DEFI: UniSwap - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW 🦄Hi Traders, Investors and Speculators of the Charts 📈📉
If you’ve been following me on TradingView for a while, you’ll now that I’m a believer – a believer in the promise of blockchain. One of the principals of this promise is to move away from centrally controlled banking systems. This would eventually include the act of saving and earning interest for the money that you leave in the capable hands of your banker (who also gets to decide whether or not you qualify for loans). Currently, you need to give up all of your personal information to open a bank account and furthermore you are seriously undercut in the returns / interest rate that you will be receiving (to name only two of many problems with the system). For example, where I reside, the most common interest on a savings account is 5% annually, whereas the interest on your credit card is 19.5% annually. And this is, in short, the common argument for Decentralized Finance.
Before we continue, familiarize yourself with these key terms:
TVL – Total Dollar Value Locked in the platform
DEX - A decentralized exchange. DEXs don't allow for exchanges between fiat and crypto — instead, they exclusively trade cryptocurrency tokens for other cryptocurrency tokens.
Blockchain – A unique way of coding that is open for anyone to use, many believe that web3 will be built on top this kind of coding
DeFi – Decentralized Finance such as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins
dApp – Software like apps that work on the basis of blockchain code and thus apps that accommodate cryptocurrency such as UniSwap and NFT Market places
LP tokens - New liquidity pool tokens. LP tokens represent a crypto liquidity provider's share of a pool, and the crypto liquidity provider remains entirely in control of the token. For example, if you contribute $10 USD worth of assets to a Balancer pool that has a total worth of $100, you would receive 10% of that pool's LP tokens.
APY - Annual Percentage Yield, think of it as yearly interest in percentage
Smart Contracts — E lectronic, digital contracts coded to integrate with dApps. Automated financial agreements between two or more parties once the pre-determined terms of the contract is reached
Uniswap is a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange that uses a set of smart contracts (liquidity pools) to execute trades on its exchange. It's an open source project and falls into the category of a DeFi product (Decentralized finance) because it uses smart contracts to facilitate trades. Built on Ethereum, Uniswap is the first and largest DEX in DeFi and one of the many places where you can participate in yield farming. To earn interest in their cryptocurrency holdings, investors contribute their funds to a Uniswap smart contract; these investors are known as liquidity providers. The smart contracts that hold their cryptocurrencies are known as liquidity pools. Liquidity providers are required for Uniswap to function since they provide liquidity for trading on the platform.
With the rise of Blockchain, Crypto and then Decentralized apps, yield farming was born to address some of the banking system's limits. Or at least, that would be in the perfect world.
Yield farming is the process of using DeFi to maximize returns . Users lend or borrow crypto on a DeFi platform and earn cryptocurrency in return for their services. This works for both parties, because yield farmers provide liquidity to various token pairs and you earn rewards in cryptocurrencies. However, yield farming can be a risky practice due to price volatility , rug pulls, smart contract hacks etc.
Yield farming allows investors to earn interest which is called ‘yield’ by putting coins or tokens in a dApp, which is an application (coded software) that integrates with blockchain code. Examples of dApps include crypto wallets, exchanges and many more. Yield farmers generally use decentralized exchanges (DEXs) to lend, borrow or stake coins to earn interest and speculate on price swings. Yield farming across DeFi is facilitated by smart contracts.
Let’s take a closer look at the different types of yield farming on UniSwap:
Liquidity provider: You deposit two coins to a DEX to provide trading liquidity. Exchanges charge a small fee to swap the two tokens which is paid to liquidity providers. This fee can sometimes be paid in new liquidity pool (LP) tokens.
Lending: Coin or token holders can lend crypto to borrowers through a smart contract and earn yield from interest paid on the loan.
Borrowing: Farmers can use one token as collateral and receive a loan of another. Users can then farm yield with the borrowed coins. This way, the farmer keeps their initial holding, which may increase in value over time, while also earning yield on their borrowed coins.
Staking: There are two forms of staking in the world of DeFi. The main form is on proof-of-stake blockchains, where a user is paid interest to pledge their tokens to the network to provide security. The second is to stake LP tokens earned from supplying a DEX with liquidity. This allows users to earn yield twice, as they are paid for supplying liquidity in LP tokens which they can then stake to earn more yield.
Yield farmers who want to increase their yield output can also use more complex tactics. For example, yield farmers can constantly shift their cryptos between multiple loan platforms to optimize their gains.
Back to DeFi - In centralized finance, your money is held by banks and corporations whose main goal is to make money. The financial system is full of third parties who facilitate money movement between parties, with each one charging fees for using their services. The idea behind DeFi was to create a system that cuts out these third parties, their fees and the time spent on all the interaction between them.
Defi is a technology built on top of blockchain - it can be an app or a website for example, which means that is was written in code language by software programmers. It lets users buy and sell virtual assets (like crypto and NFT's) and use financial services as a form of investment or financing without middlemen/banks. This means you can borrow , lend and invest - but without a centralized banking institution. In summary, DeFi is a subcategory within the broader crypto space. DeFi offers many of the services of the mainstream financial world but controlled by the masses instead of a central entity. And instead of your information being filed on paper and stored by a banker, your information is captured digitally and stored in a block with your permission. Many of the initial DeFi applications were built on Ethereum (which is a blockchain technology, but the code is different to Bitcoin's, in other words it operates/works differently). The majority of money in DeFi remains concentrated there.
Lending may have started it all, but DeFi applications now have many use cases, giving participants access to saving, investing, trading, market-making and more. Another example of such a market is PancakeSwap (CAKEUSDT). PancakeSwap is also a decentralized exchange native to BNB Chain (Binance chain). In other words, it shares some similarities with UniSwap in that users can swap their coins for other coins. The only difference is that PancakeSwap focuses on BEP20 tokens – a specific token standard developed by Binance. The BEP20 standard is essentially a checklist of functions new tokens must be able to perform in order to be compatible with the broader Binance ecosystem of dapps, wallets and other services.
💭 Final Thoughts 💭
Is yield farming profitable? Short answer - Yes. However, it depends on how much money and effort you’re willing to put into yield farming. Although certain high-risk strategies promise substantial returns, they generally require a thorough grasp of DeFi platforms, protocols and complicated investment chains to be most effective. Is yield farming risky? Short Answer - Absolutely . There are a number of risks that investors should understand before starting. Scams, hacks and losses due to volatility are not uncommon in the DeFi yield farming space. The first step for anyone wishing to use DeFi is to research the most trusted and tested platforms.
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Decentralized
Decoding DeFi MetricsIn Decentralized Finance (DeFi), deciphering the wealth of new projects can be akin to navigating uncharted waters. However, amidst the chaos, fundamental analysis stands as a beacon, guiding investors and traders towards discerning the true value of DeFi assets.
1. Total Value Locked (TVL):
TVL, the sum of funds nestled within a DeFi protocol, provides a vital glimpse into market interest. Whether measured in ETH or USD, it illuminates a protocol's market saturation and investor confidence.
2. Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S Ratio):
In DeFi, just like traditional businesses, evaluating a protocol's value against its revenue stream offers a unique perspective. A lower P/S ratio suggests undervaluation, indicating a potential investment opportunity.
3. Token Supply on Exchanges:
Monitoring tokens on centralized exchanges unveils market dynamics. While a surplus may hint at sell-offs, complexities arise due to collateralized holdings, necessitating nuanced analysis.
4. Token Balance Changes on Exchanges:
Sudden shifts in token balances on exchanges signal imminent volatility. Large withdrawals hint at strategic accumulation, underscoring the importance of tracking market movements.
5. Unique Address Count:
More addresses usually imply widespread adoption. But beware! This metric can be deceptive. Cross-reference with other data for a clearer picture.
6. Non-Speculative Usage:
A token's utility is paramount. Assess its purpose beyond speculation. Transactions occurring outside exchanges signify genuine use, a testament to its value.
7. Inflation Rate:
While scarcity is a virtue, a token's inflation rate demands attention. Striking a balance between supply growth and value preservation is crucial, emphasizing the need for a holistic evaluation approach.
In the intricate DeFi landscape, these metrics serve as the foundations of strategic decision-making. Each data point unravels a layer of complexity, empowering investors to make astute choices. As you delve into the world of decentralized finance, armed with these insights thrive in the boundless universe of DeFi possibilities! 🚀💡
🔗 What is a Blockchain? (simple guide)📍What is blockchain?
The blockchain is a distributed ledger that offers transparency decentralization and data integrity.
🔹 Digital Ledger: A Blockchain is a digital ledger which keeps records of all transactions taking place on a peer to peer network.
🔹 Encrypted Information: All information transferred via blockchain is encrypted and every occurrence recorded, meaning once the block is created and added to the chain, it cannot be altered.
🔹 Peer to Peer: Lets you interact or send transactions with a peer, without an intermediary. Removes the middle man.
🔹 Data Sharing: The blockchain can be used for more than the transfer or currency. It can also be used to share contracts, records and any other type of data.
🔹 Decentralization: The blockchain is decentralized, so there isn’t a need for a central, certifying authority.
📍What are the Blockchain Core Components?
🔸 Blocks can be written and read by certain participants and entries are permanent, transparent, and searchable.
🔸 Transactions are recorded in chronological order on a continuously growing database.
🔸 A system of computers, connected via the internet, in which users at any computer can receive or send value to another computer.
🔸 Data is replicated and stored across the system over a peer-to-peer network.
🔸 It facilitates peer-to-peer transfer of value without a central intermediary, e.g. a bank.
🔸 Digital signatures and cryptography are used to secure the transfer.
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Layer 0 Blockchains ExplainedHello everybody.
Today i will explain What is Layer Zero Blockchains and How it work
and whats the difference betweem L1 and L0 ?
Lets go...
First take a look at The Scalability Trilemma :
the scalability trilemma is a series of trade-offs between decentralization, speed/scalability, and security
that one must make when designing a blockchain and constructing rules for its on-chain governance.
Centralization = Increased Speed, Decreased Security & Censorship Resistance
Decentralization = Decreased Speed, Increased Security & Censorship Resistance
It is very difficult , if not impossible, to achieve perfect decentralization without compromising scalability, and vice versa.
This is especially true on a monolithic blockchain where all the critical functions like transaction execution, consensus and data availability
(the ability to verify that all the data from new blocks has been published) are managed by a single network,
increasing the likelihood of congestion and making it much more difficult to scale.
A workaround to the scalability trilemma is to delegate the primary responsibility for these 3 functions to different independent blockchains.
This design ensures that the execution chain can be optimized for handling high TPS dapps like a DEX or play-to-earn game without worrying about decentralization.
A second chain can then be optimized for decentralization and serve as a final consensus layer for the execution chain to enable withdrawals to and anchor its data.
When it comes to scalability, layer 0 networks can help blockchain scale by increasing transaction throughput.
While transaction speed is typically measured in terms of TPS (transactions per second), transaction throughput looks at the total number of transactions that a network can handle at one time.
The Problem with Layer 1s
As the demand for Dapps increases and more capital flows into the space to support development, we are beginning to see the growing pains of layer 1 networks as they struggle to meet the needs of developers and end users who have opposing views on whether dapps should prioritize scalability, security or decentralization.
Layer 1 networks are built with a monolithic architecture. This means that the execution, consensus and data availability layers are all functioning within a single blockchain network. This stacked design places a strain on the system and results in the need for blockchains to comprise decentralization for security, or scalability for decentralization.
In addition, the lack of control over the underlying infrastructure that dapp developers build on top of has also been a cause of much frustration. Rising gas fees on the Ethereum network make all ethereum dapps too expensive to use, while unexpected downtime on the Solana network similarly makes all dapps on Solana also go offline.
Dapp developers must also make compromises in how they design their dapps in order to remain compatible with these L1 networks, and lack the ability to explore different consensus mechanisms or to experiment freely with token incentive models because consensus is a primary function of the L1 infrastructure layer. The overdependence on L1’s and difficult tradeoffs imposed by the scalability trilemma can only be remedied by creating a new base infrastructure that empowers developers to launch their own independent blockchains that can be optimized for different aspects of the scalability trilemma.
This base infrastructure is called layer 0, and it is the single most important component for helping blockchains and decentralized applications achieve limitless scalability while maintaining the highest possible levels of decentralization and censorship resistance.
What is a Layer 0 Blockchain?
A layer 0 is a type of protocol that enables developers to launch multiple layer 1 blockchains that can be designed to each serve a specific purpose and cater to 1 or 2 dimensions of the scalability trilemma as opposed to all 3.
These L1 networks can also be made to communicate with each other such that the end user can have the experience of using one blockchain while they are in fact using multiple.
Layer 0 (L0) networks are equipped with software development tool kits or SDKs that allow developers to launch their own blockchains, known as Layer 1s or L1s or sidechains, that are connected to the L0 mainchain but operate independently.
Diffrences Between Layer-0 vs. layer-1 blockchains
You can see some main differences between L0 and L1 blockchains in picture below:'
I hope you enjoy this Article
please share me your opinion in comments.
Good Luck...
What is BitcoinLet’s start with a very simple description of Bitcoin….
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, based on an open-source software design, that is used to transmit value between pseudonymous users.
All transactions, after being confirmed by miners using PoW as the consensus mechanism, are stored on a distributed ledger, called a blockchain.
Changes to the blockchain are append-only and are synchronized about every10 minutes across thousands of nodes located all over the world over a P2P network. All information stored on the blockchain can be viewed publicly, in real-time.
Cryptographic techniques such as public-key cryptography, hash functions, and digital signatures are used to keep the blockchain secure and immutable so it can be accessible to everybody but hackable to nobody.
Got all that?
But as you can clearly see, the crypto world is full of technical jargon !
Jumping into crypto introduces a large number of terms that most people will be unfamiliar with.
The crypto world seems to have its own language and those wishing to learn about the topic can quickly become overwhelmed with all the jargon, acronyms, and other technical terms.
But if you really want to understand cryptocurrencies and how they are different, it’s really important that you do familiarize yourself with certain core foundational concepts.
My goal is to cover terms and phrases that you may initially not know, but do need to know.
Together, we will blast jargon into smithereens so you’re able to easily speak the language of the crypto world with ease.
Difference between Centralized and Decentralized crypto-exchangeIf you find the analysis useful, please like and share our ideas with the community. Any feedback and suggestions would help in further improving the analysis!
One of the USPs of Blockchain technology is ' Decentralization .' It means that no single entity or organization has the power to influence or control the network.
Decentralization is rapidly picking pace, with several apps being built on this exact premise. These decentralized apps or ‘ DApps ’ are being built on existing blockchain networks, such as Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, and so on.
With the exponentially rising demand for cryptocurrencies, it was only a matter of time for the crypto exchanges to come sprawling up.
Cryptocurrency exchanges can be broadly classified into centralized and decentralized exchanges.
What is a centralized exchange?
The way a centralized exchange operates can be considered similar to a bank. Depositing cryptos onto a centralized exchange such as Binance essentially means transferring it to a wallet held by the exchange. When we deposit fiat currency such as the US dollar or any other currency to buy crypto, that crypto is also held in the exchange’s centralized wallet.
What is a decentralized exchange?
With decentralization picking up, the cryptocurrency exchanges want to get into the decentralization space too. These decentralized exchanges are also known as DEX. Currently, there exist more than 35 DEXs globally. One of the most popular ones is Uniswap, which appears to have recently gotten into trouble with the SEC. Other players include Kyber, Bancor, etc.
Traders simply swap tokens with each other, and there’s no middlemen involved here.
Key points of contention between centralized and decentralized exchanges:
Fees:
In the case of centralized exchanges, there is a fixed fee which is usually a percentage of the transaction amount. In decentralized exchanges, it works out to be gas fees, which can sometimes vary.
Ownership of your crypto holdings:
Crypto wallets have two keys, public and private keys. Public keys are shared with anyone who wants to send you cryptocurrency, while a private key is what you use to access your own wallet. Centralized crypto exchanges don't give their users the private key. It essentially means that the holdings are not actually owned by the users, but by the exchanges.
In some decentralized exchanges, the entire process of buying and selling is performed ‘on the chain.’ The holdings are with the user and not held by any central agency.
However, keeping the holdings on the exchange can lead to a faster execution since the user does not need to provide access. But this can be the reason for the crypto theft as well!
Case in point: In 2018, $713 million was stolen with most of them coming from the Coincheck exchange hack.
In a Decentralised Exchange, users are generally free from these risks!
Privacy:
A decentralized exchange script usually does not have a central authority involved. Therefore, no requirement will be imposed on them. One can sign in and start trading without any identity verification.
Additionally, Anonymity allows the user to access the tools which are not available otherwise.
Centralized exchanges require the users to perform a KYC to trade cryptos. It is not the case with decentralized exchanges. It means that the user would not need to hand over the documents to any single entity.
Liquidity:
Barring the large centralized exchanges, several others suffer from a lack of liquidity. It is a major concern that ultimately leads to the downfall of the exchanges. The larger exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, etc. have high liquidity.
Decentralized exchanges usually follow a different method of price discovery and don't suffer from problems of illiquidity. Some decentralized exchanges also have Automated Market Makers (AMM). AMMs look to solve the liquidity problem without depending on large traders using smart contracts — self-executing computer programs that ensure liquidity on the exchange. The AMM algorithms have pre-defined requirements for an entity or individual to become a liquidity provider. Anyone who meets these criteria can become part of the liquidity pool, and hence maintain continuous trading.
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