Tag: Ethereum

  • ETHGas Airdrop Guide: Chapter 1 Beanstalk Bonanza

    ETHGas Airdrop Guide: Chapter 1 Beanstalk Bonanza

    TL;DR

    ETHGas has launched Chapter 1 of their “Gasless Future” initiative featuring the Beanstalk Bonanza campaign. Users can earn Beans (reward points) by completing quests and referring friends, with the goal of building a community around their vision to eliminate gas fees from Ethereum. The campaign launched September 11, 2025, and positions participants as “Founding Members” of their gasless future mission.

    How to Participate: Step-by-Step Guide

    Getting Started (Earn Your First 10 Beans)

    Step 1: Visit the Onboarding Page Go to ethgas.com/community/onboarding to begin your journey. Use JT0R1YL for referral code and extra beans.

    Step 2: Link Your X (Twitter) Account

    • Click “Link X Account” on the onboarding page
    • This allows ETHGas to verify your participation and track rewards
    • Important: They will never post without your permission

    Step 3: Authorize ETHGas Official

    • Complete the authorization process to verify your account

    Step 4: Complete Onboarding

    • Click “Continue” to finish the process
    • You’ll see the “You’re Onboarded!” confirmation screen
    • Reward: Earn your first 10 Beans for joining as a Founding Member

    Advanced Earning: The Referral System

    Once onboarded, access your Community Dashboard to find your unique referral link. Share this link to unlock powerful earning opportunities:

    Referral Milestone Rewards

    ReferralsTitleBean Reward
    5 usersSEEDLING SPROUT 🌱50 Beans
    10 usersSTALK STRENGTHENER 🌳100 Beans
    20 usersGROWTH GURU ✨250 Beans
    50 usersVINE VIRTUOSO 🌿350 Beans
    100 usersBEANSTALK BARON 👑450 Beans

    Power-Up Rewards (After 100 Referrals)

    • Supercharged Referrals: Earn 2 Beans for every additional user you onboard (up to 500)
    • Network Effect: Earn 1 Bean for every indirect referral (when your friends refer others)

    Tracking Your Progress

    Monitor your advancement through the Referral History section on your Dashboard by clicking “View” next to your referrals count. ethgas

    The ETHGas Project: Vision & Value Proposition

    Core Mission: Eliminating Ethereum Gas Fees

    ETHGas represents a fundamental challenge to the current Ethereum ecosystem through their “Gasless Future” initiative. Their mission centers around solving one of blockchain’s most persistent user experience problems: prohibitive gas fees that limit accessibility and adoption.

    The Gassy Jack Narrative

    The project uses Gassy Jack, a friendly donkey mascot, to represent every user’s struggle with high gas fees. As stated in their campaign materials: “We’re all Gassy Jack. We’ve all felt the sting of high gas fees while exploring the world of DeFi.” ethgas

    Key Value Propositions

    1. Community-Driven Solution

    • Building a coalition of users committed to gasless infrastructure
    • Rewarding early adopters and advocates through the Bean system
    • Creating network effects through referral incentives

    2. Chapter-Based Development

    • Structured rollout beginning with community building (Chapter 1)
    • Future chapters will likely introduce technical solutions
    • Sustainable, long-term approach to ecosystem transformation

    3. Real-Time Ethereum Focus

    • Emphasis on “realtime Ethereum” suggests infrastructure improvements
    • Positioning Beans as “your stake in the future of realtime Ethereum” x.com

    Strategic Approach

    The Beanstalk Bonanza represents more than a typical campaign—it’s a community mobilization effort. By gamifying the onboarding process and creating milestone achievements, ETHGas is building a foundation of committed users who have a vested interest in their gasless future vision.

    The project’s emphasis on “every quest you complete and every friend you refer helps Jack’s beanstalk grow taller, stronger, and closer to freedom” indicates a collaborative approach where community growth directly correlates to technological advancement toward their gasless goals. ethgas

    What’s Next

    ETHGas has positioned Chapter 1 as the beginning of a multi-phase journey. While technical details of their gasless solution remain undisclosed, the community-first approach suggests future chapters will introduce infrastructure, partnerships, or technological innovations that build upon this initial user base.

    Get Started: Visit ethgas.com/community/onboarding to join the mission and earn your first Beans as a Founding Member of the Gasless Future initiative.

  • Ethereum ($ETH) Merge: What is it and everything you need to know

    Ethereum ($ETH) Merge: What is it and everything you need to know

    As Ethereum is steadily approaching the transition to a Proof-of-Stake mechanism, one notable thing that has changed, aside from further protocol development, has been the change in terminology.

    We have already covered Ethereum 2.0 extensively in one of our ongoing blogs where we go in-depth on everything you need to know about Ethereum’s transition to PoS:

    Let’s take a closer look at the rebranding from Ethereum 2.0 to the Ethereum Merge, as well as go over the most recent developments in Ethereum’s roadmap as of May 2022.

    Check out our latest video- Ethereum Merge: ALL you need to know (including ETHPOW)

    Ethereum Merge: ALL you need to know (including ETHPOW)

    And check out our video- Ethereum Merge: Things you don’t (but need) to know as an investor

    The Ethereum Merge: Why the shift from Eth2.0?

    The term “Eth2.0” was retired in early 2022 to avoid confusion and scams, and to better reflect Ethereum’s evolution—not replacement. The Merge, completed in September 2022, unified Ethereum’s original execution layer with the Beacon Chain’s Proof-of-Stake consensus. By 2025, this rebranding has proven prescient: Ethereum’s roadmap has expanded far beyond the original Eth2.0 vision, with Layer 2 rollups, proto-danksharding, and modular scaling now driving innovation. The shift in terminology helped clarify that Ethereum remains one chain, continuously upgraded—not split or replaced.

    ETH Merge is a huge success!

    On 15th September 2022 at 06:42:42 UTC at block 15537393, the Merge was completed.

    Missed our historical LIVE Merge party? Check it out here!

    Ethereum Merge Party – Watch the Merge live!

    Ethereum Post-Merge: Where Things Stand in 2025

    Since the successful Merge on 15th September 2022, Ethereum has fully transitioned to Proof-of-Stake, eliminating mining and reducing energy consumption by over 99%. The focus has shifted from testing Merge readiness to scaling and optimizing the network. Key milestones since the Merge include:

    • Staking Growth: Over 30 million ETH is now staked, with thousands of validators securing the network.
    • Scalability Upgrades: Proto-danksharding (EIP-4844) was implemented in late 2024, significantly reducing Layer 2 fees and paving the way for full sharding.
    • Layer 2 Expansion: Rollups like Optimism, Arbitrum, and zkSync have seen explosive growth, handling the majority of Ethereum transactions.
    • Institutional Adoption: Ethereum’s energy-efficient design and predictable monetary policy have attracted major financial institutions and enterprise use cases.

    The Merge is no longer a future milestone—it’s the foundation for Ethereum’s next phase: modular scalability, global adoption, and sustainable infrastructure.

    Why the Ethereum Merge Still Matters to Crypto Traders in 2025

    Although the Merge was completed nearly three years ago—on 15th September 2022—it continues to influence Ethereum’s trading dynamics in significant ways. Here’s why it remains relevant to traders today:

    Reduced ETH Supply and Market Scarcity

    • The Merge reduced ETH issuance by approximately 90%. Combined with EIP-1559’s fee-burning mechanism, Ethereum has become deflationary during periods of high network activity.
    • This scarcity has strengthened Ethereum’s position as a store of value, attracting long-term investors and institutional interest.

    Staking Rewards and Yield Opportunities

    • ETH holders can earn staking rewards by locking up their tokens. As of August 2025, staking yields range between 4% to 6%, depending on network conditions.
    • Traders now consider staking returns when evaluating ETH’s opportunity cost relative to other assets.

    Layer 2 Growth and Transaction Efficiency

    • The Merge enabled scalability upgrades such as proto-danksharding (EIP-4844), which significantly lowered Layer 2 transaction fees.
    • A majority of ETH trading now occurs on rollups like Arbitrum, Optimism, and zkSync, offering faster execution and lower costs.

    Environmental Sustainability and Institutional Access

    • Ethereum’s energy consumption dropped by more than 99% post-Merge, making it one of the most environmentally sustainable blockchains.
    • This shift has made ETH more appealing to ESG-conscious investors and funds that previously avoided energy-intensive assets.

    Price Behavior and Market Sentiment

    • ETH’s price has shown resilience, supported by reduced sell pressure, staking lockups, and expanding utility across DeFi and NFTs.
    • Traders monitor staking inflows, validator performance, and Layer 2 activity as key indicators for ETH price trends.

    Since the Ethereum Merge on 15th September 2022, ETH’s price trajectory has been shaped by a mix of protocol-level changes, macroeconomic factors, and evolving market sentiment. Here’s a breakdown of how prices have responded and what traders are watching now:

    Initial Reaction and Short-Term Volatility

    • In the hours following the Merge, ETH saw a modest price increase, briefly peaking above US$1,640 before settling below US$1,600.
    • Traders were cautious, anticipating potential forks or technical disruptions, which kept early momentum subdued.

    Medium-Term Consolidation and Staking Dynamics

    • As staking rewards became more accessible and the supply of ETH decreased due to reduced issuance and fee burning, ETH entered a period of steady accumulation.
    • By mid-2023, ETH had stabilized in the US$1,800–US$2,200 range, supported by growing validator participation and reduced sell pressure.

    Long-Term Growth and Institutional Interest

    • The implementation of proto-danksharding in late 2024 significantly lowered Layer 2 transaction costs, boosting network activity and reinforcing ETH’s utility.
    • By August 2025, ETH is trading above US$3,000, driven by deflationary pressure, staking lockups, and increased adoption across DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise applications.

    Key Price Drivers in 2025

    Environmental Appeal: Ethereum’s energy-efficient design has made it a preferred asset for ESG-focused investors.

    Deflationary Supply: With issuance down and EIP-1559 continuing to burn fees, ETH’s circulating supply has declined, supporting upward price pressure.

    Staking Yield: ETH staking yields remain attractive, encouraging long-term holding and reducing market liquidity.

    Layer 2 Ecosystem: Rollups now handle the majority of Ethereum transactions, improving user experience and expanding use cases.

  • Ethereum 2.0 – Here’s what you NEED to know

    Ethereum 2.0 – Here’s what you NEED to know

    Ethereum has changed a lot since the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade began. Now fully running on Proof-of-Stake, the network is faster, cheaper, and uses way less energy. With sharding and other upgrades complete, Ethereum can handle over 100,000 transactions per second, making it a top choice for apps, games, and finance tools.

    This article explains how Ethereum got here, what each upgrade did, and why it matters. Whether you’re new to crypto or already staking ETH, this guide will help you understand Ethereum’s journey and what’s next.

    What is Ethereum 2.0?

    Ethereum 2.0—now simply called Ethereum—was a major upgrade that transformed the network from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake. This shift made Ethereum far more energy-efficient and scalable. The upgrade included several key milestones:

    • The Merge (2022): Combined the original Ethereum mainnet with the Beacon Chain, switching the consensus mechanism to Proof-of-Stake.
    • Sharding (Completed 2024): Split the network into multiple shards to boost speed and reduce costs. Ethereum now handles over 100,000 transactions per second.
    • Staking: Users can earn passive income by staking ETH to help secure the network. As of mid-2025, staking yields average around 3.7% APR. Check out our staking guide HERE

    These upgrades have made Ethereum faster, cheaper, and more accessible. Validators no longer need expensive hardware, and anyone can run a node—even from a laptop or phone. Ethereum now powers a massive ecosystem of DeFi apps, NFTs, and Web3 platforms, and continues to lead innovation in blockchain technology.

    This guide will cover the timeline for the upgrade to ETH2.0 and the solutions proposed.

    Ethereum 2.0 Key features and what you need to know video

    The 3 Phases of Ethereum 2.0

    Ethereum 2.0 will be launched in 3 phases:

    • Phase 0- Beacon Chain – Completed in 2020
    • Phase 1- The Merge – Completed September 2022
    • Phase 2- Sharding

    Ethereum 2.0—now simply Ethereum—was rolled out in three major phases, each transforming the network’s scalability, security, and sustainability:

    Phase 0: Beacon Chain (Completed December 2020)

    This phase introduced the Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism via the Beacon Chain. It ran in parallel with the original Ethereum chain and laid the foundation for future upgrades by coordinating validators and generating randomness for staking.

    Phase 1: The Merge (Completed September 2022)

    The Merge combined the Beacon Chain with Ethereum’s mainnet, officially transitioning the network from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake. This reduced Ethereum’s energy consumption by over 99.9% and eliminated the need for mining.

    Phase 2: Sharding (Completed Q4 2024)

    Sharding split Ethereum’s data processing across multiple chains (“shards”), dramatically increasing throughput and lowering costs. Combined with Layer 2 rollups, Ethereum now handles over 100,000 transactions per second. Validators can run nodes on lightweight devices, boosting decentralization and accessibility.

    Main features of sharding:

    Ethereum’s sharding implementation is now complete, delivering major improvements in scalability and decentralization:

    • Lightweight Node Requirements: Validators no longer need to store the full blockchain. Thanks to data sampling and blob transactions, even mobile devices can run nodes.
    • Greater Security via Decentralization: With over a million active validators, Ethereum is more resilient and censorship-resistant than ever.
    • High Throughput: Combined with Layer 2 rollups, sharding enables over 100,000 transactions per second, significantly reducing gas fees.
    • Efficient Data Distribution: Ethereum uses 64 shards to spread data across the network, minimizing congestion and improving performance.
    • Optimized Rollup Integration: Rollups now directly access shard data, making them faster and cheaper, and enabling new use cases like real-time data feeds and decentralized AI.

    What are layer 2 rollups?

    Layer 2 rollups are scaling solutions that execute transactions off-chain and post compressed data back to Ethereum, reducing congestion and lowering fees. As of 2025, rollups have matured into the backbone of Ethereum’s scalability strategy.

    • Optimistic and ZK Rollups: Both types are widely adopted. ZK rollups, in particular, have gained traction for their speed and security, powering applications in DeFi, gaming, and identity verification.
    • Blob Transactions and Proto-Danksharding: Introduced in the Cancun-Deneb upgrade, blob-carrying transactions allow rollups to post large data payloads efficiently. This has drastically reduced costs and improved throughput.
    • Rollup-Centric Ethereum: Ethereum now functions as a data availability and settlement layer, while most user activity occurs on rollups. This architecture supports over 100,000 transactions per second.
    • Interoperability and Composability: Rollups are increasingly interoperable, allowing seamless asset transfers and smart contract interactions across different Layer 2s.
    • Decentralized Applications at Scale: From social media platforms to real-time multiplayer games, rollups have enabled dApps that were previously impossible on Layer 1 due to cost and latency.

    Learn more: Understanding layer 2 & scaling solutions: Arbitrum, Boba, Optimism, Polygon, Ethereum 2.0

    What is the current state of Ethereum 2.0?

    Ethereum 2.0—now simply referred to as Ethereum—has completed its major transition phases and entered a new era of scalability and decentralization. Here’s a snapshot of its current state:

    • Proof-of-Stake Fully Operational: Since the Merge in September 2022, Ethereum has run entirely on Proof-of-Stake. Validator participation remains high, with over 1 million active validators and a network participation rate consistently above 99%.
    • Sharding Completed: As of late 2024, Ethereum successfully launched 64 shards, dramatically improving data throughput and enabling lightweight node operation. This has made it possible to run validator nodes on consumer-grade devices.
    • Rollup-Centric Architecture: Most user activity now occurs on Layer 2 rollups, which post data back to Ethereum using blob transactions introduced in the Cancun-Deneb upgrade. This architecture supports over 100,000 transactions per second.
    • Post-Merge Upgrades: Ethereum has progressed through the “Surge” (scaling via sharding), and is actively implementing the “Scourge,” “Verge,” “Purge,” and “Splurge”—a series of upgrades focused on censorship resistance, stateless clients, historical data cleanup, and protocol refinement.
    • Staking and Withdrawals: Withdrawals have been enabled since the Shanghai (Shapella) upgrade in April 2023. Staking remains popular, with yields averaging 3.5–5% annually depending on network conditions.
    • EVM Improvements: The Ethereum Virtual Machine has seen multiple enhancements, including support for Verkle trees and EOF (EVM Object Format), improving efficiency and developer experience.

    How to set up an Ethereum Validator Node

    Check out our LIVE demonstration on how to set up an Ethereum 2.0 Node

    How to set up an Ethereum 2.0 node

    I’ve also set up something called an Ethereum validator node for Ethereum 2.0. These nodes will be how Ethereum would run and how transactions are going to be validated in the future. So we’re going to explore all of these concepts as well in this guide.

    Currently you can test out Ethereum staking on the ETH 2.0 Testnet set up by Prysmatic labs (aka Topaz). Since it’s a test, Ethereum will not be used, instead, it will use Göerli ETH, a free testnet version of ETH.

    Time needed: 2 days

    How to set up an Ethereum (ETH) Validator Node
    This guide has been adapted from the Prysm ‘Topaz’ Testnet Guide

    1. Get some Göerli ETH

      Göerli ETH is free to obtain and will be used to stake the 32 ETH required for the node. The easiest way to obtain the Göerli ETH is to use the social faucet.

    2. Spin up a Server

      You’ll need to be familiar with running a VPS server (you can use AWS, Hetzner or Linode). Recommended specs include an Intel Core i7 processor with 100 GB of SSD storage

    3. Start your Beacon Node

      Easiest way we found to do this is via Docker
      docker run -it -v $HOME/prysm/beacon:/data -p 4000:4000 -p 13000:13000 \ gcr.io/prysmaticlabs/prysm/beacon-chain:latest \ –datadir=/data

    4. Generating a validator keypair

      docker run -it -v $HOME/prysm/validator:/data \ gcr.io/prysmaticlabs/prysm/validator:latest \ accounts create –keystore-path=/data

      Complete the steps here to stake the ETH

    5. Starting up the validator client

      docker run -it -v $HOME/prysm/validator:/data –network=”host” \ gcr.io/prysmaticlabs/prysm/validator:latest \ –beacon-rpc-provider=127.0.0.1:4000 \ –keymanager=keystore \ –keymanageropts='{“path”:”/data”,”passphrase”:”changeme”}’

    6. Finish the activation

      Wait (roughly 2 days) to get activated, and then you’re good to go!

    Staking Ethereum on a validator node

    Ethereum now operates fully under Proof-of-Stake, and staking remains a core mechanism for securing the network and earning passive income.

    • Stake Requirement: 32 ETH is required to activate a validator. This stake acts as collateral to ensure honest behavior and network uptime.
    • Rewards: Annual staking yields range from 3.5% to 5%, depending on network conditions and validator performance. Rewards are paid in ETH and accumulate over time.
    • Withdrawals: Since the Shanghai (Shapella) upgrade in April 2023, stakers can withdraw both principal and rewards. Withdrawals are processed in queue and typically take hours to days.
    • Risks: Validators face penalties for downtime or incorrect attestations. Slashing is rare but possible in cases of malicious behavior or prolonged inactivity.
    • Network Health: As of August 2025, over 1 million validators are active, and more than 30 million ETH is staked. Participation rates consistently exceed 99%, ensuring robust security.
    • Liquid Staking Options: For users with less than 32 ETH or those seeking flexibility, platforms like Lido, Rocket Pool, and Coinbase offer tokenized staking (e.g. stETH, rETH) with instant liquidity and pooled validation.

    Ethereum Staking: Deposit contract address release

    The Ethereum staking deposit contract was officially released on November 4, 2020, marking the beginning of Phase 0 and enabling users to stake ETH and become validators. While the original launch required careful navigation through the Ethereum Launchpad, staking has since become more streamlined and widely accessible.

    As of 2025:

    • Deposit Contract Still Active: The original deposit contract remains the gateway for validator activation. Users must still follow the Launchpad process to generate keys and deposit 32 ETH securely.
    • Withdrawals Enabled: Since the Shanghai (Shapella) upgrade in April 2023, stakers can withdraw both rewards and principal. This has made staking more flexible and liquid.
    • Validator Growth: Over 1 million validators are now active, with more than 30 million ETH staked. Participation rates consistently exceed 99%, ensuring strong network security.
    • Liquid Staking Alternatives: Platforms like Lido, Rocket Pool, and Coinbase offer pooled staking and tokenized derivatives (e.g., stETH, rETH), allowing users to stake without the full 32 ETH requirement.
    • Security Reminder: Sending ETH directly to the deposit contract without using the Launchpad will still result in a failed transaction. Proper setup remains essential to avoid loss of funds or penalties.

    Ethereum Staking Update: Yields?

    Ethereum staking yields have stabilized following the full rollout of Proof-of-Stake and the Shanghai upgrade, which enabled withdrawals in April 2023.

    Risk Factors: While slashing remains rare, validators must maintain uptime and correct behavior to avoid penalties. Liquid staking platforms typically abstract these risks for users.

    Current APR: As of August 2025, the average annual percentage return (APR) for staking ETH ranges between 3.5% and 4.2%, depending on validator performance and network activity.

    Yield Trends: Early stakers enjoyed higher returns (up to 16% pre-Merge), but yields have normalized as validator participation increased. Over 30 million ETH is currently staked, with more than 1 million active validators.

    Liquid Staking: Tokenized staking options like stETH (Lido), rETH (Rocket Pool), and cbETH (Coinbase) offer competitive yields and instant liquidity, making them popular among users with less than 32 ETH.

    Rewards Distribution: Staking rewards are paid in ETH and accumulate continuously. Validators earn from proposing blocks, attesting to others, and participating in sync committees.

    You can check the current APR, total ETH staked, and number of validators here.

    Progress of Ethereum 2.0 so far

    Ethereum 2.0—now simply Ethereum—has completed its major upgrade phases and transitioned into a scalable, energy-efficient, and decentralized network. Here’s a summary of its progress:

    • Beacon Chain (Phase 0): Launched in December 2020, introducing Proof-of-Stake and laying the foundation for future upgrades.
    • The Merge (Phase 1): Completed in September 2022, merging the Beacon Chain with Ethereum’s mainnet and eliminating Proof-of-Work. This reduced energy consumption by over 99.9%.
    • Sharding (Phase 2): Rolled out in late 2024, Ethereum now operates with 64 shards, enabling lightweight node operation and dramatically increasing data throughput.
    • Post-Merge Upgrades: Ethereum has entered the “Surge,” “Scourge,” “Verge,” “Purge,” and “Splurge” phases—targeting scalability, censorship resistance, stateless clients, historical data cleanup, and protocol refinement.
    • Network Metrics: As of August 2025, over 30 million ETH is staked across more than 1 million validators. Participation rates remain above 99%, ensuring strong consensus and security.
    • Rollup-Centric Architecture: Most user activity now occurs on Layer 2 rollups, which leverage blob transactions for efficient data posting. Ethereum supports over 100,000 transactions per second.

    What’s next in the development of Ethereum 2.0?

    With the Merge and Sharding now complete, Ethereum has entered the post-2.0 era, focusing on refinement, decentralization, and long-term sustainability.

    Ethereum 2.0 setup and architecture

    The roadmap outlined by Vitalik Buterin continues through five major upgrade phases:

    • The Surge: Completed in late 2024, this phase introduced sharding and significantly boosted scalability. Ethereum now supports over 100,000 transactions per second, primarily through rollups.
    • The Scourge: Currently underway, this phase addresses MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) risks and aims to ensure fair, neutral transaction inclusion. Protocol-level changes are being tested to reduce centralization in block production.
    • The Verge: Focused on stateless clients and Verkle trees, this phase will allow validators to operate without storing full blockchain data. It’s expected to launch in stages through 2026, improving decentralization and node efficiency.
    • The Purge: Aimed at reducing historical data bloat, this phase will simplify node operation by removing unnecessary legacy data. It will also streamline the Ethereum protocol for developers.
    • The Splurge: A collection of smaller upgrades and optimizations, including EVM improvements, fee market refinements, and UX enhancements. These updates are ongoing and released incrementally.

    Updated Ethereum roadmap

    What will happen after ETH 2.0 is launched?

    Ethereum 2.0 is no longer a future milestone—it’s now fully integrated into the Ethereum protocol. The network has transitioned from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake, implemented sharding, and embraced a rollup-centric architecture. Here’s what has unfolded since the launch:

    • Scalability Achieved: Ethereum now supports over 100,000 transactions per second through a combination of sharding and Layer 2 rollups. This has eliminated congestion and dramatically reduced gas fees.
    • Energy Efficiency: The network consumes over 99.9% less energy than it did under Proof-of-Work, making Ethereum one of the most sustainable major blockchains.
    • Validator Participation: Over 1 million validators are active, securing the network with more than 30 million ETH staked. Lightweight node requirements have enabled broader participation.
    • Rollup Dominance: Most user activity now occurs on Layer 2 platforms like Arbitrum, Optimism, and zkSync. Ethereum Layer 1 serves primarily as a settlement and data availability layer.
    • Reduced Competition from “Ethereum Killers”: With its scalability and efficiency challenges resolved, Ethereum has maintained its dominance in DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 infrastructure. Competing chains have shifted focus to niche use cases or interoperability.
    • Ongoing Upgrades: Ethereum is now progressing through the “Scourge,” “Verge,” “Purge,” and “Splurge” phases, which aim to improve censorship resistance, decentralization, protocol simplicity, and developer experience.

    Eventually, the number of transactions per second will drastically increase to over 100,000 tps. So, the question would be, what would happen to the competition i.e. the “Ethereum killers”? Find out more in our article: Ethereum Merge is coming, is this the end of Ethereum killers?

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    Will Ethereum 2.0 replace Ethereum?

    No. Ethereum 2.0 was a series of upgrades that merged into the existing Ethereum network. The term is now outdated—Ethereum runs on Proof-of-Stake and sharding, but it’s still the same ETH.

    Is there a new ETH coin?

    No new coin was created. ETH remains the native currency. Beware of scams offering “ETH2” tokens—they don’t exist.

    Can I withdraw staked ETH?

    Yes. Since the Shanghai (Shapella) upgrade in April 2023, both staking rewards and principal can be withdrawn.

    What’s the current staking yield?

    As of August 2025, staking yields range from 3.5% to 4.2% annually, depending on network activity and validator performance.

    Do I need 32 ETH to stake?

    Not necessarily. While 32 ETH is required to run a validator node, liquid staking platforms like Lido, Rocket Pool, and Coinbase allow staking with smaller amounts.

    Is staking risky?

    Staking is generally safe, but validators can be penalized for downtime or malicious behavior. Liquid staking abstracts most of these risks for casual users.

    Will Ethereum gas fees be lower now?

    Yes. With sharding and rollups fully deployed, Ethereum can process over 100,000 transactions per second, significantly reducing gas fees.

    Can I run a validator on a regular device?

    Yes. Thanks to sharding and protocol optimizations, validators can now run on laptops or even mobile devices.

    What happened to Ethereum mining?

    Mining ended with the Merge in September 2022. Ethereum now uses Proof-of-Stake, and mining is no longer part of the protocol.

    Will exchanges or dApps be affected?

    No major disruptions occurred. Most exchanges and dApps transitioned smoothly during the upgrades.

    Is ETH staking taxable?

    Tax implications vary by country. In general, staking rewards are considered income and may be taxable when received.

    What’s next for Ethereum?

    Ethereum is progressing through the Verge, Purge, Scourge, and Splurge phases—focused on decentralization, data cleanup, MEV mitigation, and protocol refinement.

    Further reading

    Ethereum Foundation: https://ethereum.org/en/upgrades

    Pyrsmatic Labs: https://medium.com/prysmatic-labs/how-to-scale-ethereum-sharding-explained-ba2e283b7fce

    Ethereum Wallet holders: https://bitinfocharts.com/comparison/activeaddresses-eth.html

    Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risks and may result in the loss of your capital. You should carefully consider whether trading cryptocurrencies is right for you in light of your financial condition and ability to bear financial risks. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate widely in a short period of time. As such, trading cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, storing cryptocurrencies on a centralized exchange carries inherent risks, including the potential for loss due to hacking, exchange collapse, or other security breaches. We strongly advise that you seek independent professional advice before engaging in any cryptocurrency trading activities and carefully consider the security measures in place when choosing or storing your cryptocurrencies on a cryptocurrency exchange.

  • Risk Management and Psychology in Trading (Beginner’s Guide Series Part 2)

    Risk Management and Psychology in Trading (Beginner’s Guide Series Part 2)

    Welcome to the second part of our crypto trading guide series for beginners! In this article, we’ll tackle two critical pillars of successful trading: risk management and trader psychology. Mastering these skills ensures you can trade with consistency, avoid emotional pitfalls, and protect your capital for the long term. We’ll break down how to manage risk effectively, maintain emotional discipline, and understand the psychological journey of a trader.

    Understanding Risk Management and Psychology

    Risk management is about protecting your capital by controlling how much you’re willing to lose on each trade, while trader psychology focuses on managing your emotions to stay disciplined and consistent. Together, they form the backbone of profitable trading.

    Without proper risk management, even the best setups can wipe out your account, and without psychological discipline, fear or greed can derail your strategy. For beginners, we’ll focus on the following concepts:

    • 1% Risk Rule
    • Risk-to-Reward Ratios (RR)
    • Win Rates

    The 1% Risk Rule and Position Sizing

    The cornerstone of risk management is the 1% risk rule: never risk more than 1% of your portfolio on a single trade. This keeps losses small, allowing you to survive losing streaks and stay in the game long enough to profit. Let’s see how to apply this with an example.

    Example: BTC Trade Setup (May 8 2025)

    Let’s say we have a $10,000 portfolio, so our 1% risk is $100. On May 8, BTC has broken above previous Friday High and we’re looking to take a long at the retest of that key level at $97,868 while placing our stop-loss at previous Friday Low at $96,306.9 (1.6% drop from our entry).

    The first thing we should do is to calculate our position size.

    • Position Size = Risk Amount ÷ Stop-Loss Percentage

    In our example, that would be $100 ÷ 0.016 = $6,250. Our position size is $6,250, meaning we can buy $6,250 worth of BTC at $97,868.

    If the stop-loss hits at $96,306.9, we lose $100. If the take-profit hits at $100,000, we make $136.59. You can use TradingView or Bybit to calculate this!

    Figure 2. TradingView Long Position Tool
    Figure 3. Bybit Spot Order

    Different trading tools and exchanges will likely have different names for “portfolio” and “position size” on their interface. Just so that you are not confused with the terminologies:

    • “Account Size” on TradingView and “Available Balance” on Bybit refers to your portfolio.
    • “Lot Size” on TradingView and “Order Value” on Bybit refers to your position size.

    Using Leverage for Trading

    When your calculated position size exceeds your portfolio, leverage becomes a tool to bridge that gap, enabling you to take the trade without risking more than your 1% rule allows.

    In other words, if your account size is smaller than the position size needed for a trade, leverage lets you borrow funds to meet that position size. Let’s see how to use leverage effectively by determining the right leverage amount based on your account size and position size.

    Figure 4. SOLUSDT.P on Bybit

    Let’s say we have a $10,000 portfolio, so our 1% risk is $100. We’re looking to go long on SOL at $162.34 while placing our stop-loss at $161.34 (0.62% drop from our entry). This means our position size is $100 ÷ 0.0062 = $16,129.03. Since our position size is larger than our account size ($16,129.03 > $10,000), we will need leverage to take this trade.

    To determine the leverage needed, divide the position size by the account size: $16,129.03 ÷ $10,000 = 1.61x leverage.

    This means we can use 1.61x leverage on our $10,000 to achieve the $16,129.03 position size. Bybit is a strong choice for leveraged trades, as the platform allows you to customize your leverage settings with precise adjustments, such as 3.5x or 8.33x, helping you achieve your position size with accuracy.

    Alternatively, we could use a smaller portion of our account, say $5,000 (half of our portfolio), at a higher leverage to achieve the same position size: $16,129.03 ÷ $5,000 = 3.23x leverage. Either way, any leverage setting we use would still result in a $100 loss if our stop-loss at $161.34 is hit. This also means the profit would be the same in any leverage setting.

    This is the correct way to use leverage for trading. At the end of the day, it does not matter how high or low the leverage setting is as long as our risk is managed properly!

    Using Risk-to-Reward Ratio (RR)

    The risk-to-reward ratio (RR) measures the potential profit of a trade relative to its potential loss, expressed as a ratio. For example, a 2R trade (or 2:1) means you’re risking 1 unit of loss to potentially gain 2 units of profit—such as risking $100 to make $200. In the BTC trade example above, you can see that it was a 1.37R trade where we are risking $100 to make around $137 and in the SOL leveraged trade example as well where it was a 4.87R trade, risking $100 to make $487.

    In this guide, we use R to represent 1% of your portfolio, so a 2R setup risks 1% to gain 2%, and a 3R setup risks 1% to gain 3%.

    The rule of thumb in trading is to aim at least for a 1R setup. Focus on higher RR setups.This ensures that even with a lower win rate, your winners outweigh your losers. However, there are different strategies to go about this which we will discuss in the next section.

    Win Rate Strategies

    Figure 5. Risk:Reward & Win-Rate Cheatsheet by QuantVue (Source: TradingView)

    Win rates determine your long-term profitability, but they’re often misunderstood, especially by beginners who think a high win-rate means success. While a high win rate (e.g., 70%–80%) might seem like the key to profitability, it’s not the only factor. Your risk-to-reward ratio (RR) plays a crucial role in balancing your strategy.

    A high win rate with a low RR (e.g., 1R) can lead to smaller gains that don’t cover losses over time, while a lower win rate with a high RR (e.g., 3R or higher) can make you profitable even if you lose more trades. Refer to figure 5, if you are targeting for 1R setups only, you will need more than 50% win-rate to be profitable. On the other hand, if you are targeting for 3R setups only, you only need a 30% win rate.

    Different traders prefer different strategies based on their risk tolerance and trading style: some aim for a high win rate with 1R setups, focusing on consistency and frequent small wins, while others target 3R or higher setups with a lower win rate, prioritizing larger gains per trade to offset more frequent losses.

    The Psychological Journey: Loss Aversion

    Trader psychology is a rollercoaster, and for beginners, one of the biggest challenges is dealing with losing streaks, especially when trading live. Loss aversion—a powerful cognitive bias—makes the pain of losing feel twice as intense as the joy of winning, according to behavioral finance research by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky in their Prospect Theory. This bias can lead beginners to hold onto losing trades too long, hoping for a reversal, or to exit winning trades too early out of fear of losing gains, resulting in poor risk-reward outcomes.

    Imagine you’re a beginner with a $5,000 portfolio, following the 1% risk rule, risking $50 per trade. You take 10 trades, but hit a losing streak of five trades in a row. After the first loss, your account drops to $4,950, and the sting of that $50 loss hits hard—emotionally, it feels much worse than a $50 gain would feel good. By the fifth loss, your account is down to $4,754.95, a total loss of $245.05. Despite the 1% rule keeping your financial risk small, the emotional toll of losing streak after losing streak can be overwhelming.

    Research shows that 70%–80% of traders experience heightened emotions during market volatility, often leading 40% of retail traders to exit trades prematurely due to fear, according to a 2025 study on forex trading psychology. This stress can cause beginners to question their strategy, even when it’s statistically sound, and may push them toward impulsive decisions like revenge trading—taking larger positions to “make back” losses—or quitting altogether.

    In live trading, even with good risk management, the stress of a losing streak can test your mental fortitude. The key question is: do you have the mental fortitude to continue trading through the inevitable losses, trusting your strategy’s edge over time, or will loss aversion derail your journey?

    Conclusion

    Risk management and psychology are about consistency, not perfection. The most important principle is to always risk the least to make the most, using the 1% rule, high RRR setups, and hedging to keep losses small and profits significant. Psychologically, accept that you’ll go through cycles—losing streaks will test your mental fortitude, but with discipline, you can become a full-time trader. Start with small risks, like $50 on a $5,000 portfolio, and focus on learning through real trades. Stay tuned for the next part of our series on confirmation vs. deviation!

  • Identifying Key Levels in Price Action Trading (Beginner’s Guide Series Part 1)

    Identifying Key Levels in Price Action Trading (Beginner’s Guide Series Part 1)

    Welcome to one of the most essential skills in price action trading: identifying key levels. These are specific price points on a chart where the market tends to react, either by reversing, consolidating, or breaking out. For beginners, mastering key levels means you can make smarter trading decisions with just a few simple lines on your chart. In this guide, we’ll break down what key levels are, how to identify them, and how to use them with recent examples from Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). Let’s dive in!

    4 Types of Key Levels

    Before we start, let’s understand the four types of key levels you’ll encounter:

    1. Technical Key Levels: These are based purely on technical analysis (TA) and price action—your bread and butter as a trader.
    2. Weekly Levels: These are tied to weekly market sessions, specifically Monday highs, Monday lows, Friday highs, and Friday lows, reflecting the opening and closing of traditional stock markets.
    3. Psychological Levels: These are round numbers that retail traders focus on, like $100,000 for BTC or $4,000 for ETH. They’re popular because they’re easy to spot and often trigger buying or selling.
    4. Event-Based Levels: These are tied to major market events, like Federal Reserve announcements or crypto-specific news (e.g., ETF approvals). They’re less common but can influence price action.

    For beginners, we’ll focus on technical key levels and weekly session key levels in this article, as they’re the most reliable and practical for everyday trading. We’ll also use recent BTC and ETH examples to show how these levels work in real markets.

    Identifying Technical Key Levels

    Technical key levels are price points where the market has shown significant reactions—think strong bounces, rejections, or breakouts. To find them, you’ll create ranges on your chart, which consist of three main components: range low, range high, and mid-range. Here’s how to spot them:

    • Range Low: This is a swing low where the price bounces strongly after a dump. It acts as support.
    • Range High: This is a level where the price faces resistance, often rejecting or breaking out after a rally.
    • Mid-Range: Defining a mid-range is not necessarily the halfway point between the range low and range high, but rather a “loose” S/R level where price often finds reactions. Price action is almost always volatile around this key level and requires careful analysis.

    Let’s walk through a step-by-step process using a recent BTC example. I will also be referring to specific dates in the images below. But since I do not want to clutter the chart, you can open your TradingView to refer to those dates if you want to follow along without any confusion!

    Example: Bitcoin’s Technical Key Levels (February-May 2025)

    Figure 1. BTCUSDT.P on Bybit (1D Timeframe)

    From February to May 2025, BTC was trading in a range between $78,210.5 (range low) and $95,058.7 (range high). Now I know what you’re thinking: price has dumped to as low as $74,456.2 and pumped to as high as $97,868 (marked by the yellow semi circles), but how are those price points not considered as range low and range high? These are called “deviations” and we will explain this in the next article (you don’t need to know this yet as they are for actual trade executions, whereas identifying key levels is generally the strategy part).

    Range Low ($78,210.5): From February 24 to February 28, BTC dumped from $96,536.3 to $78,210.5 with almost no sustaining buying pressure. But from February 28 to March 2, BTC bounced sharply from $78,210.5 to $95,058.7. This strong bounce confirms $78,210.5 as the range low, acting as support.

    Range High ($95,078.7): Shortly after BTC rallied to $95,078.7, price failed to go any higher and rejected strongly the following days. What makes this an even stronger range high is the fact that price nearly retested the $96,536.3 price point on February 24 which triggered the sharp dump in the first place.

    Mid-Range ($87,178): The middle of this range, around $87,178, saw choppy price action. It primarily acted as a “mini resistance” from March 7 to April 20 where price rejects every time it retested $87,178. But on April 21, the daily candle closed above the mid-range which showed buying strength, and the following day BTC pumped to as high as $94,000 after retesting the mid-range on market open. From there on, the mid-range acts as a support if price reverses from the range high. This is also known as a higher time frame (HTF) support/resistance (S/R) flip region, as it’s significant on both 4-hour and daily charts.

    The Tricky Thing about Mid-Range

    Mid-ranges can change as price action develops over time. Look at the chart below and you will see that there was another mid-range at $85,023.4 (marked by the yellow dotted line). Price found its way there after the rejection off of range high and had another strong bounce to $92,781.6 before reversing to the downside again and retesting the range low.

    Figure 2. BTCUSDT.P on Bybit (1D Timeframe)

    The yellow dotted line was the S/R region before April 21. But after the breakout on April 21 and more importantly the strong continuation on April 22, we now see the bigger picture – there is an imbalance of liquidity created by the buyers on April 21 and 22. At some point in the future, it is likely those areas will get filled which overlaps with the current mid-range (white dotted lines).

    Anyways, the most important principle you have to remember is the more reactions the key level have seen, the more valid they are as a key level, and this is especially applicable to mid-ranges. The current mid-range of BTC as shown above still saw multiple rejections same as the previous mid-range.

    What Happens If Price Breaks Out of Range?

    Figure 3. ETHUSDT.P on Bybit (3D Timeframe)

    From January 22, 2024 to March 3, 2025, ETH was trading in a range between $2,167.17 and $4096.21. For the longest time, the range low held strongly as an HTF support – price had bounced sharply from the range low 3 times. But on March 9, 2025, price has completely broken below the range low and failed to reclaim it the following week. This means the yellow-lined ranges are no longer in play.

    In such situations, we will need to look further back to identify previous pivot points and establish our new key levels.

    Figure 4. ETHUSDT.P on Bybit (1W Timeframe)

    Going all the way back to January 2022, we have marked out previous pivot points and used those areas as our new key levels for ETH.

    New Range Low ($877.7): Price dumped from $3,581 to $877.7 and then strong bounce from there to $2,029.4. Remember, the first swing low often serves as the range low.

    New Range High ($3,581): Marked from the initial dump at $3,581 in April 2022. You can also use the previous range high at $4,096.21 (figure 4) as the current range high – there’s nothing wrong with that! However, if you look closely, you will notice the price action above $3,581 are “swing failure patterns” which you will learn in the next article along with “deviations”.

    New Mid-Range ($2,155): Notice how the previous range low (figure 3) coincides with our new mid-range. Yes! More often than not, new mid-ranges come from previous range lows (if bearish) and previous range highs (if bullish).This is because it is in the nature of mid-ranges to play the critical role of S/R flip regions. Look closely and you will see that before January 2024, $2,155 was a strong resistance for ETH until it flipped support from there on until the collapse on March 9, 2025.

    Now let’s bring up both the yellow and white ranges and you will see the full picture.

    Figure 5. ETHUSDT.P on Bybit (1W Timeframe)

    So in terms of our current play for ETH, until the current mid-range at $2,155 is reclaimed, there is a possibility that the range low, though not guaranteed, will be retested.

    Identifying Weekly Session Key Levels

    Weekly levels are based on significant price points from the start and end of the trading week—specifically Monday highs, Monday lows, Friday highs, and Friday lows. These levels reflect the opening and closing dynamics of traditional markets and are often respected in crypto trading as well. They’re excellent for short-term trades, helping you set precise entry points, stop-losses, and take-profit targets. Plus, they can act as liquidity zones where market makers might target stop-losses, so you’ll need to watch for potential traps.

    Let’s look at a real-world example using Bitcoin (BTC) on a 4-hour chart from early May 2025. The chart marks key weekly levels from the previous week and the start of the current week, giving us a clear framework to work with.

    Figure 6. BTCUSDT.P on Bybit (4H Timeframe)

    Previous Friday High ($97,868.0): This was the highest price on the last trading day of the previous week (May 2). It acts as a resistance level.

    Previous Friday Low ($96,306.9): The lowest price on that Friday, serving as a support level.

    Monday High ($95,149.0): The highest price on Monday, May 5, 2025, acting as a potential resistance or target.

    Monday Low ($93,460.2): The lowest price on Monday, serving as a key support level.

    Here’s how these levels played out and how you can use them in your trading:

    • Friday Levels as a Range: The Previous Friday High ($97,868.0) and Low ($96,306.9) form a range that price often respects. On May 2, the price reached $97,868.0 but rejected sharply, dropping to $95,500.0 by May 3. This rejection confirms the Friday High as a strong resistance. The price then consolidated near the Friday Low ($96,306.9) on May 4, showing that this level acted as support during the decline.
    • Monday Levels as Support/Resistance: On Monday, May 5, the price dropped to the Monday Low ($93,460.2) early in the session, marking a significant support level. It then bounced sharply, rallying to the Monday High ($95,149.0) later that day. The Monday Low held as support when the price retested it on May 6, bouncing to $94,500.0. Meanwhile, the Monday High ($95,149.0) acted as resistance on May 7, where the price wicked above but rejected back down to $94,300.0.
    • Trading Application: Let’s say you’re looking to trade on May 6 after the price bounces from the Monday Low ($93,460.2). You could enter a long position at $93,600.0, targeting the Monday High ($95,149.0) or even the Previous Friday Low ($96,306.9) for a higher reward. Place your stop-loss just below the Monday Low, around $93,300.0, to protect against a breakdown. This setup gives you a high reward-to-risk (RR) ratio: the distance to $96,306.9 (2,706.9 points) is much larger than your risk (300 points), yielding a 9:1 RR.
    • Liquidity Traps: Notice the wick below the Monday Low ($93,460.2) on May 5, dropping briefly before bouncing. This is a classic liquidity grab—market makers likely pushed the price below to hit stop-losses before reversing. Similarly, the rejection at the Previous Friday High ($97,868.0) on May 2 trapped breakout buyers. Be cautious around these levels, as wicks often signal traps.

    How to Use Weekly Levels in Practice?

    If the price holds above the Monday Low ($93,460.2), look for longs targeting the Monday High ($95,149.0) or Previous Friday Low ($96,306.9). If it breaks below, consider shorts targeting the next support, like $92,500.0 (a recent swing low). For stop-losses, place them just outside the weekly levels—below the Monday Low for longs, or above the Friday High for shorts—to avoid being caught in liquidity grabs.

    Tips for Weekly Levels

    • Mark the Levels: Use UTC timezone to identify Monday and Friday key levels. On the chart, draw lines at the highs and lows of those candles. For example, the Monday High ($95,149.0) and Low ($93,460.2) on May 5 are clear markers for the week.
    • Watch for Reactions: Look for rejections, bounces, or breakouts at these levels. The rejection at $97,868.0 (Previous Friday High) and the bounce from $93,460.2 (Monday Low) show how price respects these zones.
    • Combine with Other Levels: Weekly levels work best when paired with technical levels (like mid-ranges or HTF S/R flips). For instance, if the Monday Low aligns with a mid-range, it’s an even stronger support.

    Ever since ETFs for BTC and ETH have been approved, large institutional players have become involved with trading BTC and ETH. This makes weekly levels a powerful tool for short-term trades. They give you clear targets and stop-loss zones, but always be mindful of liquidity traps, as seen with the wicks around these levels.

    Conclusion

    The most important principle to take away from identifying key levels in price action trading is that the more reactions a key level has seen, the more valid and reliable it becomes. Whether it’s a range low, range high, mid-range, or weekly level, the significance of a price point grows with each bounce, rejection, or breakout it experiences, as these reactions reflect the market’s memory and the involvement of both retail and institutional players.

    Key levels give you clarity by giving structure to the market’s historical data. But remember, this is just the planning part. Even if you have mastered this part at identifying key levels, the actual trade executions can be very different. We will cover this in the next article.

  • Taiko ($TKO) Token Airdrop Guide: Phase 1 airdrop confirmed!

    Taiko ($TKO) Token Airdrop Guide: Phase 1 airdrop confirmed!

    Taiko is a ZK-EVM scaling solution for Ethereum, similar to zkSync and StarkNet. Taiko token airdrop has been confirmed and Phase 1 of the airdrop has begun! In this article, we will explain what Taiko is and how to position yourself for the $TKO airdrop.

    Check out our EXCLUSIVE Taiko Airdrop trip to farm mainnet for FREE!

    Taiko ($TKO) Airdrop Step-by-Step Guide

    Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get a potential Taiko ($TKO) token airdrop:

    1. Add Taiko Network to MetaMask
    2. Claim Faucet Tokens
    3. Bridge Testnet Tokens
    4. Deploy a Smart Contract to Taiko A1
    5. Run a Node on Taiko
    6. Complete Galxe Tasks

    See below for more details.

    What is Taiko?

    Taiko is building a decentralized and Ethereum-equivalent (Type 1) ZK-EVM. Taiko’s goal is to scale Ethereum in a manner that emulates it as closely as possible – both technologically and ideologically. They have raised $22 million across two funding rounds and launched their latest testnet (Alpha-3) in their mission to build a decentralized and Ethereum-equivalent (Type 1) ZK-EVM.

    The Taiko alpha-3 testnet is the latest update and is a significant milestone on the journey towards a decentralized, Ethereum-equivalent ZK-EVM. This testnet will be critical in testing much of the network design and components. It’s also known as Grímsvötn. The primary purpose of the alpha-3 test network is to evaluate the economic design and implementation of new protocols, including new fee/reward structures.

    Technical Overview of Type-1 ZK-EVM

    Ethereum-equivalent ZK-Rollups, also known as ZK-EVMs, are the ideal layer-2 scaling solution as they do not sacrifice security or compatibility. Taiko aims to be a type-1 ZK-EVM, putting perfect EVM/Ethereum equivalence over ZK proof generation speed.

    The various types of ZK-EVMs can be distinguished by how closely they adhere to Ethereum’s architecture at the base layer, such as the Merkle Patricia Tree for the state trees, the execution client specification, and the gas costs for each opcode.

    These ZK-EVMs make compromises between compatibility and proof generation cost, with Type 1 ZK-EVMs prioritizing compatibility over cost. This type is also known as “Ethereum-equivalent” because it does not alter any aspect of the Ethereum architecture, including the hash function, state trees, and gas costs. This allows existing execution clients to be reused with minimal modifications.

    Who is the Team behind Taiko?

    Taiko Labs is co-founded by Daniel Wang, the founder and former CEO of Loopring — an EVM DEX protocol powered and scaled by zero-knowledge proof technology. In July 2022, Wang brought in Brecht Devos, his former Chief Architect at Loopring, to lead the project’s zero-knowledge research and development team. As of now, the company has more than twenty people across thirteen countries with most people having an engineering and cryptography background.

    Does Taiko have a Token?

    Yes, Taiko Labs confirmed it in their white paper that they will have a Taiko Token ($TKO). The protocol mints $TKO to reward block verifiers. The token is transparent to L2 users, providing a seamless user experience equivalent to that on the Ethereum chain.

    Users will pay transaction fees in ETH, and block proposers will receive these fees for each block they successfully propose. In return, block proposers must burn a certain amount of $TKO to participate in the protocol, and pay ETH to Ethereum validators for block inclusion in L1 blocks.

    Taiko Alpha-1 Testnet – Confirmed Airdrop Strategy

    Taiko launched their Alpha-1 Testnet in late December 2022. It consists of two networks: Taiko A1, a fully decentralized Ethereum-equivalent ZK-Rollup, and Ethereum A1, the latter serving as the L1 network. The testnet includes L1 and L2 nodes with the Taiko protocol contracts deployed and a mining interval of 12 seconds. In their user document, Taiko has a guide for what users can do in the testnet, which strongly hints at a potential airdrop strategy.

    On 22nd May 2024, Taiko ($TKO) launched its Phase 1 airdrop, with 5% of the initial token supply up for grabs!

    The best way to receive $TKO airdrop is to bridge tokens between Ethereum A1 and Taiko A1, deploy smart contracts, and run a node. Completing these steps puts you in a great position to be eligible for an airdrop. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

    1. Add Taiko Network to MetaMask

      You can automatically add Taiko A1 and Ethereum A2 to your MetaMask at their wallet configuration page. If it doesn’t work, you can instead manually add the networks at their RPC configuration page.

    2. Claim Faucet Tokens

      After adding the network to your MetaMask, you will need testnet tokens to interact with their protocol. Go to l1faucet.a1.taiko.xyz for Ethereum A1 ETH, and l2faucet.a1.taiko.xyz for Taiko A1 ETH. You will need to make a Tweet and put your wallet address in the post. Copy your Tweet’s link and paste on the request box as shown in the image below. This is to prevent bots from abusing the faucet.

    3. Bridge Testnet Tokens

      Now you can use the bridge to transfer assets between Ethereum A1 and Taiko A1. As a prerequisite, you will need some testnet ETH on either A1 networks. Some transfers may take a while, but you can check your transactions in their bridge contracts.

    4. Deploy a Smart Contract to Taiko A1

      You will need to install Foundry to deploy a smart contract on Taiko A1. You only need to have the private key to an account that has some ETH on Taiko A1 to pay the small transaction fee for deploying the contract. It should only take about 15 minutes. Taiko has a complete guide on this here.

    5. Run a Node on Taiko

      According to the team, this is the most important part of the testnet, as Taiko is a community-driven protocol. This step alone has the highest chance to get you qualified for a potential airdrop. The complete guide is on their user document. But if you are still confused, a contributor on their Discord channel posted a detailed guide on setting up a node for windows.

    Taiko Alpha-2 Testnet – Confirmed Airdrop Strategy

    Here’s how to potentially receive an airdrop in Taiko’s Alpha-2 Testnet:

    1. Add Sepolia и Taiko (Alpha2 Testnet) to Metamask.
    2. Claim testnet tokens using Sepolia Faucet and Horse/BLL.
    3. Add these 2 token contract addresses to your wallet: Bull Token — 0x6048e5ca54c021D39Cd33b63A44980132bcFA66d and Horse Token — 0xCea5BFE9542eDf828Ebc2ed054CA688f0224796f.
    4. Connect your wallet to Taiko bridge.
    5. Transfer tokens from Sepolia to Taiko A2. To do this, go to the “Bridge” tab, choose the Sepolia Network, and choose your token type and amount. Then, click on “Bridge”. Remember to also transfer the $HORSE and $BLL tokens!
    6. Transfer tokens from Taiko A2 to Sepolia. This is basically the same steps as point 5 above.

    How to Receive Potential $TKO Airdrop for Taiko Alpha-3 Testnet

    Here’s how to potentially receive an airdrop in Taiko’s Alpha-3 Testnet:

    1. Add Sepolia Network to Metamask.
    2. Add Taiko (Alpha-3 Testnet) to Metamask.
    3. Get Sepolia ETH at either https://sepolia-faucet.pk910.de, faucet-sepolia.rockx.com or sepoliafaucet.com.
    4. Connect your wallet to the Taiko Faucet and mint 50 Bull ($BLL) and 50 Horse ($HORSE) tokens. If you don’t see these tokens in your Metamask it may be because you have not added the token address. Click “Import tokens” on your Metamask and input the token details.
    5. Go to Taiko Bridge and bridge $ETH, $BLL and $HORSE from the Sepolia to Taiko network. You may need to increase the gas in order to avoid the transaction failing.
    6. Claim your transfer by going to the Transaction page and clicking “Claim”. Then, confirm the transaction on Metamask.
    7. Complete tasks on Taiko’s Galxe page. Tasks include answering their quizzes, bridging and swapping funds.

    Taiko Quiz Answers

    Here are the answers for the Taiko Quizzes on their Galxe page:

    Exclusive: How to farm Taiko Mainnet for free!

    Taiko is currently running Season 1 of their Trailblazers campaign which will end on 16th September 2024. As Taiko has launched its mainnet, you would usually need to use real funds to complete the tasks for the potential airdrop. However, with our EXCLUSIVE tips and tricks, you can farm the Taiko airdrop for FREE! Here’s how to farm the Taiko potential airdrop for free:

    • Connect wallet to https://crackandstack.com/
    • Play Crack & Stack. Crack & Stack is a PvP game that rewards you in ETH for mining as quickly as possible and avoiding the goblins. You have 10 free games per day.
    • With your earned ETH, transact on platforms such as World of Dypians and 0xAstra.
    • Transact on World of Dypians by claiming the free boxes.
    • Transact on 0xAstra by collecting daily logins.
    • You can also use the ETH earned in Crack & Stack to cover any transaction fees on Taiko mainnet. This way, you will not need to bridge your ETH to Taiko or deposit real funds to the platform.

    TIP: On Crack & Stack, the objective is to mine as fast as you can. However, do not be greedy until you have around 20 seconds on the timer as you want as much movement speed as you can. Your inventory space will start flashing yellow so your movement speed will be a little bit slower, but not slow enough for people to kill you. It also does not matter if you die in the game because you will still earn ETH on your wallet.

    Taiko token airdrop eligibility criteria?

    Taiko proposers, provers, bridgers, users (including Galxe users) and developers are eligible for the Taiko token airdrop. GitHub contributors and Loopring community members that meet the specified conditions are also eligible. Note however the activities are weighted and a score is assigned to them. You will only be eligible if you meet the minimum score and any conditions set by the Taiko team.

    How to check your eligibility for the Taiko token airdrop?

    Here’s how to check your eligibility for the Taiko token airdrop:

    1. Go to https://claim.taiko.xyz/
    2. Click “Check eligibility” at the top of the page
    3. Connect your wallet (e.g. MetaMask) and GitHub account, if any.
    4. Bind your wallet and GitHub account.

    Note that users have 7 days i.e. until 30th May 2024 to check their eligibility. Once the claim window is open, eligible users will have 1 month to claim their TKO tokens.

    Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: Taiko has a guide for what users can do to interact with their testnet, which strongly hints at a potential airdrop strategy.

    Airdropped Token Allocation: Taiko confirmed they will have a token known as $TKO, but the tokenomics are unknown.

    Airdrop Difficulty: The latest Taiko Alpha-3 Testnet only requires you to use testnet funds to bridge, which is relatively simple. Deploying a smart contract and running a node on Taiko however, may need a bit more technical knowledge.

    Token Utility: The $TKO utility is unknown.

    Token Lockup: The $TKO token lockup is unknown.

  • Polygon zkEVM (MATIC) Token Airdrop Guide: LIVE NOW!

    Polygon zkEVM (MATIC) Token Airdrop Guide: LIVE NOW!

    Polygon recently launched its own zkEVM mainnet, and co-founder Sandeep Nailwal hinted on Twitter that there could be a MATIC airdrop for users! In this article, we will briefly explain what Polygon zkEVM is and what you can do to position for a potential airdrop.

    Polygon zkEVM Airdrop Step-by-Step Guide

    Here’s how to get the Polygon zkEVM Airdrop:

    1. Add Polygon zkEVM to MetaMask
    2. Bridge to Polygon zkEVM
    3. Interact with Polygon zkEVM DApps
    4. BONUS: trade on Satori Finance
    5. DOUBLE BONUS: Join in the zkEVM saga with Intract x Polygon to get free NFTs

    See below for more in-depth details!

    What is Polygon zkEVM?

    Polygon zkEVM is a Layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum that leverages the scaling power of zero-knowledge proofs while maintaining Ethereum compatibility, similar to zkSync and Linea. Developers and users on Polygon zkEVM can use the same code, tooling, and apps that they use on Ethereum, but with much higher throughput and lower fees. This allows Ethereum-based DApps to scale more efficiently, which is critical for mass adoption of DeFi.

    What’s the Difference Between Polygon zkEVM and Polygon?

    The original Polygon functions as a sidechain that runs parallel to the Ethereum mainnet, whereas Polygon zkEVM uses a ZK-Rollup architecture that is built on top of Ethereum. The key distinction is that Polygon is EVM compatible but Polygon zkEVM has total EVM equivalence. The latter is focused on being a near-perfect replica of Ethereum’s execution environment, which means it uses ETH instead of MATIC for gas fees.

    Is There an Airdrop for Polygon zkEVM?

    Yes, it is very likely there will be an airdrop for Polygon zkEVM users. Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, strongly hinted on Twitter that there will be a huge MATIC airdrop for zkEVM users. He also compared the current development of Polygon zkEVM to Arbitrum, which took more than a year to mature. This means that we are currently at the early stage, allowing users plenty of time to perform on-chain activities that would qualify them for the airdrop!

    How to Get the Polygon zkEVM Airdrop?

    The best way to get the MATIC airdrop is to interact with the Polygon zkEVM mainnet. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

    1. Add Polygon zkEVM to MetaMask

      Go to ChainList and add Polygon zkEVM to MetaMask. It is launched on Mainnet Beta, which means you will need ETH for gas fees.

    2. Bridge to Polygon zkEVM

      If you have funds on the Ethereum network, you can bridge ETH from Ethereum to Polygon zkEVM via the Native Bridge.

      Alternatively, if you have funds on Arbitrum and/or gas fees are too high, you can also use other third-party bridges recommended by Polygon, such as Orbiter Finance. Using Orbiter Finance, in particular, refunds 60% to 70% gas fees back to you.

    3. Interact with Polygon zkEVM DApps

      Here are the top DApps in Polygon zkEVM ranked by total value locked (TVL). Try to perform transactions consistently every week as frequency of smart contract interaction is an important criterion to qualify for the airdrop:

      Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs):
      1. Quickswap
      2. Kokonut Swap
      3. Dove Swap
      4. Mantis Swap

      Lending Protocol
      1. 0vix

    4. Interact with Quickswap

      Here’s how to interact with Quickswap. First, connect your wallet to Quickswap Exchange. Make sure you have switched the network on Polygon zkEVM. Then, go to the Swap section and (1) Swap ETH for USDC; and (2) Swap the same amount of ETH for WETH. Afterwards, go to their Pool, select ETH and USDC tokens as the token pair, approve the tokens and add liquidity.

    5. Interact with Kokonut Swap.

      Here’s how to interact with Kokonut Swap. First, connect your wallet to Kokonut Swap. Make sure you have switched the network on Polygon zkEVM. Then, go to their Swap page and swap ETH to USDC.

    6. Interact with Dove Swap

      Here’s how to interact with Dove Swap. Connect your wallet to Dove Swap and make sure you are on the Polygon zkEVM network. Then, swap ETH for USDT.

    7. Interact with Mantis Swap.

      Interact with Mantis Swap by going to their website. Then, connect your wallet and make sure you are on the zkEVM network. Finally, swap USDC to USDT.

    8. Interact with 0vix

      To interact with 0vix, connect your wallet to their website and make sure you are on the Polygon zkEVM network. On the Supply Markets, supply a small amount of ETH and click “Supply”.

    9. BONUS: Trade on Satori Finance

      Satori Finance is a protocol on Polygon zkEVM (as well as zkSync, Linea and Scroll). To trade on Satori Finance, connect your wallet to https://satori.finance/, making sure that you are on the Polygon network. Then, go to “Portfolio” and deposit some trades. Next, go to the “Trade” tab and do some trades.

    10. DOUBLE BONUS: Join in the zkEVM saga with Intract x Polygon to get free NFTs

      Connect your wallet to the Quest Page and complete the tasks to get a free NFT. Tasks include signing messages, following social accounts and posting Tweets. Finally, click “Get your NFTs” and follow the instructions on your wallet to mint your free NFT. Note you will need to pay gas fees in ETH

    Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: Although not confirmed, it is very likely there will be a MATIC airdrop for Polygon zkEVM users, according to Sandeep Nailwal.

    Airdropped Token Allocation: There is no confirmation on the token allocation, but Nailwal said that it would be a “massive” airdrop.

    Airdrop Difficulty: Simply bridge to Polygon zkEVM and interact with QuickSwap and other high TVL DEXes. You will need real ETH to perform these tasks.

    Token Utility: MATIC is the native token of the Polygon blockchain. Although Polygon zkEVM uses ETH for gas fees, it is likely MATIC will be airdropped as rewards.

    Token Lockup: No mentions of token lockup.

  • Arbitrum ($ARB) Token Airdrop: Arbitrum Odyssey how to guide

    Arbitrum ($ARB) Token Airdrop: Arbitrum Odyssey how to guide

    Arbitrum will airdrop over 1 billion $ARB tokens to its protocol users on March 23, 2023. The snapshot was taken in February, and at least three criteria must be met to qualify for the airdrop. Find out if you’re eligible and how to claim your Arbitrum token airdrop below.

    Check out our LayerZero Airdrop Guide for another highly anticipated token airdrop.

    Arbitrum ($ARB) Airdrop Step-by-step Guide

    Here’s how you can potentially claim your $ARB tokens faster and buy, sell, or trade your $ARB before everyone else:

    1. Make your own RPC endpoint on Alchemy.
    2. Pre-approve the token contract.
    3. Have sufficient ETH ready.
    4. Know where to trade $ARB.

    See below for more details.

    What is Arbitrum?

    Arbitrum is a layer-2 scaling solution designed to lower network congestion and transaction costs of Ethereum by offloading tons of computation and data storage from the main chain. It does this via the use of optimistic rollup — transactions on Ethereum are bundled up and transferred to a proprietary sidechain on Arbitrum (a secondary blockchain connected to the main chain). The transactions are then processed and sent back to the main chain after validation.

    source: ethereum.org

    What is an Optimistic Rollup?

    The optimistic rollup is the core element of Arbitrum. For those who do not know what an optimistic rollup is, we got you covered with a simple explanation.

    Optimistic rollups assume all transactions as valid, hence an “optimistic” outlook. There is a time period during which users can dispute any suspicious transactions contained in a bundle. If a fraudulent transaction is detected, a fraud proof is executed which basically runs the correct transaction computation using the data on the main chain.

    Since optimistic rollups do not perform any computation by default, it offers massive improvements in scalability. On the downside, potential fraud challenges of optimistic rollups could lead to delays in transactions, since progress comes to a halt until it the dispute is resolved.

    Arbitrum’s Version of Optimistic Rollup

    To provide context, optimistic rollups are compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and Solidity, which allow developers to port Ethereum-native smart contracts to rollups or even use existing tooling to create new decentralized applications (DApp). But for Arbitrum, it has its own virtual machine called Arbitrum Virtual Machine (AVM).

    Arbitrum’s AVM greatly improves optimistic rollups because it stores very little data on-chain for optimal scalability. Moreover, to address potential delays due to fraud challenges, the AVM uses pipelining to process multiple disputes, while verification nodes help speed up the process.

    This is called multi-round fraud proofs. Arbitrum uses a fine-combing approach to verify fraud proofs. It focuses on a particular point of disagreement over transaction history. Additionally, layer-2 transactions are not entirely executed on the main chain, rendering gas block limits irrelevant. As a result, this translates to higher network performance.

    Who is the Team behind Arbitrum?

    Arbitrum is developed by Offchain Labs, a New York-based startup committed to building innovative Ethereum scaling solutions. The company originated from the computer science research department of Princeton University, co-founded in 2018 by Harry Kalodner, Steven Goldfeder, and Ed Felten.

    In September 2021, Offchain Labs raised $120 million in a Series B funding round from the likes of Alameda Research, Pantera Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and many other major crypto venture capitals. The team has since then expanded to a global community of developers, academics and operators, with deep experience in cryptography, decentralized systems, and game theory.

    Leading DApps on Arbitrum Ecosystem

    Arbitrum’s layer-2 network allows developers to build and deploy highly scalable smart contracts at low cost, while benefitting from Ethereum’s robust layer-one security. Since its launch last year, the Arbitrum ecosystem has greatly expanded, ranking 6th in all chains total value locked with 129 integrated protocols.

    source: news.cryptorank.io/

    Some of the top decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols include Uniswap, Curve, Aave, Balancer, and SushiSwap. Additionally, Arbitrum is not without its native protocols built on the blockchain which include GMX, Radiant, Dopex, and Vesta Finance.

    $ARB Token

    $ARB will solely function as a governance tool for the Arbitrum protocol, unlike ETH which is used to pay fees on both Ethereum and Arbitrum. The governance process of Arbitrum DAO will be autonomous, allowing votes to directly modify the core code of Arbitrum.

    The total supply will be 10 billion, with the Arbitrum community controlling 56%. The airdrop will distribute 12.75% (i.e. 1.275 billion $ARB) to eligible users on 23rd March 2023. The rest of the community tokens will be allocated to a treasury governed by the Arbitrum DAO, allowing ARB holders to vote on fund disbursement.

    The remaining 44% will be given to Offchain Labs’ investors and employees, who developed Arbitrum. These tokens will be subject to lock-up periods and vesting schedules. Notably, the proportion of ARB reserved for insiders is higher compared to similar projects, such as Optimism, which allocated 36% of its OP tokens to investors and core contributors.

    $ARB Airdrop Eligibility: How to claim Arbitrum $ARB token airdrop

    According to Nansen, 625,143 wallet addresses are eligible for the Arbiturm $ARB token airdrop. You can check on arbitrum.foundation to see if you are eligible. If you are eligible, Arbitrum will directly airdrop to your wallet on 23rd March 2023. There are 6 airdrop criteria, and at least 3 must be met based on a snapshot taken on 6th February 2023 in order to qualify for the airdrop:

    1. Bridge to Arbitrum

      Bridged assets into Arbitrum One or Arbitrum Nova.

    2. Transactions Over Time

      Conduct transactions at least 2 months prior to the snapshot taken in February. The longer the timeframe, the more tokens you will receive.

    3. Transaction Frequency and Interaction

      Conduct more than 4 transactions or interact with more than 4 smart contracts. The higher the number, the more tokens you will receive.

    4. Transaction Value

      Conduct transactions with more than $10,000 in aggregate value. The higher the value, the more tokens you will receive.

    5. Assets Bridged to Arbitrum One

      Deposit more than $10,000 worth of assets to Arbitrum One. The more assets you deposit, the more tokens you will receive.

    6. Activity on Arbitrum Nova

      Conduct more than 3 transactions on Arbitrum Nova. The more transactions are carried out, the more tokens you will receive.

    How to claim Arbitrum ($ARB) token faster?

    Arbitrum has confirmed its airdrop can be claimed on 23rd March 2023 when the Ethereum chain reaches block 16890400. It is very likely that the Arbitrum network will be very congested during that time as users are anxiously waiting to get their tokens to potentially trade on exchanges. However, there are ways to be faster at the Arbitrum airdrop claim, and how to buy, sell or trade your $ARB before anyone else. Note however this carries risks. You may risk ending up being slower than others, lose your gas fees and even your $ARB, so proceed with caution. Here’s how you can potentially claim your $ARB tokens faster and buy, sell, or trade your $ARB before others:

    1. Make your own RPC endpoint on Alchemy.
    2. Pre-approve the token contract.
    3. Have sufficient ETH ready.
    4. Know where to trade $ARB.

    Make your own RPC endpoint on Alchemy

    Here’s how to make your own RPC endpoint on Alchemy:

    1. Sign up for Alchemy here.
    2. Create an app for Arbitrum. Make sure you select “Arbitrum” under “Chain”.
    3. Click “View Key” on the main page. There, you will get an RPC https URL.
    4. Add a network on MetaMask. Go to “Settings”, “Networks”, “Add network” and “Add network manually”. Under “New RPC URL”, enter the RPC https URL from Alchemy. Then under “Chain ID” enter 42161, “ETH” as the Currency Symbol, and “https://arbiscan.io” under Block Explorer.

    Pre-approve the token contract

    To be even faster than everyone else in claiming $ARB, you can pre-approve the Arbitrum token contract on protocols such as 1inch and Uniswap. To do this, go to the $ARB smart contract and click “Write as Proxy”. Then, connect your wallet. Under spender, fill in the address for either Uniswap or 1inch. Finally, fill in the number of $ARB you want to trade with that smart contract. For example, filling in 20000000000000000000000 will mean you are approving 20,000 $ARB to be traded.

    Have sufficient ETH ready

    This is to pay for gas fees when trading $ARB. Note you will have to bridge your ETH to Arbitrum.

    Know where to trade $ARB

    These exchanges have confirmed they will offer trading for $ARB:

    • ByBit (Sign up here!)
    • Binance
    • Bitfinex
    • Kucoin
    • OKX
    • Bitmart
    • Bitfinex
    • Huobi
    • Bitget
    • Bitrue
    • Gate.io
    • MEXC

    Will there be another Arbitrum $ARB token airdrop?

    Arbitrum’s latest Tweet announces a return of the Arbitrum Odessey. The Arbitrum Odessey was a 7 week journey filled with tasks to complete in order to obtain badges. These badges are NFTs which may lead to future rewards.

    The upcoming round of Arbitrum Odyssey will begin on 26th September at 12:00pm EDT.

    Arbitrum Odyssey: How to guide

    The Arbitrum Odyssey is a new round of activites involving the Arbitrum ecosystem and a chance to collect custom badges starting on 26th September at 12:00pm EDT. There is speculation that participating in this 7-week journey may result in a potential airdrop as a reward. Here’s our ultimate how to guide to completing the tasks on the Arbitrum Odyssey.

    Week 1- Enter the Odyssey

    Go to the Arbitrum Galxe Page and complete any of the following tasks in their list. Then, mint your Enter The Odyssey NFT.

    Week 2- Signs of Life

    Here’s our how to guide for completing the tasks on week 2 of the Abritrum Odyssey

    • Complete tasks on Tofu NFT Galxe page. This includes following their Twitter and selling/buying an NFT on their platform.
    • To sell/buy an NFT on Tofu NFT, go to https://tofunft.com/arbi and connect your wallet. Scroll down to “Discover” and apply the following search filters: Type- Fixed price, Sort- Price: Low to High. Buy the cheapest NFT or list some NFTs for sale.
    • Mint your Signs of Life NFT.
    • Complete Pulsar in the Distance task on Galxe. Connect your wallet to Abroad Exchange. Deposit funds by clicking on the top right-hand corner and “Deposit”. Then, make a perpetual trade on Abroad Exchange. Be careful when trading because you may be at risk of liquidation, and you will be using real funds! Mint your Pulsar in the Distance NFT.

    Week 3- Pulsar in the Distance

    Here’s our how to guide for completing the tasks on week 3 of the Abritrum Odyssey

    Go to Abroad Exchange and deposit funds on the exchange. Then, make a perpetual trade. Note that you will be using actual funds for this. Finally, return to their Galxe page and mint your NFT.

    Arbitrum Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: Arbitrum will airdrop $ARB to eligible users on 23rd March 2023.

    Airdropped Token Allocation: 1.275 billion $ARB (12.75% of the total token supply) will be distributed in this airdrop.

    Airdrop Difficulty: The criteria listed are fairly easy to complete.

    Token Utility: The token will solely function as a governance tool for the Arbitrum protocol.

    Token Lockup: 44% of the tokens allocated to the team and investors are subject to a 4-year lockup.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What is Arbitrum?

    Arbitrum is a layer-2 scaling solution. It aims to reduce Ethereum’s network congestion and transaction costs. Arbitrum does this by offloading computation and data storage from the main chain.

    When is the Arbitrum token launch?

    The Arbitrum token was launched on 23rd March 2023.

    How do I claim Arbitrum ($ARB) tokens?

    Arbitrum will airdrop $ARB tokens directly to your eligible wallet address via MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, Brave or Ledger.

    How to be eligible for the Arbitrum ($ARB) airdrop?

    There are 6 airdrop criteria, and you must meet at least 3 to qualify for the airdrop: (1) bridged to Arbitrum One or Arbitrum Nova, (2) conduct transactions at least two months before the snapshot in February, (3) conduct at least 4 transactions or interact with at least 4 smart contracts, (4) conduct transactions with at least $10,000 in aggregate value, (5) deposit at least $10,000 on Arbitrum One, (6) conduct at least 3 transactions on Arbitrum Nova.

    How do I check if I am eligible for the Arbitrum ($ARB) airdrop?

    To check your eligibility, go to arbitrum.foundation and connect your wallet. Then click “Check eligibility”.

    When can I claim the Arbitrum $ARB token airdrop?

    the $ARB token airdrop can be claimed on 23rd March 2023 when the Ethereum chain reaches block 16890400

    What is the fastest way to claim the Arbitrum $ARB token airdrop?

    Here’s how you can potentially claim your $ARB tokens faster and buy, sell, or trade your $ARB before others:
    1. Make your own RPC endpoint on Alchemy.
    2. Pre-approve the contract.
    3. Have sufficient ETH ready.
    4. Know where to trade $ARB.

    Note however this carries risks. You may risk ending up being slower than others, lose your gas fees and even your $ARB, so proceed with caution.

    Where can I buy Arbitrum token?

    You can buy, sell or trade the Arbitrum token on following cryptocurrency exchanges: ByBit (Sign up here!), Binance, Bitfinex, Kucoin, OKX, Bitmart, Bitfinex, Huobi, Bitget, Bitrue, Gate.io, MEXC.

    What is the Arbitrum token price?

    As of 24th March 2023, Arbitrum token price is US$1.40. Its all-time high price was US$8.67, and an all-time low of US$1.11.

    What is the Arbitrum token contract?

    The Arbitrum token contract is: 0x912ce59144191c1204e64559fe8253a0e49e6548

  • Orbiter Finance Token Airdrop Guide: Huge gains to be made!

    Orbiter Finance is the hottest bridge for emerging layer-2 blockchains right now. They have confirmed they will issue a token. No airdrop has been officially announced yet, but it IS hinted. This means that no snapshot has been taken yet, and early users can potentially earn huge airdrop rewards. In this article, we will explain what Orbiter Finance is and what you can do to position yourself for their potential airdrop.

    Orbiter Finance Airdrop Step-by-step Guide

    Here’s how you can get a potential Orbiter Finance token airdrop:

    1. Connect your MetaMask or other Ethereum/Polygon/zkSync/Arbitrum wallet.
    2. Select the chain you want to send your assets to.
    3. Complete the transaction.
    4. Get Discord Roles
    5. Claim Orbiter Pilots NFT

    See below for more details.

    What is Orbiter Finance?

    Orbiter Finance is a decentralized bridge that supports cross-rollup transfers between Ethereum and other layer-2 blockchains such as zkSync and Arbitrum. Users can move ETH, USDC, USDT, and DAI between those supported networks.

    It is secured by a series of smart contracts that involves two roles: Sender and Maker. The Maker provides liquidity for the transfer initiated by the Sender. If the Maker does not carry out their role, the Sender can initiate an arbitration request to the contract with the Maker’s margin and receive compensation for any excess losses.

    Does Orbiter Finance have a Token?

    Orbiter Finance does not have a token yet, as they are currently focusing on developing the protocol and improving user experience. However, in a recent Tweet, they strongly hinted at issuing a token as well as a possible airdrop. Moreover, Orbiter Finance has closed its first round of funding with participation from Tiger Global, A&T Capital, StarkWare, and even Vitalik Buterin. As such, DeFi projects backed by major players tend to launch a token after product completion.

    How to Receive Potential Orbiter Finance Token Airdrop?

    The best chance to receive Orbiter Finance token airdrops is to bridge ETH or stablecoin assets between the 11 supported networks. Here’s how to get a potential Orbiter Finance airdrop:

    1. Connect your MetaMask or other Ethereum/Polygon/zkSync/Arbitrum wallet.
    2. Select the chain you want to send your assets to.
    3. Complete the transaction.

    Although it is recommended to bridge assets frequently to increase your airdrop chances, there will be a transaction fee. However, Orbiter will modify its fees based on the Gwei of the destination network to maintain a fee that is below the average, but this will not happen frequently due to the volatile nature of gas fees. The sender can view the current fee on the Orbiter website.

    Get Discord Roles

    Get higher ranking roles on Orbiter Finance’s Discord by completing tasks on their Guild page. The requirements for the Orbiter Finance roles are as follows:

    1. Member: Connect your wallet to the Guild page.
    2. Flying Alien: Have the UFO emoji in your Twitter username and follow Orbiter Finance’s Twitter.
    3. Trainee Pilot: Complete 3-9 transactions on Orbiter Finance.
    4. Pilot: Complete 10-49 transactions on Orbiter Finance.
    5. Elite Pilot: Complete 50-99 transactions on Orbiter Finance.
    6. Expert Pilot: Complete 100-499 transactions on Orbiter Finance.
    7. Ace Pilot: Complete 500 transactions or more on Orbiter Finance.

    You can check the number of transactions by connecting your wallet here. Note that the allowlist is only updated once a week on Mondays, so you will need to check the Guild page frequently. You must have a role of Trainee Pilot or above in order to be included in their allowlist.

    Claim Orbiter Pilots NFT

    Orbiter has created an NFT series for Orbiter Pilots (i.e. Orbiter users). There are 5 NFTs based on your Discord role. To claim your Orbiter Pilot NFT, connect your wallet to their Galxe Page and click “Claim”. Note you will need MATIC to pay for gas fees when claiming your NFTs.

    Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: There is no confirmation of a token launch and airdrop by Orbiter Finance, but they hinted in their Tweet that they are considering issuing a token as well as a potential airdrop.

    Airdropped Token Allocation: Since there is no token launch yet, tokenomics data are not available.

    Airdrop Difficulty: If there is a potential airdrop, the steps to be eligible is fairly easy. All you have to do is connect your wallet on their platform and bridge assets to another chain. It is recommended to do this frequently, but be cautious of transaction fee.

    Token Utility: Since there is no token launch yet, token metrics are not available.

    Token Lockup: Since there is no token launch yet, tokenomics data are not available.

  • ether.fi ($ETHFI) Token Airdrop Guide: Last chance for more points!

    ether.fi ($ETHFI) Token Airdrop Guide: Last chance for more points!

    ether.fi is a liquid staking protocol that is currently conducting its Early Adopter Programme. Users who staked ETH on the platform can earn bonus points, which could translate to an airdrop once the token is launched. The snapshot will be taken in mid-April, so don’t miss it!

    ether.fi ($ETHFI) Airdrop Step-by-Step Guide

    Here’s how to receive the $ETHFI token airdrop:

    1. Connect your wallet to the ether.fi mainnet.
    2. Stake ETH or ETH-pegged assets.

    See below for more in-depth details!

    What is ether.fi?

    ether.fi is a decentralized staking protocol that allows users to earn rewards by delegating staking to node operators. It is unique in that it is the only liquid staking protocol where stakers keep control of their keys while delegating staking to node operators and earning rewards. Users can deposit their ETH, wstETH, rETH, cbETH, sfrxETH into their Early Adopter Programme and earn rewards.

    The project’s smart contracts have been audited by reputable blockchain security firms CertiK and Zellic. They have also implemented a bug bounty program to incentivize security researchers to find vulnerabilities in their smart contracts.

    Project Funding

    Ether.fi has completed a $5.3 million funding round co-led by investors North Island Ventures (NIV) and Chapter One. The funding will be used to hire more engineers for the team and pursue further partnerships in addition to its current relationships with node operators such as Kiln and Finoa.

    Does ether.fi Have a Token?

    Yes, ether.fi is planning to launch its liquid staking derivative token $ETHFI. It will also function as a governance tool for the community.

    How to Get the $ETHFI Airdrop?

    As part of the ether.fi Early Adopter Programme, users who have staked ETH on the platform can earn bonus points, which could translate to an airdrop once the token is launched. The snapshot will be taken mid-April. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

    1. Connect Your Wallet to ether.fi

      Connect your MetaMask or other supported wallets to the ether.fi mainnet. Make sure the page is on “Early Adopter”. You can see this on the top middle of the screen.

    2. Stake ETH or ETH-pegged Assets

      You can stake ETH, rETH, cbETH, wstETH or sfrxETH on their Early Adopter Pool to earn loyalty points. The deposit amount may not be lower than 0.1. Once ether.fi is fully launched, you will be able to migrate your deposit to EtherFi staking.

      Loyalty points will help boost your staking rewards when ether.fi mainnet launches on 2nd May 2023.

      When ether.fi mainnet launches on 2nd May 2023, your staking rewards will be increased if you decide to stake with them and have loyalty points. There may also be a potential for extra airdrop!

      Keep in mind your points will reset after each deposit. You can withdraw at any time with no penalty, but you will lose your bonus points in doing so.

    Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: ether.fi is currently conducting its Early Adopter Programme. Users who have staked ETH on the platform can earn bonus points, which could potentially convert to an airdrop upon the token’s launch.

    Airdropped Token Allocation: Their tokenomics is not yet available.

    Airdrop Difficulty: All you have to do is stake ETH or ETH-pegged assets on the platform. Make sure you have enough ETH to cover gas fees.

    Token Utility: $ETHFI is a liquid staking derivative token which also functions as a governance tool for the protocol.

    Token Lockup: Their tokenomics is not yet available.