Bitcoin Investment: How to Do It Right

July 22, 2021

Did you know that 40 million Americans use Bitcoin as a form of investment? However, millions of other Americans are using it for payments, savings, and much more.

Bitcoin investment has become popular for many reasons, so people want to learn how to do it for themselves. If you’re one of those people, this guide is for you.

Read on to learn about investing in Bitcoin the right way.

Join an Exchange

To start a Bitcoin investment, you’ll need to join a cryptocurrency exchange. There is not an official exchange for Bitcoin as it is open-source blockchain technology.

Some of the most popular exchanges you can buy Bitcoin from include the following:

Coinbase
Binance
Kraken
Gemini
Bitfinex

Because many options are rising in popularity, choosing a Bitcoin exchange is not easy. Complete a lot of research before making a final decision.

Get a Bitcoin Wallet

Another part of learning how to invest in Bitcoin involves getting a Bitcoin wallet where you will store your coins. The two different types of wallets for cryptocurrency storage are hot wallets and cold wallets.

A hot wallet is operated by a provider or the cryptocurrency exchange you choose. You might automatically gain a hot wallet if you pick a certain exchange.

With a hot wallet, you can access your funds through a software or internet program. The downside of this wallet is that your coins might be at risk if your provider gets hacked.

A cold wallet is a safer method for your coins because it is a real piece of hardware similar to a flash drive. You’ll have to pay for a cold wallet. They are priced anywhere from $60 to $100.

A cold wallet is best for those who plan on purchasing large amounts of Bitcoin.

Connect Your Wallet

After obtaining a wallet for your digital currency, you’ll need to link it to your bank account so that you can sell and purchase coins. Once connected, you can then start Bitcoin investing.

Before making a purchase, research the market and Bitcoin specifically. Learn about terms like Bitcoin halving and Bitcoin mining.

Place an Order

Is Bitcoin a good investment? If you’ve come this far into the guide, you must believe it is!

The exchange you chose will have everything you need to buy. A coin can cost thousands, but you can choose to buy fractions of one coin on some exchanges.

Manage Investments

Because investing in Bitcoin is a bit risky, it is essential that you properly manage your investments. Once you’ve made a purchase, you can use coins for online transactions and perform day trades.

Most investors will hold coins hoping that they will boost in value.

Bitcoin Investment: Doing It Right to Make Money

Most people want to learn how to make a Bitcoin investment to make money and others enjoy making online transactions with a different currency. No matter what you choose to use your coins for, this guide can help.

By following the above steps, you’ll be well on your way to investing. If you want to read more about cryptocurrencies, check out the other posts on our blog.

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5 Steps to Deeper More Restful Sleep for Entrepreneurs

July 22, 2021

As an entrepreneur, a lot of your time will be spent working on your business idea before delivering it to the masses. Understandably, with so many hours dedicated to making your idea a success, it can be easy to forget about sleep in the process. However, you need a good night’s sleep to give your mind and body a chance to repair and recover themselves.

If you’re low on energy and are finding it difficult to concentrate, poor sleep could be to blame. To help you wake up feeling productive, here are five steps to deeper, more restful sleep.

Work Out Daily

While many of us think of exercise as a way to lose weight or build muscle, when it comes to getting deeper sleep, working out daily is essential. This is because exercise can combat sleep-related problems like insomnia, helping you to get a decent amount of rest. For entrepreneurs, you may not feel you have the time to commit to exercise. However, even 30 minutes of exercise can be great for promoting sleep. Whether you head to your local gym or go for a run around the neighborhood, factoring in physical activity alongside your workload is key for better sleep.

Eat Right

When fine-tuning your business idea, you may find yourself working until the early hours. To keep you going, you may have takeout on speed dial which will do your body no favors in the long run. While junk food may give you an initial burst of energy, you’ll find yourself burning out quicker. It’s best to stick to a healthy diet that can not only help you fall asleep quickly but enhance sleep quality and how long you rest. If you’re sleep-deprived, you’re at a higher risk of consuming foods full of fat, calories, and sugar. Try and get into the habit of eating more fruits and vegetables, and you should see some improvements in sleep quality.

Buy a New Mattress

As you climb under the duvet and settle in for the night, you should feel 100% relaxed. If this isn’t the case, your mattress could be to blame. Did you know that mattresses which are five years or older are health hazards? Dust mites can build in older mattresses and cause all sorts of conditions, like asthma and eczema. What’s more, your mattress will lose support over the years, meaning you could wake up with a sore back. If it’s time to invest in a new mattress, you can pick one up during the Labor Day sale where you can save money. Once you climb onto your new mattress, you should notice a huge difference in terms of comfort.

Remove Distractions

Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of taking their smartphones to bed and checking over emails before hitting the hay. If this sounds like you, your sleep quality could be affected as a result. Even if you use your device to scroll through social media feeds, when closing your eyes for the night, you may struggle to drift off quickly. The blue light which emits from your smartphone can trick your brain into thinking it’s still light. If you’re having trouble getting to sleep, having your device out of sight and out of mind is key.

Find Time to Relax

Before you launch a business, you need to understand the importance of rest and relaxation. Once your business goes live, it’s even more important to have some time for yourself. Before bedtime, having an hour to fully relax and unwind can promote better sleep. This can be achieved by running a hot bath or meditating.

If you have an entrepreneurial mindset, your body still requires good sleep every night to keep you productive. Before diving into the business world, prioritizing your sleep and utilizing the steps above should help in getting a good night’s rest. Visit SleepAuthorities for more tips on how to improve sleep.

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How Can Digital Wallet Help Grow Your Business

July 22, 2021

As the name suggests, Digital Wallet contains credit and debit card information in a digital format in mobile applications. A famous example of a digital wallet is Google Pay. Digital wallets are easy to set up and use. The setup requires a user to load their bank’s credit or debit card into the digital wallet of their choice, and one can pay on the go (by tap and pay), online, or make in-app purchases.

As much as digital wallets are a convenience for users, they can help grow businesses too. Regardless of which sales channel your business follows, digital wallets are quickly becoming a hygiene factor for your business. In the following points, you will see how digital wallets can help grow your business.

1. Improve Customer Experience/Utility through speed, convenience, and safety:

As per a 2021 Harvard Business Review article, digital payments add a competitive advantage to modern businesses by enabling greater convenience for customers, collecting more customer data, and using customer data to gain product insights to launch new product features. One of the first steps in a consumption chain is Purchase. Most retail outlets and online businesses need you to either pay by cash or card. This conventional purchasing process is not only time-consuming but also inconvenient. Cash, for example, requires the customer and the cashier to have the exact change amount in hand. Cards need customers to remember the card number, CVV, and Visa/Mastercard authentication passwords. Added to these problems is the fact that both these methods of payment have safety/security issues. Having a digital wallet as part of your payment gateway solves your customer’s speed, convenience, and risk-related problems. Digital wallets are better encrypted and hence safer than cards. Your customers will be able to check out faster. They will give you more sales because of the added utility that you have given them by implementing digital wallets in your business” – says Christian Belmont, marketing specialist at Plixpay

2. Capture a rapidly evolving Mobile shoppers segment:

Since the pandemic took a toll on the entire world, people from all parts of the world, particularly the United States of America, have wholly moved their shopping habits to smartphones and smart devices. According to a recent NASDAQ article, Americans carried out over 100 billion digital mobile wallet transactions, and the number is predicted to increase to more than 2.5 trillion by 2025. Millennials have been the fastest adopters, with over 90% of millennials using digital wallets. Consumers are starting to treat digital wallets like leather wallets. Therefore, if you want to capture more value, the fastest way to do that will be to capture the rapidly growing mobile shoppers segment, especially the millennials. The first step is to have a mobile-compatible website or app for your business, and the second step is to accept digital wallets for your business. It might be initially challenging to integrate your business into a digital wallet due to high development costs and inadequate technical expertise. This is where Hollwally’s white-label digital wallet solutions come to the rescue. With their services, you can focus on growing your business and let the experts develop a reliable and efficient e-wallet for your unique business needs.

3. Induce more lavish spending among customers:

The Nobel Prize-winning behavioral economist Daniel Kahneman explains that humans suffer from the endowment effect. If they own something, they are less willing to part with it, also called the concept of loss aversion. Your customers are no different. When customers pay by cash or card, they are wary of the amount of money or bank balance they have and may hesitate to splurge too much on shopping, mainly if your business entails premium products. This behavior is classic loss aversion. Digital wallets do not provide the customers a hint of their financial status and avoid loss aversion. Hence, having digital wallets as a payment method in your business may indirectly nudge the customers to spend more, leading to more sales.

4. Add-ons to hook customers over the long term:

You can also partner with the Digital wallet company to showcase special offers like coupons, discounts, or add-on complimentary services to your customers. A majority of Americans use digital wallets for most of their payments. If a person who has not used your product sees an offer on the digital wallet app that they are using, there is a possibility that they may visit your online store and avail of that offer. Thus, a digital wallet can help fulfill the purchase and act as a potential sales and marketing channel for you. In addition to attracting new customers through offers, you can use the digital wallet to service your existing customers with loyalty rewards. Therefore, digital wallets can help you maintain good customer relationships.

5. Touchless and Safe transactions:

The nature of havoc Covid-19 played on the entire world and how it destroyed numerous small to medium-sized businesses is evident. In the wake of this pandemic, providing digital wallets as a medium of payments helps customers avoid any point of touch in the sale and gives the customers a sense of safety. Having digital wallets for your business helps you safely serve your customers and creates a sense of goodwill amongst your customers, thus, enhancing customer loyalty for your products and services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, digital wallets enable your customers more incredible speed, convenience, financial safety, physical safety, and peace of mind, which help increase sales for your business and will allow you to tap the rapidly evolving mobile audience. Although digital wallets have advantages, you must also ensure that your mobile commerce platform allows a seamless buying experience from the cart to the payment checkout.

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The Top 5 Reasons You Need an eCommerce SEO Agency

July 22, 2021

Attracting potential customers is one of the greatest challenges facing small businesses these days. Their main problem is that they can’t compete with the big companies’ marketing budgets and traditional marketing means are too costly. However, digital marketing enables small companies to market like the big guys.

Even though digital marketing can be one of the most effective ways of reaching and growing your target audience, it also takes savvy. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a set of disciplines that greatly increases the efforts of digital marketing campaigns and eCommerce websites. With more than 200 different ranking factors impacting where websites rank in Google search results, it takes a team of experts like SEO Newcastle to fully comprehend how changes impact rankings. However, if you’re not an SEO expert, it’s best to hire experts from Hypex.

Continue reading to learn five reasons you need E-Commerce SEO services to enhance your digital marketing efforts.

1. eCommerce SEO agencies use social media to grow target audiences

As you know, social media has become an essential part of our digitized society. What started as a platform for young people to connect has become an apex marketing tool. However, there’s a wide gap between being a regular social media user and using social media for marketing.

An experienced eCommerce SEO agency will have the tools and know-how to increase the conversion rate of your social media profile. In SEO terms, conversions are people who visit your eCommerce website or social media page and become buying customers.

2. SEO companies have content writers who create engaging blog posts.

Content marketing is one of the most effective ways to increase your ranking on search engine results pages. By creating blog posts that inform and entertain readers, search engines will begin to recognize your eCommerce site as a valuable source of industry information.

SEO agencies have skilled and seasoned writers that are adept at creating relevant and engaging content. Furthermore, they know how to properly perform keyword research and utilize keywords without oversaturating the content.

3. SEO agencies provide link-building services

Link building is another important aspect of a comprehensive content strategy. By placing internal links in your content that leads to content on an authoritative site, the chances of search engines ranking your content will greatly increase. However, getting backlinks from authoritative websites back to your own homepage is even better for your brand awareness and visibility.

Link building is one of the most effective ways to drive organic traffic, and it requires having the right connections. When you hire the right eCommerce SEO agency, you get instant access to various link-building partners.

4. The right eCommerce SEO strategy can improve your site architecture and user experience

Business owners stress over ways to increase their revenue on their eCommerce sites, and sometimes the answer is in site optimization. The easier it is for people to use your website, the more likely they’ll be to spend money on your website.

Improving your site architecture should be a top priority of your SEO efforts. Users should feel confident that they can get from your homepage to your product page without having a site map.

5. SEO experts provide access to instant expertise that would take years to attain yourself

If you’re familiar with SEO best practices, you know how to create quality content, and have the connections to generate effective backlinks, you can reach the masses with very little capital. However, it takes years to learn the best ways to implement SEO that generates organic traffic.

If you’re not an SEO expert, it’s best to let an SEO company do the heavy lifting for you. Digital marketing is their specialty, and they know the right way to increase your rankings in search results and grow your target market.

Increasing brand awareness, online visibility, and organic rankings are some of the ways a comprehensive SEO strategy can help grow your eCommerce business. However, SEO campaigns are better left to SEO companies that understand the tools and best practices that work. Money spent on eCommerce SEO services is money well-spent.

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Ways To Fight Back Against Inflation

July 22, 2021

Every year, the power of our money diminishes, little by little. Things become more expensive, from goods to services and experiences. This is because of inflation, which occurs in response to increases to the money supply, or increased demand or rising costs of production. Inflation is unavoidable, and takes place in nearly every economy all over the world.

Inflation is necessary, but many people aren’t a fan since it means their money doesn’t go as far as it used to. While there is nothing you can do to stop inflation, there are some things you can do to fight back against it. Here are a few ideas to get some level of protection from inflation, to protect yourself and your family.

Invest in Commodities

One of the best ways to fight against inflation is by investing in goods or commodities, instead of money. Money is impacted by inflation as it has less power over time, but goods or commodities are not. In fact, most will become more valuable when inflation strikes. A good example is buying gold, as it has intrinsic value and its price likely won’t drop during inflation. In fact, www.raremetalblog.com suggests that it is more likely to go up, just like other goods and services.

While you could buy gold directly, there are also accounts available that allow you to hold gold as a qualified retirement investment. Be sure to learn about the top gold IRA companies if you are interested in this option. While no investment is completely risk-free, investing in gold and other commodities will certainly suffer less from inflation than your money will.

Find Cheaper Substitutions in Your Life

Another way to combat inflation is to find cheaper alternatives to the goods and services you spend money on. A great example of this is buying more of the generic brands at the grocery store. In fact, many of these generic brands were actually created in response to high inflation in the past.

If you can switch to a cheaper brand for groceries, clothes and other items, you won’t be hit as hard by inflation as those who continue to buy the expensive items. Buying in bulk can also be a good way to stock up on non-perishable items at a very low price. Also, be aware that inflation is generally quite slow, so there is time to plan over the months and years ahead.

While there are extreme examples all over the world, inflation will only go up around 1% to 3% on average every year. So while it is important to prepare for inflation, you don’t immediately have to switch to the budget brands and start pinching pennies right away.

Buy or Invest in Real Estate

Buying real estate is another way to lessen the blow of inflation. This is because real estate will often increase in value over time, especially during inflationary periods. Even if home prices don’t skyrocket, they are likely to hold steady. Also, if you can lock in a relatively low interest rate for the long term (like a mortgage), it can save you from the higher rates that often come from higher inflation.

There are several options when it comes to buying or investing in real estate. You can buy a home to live in, buy a home to rent out or sell, or even invest in a REIT (real estate investment trust). The option you choose depends on how much you want to spend/invest, what your goals are and how much work you want to do.

Lessening the Impact of Inflation

Inflation is unavoidable, but there are certainly some things you can do to fight back. By investing in commodities, buying real estate and finding cheaper alternatives in your life, you can minimize the effect inflation will have on your budget. Like Gordon Simmons said “The economy is going through change, but that doesn’t mean the nation is headed into prolonged dark times.”.

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Bluemina: The demand for dual citizenship is witnessing a significant increase in Dubai

July 22, 2021

There is increasing interest in the benefits provided by the various programmes around the world offering dual citizenship or permanent residency in exchange for investment in the country concerned. Bluemina, one of the leading firms in Citizenship and Residency by Investment in the industry, helps individuals benefit of such services.

The significance of becoming a global citizen is increasing rapidly. Individuals are remarkably acknowledging the importance of having the ability to travel freely without any restrictions. People are continuously looking for a better and more stable future for themselves and their families. Therefore, many choose to go down the road of Dual Citizenship and Permanent Residency by Investment programmes, especially the ones provided by Bluemina Citizenship & Residency, as it offers a great deal of privileges and benefits to investors.

Bluemina was established in 1997 by Mr. Wasim Daoud, with the main goal of helping Middle Eastern families immigrate to Canada for a better and brighter future. Bluemina later evolved into one of the leading firms that worked towards meeting the needs of families who aim to gain the benefits of a second passport and citizenship without the need to relocate or immigrate. “With us, people can come to a well-organized, specialized firm and get the best residency and citizenship solutions in an efficient and swift manner.” – Bashar Daoud, Managing Partner, Bluemina.

Obtaining a second citizenship or a permanent residency in a short period of time and with budget-friendly programmes carved the path for Bluemina to grow and expand. Bluemina started operating a branch in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates in 2011 to meet the rising demand for a second citizenship among investors within the UAE.

High net worth individuals, especially those in the GCC region, are constantly seeking out new opportunities and prospects. Investors in Dubai have been leaning towards either citizenship by investment or residency by investment to become global citizens and get rid of any restraint imposed especially after the pandemic.

Dual citizenship and permanent residency services in Dubai have been flourishing as Bluemina introduces programmes that require minimal investment funding or donations which allows individuals to enjoy the many benefits of becoming a global citizen.

In line with that, dual citizenship and permanent residency services in Dubai have been flourishing as Bluemina introduces programmes that require minimal investment funding or donations which allows individuals to enjoy the many benefits of becoming a global citizen. The duration of obtaining a second passport & citizenship of the desired country is 4 to 6 months. Businessmen and businesswomen also find it rather beneficial to be able to work in the same country they reside in, while also investing in more stable countries that offer them a second passport and citizenship or permanent residency through different investment programmes. It consequently permits them to enter certain countries visa-free and grants an opportunity to secure a better future for their families.

Since its expansion in Dubai, Bluemina has always been providing quality citizenship and residency by investment services in the UAE. Bluemina’s expert consultants are constantly available to help investors choose the right programme that meets their needs, budgets and goals. Honesty, transparency and excellence are being achieved on daily basis by Bluemina’s branches around the globe.

Following the events of the Arab Spring, it became a growing necessity for citizens of the Middle East and North Africa region to work towards obtaining second citizenship by investment. Individuals from the MENA region are continuously looking for countries that provide its citizens with better education, healthcare and social services. Even in times like this, and after the spread of the pandemic, investment in dual citizenship or permanent residency is advised by many businessmen. The pandemic has caused a global economic downturn and high levels of uncertainty, where the consequences of that have encouraged people to consider the safest and most beneficial type of investment programmes. Obtaining a powerful second passport nowadays awards its holder the privileges of robust, and much needed, healthcare services.

Investors in Dubai can allocate an amount in different investment schemes, such as real estate, to obtain a second passport and permanent residency. This would give them many benefits and advantages including the ability to become a 1st class global citizen, allowing them to enjoy security and stability. For instance, Dominica Citizenship program grants visa-free travel to over 135 countries and extends higher education and healthcare services. Bluemina also offers investors the USA EB-5 Investor Visa Program for those seeking to legally work or travel anywhere in the U.S.

Thousands of success stories have been recorded by Bluemina as the firm managed to achieve a 100% success rate. The citizenship and residency firm has certified and qualified agents who work relentlessly to ease the process of getting a dual citizenship and permanent residency for investors to easily obtain their second passport and enjoy its benefits.

The many benefits of a second citizenship include traveling visa free to more than 180 countries such as UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and all Schengen countries. As for residency by investment programmes such as Malta Residency, it grants visa free access to all Schengen countries. With Malta PR, investors can live anywhere in Europe for 3 months every 6 months a year, giving them and their families the chance to enjoy high standards of living.

Furthermore, investors can make the most of fruitful business opportunities, better education, quality healthcare, enhanced quality of life, and fast-processing time. In addition, second citizenship like Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship can be passed onto future generations by descent. St. Kitts & Nevis is one of the oldest and most established citizenship by investment programmes, it holds several benefits and can give you and your family just what you need.

Bluemina provides its applicants with numerous benefits presented by dual citizenship and permanent residency by investment programmes.

Bluemina provides its applicants with numerous benefits presented by dual citizenship and permanent residency by investment programmes. Accordingly, investors who set offshore businesses and bank accounts can benefit from other privileges including many tax advantages, no personal income tax, no taxes on gains or inheritance and freely register and open companies worldwide. Individuals will most importantly have the privilege of being first class global citizens, meaning they can feel at home wherever they choose to be.

With over two decades of expertise in the field, Bluemina has established many solid relationships with governments around the world, and has gained the trust of many applicants over the years. Moreover, businessmen and investors in particular are always on the look for transparency and professionalism, which Bluemina has proven to possess and employ in application procedures among its other efficient services. With 9 global branches including Dubai, the sole purpose of the firm is helping as many individuals as possible to become global citizens.

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Tutorial videos: Challenges and how screen recording tools can help overcome them

July 21, 2021

Making tutorial videos has its own set of benefits: it’s easier to explain things, it’s easier to understand new things, and the best part, you don’t have to write long manuals. Other than its benefits, its use is multi-dimensional too. Educators use tutorial videos to create learning material, marketers use it for product demos and support representatives create explainer videos to help customers with understanding features.

All of this works very well for them because people prefer watching a video than reading about it when they’re learning something new. However, there are a few things which come into the way of recording tutorial videos consistently.

Let’s talk about them in the next section.

Challenges of recording tutorial videos

Cost: The biggest dampener. If you’re on your own, you either have to buy new equipment or outsource it. Whatever you go ahead with your choice will be an expensive one

Training: Not everyone is an expert in handling light and camera. It can take months to be good at it and confident enough to keep recording videos regularly

Ease-of-use: Whether you’re making a whiteboard animation video or a 2-minute video, it’s not very easy to get started at an instant.

The challenges of making tutorial videos are grave, and it can easily discourage anyone to drop the idea of creating video content.

But, there is hope.

What’s the best tool for making tutorial videos?

Screen Recorders

Screen recorders are made for tutorial videos. It perfectly overcomes all the challenges of making these videos.

It’s not expensive. There is no training required, you can download or install it almost instantly. And, it’s easy to use too. Screen recorders are great for sharing informational content because they can record your screen and webcam at the same time. This means you can share your screen to show a step-by-step process, and using a webcam you can record a face which will keep the video personalized.

If you’re using an advanced screen recorder like Vmaker (more about it in the next section), you can record your voice, annotate on the screen, and edit the videos too. Moreover, you can use an enterprise media asset management system such as Desynova, to keep different types of metadata as well as video content information in a safe place. To summarize, screen recorders have evolved as a complete video production tool which can be used by everyone to create informative content.

To go deep into this, let’s talk about one such advanced screen recorder which seems to have done its homework very well.

Introducing Vmaker – the only screen recorder you will need

Vmaker is a free screen recorder that is targeted at people who love to create content. To appreciate and support the unbridled energy of creative minds, Vmaker offers some of its best features even in their lifetime free plan.

For users who create tutorial videos, Vmaker seems to fall like the last piece to complete the jigsaw puzzle. Other than having a simple interface, it offers unlimited recording to the users. This means there is no limit on the number of videos you record and their duration too. This is available in the free plan as well; there are hardly any screen recording tools out there that give this same benefit.

What are the other features that make Vmaker a great tool for tutorial videos?

While unlimited recording is a showstopper, Vmaker has a lot more in its arsenal that will help you in creating tutorial videos. Here are a few of them –

Recording dimension: You have the freedom to record your entire screen, a particular window or a customized area which you can select by just a simple click-and-drag

Smart highlights: Following a tutorial video can get tough for a viewer, so make things easier you can use annotations and mouse emphasis to highlight the right areas

Precise editing: The built-in editor can help you in trimming, cropping and resizing the video. Moreover, you can add transitions and audio between the scenes too

Easy sharing: Once your video is ready, you can share it from the dashboard to your social media accounts. Fancy uploading it on YouTube? Get it done right from the same window

Helpful customizations: Add more personalization to your videos by using a customized background, your company logo, brand colour and favicon too

There’s more about Vmaker, so if you want to learn more, check out their features page.

Final Note

Tutorial videos are great for creating learning material and keeping the audience engaged. It makes the creator’s life easier, and it’s easy for the audience to grasp the content. However, creating tutorial videos can get overwhelming especially if you have to do it consistently. Traditional video marking tools are expensive and difficult to use.

Screen recording tools are great as an alternative for these tools. They are simpler to use and easy on the pocket. Vmaker is one such advanced screen recording tool that offers a lot of benefits at lower cost. Its features like unlimited recording, screen annotation, social sharing, customization and others make it a great tool for content creators who make tutorial videos regularly.

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Five Safe Ways to Trade Cryptocurrencies in a Volatile Market

July 21, 2021

The crypto market is emerging as a trillion-dollar ecosystem, with market capitalization recently surpassing the $2 trillion mark. However, this has dropped to $1.28 trillion as of press time following the May 2021 bloodbath. Crypto prices have now been trending down for the past two months.

While such a wipeout would have been catastrophic in traditional markets, it is a mere norm for the volatile crypto market. This market’s volatility cuts both ways giving both bulls and bears an opportunity to make a killing, although not all the time. So, how can you trade safely in this volatile market environment?

The next section of this article highlights five ways crypto traders can avoid catching ‘knives’, especially with the market currently trending downwards.

Trading Crypto in a Volatile Market

There are several ways that crypto traders can leverage to trade safely in volatile market conditions. Before diving into the details of each, note that this is not financial advice, and it is always best to do proper research and due diligence before investing in any market or product. That said, here are the five ways that crypto traders can use to survive and thrive amidst the volatility:

1. Risk Diversification

Risk diversification is as important in crypto as it is in traditional markets. Crypto traders can minimize the effects of volatility by diversifying their portfolios across several digital assets or featuring a combination of crypto and traditional investments such as stocks and commodities. In doing so, a trader’s portfolio is exposed to less risk, given that traditional markets are less volatile.

For traders whose preference is purely crypto assets, they can choose to leverage upcoming derivative instruments to build a hedged portfolio. Currently, there are multiple crypto derivative platforms, including Binance, Bitmex and FTX, all of which offer crypto derivatives. With these instruments, crypto traders can hedge their positions by building a delta-neutral portfolio or using other suitable strategies.

2. In-depth Market Analysis

Despite being a young market, the crypto ecosystem features a wide range of products which means that investors have to do proper research to identify suitable investments. In most cases, the traders and investors in this market follow popular opinions on social media platforms such as Twitter and TikTok. Some of the calls are profitable but most end up in significant losses.

In-depth market research is one way that crypto traders and investors can avoid taking such hits. Some of the platforms that feature comprehensive crypto data include Coingecko and Coinmarketcap, where users can analyze historical price action, project fundamentals and tokenomics, amongst other factors. Crypto traders can further complement this data with industry reports from players such as Glassnode and Messari. This places them in a better position to make informed trading decisions based on research.

3. Social Crypto Trading

The rise of social media has changed how the world interacts, with most of the communication now happening online. Similarly, this paradigm shift is changing how traders interact with financial markets. Social trading is a new form of investing that allows traders to share ideas and information, reducing the learning curve of newbies while incentivizing experts to share their trading strategies.

In crypto, one upcoming crypto derivatives exchange dubbed Bingbon features a social trading platform. This exchange allows veteran crypto traders to share their trades in return for 8% on profits earned from successfully copied trades. Meanwhile, newbie crypto traders can choose from a wide range of experts and follow the ones that suit their trading strategy. Even better, a trader can choose to automatically copy trades or modify their execution based on additional information. This form of trading comes in handy in the volatile crypto market.

4. Proper Due Diligence

Crypto traders and investors can also avoid the volatile nature of the market by doing proper due diligence on prospective projects. Some of the areas they can focus on include the fundamental value proposition of a particular project, its team, tokenomics and the market liquidity for day traders and scalpers.

This helps avoid volatility pitfalls given that some crypto projects have become popular for ripping off investors in what is dubbed a ‘rug pull’. Proper due diligence will help traders identify projects that seem to be scams as most will have anonymous teams, insufficient documentation, low liquidity, and unrealistic targets, likely sweet nothings.

5. Non-Custodial Custodial Wallets and Exchanges

While the previously highlighted ways minimize volatility, crypto traders can secure themselves more by using non-custodial services. This is not necessarily linked to the volatile nature of crypto assets but rather the ecosystem’s security. Non-custodial crypto services allow crypto users to store and trade their tokens from a private wallet.

This means that they are the only ones that have the private keys to their crypto custody. Essentially, non-custodial crypto services ensure that crypto users can secure their funds hence eliminating the uncertainty that comes with the probability of being hacked.

Conclusion

The crypto market is generally volatile, calling for traders to focus on capital preservation while making conservative gains. Some ways to trade crypto safely that have been highlighted in this article can make a massive difference if implemented correctly. However, both veteran and newbie traders should never forget to trade only what they can afford to lose, as crypto is always full of surprises!

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Fintech-based growth for Asia’s financial markets

July 21, 2021

Fintechs in Asia are riding the digital payments growth wave. With unprecedented innovation, the region has renewed its leadership in modern global banking. From large conglomerates to virtual banks and payments, firms here have sought to conquer the digital growth curve.

Digital banking, which requires heavy investment, has rendered previous traditional banking practices obsolete. Digitalization represents a new growth opportunity and has made Asia’s financial services industry (FSI) more accessible and inclusive. These disruptive technologies offer new opportunities and have driven change in the region and especially innovation in China.

There has been an explosion in the number of technology companies providing financial services solutions in Asia. The strong economic recovery in the region has also led to an increasing number of high net worth individuals seeking customized banking and wealth management solutions.

Access to tailored advice, non-traditional investment with the explosion of cryptocurrency prices and advanced engagement solutions have led to the promotion of cashless payment approaches such as e-wallet or e-payment applications. Industry experts also expect digital lending to accelerate in Asia.

M&A deals are also increasing investment in the fintech startup space to realize technological advancements and provide cross-sector offerings. This has already been seen in investments from non-financial services sectors such as telecommunications, retail and media.

Asia’s fintech industry during the pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has been disastrous for the banking industry in many ways and has led to several changes in the financial services industry. But the fintech scene has continued its upward trend in 2020 despite the pandemic. After being the first region in the world to be hit by the Covid 19 pandemic, Asian countries were the first to stop economic activity, though also the fastest to ramp it back up.

The FSI industry struggled to support regional growth while combating the pandemic, making Asia fertile ground for the development of digital banking. The region has proven to be a booming digital market as policy and regulation play a larger role in post-pandemic economic recovery. A large portion of private market funds in emerging Asia have invested in fintechs.

Consumers are also seeking technologically advanced access to financial services as the pandemic has exposed the need for digitization. The largest banks in Asia, with strong balance sheets, have delivered double-digit growth this year. With strong consumer spending growth in Asia Pacific, particularly in Southeast Asia, companies have rushed to expand their geographic footprint in this expanding market.

Across Asia, established banks are partnering with fintech startups to boost digital payments, according to Mckinsey’s Future of Asia report. These include Kasikornbank and Grab of Thailand, which have teamed up to launch GrabPay by KBank, a mobile wallet. Another example is BRI (Bank Rakyat Indonesia), which has partnered with Alipay to expand acceptance of mobile point-of-sale payments for Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia.

Asia’s fintech ecosystem

Singapore and Hong Kong have led the turnaround in the digital banking industry, shaping the financial services sector in the APAC region. But according to a KPMG report, growth momentum is picking up in China and India, driving innovation and growth in payment services and fintechs.

The Chinese and Indian financial markets continue to open up, across various market segments such as incumbent banks, electronic payments and fintech startups. Most Asian governments are supporting the fintech industry by relaxing regulatory requirements. The governments of India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia aim to increase competition and drive digital progress.

Through the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, modern regulators across the region have established so-called sandboxes and other types of innovation facilitators such as FinTech accelerators, incubators and innovation centers. These currently exist in Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, China’s Taipei and Thailand. According to the IMF, a sandbox allows for live testing of small-scale innovations by private firms, both regulated and unregulated, in a controlled environment under the supervision of the regulator.

China – Fintech Center of the World

China’s banking and securities industry contributes significantly to global economic growth and its huge GDP makes it the third largest in the world. The country is positioning itself as the dominant economic power in the Asia-Pacific region and has the largest banking system in the world with 40 trillion. USD, the largest banking system in the world, larger than that of Europe. The world’s five largest banks by total assets (Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group) are all from China.

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Have You Been Injured At Work? Here’s How To Handle The Medical Bills

July 21, 2021

Suppose you have been injured at work or contracted an illness while on the job, you should ensure that you get medical attention. You should also know that worker’s compensation could cover your treatment.

Such workplace injuries can occur randomly, even when you work in a very safe office job. You may end up being electrocuted by pouring water on a naked wire.

There are some jobs with a higher chance of injury than others, but you should always ensure that your organization has worker’s compensation insurance.

The following is what you should do after you are injured at work and how to handle the medical bills:

1. What to Do After You are Injured?

If you are injured on the job, you should immediately report it to your superior. You can either report the injury to the supervisor in writing or verbally, depending on your state of residence.

If the injury is serious, you should first seek medical attention. Seeking medical care immediately will ensure that you can file a claim for worker’s compensation.

Adequate medical care is vital to ensure that you recover and are healthy. It is also crucial to maximize your worker’s compensation benefits and receive proper compensation for your injuries.

Even if the injury seems minor, you should have a doctor check you. There are underlying medical conditions whose symptoms can appear dormant for weeks or months.

There are states with a statute of limitations regarding how long you have to file a claim with your employer if you are injured at work. Check if your state has a time frame for reporting the injury and do so in time, so you don’t lose any benefits or compensation you are legally privileged to after a workplace injury.

2. Do You Need a Lawyer?

Workers rarely need a lawyer after a workplace injury. However, you may need the help of Workers Compensation Lawyers, depending on the complexity of your case. You should look for a lawyer if you don’t understand your case or pushback from your employer. It would be best if you had a lawyer who specializes in worker’s compensation law from your state since there are varying state laws regarding worker’s compensation. A local lawyer will know the laws that apply to your state.

Your case may end up going to court, in which case you will need a lawyer. It is wise to have a lawyer represent you when you go to an administrative or court judge.

3. Where Should You Go For Treatment?

If you are injured on the job and serious, you should go to the nearest hospital and accept admittance to the emergency room. There is nothing more important than receiving the necessary medical attention.

However, if the injury is minor, you can choose the doctor who will address your injuries, and it is your legal right to do so. There are states with restrictions regarding receiving medical care, with some states giving your employer or insurance company the right to choose your doctor.

Other states require you to select your doctor before the accident and have them on file if you want them to treat you for a workplace injury. In some cases, you can see the company doctor for thirty days and have the option to switch to your regular physician after that if you so wish.

4. How Do You File a Worker’s Compensation Claim?

Once you receive medical attention for your injuries, you will have to pay the medical bills. That is where worker’s compensation comes into the picture.

Filing a worker’s compensation claim is much like filing any other claim with an insurance company. In this case, you will be filing a claim with your employer’s health insurance provider.

The first step in filing a claim and receiving worker’s compensation and benefits is to appraise the employer of your injuries. You must fill a worker’s compensation claim form, or else your employer has no obligation to compensate you for your injuries and subsequent medical bills.

There are several places where you can fill the claim form. The first is the doctor’s office, where you will receive medical attention for your injuries. The other place is your employer’s offices, particularly the human resource department.

If you do not find the claim forms in the above places, you can also file them with your state’s worker’s compensation offices. The government agency will help you receive due compensation from your employer.

Ensure you fill the claim form correctly, then add your signature and the relevant date. Make a copy of the claim form and keep one for your records.

Return the filled claim form to your employer. If you are able, you should hand-deliver it to the office. Otherwise, you can send it through the mail.

Your employer will fill their section of the claim and send it to the organization’s insurance provider. You should receive a response within two weeks from the insurance company about the state of your claim.

Most companies are required by law to have worker’s compensation insurance; hence you should not worry about your company not having insurance. If your employer claims to lack worker’s compensation insurance, you should reach out to your state’s labor office or worker’s compensation office for assistance.

Moreover, most states require the employer to pay for the medical bills for a workplace injury until the claim is accepted or rejected by the insurance company. If the claim receives approval, your employer will continue to pay for your treatment until you recover.

If your worker’s compensation claim is denied, you will have to pay your medical bills. However, you can appeal a denied claim, and if it is approved, you will receive reimbursement from the insurance company.

As you can see, a workplace injury is a sensitive issue with severe legal repercussions. If you suffer a workplace injury, you should ensure that you handle the issue very carefully and navigate it as skillfully as possible. The help of an experienced worker’s compensation attorney will be valuable in receiving adequate compensation. Remember, getting the medical attention you require should always be the priority after a workplace injury.

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