1. Define Your Audience and Objectives:

Before diving into website development, it’s crucial to define your target audience and overarching objectives. Consider the specific demographic you aim to serve—whether it’s high-net-worth individuals, retirees, young professionals, or small business owners—and tailor your website content and features to meet their unique needs and preferences. Clarify your primary objectives, whether it’s to attract new clients, provide educational resources, or showcase your firm’s expertise and offerings.

2. Establish Credibility and Trust:

Building trust is paramount in the realm of wealth management and investment services. Your website should convey professionalism, credibility, and transparency to instill confidence in visitors. Incorporate elements such as client testimonials, industry certifications, awards, and affiliations prominently on your website to showcase your track record and expertise. Additionally, provide transparent information about your firm’s investment philosophy, approach, team members, and regulatory compliance to reassure visitors of your commitment to ethical and responsible practices.

3. Craft Compelling Content and Resources:

Content is king when it comes to engaging and educating visitors on financial matters. Develop a robust content strategy that offers valuable resources, insights, and educational materials to address common financial concerns and objectives. Create blog posts, articles, guides, and whitepapers on topics such as retirement planning, investment strategies, tax optimization, family office, estate planning, and market trends. Ensure that your content is informative, actionable, and easy to understand, catering to individuals at various levels of financial literacy and expertise.

4. Integrate Advanced Planning Tools and Calculators:

Empower visitors to take control of their financial future by incorporating advanced planning tools and calculators on your website. Offer interactive tools for retirement planning, investment risk assessment, college savings planning, mortgage affordability, and tax estimation to help users make informed decisions and visualize their financial goals. Consider partnering with reputable financial software providers or developing custom tools tailored to your firm’s expertise and client needs.

5. Provide Personalized Services and Solutions:

Tailor your website experience to cater to the individual needs and preferences of your target audience. Offer personalized services such as portfolio analysis, financial planning consultations, and investment recommendations based on each client’s goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Implement client portals or dashboards that provide real-time access to account information, performance reports, and transaction history, fostering transparency and communication between clients and advisors.

6. Optimize for User Experience and Accessibility:

A seamless user experience is essential for retaining visitors and encouraging engagement on your website. Ensure that your website is intuitive, easy to navigate, and optimized for both desktop and mobile devices. Use clear navigation menus, logical page layouts, and prominent calls-to-action to guide visitors towards their desired information and actions. Pay attention to accessibility considerations, such as contrast, font size, and keyboard navigation, to accommodate users with disabilities and enhance inclusivity.

7. Implement Robust Security Measures:

Security is paramount when dealing with sensitive financial information and transactions. Invest in robust cybersecurity measures to protect your website and clients’ data from potential threats and breaches. Utilize SSL encryption, firewalls, malware detection, and regular security audits to safeguard against unauthorized access and data breaches. Communicate your commitment to data security and privacy through transparent privacy policies and compliance with industry regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.

8. Integrate Social Proof and Testimonials:

Leverage social proof and testimonials to reinforce trust and credibility on your website. Showcase positive client experiences, success stories, and testimonials prominently to demonstrate the value and impact of your services. Incorporate client reviews, ratings, and endorsements from reputable sources such as Google My Business, Yelp, and industry associations to validate your firm’s reputation and expertise.

9. Offer Seamless Integration with Other Financial Tools and Platforms:

Facilitate seamless integration with other financial tools and platforms to enhance the functionality and utility of your website. Integrate with popular financial management software, investment platforms, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to streamline processes, automate tasks, and provide a cohesive user experience. Enable features such as account aggregation, data synchronization, and single sign-on to enhance convenience and efficiency for both clients and advisors.

9. Promote Continuous Learning and Engagement:

Foster a culture of continuous learning and engagement by providing ongoing educational opportunities and interactive experiences on your website. Offer webinars, workshops, seminars, and events on relevant financial topics to educate and empower visitors. Encourage participation in discussions, polls, surveys, and quizzes to foster engagement and gather valuable insights into clients’ needs and preferences. Leverage email newsletters, social media channels, and online communities to stay connected with clients and prospects and nurture relationships over time.

By incorporating these essential elements and strategies into your wealth management or investment website, you can create a compelling online presence that attracts, engages, and retains clients while positioning your firm as a trusted partner in their financial journey. And as you focus on building your digital presence, don’t forget to explore valuable wealth management solutions offered by companies like Certuity, providing comprehensive financial planning and investment management services to help individuals and families achieve their long-term financial goals with confidence.

The post Building Your Financial Future: Crafting the Best Wealth Management or Investment Website appeared first on Terr For MER.

Understanding SQL in Data Management

SQL, as a language, is primarily used for managing and querying relational databases. It allows users to interact with databases, retrieve data, and make changes to the data stored within them. SQL databases are known for their structured and organized nature, making them ideal for scenarios where data consistency and relationships matter.

One of the key features of SQL databases is the use of tables to store data. Data is stored in rows and columns, and relationships between tables are established through keys. This structured approach makes it easy to retrieve specific data, perform complex queries, and maintain data integrity.

The Strengths of Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology, initially developed as the underlying technology for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, has since found applications in various industries beyond finance. At its core, blockchain is a distributed ledger that records transactions across a network of computers in a way that ensures immutability and transparency.

Here are some key strengths of blockchain technology:

1. Immutability: Once data is recorded on a blockchain, it becomes extremely difficult to alter or delete. Each block in the chain contains a reference to the previous block, creating a secure and unbreakable chain of records.
2. Decentralization: Blockchain operates on a decentralized network of nodes, which means there’s no single point of failure. This makes it highly resistant to hacking and tampering.
3. Transparency: Transactions on a blockchain are visible to all participants in the network. This transparency fosters trust and accountability.
4. Security: Blockchain relies on cryptographic techniques to secure data. Transactions are verified and added to the chain through consensus mechanisms, making it nearly impossible for malicious actors to manipulate the data.

The Synergy: SQL and Blockchain

Whеn SQL аnd bloсkсhаin сome tоgethеr, it сreаtes а synеrgy thаt leverаges thе strеngths оf both technоlоgies tо аddrеss some оf thе most prеssing chаllenges in dаtа mаnаgement аnd sеcurity. Here’s hоw this сombinаtion саn bеnefit vаriоus industriеs:

1. Enhаnсed Dаtа Integrity: SQL dаtаbаses саn stоre structurеd аnd оrgаnized dаtа, mаking thеm suitаble fоr mаny аpplicаtions. Вy integrаting SQL dаtаbаses with bloсkсhаin technоlоgy, оrgаnizаtions саn enhаnce dаtа integrity. Eаch trаnsаction оr dаtа entry саn bе recоrded on thе bloсkсhаin, рroviding аn immutаble recоrd оf chаnges оr аdditions tо thе dаtаbаse.
2. Secure Authеnticаtion: Bloсkсhаin’s decentrаlized nаture саn bе leverаged fоr seсure user аuthеnticаtion. Insteаd оf relying on а centrаlized аuthеnticаtion server, which саn bе vulnеrаblе tо аttаcks, оrgаnizаtions саn use bloсkсhаin-bаsed аuthеnticаtion systems tо vеrify user idеntitiеs seсurely.
3. Supply Chаin Trаnspаrеncy: Тhe сombinаtion оf SQL аnd bloсkсhаin is а gаme-chаnger fоr suррly chаin mаnаgement. Compаnies саn use SQL dаtаbаses tо stоre detаiled infоrmаtion аbout рroducts аnd trаnsаctions, whilе bloсkсhаin еnsurеs thе trаnspаrеncy аnd trаceаbility оf goods throughout thе suррly chаin.
4. Smаrt Contrасts: Bloсkсhаin аllows fоr thе crеаtion оf smаrt contrаcts, self-executing contrаcts with thе tеrms оf thе аgreement direсtly writtеn intо codе. SQL dаtаbаses саn stоre thе dаtа relаted tо thеse contrаcts, creаting а seаmless аnd seсure wаy tо mаnаge аgrееmеnts аnd trаnsаctions.
5. Нeаlthcаrе Recоrds: In thе heаlthcаrе industry, pаtient dаtа sеcurity аnd integrity аrе раrаmount. SQL dаtаbаses саn stоre pаtient recоrds, аnd bloсkсhаin саn еnsurе thаt thеse recоrds remаin unаltered аnd саn bе аccеssеd seсurely by аuthоrized persоnnel.
6. Finаnciаl Trаnsаctions: SQL dаtаbаses аrе commonly used in finаnciаl institutions fоr stоring trаnsаction dаtа. Вy combining SQL with bloсkсhаin, finаnciаl institutions саn improve thе sеcurity оf thеir trаnsаctions аnd еnsurе thе integrity оf finаnciаl recоrds.

Chаllenges аnd Considerаtions

While thе сombinаtion оf SQL аnd bloсkсhаin оffers comрelling аdvаntаges, it’s essentiаl tо recоgnize thаt imрlementing this synеrgy саn рose chаllenges:

1. Sсаlаbility: Bloсkсhаin netwоrks саn strugglе with scаlаbility when dеаling with а lаrgе volume оf trаnsаctions. Integrаtion with SQL dаtаbаses must cоnsider thе scаlаbility оf both systems.
2. Сomplexity: Developing аnd mаintаining а system thаt combines SQL аnd bloсkсhаin саn bе compleх аnd mаy require speciаlized exрertise.
3. Regulаtоry Compliаnce: Deрending on thе industry аnd region, thеre mаy bе regulаtоry cоnsiderаtions when it сomes tо using bloсkсhаin technоlоgy.
4. Сost: Building аnd mаintаining а bloсkсhаin netwоrk саn bе costly, so оrgаnizаtions must cаrеfully weigh thе bеnefits аgаinst thе exрenses.

Cоnclusiоn

Тhe сombinаtion оf SQL аnd bloсkсhаin is а pоwerful solution fоr enhаncing dаtа sеcurity аnd integrity аcross vаriоus industriеs. It leverаges thе structurеd dаtа mаnаgement cаpаbilities оf SQL with thе immutаbility аnd trаnspаrеncy оf bloсkсhаin technоlоgy. Тhis synеrgy оffers exciting рossibilities fоr imprоving аuthеnticаtion, suррly chаin mаnаgement, heаlthcаrе, finаnciаl trаnsаctions, аnd mоre. Аs оrgаnizаtions continue tо recоgnize thе impоrtаnce оf dаtа sеcurity аnd integrity, thе mаrriаge оf SQL аnd bloсkсhаin is likely tо bесome mоre prevаlent. But it’s essentiаl tо аpproаch thе integrаtion with cаrеful plаnning, cоnsidering scаlаbility, compleхity, regulаtоry compliаnce, аnd cost. Whеn imрlemented thoughtfully, this сombinаtion hаs thе potentiаl tо redefine hоw dаtа is mаnаged аnd seсured in thе digitаl аge, рroviding а robust foundаtion fоr thе future оf dаtа mаnаgement аnd sеcurity.

The post SQL and Blockchain: A Powerful Combination for Data Security and Integrity appeared first on Terr For MER.

NFT: The Future of Online Gaming

Аs а gаmer, I strоngly believe thаt thе integrаtion оf NFТs intо online gаming hаs thе potentiаl tо revolutionize thе industry. Fungible tоkens hаve аlreаdy mаde а significаnt impаct on vаrious sectоrs by estаblishing thе оwnershiр аnd аuthеnticity оf digitаl аssets through blockchаin tеchnology. Whаt sets NFТs аpаrt is thеir indivisible nаture, mаking thеm ideаl fоr reрresenting in-gаme itеms, virtuаl ground, аnd even digitаl imаges in thе gаming еcosystеm. Cаsinos аt thе fоrefront оf innovаtion hаve embrаced this revolutionаry cоncept аnd аre imрlementing NFТs tо оffеr plаyers like me аn unpаrаlleled gаming exрerience.

Thе integrаtion оf NFТs intо Вitcoin cаsinos meаns а pаrаdigm shift in hоw we perсeive аnd interаct with virtuаl аssets. Gone аre thе dаys whеn in-gаme itеms were just ephemerаl things limited tо thе gаme environment. Thаnks tо thе NFТ, I cаn now truly оwn thеse virtuаl аssets, аnd thеir vаlue goes beyоnd thе gаme itsеlf.

In аddition, thе integrаtion оf NFТs intо cаsinos pаves thе wаy fоr virtuаl lаnd оwnershiр. Imаgine thаt you hаve а рiece оf digitаl reаl estаte in thе gаme world where I cаn creаte, custоmize аnd monetize my virtuаl spаce. Thе pоssibilities аre endless аs NFТs аllow me tо creаte а unique аnd immersive gаming exрerience tаilored tо my preferences. NFТs nоt only empоwer individuаl plаyers, but аlso help develоp а thriving аnd connеctеd gаming community. Thе rаrity аnd exclusivity оf rаre NFТ itеms encourаges sociаl interаctions, cooperаtive gаmeplаy, аnd even mаrketplаces where plаyers cаn trаde аnd interаct with eаch othеr.

Thе intrоductiоn оf NFТ tо Cryptо cаsinos is just thе beginning. Аs tеchnology сontinues tо еvolvе, we cаn expeсt more groundbreаking develоpments аnd innovаtive usе cаses fоr NFТs in online gаming. From cross-gаme compаtibility tо VR integrаtion, thе future holds endless pоssibilities fоr creаting immersive аnd connеctеd gаming exрeriences thаt trаnscend trаditionаl boundаries.

How are Bitcoin Casinos Implementing NFT to Improve Crypto Gambling Experience?

As pаrt of the cryptо gаmbling cоmmunity, I’m thrilled tо see thаt саsinos аrе using NFТs аs а meаns of giving рlаyers оwnership аnd rаrity in thеir gаming ecosystems. Вy incorрorаting NFТs intо thеir gаmes, these саsinos аllow рlаyers tо own virtuаl аssеts, freely trаde them, аnd even sеll them for reаl vаlue. Whеthеr it’s unique weаpons, rаrе chаrаcter skins, or eхclusive in-gаme collectibles, NFТs give рlаyers like me а sense of belоnging аnd рride, tаking оur gаming еxpеriеncе tо а whole new lеvеl.

Lеt’s dive intо some populаr usе cаses of NFТ integrаtion in саsinos thrоugh the following tаble:

Тhe Complete Guide tо Cаsinos аnd NFТs

Тrue Оwnership: Аs а plаyer, thе concеpt of truе ownership is еxhilаrаting. NFТs еnаblе me tо truly own my in-gаme аssets. Unlikе trаditionаl gаming items thаt аrе controlled by thе dеvеlopеrs, NFТs empower plаyеrs likе me tо buy, sell, аnd trаde our virtuаl рossessions freely.

Trаding аnd Monetizаtion: Тhe integrаtion of NFТs in cаsinos hаs creаted а vibrаnt mаrketplаce. Аs а result, I cаn now exchаnge my digitаl аssets fоr cryptоcurrency оr even reаl-wоrld currency. This oрens up new аvenues fоr me tо eаrn reаl-wоrld vаlue from my gаming аchievements.

Rаrity аnd Exсlusivity: Cаsinos hаve leverаged NFТs tо creаte limitеd-еdition items, ensuring scаrcity аnd uniqueness within thеir virtuаl wоrlds. Аs а plаyer, I аm driven tо obtаin thеse rаrе items, аs thеy рrovide а sеnsе of еxclusivity аnd аccomplishment.

Exрloring thе Вenefits оf NFТs in Cryрto Gаmеs

Enhаnсed Plаyer Engаgemеnt: Аs а pаssionаte gаmеr, I аppreciаte thе effоrts Cryрto Cаsinos hаve mаde to prоvide аn immеrsive аnd rewаrding gаming exрerience. Thе integrаtion оf NFТs аllows mе to own аnd customizе virtuаl аssets, keeping mе engаged аnd invested in thе gаmе world.

Increаsed Revenue Streаms: NFТs hаve introduced а new revenue streаm fоr cаsinos. Through mаrketplаce trаnsаctions аnd fees, thеse cаsinos cаn generаte аdditionаl incomе аnd reinvest in thе developmеnt оf thеir gаming plаtfоrms, ultimаtely bеnеfiting plаyers like mе.

Cоmmunity Building: NFТs fоster а strong sеnsе оf community аmong plаyers. Thе аbility to cоllect, trаde, аnd showcаse rаre items creаtes sociаl interаctions, fоrming vibrаnt cоmmunities within cаsinos.

Conclusion

As а pаrt оf the gаming community, I аm very exсited tо see the integrаtion оf NFТ intо Bitcоin cаsinos. The аdoption оf the NFТ hаs prоvided plаyers like me with truе ownership, rаrity, аnd monetizаtion opportunities in virtuаl gаme worlds. Cаsinos hаve suссessfully imрroved the gаming experienсe by integrаting NFТ, mаking it mоre еxciting, fun аnd rewаrding. As the future unfоlds, I look forwаrd tо the evolution оf US cryрtо cаsinos аnd innovаtive wаys tо usе NFТ tо redefine the boundаries оf cryрtо gаmbling online.

The post How Crypto Casinos in USA are Incorporating NFTs into their Games? appeared first on Terr For MER.

In this article, we discuss novel applications of AI coding in gambling sphere as well as giving you a guide to starting using the technology in your favor. We first give an introduction on what Artificial intelligence is and how it can be used for coding purposes. Secondly, we explore some of the advantages that artificial intelligence has over traditional code including being more accessible and having more flexibility. Lastly, we provide readers with a guide on how to start implementing the technology.

A Short Guide to the AI Role in Modern World

Programming has been around for decades and it is only now that the programming industry is being forced to change. This shift comes as a result of artificial intelligence (AI) — a vital thing in multiple software development programs. The key question today, however, is what really AI means in coding? And how can we benefit from this technology without compromising quality? To answer these questions, let’s explore multiple ways AI has already transformed our world.

What Is It Doing Today?

In gambling, AI-based robots are widely popular for their efficiency and assist us in a variety of tasks from customer service to fairness control. Chatbots also have a huge role as they work with advanced programs to provide customers with positive experience and save time when trying to resolve an issue. Robots can even be helpful for coders by automating certain parts of coding.

Digital assistants can assist us in finding information about the world around you or create reminders for your tasks in various apps on your phone or computer. ontent editors or automatic replacement are often seen as basic examples of the technology.

AI is doing a lot of things today. Some examples are face recognition, text editors or automatic replacement, research and suggestion algorithms, chat-bots, digital assistants like Siri or Alexa, social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter where AI plays a large role in our lives everyday.

AI has drastically improved traveling. The navigation systems that we have today use maps and other data to tell us how to get from one place to another, and these maps are created by a form of artificial intelligence called machine learning. This means that they will update the map with changes in traffic patterns or construction, as well as points of interest like gas stations or grocery stores, based on what people like you search for when you want directions somewhere new.

AI Coding Guide from Terra For Mer

The question “How do I start coding AI?” is one of the most common ones that we get asked at Terra For Mer, and it’s not surprising considering how many fields are in dire need for new innovations. While this guide does not answer all the questions about starting to code AI, it does address some of the important first steps you should take before you get started on your program.

First, identify the problem that needs to be solved with AI. Once identified, have the right data and clean it for exploitation in the algorithms you create. Create your algorithm(s) before training them. Opt for the right platform and programming language to deploy your solutions onto when done building it all out and then monitor how well your solution is working by checking back in periodically over time.

A final note

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) is continuing to rise, with a higher number of enterprises beginning to exploit the technology. One such company that exploits AI coding in their work is Pokiez.

As AI and machine learning become more prevalent in the space of online casino software development, we are beginning to see new ways that these technologies can be used by coders. 

The post Can AI Guide You Through Every Step of Coding? appeared first on Terr For MER.

Should you study databases in more depth if you are a novice Java developer?

If you’re a novice Java developer, improving your skills can be incredibly rewarding. Taking the time to study databases in more depth is an excellent decision for developers of any level; not only does it bolster your programming capabilities, but it also provides an invaluable tool when working on projects. Understanding databases gives software engineers greater control and access to data, which can make your development process quicker and simpler. Regardless of whether you’re just starting out or have been coding for years, studying databases will open up a world of creative possibilities in Java development!

What types of databases are most popular and in high demand?

There’s a lot of types of databases out there that can be used for different types of data management, but some types are more popular and in higher demand than others. Relational databases continue to dominate this landscape as the most popular type, providing an integrated intuitive structure for storing and querying data. Document-oriented databases are also gaining traction due to their flexibility and ability to handle large datasets. NoSQL systems are in high demand due to their scalability and cost-efficiency, while Key-Value stores have become a necessity in emerging technologies like blockchain. All these types of databases are hugely important when it comes to collecting and processing data, so getting familiar with them is key!

Why NoSQL can make your work easier

NoSQL is quickly becoming an essential tool for the modern workplace. It can make work easier by allowing teams to store data in an easily accessible, simple manner. NoSQL makes it easy for users to access and manipulate large amounts of data in real-time, all without sacrificing speed or reliability. This eliminates the need for multiple servers and complicated backups, saving time and energy that would otherwise be spent dealing with clunky spreadsheets and complex workflows. As work continues to move at a faster pace, NoSQL provides a way to keep up while remaining organized and productive.

Reasons for the low popularity of NoSQL systems

Over the past few years, NoSQL systems have seen a relatively low uptake amongst developers. There are reasons why this is the case – some of which stem from its underlying principles. Issues such as scalability, difficult setup processes and lack of support options have all contributed to the lull in its popularity. Despite this, it remains an exciting area of technology to keep an eye on – especially with many new solutions emerging looking to solve these difficulties.

Is it difficult to learn a programming language if you are a database professional?

Learning a programming language can be difficult for database professionals, but what an exciting opportunity! With some diligent study, the database professional can master the basics in no time. Once the essential fundamentals are learned, advanced skills can be developed to expand a professional’s repertoire into programming. An invaluable skill for any database professional is the ability to write code and put it into practice – something that seemed difficult at first can now become like second nature! Utilizing our newfound coding knowledge, database professionals can create ever-evolving projects with limitless possibilities.

Which languages are worth learning except Java if you want to be in high demand

Learning languages for coding other than Java can certainly take your career to a new level. If you are looking for job opportunities with higher remunerations, languages like Python and JavaScript will help you be in more demand in the market. Both languages allow you to create powerful end products from creating sophisticated applications to developing games. With a few years’ worth of experience, you can easily gain high-skilled positions and open up a whole range of career opportunities. Plus, with the rise of Data Science and Machine Learning, learning these languages gives you the perfect introduction into them! So what are you waiting for? Start learning today and see your career trajectory shoot up!

The post Java and databases, the most important knowledge for a developer appeared first on Terr For MER.

For several years, countries have been developing, discussing and adopting laws that determine the status of cryptocurrencies and the rules for their taxation. In 2022, this activity will reach unprecedented proportions. Most likely, special attention will be paid to NFTs due to the incredible growth in the popularity of non-fungible assets. Perhaps this is exactly what the main trend of 2022 looks like in the world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies in the context of states.

However, this is not the only important “state” pattern that will affect the market. Along with increased regulation and standardization, we also have to see:

• the birth of the first national cryptocurrencies (CBDC);

• increase in the number of state blockchain projects;

• growing popularity of anonymous tokens and services;

• rise of interest in DAO solutions.

We can assume that the authorities of some countries will create fake blockchains in order to prove the “honesty” of various electoral events and the “justification” of budget spending with 

their help.

1. Blockchain will become the “invisible” norm

Trend. In 2022, states will increasingly use blockchain to improve the efficiency of financial, fiscal, electoral, logistical, legal and other processes. There will be so many such solutions that the use of blockchain will become the norm, and it will no longer arouse increased interest among people – it will become “invisible” to the media.

A law operates in the social space: the norm is “invisible”. What everyone recognizes as an everyday occurrence does not fall into our field of vision. Therefore, when some practice becomes habitual, society stops noticing it and talking about it.A simple example – think about it, when was the last time you read the news that government agencies use the Internet in their projects? Now this is the norm, and 20-30 years ago, each such message would have looked like stunning news.

Explanation. Commercial enterprises have been offering and implementing various blockchain solutions in various fields for a long time. And government agencies are often slow. But in 2022, we are likely to see a trend reversal – the number of state projects will grow rapidly. National and municipal governments will start using blockchain so much that in some cases it will become the industry norm (default technology) and we will all stop noticing it.

The introduction of blockchain in the public sector provides a number of benefits:

• reduction of labor-intensive processes;

• security of storage and use of data;

• reduction of costs associated with document circulation;

• increasing confidence in government systems;

• reducing the risk of fraud.

Together, all this contributes to the development of the concept of a “smart state” that uses Data Science and information technology to manage social and business infrastructure, ensuring the optimal use of available resources. When combined with other technologies, governments can achieve synergies and ultimately provide citizens and businesses with innovative services and solutions.

Market impact. State blockchain projects can be divided into two groups. The first is focused on improving the transparency, security and economic efficiency of public services and processes. Such solutions include the digital government of Estonia, the electoral system of the state of Alaska, the systems of social and pension payments in the United States and the Netherlands, as well as other projects of liberal democracies that declare the protection of individual freedom and property based on the rule of law.

These projects will have a positive impact on the economies of the countries where they are launched, as such blockchain initiatives are focused on improving the quality of services for citizens and businesses, as well as reducing government costs. In addition, they will contribute to the growth of stock quotes / tokens of companies participating in such projects (usually these are solutions based on Ethereum and Hyperledger chains).

The second group is blockchain solutions aimed at improving the efficiency of management and control over cash flows and business processes in the country. Such projects are typical for states with a lower level of personal freedoms (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus). The impact of initiatives on the economy of countries is usually negative, as they reduce economic freedoms and increase the fiscal burden, as well as give more leverage to government officials. Some of them use these tools for personal enrichment by removing the “rent” from the business.

2. The first cryptocurrencies of central banks will appear

Trend. The next non-obvious trend that can have a significant impact on the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector in 2022 is the full deployment of central bank digital currencies (CBDC). Thanks to their characteristics and the support of states, they are able to radically change the structure of the distribution and use of money. Commercial banks will become useless, and national currencies with an unstable exchange rate will become unclaimed. This can happen very quickly – literally within five years.

Explanation. CBDCs are cryptocurrencies issued by central banks. They have an official status and are regulated by the monetary authority of the issuing country. It is assumed that after the introduction of CBDC, network participants – central banks, commercial banks, businesses and individuals – will settle with each other directly (as users of the Bitcoin network), which will reduce transaction processing time and reduce fees. At the same time, the central bank issuing CBDC money will see all transactions and their counterparties, which guarantees compliance with the principles of KYC/KYT/AML.

The first CBDCs appeared in 2019. True, these were not full-fledged products, but pilot projects launched to test the concept and practical “running in” the technology on real cases. Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates and the Bahamas, as well as the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, have already issued their CBDCs. Another 14 CBDCs are in the pilot phase and 16 are under development.

Market impact. In 2022, we will likely see CBDC launches in China, Sweden, Ukraine, Thailand, Australia, Russia and a few other countries. In a year, the EU, the UK and the US can issue their CBDCs — the “whitepaper” of the cryptocurrency dollar was published by the United States on February 4, 2022. In the long term, CBDCs will have a huge impact not only on the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain, but also on the global economy – especially the traditional financial sector. How exactly? It depends on the CBDC implementation option and the reaction of large countries and international organizations.

The most obvious scenario is that CBDCs become a complete digital analogue of fiat money, and everyone can use them. Such a model is likely to have the greatest impact on the economy, and the effect will be truly devastating.

Commercial banks will lose their former importance, since it will be possible to store and transfer funds without their participation/intermediation. As a result, these organizations will lose the bulk of their income and will either have to disappear or be transformed.

CBDC of some countries will penetrate the economy of others, replacing local national fiat currencies as the main means of payment. Indeed, why use the unstable Venezuelan bolivar or Turkish lira when there is a stable and reliable Chinese yuan or American digital dollar freely available?

The states issuing CBDC money will have full control over the chronology of payment transactions and financial data of businesses and citizens. That is, they will know who has how much money, as well as who, to whom, how much and when the CBDC transferred.The dream of any state tax or fiscal authority will come true.

3. Some governments will create fake blockchains

Trend. Another non-obvious trend in 2022 is the exploitation of the public perception of blockchain as a “transparent” and “honest” technology to hide corruption and falsify elections. There will be few such decisions, but they will have a significant impact on the markets and, possibly, even bring down the economy of those states where they will be used.

Explanation. Perhaps the biggest blockchain scam of 2022 may not be a scam that raised hundreds of millions of dollars or a powerful hack, but the use of blockchain to cover up election fraud or corruption. It is quite possible that the authorities of individual countries will create electoral, financial or fiscal platforms that outwardly resemble a transparent and open blockchain. In fact, in the code of these systems, “holes” will be initially laid to hide the facts of corruption, falsifications and other abuses.

Market impact. The main threat is that authoritarian regimes are learning from each other, adopting practices and technologies that allow them to maintain power and stability. And if one regime manages to successfully use a fake blockchain, other governments close to it in spirit can borrow this experience and put it into practice. This will preserve the stability of the system of government, but will have a bad effect on the economic prospects of the country. In addition, local residents may develop a negative image of the blockchain. It is highly likely that fake blockchains will be used by some politicians to hide corruption and/or simulate the fight against it.

4. The popularity of anonymous tokens will grow

Trend. For several years now, we have been watching how governments are trying to get all the levers of control over the activities of the financial industry. The response will be the growing popularity of anonymous cryptocurrencies and applications that allow you to hide the identity of the counterparties of cryptocurrency transactions.

Explanation. In 2018, regulators turned their attention to the cryptocurrency market, and since then we have seen a constant tightening of laws and requirements for the circulation of digital assets, up to their complete ban in some countries (for example, in China). On the one hand, the practice of investing in cryptocurrencies is becoming safer, and on the other hand, it stimulates interest in projects that make it possible to maintain anonymity.

Such projects include Monero, Dash, ZCash, Firo and other virtual currencies that allow you to hide the amount of the transfer and the address of the recipient, leaving only information about the transaction itself and its timestamps in public access.

Back in 2018, Bitfury claimed they could reveal the identities of 16% of all bitcoin address holders. And a study by a group of CryptoLux programmers proved that anyone, even without special skills, can deanonymize 60% of the addresses on the bitcoin network – even if their owners use the Tor network or other similar programs.

Market impact. Most of all, the most popular anonymous cryptocurrencies, such as Monero and Dash, will benefit from the desire of the inhabitants of the planet to hide their transactions from states. But other similar projects have a chance to take off against the background of the general trend.

5. The number of DAO solutions will grow

Trend. The next trend in the world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies that we will most likely see in 2022 is the increase in the number of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) designed to solve the governance problems in DeFi organizations.

Explanation. Most DeFi solutions are positioned as organizations with decentralized management, where all the main issues are decided by voting of network participants (platform token holders), for example, the size and distribution of commissions, listing on exchanges, the list of products/services offered, the integration of new functions, and so on.

At the same time, the transition to such management usually occurs in stages:

at the start, the platform is managed by one person or a team of developers;

then some secondary issues are put to the vote;

when the voting technology is developed and thoroughly tested, there is a complete transition to decentralized governance.

In 2022, many existing DeFi solutions are expected to complete the transition from centralized structures to DAOs. At the same time, more and more projects will appear that from the very beginning will use the DAO mechanism to manage the network (this is another consequence of the increased regulation and centralization of the market by states).

Market impact. The DAO currently manages more than $10.7 billion in assets. The largest liquidity is in Uniswap, BitDAO, Lido, Compound, and Aave. Promising projects are FWB, PleasrDAO, KlimaDAO and ConstitutionDAO, the Syndicate platform (allowing you to quickly launch DAO), Forta (monitoring the security of Daaps at runtime) and Nexus Mutual (insurance against smart contract exploits).

Conclusion

2021 has been a year of unprecedented growth and unexpected developments in the world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies. 2022 is likely to be just as interesting and profitable for the market – provided that the world does not start another financial crisis or something similar. True, in this case, the popularity of some tokens may grow.

The post The World Of Blockchain And Cryptocurrencies: Trends-2022 appeared first on Terr For MER.

1. Emergence of NFT 2.0 protocols

Trend. In 2022, we will witness the birth of NFT 2.0. Projects of a new type will finally begin to use one of the main features of non-fungible blockchain-based tokens – programmability, which allows NFTs to contain many other tokens, have extended functionality and change it depending on various factors.

Explanation. Almost all NFTs issued to date are simply unique digital identifiers that make it possible to confirm the identity and ownership of a particular digital asset – for example, an image or an item in a game – to a specific user. That is, NFT 1.0 can only be an advanced passport. That’s enough for the digital art market. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. NFTs are capable of more – much more.

Here are a few features that will be implemented in NFT 2.0 protocols:

The attachment. It is understood that one NFT can own other NFTs, and those, in turn, own another set of NFTs. This feature will allow non-fungible tokens to find new uses.For example, in virtual exhibitions (an exhibition is one NFT that owns all the NFTs on display), in video games (an avatar is the main NFT that owns all the NFT items owned by the avatar), and in many other areas – from collecting to real estate management.

Condominium. NFT 1.0 has only one owner, while NFT 2.0 can be owned by multiple users at the same time. This feature allows you to attract additional liquidity, increase security and confidence in this kind of property. In addition, NFT co-ownership will help implement new business models and game mechanics in projects such as Decentraland or Roblox.

Control. This function gives NFTs the authority to issue commands to other NFTs and/or carry out their instructions. For example, change the appearance of the NFT in the game depending on the weather or time of day, open or close access to view the contents of the token, or stop trading transactions and other activities.

Personalization. NFT 1.0 associates a token with only one resource. This means that regardless of where NFT is viewed, it will be the same for everyone – and limited to one format (photo, video, animation, audio, etc.). Whereas NFT 2.0 will allow you to associate a token with several resources at once. For example, if you buy an NFT book, it may be available in multiple formats: PDF, Word file, audio, or image. NFT 2.0 identifies the device from which you are accessing an NFT book and displays the appropriate format.

rental model. NFT 2.0 will allow the underlying asset to be rented through smart contracts to other people.Renting an asset brings passive income to the owner, therefore, liquidity in this market improves (NFT owners usually store tokens for a long time, believing that their value will increase over time, and this limits cash flow – liquidity).

Market impact. The emergence of the first NFT 2.0 solutions can be compared to the arrival of second generation networks in the blockchain world (Bitcoin is the first generation, Ethereum is the second). Many projects will fail, but some will become new unicorns and bring huge profits to owners and investors. Moreover, NFT 2.0 projects, which will be launched first, have the most chances – this has already happened with Ethereum.

Potential unicorns include startups such as Warena (RENA), RMRK (RMRK), DareNFT (DNFT), CXIP and PhotoChromic. All of these projects aim to create their own vision of NFT 2.0 and benefit the community in one way or another. For example, the RMRK protocol allows NFT 2.0 to run with the ability to nest, co-ownership, manage other NFTs, and upgrade the functionality (improvements) of the original NFT.

Another startup, DareNFT, launched the DarePlay platform to launch games with NFT 2.0 (multi-chain, rent, programmability). In addition, DareNFT offers NFT as a Service, which can also attract users and investors to the project.

2. Blockchain and Metaverse Synergy

Trend. Another trend in the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency that we will see in 2022 is the increase in the number of metaverses based on blockchain and NFTs. Moreover, these will be both projects from unknown studios and AAA-class games from eminent developers. In addition, existing popular gaming titles will increasingly use NFTs.

Explanation. The digital goods market is already valued at more than $10 billion. In Fortnite alone, users have spent over $1 billion on weapon skins and in-game avatars. But today, all digital Fortnite items only work in this game. If Epic Games decides to close the project’s servers, all these digital items will become useless. A multi-billion dollar market will disappear in the blink of an eye.

For such items to have real, lasting value, they must exist independently of the object (game, service, server), which can be deleted or disconnected from the Internet at any time. That is, it is necessary to be able to move such digital items from one game to another. This property is called “continuity of identity and objects”. That is what NFTs can bring to games and metaverses.

With the help of NFT, avatars and game items belonging to them can be tokenized and transferred to the blockchain, which exists independently of a particular game. Therefore, if it loses popularity and closes, the items, experience and content accumulated by the player will not disappear. They can be transferred to another game project.In addition, only with the help of the blockchain it is possible to ensure the proper level of security of money and personal data of users. This is where Epic Games, Meta (formerly Facebook), Microsoft, Google, and all the other big tech companies have serious problems — regardless of the size of the cybersecurity budget. Suffice it to recall the leak of personal data of more than 533 million Facebook users, which was noticed only in 2021.

Blockchain will make such data leaks almost impossible. Moreover, the more players in the metaverse, the more reliable its protection will be.

Market impact. There are already quite a few game worlds using blockchain or NFT. For example, Decentraland (MANA), Axie Infinity (AXS), Sandbox (SAND) or Dvision Network (DVI). However, they all function like Fortnite: their NFTs only work inside their worlds. ArcadeNetwork (ARC) will be a pioneer – a startup planning to go beyond this framework. According to its developers, this is the world’s first platform that provides the transfer of game resources between the metaverses.

Another interesting project is the Diem (formerly Libra) cryptocurrency from Meta. The launch of the token was supposed to take place in 2021, but the case stalled due to the relocation of the head office from Switzerland to the United States, the resistance of the American authorities and the departure of David Marcus, head of the company’s cryptocurrency department. Nevertheless, Diem may still become the first truly global financial system and replace the US dollar.

Also worth noting is Binance. In June 2021, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange opened its own platform for launching IGO (analogous to ICO for gaming projects) and trading gaming NFTs. Since then, more than 1 million playable NFTs have been sold on the marketplace. True, so far all these NFTs only work in the original game. But nothing is stopping Binance or other projects from adding the ability to move NFTs between different game worlds.

3. Expanding the use of NFTs

Trend. In 2022, the number of non-digital art and collectible NFT solutions will grow. Most likely, most projects will be launched in the field of video games, in the business of distributing music and text content, ticketing systems, patent business, tokenization of real assets and many other areas.

Explanation. Theoretically, any unique asset (real or digital) can be transferred to NFT and a non-fungible token can be used to verify the ownership of this asset. For example, with the help of NFT, you can tokenize real estate, and then use this token for a quick and easy purchase and sale of an object. Similarly, company shares, aircraft, car parts, diamonds and even raw materials are converted into NFTs, which must be traced in order to confirm the source of its origin and quality.

The most promising direction for NFT is video games. Since this is a very large market (the turnover exceeds $160 billion) and aggressive monetization is not surprising here (just look at the most popular mobile video games). How you can use NFT in games is described above – in the section on metaverses.

The music industry was one of the first areas where NFTs were used. Artists began to tokenize songs and sell them directly to fans. The pioneer was American DJ 3LAU, who sold the album as NFT and earned more than $11.6 million in less than 24 hours. Snoop Dogg, Eminem, LJ, Kings of Leon, Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, singer Grimes and many other popular musicians have followed 3LAU along this path.

And it wasn’t always just selling music tracks. For example, Canadian electronic musician Jacques Greene sold a token for 13 ETH, which entitles him to a certain share of the royalties that will be credited for this track. This deal netted Jacques $23,000. How much royalty did the token provide to its owner? Unknown.

Another example of the use of NFTs outside of art and collecting is the sale of textual content. For example, Hong Kong newspaper The South China Morning Post last year created ARTIFACT, a standardized metadata structure for recording pieces of history as non-fungible tokens that can be freely traded on the market. The editors of Vogue also began to experiment with NFT: the magazine released two digital covers in the form of tokens, thus marking its entry into the era of the metaverse.

In addition, 2022 will bring us an increase in the number of NFTs related to philanthropy and marketing, as well as a combination of both. Such projects already exist. For example, the Jack Butcher Foundation to help Afghan families affected by the recent conflict. However, this year it will become a real mainstream.

Market impact. The main beneficiaries of the expansion of the scope of non-fungible tokens will be the platforms that will be the first to begin aggregating transactions in their respective areas.The leaders may include such platforms as ROCKI – sale of music content, Gamestop NFT – tokens from video games, RTFKT – items from the metaverse, Mirror ($WRITE) – monetization of text content, Publica – tokenization of books, MOVE Network – movies, series and cartoons.

4. Increasing NFT-related crime

Trend. Another non-obvious trend in the world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies is the increase in the number of criminal acts associated with NFTs. This is not only a banal theft of tokens, but also various fraudulent schemes for cheating the cost and selling fake NFTs.

Explanation. The novelty, the influx of big money, the lack of regulation, and the ignorance of users have attracted a huge number of attackers to the NFT market. They use malware and phishing scams to steal money and personal information. And although little is said about this yet, the problem is becoming rampant – as it was with the ICO market in 2016-2018, when 80% of all initial placements were pure fraud, and the quality of most honest projects decreased to a minimum.

So, in November 2021, a group of cybersecurity specialists from the University of California at Santa Barbara published the results of the first in-depth study of NFT security and quality issues. As it turned out, fraud is rampant in the industry, trading platforms are full of fake tokens and software vulnerabilities, and users themselves often neglect basic security rules. At the same time, the problem of cheating the value of assets with the help of such schemes as wash trade, shill bidding and bid shielding is especially acute. In fact, this is the main problem of all large NFT marketplaces.

Market impact. Over time, the topic of NFT security will be promoted by the media. And it will definitely happen. Then – given the scale of the problem – many NFT assets and marketplaces will lose value.Alas, it is still difficult to say which sites have the most security holes, since representatives of the University of California have hidden this data so as not to make life easier for hackers. However, they said that OpenSea, Rarible and Sorare have confirmed the existence of the vulnerabilities identified in the report and have begun to fix them.

As for specific NFT assets, almost all tokens that are seen in fraudulent schemes will lose value. At the same time, it can be assumed that platforms will appear that are ready to collect and distribute such data – for free or for money.

5. Falling demand for many NFTs

Trend. Despite the overall growth of the market, many NFTs in 2022 will drastically drop in value. We are mainly talking about gaming NFTs and collections from celebrities. At the same time, there is a possibility of a collapse of the entire market – the NFT bubble may burst.

Explanation. The NFT market in its current state is a financial bubble as investors pour millions of dollars into assets that are not regulated in any way. Moreover, in fact, they do not give any privileges to their owners, except for the ownership of the purchased NFT. That is, by buying an NFT of some picture, you do not become the owner of the copyright for this image. Even the fact that you are the owner of the original image is also an illusion, because a year later the artist can sell the NFT on another site and claim that it is the original. And no one will do anything to him, since the sale of non-fungible tokens does not impose any legal obligations on their creator.

The massive boom and growth of the NFT market is based not on the advantages that this technology gives to digital art, video games or the music industry, but on hype, money laundering and the desire to earn money – to buy a token for further resale at a higher price to another user (or a simpleton, according to the theory “greater fool”).

But here it is important to understand that NFT is not a pyramid scheme. This is a technology that is attracting increased attention from investors. This fact provokes the creation of financial bubbles. This happened with almost all new interesting technologies: railways, telegraph, Internet, cryptocurrencies.The same development of the situation can be expected in the market of NFT-assets.

Market impact. The greatest risk of price subsidence is in gaming NFTs. Almost all existing NFT game worlds are unremarkable projects. And their tokens have risen in value only because of the hype around NFTs and/or the metaverses. They do not have a large audience, often very primitive gameplay and uninteresting graphics.

For example, the game Axie Infinity (AXS) was created three years ago, but it shot only in the summer of 2021, when one of the users gave an interview to several media. He said that he bought several houses for earnings in the game, and then the people fell down. The AXS and NFT tokens of this game soared in price – everyone wanted to earn money for a new house in the same way.

But once the hype around NFTs (and the metaverses) subsides a bit, this kind of video game will stop growing in audience, which will lead to a drop in demand for tokens. And since the main interest in the game is the desire to make money, this situation will provoke a chain reaction: decrease in the price of gaming NFTs → decrease in audience size → decrease in demand → decrease in NFT price → decrease in audience size → decrease in demand → …

A similar situation is developing with the game worlds of Decentraland (MANA), Sandbox (SAND), Dvision Network (DVI) and other projects created according to the Play-to-Earn model.

Summing up

In 2022, the NFT market is likely to continue its rapid growth. We will witness the emergence of new interesting NFT 2.0 projects with additional features of tokens.The scope of NFT use will expand to other industries besides art and collecting, from the music industry to ticketing systems.

In addition, we will also see an increase in crime and a decrease in interest in assets associated with video games built on the basis of Play-to-Earn mechanics. In other words, 2022 will be a very interesting year for NFTs, both in terms of technology development and investment opportunities.

The post Metaverses and NFTs: Trends 2022 appeared first on Terr For MER.