1. Onchain Metrics:

*Transaction Count: The number of transactions is a good measure of activity on the network. By charting the number of transactions over predefined time intervals (or using moving averages), you can observe how activity changes over time. Note that this metric should be researched and handled with caution, as it's possible for one party to transfer funds between wallets to inflate the transaction count.
*Transaction Value: Transaction value tells you the total value transacted over a specific time period. For example, if ten Ethereum transactions, each valued at $50, occur in a single day, the daily transaction volume would be $500. This can be measured in a stable currency like USD or in the protocol's native token (e.g., ETH).
*Active Addresses: Active addresses are blockchain addresses that have been active during a specified time frame. There are various methods for calculating this metric, such as counting the senders and receivers of transactions within defined periods (e.g., daily, weekly, or monthly). Some methods track the total number of unique addresses over time.
*Fees Paid: Transaction fees can provide insights into network congestion. Think of these fees as bids in an auction: users compete to have their transactions confirmed quickly. Higher bidders will get their transactions mined sooner, while lower bidders may experience delays.
*Hash Rate and Staking: Hash rate is often used as a measure of a network's health in Proof of Work blockchains. An increasing hash rate may indicate growing interest in mining due to low input costs and high potential profits. Contrary, a declining hash rate may suggest miners are going offline because network security is no longer profitable. Factors affecting mining costs include current asset prices, transaction volume, and fees, as well as direct mining costs like electricity and computational power.

2. Project Metrics:

Whitepaper:
Technology Used (e.g., open-source)
Use Cases
Upgrade Roadmap and New Features
Token Supply and Distribution Plan
#DevelopmentTeam :
Experience and Track Record
Past Successful Projects
Technical Expertise
Involvement in Suspicious Projects

*Competing Projects: Identify competitors and assess the infrastructure the project is trying to replace. While an asset may seem attractive on its own, comparing similar metrics to other similar assets can reveal its relative strength.
*Tokenomics and Initial Distribution: How were tokens distributed, whether through ICOs, IEOs, or mining? In the first case, the whitepaper should detail how many tokens the founders and #DevelopmentTeam  hold and how many are available for investors. In the second case, evidence of early mining can provide important clues.

3. Financial Metrics:

*Market Capitalization: Calculated by multiplying the circulating supply by the current price, market capitalization represents the hypothetical cost to acquire all available units of a cryptocurrency at its current market price.
*Liquidity and Volume: Liquidity is the ease with which an asset can be bought or sold without affecting its price. High liquidity means you can sell your asset at or near its current market price. Trading volume measures how much of an asset is traded over a specific time period, reflecting market activity.
*Supply Mechanisms: Total supply, circulating supply, and inflation rate can influence investment decisions. Some cryptocurrencies decrease the rate of new units produced over time, making them appealing to investors who believe demand for new units will outstrip their availability.
Remember, cryptocurrency investments carry risks, and it's essential to conduct thorough research and exercise caution before investing in any asset.

1. Investment Fund/Backer/Market Maker (Most Important)

When it comes to investment funds, prioritize large funds with a history of participating in successful projects that have seen substantial token price increases. These funds should work together to push the price higher. Too many investment funds involved in a project can lead to a lack of consensus on the price trajectory, no matter how large the funds are. Just like in real life, some funds invest just for fun and quick profits, leading to token dumps rather than long-term commitment. Choose projects with reputable funds, a reasonable number of participants, and a history of successful collaboration (working together to drive token prices).

Backing from influential entities is crucial. For example, the increase in the price of Binance's fan token is more significant than CHZ's fan token. Therefore, it's essential to choose projects with some level of influence. This is also one of the reasons why C98 hasn't pumped as strongly as SFP and TWT in recent days.

In terms of Market Makers (MM), top-tier projects attract MM activity, not every project can secure their services. Wintermute, for instance, only collaborates with top-notch projects. Other prominent MMs include Jump (known for aggressive price manipulation) and Paradigm. You can track their activities on various on-chain analysis tools.

2. Project Stage:

Every project goes through different stages of development: Development, Peak, and Decline. It's early to invest in projects during their stages.

Chart Analysis: If a project's chart continually seeks new lows, it's best to avoid it. While some projects occasionally experience a rebound, there are usually better options than choosing projects with consistently declining charts.

3. Tokennomics:

Circulating Supply: For projects with strong backing, it's beneficial to have a moderate circulating supply to facilitate price manipulation. It allows backers to easily drive up the price. For instance, TWT recently had significant price increases due to a relatively low circulating supply. In contrast, C98 couldn't increase much because it has a higher circulating supply. However, investing this way means you need to swim with the whales, and going against them can lead to substantial losses if the whales intend to scam or default.

Market Cap: Prefer projects with a smaller market cap. For example, a project with a $1 billion market cap needs an additional $1 billion to double the price, which is much more challenging than a project with a $100 million market cap.

Token Use Case: Consider the purpose of the token. What benefits does holding it provide? Can holding the token impact the project? Some projects experience significant price increases even without a clear use case for their tokens, while others offer limited benefits to holders. For example, Lido has seen tremendous price growth despite limited token benefits.

Vesting and Unlocking Schedules: Check the token vesting and unlocking schedules to plan your investment. Upcoming token unlocks can be a negative factor.

Liquidity: Prefer coins with good liquidity, making it easier to buy and sell. When MMs push the price, they consider coins with good liquidity for dumping.

4. Market Trends and BTC:

All projects are derived by Bitcoin's trends except for rare exceptions. In a bearish market or when there's no strong trend, projects may struggle to increase in price due to low liquidity and inexperienced traders.

5. Project Team:

#DevelopmentTeam : Choose projects led by individuals who have previously worked on successful projects. For example, if Andre Cronje specializes in DeFi, consider his DeFi projects. Avoid projects with developers who have faced controversies.
6. Money Flow:

Monitor where the money is flowing, such as into categories like DEX or Wallet. Prioritize projects aligned with these categories while considering the above criteria. Knowing where money is flowing takes practice.

7. Project Marketing:

News and Updates: Prioritize projects with positive news, active Twitter accounts, and partnerships with reputable entities.

Community Support: Although this preeminent applies to meme coins, community support can be a positive factor for other projects as well.

8. Other Relevant Criteria:

Technology: Consider the technology behind the project. While not a primary criterion for most tokens or coins (except meme coins), advanced technology can contribute to long-term success.

Smart Money/Onchain: Check if there is a significant presence of smart money wallets. High-value

THINKING SOMEONE CAN PREDICT THE MARKET:
We believe that someone can accurately predict the upcoming market. The truth is, the future is nearly impossible to predict on a regular and precise basis. In market fluctuations, experts often overestimate their predictive abilities. However, for success, we need a different strategy. Forget about predictions and come up with a strategy that can be effective even when we can't predict how everything will unfold.

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION:
In investing, sometimes we make it difficult for ourselves. Trying to "buy the bottom" and "sell the top" is often nearly impossible. To be successful, we must accept and learn to manage uncertainty. Even though we know the market may fall further before rising again, we should still be determined to buy, as we can only determine the market's bottom after it has already happened.

FEAR OF MAKING MISTAKES:
This is quite similar to promoting for perfection. No one in investing likes to make mistakes. However, investing is a risky puzzle. We can only recognize opportunities and manage uncertainty. Any coin or project, no matter who creates it, can lead to losses, and we should accept that.

LACK OF INDEPENDENT ACTION:
At the most critical moments, such as turning points, the "crowd" often makes mistakes. So we need to act in a way that is almost the opposite, and this is an extremely difficult task, making us feel isolated... but what can we do?

OVERCONFIDENCE:
For some reason, most of us think that investing is easy. Oh no, it's not. In reality, investing is a difficult and tedious job. It requires you to seriously devote time to it, diligence, and patience.

LACK OF PATIENCE:
Because investing doesn't mean immediate rewards. Successful investors always achieve results slowly, if not, they go through many failures. They understand that investing or building a career is a marathon race, requiring perseverance. It's not a sprint.

HOLDING UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS:
When the market is in a downtrend, don't dream about x50 x100 bets, or x10 x20 for too large-cap projects. Don't be deceived by the expectations of unrealistically huge profits. The lesson is that some "financial bubbles" have occurred, with meme coins promising wealth overnight.

Hello everyone, most of the topics in the forum are about how to make money, while discussions about preserving and preventing scams are scarce. So today, I want to share an article with you about common scams in the crypto market. I hope it will be useful to you.

Impersonation of Famous KOLs and Influential Figures:
This is the most common form of scam, where scammers create fake accounts impersonating famous individuals in the crypto market, such as Elon Musk. They post information about giving away free tokens and ask you to donate to their wallet in exchange for rewards. These scams are mostly found on social media platforms. Scammers create fake Telegram groups, fake communities, and employ bots to promote these scams. Their goal is to promote worthless tokens, lure people into private groups, and charge fees before disappearing.

Receiving Unexpected Tokens in Your Wallet:
If you frequently participate in airdrops or store tokens in your wallet, you may suddenly find some unfamiliar tokens with significant values. Scammers use this tactic to tempt you into selling the tokens, but when you try, you discover that you cannot. This was a prevalent scam in the latter months of 2021, targeting new investors who were not familiar with the technologies being used in the market.

Fake ICOs and Untrustworthy Projects:
Some scams involve fake ICOs, where organizations create a token, collect investments, and then disappear. They often vanish after receiving enough money, causing the token's value to plummet. Examples include the Confido ICO scam in 2017 and tokens like Squid, which mimicked the popular Squid Game. Sometimes, even if you invest privately, they refuse to release your tokens.

Shady and Scammy Exchanges:
While exchanges like Binance, Kucoin, Houbi, and OKX are reputable, newcomers can be lured into untrustworthy exchanges. Scammers may entice users with high-profit advertisements, but in reality, these exchanges may prevent you from withdrawing your funds. Another common scam involves fake exchanges promising significant winnings, but you have to pay taxes before you can withdraw. Once you transfer the money, the scammers vanish.

Promised 100% Profit Guarantee:
Any investment involves both gains and losses, and no investment can guarantee a 100% profit. Promises of quick, massive profits are clear signs of a scam. These scams often start by showing initial profits and then encourage you to invite friends. Once they receive investments from you, your friends, and others, they disappear.

Impersonation of Apps and Websites:
Many popular websites like Binance, Houbi, and Metamask have counterfeit websites with identical interfaces. Scammers may also create fake apps for Android devices that steal your login information when you enter your password.

Account Theft:
Scammers may impersonate helpful individuals when your Binance account is locked, promising to recover your money for a fee. They may also pretend to be Binance employees, sending emails claiming issues with your account and requesting you to click on links to resolve them.

Ponzi-Like Projects:
Many crypto projects have elements of Ponzi schemes, where early investors are paid with funds from new investors. These schemes can collapse when they can't attract enough new investors.

OTC Scams:
Over-the-counter (OTC) trading involves direct agreements between buyers and sellers. Untrustworthy individuals in OTC trading may take your money or engage in money laundering.

Impersonation of Funds and Relationships:
Some scammers claim their project has partnerships with large funds to gain trust. Verify such claims and don't invest without thorough research.

II. Ways to Protect Yourself from Scams:

*Avoid projects promising unrealistic profits.
*Never share your private keys.
*Block and report suspicious individuals.
*Research projects thoroughly.
*Keep your assets in separate wallets.
*Be aware of your own position and benefits.
*Verify the authenticity of claims.
*Check app and website credibility.
*Stay vigilant and don't let greed cloud your judgment.

I hope my article can help you avoid losses, but ultimately, it depends on our own vigilance. Don't let greed overshadow your rationality!

Bitcoin edged up on Monday morning in Asia but remained below US$26,000. Ether also stayed range-bound at around US$1,650.​
Bitcoin edged up on Monday morning in Asia but remained below the US$26,000 resistance level, giving up much of last week’s gains from a favorable court ruling on Grayscale’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund application. Ether also stayed range-bound at around US$1,650, while other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies traded mixed, with XRP leading the winners and Dogecoin the losers. U.S. stock futures edged down Monday morning after Wall Street closed the week higher on a cool-off in the U.S. labor market that soothed the concerns for more interest rate hikes.

Bitcoin edged up 0.30% in the last 24 hours to US$25,958.25 as of 07:30 a.m. in Hong Kong and traded 0.46% lower for the week, according to CoinMarketCap data. The world’s leading cryptocurrency lost control of the US$26,000 support level on Friday and fluctuated around the mark over the weekend.

Bitcoin briefly reached a weekly high of over US$28,000 last Tuesday on a court ruling that required the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to review asset manager Grayscale’s Bitcoin ETF application, but soon gave up all the gains after the SEC delayed all pending ETF applications on Thursday.

“While investors might be looking at the Grayscale v. SEC developments, it feels like the recent price action is linked to activity from the FTX wallets, igniting fear of a potential dump as some (or all) of these assets would be liquidated into fiat for expenses, repaying investors,” said Justin d’Anethan, head of Asia-Pacific business development at Belgium-based crypto market maker Keyrock.

A Solana-based cold wallet owned by collapsed crypto exchange FTX transferred over US$10 million worth of cryptocurrencies, including LINK, SUSHI, LUNA and YFI, to Ethereum addresses from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, according to Arkham Intelligence data cited by blockchain journalist Colin Wu.

Ether inched 0.17% higher to US$1,635.19 and was down 1.27% over the past seven days.

Most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies traded mixed over the past 24 hours and moved no higher than 1%. The exception was XRP, which led the winners by gaining 1.07% in the past 24 hours to US$0.5048, but remained 3.46% lower for the week.

Dogecoin led the losers, dropping 0.62% in the past 24 hours to US$0.06315 and stayed flat for the seven-day period.

Toncoin, the native token of Ton network, surged 23.86% in the past week, boosted by the network’s launch of its new smart contract programming language Tact on August 22.

The total crypto market capitalization dipped 0.09% to US$1.04 trillion. Trading volume dropped 10.77% to US$19.78 billion.

SoFi, a banking institution headquartered in San Francisco, has recently announced in its second-quarter earnings report that its cryptocurrency holdings has surged to nearly $170 million. Among its prominent holdings, Bitcoin ($BTC), Ethereum ($ETH), Dogecoin ($DOGE), and Cardano ($ADA) stand out as the largest contributors.

The financial institution, which caters to more than six million clients, detailed its cryptocurrency portfolio, indicating that out of the total $166 million in holdings, Bitcoin accounts for $82 million, while Ethereum holds a substantial portion at $55 million. Cardano represents around $4.5 million, and Dogecoin, the meme-inspired digital currency, contributes $4.9 million to the portfolio.

The earnings report for the second quarter also unveiled SoFi's investments in other cryptocurrencies, including $2.1 million in Solana ($SOL), $3.5 million in Litecoin ($LTC), and $2.9 million in Ethereum Classic ($ETC). Additionally, the institution maintains holdings exceeding $10 million in various other digital assets.

An investor presentation further highlighted SoFi's robust growth within the cryptocurrency sector. The bank has successfully onboarded over half a million new clients and now facilitates trading for more than 22 different digital currencies.

SoFi doesn't merely hold digital assets; it enables its users to engage in buying and selling them, albeit without offering staking services. The institution initially introduced cryptocurrency services to its users in September 2019 through a partnership with Coibase, a cryptocurrency exchange listed on Nasdaq.

Significantly, SoFi formally obtained banking status in February 2022 following the acquisition of a banking license. This positioning sets it apart as one of the few traditional banks venturing into the cryptocurrency domain.

Tensions extend last year when a U.S. Senate committee expresses concerns about SoFi's adherence to banking regulations and the institution of an impending deadline in January 2024. U.S. Legislators have notable scrutiny towards digital assets, especially after the FTX collapse, with regulatory actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) targeting leading exchanges like Binance and Conbase.

Binance, the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange, has announced significant updates for its Binance Futures trading platform. In a recent communication addressed to its user base, known as 'Binancians,' Binance Futures discloses its intention to delist perpetual contracts associated with Cardano (ADA) and Polygon (MATIC). This action will render these contracts unavailable for trading on the Binance platform starting August 17, 2023, at precisely 09:00 (UTC).

Although the precise motivations behind Binance's delisting decision remain undisclosed, the exchange its approach. All ongoing trading positions tied to ADABUSD and MATICBUSD perpetual contracts will be automatically settled and closed as part of this transition. Subsequent to the settlement process, these contracts will be removed from the roster of tradable assets.

Furthermore, Binance Futures announced adjustments to the leverage and margin tiers for both ADABUSD and MATICBUSD perpetual contracts, effective August 10, 2023, from 12:30 (UTC). Users who hold existing positions predating these modifications will experience a direct impact.

Given this announcement, users are strongly advised to make any necessary adjustments promptly to avoid encountering automatic settlements on the Binance Futures platform. Additionally, as of August 17, 2023, at 08:30 (UTC), users will no longer be able to initiate new positions involving these particular contracts.

Binance Futures serves as a trading arena within Binance, catering to traders interested in both quarterly and perpetual futures contracts. While quarterly contracts come with a three-month expiration timeframe, perpetual contracts retain their value indefinitely without any expiration date.

Leading up to the launch of its innovative Base blockchain this Wednesday, Coinbase, a notable US-based cryptocurrency exchange, engaged in an insightful conversation with Jesse Pollak, the driving force behind the initiative. Here's a condensed version of the insights from the conversation:

Scheduled for release around noon ET (9 am Pacific time), Base, a new "layer 2" blockchain built on Ethereum, is set to rapidly rise in the blockchain landscape.

Before its official unveiling, the new Base network already secured an impressive $133 million in deposits across various apps and protocols, making it the fifth-largest layer-2 blockchain by "total value locked" (TVL), according to crypto analysis firm Dune.

In a recent Zoom talk with CoinDesk, Jesse Pollak, the creator of Base and Coinbase's head of protocols, shared key insights into the strategy, potential revenues, and regulatory considerations of the new blockchain.

Pollak highlighted a crucial point: Coinbase's unprecedented launch of its own blockchain, a path not previously taken by any publicly traded company.

On Coinbase's Vision:
Pollak discussed Coinbase's evolution from its 2012 beginnings as a platform solely for buying and selling Bitcoin. He emphasized Coinbase's core principle of enabling safe and seamless interactions with cryptocurrencies. Their journey through different phases of their "secret master plan," from protocol building to user-friendly interfaces, culminated in Base. This blockchain aims to shift cryptocurrencies from speculative assets to integral elements of daily life, serving as a platform for the next wave of innovation.

Revenue Generation Strategy:
Pollak delved into Coinbase's evolving monetization strategy. While historically facilitating crypto-related actions and charging fees for simplifying complex processes, Coinbase adapts its strategy as the crypto landscape expands. The growing range of crypto utilities provides more opportunities for monetization through Coinbase interfaces.

Monetization and Sequencer Fees:
Pollak stressed that sequencer fees aren't the primary focus. Instead, their goal is to enhance utility, allowing more use cases via Coinbase interfaces. Their focus is on providing trusted experiences and user convenience.

Openness and Decentralization:
Pollak acknowledged Base's open and permissionless nature, extending Ethereum's ethos. He highlighted Base's commitment to preserving decentralization despite unexpected events. Coinbase aims to act as a secure gateway, ensuring user experiences are reliable and safe while nurturing innovation in the crypto space.

Token Strategy:
Pollak clarified that there are no plans for a token on Base. Coinbase concentrates on building a user-friendly platform and an accessible blockchain, avoiding potential complexities that tokens might introduce.

Unprecedented Territory:
Pollak acknowledged the unique challenge of launching a decentralized open permissionless blockchain from a publicly centralized company. With no existing playbook, Coinbase tackled this challenge meticulously, collaborating across all departments to ensure alignment with their values and principles.

In conclusion, the conversation with Jesse Pollak illuminated Coinbase's bold venture into uncharted territory with Base's launch. Their strategy revolves around promoting utility and innovation, intending to integrate cryptocurrencies into daily life while maintaining trust, security, and accessibility.