Blockchain Archives - ICO Friends

Is the Crypto-Mining Rush Fading?

Published on April 5, 2018 in News by Frederik Nielsen

Mining cryptocurrencies has been a easy and profitable business or pastime for many people - but that may be changing now.

For those in the know, mining cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, demands a lot of processing power from your computer, and will also very quickly rack up your electricity bill.

Students are ‘dropping out’

For this reason, university students in the US have been at an advantage, because their electricity bill is often included in the rent for their dorm rooms.

This hasn’t changed, but what has changed is the increase in mining costs, combined with a fall in many of the cryptocurrencies being mined.

Crypto-miners are not alone in facing these issues - it affects avid gamers too. The rising cost is linked to the graphics cards used in computers, and these graphic cards alone can easily cost as much as the average person spends on a whole laptop.

Is mining still feasible?

Whereas university students were making quite a lot of money off of mining in the past, these days it can yield as little as $100 per month - which, if they paid for the electricity themselves, would not be a feasible business for the students.

One student reported that he last year managed to mine .00027 Bitcoins daily, but that it cost him 24 kilowatt of electricity to mine. With the soaring price in Bitcoin back then, it seemed like a great idea - these days, it’s a less attractive option.

The simple reason why crypto-mining is becoming more expensive is due to the fact that currencies like Bitcoin are inflation-proof: the system is set up in a way that there is a limit to how many Bitcoins can be in circulation at any one time.

This means that mining Bitcoin, for example, becomes more difficult as time passes. The equation computers need to solve to yield Bitcoins become harder the more Bitcoins are in circulation.

As the amount of Bitcoins comes closer to the limit, mining will only be possible for those with the most sophisticated computers - and those who can afford the incredibly expensive energy bill.

Mining costs around the world

The price of mining Bitcoins varies depending on where you are in the world. In South Korea, for example, the price of mining a Bitcoin is double of what Bitcoins are currently worth. Anyone mining in South Korea would therefore have to be very confident that the value of Bitcoin will go up.

In Venezuela, conversely, the government subsidizes the energy, and so the price for mining one Bitcoin is only around $500 - around 1/20th of the current value of Bitcoins.

The US falls somewhere in the middle - depending on which state you’re in, mining a Bitcoin will cost you around $3,000-4,000. So for the US citizens, mining is still a profitable business.

For those considering to begin mining Bitcoins, there are some good news on the horizon, however. Intel is currently working on a solution that will lower the power consumption of computers used for mining.

Have you been affected by the rising cost in mining? Leave your comments below!

What is Stablecoin?

Published on April 4, 2018 in News by Frederik Nielsen

There are many ways to describe the market for cryptocurrencies and blockchain, but “stable” is not one of them. One only needs to glance over any news relating to the popular currencies to see that the coin values go up and down, round and round.

New types of cryptos constantly emerge, and some only last a few months before they fade back into obscurity. Investors bite their fingernails and tear their hair out, as they watch their once-promising investments plummet in a split second - just before they rise in value again.

No, the market for cryptocurrencies is anything but stable.

Why many are still reluctant about investing

Compared to traditional markets, the market for cryptocurrencies is extremely volatile. On the stock exchange, you can maybe see stocks move up or down one percent. On the cryptocurrency market, that number is five times as high.

This alone is one of the reasons why many are still choosing to stay far away from cryptocurrencies. Players in traditional markets know better: the bigger you are, the harder you fall. Investing in a market as unstable as cryptocurrencies means taking too many risks, at too high a cost.

Another reason many stay away is that cryptocurrencies are not tied to anything physical, anything tangible, outside the digital world.

Is Stablecoin the solution?

Enter Stablecoin. A cryptocurrency that comes with the promise of solving this issue. Two of the main players in this space are DAI and Tether. The latter of the two, for example, is tied to the US dollar. That means that every Tether coin is, in effect, worth around $1.

Tether supports this by having one actual real dollar for every Tether coin issued. This concept is much more palatable for those who are used to having the reassurance that they stocks can be redeemed for something physical, that there is a guarantee their currencies will be worth something down the line.

But tying cryptocurrencies to a national currency is far from the only option on offer when it comes to stablecoin. Others are offering, or will be offering in the near future, cryptocurrencies tied to traditional assets like gold and oil.

What this also means is that it is possible to exploit the volatility of cryptocurrencies that are not tied to anything. So if you sell a coin like Ripple (worth $100, for example) for 100 Tethers, and Ripple then falls to $20, you can buy five Ripples back. In this way, many investors are making big bucks.

stablecoin

But is Stablecoin safe?

However, not everyone are equally optimistic about stablecoin. Tether as a company has been the subject of some controversy, and many claim there is a conflict of interest between Tether and Bitfenix- they have the same founder.

Doubt has also started to spread as to whether there are any actual US dollars to backup the enormous amount of Tether coins being issued.

Finally, Tether has, as a company, been reluctant to release their accounts, which has raised further suspicion about their legitimacy as a company.

What do you think about Stablecoin? Are they the solution or just another scam? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

CRYPTOBnB - Vacation Rentals Platform

Published on March 26, 2018 in Ended ICOs by Frederik Nielsen

Despite the recent plunge of Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency still remains popular as ever. Economic and political uncertainties have steered the public towards Cryptocurrencies for private and secure exchanges, you know, instead of relying on traditional currencies. But the finance is not the only industry Cryptocurrencies are targeting; CryptoBnB is a Blockchain-based Cryptocurrency platform that seeks to revolutionize the hospitality industry.

CryptoBnB is a hospitality marketplace that matches travelers looking for accommodation to available short-term rentals wherever they are. CryptoBnB uses technologies such as Big Data and AI in Blockchain as well as smart contract system to help travelers search for proper accommodation efficiently. CryptoBnB doesn’t want to introduce new accommodation spaces; the platform will be using the existing options but will provide better flexibility, lower overall fees, and more efficiency when searching.

CryptoBnB Main Goal

CryptoBnB is basically a hospitality app, but cheaper and more efficient. One of the biggest problems with Air BnB and other hospitality apps is that their services are too expensive. Travelers looking for short-term rentals, say a week or just a couple of days, end up paying the highest accommodation fees. Additionally, with these apps, some tenants end up trashing the host’s place and get away with it for just a small fee even when the damage is big.

CryptoBnB’s main aim is to put an end to some of these problems by improving trust between the host and the tenant. When there’s trust between the two, fees will go down and tenants will be more careful not to destroy anything in the house. Simply put, CryptoBnB uses its smart contract system to increase responsibility on both sides, the host, and the tenant, and incentivize them to work together. Tenants can enjoy better, cheaper services. The hosts, on the other hand, get faster asset turnaround and increased ROI.

Cryptobnb

CryptoBnB Components

CryptoBnB has a lot of features that are designed to improve service delivery for tenants. Some of the major components of the CryptoBnB Blockchain are its Crypto DNA Smart Wallet, AI-powered peer-to-peer marketing, and an enhanced search engine, these are the features that make CryptoBnB stand out. The smart wallet is CryptoBnB’s best feature; it’s the driving force behind the platform’s enhanced search engines and smart contracts.

The Blockchain also uses AI data to improve the hosts’ ROI and provide a more targeted market campaign with its peer-to-peer mechanism. CryptoBnB is the only blockchain-driven platform to use AI and Big Data to enhance the capabilities of its search engine. CryptoBnB ensures that travelers are matched to their ideal listings with its combination of search data, user preferences, and transaction history.

Conclusion

CryptoBnB is the first hospitality marketplace platform that’s supported by Blockchain, big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and advanced tokens. CryptoBnB was designed to be efficient, practical, and simple to use. It gives hosts and users an opportunity to work together and develop a market that’s safe, affordable, and easily accessible for all.

ImmVRse - Content Sharing Platform for Virtual Reality

Published on March 21, 2018 in Ended ICOs by Frederik Nielsen

Virtual Reality came out a few years ago. Back then, most people didn’t take it seriously, many actually never thought of it as more than just a cool toy for children to play with. But VR technology has morphed into something else, and it’s now making inroads in the Blockchain. It’s a whole new level of content creation, and the demand for 360˚ Virtual Reality content has skyrocketed. ImmVRse wants to fill the gap left by the massive lack of high-quality VR content in the advertising, gaming, viewing markets.

ImmVRse is a Blockchain-driven VR platform where advertisers, viewers, and content creators can share, trade, and distribute VR content using the IMV token. There are several blockchain-based VR platforms at the moment, but none of them can measure up to what ImmVRse is promising to deliver for Virtual Reality Content creators. All the available platforms provide content in 2D/180, and that doesn’t do much to stimulate or encourage growth in the industry. ImmVRse wants to create a whole new ecosystem for VR consumers as well as content creators.

ImmVRse Goal

ImmVRse seeks to solve some of the biggest problems associated with VR industry at the moment. For instance, there’s general lack of high-quality content in the Virtual Reality World. Tech companies such as Samsung, HTC, Sony, etc. have gone ahead to create some quality VR devices but these gadgets remain underutilized since there is not enough quality content to match their capabilities. In fact, most of these devices are only restricted to a few gaming platforms.

ImmVRse intends to solve this problem by creating a platform for Virtual Reality content creators to market and trade their handiwork. All transactions will be made via the IMV token, and content creators can collaborate to create good quality content. The platform is decentralized, meaning that brands, advertisers, and creators will all be allowed to share VR content. ImmVRse is the marketplace for the trading of VR content and is also the distribution platform for content creators. There are no geographical or regulatory limitations in the ImmVRse platform, which makes cross-border transactions easier and a lot cheaper.

ImmVRse Features

ImmVRse is a distributed, decentralized VR platform that allows advertisers, brands, and content creators in different parts of the globe to come together and create the best quality VR content. It’s the first of its kind, at the moment; no other VR platform offers these features. This platform is scalable and as such, allows other types of media production such as 3D animation. However, the platform’s primary focus is Virtual Reality/ Augmented Reality /Mixed reality. ImmVRse users will use the blockchain inbuilt Cryptocurrency known as IVR to facilitate transactions.

Conclusion

Two of the most disruptive technologies of the 21st century are Blockchains and Virtual Reality. ImmVRse combines these two technologies to facilitate the creation and distribution high-quality VR media productions and at the same time, creates direct employment of a large number of content creators. ImmVRse platform users really get to enjoy the best of both worlds.

bitcointalk username: Ico Friends

GAMBLICA - Blockchain Based Gambling Platform Developed By Players For Players

Published on March 20, 2018 in Live ICOs by Frederik Nielsen

Gamblica is a Blockchain-driven platform that focusses gambling. It’s a gaming platform that supports online gambling internationally. Gamblica gives people from all over the world an opportunity to gamble, irrespective of where they are from or how much they earn. Gamblica introduces a unique ecosystem with the aim of revolutionizing online gambling by making it scalable, transparent, and safe than we’ve ever imagined.

Gamblica creators have promised fair pay-outs, distribution of funds, betting slips odd calculation, card distribution, and random number generation. There are many reasons for investing in Gamblica by purchasing GMBC tokens. For starters, the online gambling market is ever-growing, no signs of slowing down in the near future. All payments within the platform are made with GMBC tokens only, which allows the token to grow faster.

Gamblica’s Main Aim

Built by a group of gambling enthusiasts, Gamblica’s main aim is to introduce convenience, safety, and increase transparency in the world of online gambling while eliminating fraud as well as location and income barriers. Gamblica wants to make it possible for all age appropriate and willing gambling enthusiasts to be able to do so conveniently and in a more pleasant environment.

Gamblica

Gamblica intends to eliminate gambling fraud, which has become a global problem, by providing an opportunity for each player to check and confirm casino algorithm. This project, unlike others in the same field, is under the leadership of seasoned gamblers. All they want it to improve the online gambling scene by getting rid of all the negative aspects associated with it.

Gamblica’s Components

Gamblica is based on a decentralized smart contract system that integrates innovative IT solutions. When gaming on the platform, the casino cannot block your withdrawals or user account. The system allows low transaction costs and fast transactions irrespective of where you are in the globe. When it comes to making transactions, you will only be limited by the Ethereum transaction throughput, no other limits.

Gamblica

Any player can use the blockchain record and casino’s public key to validate RNG. Another essential feature of the platform is its scalable universal system that allows cross-regional modification of the program. All these features are meant to increase fairness and transparency in online gambling. The Gamblica Blockchain supports a wide range of online gambling and gaming activities including online poker, sports betting, and casino games.

Conclusion

The online gambling world is facing a lot of problems. From poor personal data protection to problems with deposits and withdrawals, scalability, and high transaction costs, there’s no shortage of flaws in the online gambling scene. Gamblica wants to remove all these inadequacies and make online gambling safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

Is it a good idea to invest in Gamblica? Well, the company is led by a group of managers with a lot of experience in online gambling. This has resulted in a lot of investor confidence. It’s had to say for sure, but Gamblica seems to be headed in the right direction.

DAV - Blockchain Transportation Platform

Published on March 14, 2018 in Ended ICOs by Kayla Turner

DAV is a transportation platform that works on the Blockchain technology. As an open-source software platform, DAV enables any individual to either purchase or sell services of autonomous transportation in a market that is fully decentralized.

DAV has been designed to consolidate in any kind of autonomous vehicles such as a car, ship or even a drone. This, in turn, gives these vehicles an opportunity to communicate, discover, and carry out business with one another using DAV as the digital currency.

The DAV Network ICO invites merchants who want to be part of a network of autonomous vehicles, which will definitely form the future of transportation.

The DAV Technology

As earlier indicated, DAV is a framework of a free, decentralized marketplace, open-source hardware, and an open-source software where any person can choose to either purchase or sell the autonomous transportation services using the DAV token.

The technology has been made up of three main components, which are listed here:

• Decentralized Discovery – DAV enables these uncontrolled vehicles to discover themselves, and even other clients and service providers that are close to them. Using a peer-to-peer protocol that does not operate with any kind of central server, DAV utilizes a decentralized node discovery. The nodes are instead listed in a distributed hash table that can be accessed more easily.

• Communication Protocol – This is the second component that makes up the DAV technology. For different transportation needs, DAV identifies a list of assimilated communication protocols. The communication is further subdivided into two main groups; off-blockchain communication that is carried out on P2P through the DAV Network’s protocols.

The other one is the on-blockchain communication that is carried out by calling smart contracts via the events they have emitted.

• Trustless Cooperation Tools – This is the last component of the DAV Network. Through using an assortment of specialized smart contracts, DAV is able to achieve trustless cooperation between transportation service traders. These smart contracts allow multi-party contracts that exist between the seller, buyer and even at times, the insurer, and arbitrator. They are connected directly to the DAV token. Thus, they assure great financial resolution for the transactions that are done between different parties without the need of a pre-determined trust.

The Team

DAV Network is managed by a team of professionals. It is currently headed by Dr. Alan Messer who is the current Automotive Advisor. Before joining DAV, Dr. Messer was the General Motors’ CTO. The Aerospace advisor is Dr. Scott Horowitz, who worked as an associate administrator at NASA and a space shuttle astronaut.

Summary

In the end, DAV Network seeks to offer a fully decentralized system that is not under the control of any financial organization, company or government. This would be the best payment standard that can be used between automobiles and their supporting infrastructure.

DAV also enables an easy-to-verify ledger that contains historical data regarding the autonomous vehicles, their users as well as other service providers. It can even assist other service providers as insurers.

It also comes with a built-in smart mission contract that allows trustless cooperation between service providers and a number of vehicles.

Blockchain

Students are ‘dropping out’

Is mining still feasible?

Mining costs around the world

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Why many are still reluctant about investing

Is Stablecoin the solution?

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Gamblica’s Main Aim

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