Tag: Cryptocurrencies

  • Singapore Court Blocks WazirX Parent Zettai’s Restructuring Bid!

    Nearly a year after an alleged cyber robbery that resulted in the loss of $235 million in virtual digital assets, the Singapore High Court (HC) on 5 June dismissed the planned restructuring plan of WazirX’s parent company, dealing a serious blow to cryptocurrency traders on the exchange platform.

    The parent business Zettai’s plan of arrangement was revoked just weeks after Zensui Corporation, a subsidiary, was established in Panama. According to those acquainted with the case, the court’s decision was spurred by the company’s failure to disclose this incorporation data during the restructuring process.

    According to an affidavit filed with the Singapore court and examined by Business Standard, Zensui was formed on March 10 of this year. Furthermore, the business stated that Zettai has no plans to apply for a Singaporean digital token service provider (DTSP) licence.

    Additionally, it stated that neither the parent company nor its Panama subsidiary planned to submit an application to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND).

    In a post on X, WazirX stated that the Singapore High Court had issued a ruling rejecting our suggested reorganisation plan. Although this result was not what the brand had hoped for, it respects the court’s ruling and is still totally committed to following all legal and regulatory procedures.

    WazirX May Appeal Against the Recent Order

    According to a recent report that cited comments from company management, the digital currency exchange may file an appeal against the most recent ruling made by the Singaporean court.

    Laws in Singapore mandate that DTSPs, who must obtain a licence there, suspend or stop conducting business outside the island nation by June 30.

    The delay in allocating available assets to creditors could be exacerbated by the company’s setback. According to Navodaya Singh Rajpurohit, founder of Pravadati Legal and legal partner at Coinque Consulting, Zettai also neglected to notify users or the court about the March 10 incorporation of its subsidiary Zensui and an agreement to transfer cryptocurrency assets to Zensui.

    In order to distribute cryptocurrencies legally in India, Zettai disclosed that it does not plan to register with FIU-IND, he continued. “The scheme was not viable and lacked transparency due to these omissions and regulatory non-compliances,” he stated.

    WazirX’s Explanation in Court

    The company stated in the affidavit that one of the reasons it did not intend to apply for the DTSP licence was because of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2022.

    The Act did not pose any practical or legal obstacles to Zettai carrying out the first distribution or permitting withdrawals in line with the scheme of arrangement.

    According to a media report, since the holding was with Singapore, the Panama subsidiary was in charge of the bitcoin linked to redistribution. It was a stopgap measure because, after June 30, the company hoped to relocate to a country where it could adhere to rules and regulations.

    Months after the firm requested restructuring in the Singapore High Court, Zettai reported in April that 93.1% of eligible voting creditors, or 94.6% of the total value of claims, voted in favour of the plan. Voters were 141,476 scheme creditors, representing approved claims totalling $195.65 million. 131,659 investors, or $184.99 million, of the whole creditor base supported the plan.

  • Crypto Mining Goes Mainstream with Mobile Apps that Allow Users to Mine from Their Smartphones

    Remember when crypto mining was something anyone could do with just a decent computer? Yeah, those days are long gone. Nowadays, mining is a pricey and technical endeavor that’s out of reach for most people. This has led to a situation where mining is centralized in the hands of those who can afford it. But what if we could change all that? PLC Ultima, a new blockchain-based ecosystem, is making crypto mining more accessible to the masses with their new approach to crypto mining: mobile apps.

    In decentralized systems like blockchain, the community plays an active role by running nodes that check transactions or launching mining farms to write transaction blocks in the blockchain. In return, active participants are rewarded with digital coins for their work. This is what keeps decentralized systems alive and allows for a fair distribution of rewards. But with the rise of expensive mining equipment and high energy consumption, it’s become harder for regular people to participate in mining.

    PLC Ultima’s discovered a solution to this problem: minting. Instead of buying expensive and energy-consuming equipment, minting is done via apps on smartphones. In general, smartphones lack the necessary hardware to perform the complex mathematical calculations required for mining. Cryptocurrency mining requires a dedicated computer with a powerful graphics processing unit (GPU) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to perform these complex calculations. Smartphones, on the other hand, have less powerful processors and are not designed to handle the intense computations required for mining. Additionally, mining on smartphones would consume a large amount of power, which would have a significant impact on battery life and could lead to overheating. But minting invented by PLC Ultima team is a new approach to the blockchain technology.

    Minting makes it accessible to millions of people and allows for a more energy-efficient way of producing new coins. Right now, over 1.5 million people worldwide are using it and that number is only going up. Recently, PLCU, a native coin of the ecosystem, broke into the top of the most popular coins. According to Coingecko, it was included in the list of the ten most trending coins in India among other already well-known cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

    PLC Ultima’s goal is to give people around the world new, high-tech ways to improve their standard of living. The project team doesn’t want the barriers of traditional mining to hold people from evolving economies back from participating in the crypto world. With PLC Ultima’s mobile minting, anyone can join in and earn rewards for supporting the ecosystem. It’s a fresh take on an old concept, and it’s making crypto mining accessible to all. The PLC Ultima blockchain is an updated version of Litecoin blockchain, with a focus on speed and energy efficiency.

    The PLC Ultima ecosystem was launched by Alex Reinhardt, a seasoned venture investor, economist, and entrepreneur with a track record of launching successful startups and fintech platforms.

    Ditching the expensive equipment and deep technical knowledge, PLC Ultima has revolutionized the game with their mobile-based crypto mining solution. Their two native coins, PLCU and PLCUX, make it easy for users to participate and earn rewards. With PLCU serving as the transactional coin and PLCUX focused on generating new coins, the deflationary model of PLCU ensures scarcity by burning coins and increasing demand on the secondary market.

    To get involved with PLC Ultima, all users have to do is download their free apps (Ultima Farm and Ultima Wallet) on their smartphone, register a new account, and buy some PLCUX coins (native coins of the PLC Ultima ecosystem). To start minting, they just freeze a certain number of these PLCUX coins for a certain period of time. They will be rewarded on a monthly basis for storing and freezing coins in their wallets, and the more coins they freeze, the higher the reward.

    With PLCUX only tradable for PLCU, which can be found on multiple exchanges, including Gate.io and MEXC, it’s never been easier to start minting and earn rewards all from the convenience of an ordinary mobile device.

    Apart from minting, the PLC Ultima ecosystem offers a wide range of actively used services, including PlatinHero, a blockchain-based crowdfunding platform with advanced smart contracts, PlatinDeal, a global marketplace that accepts cryptocurrency payments, Ultima cashback program, and PLC Card, a banking-like card for everyday use with digital assets and high daily limits of up to €150,000.

  • How to Safely Invest in Cryptocurrencies?

    Cryptocurrencies have been gaining a lot of popularity lately, as more and more people are looking for ways to invest their money. However, before you jump on the crypto bandwagon, there are a few things you need to know in order to be able to safely invest in cryptocurrencies.

    Here are just some of the things you need to keep in mind when investing in cryptocurrencies:

    • Do your research. Just like any other investment, you need to make sure you understand what you’re getting into before investing any money. For instance, if you want to invest in Kadena coin, you would have to first check out Kadena price and other dynamics involving the coin. This is the same with every other cryptocurrency. Make sure to do your research and only invest in cryptos that you believe have a bright future ahead.
    • Have a long-term outlook. Focus on long-term growth potential. By holding onto your investments for the long term, you’ll be more likely to see profits down the road.

    Where can I find more information about cryptocurrency investment?

    There is a lot of information available on the Internet about cryptocurrency investment. However, it is important to be careful about which sources you trust. It is always a good idea to do your own research and consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

    Global Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Merger and Acquisition Investments in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency from 2018 to H12022
    Global Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Merger and Acquisition Investments in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency from 2018 to H12022

    What are the benefits of investing in cryptocurrency?

    One of the main advantages of investing in cryptocurrency is that it’s still a relatively new market. This means that there’s a lot of room for growth and development. So, if you invest early on, you could potentially see a lot of returns in the future.

    Another benefit of investing in cryptocurrency is that it’s decentralized. This means that it’s not subject to the same rules and regulations as traditional fiat currencies. For example, governments can’t just print more money whenever they want to – which can often lead to inflation. With cryptocurrency, there’s a set amount of units that can ever be produced, so inflation isn’t really an issue.

    Lastly, cryptocurrency is also quite secure and private. Transactions are often done through blockchain technology, which is very secure and difficult to hack. And because transactions are anonymous, your personal information isn’t at risk either.

    What is the best way to invest in cryptocurrency?

    First, it’s important to do your research and understand the risks involved before investing any money. Cryptocurrency is a volatile market, and prices can fluctuate rapidly. It’s important to have realistic expectations and be prepared for the possibility of losses.

    Second, it’s generally a good idea to diversify your investments and not put all your eggs in one basket. This means investing in a variety of different cryptocurrencies, rather than just one.

    Finally, it’s important to remember that cryptocurrency is a long-term investment. Don’t expect to get rich quick – patience is key!

    Stay up to date on news and developments in the cryptocurrency space

    There are a few things to keep in mind when trying to stay up to date on news and developments in the cryptocurrency space. First, it is important to be aware of the different types of cryptocurrencies that are out there.

    Second, it is also important to be aware of the different exchanges that are available. Each exchange offers different benefits and drawbacks, so it is important to find one that suits your needs.

    Finally, it is also a good idea to set up Google Alerts for key terms related to cryptocurrencies. This way, you will be notified whenever new articles or developments pop up that could impact your investment strategy.

    When is the best time to invest in cryptocurrency?

    The best time to invest in cryptocurrency will usually vary depending on your individual circumstances and goals. However, there are a few general tips that can help you make the most out of your investment.

    First of all, it’s important to do your research and understand the risks involved before investing any money. Cryptocurrency is a volatile market, and prices can fluctuate rapidly. It’s important to have realistic expectations and be prepared for the possibility of losses.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that cryptocurrency is still a relatively new technology, and there are always going to be some risks associated with early adoption. That being said, the potential rewards can be significant, so it’s important to weigh both the risks and rewards before making any decisions.

    Finally, it’s also worth considering how much you’re willing to invest. Cryptocurrency is a long-term investment, and you shouldn’t put more money into it than you’re comfortable losing. Start small and then gradually increase your investment over time as you become more familiar with the market.

    In short, only invest what you can afford to lose, and do your research before investing in cryptocurrency. Also, have long-term goals.

  • Vauld – How Does This Crypto Lending Startup Make Money?

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Vauld.

    If we talk about investments, assets such as gold, bank deposits, buying of lands, real estate, and the stock market come to our mind. It has been a while, and a new form of investment is drawing attention in the market today – cryptocurrency.

    This latest type of investment sometimes referred to as crypto-currency or crypto, is a form of digital currency that is backed by a technology called ‘blockchain’ that allows users to exist outside the controls of the government and other central authorities. Over the years, the world seems to have a knack for this, particularly bitcoins, which is boasting 14 million value of bitcoins in circulation.

    ‘Crypto’ generally means virtual currencies that are secured by cryptographic systems. These systems allow users to make payments securely without the help of any third-party intermediary.

    Today, many investors are speculating about the possible outcomes of cryptocurrency in the current market. They are assuming that the use of crypto is likely to continue until a certain level of pricing stability and market acceptance is attained from the government and bank sectors.

    The government and banks’ recklessness in changing monetary policies at any time and any moment made many taxpayers suffer. No matter how irresponsible the government and bank sectors can be, it is always the taxpayer who has to pay for them. This way, the concept of cryptocurrency was introduced with the intent to change the financial infrastructure.

    This is where the company Vauld comes into the scene. Founded in 2018, Vauld is a crypto-lending startup that was built to offer banking solutions to its customers through blockchain technology. To have a full understanding of Vauld, read this article to know about its journey so far, its founders and team, its business model, revenue, and the challenges faced by them.

    Vauld – About and How It Works
    Vauld – Founders
    Vauld – Mission and Vision
    Vauld – Name, Tagline, and Logo
    Vauld – Growth
    Vauld – Business and Revenue Model
    Vauld – Funding and investors
    Vauld – Challenges Faced
    Vauld – Competitors
    Vauld – Future Plans

    Vauld – Company Highlights

    Startup Name Vauld
    Founded 2018
    Founders Darshan Bathija and Sanju Sony Kurian
    Sector Financial Software
    Headquarters Singapore
    Total Funding $27.5 million
    Revenue $197.7 million (June 2022)
    Website vauld.com

    Vauld – About and How It Works

    Vauld started with an aim to offer its services as a customer-centric banking solution leveraging blockchain. They intend to treat customers’ cryptocurrencies as separate assets nullifying the need for the government’s acceptance.

    Vauld works in a way that when any customer deposits funds to their wallet, it goes into a centralised pool. From there, the funds are allocated to borrowers, which are maintained for withdrawals on the platform.

    This allows the company to give interest to its users. The loans offered by Vauld to borrowers are totally-risk free. All these loans are over-collateralised, which are usually repaid to the users after 30 days.

    Vauld also has a community where they encourage everyone to discuss about crypto. From feedback and ideas, a crypto circle to discuss topics related to crypto, developers to build a system using Vauld’s APIs, to know everything about them under the news community.

    Vauld – Founders

    Darshan Bathija

    Darshan Bathija, co-founder of Vauld
    Darshan Bathija, co-founder of Vauld

    Before starting his own company, Darshan Bathija worked in companies like TapChief(acquired by Unacademy) and Piramal Enterprises Limited. A graduate from BITS Pilani, Darshan founded Vauld in 2018 intending to decentralise money through blockchain. He is the co-founder and CEO of Vauld.

    Sanju Sony Kurian

    Sanju Sony Kurian, co-founder of Vauld
    Sanju Sony Kurian, co-founder of Vauld

    Sanju Sony Kurian holds a degree from the Cochin Institute of Science and Technology. Before becoming the co-founder and CTO of Vauld, Sanju worked as Technology Director in Kings Learning. He is passionate about engineering and loves to volunteer and give speeches.

    Vauld – Mission and Vision

    Vauld wants to execute its vision with one aim: that is by offering a holistic banking system.

    The company wants to set an easy and convenient platform for its customers to spend money in the place of their choice on an efficient system.

    The company’s vision statement reads, “We aim to enable the core elements of banking to every crypto user. So that Vauld user would get: Store of Value, Easy Spending, Capital Growth, and Exchange.”

    Vauld’s tagline says, “Earn. Borrow. Trade.

    Vauld Logo
    Vauld Logo

    Vauld – Growth

    Vauld was founded in 2018. In that year, Vauld used to be Boh (Bank of Holders) and came up with secure Bitcoin and Ethereum Wallets.

    In 2019, the company introduced peer-to-peer lending and borrowing of funds. Later that year, the company had its major website revamp with an instant token swap, which led to instant buy and sell in INR.

    In 2020, Boh was rebranded to Vauld and introduced Android and iOS apps. In 2021, the company raised $25 million in funds from Valar Ventures and Coinbase ventures.

    Vauld – Business and Revenue Model

    Vauld lets its users deposit funds in their centralised pool system. The funds which are allocated are lent out to borrowers with a certain interest amount. The loans are collateralised to an extent up to 150% and are usually repaid within 30 days.

    Vauld stores the funds collected in their trusted exchange system called Binance to facilitate trades on their order books.

    Vauld gives about 11.57% interest rates to its customers. The company boasts of having the best interest rates and trading fees in the industry today. They do not charge anything extra for every deposit a customer makes. Their entire process is based on transparency with no hidden charges.

    Vauld – Funding and Investors

    Vauld has raised funds of about $27.5 million. The company has a total of 20 investors.

    Date Funding Round Funding Amount Investors
    Jul 29, 2021 Series A $25M Valar ventures, Pantera Capital
    Dec 28, 2020 Seed $2M Pantera Capital, Coinbase
    Jun 1, 2020 Seed $500k LuneX Ventures

    Vauld – Challenges Faced

    Quite recently, the crypto market saw a crash that had never been seen before. Reports suggest that this happened in May and June after the collapse of the group Terraform Lab’s UST stablecoin and Three Arrows Capital defaulted their loans.

    The aftermath of this crash has led the Co-founder of Vauld to halt their withdrawals, trading, and deposits by 30%. The decision has been made because of the economic slowdown and inconsistent marketing conditions.

    Due to this uncertain circumstance, the company is currently facing financial difficulties, as a result, a lot of customers have withdrawn amounts exceeding over $197.7 million since the crash of the cryptocurrency market.

    Moreover, the company has reduced its marketing expenses and executive compensation by 50% and paused every vendor engagement. However, the company claims to make specific arrangements for certain customers who need help with their collateralised loans if necessary.

    Vauld – Competitors

    The following are some of its competitors of Vauld:

    • Bakkt
    • Abra
    • BabelFinance
    • Amber Group
    • WeAlwin Technologies
    • Ramp network
    • CoinDCX

    Vauld – Future Plans

    Although the company had planned to introduce cards and cross token payments, and bank accounts for the future. The current condition of the economy made them take a painful decision.

    As of now, Vauld has suspended all its operations because of the unexpected crypto market crash. The company is currently having a difficult time, which is why it is challenging to know what the future holds for them.

    FAQs

    Is Vauld an Indian Company?

    No, Vauld is a Singapore-based crypto platform founded by Darshan Bathija and Sanju Sony Kurian in 2018.

    How does Vauld work?

    When you deposit funds to your Vauld wallet it goes into a centralised pool. From there, the funds are allocated to borrowers, which are maintained for withdrawals on the platform.

    Who are the founders of Vauld?

    Vauld was founded by Darshan Bathija and Sanju Sony Kurian in 2018.

  • MoonPay – Democratizing Cryptocurrency Through Its Investment Platform

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Moonpay.

    The Public’s faith in crypto has exploded in the meantime. It’s a major topic not only among investors but also in mainstream culture, owing to everyone including long-time investors like Elon Musk to that youngster from high school on Twitter.

    Merchants may accept crypto-based payments for a variety of goods and services thanks to technology-based crypto payments and fraud protection solutions. For debit and credit card transactions, it also has a worldwide monetary onramp. It allows businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments for a variety of products and services.

    MoonPay is a fintech startup that develops a cryptocurrency payment system. Its on-and-off-ramp line of products allows users to modify between government-issued currency and cryptocurrencies using different payment methods, including credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and local bank transfers, MoonPay accepts payments, fights fraud in over 160 countries, and is used by 300+ prominent wallets, websites, and applications. The firm was created in 2019 and is situated in Miami, Florida.

    Read this article further to read more about MoonPay.

    MoonPay – Company Highlights

    Startup Name MoonPay
    Headquarters Greater Miami Area, East Coast, Southern US
    Industry Financial Services, FinTech, and Mobile Payments
    Founders Victor Faramond and Ivan Soto-Wright
    Founded 2018
    Launched March 2019
    CEO Ivan Soto-Wright
    Website moonpay.com

    MoonPay – About and How it Works?


    MoonPay – Industry
    MoonPay – Name, Logo, and Tagline
    MoonPay – Founders
    MoonPay – Startup Story
    MoonPay – Vision, and Mission Statement
    MoonPay – Business Model
    MoonPay – Catering Celebs
    MoonPay – Funding, and Investors
    MoonPay – Investments
    MoonPay – Growth
    MoonPay – Competitors
    MoonPay – Challenges Faced
    MoonPay – Future Plans

    booming NFT sector. MoonPay was founded in 2019 with a single goal in mind: to accelerate the usage of cryptocurrencies. Only with 2 young co-founders – Ivan Soto-Wright and Victor Faramond – the firm set out to design a secure and very simple software solution that would allow individuals from all around the world to engage in the largest tech transformation since the world wide web.

    MoonPay is a popular solution among both ordinary investors and celebs because of its ease. As per the company’s website, the platform has over 10 million active users in 160 countries and has processed about $3 billion in transactions.

    When non-fungible tokens or NFTs first became popular, MoonPay was the go-to payment provider. Users might buy their favourite NFTs without having to worry about cryptocurrency. When celebrities began purchasing artworks from the renowned Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection, the platform acquired even more traction.

    In a traditional exchange, you’d need to first get a wallet, then add an appropriate amount of cryptocurrency, and then complete the transaction – a simple but time-consuming operation. The procedure is significantly simpler using MoonPay. All that is required of the user is to set a budget. MoonPay then calculates a baseline price for the digital asset using its uncommon tools.

    MoonPay takes care of purchasing the needed cryptocurrency, then purchasing the tokens and billing the consumer.

    “We’ve tried to make it as similar as a process as you would be interacting with your private bank,” says Ivan Soto-Wright, the CEO of MoonPay. “You basically generate an invoice, you wire money for that invoice, and then we settle the transaction,” he explained.

    MoonPay – Industry

    One of the names used most frequently for research in the finance sector nowadays is “financial technology.” FinTech, or financial technology, is the application of cutting-edge contemporary technology to the world of money. It mostly makes use of disruptive and creative technologies to deliver financial services. By offering innovative and safe financial services, fintech startups met the demand for increased security from investors. The desire for more economical financial services that offer accessibility and a faster speed might be cited as the second factor in the development of financial technology.

    In 2021, the market had a value of USD 112.5 billion. By 2028, the scope of the global fintech market is predicted to be USD 332.5 billion, and it is projected to expand at a 19.8% compound annual growth rate over that time.

    The market is primarily driven by growing connectivity with the ecosystem of the financial services industry, growth in the market cap of cryptocurrencies, and ICOs. This technology facilitates quicker transfers and lowers operating costs. Uncertainty over the regulatory frameworks and standards enforced by the system is the main constraining issue for the fintech market. Furthermore, the financial sector’s use of digital technologies is expanding quickly.

    The globe has seen the emergence of new financial technology innovations including mobile money, peer-to-peer or marketplace financing, insurance technology (insur-tech), Robo-advice and crypto-assets. Markets might become more varied, fair, effective, and equitable as a result of these advances, but concentration levels could also rise. Especially in developing and transition countries, innovation has boosted inclusiveness and brought about competitiveness.


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    MoonPay – Name, Logo, and Tagline

    MoonPay Logo
    MoonPay Logo 

    MoonPay’s tagline says, “Crypto just got easy.”

    MoonPay – Founders

    MoonPay was founded by Victor Faramond and Ivan Soto-Wright in March 2019.

    Victor Faramond

    Victor Faramond - Co-Founder of MoonPay
    Victor Faramond – Co-Founder of MoonPay

    Victor serves MoonPay as its co-founder and chief technology officer. Victor has extensive experience in developing both front-end and back-end systems for cutting-edge websites. He has previously worked in Apple, Merck KGaA, and Skello.

    Ivan Soto-Wright

    Co-Founders of MoonPay - Ivan Soto-Wright
    Co-Founder of MoonPay – Ivan Soto-Wright

    Ivan is the co-founder and chief executive officer of MoonPay. Ivan is an investor, entrepreneur, and early adopter of financial technology. Ivan graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics with Special Honors. At St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford, he also studied philosophy, politics, and economics. Ivan used to work for Redington.


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    MoonPay – Startup Story

    With just one goal in mind in 2019, Ivan Soto-Wright and Victor Faramond, the company’s two co-founders, set out to build a simple and secure software solution that would allow users from all over the world to take part in the largest digital revolution since the internet, which resulted in the foundation of MoonPay.

    Just two and a half years later, in November 2021, MoonPay completed its Series A investment round with a valuation of $3.4 billion, making it the largest and most valued Series A for a bootstrapped cryptocurrency startup. The firm is using this financing to continue in international expansion and top-tier personnel, as it maintains its extraordinary rate of growth.

    Investment in the start-ups driving the sector is flourishing in venture capital as the price of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin has recently reached all-time highs. After the massive cryptocurrency exchange’s successful IPO in April, investors are searching for the next Coinbase.

    The “portal” to digital assets was the selling point of MoonPay to investors. For the time being, this entails bitcoin, ether, and other electronic coins like NFTs. However, Soto-Wright intends to broaden the platform’s scope to cover anything from tokenized equities to digital clothing. People are referring to them as PayPal for cryptocurrency, he added.

    According to Soto-Wright, the business has robust controls and checks in place to combat corruption. Regulators are being more cautious as a result of illegal activities in the industry.

    Since the platform’s introduction in 2019, according to MoonPay, it has been profitable. After transaction volumes soared 35-fold from 2020, the company is on target to generate $150 million in revenue this year. More than 7 million users already utilise its service.

    MoonPay – Vision, and Mission Statement

    MoonPay’s mission has been clear from the start: provide the next billion people access to cryptocurrency.

    The goal of MoonPay is to provide the next billion people with access to cryptocurrencies, which we believe will ultimately have a greater impact on people’s lives than the internet.

    Because they firmly believe in the potential of cryptocurrencies and their ability to democratise finance, everything they have done in their first two years has been focused on achieving that aim.

    MoonPay – Business Model

    MoonPay, a Miami-based company that was founded in 2019, offers software that enables users to purchase and trade cryptocurrencies using standard payment methods including credit cards, bank transfers, or mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

    In a business model CEO Ivan Soto-Wright refers to as “crypto-as-a-service,” it also offers its technology to organisations like non-fungible token (NFT) exchange OpenSea and cryptocurrency website Bitcoin.com.

    Processing fees, payment fees, and a concierge service for affluent customers are how MoonPay generates revenue.

    • Processing and Payment fees – The processing and payment fees that MoonPay’s institutional and retail customers pay to make up the majority of its income. Every time a customer buys or sells a cryptocurrency, a processing fee is levied on the consumer side. It charges a 4.5 per cent fee for card purchases. Fees are 1 per cent for both purchases and sales when using bank transfers. Users will furthermore be responsible for paying the corresponding gas fees imposed by the blockchain network they use to conduct their transactions. Similar to that, it assesses firms with a 4.5 per cent card payment fee and a 1 per cent bank transfer cost. However, depending on several variables, such as everyday transactions, rates for larger partners may be negotiable. Although these costs can seem high, it should be recognised that MoonPay does not keep the entire charge. It is required to split the money for credit card transactions with the MasterCard or Visa card issuer. Additionally, it collaborates with several custodians and fraud detection services, both of which charge extra fees. Numerous comparable services, including Shakepay, have also emerged. All of them advertise themselves as simple ways for regular people to obtain cryptocurrency.
    • Concierge Service – MoonPay also makes money from its custodial services for wealthy people, albeit this portion of their revenue is probably lower. On behalf of its customers, it will use this service to buy and store cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Celebrities including Post Malone, The Weeknd, Lil Baby, and Jimmy Fallon have received such service from the firm. Although nothing is known, it may be inferred that MoonPay charges a management fee in the form of a percentage for such services.

    MoonPay – Catering Celebs

    Since November 2021, celebrities have used MoonPay to buy products from some of the most well-liked and pricey NFT collections. Just a handful of the rising list of celebrities who have used cryptocurrency firm MoonPay to facilitate purchases of exorbitantly priced non-fungible tokens includes Jimmy Fallon, Post Malone, Diplo, DJ Khaled, and Justin Beiber. Rapper Snoop Dogg joined the crew as the newest member on December 22, 2021. On Twitter, he displayed four brand-new items from the Bored Ape Yacht Club line. He praised MoonPay and its CEO Ivan Soto-Wright for their assistance with the transaction in a different tweet. A significant majority of the NFT transactions MoonPay has arranged on behalf of celebrities are for Bored Apes.

    They are A-list celebrities in addition to being some of MoonPay’s more than 60 new investors. The Chainsmokers, Drake, Matthew McConaughey, Eva Longoria, Kate Hudson, Paris Hilton, Jason Derulo, Mindy Kaling, Questlove, and Shawn Mendes are just a few more famous people that have invested.


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    MoonPay – Funding, and Investors

    MoonPay has received a total funding of $642 million from investors in 3 rounds of funding.

    Date Round Amount Lead Investors
    Apr 13, 2022 Series A $87M
    Nov 22, 2021 Series A $555M Coatue, Tiger Global Management
    Mar 1, 2021 Funding Round

    MoonPay – Investments

    Date Organization Name Round Amount
    May 20, 2022 UnicornDAO Seed Round $4.5M
    Mar 22, 2022 Yuga labs Seed Round $450M
    Sep 26, 2021 Yellow Card Series A $15M
    Jun 25, 2021 Moon Pre-Seed Round $2.8M

    MoonPay – Growth

    Having only existed for three years, MoonPay has:

    • processed transactions worth more than $2 billion.
    • seen a surge in transaction volume of more than 35 times.
    • consistently attained monthly sales growth of greater than 30%
    • accumulated a clientele of more than 7 million users.
    • more than five times its partner ecosystem.
    • provided support for more than 30 fiat currencies and 90 cryptocurrencies.

    MoonPay – Competitors

    The top competitors in the competitive set of MoonPay are

    • Coinbase
    • Wyre
    • Ramp Instant
    • Mercury.io.
    • Simplex
    • Transak
    • Banxa
    • Paywithmoon
    • Changelly
    • Ffnews
    • Bitmart

    MoonPay – Challenges Faced

    Difficulties include access to different currencies and custodial limitations, regulatory and compliance constraints, and fraud concerns among traditional payment providers. These are the same problems that MoonPay focuses on and helps its partners with.

    “We are excited about the opportunity in crypto, but one of the challenges to mainstream adoption is offering the same seamless experience that users have come to expect from modern internet products. MoonPay has impressed us with its product, infrastructure, and execution.”  – Kris Fredrickson, managing partner at Coatue.

    “We think that the crypto economy today is growing faster than the internet was at a similar stage of its development and that MoonPay is well-positioned to serve crypto-native innovators and those in traditional finance.” -Kris Fredrickson, managing partner at Coatue.

    People all across the world now have an easy and safe method to join in this new economy thanks to MoonPay. Beyond cryptocurrencies, MoonPay’s non-fungible token solution has been gaining ground in the NFT market, which has lately experienced spectacular development.

    MoonPay – Future Plans

    MoonPay intends to use the funds received in the future to expand and develop new products. According to Soto-Wright, the company already has plans to go public.

    Moonpay will begin an expansion phase with the financing, hiring additional engineers for its staff and preparing to offer more features to its network. A range of tools for consumers is the company’s main emphasis. Cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets must abide by several standards, including Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering legislation, to offer fiat on-ramping services.

    By offering a third-party solution, Moonpay says it can let enterprises focus on their core competencies while it handles KYC, payment processing, cryptocurrency liquidity and delivery, fraud protection, regulatory licencing, ecosystem identity verification, and customised checkout processes.

    FAQs

    What is MoonPay?

    MoonPay is a digital platform for buying and selling cryptocurrency.

    When was MoonPay founded?

    MoonPay was founded in 2018 in Greater Miami Area, East Coast, Southern US.

    Who is the founder of MoonPay?

    Victor Faramond and Ivan Soto-Wright are the co-founders of MoonPay.

    What is the amount of funding raised by MoonPay?

    MoonPay has received a total funding of $642 million.

    Who are the competitors of MoonPay?

    The top competitors of MoonPay are:

    • Coinbase
    • Wyre
    • Ramp Instant
    • Mercury.io
    • Simplex
    • Transak
    • Banxa
    • Paywithmoon
    • Changelly
    • Ffnews
    • Bitmart
  • Cryptocurrency: Boon Or Bane to The World Economy

    With the industrialization and absorption of technology, digital currencies are gaining much importance of late. Bitcoin is undoubtedly one of the most popular digital currencies because it was the first-ever cryptocurrency that was discovered in 2009, by the pseudonymous developer Satoshi Nakamoto. Therefore, the people who are aware of cryptocurrencies and their concepts are well-versed with bitcoins at least.

    The global cryptocurrency industry was last estimated towards the end of 2021 at $910.3 million and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.1% to $1902.5 million in 2028. Though we are still devoid of the exact data, the total cryptocurrency investors in India range between 15-20 million, where the total crypto holdings were estimated at 400 billion rupees ($5.37 billion).

    Though the cryptocurrencies or the income drawn by the Indians from the same were not taxed earlier, in a recent move to bring the cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) under the tax bracket, the Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a 30% tax on the income from the transfer of virtual digital assets on February 1, 2022, Tuesday. Sitharaman further specified that no deductions and/or exemptions would be allowed here. The crypto tax, being proposed at 30%, is the highest tax band that has been introduced in the country so far. This crypto tax news is also happily welcomed by the crypto industry, founders and entrepreneurs alike. The chiefs of 3 major organizations – WazirX, CoinDCX, and ASQI responded cheerfully to the news as soon as it was disclosed by the Indian government, happy at the progressive stance the government is taking.

    In this article, we will talk about the significant advantages and disadvantages of Cryptocurrencies.

    What Is Cryptocurrency?
    Types of Cryptocurrency
    Pros of Cryptocurrency
    Cons of Cryptocurrency

    What Is Cryptocurrency?

    Cryptocurrency Adoption Growth in Different Countries
    Cryptocurrency Adoption in Different Countries

    A cryptocurrency is a type of virtual currency that uses digital files as money. Normally, the files are designed using the same methods as cryptography. Cryptocurrencies use ‘decentralized control’, which means that they aren’t managed by the government or one person.

    Types of Cryptocurrency

    There are many different types of cryptocurrency in the market that are taking the world by storm. Some well-known currencies are:

    Bitcoin (BTC)

    Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency out there and its development is the inspiration and result of the development of other cryptocurrencies. It was founded in the year 2009  by Satoshi Nakamoto, whose identity is revealed. The current value of bitcoin is INR 1514136.15

    Litecoin (LTC)

    Litecoin was developed in the year 2011. The creator was Charles Lee, who was a former Google engineer. The current market value of Litecoin is INR 3934.91. It is quite similar to bitcoin and is popular as well.

    Ethereum

    Ethereum was founded by programmer Vitalik Buterin in 2013, he is also the co-founder of Bitcoin Magazine. The current market value of Ethereum is INR 83896.38.

    Zcash (ZEC)

    Zcash, another form of cryptocurrency was founded by Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn. This crypto was developed and released in the year 2016. The current market value of Zcash is INRT 4716.53.

    Stellar Lumen (XLM)

    Stellar Lumen was created by Jed McCaleb in 2014, who is an American programmer and entrepreneur. as it is cheap it is said to be good for investment. The current market value of Stellar Lumen is INR 8.4.

    Cardano

    Another cryptocurrency that is taking over the world is Cardano. It was developed by Charles Hoskinson, who is also the co-founder of Ethereum. The current value of Cardano is INR 35.31.

    Cons of Cryptocurrency

    People are getting more and more obsessed with cryptocurrency. Here are some advantages of Cryptocurrency investments:

    Protection from Inflation

    It’s one of the great advantages of cryptocurrency as inflation has caused multiple currencies to make their value decline over time. Nearly every cryptocurrency, at the time of its launch, is issued with a set amount. The source code defines the amount of any coin; like, there are only 21 million Bitcoins released in the world. So, as the demand increases, its value will rise, which will keep up with the market and, in the long run, restrain inflation.

    Instant and 24 Hour Accessibility

    It is possible that you can spend or purchase anywhere you are, and you do not even require a system to use it. Everything can be done from your mobile device, implying that even those with limited usage of technology are still able to make their investments and make decisions in real-time. This convenience is a fundamental feature for the selection and buying of bitcoin and it is being used all over the world to give opportunities for those who would earlier have struggled to become online customers.

    Self Governed and Managed

    Governance and preservation of any currency are determinants for its development. The cryptocurrency transactions are collected by miners on their hardware, and they get a transaction charge as a reward for doing so. Since the miners are getting paid for it, they keep transaction records precise and updated, maintaining the honesty of the cryptocurrency and the records decentralized.

    Secure and Private

    Privacy and security have always been a primary concern for cryptocurrencies. The blockchain record is based on many numerical puzzles, which are difficult to decode. This makes a cryptocurrency extra secure than conventional electronic transactions. Cryptocurrencies, for better safety and privacy, use pseudonyms that are unconnected to users, accounts, or saved data that could be connected to a profile.

    Ease in Currency Exchange

    Cryptocurrency can be obtained using multiple currencies like the US dollar, European euro, British pound, Indian rupee, or Japanese yen. With the help of different cryptocurrency pocketbooks and exchanges, a currency can be converted into another by trading in cryptocurrency,  with minimal transaction fees.

    Decentralized

    A significant advantage of cryptocurrency is its decentralization. The majority of cryptocurrencies are regulated by the developers using them, and the individuals who have a notable amount of the coin. The decentralization assists keep the currency monopoly free and in check so that no organization can ascertain the movement and the value of the coin, which, in turn, will keep it stable and secure, unlike currencies that are controlled by the government.

    Cost-Effective Mode Of Transaction

    One of the important applications of cryptocurrencies is to transfer money across borders. With the help of cryptocurrency, the transaction expenses handled by a user are decreased to a negligible amount. It does so by eradicating the necessity for third parties, like VISA or PayPal, to approve a transaction. Transactions, whether foreign or national in cryptocurrencies, are lightning-fast. This is because the verification requires very little time, as there are very few hurdles to pass.

    Cons of Cryptocurrency

    There are many reasons cryptocurrencies are still facing the heat from people. Some of the disadvantages of cryptocurrency investment are:

    Used for Illegal Transactions

    Since the privacy and security of cryptocurrency transactions are stable, it is difficult for the government to track down each user by their wallet address or keep checks on their data. Bitcoin has been used as a mode of exchanging money for a lot of illegal contracts in history, such as acquiring drugs on the dark web. Cryptocurrencies are also used by some to convert their illegal money through a trustworthy mediator to mask its origin.

    No Security in Case of Loss

    As with emerging technology, some use incompetence to scam, trick and steal your hard-earned bucks. This has proven to be the problem with digital currencies, so it is necessary to be informed of the security risks. With a few primary security, one can decrease the possibility of causing a loss that cannot be restored.

    Conversion of Cryptocurrencies

    Some cryptocurrencies can only be patronized in one or a few fiat currencies. This limits the user to convert these currencies into one of the major currencies, like Ethereum or Bitcoin, then through other exchanges, to their wanted coin. By doing so, the additional transaction fees are added in the process, requiring unnecessary money.

    Adverse Effects of Mining on the Environment

    Mining cryptocurrencies requires a lot of power and electricity, making it extremely energy-intensive. The greatest culprit in this is Bitcoin. Mining Bitcoin requires advanced computers and enormous energy. It cannot be done on regular computers.

    No Refund or Cancellation Policy

    If there occurs a dispute between involving parties, or if a person wrongly transfers funds to the wallet address, they cannot be recovered by the sender. As there are no rebates, one can generate a transaction whose product or services they never received.

    Prone to Market Fluctuations

    There are numerous ways that one can use cryptocurrencies, but a lot of people utilizing them at the moment are solely using them as an investment. While eager users are using their digital money to purchase tickets to sporting events, gamble online, or wait for the market fluctuations to work in their favour. Treating your bitcoins as any other commodity may be the way to initiate a more widespread understanding and trust in the new currencies.

    Conclusion

    With recent developmental and rules regarding cryptocurrency in every country. People are getting more and more interested in them. Of course, there are cons of cryptocurrencies that make people question themselves before indulging in them. However, with technology taking over the world, people cannot deny the pros of cryptocurrencies. It is just a matter of time before cryptocurrency will take over the world.

    FAQs

    What are the advantages of Cryptocurrency?

    The advantages of Cryptocurrency are that it is decentralized in nature, it is not affected by inflation, and transferring money across borders is easy.

    What are the disadvantages of Cryptocurrency?

    Some of the disadvantages of cryptocurrency are, It is used for money laundering, it is highly volatile and it has high-security risks.

    Is it good to invest in Cryptocurrency?

    Investing in crypto can be profitable but it is risky too, as it is a highly volatile currency and is prone to market fluctuations.

    What are the different Cryptocurrency wallets?

    Some of the best Cryptocurrency wallets are:

    • Coinbase
    • Binance Chain (BNB)
    • PointPay Banking Wallet
    • Bitfinex
    • Blockchain
    • Paxful Wallet
    • Overbit
    • eToro
    • Ledger Nano
    • WireX
  • What You Need to Know About TDS on Virtual Digital Assets?

    Initial media announcements declared that the rate of TDS on Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) has decreased to 0.1 percent. However, in a late evening circular, the government debunked prior reports. They illustrated that the rate of TDS on Virtual Digital Assets will remain to be 1 percent. This will be applicable from July 1, 2022.

    What is TDS?
    Government Plans on TDS
    What Does the Law on TDS on VDA, Crypto Say?
    When Will TDS on VDA, and Crypto Be Applicable?
    Who Is a ‘Specified Person’?
    Who Has to Pay TDS?
    Role of Third Party
    What if the Payment Is Made in Kind or by Exchanging Two VDAs?

    What is TDS?

    Tax Deducted at Source or TDS is a method to acquire tax on revenue, asset deals, or dividends. According to the Income Tax Act, an individual making a payment has to pay TDS if the payment exceeds a certain limit. TDS is regulated by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CDBT). This falls under the Department of Revenue.

    Government Plans on TDS

    CBDT on Wednesday stated that the TDS on virtual digital assets will continue to be 1 percent. This was clarified when some media reports stated that the TDS rate on VDAs has dropped to 0.1 percent.

    “Some media reports have come to the notice of CBDT claiming that the rate of TDS on Virtual Digital Assets(VDA) has been reduced to 0.1%. It is hereby clarified that there is no change in the rate of TDS on VDA, which continues to be 1%,” read the official clarification.


    The government had regulated a 30 percent tax deduction on the gains of crypto assets. With guidance from organizations (the World Bank and IMF) and stakeholders, the centre will shortly conclude a conference paper on cryptocurrencies, Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth said last month.

    What Does the Law on TDS on VDA, Crypto Say?

    On June 22, 2022, it was issued that TDS on Virtual Digital Assets and cryptocurrencies will continue to be 1 percent. As per section 194S of the Income-tax Act, any VDA buyer is obliged to deduct 1 percent of the amount paid to the seller (resident Indian).

    Moreover, the tax rate will be higher in the absence of the PAN. Adhering to the non-availability of the PAN, the tax imposed on VDA (at the time of transfer) will be 20 percent. Besides, if a person has not filed their income tax return, the TDS will be deducted at a 5 percent rate.

    When Will TDS on VDA, and Crypto Be Applicable?

    As per CBDT reports, TDS on Virtual Digital Assets and Cryptocurrencies will be applicable if:

    • The sum paid on a single or aggregate basis by the specified person (buyer) crosses 50,000 INR during the financial year; or
    • The sum paid on a single or aggregate basis by anyone other than the specified person (any other buyer) crosses 10,000 INR during the financial year.

    Who is a ‘Specified Person’?

    • An individual or HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) who does not have any income under the head ‘profit and gains from business and profession’
    • An individual or HUF having income under the head ‘profit and gains from business and profession’ whose total sales/gross receipts/turnover from business does not exceed Rs 1 crore – or in case of the profession does not exceed Rs 50 lakh.

    Wadhwa says, “An individual (not having income from business and profession) will be required to deduct tax at the time of buying VDA, crypto if the payment exceeds Rs 50,000. An individual (having income from the business profession) will be required to deduct TDS if the turnover of business or profession in the previous financial year exceeds Rs 1 crore or Rs 50 lakh respectively.”

    “The tax will be deducted if the payment made at the time of buying VDA exceeds Rs 50,000. Any other person (for example Company) will deduct TDS at the time of buying VDA, crypto if the payment exceeds Rs 10,000.”

    NOTE: The tax has to be paid after deducting GST and other charges. Sunil Badala, Partner and Head, Financial Services, Tax, KPMG in India says, “It has been clarified that where tax is deducted under the VDA provisions no tax shall be required to be deducted considering the provisions regarding the purchase of goods (without getting into the aspect whether VDAs are goods or not). The tax is to be deducted only on the net amount excluding the charges and GST.”

    Who Has to Pay TDS?

    After July 1, any individual who purchases a Virtual Digital Asset, such as a non-fungible token (NFT) – or any other cryptocurrency has to pay 1 percent TDS.

    “The new section mandates a person, who is responsible for paying to any resident any sum by way of consideration for transfer of a virtual digital asset (VDA), to deduct an amount equal to 1% of such sum as income-tax thereon,” read the circular by CBDT.

    The law applies to non-resident Indians (NRIs) as well. If they purchase VDAs from an Indian, they are required to pay 1% TDS. However, if an NRI buys through another NRI, they need not pay the tax.

    Role of Third Party

    The role of a third party would be to deliver a declaration (in Form No. 26 QF) once every three months. They need to provide the declaration for all trades of the quarter on or before the expected date (according to the income-tax regulations).

    The Exchange would also be needed to provide its income tax return. All of these transactions must be incorporated in such returns. If these requirements are catered to, the buyer will not be pressed against any charges under section 201 of the Act for these agreements.

    What if the Payment is Made in Kind or by Exchanging Two VDAs?

    If a person makes the payment in kind (by providing certain services), they still need to pay 1% TDS. Further, if they pay through an exchange of VDA, the tax will still be deducted. For instance, ‘X’ buys Ethereum from ‘Y’ in exchange for Bitcoin. Likewise, the tax will be deducted by both ‘X’ and ‘Y’. Both the parties need to pay their respective taxes.

    Conclusion

    Virtual Digital Assets have achieved enormous popularity in current times. Accordingly, the volumes of trading in cryptos and digital assets have elevated significantly. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) handed out comprehensive guidelines on TDS for cryptocurrencies and Virtual Digital Assets. The tax rate continues to be 1 percent, applicable onwards July 1st, 2022.

    FAQs

    How TDS will be deducted on cryptocurrency?

    1% TDS is applicable on payments toward cryptocurrencies beyond Rs 10,000 in a financial year.

    Is TDS applicable to assets?

    Yes, TDS is applicable to any earnings made by your fixed assets.

  • Analysis of the Cryptocurrency Industry in India

    Cryptocurrency is creating a lot of buzz these days. It is getting popular and gaining acceptance at various levels. In India, cryptocurrency cannot be labelled as completely legal or illegal. It is kind of a grey area. So, analyzing the cryptocurrency industry in India becomes crucial.

    In this article, we will discuss about cryptocurrency industry in India. We have brought you the cryptocurrency market insights, legal issues, and its future in India.

    So let’s begin…

    “Bitcoin is exciting me because it shows how cheap transactions can be” -Bill Gates

    What is Cryptocurrency?
    Analyzing the Crypto Industry in India
    Is Cryptocurrency Legal in India?
    Future of Cryptocurrency in India

    What is Cryptocurrency?

    Cryptocurrency is a decentralized digital currency based on a blockchain platform that has been named crypto as it verifies transactions through encryptions. However, it is not any normal digital currency that you may use to pay your bills.

    There are two major differences. First, it is decentralized i.e. it is not controlled by any government or third party. This means that all the transactions are made independently not relying on banks. Thus, the value of cryptocurrency does not get affected due to any geopolitical problem.

    Second, it is only available in a limited amount i.e. the amount of crypto of any particular cryptocurrency is predetermined. It will never change. For example, the limit for bitcoin is 21 million. So, there will always be only 21 million bitcoins in the world.

    Cryptocurrencies are generated through a process known as mining. Thereafter, they can be stored or spent through crypto-wallets. These wallets let you exchange crypto for any particular currency. They also allow you to make payments at places where cryptocurrency is accepted.

    Some people like Bill Gates and Elon Musk support cryptocurrency. As per them, it is much better and more secure than physical money. Also, it holds great value for the future.

    On the other hand, some people like Warren Buffett and Ajay Banga, consider it a bane to the world economy. They feel that cryptocurrency is the platform for criminal activities.

    This actually makes us think is it actually a safe platform? This is especially important when no government or bank is involved for guarantee.

    So, let’s take a look at its safety measures.

    The transfer or purchase of cryptocurrency is guarded by cryptography. This means that advanced coding is used to safeguard the storage and transaction data. Thus, it is almost impossible to hack this currency. This makes crypto quite a secure platform.

    Moreover, blockchain technology maintains distributed ledgers across a network of computers. The records of transactions are automatically updated in the systems of currency holders. This enhances traceability and visibility.

    Anyways, cryptocurrency is not a tangible asset. However, it can be called a digital asset. Its applications are still being explored and expanded in financial terms.

    Crypto charts represent the price history, volumes, and time intervals of the digital currencies, in graphical format. These are meant to help investors in making better decisions by picking equities and commodities.

    Usually, a chart known as the Japanese candlestick chart is used by crypto traders. The colour, shape, and size of the candles in the chart are used as indicators. For example, a red candle is an indicator that the closing price was lower than the starting price. Similarly, a green candle represents that the closing price was higher than the starting price. The specified time frame is demonstrated in the graph.

    Analyzing the Crypto Industry in India

    As per a report by the Economic Times almost 20 million people invested in cryptocurrency in India, in 2021. Currently, Indian investors hold cryptocurrency worth about $5.3 billion.

    The bitcoins touched their all-time highs in 2021, touching a mark of $63,729 on April 3. This has encouraged many small investors from India to focus on cryptocurrency. If the experience and sources of these investors are to be believed, the future of money lies in cryptocurrency.

    Bitcoin was the first and most popular cryptocurrency, launched in 2009. It was later followed by other cryptocurrencies named Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, Polygon, etc.

    In India, CoinSwitch Kuber is the biggest cryptocurrency exchange platform. It has recently touched 14 million users and registered a rise of 3500% in the transaction volume. The leading exchange apps WazirX and BitBns have also witnessed a growth of 1735% and 849%, respectively.

    This data certainly speaks a lot in itself. The popularity of cryptocurrency is rising in India and appears to keep rising in the future as well. Also, owing to more number of buyers the demand for cryptocurrency is increasing. This has led to a several-fold hike in its price.

    The cost of a bitcoin was about $0.008 – $0.08 in 2009 when it was launched. However, the present cost of a bitcoin is about $40,0000. Further, looking at the pace at which its value is increasing, more people are turning towards this form of investment.

    Bitcoin Price
    Bitcoin Price

    On April 6, 2018, RBI imposed a ban on trading in cryptocurrency. However, on March 4, 2020, Supreme Court quashed this ban. Post this decision, RBI has taken back its earlier circular and has urged the banks to follow the decision of the apex court.

    The Reserve Bank of India is responsible for managing currency and money transfers in the country. So far, the bank has supported the ban on investment in cryptocurrency. As per RBI, these investments would adversely affect macroeconomic stability.

    As per RBI Deputy Governor, T Rabi Sankar, cryptocurrencies do not pass the basic scrutiny. Therefore, it will never be legalized in India. On the question of advanced economies not banning crypto, he said, most cryptocurrencies are valued in dollars and thus, do not pose any threat to convertible currencies of these countries. However, some people refer to it as the statist approach. It is assumed that if private cryptocurrencies are launched in India, RBI would lose the hold.

    Presently, RBI is also set to launch their Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in 2022-23. It will be a digital legal tender issued by the Central Bank. It will be the same as fiat currency, only in a different form. It will be exchangeable with fiat currency.

    In Union Budget, 2022, cryptocurrency was given legal sanction, virtually. While presenting the finance bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not refer to crypto as a “currency”. However, she someway gave it a legal status by labelling it as “digital assets”.

    She has stated that this decision was taken in light of the phenomenal increase in the frequency and magnitude of transactions. This has ended the uncertainty over the future of cryptocurrency in India.

    A heavy tax of 30% has been imposed on the income generated through crypto transactions. Also, this tax cannot be claimed for deduction. In addition, to keep track of transactions 1% TDS will be charged on the payments made using digital assets.

    However, since this declaration, a number of questions have been raised. This is because the budget does not talk about regulations of crypto exchanges or investor protection. Also, how can government impose a tax without bringing the Cryptocurrency bill to legalize it?

    All-in-all, the government has still not cleared the legal status of cryptocurrency in India.

    Crypto Industry Market Size India
    Crypto Industry Market Size India

    Future of Cryptocurrency in India

    As per Purushottam Anand, Founder of blockchain law firm Crypto legal, “Taxing income from cryptocurrencies does not necessarily and explicitly legalize cryptocurrencies because income tax is not concerned about the manner or means of acquiring the income.” However, tax provisions for cryptocurrencies can be a step towards legalization.

    Prime Minister Modi, in his speech at the “Summit for Democracy” organized by the U.S in 2021 has stated that world leaders must jointly shape global norms for emerging technologies like social media and cryptocurrency. It would help in utilizing these to empower democracy.

    Also, while speaking at the virtually organized India-Central Asia summit, Prime Minister has urged a common approach to cryptocurrency.

    Further, the general approach of India is going with the majority. As the majority of countries especially advanced economies are favouring this innovation, it is expected that India too will legalize it in the future.

    Conclusion

    The investment in cryptocurrency has enhanced several folds in India since last year. Even though the legal status is still unclear, it appears that the investors are not bothered by it.

    Further, the cryptocurrency banning bill, due for the last winter session, has not been proposed by the government. Moreover, Finance bill-2022 has imposed a 30% tax on the income generated through crypto investment. This appears to be a good sign for the future of cryptocurrency in India.

    Overall, it can be said that although the cryptocurrency industry in India is expanding tailing uncertainties cannot be denied.

    FAQs

    Crypotuccureny is not a legal tender in India nor it is banned by the Indian government.

    Is crypto taxable in India?

    Yes, income from Crypto and NFTs are taxed at 30%.

  • Top 8 Practical Tips on Cryptocurrency Trading

    Cryptocurrency has taken the world by storm in just a few years, there is hardly anyone who doesn’t know about it. It is always in the news and is creating a huge demand amongst people, especially the youngsters. People are taking an interest in them and are finding them, a good form of investment.

    The new form of digital currency is making noise, as big companies are accepting them as the new form of payment. Plus those who have invested in them have received quite a good number of profit. The recent trend is not going to die any soon and that is why not only youngsters but also other people are taking an interest on investing on cryptocurrency.

    Trading on cryptocurrency has increased, as it is available for 24 hours a day and seven days a week and is said to be one of the easiest way of making money from this market. In this article, we will talk about how to deal with crypto coins. If уоu аrе slowly heating uр fоr crypto-coins аnd wаnt tо bесоmе a successful professional trader, these tips are for you.

    Start Modestly
    Do Not Insist on Negotiating on Everything
    Stay Sober
    Significantly Diversify
    Understand How Trading Work
    Purpose of Trade
    Set a Target
    Market Cap Is the Key

    Start Modestly

    Yоu’vе heard thаt cryptocurrency prices аrе rising fast. Yоu’vе рrоbаblу аlѕо received thе news thаt thіѕ uрwаrd trend mау nоt lаѕt lоng. Sоmе pessimists, chiefly thе esteemed bankers аnd economists, оftеn gо оn tо nаmе thеm аѕ quick enrichment schemes wіth nо stable foundation.

    Thіѕ news саn mаkе уоu invest іn a hurry аnd stop applying moderation. A small analysis оf thе market trends аnd currencies thаt аrе worth investing іn саn guarantee good returns. Whаtеvеr уоu dо, dо nоt invest аll уоur hard-earned money оn thоѕе assets. Take time, analuyse and then invest.

    Do Not Insist on Negotiating on Everything

    Thеrе аrе over 18000 cryptocurrencies in the world and amongst them there are many encrypted coins tо trade, but іt іѕ impossible tо deal wіth аll оf thеm. Distributing уоur portfolio tо a large number оf cryptos уоu саn manage effectively wіll minimize уоur profits. Juѕt selects a fеw оf thеm, rеаd mоrе аbоut thеm, аnd hоw tо gеt уоur trading signals.

    Stay Sober

    Cryptocurrency іѕ volatile. It іѕ bоth уоur curse аnd уоur blessing. Aѕ a marketer, уоu hаvе tо understand thаt wild price swings аrе inevitable. Uncertainty аbоut whеn tо mаkе a move mаkеѕ аn inefficient trader. Tаkе advantage оf detailed data аnd оthеr search methods tо mаkе ѕurе whеn tо negotiate.

    Successful traders belong tо ѕеvеrаl online forums, whеrе discussions оn crypto-coins related tо trends аnd market signals аrе discussed. Of соurѕе, уоur knowledge mау bе sufficient, but уоu nееd tо rеlу оn оthеr traders tо gеt mоrе relevant data.

    Significantly Diversify

    Practically еvеrуоnе wіll tеll уоu tо expand уоur portfolio, but nо оnе wіll remind уоu tо deal wіth currencies wіth rеаl uѕеѕ. Thеrе аrе ѕоmе low-quality coins thаt уоu саn handle fast money, but thе bеѕt cryptos tо deal wіth аrе thоѕе thаt solve thе existing problems. Coins wіth uѕеѕ іn thе rеаl world tеnd tо bе lеѕѕ volatile.

    Dо nоt diversify tоо ѕооn оr tоо lаtе and bеfоrе making a move tо buy аnу encryption asset, mаkе ѕurе уоu knоw thе market limit, price сhаngеѕ, аnd daily trading volumes. Maintaining a strong portfolio іѕ a wау tо benefit frоm thеѕе digital assets.

    Understand How Trading Work

    Many people tend to negotiate оn a stock exchange without any basic ideas оn hоw іt works. It’ѕ a dangerous move. Alwауѕ review thе ѕіtе уоu plan tо uѕе bеfоrе уоu sign uр, оr аt lеаѕt bеfоrе уоu start trading. If thеу рrоvіdе a fictional play account, tаkе thе opportunity tо learn hоw thе panel lооkѕ lіkе.

    Purpose of Trade

    Analyse and reaslise the purpose of your trading of cryptocurrency. Yes, it is a market that provides huge profits but it is also risky and uncertain. One can suffer losses in this uncertain market as well while trading with bitcoin like cryptos. The motive will help you accomplish the goal. If there is no motive then there will not be anything that can drive you to take the risk and accomplish your goal.

    Set a Target

    Probably the most important thing is to know your limit and set a target according to that. Even if you are getting profits through your trade, you need to set a limit, that you will not cross, too much of greed can result in loss, that you may not be able to overcome. Plus setting a target can help you in cutting your level of loss.

    Market Cap Is the Key

    New traders often believe that it is better to buy token at a lowest price and then they will sell them at a higher price. This is one of the main mistake that traders can do. One needs to be aware of market cap and must pay attention on them, instead of the price of crypto coins, if the market cap is higher it is better to invest on cryptos.

    Conclusion

    Cryptocurrency is undoubtedly, a popular trend right now. More and more people are indulging themselves into this. Trading and investment in cryptocurrency seems a good option to many peopel as they chances of getting good retiurns is quite higher in this. With cryptocurrency turning into the main character, it is just a matter of time that more people will turn to crypto for investment and trading.

    FAQs

    What is cryptocurrency?

    Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that is decentralized in nature.

    Is investing in cryptos safe?

    Crypto is a highly volatile currency, so it is quite risky but it can be profitable as well

    Bitcoin is the most popular Cryptocurrency in the world.

  • List of Companies Working On Metaverse Development

    Technology is taking the world to unprecedented heights, which could not be predicted even ten years ago. The digital world is growing at an unimaginable pace and is bringing some of the best experiences ever in the history of mankind. VR or virtual reality is one of such extraordinary experiences that is steering our viewing experience to the next level. Hundreds of companies all over the world are striving to make metaverse a reality. It is undoubtedly one such thing that will require a lot of time and effort to be established perfectly and be reach the masses, but with the recent advancements in technology, it’s not a far-off dream anymore.

    About Metaverse
    Companies Chasing Metaverse Dream

    1. Roblox
    2. Microsoft
    3. Meta
    4. Nvidia
    5. Unity
    6. Snap
    7. Autodesk
    8. Tencent
    9. Epic Games
    10. Amazon
    11. Bolly Heroes
    12. OneRare
    13. Loka
    14. Cope.Studio

    When Will The Metaverse Get Developed Completely?
    Benefits of the Metaverse

    About Metaverse

    About Metaverse
    About Metaverse

    The term metaverse refers to a virtual environment created with the help of special virtual technology that people can live in. This sounds like a science fiction movie, and science fiction movies are made to resemble life as it will be in the future. It’s like accessing any location, such as virtual concerts using gear similar to video games. By using this, you can live the moment instead of only watching it. Metaverse is also considered the future of the internet. However, this internet universe will also be linked with virtual spaces, and provide a 3D virtual experience while surfing. In this future technology, the big tech giants are investing heavily, with the sole aim of bringing the virtual world to life.

    Cryptocurrencies, games such as Minecraft, virtual conferencing, etc., come under the example of elements of the metaverse. The expanding digital world with an extended cyberspace will see a technological revolution soon. Tech giants are in the race to create what seemed impossible a few years earlier. Metaverse will form the base of this revolution to take Virtual and Augmented Reality to the next level.

    What is Metaverse?

    Companies Chasing Metaverse Dream

    Major video game company Roblox corporation is adapting and developing the metaverse concept. This concept will take their video games to the next level. Another well-known tech giant in the race is NVIDIA corporation that has developed omniverse technology. They called it ‘metaverse for engineers’ by adding millions of users using blender software to create three-dimensional imagery.

    The NVIDIA corporation, Blender, and Adobe have joint plans to expand the NVIDIA omniverse. This collaboration by these tech giants may bring a brilliant result to the market soon in the near future. Facebook recently announced that it would hire 10,000 people in Europe to develop the metaverse. Also, Facebook acquired Oculus VR, and now it’s a complete part of Facebook. This branch of Facebook makes virtual reality gadgets.

    Facebook rebranded itself as meta to prepare for metaverse development. Also, Facebook selected the European Union to develop the metaverse rather than focusing on the USA. This is to create more employment in the European region and maintain a long presence in that region. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has said that the internet is broken, and they have a plan to fix it. Sweeney’s dream of bringing the metaverse to reality is a long project with huge investments and acquisitions.

    We all might have seen Mark Zuckerberg displaying the giant robots and time travels to ancient Rome to announce the brand’s aim to establish a metaverse, which started with the recent renaming of the corporate name of Facebook. However, there are numerous other companies that are working in silence, pacing towards the same goal of achieving metaverse.

    Here we list some of the companies that share the same dream of developing metaverse.

    List of Metaverse Development Companies:

    Roblox

    Roblox Corporation - Metaverse Development Company
    Roblox Corporation – Metaverse Development Company

    Roblox Corporation, the American video gaming company that went public this year, visualizes the concept of metaverse as a place where “people can come together within millions of 3D experiences to learn, work, play, create and socialize.”

    The California-based gaming corporation is aiming to help the users and developers with ways to create digital worlds. Roblox Founder/CEO David Baszucki has also mentioned that the company is looking forward to creating future shopping and business experiences on the platform, which is powered by its own virtual currency, Robux. Roblox is among the highest valued startups in the World.

    Microsoft

    Microsoft - Metaverse Development Company
    Microsoft – Metaverse Development Company

    Microsoft Corp is not far behind the world of metaverse either. In fact, the company’s CEO Satya Nadella has already hinted at the same during an earnings call when he said that Microsoft was aiming to converge the physical and digital worlds by building an “enterprise metaverse”.

    With the famous Xbox and Minecraft under its belt, Microsoft is a distinguished player even in the gaming world, which will also see advancements to bring in the concept of the metaverse. Phil Spencer, the chief of Xbox, has even talked about the company’s planning to create “a metaverse or mixed-reality construct.”

    Meta

    Meta - Metaverse Development Company
    Meta – Metaverse Development Company

    Meta is a prominent player in the space of metaverse and is currently in the news as well following the recent change in its name to Meta Platforms Inc., which was earlier Facebook Inc. The social media giant is one of the most revered investors in the spaces of augmented and virtual reality and has been in the quest to build a metaverse out of its VR environment Horizon, which is accessible through the Quest headsets launched by the brand.

    Nvidia

    Nvidia - Metaverse Development Company
    Nvidia – Metaverse Development Company

    Popular computer chip producer, Nvidia Corp has already been successful in building its Omniverse platform, which can be used to connect the 3D worlds into a shared virtual universe. This Omniverse will be used for projects that can create simulations of the physical buildings and factories that are here in the living world and will stand as the “plumbing” on which metaverses could be built.

    Unity

    Unity Software - Metaverse Development Company
    Unity Software – Metaverse Development Company

    Unity Software Inc, the American video game software development company is quite popular for the real-time 3D projects it handles powered by 3D, 2D, VR, and AR. Talks are that Unity would also help in empowering businesses and startups with advanced tools and technology to build the metaverse.

    Snap

    Snap Inc. - Metaverse Development Company
    Snap Inc. – Metaverse Development Company

    Snap Inc., the owner of Snapchat has long been credited as the company behind the creation of custom avatars and augmented reality filters to overlay digital features in the real world. The company has made a bigger push in 2021, with the launch of its augmented reality glasses that are available for the developers to experiment with creating experiences for the spectacles.

    Autodesk

    Autodesk - Metaverse Development Company
    Autodesk – Metaverse Development Company

    Autodesk, the cloud software firm that hails from California, US, also creates programs that can be used by engineers and architects to design and produce buildings and products. Besides, the software created by Autodesk Inc. is further used to build virtual world experiences for games and other entertainment purposes.

    Tencent

    Tencent - Metaverse Development Company
    Tencent – Metaverse Development Company

    Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings Ltd, the world’s largest video gaming firm by revenue, which also boasts of having stakes in major game studios like Epic Games and Activision Blizzard has already registered many metaverse-related trademarks for its social site QQ, according to the South China Morning Post.

    Epic Games

    Epic Games - Metaverse Development Company
    Epic Games – Metaverse Development Company

    The name behind the video gaming phenomenon, Fortnite, Epic Games has paced ahead of usual shooting games to bring in social experiences like dance parties and virtual music concerts. The users are seen, in such projects, paying to drape their avatars in various costumes and building their own islands and games. The company is also the owner of the massive gaming engine that goes by the name Unreal, which is used to develop games and other visual effects, such as the backdrops of TV shows.

    Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, who also happens to be a vocal critic of the other big platforms like Apple Inc and Google, has stated that metaverse needs to stand as a participatory, common space.

    Amazon

    Amazon - Metaverse Development Company
    Amazon – Metaverse Development Company

    The world’s largest cloud services vendor and the owner of the exemplary ecommerce website, Amazon.com, Inc is ever-increasing in terms of its media offerings. Furthermore, the company is also seen as a potential player in the metaverse.

    Apart from foreign tech giants, many Indian startups are also approaching the goal to develop metaverse. India has a high gaming user base that accounts for a large percentage of the global gaming user base. Due to this, there is also a responsibility on Indian engineers to actively participate in the creation and development of the metaverse. Some of the key players from India, who are pacing up to see the success of their metaverse projects are:

    Bolly Heroes

    Bolly Heroes - Metaverse Development Company
    Bolly Heroes – Metaverse Development Company

    Bolly Heroes can be described as a parallel Bollywood world that is built in collaboration with production houses, music labels, brands, celebrities, gaming studios, and animation companies. The partners of Bolly Heroes have already gone a step ahead to launch the Bollyverse, a limited edition NFT collection platform, the pre-registration for which has already started from September 21, 2021. With the help of this platform, the users can now create a ‘Bollyverse,’ where they would be able to write, act and produce their own stories and characters, which will ease the launch of community-driven films, games, shows, and animation.

    OneRare

    OneRare - Metaverse Development Company
    OneRare – Metaverse Development Company

    Founded lately in March 2021, New Delhi-based OneRare has been successful in launching its first play-to-earn game designed as a food metaverse game on 0xPolygon.

    Loka

    Loka - Metaverse Development Company
    Loka – Metaverse Development Company

    Loka is based in New Delhi and is distinguished as the first multiplayer gamified virtual Metaverse of India based on the 3D maps of the real-world cities and other physical locations, in which the players can participate in live and concurrent experiences powered by their preferred third-party apps.

    Cope.Studio

    Cope.Studio - Metaverse Development Company
    Cope.Studio – Metaverse Development Company

    Founded in November 2020, Cope.Studio is a product studio focused on deep technology, which is developed on a platform for repeatable creation and growth of successful products, revolving around early-stage ventures. The company is based in Bengaluru and strives to combine design, product support, and capital in order to create innovative ideas about the Metaverse into category-defining companies.

    Some other Indian companies that are working on their metaverse projects are Interality, Tamasha.Live, Zippy and NextMeet.

    When Will The Metaverse Get Developed Completely?

    Metaverse Development
    Metaverse Development

    The metaverse is a very vast concept if we see it through the eyes of engineers developing it. For common people, it will be a smooth and easy experience to feel the virtual experience. But for the developing team working behind, it’s a challenge that will snatch their sleep. The metaverse concept has been getting planned for years, and finally, we are witnessing some really good progress in the process. Tech giants are now investing huge sums in this project to take their company values to higher levels. People are excited to test this new experience, and the market is growing with demand for such digital technologies.

    The first ideas of metaverse came to light before the year 2000, but the enthusiasm about this concept has come to the limelight in the year 2020. Many tech giants are setting their footprints into the development of their metaverse. Different ideas are diversifying the development process. But for the metaverse to function fully and get affordable for a large section of the society is still a bit far. But at the speed with which these companies are rising in this concept, work will bring metaverse to life soon. The pandemic has shown the importance of the virtual world and its importance in our daily lives. Now the Metaverse may have got a boost due to this push, and it’s now getting closer and closer.

    Benefits of the Metaverse

    Metaverse as a whole is a very futuristic concept, and it has a lot of benefits. With the arrival of metaverse technology, virtual living standards will improve, and it will be possible to merge digital platforms into a single segment. Medical professionals can now treat diseases that can be easily detectable at an earlier stage due to metaverse technology. Retail vendors will be able to display products to the customers through this technology. The most diversified use of this technology is in the gaming universe, which will feel more real through a metaverse. Also, the travel experience will get better through this technology, allowing users to travel to foreign places through a metaverse. Apart from these, many other benefits exist and will surface with time.


    What are the Latest Technology Trends in India?
    India has been one of the leading markets for Technology in the world. Right from App Development, Robotics to Gaming, let’s have a look at these trends.


    Metaverese – Conclusion

    Metaverse is not a dream anymore, it’s now coming to reality, and our real world is getting more virtual in the coming days due to this technology. With time, Virtual reality will develop and will take our experiences to a new level. Many people will get employment through this technology, and millions will get a new technological wonder to experience. Every technology has its own negative and positive points, and for Metaverse, you can figure them out when it will come to reality.

    FAQs

    What is metaverse?

    The term metaverse refers to a virtual environment that you can live through using special virtual technology.

    Which are the companies working for metaverse development?

    Some of the metaverse development companies are:

    • Roblox
    • Microsoft
    • Meta
    • Nvidia
    • Unity
    • Snap
    • Autodesk
    • Tencent
    • Epic Games
    • Amazon

    Why Facebook rebranded to Meta?

    Facebook has rebranded itself as Meta to reflect its focus on metaverse.