Frank Bolella


<p>The Web3 industry — <a href="https://a16zcrypto.com/content/article/why-web3-matters/">defined as</a> the internet owned by the builders and users, orchestrated with tokens — has been growing exponentially over the past several years. While it’s clear that the world around us has embraced Web3, what about higher education?</p>



<p>In 2021 alone, blockchain-related job postings saw a <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-job-posts-on-linkedin-rocketed-395-in-2021">surge</a> of nearly 400%.&nbsp;</p>



<p>And while we’ve seen a handful of universities offer Web3 educational opportunities, most institutions are <em>still </em>reluctant to deploy resources to study and teach decentralized finance and Web3 at scale.</p>



<p>Web3-deficient universities will continue to disappoint students if they don’t start seriously integrating Web3 education into their curricula — and they need to act now.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why universities are still<em> </em>hesitant to embrace Web3</h2>



<p>Having seen firsthand how some universities fail to embrace new trends, I understand their hesitation: Why should we invest time and resources into something that may not even be around in five years?&nbsp;</p>



<p>Given the fluid regulatory environment, the prevalence of malicious actors, and the disregard for responsible risk management, the return on investment for Web3 coursework may not be as attractive as corporate strategy or data science, for example.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The aforementioned risks of exploring fast-developing Web3 technologies can be countered by emphasizing that many courses in business technology are themselves dated by at least a few years. Although there may be a few exceptions, reading a case study that is 10-20 years old is unlikely to provide relevant insights and can be seen as a somewhat trivial exercise.</p>



<p>Don’t get me wrong, there are some lessons to be learned by analyzing a case study on how executives would have employed a different growth strategy many years ago — but there is still a clear problem at hand in most universities’ aversion to further Web3 literacy.</p>



<p>Academia focuses on how to employ dated business and technology solutions to dated business problems. Given the speed at which technology and business are evolving, academia should decrease the latency in their curricula and focus on how to employ modern business and technology solutions to modern business problems. And there’s a need to do it at scale — immediately.</p>



<p>Still not convinced that universities should act now to embrace Web3?&nbsp;</p>



<p>Let’s take blockchain out of the equation and take social media as an example. Looking back on the early 2000s, do you think it would’ve made sense for educators to discuss and consider the disruptive nature of social media and its capabilities? Do you think it would have been worthwhile to teach students how to leverage their critical thinking abilities to develop use cases for how this technology could help businesses obtain a competitive advantage?&nbsp;</p>



<p>The answers here are rhetorical, but it’s clearly time for universities to catch up with the times.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Universities should’ve adopted and supported the Web3 revolution…yesterday</h2>



<p>Is there really a business need for Web3 features in today’s economy?</p>



<p>As previously mentioned, there was a 395% increase in blockchain-related job postings in 2021, with the number of companies hiring increasing by about <a href="https://cryptojobslist.com/blog/2022-crypto-jobs-report">10.5% in 2022</a> despite the market downturn. Despite such strong growth, just <a href="https://www.banklesstimes.com/cryptocurrency/resources/universities-offering-blockchain-and-crypto-degrees/">14 universities</a> in the United States currently offer blockchain and crypto courses.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If universities offered formal and experiential educational opportunities in Web3 to their students, career centers could likely increase their job placement rates alongside market growth rates. Job placement rate is a critical key performance indicator for professional schools, so why not strive to increase it?</p>



<p>Another point for universities to consider when discussing Web3 is an important one: salaries. While Web2 and Web3 startup salaries are comparable in the United States, the real differentiation comes in the form of equity and upside potential in Web3 — especially if you’re an <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/08/31/crypto-startup-salaries-heres-how-much-devs-and-others-get-paid/">early employee</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Web3 initiatives are not just for increasing current job placements, they are a long-term investment for universities. For employees, premium compensation packages provide the financial ability to donate to their alma mater. For universities, this could mean a higher alumni donation participation rate and donation amounts —&nbsp;think of it like a delayed student experience satisfaction metric. Like any technology, though, these equity compensation premiums may soon decrease as more employees enter the job market.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Challenging the norm</h2>



<p>I’m a strong proponent of learning through practical and relevant experiential education. Formal course content takes time to develop and deliver: Learning methods like mentorship programs or event attendance can be put forward as alternatives.</p>



<p>I would encourage university administrators, faculty, and students to explore attending or hosting an industry conference. Even if there aren’t resources readily available <em>on </em>or <em>near</em> campus, there’s often a way to attract talent <em>to</em> campus.</p>



<p>Universities have significant brand equity, so partnering with nearby accelerators, incubators or other entrepreneurship or innovation centers can be beneficial for students, universities and outside entities. While they are usually not 100% Web3 focused, these events offer an opportunity for students and educators to surround themselves with like-minded individuals who are exploring new frontiers and embracing the latest technology to build and optimize their ideas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">There’s still hope</h2>



<p>There’s no doubt Web3 is here to stay.&nbsp;</p>



<p>And while most universities missed the first phase of adoption, they should now rush to explore both formal and informal coursework and experiential learning opportunities to equip students with the skills to build and manage Web3 businesses — it is what’s best for universities, students, businesses and innovation at large.&nbsp;</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>


<div class="wp-block-post-author-biography">Frank Bolella is a co-founder of Metafide, an MBA Candidate at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and a co-president of the Fuqua Blockchain Club. Prior to Fuqua, Frank was a Strategy &amp; Operations Consultant at Slalom where he specialized in helping his clients achieve their strategic and operational goals through technology. Frank is a startup advisor and community builder that has been engaged in the blockchain space since 2017. Frank earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Boston University.</div>


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Universities Have Almost Missed the Boat on Web3

Ornella Hernandez

<div id="highlights-block_62f271a0d591e" class="highlights">
        <ul>
                <li>Students can unlock a bundle of courses as holders of an NFT collection</li>
                <li>One Decentralien NFT is worth 7 Sol, or $291, on the Magic Eden marketplace</li>
            </ul>
    
</div>



<p>A membership NFT grants the owner access to an exclusive community, and may reward its members with loyalty perks like merchandise or discounts. Nas Academy, the education technology platform founded by vlogger Nuseir Yassin, aims to reward a certain NFT community with its online courses.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In partnership with Invisible College, an e-learning platform focused on Web3, Nas Academy will enable holders of the Solana-based NFT project Decentraliens to take courses on Web3 and crypto. To join Invisible College, you’ll need to hold at least one Decentralien NFT.</p>



<p>One of the advantages of an NFT-based membership is that students can then sell the Decentralian NFT once they have completed the courses, and receive a return on their tuition investment, or recoup the value of the course. The NFT can then be used again by another would-be student.</p>



<p>Alex Dwek, chief operating officer of Nas Academy, told Blockworks that Nas Academy is committed to driving adoption of Web3 through education with the Invisible College network.&nbsp;</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p><strong>“Together we plan to build the largest community of learners, builders and investors to help serve the wider web3 ecosystem.&#8221;</strong></p></blockquote>



<p>Invisible College has been operating as a Web3 educational source since December 2021, using NFTs as a form of tuition credit for access to recorded lessons, fireside chats and lectures ranging from “Intro to Web3” to “Investing in the Metaverse.”</p>



<p>Invisible College co-founder Nick deWilde said in a statement that “combining a catalog of high-quality courses with an NFT collection is a fundamentally new way to empower students to own their education,” and he owes it to Web3 technology.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now it’s joining forces with Nas Academy, which is mostly known as a resource for emerging content creators. Offering certificates in social media and video editing, the academy also has a growing selection of courses for the crypto curious investor or creator.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Classes ranging anywhere from $49 to $597, normally paid via credit card or crypto, will be free for Decentralien NFT holders starting on Sept. 1. Some of the titles include “How to Launch an NFT Project” taught by influencer Zeneca and “Bored Ape Yacht Club, Explained” by a BAYC investor.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Students may benefit from cohort-learning or group based instruction, live interactive sessions and monthly Zoom meetups with crypto experts.</p>



<p>The startup recently <a href="https://twitter.com/nasdaily/status/1551911274547621888?s=20&amp;t=OsBUkskNyNnITovpSiPXIQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised $12 million</a> in a Series B funding round with participation from investors such as Pitango, BECO Capital, FTX and HOF Capital.</p>



<p>Additionally, as education moves increasingly online, more traditional educators, such as textbook publishers Pearson, do not want to fall behind. The firm’s CEO Andy Bird recently <a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/pearson-says-blockchain-could-make-it-money-every-time-e-books-change-hands-1.1799825" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> Bloomberg that it is considering using blockchain and NFT technology to take a cut from second hand sales of its online textbooks and materials.</p>



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Nas Academy To Launch Token-gated Web3 Courses

Aaron Ahmadi


<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A quick primer on proof-of-stake&nbsp;</h3>



<p><a href="https://blockworks.co/news/proof-of-stake-investors-guide">Proof-of-stake (PoS)</a> describes blockchains that rely on an internal token (‘stake’) to achieve network consensus. This is different from traditional proof-of-work blockchains, which rely on mining with computational power and use an external resource, such as energy, to achieve network consensus. </p>



<p>Proof-of-stake uses a fraction of the energy cost that <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/what-is-proof-of-work">proof-of-work (PoW)</a> uses, enabling thriving DeFi ecosystems to operate with sustainable environmental usage.</p>



<p>By decoupling from an external source, proof-of-stake networks offer token holders “skin-in-the-game” incentives through staking. As the paradigm has grown popular in Web3 ecosystems, more user-friendly implementations have been created to simplify the process.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Most proof-of-stake networks support two methods of staking tokens:&nbsp;</p>



<p>1. Staking&nbsp;</p>



<p>2. Delegating&nbsp;Factors determining which to choose include a token holder’s level of technical expertise, the number of tokens they have available, and the effort they’re willing to invest.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What is staking?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Blockchain networks are decentralized. So, how does a proof-of-stake network remain secure and free from centralized control? Moreover, who decides which blocks get added to the ledger?&nbsp;</p>



<p>The answer to all of these is staking.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Staking rewards participation in proof-of-stake protocols. It aligns network security with individual incentives.</p>



<p>Stakers allocate their tokens to a validator node. Once tokens are staked, they are locked up and essentially untouchable for a period of time. The time required to unlock staked tokens depends on the network they are locked in. The time it takes for staked tokens to be accessible is variable and should be considered when staking.&nbsp;Successful validators have the right to bundle and process transactions into blocks on the blockchain. Their efforts are rewarded with the blockchain’s native crypto tokens.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The case for staking</h3>



<p>Staking is an alternative to the traditional proof-of-work consensus model that networks such as Bitcoin use. It has become the default model for many blockchains, including <a href="https://blockworks.co/tag/ethereum">Ethereum</a>, <a href="https://blockworks.co/tag/solana">Solana</a>, and <a href="https://blockworks.co/tag/avalanche">Avalanche</a>. While most benefits of staking apply to both staking and delegation, deciding between the two paths is straightforward, as each was created to appeal to a specific kind of participant. The setup, security, and maintenance of a validator node are not difficult for those with some degree of familiarity with the subject, so the technical barrier to entry isn’t typically high. This makes staking directly an attractive option for retail that’s interested in Web3 and wants to participate actively.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Should you choose staking or delegating?</h4>



<p>At a high level, staking generally provides higher returns than delegation, but it requires significant additional effort and is a more active activity. Conversely, delegation generally provides lower yields but requires minimal effort and is a more passive activity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Staking requires the token holder to set up a validator node and maintain the process. This is popular among individuals with relevant skills who prefer to manage their validators.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Delegation is a convenient, low-risk alternative for individuals or institutions looking for an easy process without logistical limitations such as node management or operation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>When delegating, a token holder ‘delegates’ their tokens to a trusted validator. This allows the token holder to take a share of the rewards without any of the setup and maintenance. The token holder always retains full control and ownership of their tokens, which are allocated to the validator for staking purposes.</p>



<p>Some delegation platforms also guarantee a node is completely owned by the delegator, just operated by the platform, to preserve the autonomy and influence of delegators over their stake.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Delegation is becoming a very popular option across blockchains, as it is more attractive for many users.&nbsp;</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Energy cost</h4>



<p>Compared to its predecessor, proof-of-stake has significantly lower energy costs. Instead of elaborate mining rigs and expensive GPUs, running a proof-of-stake node simply requires using your internet-connected computer — and staking pools are even less demanding.&nbsp;In addition to resource efficiency, proof-of-stake offers a range of use cases that aren’t compatible with a proof-of-work model, like sharding.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Scalability</h4>



<p>Sharding form of database partitioning where large “blocks” are split into smaller, faster blocks. These shards eliminate the need for each node to process the transaction load of the entire network. </p>



<p>Proof-of-work, by comparison, requires each node to process every ever-growing block. Shards work in parallel to maximize transactions per second—requiring less processing power and storage per node. Sharding allows the network to scale its transaction throughput by a multiple of the number of shards a chain uses.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Ease of operation</h4>



<p>Running a blockchain node can be complicated for beginners, but proof-of-stake minimizes this complexity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You don’t need banks of mining nodes, you only need to run a single validator. Plus, accessible solutions like Blockdaemon’s <a href="https://www.blockdaemon.com/nodes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">node management platform</a> simplify things even further. You just need enough cryptocurrency and the right infrastructure partner to start securing rewards. </p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Rewards</h4>



<p>Staking lets token holders secure rewards on tokens that would otherwise be idle. Because of that, it is a popular investment model. </p>



<p>While a number of factors can affect your expected reward, it’s common to gain 6% to 12% returns across DeFi protocols. This is advantageous for both finite-supply assets and for outpacing inflation on higher-issuance assets and fiat currencies.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Airdrop eligibility</h4>



<p>Airdrops, or ‘stakedrops’, are a fun and lesser-known advantage of staking. New projects often airdrop tokens to validators on their chain. This means that stakers on popular chains are often the first beneficiaries of innovation.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Boost network security&nbsp;</h4>



<p>The more holders that stake, the more secure the network becomes. With more validators processing transactions and checking other validators’ work, malicious actors and modified blocks can be dealt with increasingly efficiently.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Participate in governance</h4>



<p>Depending on each blockchain’s specific implementation of PoS, validators hold varying degrees of network influence. Typically, there are consistent stake benchmarks that grant validators a specific amount of power. For example, to run one node on the coming ETH 2.0, one must stake 32 ETH per node.</p>



<p><br>With staking pools, those nodes can be broken down into smaller portions split between all participants that pool their resources to operate nodes together.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How to start staking</h3>



<p>The first step in becoming a validator is to decide which network to stake on. This decision depends on which assets and networks you believe will thrive in the long term and which align with your investment ethos.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Once decided, a prospective validator can set up a node, stake their tokens on their chosen blockchain and enjoy the benefits.&nbsp;</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Delegating to a trusted validator</h4>



<p>For institutions looking for scale or for users unfamiliar with the technical processes and security standards of staking, delegating stake to an established validator makes the process simple.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, Blockdaemon has validator nodes for more than 50 blockchains and supports quick and secure delegated staking on protocols like:&nbsp;</p>



<p>● Solana ($SOL) – High-performance blockchain that lets builders build and use dApps globally – <a href="https://solanabeach.io/validator/FQwewNXahV7MiZcLpY6p1xhUs2acVGQ3U5Xxc7FzV571" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></p>



<p>● Cosmos ($ATOM) – Ecosystem of interoperable and sovereign blockchain apps and services – <a href="https://www.mintscan.io/cosmos/validators/cosmosvaloper10nzaaeh2kq28t3nqsh5m8kmyv90vx7ym5mpakx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a> </p>



<p>● Livepeer ($LPT) – Platform for decentralized video streaming – <a href="https://explorer.livepeer.org/accounts/0x4712e01e944802613de3a0a6d23274e7e0243015/orchestrating" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a> </p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Using a liquid staking solution</h4>



<p>Traditional staking locks a validator’s crypto in a smart contract that has a chain-dependent delay in unstake time. To ensure validators can unstake and access their crypto freely, liquid staking solutions have been developed by different protocols and companies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Liquid staking allows delegated validators to shoulder the unstake wait times and grant users instant access to funds instead of making them wait. This way, users can enjoy both the yield-farming benefits and the flexibility of instant fund access.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Examples of Liquid Staking Protocols</h4>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://medium.com/osmosis-community-updates/osmosis-superfluid-staking-faq-a7b49797cb72" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Osmosis Superfluid Staking</a> &#8211; “Reverse” liquid staking using tokens already circulating in DeFi protocols</li>



<li><a href="https://medium.com/acalanetwork/acala-launches-first-liquid-staking-product-for-polkadot-kusama-in-partnership-with-blockdaemon-5258546c2483" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acala Liquid Staking</a> on Polkadot &#8211; the first liquid staking product in the Polkadot ecosystem</li>



<li><a href="https://lido.fi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lido Liquid Staking</a> for Ethereum &amp; Solana &#8211; multi-platform liquidity for staked assets</li>



<li><a href="https://blockdaemon.com/liquid-staking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blockdaemon and StakeWise</a>&nbsp;Institutional Liquid Staking Solution &#8211; fully compliant institutional-grade staking on ETH2</li>
</ol>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Final Considerations</h3>



<p>All investment models should be carefully weighed against one’s risk tolerance and ethical convictions, but staking has a few method-specific risks:</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Slashing</h4>



<p>The biggest risk to staking is slashing or losing your principal staking amount due to being pegged as a “bad actor” on the network. When a smart contract detects an attempt to manipulate the blockchain or network, it programmatically punishes perpetrators by forfeiting their staked amount.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Validators not attempting to maliciously change or exploit the network should have nothing to worry about, but with different expectations on each network, it can be tricky to remain compliant. Additionally, validators who fail to perform their functions (due to internet outages, for example) may also be at risk of slashing mechanisms, depending on the blockchain.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Slashing insurance</strong> has been introduced by delegated validators, like <a href="https://blockdaemon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blockdaemon’s 100% slashing insurance</a> guarantee, to resolve the risk of slashing.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Lockups</h4>



<p>Lockups are the default staking mechanism for most blockchains. With some lockup periods taking days or weeks to withdraw from, fund accessibility is important to consider. Liquid staking solutions resolve this risk.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Further Reading</h3>



<p>This Investor’s Guide was sponsored by Blockdaemon. It’s an easy-to-use, secure and scalable node management platform that secures over $10 billion in staked assets and supports more than 50 chains and protocols. A few include:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://solanabeach.io/validator/FQwewNXahV7MiZcLpY6p1xhUs2acVGQ3U5Xxc7FzV571" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solana ($SOL)</a> &#8211; High-performance blockchain that lets builders build and use dApps globally &#8211; <a href="https://solanabeach.io/validator/FQwewNXahV7MiZcLpY6p1xhUs2acVGQ3U5Xxc7FzV571" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.mintscan.io/cosmos/validators/cosmosvaloper10nzaaeh2kq28t3nqsh5m8kmyv90vx7ym5mpakx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cosmos ($ATOM)</a> &#8211; Ecosystem of interoperable and sovereign blockchain apps and services &#8211; <a href="https://www.mintscan.io/cosmos/validators/cosmosvaloper10nzaaeh2kq28t3nqsh5m8kmyv90vx7ym5mpakx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://explorer.livepeer.org/accounts/0x4712e01e944802613de3a0a6d23274e7e0243015/orchestrating" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Livepeer ($LPT)</a> &#8211; Platform for decentralized video streaming &#8211; <a href="https://explorer.livepeer.org/accounts/0x4712e01e944802613de3a0a6d23274e7e0243015/orchestrating" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://network.thegraph.com/profile?id=0x9d2adf4bbbe140020baf520ed084f8a1f38f643c&amp;view=Indexing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Graph ($GRT)</a> &#8211; Decentralized indexing protocol for organizing blockchain data and making it easily accessible with GraphQL &#8211; <a href="https://network.thegraph.com/profile?id=0x9d2adf4bbbe140020baf520ed084f8a1f38f643c&amp;view=Indexing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://explorer.celo.org/address/0xCc4B2Bcbbc9639ef1E91F47acfD12Bd131525e79/celo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Celo ($CELO)</a> &#8211; Global payments infrastructure for mobile users &#8211; <a href="https://explorer.celo.org/address/0xCc4B2Bcbbc9639ef1E91F47acfD12Bd131525e79/celo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://explorer.near.org/accounts/blockdaemon.poolv1.near" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Near ($NEAR)</a> &#8211; Scalable, high-speed smart contract-capable blockchain &#8211; <a href="https://explorer.near.org/accounts/blockdaemon.poolv1.near" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://skale-analytics.skalelabs.com/#/validator/14" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SKALE ($SKL)</a> &#8211; Decentralized network built on Ethereum designed to run dApps with high speeds and low costs &#8211; <a href="https://skale-analytics.skalelabs.com/#/validator/14" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://dashboard.audius.org/#/services/operator/0x091D2190e93A9C09f99dA05ec3F82ef5D8aa4a07" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Audius ($AUDIO)</a> &#8211; Decentralized, community-owned, censorship-resistant music-sharing protocol and app &#8211; <a href="https://dashboard.audius.org/#/services/operator/0x091D2190e93A9C09f99dA05ec3F82ef5D8aa4a07" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://avascan.info/staking/validator/NodeID-6J3LY7ojkK7WCZzmArvxEozaESDMb42hX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Avalanche ($AVAX)</a> &#8211; High-speed and highly decentralized smart contract platform &#8211; <a href="https://avascan.info/staking/validator/NodeID-6J3LY7ojkK7WCZzmArvxEozaESDMb42hX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://cardanoscan.io/pool/5eb362978a68a4780f4fd701b8f04f5aeb990eb80b1cb025d99e82a1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardano ($ADA)</a> &#8211; Low-energy Proof of Stake blockchain platform &#8211; <a href="https://cardanoscan.io/pool/5eb362978a68a4780f4fd701b8f04f5aeb990eb80b1cb025d99e82a1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://explorer.elrond.com/providers/erd1qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqpqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqu8lllls8clacj" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elrond ($EGLD)</a> &#8211; Scalable and fast blockchain platform for dApps, enterprise applications and Web3 economy &#8211; <a href="https://explorer.elrond.com/providers/erd1qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqpqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqu8lllls8clacj" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://moonbeam.subscan.io/waiting/0x19A33caD2d311830550B41165d5faBf578347f3A" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moonbeam ($GLMR)</a> &#8211; Polkadot smart contract platform that makes it easy to build&nbsp; interoperable dApps &#8211; <a href="https://moonbeam.subscan.io/waiting/0x19A33caD2d311830550B41165d5faBf578347f3A" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>



<li><a href="https://explorer.provenance.io/validator/pbvaloper193mx3wsed089rnmuf0t9080qlefgyf60cehfz9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Provenance ($HASH)</a> &#8211; Open-source ecosystem for developing and deploying blockchain-based DeFi apps &#8211; <a href="https://explorer.provenance.io/validator/pbvaloper193mx3wsed089rnmuf0t9080qlefgyf60cehfz9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">start staking</a></li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



<p><em>This Investor&#8217;s Guide was sponsored by <a href="https://blockdaemon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blockdaemon</a>.</em></p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Get educated. Check out <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/the-investors-guide-to-bitcoin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Investor&#8217;s Guide to AVAX</a>, <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/the-investors-guide-to-music-nfts/">The Investor&#8217;s Guide to Music NFTs</a>, <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/the-investors-guide-to-defi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Investor&#8217;s Guide to DeFi 2.0</a> and <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/the-investors-guide-to-the-metaverse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Investor&#8217;s Guide to Avalanche</a>.</h3>



<p><em>The content of this webpage is not investment advice and does not constitute any offer or solicitation to offer or recommendation of any company, product or idea. It is for general educational purposes only and does not take into account your individual needs, investment objectives or specific financial circumstances.</em></p>


The Investor’s Guide to Staking


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is bitcoin, and how can one invest in it? </h2>



<p>Want more like the Guide to Bitcoin? Scroll to the bottom for further reading and a <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/category/education/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">list</a> of other Blockworks Investor&#8217;s Guides.</p>





<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A quick primer on Bitcoin</h2>



<p>Bitcoin is like Carl Sagan, David Attenborough or Nelson Mandela. Few people can name its peers, but most have almost certainly heard of it, and it&#8217;s notably changing things for the better.</p>



<p>Investors don&#8217;t need another answer to the question, &#8220;What is Bitcoin?&#8221; You probably recognize bitcoin as one of the first examples of cryptocurrency. You know it was created to solve the problem of centralized currency control, and it provides a peer-to-peer system for electronic cash transactions. </p>



<p>You also likely already know that the best way to understand Bitcoin&#8217;s intentions is to <a href="https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">read the Bitcoin whitepaper</a>. </p>



<p>So instead, this guide will answer questions like:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>What should I do with Bitcoin, if anything?</li><li>Is Bitcoin being used as it was originally intended by its creator(s)?</li><li>Is Bitcoin a good investment?</li><li>Are there any environmental issues with Bitcoin? </li><li>Is it an ethically-sound investment?</li></ul>





<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The case for Bitcoin</h2>



<p>Bitcoin is both a payment network and a currency. While the network was intended to be a trustless system for payments, Bitcoin is one of the least efficient transaction models in the modern crypto space. </p>



<p>But that doesn&#8217;t make Bitcoin useless — the opposite is true, in fact. As the industry has progressed and created blockchains and currencies with more specific applications, Bitcoin&#8217;s product-market fit has evolved far beyond what its pseudonymous creators outlined in the whitepaper, making it a more attractive vehicle for investment than ever before.</p>



<h3 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading">Bitcoin&#8217;s strengths</h3>



<p><strong>Immutability</strong> — A key feature of Bitcoin is the immutability of its transactions. A transaction cannot be changed or reversed, which proves the authority of conflicting transactions by honoring the first one that&#8217;s validated, and protects against disputes and mediation costs.</p>



<p><strong>Supply hard cap</strong> — The total supply of bitcoins is capped at 21 million BTC — a strong selling point for those who view it as a store of value. No matter how much demand for BTC grows, a fixed supply ensures scarcity, which can lead to increased value.</p>



<p><strong>Trustlessness</strong> —&nbsp;Validating transactions on the network with community consensus and trustless organization removes the need for centralization (leading to the next point). It also creates a way for transactions between parties to be secured by a coalition of independent validators, so users neither need to trust the other party nor the transaction facilitator.</p>



<p><strong>Decentralization</strong> — Removing a central third party that controls and confirms all transactions (like banks and governments) puts the control of a user&#8217;s money back in that user&#8217;s hands. It&#8217;s ideologically a major perk, and it practically defends against abuses of power by central authorities around the globe.</p>



<p><strong>Proof-of-work</strong> — Using CPU power to validate transactions ensures a committed validator and protects majority decision-making against someone able to allocate many IP addresses or bots to take over a voting system.</p>



<p><strong>Privacy</strong> — The lack of personal information in a transaction, in theory, protects users&#8217; right to privacy from all manner of fraud, surveillance and coercion. (See weaknesses for practical problems.)</p>



<p><strong>Simplicity</strong> — A simple, singularly-focused system ensures that one system can more efficiently be devoted to its purposes and less vulnerable to the improper interactions/breaks that can happen in more complex protocols.</p>



<h3 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading">Bitcoin&#8217;s weaknesses</h3>



<p>Bitcoin maximalists (fundamentalists) may tell you Bitcoin has no weaknesses. And in truth, its simplicity serves it very well in an industry that is constantly changing. But by acknowledging where Bitcoin <em>doesn&#8217;t</em> fit, we can honor it and our balance sheets by using it where it does.</p>



<p><strong>Immutability</strong> — For use in transacting, immutability can become inefficient when reversing a transaction is necessary. Refunds and incorrect transactions take a second transaction to rectify, and theft of bitcoins is irreversible, requiring Layer-2 insurance protocols to protect against it (which are not readily available).</p>



<p><strong>Decentralization</strong> — From the user side, there isn&#8217;t a clear downside to decentralization, other than some network inefficiency, which will be addressed in the next point. Governments, however, often view unregulated Bitcoin as a threat to their control, which can either be a strength or weakness of Bitcoin depending on whom you ask.</p>



<p><strong>Proof-of-work</strong> — After the invention of proof-of-stake and other consensus models, Bitcoin&#8217;s proof-of-work model appears inefficient. Its strengths remain, but can be wasteful if the energy to power the network is not sourced sustainably. Proof-of-work also creates opportunities for network centralization, as the people with the best chance of mining bitcoin and powering the network are those with the money and connections to be able to do so at scale, and cheaply. </p>



<p><strong>Privacy</strong> — Despite intent for privacy, bitcoin is not a very private currency. It is easily traceable, and once a transaction is linked to a user, that user&#8217;s wallet is now correlated with their identity, and transactions are no longer private. A variety of <a href="https://incognito.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">privacy-preserving networks</a> have emerged to fill this hole.</p>



<p><strong>Simplicity</strong> — While the singular focus of bitcoin on peer-to-peer transacting has inspired countless technological and social progresses, the failure of bitcoin to remain the most efficient method of transacting opens it up to obsolescence. Additionally, it largely leaves Bitcoin out of market developments like DeFi and GameFi. Luckily for Bitcoin, it has found a different fit in global markets, which will be addressed further below.</p>



<p><strong>Supply hard cap</strong> — The supply of bitcoins being capped at 21 million results in an inflexible monetary supply (which some economists suggest is necessary for use in transacting and for a healthy, adaptable economy). Additionally, early holders able to amass more bitcoin at lower prices create a centralization of wealth and supply control, in opposition to the core principle of decentralization. Additionally, as users lose access to their bitcoins due to the level of technical familiarity needed to safely store one&#8217;s bitcoins, the total supply of accessible bitcoins slowly shrinks.</p>



<p>You&#8217;ll notice that many of Bitcoin&#8217;s strengths are also its weaknesses when incorrectly applied. This is where the maximalist view breaks down, and it&#8217;s important to consider how Bitcoin is used when speaking of its value:</p>



<h3 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading">Bitcoin as a store of value</h3>



<p>The concept of Bitcoin as a store of value is necessary for bitcoins to preserve purchasing power over time, and has thus always been intended for the currency. However, as its utility as a medium of exchange faded, its use as a store of value has grown in importance.</p>



<p>An inflexible currency not subject to inflation and with immutable transactions is proving to be very useful as a way to protect one&#8217;s wealth. Individuals, corporations, banks, and governments alike are turning to bitcoin as a way to preserve purchasing power with something more convenient and usable than gold, but less volatile (at least, when factoring in inflation and politics) than government-issued currencies. </p>



<p>On the subject of volatility, framing is key. </p>



<p>Bitcoin for day traders may be considered a volatile asset, but year-over-year bitcoin has offered a massively-profitable ROI, albeit one which shrinks with every cycle, thus making it increasingly stable over time.</p>



<p>So, is bitcoin useful as a means of transacting daily? Not really. But, is it an asset perfectly suited to storing, protecting and occasionally transacting one&#8217;s wealth? Yes, and likely to a degree far beyond what its creator(s) intended.</p>



<div style="height:10px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to invest in bitcoin</h2>



<h3 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading">Hold on for dear life</h3>



<p>&#8220;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hodl.asp#:~:text=HODL%20is%20a%20term%20derived,post%20to%20the%20Bitcointalk%20forum." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hodling</a>&#8221; is by far the most reliable &#8220;tried-and-true&#8221; method of investing in bitcoin for profit. A misspelling of &#8220;hold&#8221; that was retroactively given the meaning &#8220;hold on for dear life,&#8221; to hodl bitcoin is to buy bitcoin and never let go.</p>



<p>Given the consistently positive and often outsized returns, the safest play appears to be to let bitcoin save your net worth from inflation and other investments (not financial advice):</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="649" height="543" src="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/messarichart.png" alt="" class="wp-image-19602" srcset="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/messarichart.png?w=649 649w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/messarichart.png?w=300 300w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/messarichart.png?w=307 307w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/messarichart.png?w=312 312w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/messarichart.png?w=262 262w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/messarichart.png?w=80 80w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/messarichart.png?w=50 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px" /></figure>



<p>If hodling is your method of choice, simply set up a Bitcoin wallet and purchase some from a DEX or private party, or skip the setup and buy from a centralized exchange like Coinbase (though, you may still want to explore cold storage wallets for security). </p>



<p>As with buying and selling any asset, day trading is a viable investment option, and should be done with careful analysis and thorough risk assessment.</p>



<h3 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading">TradFi integrations</h3>



<p>Using bitcoin like you were a trader before 2008 (if you were, I would like to set aside this parenthetical to congratulate you on your resilience) is also an enticing option, thanks to ever-increasing interest from Wall Street and products that integrate the currency.</p>



<p><a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/grayscale-threatens-legal-action-if-sec-rejects-bitcoin-etf-conversion-bid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin ETFs are fighting</a> to gain approval in the US (specifically spot ETFs), but you&#8217;ll also find bitcoin exposure through <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/crypto-index-primed-for-launch-as-financial-adviser-interest-grows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">index funds</a>, backing <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/silvergate-issues-bitcoin-collateralized-loan-to-microstrategy-subsidiary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collateralized loans</a> and sitting on <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/microstrategy-buys-1900-more-bitcoins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">corporate balance sheets</a>. A variety of bitcoin-exposed traditional financial suites are offered by both blockchain-based and traditional companies.</p>



<h3 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading">Mining</h3>



<p>Rather than purchasing bitcoin or bitcoin-exposed products, investors may choose to earn bitcoin by mining it (participating in validating transactions on the proof-of-work network and earning bitcoin in return for spent processing power).</p>



<p>Due to the popularity of bitcoin, bitcoin mining is a competitive ecosystem. Miners with the ability to source cheap power and build warehouses full of mining rigs have the best chance at profitability. That said, anyone with a powerful enough computer can participate and has a chance to earn bitcoin.</p>



<p>As proof-of-work consensus protocols like Bitcoin consume electricity, using them at scale risks being unsustainable. However, because excess renewable energy is cheap and would otherwise go to waste, some mining operations are using bitcoin as a profitable way to push economies toward greater <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/how-clean-energy-can-further-mass-adoption/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainability</a>. </p>



<h3 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading">Final considerations</h3>



<p>Investing isn&#8217;t just the transfer of money, or a risk/reward profit vehicle. Its effects are social, environmental, emotional and political, and one&#8217;s convictions matter as much as one&#8217;s risk tolerance. Consider both carefully before committing to an investment strategy, and remember, you can never be too informed.</p>





<h2 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading">Further reading</h2>



<h3 class="has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-heading">More on bitcoin</h3>



<p><a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/bitcoin-developers-do-not-have-a-fiduciary-duty-to-bitcoin-owners-judge-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Developers Do Not Have a Fiduciary Duty to Bitcoin Owners, Judge Rules</a></p>



<p><a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/exxon-mobil-powering-bitcoin-mining-pilot-using-excess-natural-gas-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exxon Mobil Powering Bitcoin Mining Pilot Using Excess Natural Gas: Report</a></p>



<p><a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/is-a-change-to-exchange-definition-key-to-bitcoin-etf-approval/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Is a Change to ‘Exchange’ Definition Key to Bitcoin ETF Approval?</a></p>



<p><a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/bitcoin-atms-illegal-in-the-uk-regulator-says/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin ATMs Illegal in the UK, Regulator Says</a></p>



<p><a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/bidens-crypto-executive-order-may-be-watershed-moment-despite-lack-of-specifics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biden’s Crypto Executive Order May Be ‘Watershed Moment’ Despite Lack of Specifics</a></p>





<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Get educated. Check out <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/the-investors-guide-to-bitcoin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Investor&#8217;s Guide to AVAX</a>, <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/the-investors-guide-to-music-nfts/">The Investor&#8217;s Guide to Music NFTs</a>, <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/the-investors-guide-to-defi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Investor&#8217;s Guide to DeFi 2.0</a> and <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/the-investors-guide-to-the-metaverse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Investor&#8217;s Guide to Avalanche</a>.</h3>





<p><em>The content of this webpage is not investment advice and does not constitute any offer or solicitation to offer or recommendation of any company, product or idea. It is for general educational purposes only and does not take into account your individual needs, investment objectives or specific financial circumstances.</em></p>


The Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin

Jacquelyn Melinek

<div id="highlights-block_621f6168d370a" class="highlights">
        <ul>
                <li>About 1 in 4 women already own crypto, the survey found</li>
                <li>Other subsectors in the industry remain largely untapped by women as only 5% have bought an NFT or participated in crypto mining</li>
            </ul>
    
</div>



<p>About one-third of women are planning on buying cryptocurrencies this year, according to a new survey conducted by BlockFi. Of those women, 60% said they plan on buying digital assets within the next few months.</p>



<p>That’s more than double the 29% of women who said, in a September 2021 survey, they would purchase within the next year. </p>



<p>“There’s no better way to learn about something new than by doing — especially when diving into the seemingly complex world of crypto,” Flori Marquez, founder and senior vice president of operations of BlockFi, said in a statement. </p>



<p>About one in four women already own cryptoassets, and of that group, a majority of them have never sold what they’ve bought.</p>



<p>The findings also showed women are buying bitcoin, dogecoin and ether the most — at 71%, 42% and 18%, respectively. However, other subsectors in this space remain largely untapped by women, as only 5% have bought a non-fungible token (NFT) or participated in crypto mining.</p>



<p>In general, the crypto sector is a heavily male-dominated industry. Out of the 121 leading crypto companies, only five of them, or 4.13%, had female founders, according to <a href="https://cryptohead.com/cryptocurrency-company-index/?msID=5717aa95-8a58-4454-9210-9f72fa4cd4a0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> by Crypto Head. Of those founders — Marquez being one of them — all the companies also have at least one male founder, too.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Nu87tROsif4_LwFU8AQdFN_KSrq-YCJdhr-PlI68I_p1_pqovr6rQH9Qm2KIBukFKrNqmxkXoGC_nKT82IWu6ngxoSDvpQjY07_XSKtQvrjtzI_TaWshx_s7MLyDCa3Atp5FdraY" alt=""/><figcaption>Source: Crypto Head</figcaption></figure>



<p>The number of women in the industry is set to grow, though. The BlockFi survey found that 15% of women are interested in working in crypto, but only 10% plan on applying to crypto or blockchain-focused companies within the next year.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It’s very exciting to know that women are becoming more aware of the benefits of owning crypto and expressing interest in working in the crypto sector,” Marquez said. “Now it’s our responsibility to continue to close the education gap and provide as many on-ramps as possible, so women can easily gain exposure to crypto markets and get comfortable doing more with their crypto.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>The survey was conducted by a third-party survey panel at the end of January and consisted of 1,031 female Americans between the ages of 18 and 65. This is the third edition of its “Real Talk” survey, which is focused on female Americans’ attitudes toward crypto, financial wellness and career aspirations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>&#8220;Crypto is becoming a part of everyday financial wellness, and we must continue to educate new adopters and make financial products that are simple and easy to use,&#8221; Marquez told Blockworks. &#8220;Mass adoption presents a significant opportunity to drive inclusion in the industry.</p>



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