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Every day the number of people using cryptocurrencies is growing, this is facilitated by the fact that managing your funds has become very easy and convenient when all transactions and even the center of storage is in your phones. In a word, mobile wallets allow you to feel all the innovation and usability of cryptocurrency. Mobile wallets, as you can understand by the name of is a mobile app where you get access to your crypto-storage. These mobile applications provide a convenient ability to store cryptocurrencies and conduct transactions, and almost all applications support the most popular operating systems like Android and iOS. These wallets use virtual copies of the blockchain with the support of simplified payment verification (SPV) and you do not need to download the entire blockchain to your phone, which saves disk space on your device.
What are main functions of mobile wallets?
There are two main functions of mobile wallets for consumer use. It is mainly used either to store your funds in coins or\and as an transaction tool. If you choose to store your coins in an app on your mobile device you will be able to use phone as payment method in places where cryptocurrency is accepted. There are several methods to make payment with your mobile wallet but the most popular one is QR codes. You just need to scan it to get all information where to transfer coins. On the other hand you can use you wallet app to track all your transactions and analyze balance.
What are the pros and cons of mobile wallets?
The main advantage of mobile wallet is that it provides you a mobility and rescues you from being attached to some place or exact PC with wallet. In simple words it gives that freedom which cannot give any other wallet platform so you can do your transactions or manage the balance anywhere on even on street. Also it simplifies the whole transaction process down to just scanning QR code with mobile device to send or receive funds. It makes small in store payments very ease and possible to use in everyday life.
The main disadvantage of app wallet is related to security but it is a always a case with mobile stuff. Almost all app wallets use your keys to operate it is risky if your device gets stolen or somebody will have and access to the app. In that cases you may lose all of your funds if thieves will gain access to phone or the key. But it is very easy to prevent such case by just taking safety measures such as installing an app pin code and one of blocking systems to phone.
How to choose the best mobile wallet just for you?
As in case with a lot of alternatives you need to determine criteria and one of the main and important factor is security of wallet as mentioned before. So you should look for a wallet with high focus on securing your funds form the thieves. Another criteria is obviously the variety of supported coins because you do not want to have separate wallets for different coins. So you have to look for wallets where you can store and manage different types of coins.
And last but not least point is fee for the wallet app, most of the wallets on market are free but some developers charge for it. Well it is completely up to you because if wallet is free it just means that developers have different profit model so maybe paying some money directly might be easier. But you definitively want wallet that costs less and allows more and provides wide range of functions. Usability, interface design and customer support are also important factors to consider.
Online crypto wallets make storing and sending cryptocurrencies online possible. It is accessible wherever you are. But a third party managed your private keys since it is stored online that makes it risky and prone to hackers.
A lot of online cryptocurrency wallets offers plenty of features such as its possible to connect to all online devices like desktop computer, tablet and even mobile phone. If you are using a bit of cryptocurrency, we suggest preferring these wallets.
How does it work?
Research is the first key and we’re doing the first step now. Choose the best online crypto service that you prefer, after that you can use cryptocurrency as a payment on the items/products you buy online. The server of your wallet service provider will keep your private keys. You will receive a crypto code after your keys have been saved which allows you to access your online wallet and make transactions. Don`t forget that when you use your online crypto wallets, its information will be accessible to third parties, thus your private keys will own by the company and they can access your wallet. Therefore we highly recommended that you choose your provider carefully.
How to get the full benefit of your online wallet?
Users that are unable to make transactions from their online wallets is a possible case. We highly suggest that you must prefer an online wallet company that has been for a long-serving on this kind of business. They are more trustworthy on protecting client’s crypto money.
Choosing a reliable one on using online wallets is a must. Additional security functions for your coins is one of the features that you should consider. Reading the reviews of different suppliers is a good way to know their pros and cons.
What are the pros of online wallets?
Online cryptocurrency wallets guarantee fast transactions that make buying goods online more convenient. It is always on the go that also makes it perfect for active trading. Most of them are not limited to only single cryptocurrency, in that case, it is easy to manage.
What about the cons?
Higher risk of online security breaches such as scams and hacks when using cloud-based wallets is its drawback. Third parties can also access your funds and can be a reason for online cryptocurrency wallets are less attractive.
Conclusion
Even though online wallets are convenient and practical to use, they are not safe for cryptocurrency most especially for a small number of coins.
What Is a Loyalty Program?
The idea of a loyalty program is designed as a marketing technique.
Merchants use this technique as an encouragement to customers to patronize their products or services. Loyalty programs usually require customers to register so they can gain commitment points in every purchase or usage in merchants’ services. Some loyalty programs allows the customers to use their acquired points on accessing new services and products. It can also be used for discounts and even get free merchandise. Other loyalty points can also be used as regular flier miles of airlines, hotel points and restaurant points.
Why it is important?
Loyalty program helps any business on keeping their customers to continue patronizing their product or service.
It is more costly if business focuses on getting a new client than selling products or service to the current customers. As the figure shows, it is between 5 and 25 times more expensive. Therefore, offering rewards like loyalty programs is a good idea to pleased existing customers.
Are loyalty points important?
Yes they are.
According to 2017 Colloquy Loyalty Census Report, sign-ups in loyalty programs increased by 15% between 2015 and 2017. This development rate that was recorded in 2015 is 26% therefore, subscription sign-ups progressing slowly. Professionals concluded that abundance is the main reason of decreasing interest of customers. Having a lot of loyalty programs makes an average consumer to hardly monitor each loyalty program they sign-ups. In this case, consumers had the difficulty on acquiring enough points to get the benefit of the loyalty program. Based on Maritz Loyalty Marketing report, 70% of consumers quit on loyalty programs because of the very slow progress on accumulating enough points for redemption.
Consumers found loyalty points not urgently important and don`t mind not coming back. In this case, this will lead to more expense in selling their products and services. Guaranteed increase in consumers retention rate can be possible if making reward points more critical to consumers that it will be easy for them to actively take part.
So Blockchain can include them worth?
Sure it can! Blockchain can decentralize and put back together the broken loyalty benefits gap. As a decentralized network, a good result is still expected on benefit points.
Elements, a new cryptocurrency is aiming to do such. Element cryptocurrency is using X11, a chained hashing algorithm that works for “Proof of Work” calculations. This new cryptocurrency has the main goal to pleased various merchants as the mainly loyalty cryptocurrency.
Elements as a “proof-of-work” cryptocurrency, can be mined with someone who has a system in a computer that has required processing power to do such. Miners can use their accumulated loyalty coins for shopping and buying tickets.
How do merchants benefit from it?
Basically, loyalty coins make it easy for a business to build interaction on their clients.
Merchants that are giving commitment points for consumers can somehow lead them to be valuable. Consumers will find those points helpful and will actively participate to accumulate points. Competitors will take in consideration on how they will encourage consumers to sign-up and the value of loyalty coins they can offer.
Universal commitment cryptocurrency can help merchants to lessen their loyalty liability. Liability is what a company’s obligation to other services or individuals. This is one of the entries in its balance sheet . Commitment points will be recorded as a liability because it is like a promised lesser rates and complimentary items to consumers. If each consumer always redeem their points, it will badly affects the company’s financial books. Since Mining is open to everyone, like in Elements coins, merchants could mine as well and provide loyalty coins to consumers. They can also benefits from the commitment coins of other merchants.
If you spend a traditional commitment points, merchants will consider this as no value. Therefore, merchants can take more advantage because a Blockchain-based currency can be exchanged for a fiat currency that will help them recover with loyalty points’ few sales.
How is this valuable to miners?
Rewards are also given to miners.
Scientists at Research and Markets predict that by 20123, the market size of the loyalty management market would reach its worth at $6.2 bln. Cryptocurrencies monetary value and great benefits might make consumers accept it at once and will definitely increase its worth.
What are a soft fork and a hard fork?
They are both changes in protocol.
Soft Fork
A modification to the software protocol is a soft fork when previously legitimate blocks/transactions are made void. It is a backwards-compatible because old nodes will recognized the brand-new blocks as valid.
Hard Fork
On the other hand, a hard fork is a protocol’s basic change that makes previously void blocks/transactions valid. All nodes or users should upgrade to the updated version of the procedure software application. It is a permanent change from its previous version of the Blockchain. In this case, nodes with previous versions will no longer acceptable.
What are UASF and UAHF?
UASF represents User Activated Soft Fork
UASF is a system where the soft forks’ time of activation occurs on a required date by full nodes. It is considered as the economic majority. This system needs full support and coordination from the industry. SegWit activation in the BIP148 proposal was unified with UASF idea.
UAHF means User Activated Hard Fork
A needed rule set is added to change the node software. The changes can make previous invalid blocks to be valid after being flagged. Establishing this action doesn`t need a majority of hash power. Bitmain, a mining company, introduced UAHF as a contingency strategy against UASF.
How UASF vs. UAHF decision started?
For a long period of time, bitcoin has known for some powerlessness.
Some users and mining companies like Bitmain and Bitcoin Unlimited do not uphold this idea. They accept new requirements but others can still use the former version of the Bitcoin code. To avoid such and save a Blockchain of transactions, many versions are used.
Are there any precedents of soft forks and hard forks?
They are visible every day to all users of cryptocurrencies.
The Blockchain is where every transaction gets in. Different individuals use a different chain of operations in the time of mining. There’s a fork in a string before the longest chain is carried out.
History of Ethereum considered the most meaningful example of UASF and UAHF application.
Ethereum started the DAO task last April-May, 2006, after a month when a hacker snapped up the cash of a holder.
- Accepting the theft and not doing anything
- Blockchain will be rolling back to a period before the theft or hard fork
- Hacker`s wallets incorrect transactions will be accepted and will return the money, or soft fork
The task was not appreciated by some users. They accepted the theft, therefore, it enables the 2nd Blockchain’s appearance.
How will the implementation of UASF or UAHF modification Bitcoin?
There is a great number of possible situations.
The next innovations will depend on users and miners if one of the strategies is chosen. Based on the percentage of provided classifications, the first possible circumstances are:
Many miners and users agree on the said plan. This right situation includes no fork and only one branch exists.
A lot of users accept the strategy and miners don`t do any move. If users are more than 51 %, one branch will be okay. But if it is lesser than 51%, two branches will be needed which are Users’ fork and Miners’ fork. If the number of users increases to more than 51%, Miners are removed.
Since users and miners can`t reach plan, a bigger group can attack the smaller one. Smaller group’s transactions are not safe since they can be removed.
Situations like that have different effects such as smaller group can protect and alter algorithms and procedures.