Po.et – The Future of Content Marketplaces

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

The online world is filled with one big problem: content theft. Because the internet is essentially the modern wild west, it is easy for users to steal others’ work while remaining anonymous and still benefiting from it. PO.ET is looking to be the decentralized solution to content theft in an increasingly connected world.

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What Is PO.ET (POE) & How Does It Work?

PO.ET is a decentralized universal ledger that allows creators to track, claim ownership of, and retain attribution for their creative assets. It does so via proof-of-existence, which is the first ever non-financial application of the blockchain.

Proof-of-existence allows anyone to upload and verify (hash) documents on the blockchain. They can do so without actually storing it, meaning they can stay anonymous while still proving ownership of content. It is based on the original Bitcoin blockchain hashing system.

Essentially, PO.ET is merging the publisher and the content creator by allowing users to license their creative work without reliance on a third-party. Creators can pick between an existing license template, or create their own based on their needs. Any deal is built into an immutable smart contract.

Because the blockchain is immutable, the first person to upload a piece of content will be named its owner. This solves the rising issue of content theft, as the original creator will be able to prove ownership of their work. Also, users can view the history of the content via the blockchain.

The proof-of-existence consensus algorithm is widely underused, so PO.ET taking advantage of it is a big plus. PO.ET has an ambitious goal, but it is an important one. Journalists, content creators, publishers, and anyone else who creates or curates content on the growing real estate we call the internet will benefit from this project’s success.

The Tokenomics

The PO.ET token is an ERC-20 coin used to show ownership of each piece of content uploaded to the blockchain. Coins are immutable, and one can be used to transfer ownership if that was ever necessary. Each one is timestamped and stores all sorts of metadata relevant to the piece it is tied to.

The Roadmap

Currently, the PO.ET authentication platform is in beta on the App Store. It launched in March of 2017, and since then has been working through its “Rosetta Era.” During this time, publishers began to integrate it, and the ICO went through.

Soon, they will enter the Gutenberg Era, which brings the portfolio, e-book registries, payment channels, and other forms of revenue sharing. The Alexandria Era is next, which will provide image and video support, a marketplace, reputation, and more. Alexandria should encompass the full release of the PO.ET application.

While what’s currently here is promising, the decentralized marketplace and support for image and video content are real game-changers for the PO.ET network. Assuming everything goes well, content creators and journalists will be incredibly motivated to switch over to this blockchain if they want to continue their careers without fear of theft.

The Team

PO.ET is a small but experienced team. The CEO, Jarrod Dicker, was once the vice president of innovation over at The Washington Post, while also starting the company RED, which was the Post’s research group. Otherwise, team members have a history in the blockchain space, marketing space, and development spaces.

Other members have years of development and product management experience. Also, the project is now partnered with AmaZix, Jaxx, and The Maven, with more partnerships on the way.

Community

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/poetproject/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_poetproject

Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/GKMQ1kOQSdXVZpN1Rygcdw

GitHub: https://github.com/poetapp

BitcoinTalk: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2027214.0;topicseen

The PO.ET Twitter is incredibly active, always sharing relevant links and communicating with followers. Otherwise, the subreddit is an excellent source of information, though the team isn’t very prevalent on there.

They manage their community well and spend time translating their projects into Chinese, as there is a big cryptocurrency market over there. Most projects fail to acknowledge this. That effort could mean the difference between the success or failure of PO.ET.

Exchanges

PO.ET is available on only a few exchanges, though Binance is one of them. As one of the worlds biggest exchanges, that’s a pretty good sign. As the project moves into its more viable stages, it is likely that we will see PO.ET on other exchanges like Kraken and Bittrex as time goes on.

Wallets

The PO.ET coin is ERC-20 compatible, meaning you can store it in a variety of wallets. MyEtherWallet, MetaMask, and hardware wallets like Trazor or the Ledger Nano S also work.

What’s Next For Them

Overall, the PO.ET project will bring a secure way for creators to prove ownership for their work while remaining anonymous if they so choose. It works for creators, publishers, and other artists while placing them on an even playing field. The technology is easily auditable on the blockchain and is incredibly flexible in what it can do.

It is a promising project with quite a bit to show already. On top of this, PO.ET has a few great partners, furthering the validity of the project. Regardless, content theft is a massive problem on the internet, and hopefully PO.ET can be a step in solving that issue.

Ardor – Innovating On The Blockchain as a Service

Coin Overview

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

Blockchain-as-a-Service is a unique and evolving idea that makes the arduous task of building a blockchain much simpler for teams of developers. Ardor is yet another one of these projects, but with a few extra pieces of the foundation that make it stand apart from others of its kind.

Video for reference.

What Is Ardor (ARDR) & How Does It Work?

Ardor is an open-source “blockchain-as-a-service” that connects with the Nxt blockchain platform. Nxt works as an asset trading exchange, a cloud for storing data, and offers voting/monetary opportunities. On top of this, it provides a creation kit for clients to create their own blockchain for usage on the Nxt platform.

The Ardor project is the next step. While similar to Nxt, Ardor fixes the standard issues with the blockchain, namely scalability, by separating security coins from standard transactions. The two networks are paired together into a parent/child architecture.

Ardor has a main chain that powers all of the child chains. This main chain processes child transactions by placing them into blocks, as well as distributes the ARDR token across accounts.

Child chains are created by clients, which is where the blockchain-as-a-service part comes in. These child chains can use the ARDR token or any token the client prefers. One set up, the child chain can trade and communicate with any other chain on the network. Teams can pick and choose which features their chain has, allowing them to use it for polls, trading assets, sending messages, and more.

The merging of child and main chains is called bundling. Bundling allows Ardor to keep its chains working together and allowing them to transact with one another, while still allowing for them to act separately as their own entities.

The Tokenomics

With ARDR, all coins are already in existence. Ardor works on a proof-of-stake consensus algorithm. By staking the coin, users are holding their place in a child chain, and using extra coins to provide their chain with different features. ARDR is also used to pay for transaction fees on the network. Because all child chains are connected to the main chain, all ARDR goes through to the main chain.

This also factors into the governance system, where teams with the most staked have more say in the future of Ardor. That means all of the coins have already been “mined,” so mining does not exist on the platform. Instead, stakers are rewarded with more ARDR based on the amount they initially invested, alongside providing services to the network.

The Roadmap

Currently, there isn’t a whole lot on the Ardor roadmap. Right now, they are working on sharing data between child chains, launching more child chains on the main network, and merging features to the project that don’t necessarily rely on the child/parent relationship of the child and main chains.

After this, the Ardor team will be implementing more transaction types and fixing a few of the main net issues that plague the network.

Eventually, the team also wants to work on a decentralized exchange that will allow currency trading between the child chains.

The Team

Ardor and Nxt are owned and developed by a company called Jelurida B.V. This business is run by developer Lior Jaffe, who has been programming since he was 13 years of age. Another co-founder and developer is Petko Petkov, who has degrees in Informatics and Electronic Government. On top of this, Petkov has coded in multiple languages ranging from Java, Python, and C++.

Community

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ardorplatform

Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ardor/

BitcoinTalk: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1518497.0%22

Overall, the Ardor team publishes multiple posts relevant to their project on Twitter and does a little communicating with their audience. Otherwise, most information is posted on Reddit and discussed by a decent sized group of people.

Exchanges

Ardor is only available on a few exchanges. Bittrex, HitBTC, Poloniex, and UpBit remain the biggest. However, it is another one of those coins that may take off this year, so we may possibly see it on other exchanges like Kraken or Binance as time goes on.

Wallets

ARDR can be stored in the Nxt wallet, as it is currently an Nxt technology until the final launch of the mainchain.

What’s Next For Them

Because of the blockchain-as-a-service model, Ardor has a lot of potential. The real work comes from clients and teams that create child chains off of the main Ardor chain. All of these child chains connect to the main Ardor chain, which keeps the load off of it while it handles transactions and other network-wide tasks.

The appeal for multiple industries is vast, with the potential for teams to utilize the blockchain to further their businesses and ideas. However, Ardor is only one of many blockchain-as-a-service projects. That said, it has the Nxt network to help push things along – a big win in terms of competition. In fact, the Nxt network has never gone down since its implementation back in 2013. Also, Nxt supports Java and is even open-source.

Nxt has been around for years, and a lot of issues around it have been ironed out. Because of this, Ardor may be put at an advantage that other BaaS technologies simply do not have. We’ll have to wait and see.

Status – Put Control Back In The Users Hands

Coin Overview

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

Status’ goal is to be the easiest place to get into the blockchain. It is doing so by targeting one of the most accessible devices in the world: the mobile phone. Decentralized applications are one of the biggest benefits to the blockchain, and introducing the world not only to them but to how they work is a fantastic idea.

Video for reference

What Is Status & How Does It Work?

Status (SNT) differs from most other currencies in that it is a decentralized mobile operating system with its own browser and secure messenger. It links to the Ethereum network, allowing users connect to it entirely via their mobile device.

Essentially, Status makes Ethereum’s decentralized applications much more accessible to the general public. The blockchain has somewhat of a high learning curve so anyone but crypto enthusiasts may have a hard time getting into the systems. Status’ solution is allowing these users to access it via their most comfortable device – their smartphone.

Say there is a social media platform on Status. Instead of providing the owners and advertisers all the power, these social networks place the users first via Status Network Tokens (SNTs) which we’ll break down a little later.

It is free, open-source, and encourages users to get into developing decentralized applications. Their client is called the Decentralized Push Notification Market, which lets users opt in and out of notifications and services, though one must pay SNTs for any services they use. However, Status doesn’t profit from selling user information to advertisers.

SNT is staked into the network, and the community votes on the future of SNT’s development. The amount of held SNT determines your “vote tokens” which signifies how much influence you have. This setup allows users to curate the content they’d like to see. Status’ social media platform is trying to solve all the current issues users face.

Currently, Status houses a few applications, such as one that allows exchanges of ERC-20 tokens and Ether, or an insurance claiming application. As more users delve into Status, this number will increase.

The Tokenomics

As mentioned, the Status Network Tokens are staked by users to choose what services they’d like to use, alongside voting for the future of the network. To create a username on Status, you’ll need to stake some SNT as well. This prevents spamming and hackers from delving into the system.

The Roadmap

There is no official roadmap for Status. Instead, the team is working on incorporating new applications into the network. Currently, they are working on an app directory, an app that lets users exchange cash for cryptocurrency in an area near them, and a marketplace for buying stickers for use in messaging.

Otherwise, the team is working on solidifying their platform, upgrading their Hardwallet, which is the official wallet for Status coin, and their Open Bounty platform, which acts as a freelance job board for developers.

The Team

Status has one of the biggest teams in cryptocurrency. As of this writing, there are over 40 members, with 10 advisers on top of this. Most of the team is working on app development, while others handle the marketing and community management.

It was founded by two people, Jarrad Hope and Carl Bennetts, who previously created a software distribution network which they used to fund the Status project before the ICO.

Community

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/status_token/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ethstatus

While the team is very big, the Status community is fairly small. They provide updates via their blog. The subreddit is run by the community and prefers not to have the Status team commenting on or monitoring content if they can help it. This allows them to keep a very transparent stream of information coming, without any bias towards the project.

That said, the community is dedicated and working to build the network with the team. The plan is to have a network entirely governed by its users.

Exchanges

Status’ coin is available on quite a few exchanges, with Huobi, Bittrex, and Binance being among the biggest of them. Since it has only been tradable for just over a year, we still have a while before it would hit something like Kraken with all of its trading pairs. That said, the coin has some promise behind it, so it’s entirely viable to expect Status to rise up in 2018.

Wallets

Status’ SNT coin is ERC-20 compatible, meaning you can store it in a variety of wallets. MyEtherWallet, MetaMask, and hardware wallets like Trazor or the Ledger Nano S also work. That said, they also have their own wallet called Hardwallet.

Hardwallet allows users to send, store, and receive ERC-20 tokens. It is completely open-source, available on mobile, and works with ETH and of course SNT as well.

What’s Next For Them

Mobile technology is the biggest and most accessible form in existence. It only makes sense to bring the blockchain there to introduce it to the world. By making Status community run and as easy as downloading an application to delve into, the project has high chances of picking up a ton of attention as time goes on.

With Status, the team is creating a decentralized social media platform that can do it all: provide communication, offer useful applications, and allow users to pick and choose what they want to utilize. The rise of Web 3.0 is to put control back into the user’s hands, and Status wants to be there leading the pack.

0x – The Final Word In Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Coin Overview

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

The current state of cryptocurrency exchanges isn’t great. They are centralized, open to attacks, and can be expensive to use. Even decentralized exchanges are facing high fees and other issues. 0x plans to solve the problems that both types of exchange face, with a focus on trading in the widespread Ethereum network. Plus, the team wants to offer this technology to other tokens as well.

Video for reference

What Is 0x & How Does It Work?

At its core, 0x is a foundation for building a decentralized, permissionless, and open exchange used for trading ERC-20 tokens. A big issue in the cryptocurrency industry (and most industries in general) is that many of the systems used are centralized. Exchanges are entirely open to hacks and other attacks, while a decentralized platform would be much safer for traders.

While it’s currently only for ERC-20 tokens, 0x is one of the first protocols trying to do something about this, stepping above Coinbase, Binance, and other major platforms.

Trading is done via an off-chain relay, which helps to keep the network clear and lowers gas prices that users must pay when trading Ethereum. With a normal decentralized exchange, trades, deposits, and withdrawals are made through smart contracts. While this is a step above a centralized exchange, which relies on third-parties to manage transactions, users are still required to pay a myriad of gas fees for each step.

The off-chain relay allows a user to send their order off to another user, a relayer, who then files it. The only trades made on-chain are value transfers. Relayers transmit orders via public or private networks, essentially doing the same thing an exchange does. However, the relayer can only document transactions. They cannot execute one.

For a trade to be executed, the recipient (the taker) must submit the signature of the trade maker, alongside their own into a smart contract. The relayer is paid in ZRX, 0x’s currency, for overseeing these transactions.

Finally, 0x can also be used for building decentralized applications. Applications can “plug-in” 0x as a protocol to take advantage of their coin systems, like a government, fund management, or the stability of the 0x token.

The Tokenomics

As mentioned, relayers are paid via ZRX for facilitating transactions. Otherwise, this token is used to maintain a sort of government on the network. Essentially, ZRX token works on a proof-of-stake system, meaning that holders can stake their coin to vote on the future of the entire network. This ensures that users who contribute most to the network get the most say, but ones that don’t contribute as much can still get their word in.

The Roadmap

0x coin spent a lot of 2017 working to hire new members, host their ICO, launch a beta for their relay system, and release new updates on their network. Now that a lot of their initial work is done, 2018 is to be spent working on the governance system and updating the user interface. By quarter 2 of this year, the 0x team wants to have their governance white paper published and have some new features ready in beta.

The Team

With 11 on-site members and four advisors, the team behind 0x is about average for a cryptocurrency. The company was founded by two members: Will Warren and Amir Bandeali. Will studied mechanical engineering at UC San Diego but dropped out before getting his Ph.D. to focus on 0x and smart contract development. Amir studied finance at the University of Illinois and was a fixed income trader before starting 0x.

Community

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/0xProject/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/0xProject

A lot of the team over at 0x are active on the subreddit, with most of them holding moderator positions. There are a ton of community members posting on it regularly, with their Twitter being used for blog posts and sharing other news.

Exchanges

ZRX is available for trade on Binance, Bittrex, HitBTC, and a variety of other exchanges. That said, with Coinbase recently announcing their support for ERC-20 tokens, we may see ZRX and other Ethereum tokens available on there soon.

Wallets

Because it is an ERC-20 coin, ZRX can be easily stored in Meta Mask or MyEtherWallet, with hardware wallets like Trezor or the Ledger Nano S offering hardware support. That said, 2018 is poised to be the rise of decentralized exchanges so you may be heading to 0x’s exchange for the coin later this year.

What’s Next For Them

0x wants to be the ultimate platform for building exchanges. It’s decentralized and is aimed to fix all of the current issues that both types of exchange face. Off-chains allow the network to handle an incredible amount of traffic alongside saving users money. Community focus and a proof-of-stake governance system ensure users stay with the technology, and the entire system is entirely secure.

But, the success of 0x also relies on the success of Ethereum. With it being one of the biggest cryptocurrencies in the world, the chances of Ethereum surviving are high, but this still leaves 0x relying on something else. That said, we have to wait and see if the team can deliver on these promises. If they do, there is a chance for them to grow a huge following this year, and possibly be the leading name in the future of cryptocurrency exchanges.

WaBi Overview – The Coin To Save The World

Coin Overview

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

WaBi wants to save peoples lives. With the movement of counterfeit goods at an extreme high, Anti-theft company Walimai is looking to provide a solution. By offering a tamper-free label and tracking products on blockchain technology, they may have found one.

What Is WaBi & How Does It Work?

WaBi focuses on the authentication of products, mainly food safety. It is designed by a company called Walimai, who actually has their own anti-counterfeit system that ties into the blockchain technology.

It does this by linking physical assets to digital ones on the blockchain. These assets consist of everyday goods like alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, among other products. Walimai places tamper-proof QR labels on any shipped goods so customers can scan them and confirm if the product is counterfeit or not, while providing information on its history. Each RFID has a unique encrypted ID, a Dynamic Code, and stored Geographical Data. Then, the customer can buy that product with WaBi token. It is a simple but efficient and even necessary solution to the counterfeit goods epidemic.

In 2013, the OECD estimated over $461 billion USD in fake imported goods alone, with total imports in world trade hitting around 17.9 trillion USD. On top of this, the World Health Organization revealed that 64 percent of imported drugs in Africa are fake.

Because each product is (ideally) recorded into the immutable blockchain, WaBi can try to counter the usage of counterfeit goods with a device most people have: a smartphone. WaBi provides incentive by allowing users to engage in a loyalty program that rewards them as they scan-in purchases.

The Roadmap

WaBi has an extensive history, and a big plan for the future:

2013: A group chooses RFID as the base technology for their solution. The team then chooses Walimai is the name for their company.
2014: Business starts in Hangzhou, China. Founders celebrate but are poisoned by fake whiskey during their celebration. The company helps to turn around a top-5 infant formula producer from April to January of 2015. Walimai is called one of the most innovative companies at a Forum in Moscow.
2015: Walimai in talks with the worldwide top producers of baby formula and alcohol. The company gains a grant from Jiaxing and incorporates themselves into the Zhejiang province in China.
2016: RFID labels are revamped, iOS and Android apps created. Walimai opens on online shop with positive community reception.
2017: Walimai builds a presence in physical shops. A pre-ICO is launched and finished in August. It reaches 100% of its goal. In December, Walimai allows consumers to start purchasing products through WaBi. Expansion into other baby stores commences.
2018: Incorporate pharmaceutical products. Begin talks with Fortune 500 companies in food, alcohol, and pharmaceutical industries. Grow portfolio and redesign websites. Launch multiple master nodes, partner with influencers, and begin to incorporate WaBi into other payment systems.
2019: Expand WaBi to other countries, partner with insurance companies.

The Team

The two founders are Alexander Busarov and Yaroslav Belinskiy. Alexander founded Early Bird consulting and worked at McKinsey & Company. Yaroslav has helped solve problems like pollution and food safety in China. Each is fast-moving and bright entrepreneurs with a ton of experience.

WaBi has a team of five experienced advisers behind it:

Mario F. Pazos: Worked as a Business Analyst at Microsoft, Senior Marketing Manager at Sony, Senior Vice President at Citi, and Vice President at MasterCard. Has an MBA from the University of Miami and over 13 years working as an investor.
Igor Livant: Worked as an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company, ran his own consulting firm and now works as VP for Investments at TELF AG, a commodity trading firm.
Long Chiu: 18 years of experience developing campaigns that connect consumers through brand affinity and loyalty programs.
Mark Zavadskiy: Senior position at global e-commerce company Alibaba. Former business journalist, and Bureau Chief and Correspondent at several multi-media companies in both Russia and Asia.
Bruno Mercier: Independent Board Member and Advisor to a number of PE/VC funds, start-ups and corporations. Formerly CEO of Sun Art Retail Group and Pernod Ricard China and Thailand.

Community

Telegram: t.me/wabiico

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wabiico

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/WabiToken/

While the Reddit and Twitter platforms don’t receive much interaction from the team, the Telegram provides the most direct way of communication.

Exchanges

Currently, WaBi is only available on Binance and IDEX. It is still in very early stages, however. Chances are high it will hit places like Kraken and Bittrex as time goes on, as the idea here is solid and will likely pick up traction.

WaBi can only be purchased via Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Binance Coin. It cannot be mined or gained in some other way, at least for now.

Wallets

Because WaBi Coin is an ERC-20 token, it can be stored in MyEtherWallet, IMTOKEN, METAMASK, and MIST, among others. Ledger and Trezor wallets will also support it.

What’s Next For Them

Walimai will continue to expand their products in different baby stores and other places that store formula. It will continue to make deals with big companies in the alcohol, pharmaceutical, and baby food industries while working to eventually provide their partners with insurance.

This innovative approach to counterfeit goods deserves more attention. While it is still early in development, the coin will likely pick up a following as it continues to rebrand and expand its product line.

PIVX Overview – Putting the Privacy in Cryptocurrency

Coin Overview

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

PIVX is the answer for users who want to make private transactions on the blockchain. The project wants to be a better Bitcoin, offering near-instant transaction times, while putting the community in control of decision making. The team has put great effort into implementing multiple add-ons to ensure the success of the project, with many more on the way.

Introduction Video

What Is PIVX & How Does It Work?

PIVX (PIVX) stands for Private Instant Verified Transaction. It is a privacy-focused currency working with a Proof of Stake consensus algorithm. The goal is to be a viable means of trading value while offering minimal transaction fees and lengths. It wants to improve on some of the issues that Bitcoin suffers from, like scalability and practicality.

As a fork of DASH, PIVX shares some features like the SwiftTX and Masternodes, though it makes some improvements on these adopted systems, as well as differs in its own unique ways. For example, thanks to proof of stake, PIVX allows users to stake any amount of token for a return on investment, rather than limiting this option to masternode owners.

To stake a coin means to secure the network, allowing new blocks to enter and keep things secure. Because PIVX allows you to stake any coin amount, you can allow yourself to risk more and improve your rewards. Every sixty seconds, stakers receive a reward at random proportion to their staked amount. The more you hold, the more you’re likely to receive. Otherwise, anyone who holds more than 10,000 PIVX in their wallet becomes a Masternode. This gives them voting power in all major decisions surrounding the future of PIVX, as well as frequently rewards them in more currency.

Here is a breakdown of some major PIVX features:

SwiftTX: Taken over from Dash, SwiftTX enables seconds long transaction times. Transaction confirmations are done by the masternodes instead of needing the approval of the network.
Zerocoin (zPiv): This initiative allows users to spend anonymously. Zerocoin converts the public information of a transaction into anonymous data. While the transaction happens normally, the receiver doesn’t see where the currency came from.
See-Saw Rewards Mechanism: This idea is to keep masternode owners and stakers equally happy. When the number of masternodes increases, stakers receive less rewards. When the stakers become higher than the masternodes, the masternodes receive more.

The Roadmap

PIVX has an incredibly detailed road map available on their website. They have some major revisions planned in 2018, which we’ll highlight here:

zPIV Staking: Remember that Zerocoin implementation? In 2018, PIVX will allow zPIV staking alongside the traditional token, ensuring that it is incorporated more into the ecosystem.
Redesigned Governance: Right now, masternode owners are the only ones that can vote. Last year, those owners voted to change that power. There are multiple submitted changes being considered, and the winning one will be implemented this year.
Dandelion Protocol Integration: This extra layer allows IP addresses to be untraceable by the network or any bad actors. Essentially, transactions are broadcast to all different nodes, making it near impossible for an attacker to trace the origin.
UI Redesign + Quality of Life Changes: The team are redesigning their wallet design, finishing up an iOS mobile app, offer support for hardware wallets, and eventually their own exchange for zPIV and Bitcoin.

The Team

Because PIVX is a community run project, a majority of their listed members are just that. Anyone that contributes regularly to the project is listed as a member, though they can choose to remain anonymous. That said, the two project founders discern themselves through online aliases.

s3v3n h4cks has a long history in IT development, while Coin Server has a background in system administration and networking. Both like to keep their information private, which falls in line with the goal of the project. These two appreciated DASH’s speed but wanted to improve more on the privacy front. They forked the technology to incorporate their own changes.

Community

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/pivx/

Discord: https://discordapp.com/invite/jzqVsJd

Github: https://github.com/PIVX-Project

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_pivx

Because PIVX is community run, they are very open on what’s going on behind the scenes. A handful of members are active on the subreddit, though a lot of discussion happens on the official PIVX forums.

Exchanges

PIVX is available on Bittrex, Binance, and Upbit, among a variety of smaller exchanges. Because it’s so new, the coin has a while before showing up on exchanges like Kraken. That said, the influx of planned features will likely put more eyes on the project soon.

As mentioned, users can gain PIVX either by staking or becoming a master node. Because it is a proof of stake system, mining is not a form of distribution.

Wallets

PIVX currently has their own wallet on standard operating systems as well as Android. It isn’t the easiest to maneuver, though the upcoming redesigns will change that. Otherwise, it can be stored in a Ledger Nano S or on the popular Altcoin wallet, Coinomi.

What’s Next For Them

So, the platform offers near-instant transactions, caters to privacy, and allows stakers to make decisions regarding the future of the project. Users who want to stay anonymous have every reason to invest in the idea. That said, PIVX is as volatile as Bitcoin. There is no guarantee that this token will make it in the long run.

Lisk Overview – Build Your Own Blockchain

Coin Overview

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

Lisk (LSK) is a decentralized cryptocurrency that allows developers to build their own side blockchains off of the main blockchain. It is somewhat similar to Ethereum, though it focuses more on application development than it does smart contracts. The goal of Lisk is to get more developers into working with the blockchain, while providing a simple way for them to get started.

Introduction video

What Is Lisk & How Does It Work?

Lisk is a fork of the Crypti project, which didn’t have enough financial backing to reach its main goal. Like most cryptocurrencies, Lisk has its own main blockchain. We’ll call it the “mainchain.” The mainchain provides the security and stability that the side chains feed off of.

Each developer has their own side chain that is under their complete control. By building off of the main one, developers are saved the effort of creating an entire network from scratch.

Development is made accessible by Lisk’s software developer kit, which is written in JavaScript. This simplicity creates a user-focused experience, ensuring teams feel as comfortable as can be with their project instead of being overwhelmed.

The network uses a Delegated Proof of Stake consensus algorithm, with each LSK holder having the power to vote for mainchain representatives. Each rep is responsible with keeping the network secure, with a total of 101 active electives at any given moment. Other representatives are either waiting to move up to the mainchain or are securing side chains. Regardless, all of them are rewarded with LSK for their work.

The Roadmap

Lisk has a basic roadmap, with most of the focus being around stabilizing their current implementations:

Quarter 1 2016: Max Kordek and Oliver Beddows propose Lisk, and then raise 14,000 in BTC during an ICO.
Quarter 4 2016: The teams founds the Lisk Foundation in Zug, Switzerland.
2017: While the core team is smaller, the project grows to over 100 people contributing to the project every day.
Q1 2018: Lisk relaunches their website and branding, while providing a whole new interface to users.
2018: Lisk will improve on its core features including scalability and stability.

Once the rebranding is complete, we are likely to see the price raise significantly as the platform moves into 1.0. They plan to implement a new web and desktop application, alongside lowering their high fees. The goal is to have a fully usable platform by Quarter 4 of 2018.

It is paired with the Microsoft Azure cloud services, which developers can use to deploy their applications. Also, the team has partnered with the Chain of Things Research Lab to explore how secure the blockchain can be while running on the Internet of Things.

Also, Lisk offers their own academy for anyone to learn more about the platform and how to develop for it.

The Team

Lisk was founded by Oliver Beddows and Max Kordek, who initially worked on the Crypti project together. The ICO raised $5.8 million, and became the second most successful cryptocurrency crowdfunding project at the time. Since then, the team has grown to 41 dedicated members, with most of those working in the development side.

Oliver is a full stack developer and has over 15 years of experience in building applications for businesses. He wants to inspire developers to follow their dreams and create decentralized applications to make the world a better place. Max, an entrepreneur, shares this dream and sees the potential in the blockchain.

The entire team is based in Berlin, with contractors from all over the world helping with the project.

Community

Telegram: https://t.me/Lisk_HQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiskHQ

BitcoinTalk: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1346646

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Lisk/

Discord: https://discord.gg/TYHzwkf

Overall, the Lisk team is fairly active on their social media. They’ll tweet about each event they are at, alongside sharing some fun Lisk-related image submissions. Also, a large chunk of the team are very active on the subreddit.

Exchanges

As of this writing, Lisk is available on 21 exchanges, with Binance, Bittrex, and Poloniex being the most prevalent. We can expect to see the coin reaching other exchanges like Kraken as well, due to its full release coming later this year.

Unlike other coins, you cannot mine Lisk. It doesn’t operate on a proof-of-work system. Instead, you can gain LSK by buying it, becoming a delegate, or becoming a voter. Delegates pay their voters with LSK, though it isn’t a ridiculously high amount.

Every ten seconds, a block is generated, with delegates validating any transactions before they are added to the blockchain. Each of the 101 delegates gets their own section of the blockchain to verify, with verification taking place after a network-wide consensus.

Wallets

Lisk has a wallet, known as Lisk Nano, for storing your coins. It features an easy to use interface and a ton of functions for members. Also, they offer an online or downloadable application known as Lisk hub. This hub plans to be an all-in-one for your Lisk needs. Here you can manage your ID, trade LSK tokens, and make your votes. Eventually, this hub will come with its own decentralized exchange and side chain management tools.

Hardware wallet support is coming with an estimated release of Summer 2018 for both Trezor and Nano wallets.

What’s Next For Them

Lisk is an incredibly promising project. It has a ton of hype for 2018, and bringing more developers into the blockchain is never a bad thing. While they have to nail their relaunch to bring it to the public eye, crypto enthusiasts have their eyes on the upcoming token.

EOS Overview – The Future of Decentralized Applications

Coin Overview

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

Similar to Ethereum, EOS is a blockchain network for creating decentralized applications. It wants to simplify the experience by providing services like cloud storage and user authentication for developers to utilize. On top of this accessibility, the EOS platform will be scalable to multiple thousands of transactions per second.

EOS Ethereum Comparison Video

What Is EOS & How Does It Work?

Like Ethereum, EOS wants to be your answer to the following problems:

The top network for decentralized applications (Dapps)
Beat the others at top speed for verifying transactions
Become a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), essentially meaning it is entirely self-sufficient. It can verify transactions, take advantage of information, and command itself without any human interference.

It’s sort of like how Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin want to be the more efficient Bitcoin. Nothing entirely new is being done here, instead an advancement of previous technology. EOS claims to have the ability to process over 50,000 transactions per second with taking a performance hit. For a fun comparison, VISA can only handle 24,000 per second. This showcases the real power of decentralized technology.

Of course, the main reason for EOS is the application development. Using the EOS network, app developers can purchase EOS tokens to allow their application to exist on the network. They don’t need to spend these tokens, rather have them held as if they are reserving a space. Employing the EOS network to build apps means that developers are saving both time and money in the creation of their app, alongside having a decentralized network to run it on.

Dapps on the EOS network can interact with one another, though each has their own secure firewall to keep them safe. Because of this, users won’t have to create multiple accounts for using different types of applications on the EOS network. All apps on the network will have your information secure and usable.

EOS abides by a certain set of rules also known as a “constitution.” Their rules allow it to run without risk of servers going up against it or having viruses infect the network. Also, EOS takes advantage of something called parallel processing. This means that the network can scale as technology increases, transaction speeds are quicker than other networks, and it can do multiple things at once.

The constitution alongside parallel processing is the reason for EOS’ success as one of the most powerful Dapp development blockchain technologies.

The Roadmap

EOS has gone through extensive testing to get to where it is. The team started an ICO on June 26th of last year, which will be ending on July 3rd, 2018. This isn’t a standard ICO, however. Tokens are distributed over 350 consecutive 23 hour periods. Each period distributes 2 million tokens, with the price set by the current demand.

The official roadmap is unavailable at the time of this writing, though the goal with the technology is apparent: to become the most versatile platform for decentralized app creation. The recently announced DAWN 3.0 is a step in that direction.

The Team

EOS is being worked on by a team known as Block.one. They are based in the Cayman Islands, with the CEO Brendon Blumer having been in the blockchain world since 2014. Before EOS, he worked with currency exchanges in online games.

The CTO, Dan Larimer, is the creator of delegated proof-of-stake and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs.) Also, he created BitShares and Steem. He’s kind of a big deal. That said, he sort of moved on from his previous projects whenever a new one caught his eye. This could prove detrimental to EOS if he finds something else to hold his attention.

The entire team is filled with high-profile software and blockchain developers, all of which are looking to solve the largest issue with the blockchain: scalability. It has stayed small since the announcement, but after the ICO, we can expect them to grow a couple of members.

Community

Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/AAAAAEQbOeucnaMWN0A9dQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eos_io

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/eos/

GitHub: https://github.com/eosio

When compared to other blockchain technologies, the team behind EOS doesn’t engage with their community as much. They’ll tweet out news and event-related information but otherwise won’t get too involved with the community. Dan Larimer has a presence on the official subreddit as well.

Exchanges

EOS is available on a majority of the popular exchanges like Binance, Bitfinex, and Kraken, alongside quite a few lesser known ones. The faith behind the project has brought it all over. As the ICO finishes up, we can expect it to expand even further.

Because it runs on a Delegated Proof-of-Stake system, EOS coin isn’t mineable like most other tokens. Instead, users mine ERC-20 tokens (Ethereum) and convert them over to EOS coin. Otherwise, you can invest in the coin during the ICO, assuming you aren’t from the United States.

Wallets

EOS isn’t compatible with very many wallets. The team recommends using MetaMask (a Chrome web browser add-on) or the popular MyEtherWallet. That said, the website recommends not using the following wallets with EOS:

• Any Bitcoin exchange

• Any Ethereum exchange

• Jaxx

• Exodus

• Coinbase

• Poloniex

• Kraken

• Bitstamp

• Bitfinex

• Bittrex

• Cex.io

What’s Next For Them

EOS has the potential to be a real Ethereum competitor. The team behind it is strong, with tons of experience in the crypto industry. Building a more accessible platform for developers is a surefire way to gather positive reception, and what we’ve seen so far is promising.

The hype behind EOS is high, and the platform has a lot to deliver on. Many are taking a step back and waiting to see what will happen instead of jumping in right away. Others say if they can’t do it, no one can.

Bytecoin – Your Best Choice For Privacy Tokens

Coin Overview

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

As Bitcoin and other popular coins start to show their cracks, privacy coins are becoming the way for crypto enthusiasts. They are a smarter way to utilize these digital assets, as privacy coins are both untraceable and entirely secure. Bytecoin is one of the earliest of these types, with a long history since its development in 2012. It is even the source of Monero, which forked from this long-running cryptocurrency.

Video for reference

What Is Bytecoin & How Does It Work?

Much like Bitcoin, Bytecoin allows users to make worldwide transactions. Where Bytecoin differs is that those transactions are instant and entirely private, and with no extra transaction fees. It is much more secure than other tokens, and because Bytecoin is entirely untraceable, it is an anonymous peer-to-peer users dream.

Bytecoin uses secure cryptographic algorithms, making it impossible for anyone to trace the blockchain back to the sender, alongside hiding the recipient and the amount traded. Other cryptocurrencies aren’t as secure, allowing users to trace transactions should they so desire. Bytecoin can do this by relying on the users in the network.

Users can opt their computer into the Bytecoin network, allowing it to draw power to continue processing. The more power from computers, the more reliable the network, and the more secure. Because computers are always powering it, your money and your information are always safe.

The network of computers also prevent transaction fees, since the total level of energy used is so minimum. Also, the algorithms in place should deter hackers, since getting any important information would be too much work. It is even possible to mine on a regular PC because of this.

The Tokenomics

There are around 183 billion Bytecoin Coins (BCN) in existence. As miners keep breaking blocks, rewards will decrease, and the number of BCN can only go up to 184.47 total. Privacy coins in general still haven’t hit the mainstream market, but as awareness goes up, we will likely yosee the price rise.

The Roadmap

Bytecoin has a simple but effective roadmap in place:

Public API Beta

Starting in quarter one of 2018, the team will release a beta version of each API for all users to opt-in on. It will be available on GitHub, and any bugs or suggestions will be added in the final version.

Stable API

Once the beta version has been tested, the fully finished version will release with a new transaction system, an upgraded wallet, and added features.

Hardfork

There will be a hardfork of the current blockchain technology, with the new fork supporting the upgraded wallet and transaction system. Users will be able to back up their old wallets into the new one.

Public Release

In the latter half of 2018, the team will release a public “testnet” that allows each and every user to test any new software and leave any fixes and comments on it. This will truly bring the community into power with the project, and allow them to help shape the product as they see fit.

The Team

Bytecoin was founded in 2012, with multiple anonymous teams working on it but not communicating with one another. As a result, there were many forks and different versions of the coin. This went until July of 2017, where they decided to make some changes.

A majority of the team is still somewhat anonymous, with only a few of them revealing their names and photos. However, the plans for the project have been made very open, and the community is poised to play a very big part in the future of Bytecoin.

Community

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BytecoinBCN/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bytecoin_BCN

Telegram: https://telegram.me/bytecoinchat

BitcoinTalk: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.0

Because the members on the team like to stay anonymous, they don’t interact with the community much outside of blog posts and official notices. That said, the members of the community are self-sufficient and keep each other updated on the going on of Bytecoin.

Exchanges

Bytecoin is available on only a few makets, with HitBTC and Poloniex being the biggest of the small group. While the coin has been available for a while, it still isn’t commonly known. As awareness of privacy coins goes up, we are likely to see Bytecoin appear on places like Bittrex or Binance in the future.

The coin is mined in a similar way to Bitcoin, with users participating in mining pools which solve complex algorithms to ensure transactions go through. They are then rewarded for their efforts in BCN.

Wallets

Bytecoin can be stored on their official web or desktop wallets, with a mobile wallet for Android available now and an iOS one coming soon. It works just fine, though some Reddit users report syncing issues from time to time.

What’s Next For Them

With Bytecoin being around for so long, it has a surprisingly small following. That said, their following is a strong one, and with the team refocusing their efforts on community and transparency, we are likely to see a new golden age for Bytecoin. Privacy coins are on the rise, and this token is one of the more reliable ones to invest time and money into.

ICON – Bringing The World Together

Coin Overview

Note: This piece was ghostwritten for a client. It is uploaded here purely for portfolio purposes.

Introduction

ICON’s tagline is “Hyperconnect the World,” and it has a fantastic plan for doing so. By utilizing blockchain technology, the team behind this currency intends to combine multiple industries into one big network, allowing them to interact with one another as if they were the same.

Video for reference

What Is ICON & How Does It Work?

ICON has the goal of being one of the largest decentralized networks in the world, ensuring that communities around the globe can connect with one another regardless of location. Currently, their vision encompasses banks, universities, insurance companies, hospitals, and e-commerce. This, of course, will expand as time goes on, with the intention of merging them all into one network that allows each community to interact as if they were the same.

The ICON network is made up of multiple decentralized applications (dapps) that benefit their communities. A few of them:

Blockchain ID

Blockchain ID provides extra layers of security and even identification, ensuring communities, like the ones involved in financial security, can verify one another to ensure safety. The entire application works via smart contracts, allowing users to save time when working with banks for loans or even to a new account.

Payment & Exchange

Payment & Exchange allows businesses to send payments to other businesses in a different industry or community. Essentially, the ICON Wallet is used to make transactions almost immediately, allowing banks, universities, insurance companies, and more to work seamlessly with one another.

The ICON network can be used to build as many of these applications as possible. It runs on something called a loop chain platform, which connects multiple communities (each running their own blockchain) into one large platform called the ICON Republic.

At the hub of it all is the Nexus, which is the “government” of the entire network. Each community has an elected representative that communicates with the Nexus and other communities. All communities have their own nodes, since each has their own blockchain. They all operate independently of one another, each with their own rules and protocols.

The Tokenomics

Like many emerging cryptocurrencies, ICON has its own decentralized exchange. This exchange sets specific tokens aside for each community, ensuring they all have their own value and can trade with others. Exchange rates are set by an artificial intelligence, with the coin, ICX, used as an intermediary between each transaction.

The Roadmap

The team behind ICON has every intention of expanding their loop chain network. They are breaking their plan down by industry:

Security

They are starting by increasing platform security via Blockchain ID and other privacy dapps. By the end of 2018, they want to use it for settlements on the platform.

Insurance

Automated insurance claims are the future with ICON. Advanced implementation ensures customers can make claims quickly and easily.

Banking

The banking community is working on a digital payment system that allows account management, pre-paid transactions, and increased ease of use with withdrawals and currency transfers.

Universities

The university team is creating a platform called U-coin that allows students to charge their day-to-day payments with cryptocurrency.

Hospitals

Known as the Precision Healthcare Information System (P-HIS,) this community intends to increase data purity and encourage data exchanges between hospitals for increased accuracy. Also, they plan on innovating the healthcare industry with H-sign, a digital signature system based in the blockchain.

The Team

ICON is actually the result of the work of many different teams. The ICON Foundation, which is a Swiss non-profit, hosted the ICO and is greatly involved in the community.

The loop helps with blockchain and smart contract development, as well as running and improving the Nexus.

DAYLI, which develops the DAVinCI artificial intelligence system that runs on the network.

Finally, there are multiple prevalent advisors and developers from the blockchain community working on ICON, including Don Tapscott, who wrote the best-selling book “Blockchain Revolution.”

Community

Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/Fqw4igkkVmYtj–ZVi-QcA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@helloiconworld

BitcoinTalk: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2115503.0

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/helloicon/

ICON mostly uses their Twitter for promoting events and articles on the token. A few members frequent and moderate the subreddit, continually answering questions and providing new information.

Exchanges

ICX is available on quite a few exchanges, with Binance and HitBTC being some of the bigger ones. This is a coin that will probably end up on Kraken as time goes on, due to how much potential it really has. Community members predict this coin to be one of top emerging ones in 2018.

Wallets

ICON has its own wallet, which is a Google Chrome extension that holds ICX and other altcoins. The wallet allows you to export settings should you want to move somewhere else, and provides a quick way to transfer coins between different wallets and exchanges. Otherwise, it can be stored on any ERC-20 compatible wallet, like Ledger Nano S or Meta Mask.

What’s Next For Them

The ICON team is working hard to provide these features for their communities. Connecting these different industries into one is a fantastic idea that could improve efficiency and safety during usage for all users. If things are to go as planned, this network will be an entirely secure way for users to engage in insurance claims, university payments, banking, and more.

That said, this is a bold idea, and it will require a lot of time and effort to pull off. Hopefully, the communities will form themselves and ensure a safer space for all.