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Payportal Review
Payments and transfers is the reason cryptocurrencies were invented in the first place, so it is no wonder that there are a lot of ICOs out there specialising in this area. Today we are going to look at Payportal, which is an established company in India about to launch their new blockchain-based platform. This review will have a look at what exactly Payportal is, how it works, and who is behind it.
What is Payportal?
Currently, the company behind Payportal has a platform that allows consumers to process financial transactions between them and service providers online. The service providers can be from any sector, including banks, TV operators, mobile phone providers, utility companies, gym memberships, and so on. The idea behind it is to make life easier for everyone involved, by simplifying the process of paying for services. 
The idea behind the ICO is to utilise blockchain technology to make this process even easier, safer, faster, and ultimately more efficient. Many consumers are currently wasting a lot of time and energy on going to bank branches, government offices, service stations and other locations to pay their bills. Not only does it take time to travel there, but it also takes time to wait in line to be served. When people do get served, the customer service is not always professional, and human error occurs too frequently. This all results in a bad experience, and Payportal offers a solution to that problem.
How does it work?
Users of Payportal will have a digital wallet, which they can link to their mobile phone number. The wallet can then be accessed through an app on the phone, and the users can pay for their services using the wallet. Because payments and transfers are vulnerable to hackers, the team behind Payportal wants to utilise the blockchain to decentralise the operations and the users’ data.
The platform will use PPTL tokens as the native currency, which will be converted from rupees for the purposes of the transaction, and then back to rupees once the transaction is finalised. The platform will also make use of smart contracts, which will enable simple agreements between service providers and their customers. Once the services have been provided, or the goods delivered, the customers is charged and the transaction is completed.
Is it credible?
For many people considering investing in a given ICO, one of the main concerns is always if the project will deliver as promised. Many ICOs make big promises, but does not always succeed in what they set out to do. This is where Payportal is different. Unlike many other ICOs, the company has already been in business since 2011, and is already serving customers in India. The team, which has been working in the payment services sector since 1996, currently counts 21 people. They are working with 80 distributors and over 2300 retailers across India. Last year alone, the company processed transactions worth 500 million rupees. The 2017 figures indicate that Payportal has grown 45% since 2016. This kind of credibility makes the ICO a much safer bet than most other projects of its kind.
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Regular readers of this blog will know that there is virtually nothing that cannot be associated with the blockchain. ICOs have proposed cryptocurrency projects involving real estate, item evaluation, social media, foreign exchange, music, virtual reality, and the list goes on. If it is being traded in, it can be added to the blockchain. It was inevitable that porn would become one of the commodities being traded using cryptocurrencies. Whilst this project does not create a specific community per se, they are providing something of value to the adult content communities.
What is WankCoin?
As the name implies, WankCoin is a cryptocurrency you can use to purchase pornography online. Whilst there is plenty of free pornography online, on sites such as PornHub, there are those who prefer paying for premium content. This is where WankCoin comes into the picture. With this cryptocurrency, you can actually purchase pornographic content online, instead of using your credit card. This is perhaps particularly interesting, as countries such as the UK are now creating policies that require adults to purchase “porn passes” in local corner shops. When faced with either having to use your credit card online or buying a porn pass in a corner shop, a third solution would probably be preferable.
Why not just use your credit card?
There are several advantages to using cryptocurrency in the porn industry. From the consumer’s point of view, there are the privacy and security aspects. As with all blockchain projects, the beauty of WankCoin is that all data storage is completely decentralized, which means that the risk of your data being leaked is very slim. Because it operates using blockchain technology, all users can also rest assured that their anonymity remains intact. Finally, it is not always desirable to use your credit card when purchasing adult content. Many sites are full of spam and spyware designed to use your card details for nefarious purposes. With WankCoin you avoid getting scammed.
What about the content providers?
If you are a content creator in the adult industry, you also have a lot to benefit from when it concerns WankCoin. The porn industry is classified by financial institutions as being ‘high risk’. This means that while your average merchant will pay around 2-3% in transaction fees every time a customer uses their credit card, a porn site will pay 5-7% for the same transaction. There are, of course, other ways customers can pay for content. But carrier billing, which is paying for subscriptions via your cell phone bill, comes out to 25% per transaction. If the customers use PayPal, the figure climbs up to 35%.
Is all this real?
Yes, all this is very real. So real, in fact, that WankCoin is one of the more successful ICOs. They are already an established company and have multiple partnerships with prominent adult websites. Moreover, they have published a white paper (which is aptly titled ‘wank paper’) that very clearly and succinctly expains the rationale behind their project. Who would’ve thought porn could be so professional?
Amd Radeon Rx 570-580 Review
The RX 570 and RX 580 GPUs by AMD have been the cause for a lot of discussion as of late. This is mostly because everyone is noticing that these two are the upgraded RX 470 and RX 480 GPUs, and that means that there certainly is a lot to talk about with these cards.
When it came to the release of the RX 5xx GPU series, everyone throughout the entire mining community was having a blast talking about it, and everyone was thrilled for the release. Of course, though there was loads of excitment and a lot of talking going on, there were also a lot of opinions being thrown around about the 2 models, and that makes sense, but it’s funny to compare all of these opinions. During this review, we will discuss the bigger differences and also why these GPUs are such a hit for those that are doing Ethereum mining.
If you were to go back about 20 years ago, you would probably hear a lot of people talking about how they thought that in 20 years there would be flying cars and robots delivering food, that doesn’t mean that people were exactly stupid with their expectations of the future, it just means that they were a little bit over expectant. Anyway, that is how people are when it comes to new GPUs, everytime that a new GPU is going to be coming around, people seem to think that its going to be able to fly and do circus stunts to earn them money (alright, so maybe they just have unrealistic expectations about stuff like the hashrate, but it might as well be the same thing, right?). Because people have these high expectations, they are going to be the ones who are most likely to complain when the cards are released and they are not up to par with their expectations.
So, let’s get these unrealistic expectations out of the way, no, these GPUs can not fly, and they have regular hashrates and power consumptions. The AMD RX 570 has power usage of 115 and a hashrate of 22 MH/s and the AMD RX 580 has a power usage of 125 with a hashrate of 30.5 MH/s.
Final Thoughts on The AMD RX 570 and AMD RX 580
There are a lot of users who have found ways to configure their RX 5xx, and those that have say that they are a lot happier with the outcome. However, those that are not willing to do some work in order to make some extra cash should really not even waste their time with buying them. So, for those that are looking for some easy money to earn that won’t require them to mess with things in order to get the cash flow that they desire, the RX 4xx series is probably a better way to go in the end, which means that a lot of people are probably pretty unhappy that they already spent their money on the RX 5xx series.
UHIVE Review
This ICO is an incredibly innovative project, that adds adds virtual and augmented reality to the social media experience. Imagine if Facebook, Twitter or Instagram were physical spaces that allowed you to walk around and interact with people and objects. This is the vision laid out by the team behind UHIVE. Whilst the worlds they have created will not exactly be physical, they will be closer to the real deal than any other project. Powered by blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, UHIVE promises an entirely new experience.
A new kind of social media
Social media platforms in and of themselves are quite a revolutionary idea. People from all over the world gathered in one place, where they can connect with each other on a level never before imagined. Add virtual and augmented reality technology to this, however, and it becomes a different beast entirely. This combination will allows for near-physical human interaction, and enhance the social media experience in a way never thought possible before.
What is the Civilized Word?
The Civilized World will be the ‘main’ platform where social media users will post, comment, share, and otherwise interact with each other. This part of UHIVE will be a mirror reflection of the real world, and each user will have their own ‘space’ (like a Facebook wall). Users can only have one profile in the Civilized World, which will be verified like on other social media platforms. Given that this is the ‘official’ part of UHIVE, certain rules and regulations will apply in order to ensure a positive experience for everyone.
What is the Grey World?
The Grey World is a bit different from the Civilized World. And by ‘a bit different’ I mean a lot different. This part of UHIVE is not mapped out like the Civilized World, and users are not limited to one profile only. Users are completely anonymous in the Grey World, and have the ability to create their own personalized space here. Essentially, you can be and do anything in the Grey World – within the limits of the law, of course. This part of UHIVE will allow users to experience a new kind of freedom.
What are the tokens for?
The HIVE tokens are the native currency on the UHIVE platform, and will be awarded to users depending on how much time they spend in the Civilized and Grey Worlds, as well how how much they interact with others. For companies that wish to advertise on UHIVE, the HIVE tokens will be the means with which they pay for their adverts. The great thing about the HIVE tokens is that their value will increase as the world of UHIVE grows and more users join the network.
Why should you invest?
If you have not already been sold on the unique and fascinating UHIVE concept, here are a few more reasons why you should invest in this ICO. First of all, half of the ad revenue generated by the network will be given back to the users every week. The economy will use blockchain technology to be completely self-sustained. The team behind UHIVE has extensive experience in social media and VR, and is based in London, UK.
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Hash Card Review
Cryptocurrencies are not always a practical means to buy goods and services with, as not many vendors accept them as legal tender. You could of course exchange your cryptocurrency tokens for fiat money, but this is a slow and expensive process. With the Hash Card, all that is taken care of. Every time you make a transaction, your cryptocurrencies are automatically converted into fiat money.
What are the features?
The Hash Card can be used anywhere credit and debit cards are accepted, whether in online stores, physical stores, or ATM machines. The transactions happen in real time, and the conversions from cryptocurrency to fiat money happens using interbank exchange rates. You can also instantly transfer money to other Hash Card owners at no cost to you. The Hash Card comes with a Hash Card Wallet, which is a digital wallet and an app you can use to monitor your balance.
How does it work?
By using your Hash Card, you can withdraw money from an ATM or pay for goods and services with your cryptocurrency without having to convert them to fiat money first. When you use the Hash Card, the value of your transaction (in fiat money) will be debited from your digital wallet in cryptocurrency. As there is a transaction fee, you need to have a balance available in your Hash Card Wallet to be able to cover this transaction fee.
What is a Hash Card Wallet?
This is your digital wallet, where your cryptocurrencies are stored for use with your Hash Card. The Hash Card Wallet currently supports 25 different cryptocurrencies, and is available as an app for iOS and Android devices.
What about security?
The Hash Card Cybersecurity and Governance Architecture is a framework that the team behind Hash Card have designed to keep its users safe. All the transactions are made with SSL encryption and two-factor authentication is used all the time.The framework has been adopted based on the security regulations laid out by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Cybersecurity Framework, ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) IT 27001 and 27002 frameworks, ISACA, COBIT and PCI DSS.
How do I get a Hash Card?
You can sign up to get a Hash Card by visiting their website, fill out a quick form, and then it will be sent to you shortly afterwards. At this present stage, only 3000 Hash Cards will be issued.
Are there more than one kind of Hash Card?
The team is currently working on developing more exclusive versions of the Standard Hash Card. These will be Gold, Platinum and Black, and will have incrementaly lower transaction fees. They are expected to be available in the third quarter of this year.
When is the token sale and what is the bonus structure?
The token sale will be from May 1 to June 12, and depending on how early you get in, there are some nice bonuses to get. You get a 30% discount if you buy between May 1-3, 20% discount if you buy between May 4-13, 15% discount if you buy between May 14-23, 10% discount if you buy between May 24 and June 2, and 5% discount until the end of the sale on June 12.
bitcointalk username: Ico Friends
A lot of people have jumped onto the Ethereum mining bandwagon. There is quite a bit of profit to be made for those who make smart decisions and have enough money to invest in their mining operation. Mining rigs are the most crucial parts of a mining operation, as they are what do the actual mining. The most important part of a mining rig is the graphics processing unit, or GPU. The GPU ha to be able to handle crazy mathematical algorithms in order to mine and process Ethereum.
Nvidia is a well known maker of gaming GPUs, and the Geforce GTX 1070 has been no exception. It outperforms the GTX 980 Ti in many ways, at least in terms of gaming. How does this card to when it comes to mining Ethereum, though? Mining Ethereum is all about how well your system can handle resource intensive computations, and how much power is used to do so.
The Specs
The Geforce GTX 1070 uses the Pascal architecture. It has 8GB of GDDR5 RAM and an 8GBps bandwidth. It reaches a hash rate of around 32MH/s and draws around 125W from the wall. It is still important ot keep your system cool, as it is with any GPU, however you will notice that compared to higher power drawing GPUs the GTX 1070 will run considerably cooler for longer periods of time.
Figuring Out What to Get
There have been so many versions of the GTX 1070 made, and this has lead to some confusion as to which card one should get for mining. There is a lot of information to sift through if one is going to make this decision.
The Gygabyte has already received some negative feedback due to its insufficient fans. While it is capable of keeping the card cool, this is largely due to the fact that it has three fans. The Gygabyte is a popular card for gamers.
The Nvidia Founders Edition has put some great stability into the GTX 1070, and has an improved hash rate. The FE has gotten some attention due to the noisy fans, however.
The ASUS Strix has also gotten quite popular, though the price tag is quite high. It has a decent hash rate and some pretty quiet fans, though.
Finally, the Zotac 1070 AMP has also improved the hash rate and added a second cooling system. Many gamers have been happy with the Zotac 1070 AMP.
Final Thoughts on The NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1070
However, how well does the Geforce GTX 1070 do when it comes to mining? It gets a hash rate of around 32MH/s with Claymore, drawing 125W from the wall. This isn’t the worst power draw that we have seen with GPUs, and to be honest 32MH/s isn’t a bad hash rate. In fact, it’s pretty much around average for the majority of gaming GPUs on the market, especially when used for mining Ethereum. The GTX 1070 has received a lot of attention, and it remains an option for a mining GPU to those in the market for one.
One of the largest adventures that Ethereum miners ever go on is the one where they search for the ultimate GPU that will do great for their mining rig. Even though everyone knows that there are more than enough GPUs to go around, one of the saddest facts that everyone has to get used to is the fact that the GPU that you will find in your computer that is the default GPU, just won’t make the cut.
Many users have gotten a little excited over the fact that AMD has begun to take notice of the Ethereum miners in terms of making their newest line of Vega GPUs.
Incase you haven’t noticed yet, one of the biggest problems, and most talked about problems, with AMD’s Radeon RX Vega 64 is that there is a huge supply and demand problem. Even though this might be the case, there are other AMD cards that are out there, there was also a card that was less powerful that was announced that had given users hope so that they could have their hands on a newer GPU soon. As soon as the Radeon RX 56 hit the shelves, it became sold out, creating more problems.
Everyone was able to get the XFX and the Sapphire Vega 56 at Amazon for a little bit, but those sold out quite quickly. The gamers that were desperately in need of a newer GPU and those that were hoping to buy out all the GPUs and sell them back after there was a demand for more not being met, quickly made it so that the GPUs were off the shelves in a very short amount of time. Users at first were able to get the XFX and also the Vega 56 for $399.99, but they have now been listed at $100 over the MSRP at many different retailers such as Best Buy.
Pros and Cons
Even though 38.48 MH/s isn’t exactly high, it is still usable. There is some promising about the memory clock speed though, especially when it has been overclocked. However, one of the cons with this GPU is that it is certainly not perfect when it comes to staying cool, so users will have to make use of either a fan or an air conditioner in order to ensure that they are keeping it at the right temp. However, users should always remember that making use of a fan is not going to be a one stop solution when it comes to the overall health of their GPU.
Final Thoughts on The AMD RX VEGA 56
It can be a little hard to get ahold of the AMD RX Vega 56, however, there is a question that everyone should be asking. Is this card worth it? Unfortunately, there are better cards that are out there right now that would give you more bang for your buck, and there are even better cards out that are the same price as this one. All in all, this card is good enough to get some good mining done, so it is worth the buy.
A gift and a curse
The cryptocurrency space is booming. Every day, more ideas are generated around the blockchain technology that underpins cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Crypto-exchanges are adapting to incorporate all the new tokens that are being released, and the traders themselves are having a field day with the rise in cryptocurrency value.
The is a downside of all of this, however. Mining for popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin has become very difficult, as the mathematical problems needed to be solved in order to mine one coin are so complex that it takes a lot of energy and processing power. To make matters worse for miners, they are now also being targeted, along with traders, by cryptojackers.
What is cryptojacking?
Mining for cryptocurrencies is, as mentioned, very expensive. The gear needed costs a lot in and of itself, and then you had to add the electricity bill on top of the costs for the equipment. Needless to say, not everyone can afford to be a miner. This has led some hackers to come up with the idea of hijacking the computers of other people. This allows the hackers to mine for cryptocurrencies without having to invest a single penny in equipment or electricity.
Isn’t the blockchain safe?
One of the big advantages of a system that runs on blockchain technology is that it is very secure. There is no one place where all data is stored, as everything is decentralized. All transactions are recorded and stored on the digital ledger, which can be accessed by all nodes on the network. This means that there is no single point of failure. Unfortunately, this also means there are many points of entry for cryptojackers.
Cryptojacking is on the rise
According to recent reports, the number of hackers hijacking the processing power of others to mine their own coins has risen by a staggering 8,500% in 2017 alone. Given that cryptocurrencies are becoming ever more popular and valuable, this number is set to rise again in 2018. As a whole, the cybercrime industry rakes in $1.5 trillion every year.
You can’t run or hide
One of the biggest problems with combating cryptojacking is that it is so ubiquitous. No matter what device you have, there is a chance that it can be used for mining cryptocurrencies. Smartphones, laptops, servers, and tablets have the most processing power. But even Internet of Things (IoT) items can be hijacked. This means that if you are using a smart-fridge or a webcam, it can be targeted by cryptojackers.
How does it work?
There are several ways in which cryptojackers can get their hands on your processing power. One of them is to get you to download a cryptocurrency mining application disguised as something else. Most Internet users are savvy, so this will not fool everyone. But hackers can also embed cryptocurrency mining scripts into a website, so when you visit it, your processing power is being sapped by the website.
What do you think can be done about cryptojacking? Leave your comments below!
Did you read that correctly? Yes, you did. Although the social media giant has in the past been staunchly opposed to cryptocurrencies and ICOs, they are not in the process of creating their own cryptocurrency.
Along with Twitter, Google, and a series of other online companies, Facebook has banned the advertisement of ICOs and cryptocurrencies on their platform. The ban was understandable, to an extent, given the many shady money-laundering schemes dressed up as ICOs. Whether the ban will remain in place after the launch of Facebook’s own cryptocurrency, however, remains to be seen.
From foe to fan
An article by Cheddar revealed the plans for rolling out a Facebook blockchain project. The project is still being kept under wraps, but the social media platform has allegedly been researching blockchain technology for a year now.
Up until now, the only person working on Facebook’s blockchain project has been Morgan Beller. Now, however, the vice president of Facebook Messenger has announced that he will be leading an entire team dedicated to integrating blockchain technology into the social media platform.
The vice president of Facebook Messenger, David Marcus, will be leaving the Messenger team to work on the blockchain project full-time. He will be joined by James Everingham, who is Instagram’s VP of Engineering, and Kevin Weil, who is Instagram’s VP of Product. Marcus will be replaced by Stan Chudnovsky, who is Facebook Messenger’s Head of Product.
David Marcus is no stranger to the cryptocurrency space, either. He recently joined the board of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.
The purpose remains a mystery
Although quite a few outlets have covered the blockchain plans, very few have been able to gather any concrete details about what the purpose is. Facebook is known for showcasing their ten-year roadmap at various corporate events, but the blockchain project has not been included.
What is known is that he blockchain-integration will not be limited to just one application. What is also known is that Facebook is not planning on creating an ICO (initial coin offering) for their blockchain project.
It has been reported that Facebook most likely will be using blockchain technology to verify the identity of people using their platform, as well as encrypt the data being uploaded to the platform.
Potential crypto-acquisition
Some are speculating on whether Facebook will be looking to acquire a cryptocurrency firm to assist them in their blockchain project. Given the vast number of talents and resources in the cryptocurrency space, it would not be a bad move on Facebook’s part.
Given that Facebook’s project will most likely not involve actual a currency, any potential acquisition will be related to the apps they are in the process of developing. Facebook has attempted to create a currency in the past, which failed.
Fans will have to wait
Although the headlines are generating a lot of buzz, fans of cryptocurrency and blockchain projects will, unfortunately, have to cool their heels. Although Facebook will be investing much more in their blockchain project, it will take years before we see the fruits of their labor. Until then, there will most likely be more information spilled by the organization.
What do you think Facebook’s blockchain project will be about? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
Triwer Review
It took me two attempts to order my office desk. The first attempt failed, because I did not pay attention to the name of the delivery company. They are terrible, and consistently fail to deliver parcels. Not only did they not deliver it, but they sent it to a storage unit an hour’s drive from where it was supposed to be delivered. Needless to say, I’m never going to order anything that is delivered by them again. But this is not about my online orders. This is about the future of online orders.
As more and more high street shops close for good, people are getting used to ordering everything online. It’s quick and easy for the customers, and it saves businesses a lot of money in various expenses related to running a physical shop. This means that the online shopping and delivery model is set to grow year on year. So what does this have to do with blockchain? Good question. Let us have a look at Triwer.
What is Triwer?
Triwer is a delivery service platform, and does all the same things as your average courier service – except it does much more than that. Triwer offers its users to compare prices for delivery, and choose between standard and express delivery services. Users will be able to create an online profile, where they can fill in their details, such as address and contact information. This profile can then be used on multiple online shops, such as Amazon and eBay. The platform will also allows users to choose a pickup delivery point, should they not be home to collect their parcel. They will also be able to track the delivery, communicate with the driver, and monitor their agreements on the Triwer platform.
How does it work?
The Triwer platform is based on blockchain technology, which means that everything is decentralised. Agreements between users and delivery service providers will be facilitated by smart contracts and the native Triwer token TRW. Users will have a Triwer app on their smartphone or tablet, and will be able to control anything related to their delivery via the app. Once a shipment has been ordered, it will be recorded on the Ethereal blockchain, and a smart contract will be created. The service providers delivering the parcels will all consist of experienced drivers that know the markets they are in. Finally, there is the green aspect of Triwer. The platform will be integrated with PickPack, which means that users can receive paperless deliveries. The Triwer team wants to invest in low emission transportation, and pride themselves on reducing carbon emissions.
What are the features?
The platform will offer more than simply deliveries and tracking. Both sender and receiver will have more control over what happens to the parcel. A diverse range of transportation will ensure that users not only get a good deal on price, but also that the delivery itself will be safer and involve less risk of damaged parcels. Should anything happen to the parcel, users can rest assured that everything is insured for the full value of the item. The platform will also have a customer service phone support, as well as live chat. Everything will be done with the environment in mind, so carbon emissions are kept at a minimum and paper is rarely used for packaging.
What about the token?
The TRW token will be based on the ER20 network, and is a utility token. The TRW will be the native currency used on the Triwer platform, and is available during the crowd token sale. The total limit for the TRW tokens will be 1,000,000,000, of which 375,000,000 will be for sale. If you are looking to invest, $0.08 will get you one TRW token. If you don’t want to pay in fiat money, Triwer is happy to accept your Ethereum and Bitcoin as well.
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