Some of the best indices to trade on Bybit Gold&FX include SP500, DJ30, CHINA50 and GER40. Learn more about them here.

Index trading exposes investors to entire market segments through a single instrument, providing efficient diversification and liquidity. This comprehensive guide explores the 18 best indices available on 

, examining their characteristics, specifications and advantages for traders of all experience levels.

 are standardized measurements that track the performance of specific groups of securities, such as stocks within a certain industry, country or market segment.

Rather than purchasing individual stocks, traders can use indices to gain exposure to the overall performance of a market through a single position.

 in the form of contracts for difference (CFDs), allowing traders to speculate on the price movements without owning the underlying assets. Let's examine the best indices available on the platform.

The Standard and Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is one of the most widely followed equity indices globally, tracking the performance of 500 large-cap US companies across various industries. As a market cap–weighted index, it represents approximately 80% of available market capitalization in the US equity market.

Trading the SP500 CFD on Bybit Gold&FX provides exposure to the overall health of the US economy, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 1,500. The index experiences consistent liquidity and moderate volatility, making it suitable for both 

The Nasdaq-100 tracks the performance of 100 of the largest nonfinancial companies listed on the Nasdaq Composite. It's heavily weighted toward technology, with significant exposure to companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet Inc., making it a tech-focused alternative to broader indices.

On Bybit Gold&FX, NAS100 is denominated in USD, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 1,500. Its tech-heavy composition makes it particularly sensitive to technological developments and corporate earnings in the tech sector.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)  is one of the oldest and most recognized stock market indices. It comprises 30 large publicly owned companies based in the United States. Unlike the market cap–weighted S&P 500, the DJIA is price-weighted, meaning higher-priced stocks have a greater influence on the index.

Trading the DJ30 CFD on Bybit Gold&FX gives you exposure to blue chip companies, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 500. Its smaller composition makes it easier to track component movements and understand what's driving price action, making it popular among both novice and experienced traders.

The FTSE China A50 Index represents the performance of the 50 largest A-share companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. It provides concentrated exposure to China's domestic economy, including sectors like finance, industrials, consumer goods and technology.

Trading the CHINA50 CFD on Bybit Gold&FX offers a direct route to participating in the world's second-largest economy. The index responds strongly to Chinese economic data, regulatory changes and monetary policy shifts, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 1,500.

The German Stock Index, also known as the DAX40, tracks the performance of the 40 largest companies traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. As Germany's benchmark index, it represents Europe's largest economy and includes global leaders in automotive, technology, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing sectors.

Trading the GER40 CFD on Bybit Gold&FX offers exposure to Germany's economic powerhouse, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 500. The index is responsive to European Central Bank (ECB) decisions, German economic data and trade relationships with China and the United States.

The US Small Cap 2000, commonly known as the Russell 2000, tracks the performance of approximately 2,000 smaller publicly traded companies in the United States. Unlike the S&P 500 or DJIA, this index focuses on smaller companies with higher growth potential and increased volatility.

Trading the US2000 CFD on Bybit Gold&FX gives traders exposure to the small-cap segment, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 1,500. The index tends to be more sensitive to domestic economic conditions, making it ideal for traders looking to capitalize on US economic cycles.

The Hong Kong Stock Market Index or Hang Seng Index (HSI), represents the 50 largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This market cap–weighted index provides exposure to both Hong Kong's local economy and mainland Chinese companies.

On Bybit Gold&FX, trading the HK50 CFD offers traders access to Asian markets, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 1,500. HK50 is particularly sensitive to China's economic developments and to global trade relations, presenting opportunities for traders looking to diversify into Asian markets.

Also known as the Paris Bourse or CAC 40, this index tracks the performance of the 40 largest and most actively traded companies on the Euronext Paris. The index encompasses various sectors, including luxury goods, energy, banking and pharmaceuticals.

Trading the FRA40 CFD on Bybit Gold&FX provides exposure to one of Europe's core economies, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 500. This index is responsive to French economic indicators, ECB policies and global luxury market trends.

The Nikkei 225, or Nikkei Stock Average, is Japan's premier stock market index, composed of 225 blue chip companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As one of Asia's oldest stock index, it’s a key barometer for Japan's economic health.

On Bybit Gold&FX, the Nikkei225 CFD is denominated in JPY, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a generous maximum lot size of 20,000. It’s particularly sensitive to Japanese economic data, Bank of Japan monetary policy and yen exchange rates, making it essential for traders interested in Asian markets.

The FTSE 100 (or UK 100) represents the 100 largest companies by market cap listed on the London Stock Exchange. This index includes multinational companies across various sectors, including banking, energy, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.

Trading the UK100 CFD on Bybit Gold&FX provides exposure to one of Europe's most established markets, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 500. The index is responsive to Bank of England policy decisions, British economic indicators and global commodity prices.

EURO STOXX 50 tracks the performance of 50 blue chip companies from eight eurozone countries. As Europe's leading blue chip index, it provides broad exposure to the eurozone's economic health.

On Bybit Gold&FX, the EU50 CFD is denominated in EUR, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 1,500. The index exhibits high liquidity during European trading hours, and is particularly sensitive to ECB decisions and eurozone economic indicators.

The Spain Stock Market Index, also known as the IBEX 35, represents the 35 most liquid Spanish companies traded on the Madrid Stock Exchange. It provides exposure to Spain's economy through sectors like banking, telecommunications, energy and infrastructure.

Trading the ES35 CFD on Bybit Gold&FX offers access to the Spanish market, with a maximum leverage of 200 and a maximum lot size of 500. ES35 is responsive to Spanish economic indicators, ECB policies and developments in Latin American markets.

The Hang Seng Tech Index (HKTECH) tracks the 30 largest technology companies listed in Hong Kong. It focuses on firms with high business exposure to selected technology themes, including internet, fintech, cloud, e-commerce and digital activities.

On Bybit Gold&FX, the HKTECH CFD is denominated in HKD, with a maximum leverage of 30 and a maximum lot size of 500. This index provides focused exposure to China's technology sector, and tends to exhibit higher volatility than broader indices, reflecting the growth-oriented nature of its constituents.

The Bovespa Index (Ibovespa) is the benchmark index of the Brazilian stock market. It tracks the performance of the most traded stocks on the B3 (Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão) exchange. It provides exposure to Latin America's largest economy through sectors like banking, mining, oil and gas and consumer goods.

Trading the BVSPX CFD on Bybit Gold&FX offers access to the Brazilian market, with a maximum leverage of 20 and a maximum lot size of 500. The index is particularly sensitive to commodity prices, Brazilian economic indicators, political developments and US dollar strength.

The South Africa 40 tracks the performance of the 40 largest companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The index gives exposure to Africa's most industrialized economy, with significant representation from mining, financial and telecommunications sectors.

On Bybit Gold&FX, the SA40 CFD is denominated in the South African rand (ZAR), with a maximum leverage of 200 and a maximum lot size of 500. The index is sensitive to commodity prices, South African Reserve Bank policies and regional political developments.

The S&P/ASX 200 is Australia's benchmark equity index, representing approximately 80% of Australian equity market capitalization. This index includes companies across various sectors, with significant financial, materials and healthcare representation.

Trading the SPI200 CFD on Bybit Gold&FX provides exposure to Australia's economy, with a maximum leverage of 500 and a maximum lot size of 500. SPI200 is affected by commodity prices, Reserve Bank of Australia policies and economic developments in China, Australia's largest trading partner.

The STOXX Singapore 20 Index tracks the performance of the top 20 companies listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX). This index provides exposure to Singapore's economy, which serves as a financial hub for Southeast Asia, through sectors like banking, real estate and telecommunications.

On Bybit Gold&FX, the SGP20 CFD is denominated in Singapore dollars (SGD), with a maximum leverage of 50 and a maximum lot size of 500. The index offers an opportunity to gain exposure to both Singapore's stable economy and broader Southeast Asian growth through companies with regional operations.

The FTSE Taiwan RIC Capped Index represents the Taiwan stock market, which is heavily weighted toward technology and semiconductor manufacturing. As home to some of the world's largest semiconductor companies, Taiwan plays a crucial role in the global technology supply chain.

Trading the TWINDEX CFD on Bybit Gold&FX provides exposure to Taiwan's export-oriented economy, with a maximum leverage of 50 and a maximum lot size of 500. This index is particularly sensitive to global semiconductor demand, US-China technology competition and cross-strait relations with mainland China.

Indices trading offers several advantages that make it worthwhile for both beginning and experienced traders. For newcomers, indices provide broad market exposure with reduced single-stock risk, allowing you to participate in market movements without extensive research on individual companies.

Experienced traders should consider indices for efficient market-wide exposure through a single instrument. On Bybit Gold&FX, high-leverage options and reliable technical patterns make indices attractive vehicles for capitalizing on broader market movements.

Furthermore, Bybit Gold&FX is currently holding 

 where you can enjoy zero trading fees when you trade select indices pairs! This allows you to maximize your profits with no extra cost.  

For those hesitant to trade indices directly, 

 provides an excellent alternative. It allows you to automatically mirror successful index traders' strategies while maintaining complete control over your investment size.

Trade indices on Bybit today and take advantage of our zero-fee event!

Trading indices on Bybit Gold&FX provides access to global markets, with flexible leverage options and competitive spreads. Whether you're looking to capitalize on movements in established economies or emerging markets, the platform's 18 diverse indices offer something for every trading strategy.

Intermediate

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The 18 best indices to trade on Bybit Gold&FX

Mar 17, 2025: Our weekly Institutional Insights explores the latest market developments — market performance, industry news, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, trending topics, upcoming events and token unlocks — to help you supercharge your crypto trading.

 explores the latest market developments — market performance, industry news, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, trending topics, upcoming events and token unlocks — to help you supercharge your crypto trading.

Weekly highlight — consumer sentiment falls

US consumer sentiment has fallen to its lowest level in over two years, reflecting growing concerns about the economic impact of tariffs. According to data from the University of Michigan, the preliminary sentiment index for March 2025 dropped to 57.9 from 64.7 in February, the lowest level since November 2022. This decline was worse than expected by a Bloomberg survey of economists.

Inflation expectations surged, with consumers anticipating a 3.9% annual price increase over the next five to ten years, the highest rate over three decades. Additionally, consumers expect prices to rise by 4.9% over the next year from 4.3%, marking the steepest rise since 2022.

As US president Donald Trump’s tariff policies expand, consumers across the political spectrum increasingly worry that these extra duties will lead to higher costs. Despite recent inflation cooling, ongoing price pressures could lead households to reduce discretionary spending.

The survey also indicated a record low in consumer expectations regarding personal finances, with respondents estimating only a 48.7% chance of stock market gains in the coming year. Joanne Hsu, 

 the University of Michigan, emphasized that uncertainty surrounding economic policies complicates financial planning.

Some analysts warned that declining consumer confidence poses a significant threat to spending, as fears of an economic downturn may deter purchases of major items. Overall, the current conditions gauge and the expectations index fell to their lowest levels in several months, showcasing widespread consumer apprehension.

Weekly crypto highlight — Bitcoin see slight life in the past weekend

Bitcoin rebounded from a four-month low earlier this week alongside other risky assets recovering from recent market turmoil. Economic uncertainties driven by a wave of tariffs from President Trump and the threat of a government shutdown have led to significant sell-offs across various asset classes, including cryptocurrencies.

“As we conclude a week of widespread selling, markets are experiencing a relief rally from oversold conditions,” stated Ravi Doshi, Co-Head of Markets at FalconX. The avoidance of a US government funding shutdown has eased market uncertainty.

On Friday, Bitcoin rose by as much as 6.2%, reaching $85,301, while smaller digital assets surged even more: Solana gained over 9%, Chainlink increased by 13% and XRP rose nearly 8%. Earlier in the week, Bitcoin had dropped to around $77,000, a significant decline from its all-time high of $109,000 in January 2025.

This slump triggered record outflows from Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, and large liquidations in crypto derivatives markets. Crypto markets are bouncing back as macro-driven liquidations seem to be pausing. Analysts suggest that ongoing macroeconomic stability may support crypto prices.

Advanced

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Weekly Institutional Insights: Consumer sentiment falls as crypto recovers from 4-month low

Our weekly crypto derivatives analytics report delves into macro events, the current state of crypto and trading signals from spot trading volume, and futures, options and perpetual contracts.

The ongoing sell-off in risk-on assets has intensified bearish signals in derivatives markets for crypto assets. Funding rates indicate a demand for short exposure, futures prices are trading below spot prices and volatility smiles are showing a strong skew toward OTM puts as traders hedge against further declines. The at-the-money (ATM) volatility term structure has inverted again after a lack of clarity around Trump’s proposed strategic digital asset reserve caused short-dated volatility to fall briefly before last weekend.

Please check out the report’s highlights.

Choppy spot price movements have had an impact on funding rates, with BTC and altcoin rates reacting primarily to spot fluctuations, rather than long-term market views. ETH has sold off more sharply during declines, and hasn’t participated as strongly in relief rallies, resulting in the worst YTD performance among the five tokens in Trump’s proposed digital asset stockpile. This is reflected in funding rates, with ETH perpetual swaps showing strong demand for leveraged short exposure to further downside risk.

Investors continue to protect against further decline

Despite higher realized volatility increasing both short- and long-tenor implied volatility, options trade volumes remain low. Last Friday’s expiration of significant open interest was mostly for downside protection against a deepening sell-off. However, the options market has reverted to an inverted term structure, which had dissipated during last Friday’s White House crypto summit, with strong relative demand for short-dated put contracts.

Open interest in Solana (SOL) options declined at the end of February, with over $5M in calls and more than $3M in puts expiring and most positions not rolled over. Despite SOL trading 44% below its January ATH, most new positions are in calls. However, this new positioning is disappointingly weak, given SOL's inclusion in Trump’s crypto reserve announcement alongside BTC, ETH, XRP and ADA.

Beginner

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Bybit X Block Scholes crypto derivatives analytics report (Mar 14, 2025): Investors hedge further declines

BinaryX has rebranded to Four, uniting GameFi, IGOs, and MemeFi under one ecosystem. With BNX now FORM, Four continues to innovate in blockchain gaming."

Having launched in May 2021, BinaryX, which started out as a 

 (DeFi) platform, has continued to evolve and adapt to the rapidly changing blockchain landscape. However, in the spirit of adaptability and innovation, the platform switched to 

, focusing its attention on play-to-earn (P2E) games.

As a GameFi platform, BinaryX has also created an 

 (IGO) launchpad from which developers can launch GameFi projects.

Now, BinaryX has rebranded to Four in order to align with the mission of its 

 product, a launch platform for the meme coin ecosystem.

Let's learn more about BinaryX and the way it continues to shape the crypto market with innovative products and adaptable business models.

 hub for the development of GameFi projects, includes an IGO launchpad to facilitate developers in launching games. 

BinaryX began in 2021 as a decentralized derivative trading system that featured the use of 

. But in 2022, the BinaryX team gradually evolved its project into a GameFi platform in order to adapt to the increased demand for P2E games. Its aim is to make web3 games more accessible and approachable to the vast community of gamers.

BinaryX also developed an IGO launchpad to serve as a comprehensive hub for gaming developers to launch their GameFi projects, and for investors to receive early access to promising new play-to-earn games. Furthermore, the BinaryX team announced the incorporation of a 

 (DAO) into its GameFi ecosystem so that its community of token holders could participate in voting on governance matters.

In February 2025, BinaryX rebranded to Four in order to align with its latest product, Four.meme, which was launched in July 2024. Following the rebrand, its native token, BNX, would now become FORM to reflect the project's commitment to innovation and adaptability.

As one of the top web3 platforms on BNB Chain, BinaryX has continued to innovate and experiment with different business models to adapt to the blockchain landscape's fast-paced nature. To this end, BinaryX has the following diverse products under its wing.

BinaryX launched its Initial Game Offering (IGO) launchpad in May 2022 as a dedicated platform to support blockchain gaming projects. The launchpad helps game developers secure funding for decentralized video games. They also get a platform on which to build communities and accelerate their web3 game development.

By leveraging BinaryX’s expertise in GameFi and its existing user base, projects gain exposure to a vast community of crypto gamers. The platform offers early access to promising blockchain games, allowing investors to participate in token sales and 

 presales. BNX holders can use their tokens to vote for games' listings on the BinaryX platform, and they also receive rewards, such as game tokens and NFT 

Some notable games launched on the BinaryX IGO launchpad include 

. These games showcase BinaryX’s commitment to innovation in GameFi, integrating play-to-earn mechanics, NFTs and decentralized governance to help create immersive gaming ecosystems.

BinaryX's GameFi trading platform is a marketplace designed for seamlessly trading blockchain gaming assets, including NFTs, in-game tokens and virtual items. Launched to support the growing GameFi ecosystem, the platform enables gamers and investors to buy, sell, trade and auction assets from BinaryX-powered games in a secure and efficient manner.

 and DeFi principles, BinaryX ensures transparent transactions with minimal fees, and enhances liquidity for in-game assets while empowering players to maximize their earnings.

The BinaryX GameFi trading platform supports transactions involving 

In January 2022, BinaryX launched the BinaryX DAO, a first for a GameFi project, through which BNX token holders can participate in the project's community governance, determine airdrop and dividend ratios, and submit proposals on how to improve the BinaryX ecosystem.

Case in point: BinaryX's community participated in voting for/against the platform's rebranding to Four during a community vote that was held from Sep 21–23, 2024.

The BinaryX Treasury serves as the financial backbone of the BinaryX ecosystem, supporting the development and sustainability of its GameFi projects. Some sources of assets used to fund the treasury include initial capital injection by the BNX team, income from gaming activities, income from the IGO launchpad and profit from external investment.

Profits in the BinaryX Treasury are used to reward BNX stakers, incentivize BinaryX sidechain node providers and finance strategic investments in third-party projects.

BNX is the native token for the BinaryX platform. Its original maximum supply of 2.1 billion tokens was adjusted to 580 million after a community vote in late July 2024.

Distribution of the 580 million BNX tokens is as follows:

Following BinaryX's rebranding to Four, BNX will change to FORM, and holders will be allowed to exchange to the new token at a ratio of 1:1 (details to follow at a later date).

BinaryX has integrated a multi-token model. Apart from BNX, the other two tokens associated with the platform are as follows:

BinaryX officially rebranded to Four on Feb 21, 2025, following an overwhelming vote via its DAO, marking a significant transformation in its vision for GameFi and DeFi innovation. This shift comes with a revamped website, which will serve as a hub for the GameFi platform, IGO launchpad and Four.meme, a new addition to Four’s expanding ecosystem.

Following the rebranding, a 1:1 token migration from BNX to FORM is necessary in order to enhance the token's identity and align with the project's new direction. FORM remains on the BNB Chain, ensuring smooth compatibility with existing infrastructure.

 (CEXs) won’t need to do anything — the token swap to FORM will take place automatically. BinaryX will liaise with these exchanges to switch from the BNX contract address to the one for FORM.

 (DEXs), cold wallets and self-custody wallets will need to carry out a manual token swap based on a converter provided by BinaryX. To carry out this token swap, you’ll need to do the following:

 landing page (link will be provided at a later date).

4. Sign to authenticate your transaction to receive the FORM tokens.

5. Add the new FORM contract address into your wallet to see the new tokens.

You can buy BNX as a USDT Perpetual contract (

) on the Bybit trading platform. However, the BNXUSDT contract will be delisted on Mar 17, 2025, 9AM UTC, so make sure to close your open positions and cancel your active orders for BNXUSDT as soon as possible.

Over the years, BinaryX has consistently demonstrated strong performance. The rebranding of BinaryX to Four marks a bold step forward in its mission to impact the web3 space. This transformation reflects the project’s commitment to expanding its ecosystem, enhancing token identity and integrating innovative elements, such as Four.meme, alongside its GameFi platform and IGO launchpad.

By adapting to the evolving crypto landscape, Four is positioning itself as a comprehensive hub for web3 and gaming enthusiasts so that it can offer a seamless experience for gamers, investors and meme culture participants. The introduction of the FORM token ensures a more cohesive and recognizable branding, reinforcing Four’s long-term vision. Thanks to the smooth migration process from BNX to FORM, users can continue participating in the ecosystem while benefiting from enhanced liquidity and utility.

Four remains dedicated to GameFi innovation, supporting successful blockchain games such as 

, all of which feature play-to-earn mechanics, NFTs and decentralized governance. The revamped platform is designed to foster a dynamic gaming economy, support new game launches and provide a secure environment for trading digital assets. With its rebranding and expanded offerings, Four is set to lead the next wave of blockchain gaming and DeFi innovation, uniting gamers, developers and investors in a vibrant web3 ecosystem.

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From BinaryX to Four: A unified hub for GameFi, IGOs and MemeFi

Altcoins

Crypto

Altcoins are great alternatives to Bitcoin in many ways. One of which is scalability & security. Learn what are altcoins & if it's worthy.

(BTC) is revolutionary, but it isn’t perfect. While BTC may be the oldest and most known digital asset, there are plenty of cryptocurrencies, particularly altcoins, that aim to outstrip the domination of Bitcoin. But wait, what exactly are altcoins?

Altcoins refers to alternative cryptocurrencies, are developed to set apart from Bitcoin monopolization. They are created mainly to address Bitcoin’s scalability and are often a modified or improved version of Bitcoin.

Yes, Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer payment network does pave the way for altcoins. But they distinguish themselves with better privacy and a more efficient transaction speed.  

Among the thousands, the first introduced altcoin was Namecoin by Andrew Chow back in 2011. But altcoin took off and grew exponentially, thereby resulting in the rise of ETH, XRP, DOT, ADA, BNB, and more. Ether (ETH) alone is currently accounting for around 20% of the total crypto market cap, and there are over 10,000 other altcoins available to date. While altcoin might be granted recognition, one can’t stop asking how altcoin works and the prospects it gives?

Altcoins can usually be bought or sold on various cryptocurrency exchanges, whether on centralized and decentralized exchanges. But depending on the crypto exchanges, the types of altcoins each exchange offers are different from one another. Most exchanges discourage the purchase of altcoins with fiat. That means traders would have to

While centralized exchanges (CEXs) often have a more extensive listing process, 

 (DEXs) like Uniswap allow traders to purchase altcoins listed by the public. Despite its drawbacks, CEXs are often a safer choice for large-scale traders.

However, the tricky part about trading altcoins is to figure out 

. Though it’s possible to keep Bitcoin and altcoins on some CEXs, it’s all depending on the altcoins’ nature. Some altcoins support a public CEX wallet, while some only can be stored on a wallet created by the developers. Generally, most crypto exchanges offer reimbursements, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry. Typically, altcoin traders would store their crypto offline on a 

Most of the altcoins serve a specific purpose that is unique to that cryptocurrency. Bitcoin may be famous, but it was 

 (ETH) that genuinely sparked the growth of the altcoin market.

Ethereum initiated the project by allowing users to deploy applications and create associated tokens on the network; it also means that anyone could make a cryptocurrency. On top of that, the recent boom in 

 (DeFi), a concept that started on the Ethereum blockchain, also contributes to the demand for more altcoins.

Among the thousands of cryptocurrencies, only a handful have any real utility. For example, 

(SOL) uses a unique protocol Proof-of-History believes to be faster than 

. It maintains its own cryptographic time stamps for a faster transaction time at a cheaper rate. At the same time, Polkadot’s blockchain technology aims to unite independent blockchains under one roof to facilitate communications and interactions. For example, Polkadot introduces cross-blockchain interoperability to transfer any data or assets from various blockchains in the Polkadot network. 

Besides, social media and celebrity endorsement may essentially be one of the reasons why meme coins like 

 surge in demand. For example, Elon Musk may be one of the biggest influencers in the crypto space that 

Cryptocurrencies are a far cry away from ready for mass adoption, and until we can create useful user-facing applications for mainstream audiences, this is unlikely to change. So, of course, investing in altcoins is a better choice to mitigate risks in the volatile crypto space.

With the recent market movement, Altcoins is 

. Still, Altcoins offer the opportunity to be a part of this movement – a movement that isn’t just trying to bet on the right horse but improve the sport as a whole.

Recent investments from institutional players have brought an enormous boost to altcoins. In June 2020, international tech conglomerate

 the integration of its BigQuery platform with the 

 blockchain, a decentralized oracle network for decentralized data sourcing.

 Investments, one of the world’s largest digital currency management firms, has 

. Almost $10 billion are in altcoins like ETH, LTC, and more. It seems simple to argue that if the big players are doing it, you should too.

The reality is that any investment is risky, and it’s crucial to do enough research jumping into a crypto bandwagon. A good rule to follow is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Altcoins should serve as alternatives to Bitcoin investment. Trading cryptocurrency is just like stock trading in a sense whereby a diversified portfolio always wins. That means, even if Bitcoin has a setback, others can balance the risks and rewards.

With over 10,000 altcoins to choose from today (June 2021), the only question you should be asking is which are the 

 and what to look after when trading altcoins?

Things to Take Note When Trading Altcoins

, then great, you’re all set. Otherwise, here are some fundamentals you need to factor in.

Assess the Market Capitalization and Liquidity

 serves as a good solution to assess the prospects of these alternatives to Bitcoin. Altcoins have a track record of vanishing from sight because the project is squandered either by poor management or lacks liquidity. When the crypto market hits its low, an altcoin with liquidity is more likely to sustain. Plus, when there’s liquidity, it’s much easier for traders to expect an ideal return.

, as it helps you paint a complete story of the asset. It indicates the potential growth of the crypto, thus, telling you whether it is safe to invest.

Trading an altcoin at an early stage is indeed profitable as it relies on speculations and whales’ interests. But, hefty profits always come with risks. To avoid these uncertainties, try trading on reliable altcoins like XRP, LTC, ADA where a stable trajectory presents. 

The creator of altcoins usually holds a large amount of 

. When one entity dominates the power, it’s likely for pump and dumps to happen. To better evaluate an altcoin, try to assess its policies, take a deep dive into the team, and evaluate its long-term projections. Stick with altcoins that possess a reliable portfolio, blockchain, and utilizes 

became the silver to Bitcoin’s gold. While it wasn’t the first altcoin, it’s one of the oldest cryptocurrencies still used today. Litecoin shares much of its DNA with Bitcoin, with some key differences.

 consensus mechanism, Litecoin uses a sequential memory-hard function that requires more memory. Further, Litecoin only takes 2.5 minutes to mine each block, making transactions much faster than on Bitcoin, which takes 10 minutes to add a block to the main blockchain.

 is another altcoin focused on making transactions private. It uses ringed signatures and special cryptographic functions to maintain the anonymity of its users. While Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies are often thought to offer privacy, most transactions are entirely traceable.

Bitcoin is more pseudonymous than anonymous, in that all transactions are public, but it is not known which addresses belong to whom. Other altcoins also offer features like governance, smart contracts, and interoperability.

As the number of altcoins started to grow, the community split its nomenclature based on utility. From mining-based cryptocurrencies, stablecoins to security tokens, each category of altcoins serves a purpose. 

Mining-based crypto is altcoins that are supplied through a mining process. By using decentralized nodes, the network solves mathematical problems to record data to the blockchain. As an exchange miners will receive a reward in the form of tokens. Bitcoin is one such token, as is any altcoin that uses a Proof of Work consensus algorithm.

This type of altcoin is associated with a business and more closely resembles traditional stocks like the ICO. In many cases, they offer a form of dividend through a payout or fractional business ownership. The most common payout is with a dividend. 

 function slightly differently in that they provide a claim on services. Besides, it’s also designed to be exchangeable for prominence decentralized utilities like storage space.

 are cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of a fiat currency like the U.S. Dollar to eliminates the volatility of Bitcoin. The most prominent stablecoin is probably 

 (USDT), whose market capitalization has grown exponentially since its launch in 2016. However, since Circle introduced 

 (USDC) as another digital stablecoin that runs on the Ethereum, Stellar, Algorand, and Solana blockchains, it can be seen as a rival to USDT, especially when DeFi is still on the rise.

Choosing an altcoin to trade or invest in can be difficult, especially with are over 5,000 coins available today. Traders alike need to understand what to look for when parting with the capital. On top of that, ensuring the project’s validity is crucial when assessing the difference between incredible gains and crippling losses. A 

 shows that 95% of altcoins listed on Coinmarketcap were illiquid, making them practically worthless.

Ethereum has been second to Bitcoin consecutively for years on the list of cryptocurrencies ranked by market cap. And some would even consider Ethereum to be the father of altcoins. Its ERC-20 standard for tokens gives rise to a large fraction of cryptocurrencies on the market today. Plus, the 

 represents the value transferring across the Ripple Network. While Ripple is still battling the SEC lawsuit, but the tokens have 

 after the court ruling favoring Ripple executives. The tokens are a cheap cross-border remittance and are famous for their fast transaction speeds.

Tether is a stablecoin relying on the Bitcoin Cash network (a fork of Bitcoin that offers faster transactions). With over a $62 billion market cap on the first day of July 2021, USDT is still in demand, and it doesn’t seem to go away anytime soon.

Chainlink specializes in real-world data and supplies data across blockchain via smart contracts as a decentralized oracle network. At the same time, LINK is the digital asset to pay for the services on the network. 

 development may slow for some time, but it unlocks its new growth, hitting its all-time high of $52.88 on May 10, 2021. That proves that evolution is probably on its way.

In the world of blockchain, a meteoric rise in value is just as likely as a colossal crash. Small projects appreciate hundreds of times of what they were initially worth, only to crumble once abandoned after the hype dies. And Altcoins are no exception. Here’s what we need to highlight: 

The internet is filled with many a Bitcoin maximalist who believe altcoins are merely a noise surrounding the future. Some people think altcoins are a good investment that will dethrone Bitcoin in the upcoming years.

As with most things, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Altcoins offer so many use-cases that they’re hard to ignore. Stablecoins have made trading faster, improving the liquidity of cryptocurrency markets and promoting more economic activity. Utility coins have inspired a plethora of smart contract applications, including all of DeFi.

Every altcoin may not be entirely unique, but it does bring new ideas to the table. A decentralized economy relies on decentralized product design. And just like how the overall open-source development community works together to create better software.

The crypto space is small, and it will take years of trial and error as the community wrestles with itself to figure things out. Altcoins offer us a way to support certain developments over others, and in our own small way, contribute to building a decentralized financial system. 

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What Are Altcoins & Are They a Good Investment?

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