliance Customers want more transparency about the products they buy, demanding key metrics and information about ethical sourcing, organic claims, and fair trade practices. With the blockchain, they can tap into verifiable proof of origin and journey. This change builds far more consumer confidence than ever, especially regarding product authenticity and brand claims. On the regulatory side, again, it offers an unalterable audit trail for compliance and adherence to standards. 6. User Empowerment and Control Ownership of Personal Data The blockchain has an incredible talent for shifting control away from centralized powers and into the hands of individual users. This empowerment and control is seen as a foundational principle of crypto, the blockchain, and the decentralized web (often called Web3). Web2 saw corporations control, monetize, and optimize user data and habits on an enormous scale. That means search engines (Google), social media (Meta), commerce platforms (Amazon), entertainment (Netflix), and information (Reddit). Web3 pursued an alternative. Self-ownership of data and self-custody of value through decentralized networks became appealing to those who cared about privacy preservation and self-sovereignty. These ideals were also part of Satoshi’s Bitcoin whitepaper, which aligned with a suspected societal desire for digital freedom. Decentralized Applications (dApps) To help people not only own their data and value, but use it proactively, profitably, and enjoyably, a new decentralized finance (DeFi) system was built. It unified countless blockchain networks, each with an emergence of decentralized applications (dApps) that were autonomous and open-source. In DeFi, the user controls everything, making dApps highly empowering. They create a more user-centric and equitable internet, creating a new kind of “digital people power” whereby individuals have more voice, influence, and respect, thanks to code and cryptography. The Web2 dominance over data is quickly changing, with individuals driving a shift towards a more user-empowered online experience, where people have a real say in how platforms operate and evolve. 7. Fraud Reduction and Risk Management Detecting Duplicate or Counterfeit Transactions The hard-coded features of the blockchain make it an extraordinary tool for fraud prevention and a risk management upgrade for a number of key industries. Thanks to immutability, distributed consensus, and public verifiability, it is arguably the best ledger system to ever exist. Counterfeits fail against the blockchain, as do duplicate transactions and attempts to re-spend. This is excellent for high-ticket industries where large amounts are moving around and authenticity is non-negotiable. Creating Reliable Audit Trails To reiterate, every single action made on a blockchain creates a permanent and immutable record that is time-stamped and inalterable. For auditors, internal governance, and compliance, the clarity and reliability of this comprehensive trail is invaluable. We have a way of accessing irrefutable evidence of who did what, when, with absolute reliability. For fraud reduction and risk management, this will mitigate a high percentage of fraud, discrepancies, and disputes. The outcome will be better overall risk management systems. 8. Accessibility and Inclusion Financial Inclusion for the Unbanked Now that the blockchain has proven itself in thousands of different use cases, it can confidently expand into financial services that serve the entire global populace. Since it is generally credibly neutral and unbiased, it offers greater accessibility and inclusion to the currently unbanked. There are an estimated 1.4 billion people worldwide who still lack access to basic banking services. The blockchain is helping to fill that gap, with wallet infrastructure, financial platforms, lending protocols, and stablecoins all delivering important and accessible alternatives. Nowadays, anyone with a smartphone and internet access can enter Web3. They can easily open a crypto wallet to send, receive, and store value, bypassing any intermediaries, like banks or brokers, with prohibitive entry requirements. Expanding Access to Digital Services It’s not only finance that is opening doors to the unbanked. There are other use cases, like decentralized identity, digital land registries, and voting systems that are leveraging the blockchain to make services publicly accessible. In the future, more and more services will be open to anyone, anywhere, without needing government ID or exclusionary verification systems. Opportunities for digital participation will be transformative for underserved communities globally, potentially inspiring new economic growth. 9. Innovation and Adaptability Tokenization of Real-World and Digital Assets It’s important to understand that the blockchain is not a single, rigid technology, but more of a framework or base layer. It is incredibly flexible, versatile, and can inspire groundbreaking global innovation that touches everyone, every industry, and soon, every asset. Real world assets (RWAs) are one of the best new use cases for the blockchain, and they are simply a digital representation of a physical asset, like real estate, commodities, or even money (think of stablecoins). By putting RWAs on the blockchain, they become more liquid, divisible, and easily transferable, meaning that they essentially open up to a much larger and more inclusive audience. There’s no reason for exclusive sales once something is tokenized. The barriers to entry are lower. New markets, investment opportunities, and methods for capital formation are just the start of how RWAs can change the asset management space and introduce unprecedented flexibility. Perhaps the only thing standing in the way now are inconsistently applied regulations. Flexible Applications Across Industries The benefits of blockchain technology are not limited to finance. Overall, it can be seen as a way of organizing and moving data to make things more secure, transparent, and immutable. There’s hardly an industry in the world that can’t benefit from more of those things. Some international elections even implement blockchain technologies to avoid voter fraud. Luxury goods can prove their authenticity. Hospital groups can share patient records securely and accurately. It’s an innovation that sparked a huge industry that now touches a huge number of other industries. Real-World Applications of Blockchain Benefits Finance and Banking Faster, cheaper, and more transparent. They are the promised benefits of blockchain technology for finance. So far, cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and decentralized finance are doing this promise justice. The remittance industry is one of the largest benefactors of blockchain technology, as it allows for near-instant cross-border payments, drastically reducing settlement times and transfer costs. More recently, banks have started exploring private blockchains for their interbank settlements and securitization, improving efficiency while continuing to adhere to regulations and compliance standards. Supply Chain and Logistics The traceability and transparency benefits of blockchain technology have proven critical for supply chains, with IBM being a key example of a company that can effectively track products from source to consumer, guaranteeing their authenticity. This matters, especially when you consider the proliferation of counterfeit goods, pharmaceuticals, and more. With verifiable proof of provenance from the blockchain, malicious actors and their logistics networks may be stopped at the source. Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals The blockchain is now widely used to secure patient data, help healthcare and hospital networks to share records more efficiently, and track pharmaceutical supply chains to ensure medicine is authentic. Its immutability and effects of data integrity are literally saving lives. By facilitating encrypted data sharing that allows medical records to be sent while maintaining patient privacy, it can make healthcare a lot more user-centric, considerate, and safe. Government and Public Services Secure voting systems were one of the first governmental use cases for blockchain technology, with Sierra Leone and Thailand pioneering the concept. Later, it evolved into applications for digital identity, land registrations, and more, fighting corruption while rebuilding public trust. The idea of an unalterable record of ownership is very useful for land registries, which is why Georgia and Dubai were among the first to leverage the benefits of blockchain technology for this use case, effectively leading to more efficient, transparent, and secure public administration. Insurance and Legal Sectors Blockchain technology can streamline all kinds of systems, with claims processing and contract enforcement realizing huge efficiency gains through the application of start contracts. In the legal field, it can secure intellectual property, manage digital evidence, and facilitate immutable record-keeping for legal documents, all while reducing fraud and disputes. This modernization and on-chain transition is particularly effective for historically paper-intensive sectors. Powering the Future of Business The benefits of blockchain technologies are far-reaching and profound, with countless solutions that present drastic upgrades over incremental gains. For example, remarkably better security and data integrity are helping the blockchain to be seen as a foundational technology for the modern world. A future with empowered individuals, optimized operations, and new approaches to trust and value exchange will help industries to go above and beyond their current levels of service. The more they embrace decentralization, the more they can experience digital transformation. For businesses now trying to make sense of this new, “on-chain” world and who want to explore the undeniable benefits of blockchain technologies, compliant payment rails are a good start. This is where @Plasma excels. Plasma is a purpose-built blockchain for stablecoin payments, combining high-throughput infrastructure with regulatory-ready design. Global, instant, and low-cost transactions are waiting to be leveraged and enjoyed by businesses and users alike. $XPL @Plasma #Plasma