Since the inception of Bitcoin, the mining of cryptocurrencies has sparked many revenue-generating opportunities for users. This market is undoubtedly the gold rush of the 21st century, especially for crypto enthusiasts looking to get some skin in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Starting a Bitcoin mining business requires certain technicalities to function due to a robust market capitalization. Nothing but the latest computational and financial advancements are put into play to mine both Bitcoin and other Bitcoin-inspired cryptos. Bitcoin mining is still evolving and largely unregulated, especially with a gamut from individuals mining as a hobby to large corporations with massive resources solely dedicated to mining. In 2022, successful miners get rewarded 6.25 BTC for generating a valid hash. Such high productivity has enticed individuals and institutions worldwide to this business. Anyone who wants a business that yields substantial passive income may consider running a Bitcoin mining business. If you are motivated to earn extra through Bitcoin mining, I will give you a clearer insight into it, how it works, and the mining resources you'd need to venture into this business. What is Bitcoin Mining? Bitcoin mining is the process where nodes or miners add and verify Blocks of Bitcoin transactions on the Blockchain. It involves solving complex cryptographic hash puzzles to verify the Block of transactions regularly updated on the decentralized ledger. To complete the mining process, miners compete to get an answer close and lesser than the target number (Hash). This process integrates the Proof-of-Work (POW) consensus algorithm where miners guess and add numbers (Nonce) to a Block through arbitrary data input until they reach a consensus. It’s a roll of the dice. Once validated, the Bitcoin transaction records are on the Blockchain’s public ledger. Miners who scale through and correctly complete these processes are rewarded a set quantity of Bitcoin called block subsidy. Bitcoin Mining, therefore, accomplishes three tasks, namely; · Creating a medium to issue more cryptocurrency into circulation. · Verifying Bitcoin transactions. · Incentivizing Bitcoin mining. However, there are several intricacies involved in this business. Here is a synopsis of the various requirements and steps in starting this business to understand the Bitcoin mining setup better. How to Mine Bitcoins? Step 1: Open a secure Bitcoin Wallet To start mining, a repository to store, send, receive, and check the crypto balance in real-time is necessary. Crypto wallets perform these functions efficiently. All you need is to create an account, verify your account on a trusted platform, and enjoy the exclusive perks. Step 2: Get a Bitcoin Mining Hardware Many miners try to use their personal computers to mine Bitcoin, which is not advisable since cryptographic algorithms have advanced, requiring more computing resources. Using regular PCs would either incur losses or bring fewer profits to users since this process requires high computational power and energy. Also, there is always an outcome of high electricity bills because of increased power consumption. Ideally, Bitcoin mining uses high-powered computers melded with specialized software like ASIC miners. The ASIC (Application-specific integrated circuit) miner design helps users seamlessly run the tedious processes involved in Bitcoin mining. Step 3: Get a Bitcoin Mining Software Connecting mining hardware to the Blockchain requires Bitcoin mining software to link the mining process to the eponymous public ledger. Using software also helps share the BTC address with which users receive payouts or compensation within the Bitcoin mining pool. There are different credible mining software today, but it is imperative to ensure they are compatible with the computer's operating system. Here's a list of some BTC mining software you can consider: CGMiner: This multi-threaded multi-pool GPU (Graphics processing unit), FPGA (Field-programmable gate array), and ASIC miner with ATI GPU monitoring, clocking, and fan speed support for bitcoin and derivative tokens. BFGMiner: This miner can mine multiple Cryptocurrencies simultaneously and is perfect, especially if you want to tweak up or customize your mining software. Awesome Miner: When you are a part of pool mining or running a collab mining with a friend, this mining software can manage numerous mining rig types like FPGAs and ASICs, using just one dashboard. Others include; Multiminer, Minepeon, 50Miner, BTCMiner, BitMoose, RPC Miner, RemoteMiner, among others. Step 4: Choose your Mining Strategy Two strategies are involved in any Mining Business; Solo mining and mining pool. BTC mining is challenging since every miner is up against thousands of miners globally - including mammoth pools and massive institutions. Due to the high risk of solo mining, many miners prefer Bitcoin mining pools. In pool mining, miners share their equipment and computing powers and receive compensation based on their operating system's hash rate relative to the pool. In essence Mining is an invention that makes Bitcoin remarkable, a decentralized security mechanism that is the basis for peer-to-peer digital cash. Mining effectively secures the Bitcoin System and authorizes the emergence of network-wide consensus in a decentralized platform. Mining operation continues to help Bitcoin attain absolute scarcity, security, and decentralized nature, making it a desirable digital asset for crypto investors and businesses. The Bitcoin mining industry continues to fill an essential need in Bitcoin operations by providing access to the most established cryptocurrency through several dynamics. That being said, what are your thoughts about the Bitcoin Mining Business? Do you think it's a worthwhile investment? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

NFTs have undoubtedly captured the world's attention, especially after the newsworthy Beeple sale. Since then, growth within the NFT space has continued to skyrocket. This innovation transformed crypto assets from static to interest-bearing, and value-laden investments, providing more highly-disruptive opportunities for stakeholders. While these non-fungible tokens instantly create appeal in their own right, they inherently have an illiquid disposition, meaning their value is stored or locked up in assets. This has raised one of the major pain points of NFT maximalists – lack of liquidity. Consequently, NFT investors would appreciate the idea of utilizing their assets even while they lie fallow in the various crypto repositories. So, in essence, obtaining liquidity without selling NFTs would create a massive appeal. The necessity to resolve these liquidity issues spurred the transition of NFTs into the DeFi domain, thereby developing the NFTfi protocol. NFTfi leverages the liquidity of DeFi's infrastructure, which paves the way for disintermediated interactivity among NFT investors, especially releasing value impounded in the illiquid NFTs. To paint a clearer picture of the numerous possibilities surrounding NFTfi, I would expound more on this protocol and how you can leverage it. NFTfi Meaning NFTfi is a simple peer-to-peer collateralized loan platform or marketplace built exclusively for liquidating NFT assets. This liquidity protocol allows users to display assets from their NFT collection as collateral while letting eligible lenders determine which proposals are suitable. When the two parties accept terms, the borrower’s NFT gets transferred into a double-audited escrow smart contract for the loan duration. This open-ended decentralized platform is very similar to the Opensea marketplace, where people sync their Metamask wallets and transact with each other. Although identical to the famous NFT marketplace on a basic level, NFTfi's interface makes provision to put up offers, borrow and lend funds, thereby effectuating liquidity in the NFT ecosystem. On the NFTfi platform, there are two main categories of users, namely the Borrowers and Lenders. The Borrowers are users eager to take a loan from the platform. They put up any ERC-721backed tokens for collateralization, and other users (lenders) can now offer them the agreed loan. The Lenders browse through the platform to find favorable offers containing their favorite NFTs and offer loans on the assets they are happy to back. To illustrate how NFTfi works, here are steps on how both parties can employ the services of this protocol. As a Borrower, go to the NFTfi dashboard and click on "list as Collateral" to automatically list your asset on the marketplace. Once loan offers have been made for your listing, your asset's color changes to blue. You can then scout for a favorable offer. Accepting an offer locks your NFT in a smart contract and approves the loan payment into your wallet as ETH. To repay the loan, click on "repay." As a Lender, make sure you have enough ETH in your wallet. On the top right corner of your dashboard, click the "Lend" tab, which provides an array of listed collateralized NFTs.Select a convenient proposal from the listed assets, fill out the amount you can give, repayment amount plus APR, and loan duration, and submit your offer. If the borrower accepts your request, your ETH will be withdrawn. N/B: NFTfi charges nothing for your borrowing transactions but takes a 5% share of the interest that lenders earn on every successful loan transaction. Conclusion Since NFTs can allocate value to almost anything, it's only rational to pair them with a technology that makes such values available for users. DeFi helps in unlocking values affixed to any asset on the Blockchain. A perfect combination. NFTfi's interoperable lending protocol is undoubtedly a proven instrument vital for unlocking those tons of value in the NFT space. Although still in its nascency, NFTfi provides an excellent opportunity for users. NFT Holders and Flippers can now earn yields on their ETH instead of passively storing them up in their crypto wallets, a historically impossible feat on the Blockchain. With users' rising amount and depth, NFTfi is unquestionably transforming the dynamics of crypto assets, token ownership, and financial services. What do you reckon? Do you think NFTfi is a perfect and safe solution to NFT's liquidity limitations? Share your thoughts! Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

How do you represent yourself on your social media profiles? For most people, it's their favorite selfie, picture with a pet, loved one, or even some abstract jpeg. It's a highly subjective decision. The advent of Non-Fungible Tokens has disrupted conventional ways of representing ourselves on social media profiles. These digital arts continue to bring more value to users since they stole the show from tech-savvies enthusiastically watching Bitcoin's price or passionately discussing cryptocurrencies with a bated breath. One of the newest derivates of NFT technology is Profile Picture NFTs or PFP NFTs. Profile Picture NFTs is a new trend that dominates the NFT ecosystem through various generative avatar projects. This latest iteration offers something similar but more valuable than just a profile picture on the internet, and best believe, it is cool enough to stick around. Let's find out more. What is a PFP NFT? PFP stands for Picture for Profile, Profile Picture, or Picture for Proof which all refer to the established use of NFTs as literal profile pictures on various social media accounts. The shoulder-length artworks can be hand-drawn or designed to reflect different traits through images of their owner(s), apes, aliens, ducks, robots, and many other characters, as seen with the Cryptopunks, BAYC, among other PFP projects. If you recall the last time you saw someone drive a Lamborghini or flex a Rolex, you had probably reflected on their status and affluence. PFP NFTs are analogous to these status symbols we experience in the physical world. These days, social media users seek unique, statement-making, or value-laden jpegs to represent their persona, status, and ideas. This technology brings new technical capabilities and applications that have created a more comprehensive range of value for its users through cutting-edge applications. One of the active use cases can be seen in the immense utility PFP NFTs provide through their partnership with some fashion brands. PFP NFTS and Fashion Brands Fashion giants are investing in PFP NFTs to espouse scalability, which enables their loyal customers to change their avatars from images created by an issuing party to valuable and customizable assets. By inventing technology that allows PFP holders "dress" their avatars in brand apparel, fashion brands engage users in a thrilling experience that lets them create in a formerly impractical mechanism. Companies like Adidas are ramping up aesthetic and flexible innovations that place importance on web3 profile's avatars and their possibilities. Adidas, for instance, partnered with Ape closet to authorize any Bored Ape holder to dress up their PFP NFTs in Adidas apparel and create derivatives of their original NFTs while changing their rarity. Champion Athleticwear recently unveiled digital apparel and accessories that allow holders to "upgrade" their PFP outfits and costumes. Other sportswear giants like Puma and Nike also have their pieces of the PFP NFT cake. Louis Moinet is another luxury fashion authority tremendously working in tandem with this new iteration of digital art to proffer revolutionary concepts of upgrading PFPs. In this context, PFP owners can buy an NFT version of a Louis Moinet wristwatch and then use them to upgrade their PFPs. In selling those accessory-added PFPs, their owners still get proprietorship rights on the standalone NFT watch; how cool! PFP NFT isn't all about aesthetics. By changing the rarity of your PFP, your once singular NFT can automatically produce four unique NFTs with distinctive layers of complexity and value! This Profile Picture NFTphenomenon creates a propitious adventure for its users, where they can benefit through a passive revenue stream that stretches even to their PFP derivatives. So, what's in it for these brands? Asides from adding clout to celebrity or Web 3.0 profiles on social media, PFP NFTs present a lucrative, productive, and largely untapped room for brands to remain relevant and visible in the Web 3.0 community. As the Metaverse edges closer, nifty artworks would mean a great deal for these brands. In other words, a well-dressed and accessorized PFP has the potential to increase the value and status of not just fashion or luxury brands but any brand at all. In Conclusion Just like our Rolex watches and Gucci belts validate who we are and what we are capable of, PFP NFTs seamlessly offer us credible bragging rights or, as I like to call it, “Extravagant Meta-Flexing” in the online world. Profile Picture NFTs have stood out as one of the first social implementations of the NFT sphere to bring decentralized proof of digital ownership online as we gravitate towards Web 3.0. PFP NFTs have not gained enough traction yet and might still seem like a fad or perhaps an expensive status symbol. Still, with some of the world’s largest social media companies like Twitter and META (early-stage plans) leading the metaverse charge, NFT PFPs are poised to go mainstream. Having gained insights into the essence of these generative arts, would you consider this futuristic innovation a fad or an inventive concept for your future investments? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

When it comes to your personal information and data, tech companies are greedy and want as much information as possible to sell for profit. The more these establishments know about you, the more profit they make. Tech monopolies like Facebook, Amazon, and Google are unimaginably rich due to their ability to improve the user experience from algorithmic-generated data bundled from internet users. The Internet of Things (IoT) has made data even more ubiquitous, allowing companies to collate as much data as possible while monetizing them without users' consent. This hurdle in the data economy spurred the introduction of the Data Union. It was developed to ensure ordinary people (data sources) who produce these seemingly value-laden data can retain parts of the value they create. If you are in an effectively democratic or populist government - that sounds nice. This iteration provides a solution to the inequitable value distribution between internet users and tech companies, and even more; users can now transfer their data from tech giants into Web3 assets! Let's take a closer look at Data Union and learn how to leverage them. What is Data Union? Data Union is a DAO framework & crowdselling mechanism that collates users' real-time data in a collective pool and efficiently distributes shares from the revenue when data buyers pay to access their participants' data. This framework runs on the xDai chain, enabling cheaper transactions, reasonable decentralization, and mature bridges to the Ethereum mainnet and Binance smart chain. Like every other union, a Data Union requires the amalgamation of diverse groups of people to achieve a common purpose - value for data. A person's data does not hold substantial value, and an individual cannot negotiate the price of their data. Tech companies care about collective data because when combined in a Union Data, this information can aggregate into an attractive product for data buyers to extract insights. Data giants like Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Amazon have been able to capture the individual data market by aggregating feeds of personal data into products they easily retail to big data buyers. To function seamlessly, Data Unions comprise four underlying technologies: Ethereum: Ethereum's smart contract is used for storing and transferring contract agreements and maintaining the Data Union's state and all kinds of bookkeeping on the network. Streamr Network: This is a decentralized pub/sub message broker for transporting the data from the crowd of data producers to buyers of Data. Core: This application provides a friendly interface for setting up and managing activities in the union. Marketplace: This is a portal for selling the data to giant data buyers. Data Unions are built on the xDai sidechain, with a conduit to the Ethereum mainnet. Participants' data is transported by the Streamr Network, deployed via the Core app, and published on the marketplace exchange portal. Steps to Create a Data Union Create Streams: On the core interface, choose Data Union, then create a group for gathering members. Creating Streams also involves setting up a smart contract to automate the crowdselling process. Deploy the Data Union Contract: The deployment process on the Ethereum mainnet officially sets up a Data Union. On the core interface, click 'continue' to deploy the Data Union. Integrate into the end-user app: For the Ethereum mainnet contract deployment transaction, you will need a Web3 wallet with an amount of ETH for gas fees. Members also join and are authenticated via shared secrets to streamline the on-ramp member-gathering process. Publish on the Marketplace: As many members as possible are needed to publish a Data Union. Once you have enough members, you can post your union by clicking on the 'continue' form the action bar, and your Data Union is all set. Suppose you are wondering what Data Unions to join since you cannot create one. In that case, a few applications specialize in helping users find a stake in the data economy, namely, Swash, Re-public DAO, Unbanx, DIMO, and MAT. Wrapping Up Currently, the personal data market is worth tens of billions of dollars and is exploited chiefly by tech monopolies like we've seen recently from tabloids and news outlets. Data Unions Present a decent solution for individuals who are proactive enough to compete with these professional data brokers in the Data market. This innovation provides monetary value to ordinary people; it accords data users the opportunity to enjoy a transparent, regulated, and configurable gain of fair data revenue sharing. Through liberalizing data from centralized data monopolies, Data Unions have continued to forge a path toward creating an inclusive and valuable financial ecosystem for future generations. What are your thoughts? Do you think Data Unions would provide a lasting solution to tech giants' unwarranted use of your data? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

The internet is designing our future unapologetically. Its effect on us has been profound, shaping everything from how we interact to endless possibilities on how we handle our finance. One of the major proponents driving this digital revolution is the web3 - the famous iteration of the internet disrupting the financial system, redistributing wealth, and making the web democratic. This web innovation might still be new, but the need for a decentralized environment keeps putting it at the forefront of the trajectory toward futuristic technology trends. In the last decade, we've witnessed a splurge of ideas about web3 projects. This year, these projects have materialized and are starting to take a stance on providing open-source, permissionless services supported by token economies. I have highlighted some top mission-driven web3 Projects to look out for in 2022. Top 10 web3 Trends in 2022 1. Artificial Intelligence AI has unparalleled decision-making capabilities that gradually make it indispensable for many industries. The intersection of AI and web3 forms a strong link to human intelligence. This innovation leverages various techniques like ML (Machine Learning) and data to link people and boost productivity for users without compromising their privacy. An ideal AI technology can save a lot for businesses by easily automating and streamlining activities, thereby fast-tracking the growth of companies. 2. BAAS: Blockchain-as-a-Service is a brand new trend in Blockchain technology. This innovation is a third-party cloud-based service that enables users to create Blockchain applications such as; the Smart contract and DApps (Decentralized Applications). BaaS functions as a web host that runs the backend operation for any blockchain-based application. This technology helps businesses to focus on their core activities while it supports; Bandwidth management Enhanced security Automation using smart contracts Hosting requirements Transparency and traceability 3. The Semantic Web This web is also referred to as web 3.0 or, as I like to call it, 'the web of data. It simplifies internet data and makes it readable to users. Users, at the same time, can construct data stores on the web and dictate their data usage. One of the main benefits of the semantic web is that large amounts of data and information are made explicit and accessible to computers, thereby improving the accuracy and dependency of searches made on the web. 4. Decentralized Technology This technology will ensure peer-to-peer regulations on the blockchain. A decentralized technology would guarantee the sole ownership of a user's data, especially without interference from third parties like the government or giant tech companies. 5. NFTs to Foster Web 3.0 Motion Web 3 would provide a boundless platform for Non-Fungible Tokens. Digital art owners can now generate liquidity from their formerly illiquid assets, fractionalize their physical asset ownership and diversify their investment portfolio. This tech combination would help creators associate with their users like never before. A practical example is seen in the NFTfi. 6. 3D Interactive Web Technology Web3 would encourage 3D interactive grounds, such as the glimpse of possibilities we have seen from the metaverse. This technology would include virtual identities, interactions, and many more interesting opportunities, such as users having absolute control of their personalities in a three-dimensional virtual environment. 7. Social Web The social web would inspire the decentralization of social media platforms. A typical decentralized social media platform would be built with Blockchain ledgers to foster decentralization. In essence, social media platforms would become devoid of third-party intrusion like we experience from social media companies. This trend would solve the problem of privacy breaching, mismanaged data, and inauthentic and irrelevant information that has been the norm with web 2.0. 8. Low code Application Building Software This Web 3 application removes the low-code or no-code application software, simplifying the creation of mobile apps for companies. This innovation would springboard efficiency, flexibility, and management by making application development easy. 9. Flux Flux is the trustless data layer for web3 that lays the groundwork for developers to create, manage and spawn their web versions on multiple applications simultaneously using Smart Contract. This technology will help developers develop decentralized initiatives and objectives. Flux provides a decentralized operating system called FluxOS that ultimately provides the critical, high availability infrastructure for the new decentralized internet. 10. Cloud Computing Technology Web 2 saw some mishaps with data storage, such as loss, theft, and many more. Through cloud computing, web3 facilitates a reliable repository for storing critical information. These days companies are shifting toward cloud-native systems that seamlessly grant them access to work from any part of the globe. Wrapping Up The future of the web3 internet has one major goal: to let the user take absolute control of their actions online through more efficient and decentralized blockchain technology. Web3 is not only designing our future; it is capable of bringing drastic changes and improvements to our lives through the internet. This web version would help users reclaim the once lost ownership of their data and provide ample opportunities to capitalize on it. It is only a matter of time before we see the consequences and full potential of web3 unfolding before our eyes. What are your thoughts? Does the prospect of having undisputed control over your data through web3 applications excite you? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

Metaverse projects like Decentraland and Sandbox have a reputation for bringing real ownership to digital land or User-generated content (UGC) in the form of tokens securely stored on the Ethereum Blockchain. This way, users have been able to transcend a centralized interaction system. Among all the other Metaverse projects in the Web3 market, these two projects have benefited more from the metaverse hype. The two Metaverse companies have found themselves under the spotlight with growing concerns about which is better and well-suited for web3 aficionados. To get an insight into which of Decentraland and Sandbox is better, I have elicited all the facts you need to know about these two projects and detailed comparisons. What is Decentraland? Decentraland is an entirely vivid 3D Blockchain-based metaverse, where players can buy plots of land and invest in the virtual universe. Brought into the limelight in 2017 as the earliest pioneer in the metaverse sphere, Decentraland gives its players a broad scope of encounters, including casino concerts, galleries, games, and considerably more. Besides digital home and property ownership, Decentraland users can build or create with MANA tokens. MANA is an ERC-20 standard or Ethereum cryptocurrency used as a native token in this virtual real estate platform. Users can use the MANA token to buy LAND parcels - a digital real estate virtual land that complies with the ERC-721 standards and can serve as NFTs. Further use of Decentraland's MANA coin is for the platform's payment of avatars, costumes, and domain names. The platform is made especially for businesses, content creators, and individuals interested in digital art as a source of entertainment or for developing business opportunities. What is Sandbox? Sandbox is a play-to-earn 3D virtual world in the Metaverse. This platform started as a mobile game in 2011 but migrated to a 3D gaming sphere in 2017. This transformation allows clients to build, play, purchase land, exercise ownership, and monetize their virtual experiences. Sandbox offers a more gamified experience incorporating missions, games, and difficulties to procure rewards dissimilar to Decentraland. The Sandbox ecosystem uses the SAND token, an ERC-20-supported token that facilitates the platform's transactions and interactions like playing games, avatar customization, or purchases. SAND tokens are used to participate in governance and ownership when users purchase virtual lands also known as LAND tokens in Sandbox. LANDS can be staked or betted to acquire more SAND on the Sandbox platform. Sandbox is changing the trajectory between creators, gamers, and gaming platforms by focusing on user-generated content. This platform has created a new gaming market in which players own the products of their creative labor and are rewarded for the value they bring to developers and operators. There are similarities between these two projects and some essential contrasts. To help you understand better about these projects I’ve highlighted their differences and similarities. Differences between Sandbox and Decentraland Purpose Decentraland is a virtual world that aims to be a realistic representation of the actual world and offers users the chance to interact socially, do business, and have fun. Sandbox, on the other hand, is chiefly concerned with creating a user-owned and user-generated gaming ecosystem. Decentraland, on the other hand, has shown more practicability and purpose through introducing proof of concept into its platform, whereas Sandbox is still in the Alpha mode. Wallet Compatibility The two projects support using any ERC-20 wallet in their marketplaces, but they are also making moves to advance to more improved options. Decentraland recently bridged the platform with Walletconnect, allowing polygon users to engage in Decentraland. Sandbox plans to adopt and implement the ERC-1155 standard in its games. This would make Sandbox compatible with additional tokens, paving the way for the integration of diverse NFTs available in-game. Decentralization This factor is the most appealing aspect that gives Decentraland fanatics huge bragging rights over the Sandbox platform. While Sandbox maintains a central controlling entity, Decentraland is currently fully decentralized with a governing DAO, making it a clear winner in this context. Land Availability Decentraland has a limited supply of 90,601 plots of land that users can purchase only on Decentraland's marketplace. In contrast, Sandbox has a broader collection of 166,464 plots of land that can be bought on both Sandbox's marketplace and Opensea. Tokenomics Decentraland supports the use of the MANA tokens as its distinct token and other tokens like; LAND and WEAR. The sandbox allows users to interact with their SAND, GAMES, LAND, and ASSETS in the Metaverse. Making Purchases Sandbox offers a better option for users to purchase assets by leveraging the Opensea marketplace, granting easy access for non-community members to use. On the contrary, Decentraland allows the purchase of their assets from the MANA marketplace only. Collaborations The two projects have a fair share of associations with big brands, which also espouses their credibility. Decentraland has entered into collaborations with Atari, Cyberpunk, and Polygon; on the other hand, Sandbox is collaborating with more than 165 brands like; Opensea, Cryptokitties, Walking dead brand, and Snoop Dogg, among others. Platform Accessibility Decentraland presents limited access points to the platform by allowing access only through connecting a wallet. However, Sandbox provides a wider range of options for getting into the platform, such as through email, social media accounts, and a Metamask wallet. In this context, the Sandbox has an edge and stands out as the preferred choice. Graphic Editor Decentraland uses The Builder as a simple visual editor tool that lets users create content. Sandbox, on the other hand, has a powerful VoxEdit graphic editor used to create a variety of voxel assets that are used in-game and sold in the Sandbox marketplace. Similarities between Decentraland and Sandbox Metaverse Positioning Virtual Land and Real estate oriented Both allow User-Generated Content Both are used for the monetization of in-world assets. The Bottom Line Both of these metaverse projects spark intriguing and enjoyable experiences, and at the same time, both have their upsides and downsides. In reality, they both have a long way to go in transitioning into a larger decentralized metaverse. To answer the question, “Which one is better?” It comes down to personal preferences and subjective investment decisions. Do you prefer an older, established, and more secure project in Decentraland or a newer and trendier project immersed in creating more excitement and rewards in Sandbox? I would say, "If you like to speculate, the Sandbox is a better option because the possible returns are bigger. Plus, I believe the Sandbox has more untapped potential than crowded Decentraland." But if you are still new to the Metaverse, I suggest you try both to discover which works best. What are your thoughts? Which of these Metaverse projects interest you? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

Since time immemorial, the beauty industry has always had an inherent reputation for developing sensory experiences that focus only on closeness to the skin, proximity, and perceived sensation. Recently, beauty brands are slowly shaking off these generational stereotypes. One way brands do this is by adopting the multi-sensory, interactive, and immersive extended reality (XR) that comes with the Metaverse. These technological advancements provide more fun, immersive and inclusive experience for end-users. An instant opportunity presented itself given the popularity of virtual domains, especially among female mainstream gamers. With women making up 45% of the growing online gaming population, the beauty industry is adapting its services to fit this changing consumer lifestyle. These brands are looking to appeal to the new generation of untapped virtual audiences conveniently, and just like you imagined, the Metaverse is their go-to destination. Let's look at how beauty fits into this multidimensional realm. How does Beauty Fit in the Metaverse For beauty brands and retailers, the Metaverse facilitates a sales channel that brings exciting engagement for potential customers at all stages of their purchase journey. The most exciting perk is there are no physical boundaries! To get this virtual world to function, beauty brands employ augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), blockchain's NFTs, and social media to create a highly effective environment for rich user interaction. Future-ready beauty businesses are already releasing virtual product try-ons, like matching foundation tones for different skin tones, truncating the physical involvement and health risks associated with sharing in-store beauty products. For consumers, this spectrum accords the pleasure of privately seeing what an array of beauty products would look like on them from their cozy homes! These users represent themselves using identical graphic avatars with which they experiment to discover surreal beauty and new areas of inclusivity and abstract self-expression. Beauty Brands in the Metaverse Clinique Clinique made a statement as the earliest adopters of this Metaverse trend with their 'Metaverse Like Us' NFT project. Clinique initiated this celebratory NFT campaign to draw attention to the lack of diversity in the web3.0 space. Clinique's exclusive digital art, Non-Fungible People NFT, are 3D files that have utility beyond ordinary Profile Picture NFTs (PFPs). These avatars possess a cross Metervase portability feature that matches the users' facial features and expressions in real-time through their AR-powered app. Estèe Lauder x Decentraland Estee Lauder announced its presence in the Metaverse by becoming the only brand to participate in Metaverse Fashion Week (MFW) organized by Decentraland. To create a distinctive virtual beauty experience, Estee Lauder has teamed up with Alex Box, a well-known female artist in the Metaverse, to create an original non-fungible token wearable inspired by the brand's famous serum, Advanced Night Repair. To put this into context, users can step inside the serum's Little Brown Bottle to unlock a Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP) or badge that lets them claim an NFT outfit. Users can use the brand's #1 serum to give their avatars a radiant and glowing aura. L'Oreal L'Oreal's foray into the Metaverse officially began after registering the brand's many trademarks into the NFT and Metaverse categories. In the quest to celebrate women and celebrate pride month, L'Oreal's subdivision NYX partnered with Sandbox and People OF Crypto (POC) to launch a highly diverse avatar collection with most of the revenue mapped out for the LGBTQ organization. This brand intends to help users purchase and sell their virtual cosmetics while offering virtual perfumes as a complementary product for customers. Givenchy Last June, Givenchy parfums became the latest beauty brand to launch in the Metaverse. This introduction features a partnership with Roblox to create a more immersive experience. Givenchy lets users customize their avatar faces, test fragrances, and receive a Givenchy-themed beauty makeover. Amid other irresistible perks, users can also engage with make-up stations, photo booths, and a swimming pool in Givenchy's virtual world. Many more brands like Fenty and Nars are dabbling into the Metaverse and letting users digitally try on and save products through the extension of their real selves found in their avatars. Final Thought As the Metaverse continues evolving, it curates an authentic experience for beauty brands and users. These experiences offer both parties new and innovative opportunities to engage and interact seamlessly. Numerous brands have reinvented their offerings by creating characters and subjects in the Metaverse, integrating themselves into the experience rather than interrupting it. Many more brands will undoubtedly join this league of Metaverse adopters as there continues to be an upswing of users who live most of their lives online. Finally, the idea of the Metaverse and beauty brands may still seem idealistic and incomprehensible to some people, especially concerning developer privacy and security. Still, it has a lot to offer in terms of new opportunities. What are your thoughts? Are you excited about trying out innovative beauty features in the Metaverse? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

The evolution of Web3 and the culture of digital ownership is no doubt disrupting everything, including the fashion industry. Web3 technologies offer users and designers new choices and highly immersive fashion experiences. Imagine no longer having to stand in line for the newest shoe release, not having to stress about the crazy reseller prices on eBay, or even having to leave your house at all to cop the latest gear in the market. Web3 has brought much un-anticipated utility to fashion and our environment uniquely. High-end brands such as Balenciaga, Burberry, and Gucci are already exploring the scene with their digital fashion NFT collections for consumers. There are now Web3 fashion shows where avatar models walk down a virtual runway to appeal to fashion-loving NFT owners in a very unusual way! The Web3 innovation is bringing endless perks to the fashion world. As always, fashion designers have a lot to leverage from, but for the first time, we consumers tap into these utilities. I will provide insights on how Web3 revolutionizes the fashion industry while giving practical examples. Web3 in the Fashion Industry Fashion brands can now sell their products as digital fashion NFTs in virtual worlds such as Decentraland, Roblox, and Fortnite, thanks to the introduction of Web3. This introduction has significant implications for clothing companies, especially regarding supply chain management and research. The "try before you buy" model will have far-reaching consequences for the fashion industry, hence the need for more advanced technology - the Web3. The Metaverse Fashion Week is the most talked about fashion show of the year. Big brands like Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, and Charles & Keith made history by showcasing their digital fashion collections alongside other popular Web3 projects. This Web3 Fashion show provided an immersive shopping experience in which purchasing virtual clothing in Decentraland resulted in physical clothing shipped to the buyer's home. Web3 isn't just limited to immersive virtual experiences; this iteration of the internet combines various pertinent values that are changing the status quo of the fashion landscape. Benefits of Web3 in Fashion Decentralization Decentralization is the fundamental principle of Web3 fashion. Due to its centralized nature, the fashion industry exploits people to an unimaginable extent. This new Web version is helping give back ownership to creatives instead of big consignment companies. In theory, Web3 enables fashion designers not just to create but own and monetize their work. The principle of decentralization implies that as a creator, you won't entirely lose bragging rights to your work. In other words, you will have entitlements to royalties whenever anyone sells your craft or even years after they become mainstream. Authentication As a blockchain-layered iteration of the internet, Web3 offers the entire transaction history of an item, including everything that has happened to a single piece or collection. This way, buyers can avoid fakes and cheap imitations. On the flip side, whenever you attempt to sell your high-fashion NFT, there would be no need for receipts or proof of ownership - as the Blockchain will have a record of the product's timeline. Security Most conveniently, you no longer have to stress about the condition of your luxury items because of their digital nature. The digital fashion marketplace in Web3 would preserve the quality and condition of digital assets, making them tamper-proof and able to transcend problems that plague real-world fashion assets. Environmental Sustainability Currently, the fashion industry runs on a linear business model. This notion implies the industry involves collecting, using, and disposing of used and unused materials. Integrating Web3 and fashion provides a more purposeful and regenerative model that would help us attain an ideal sustainability goal. This iteration eliminates waste and pollution, whereas consumers can use materials for as long as possible. Web3 Fashion Brands Most future-ready fashion brands are already leveraging the impressive benefits of Web3 possibilities. Some of them are; Burberry x Roblox The Burberry brand recently released its virtual Lola Bag collection on Roblox. This new release is a collection of limited-edition virtual bags crafted from materials like clouds, water, and wild foliage. Each of these bags dropped on the launch date and lasted for only 24 hours, during which Roblox community members will be able to dress their avatars with the designer bag. Through embedding "emotes" - a unique action that lets avatars express emotions on Roblox, Burberry initiated the campaign to encourage self-expression and discovery among women. The campaign starred various big names, including; Bella Hadid, Lourdes Leon, among other fashion icons. Clubhouse Archives, Inc. This brand is a blockchain-based luxury apparel NFT company where users get the chance to buy curated luxury apparel from their digital marketplace. Each of these 3D apparel comes with an Italian-made garment. This brand gives designers an active role in brand development, espousing a decentralized fashion industry. Prada Last month, Prada added to its retinue of Metaverse applications by dropping 100 exclusive NFTs. This drop coincided with the fashion house's Timecapsule apparel series, consisting of 100 unisex button-down shirts. Users who bought this apparel received a free airdrop NFT with a serial number and the exact number of the actual shirt. Prada has alluded to incoming Web3 projects before the end of the year. Gucci After dropping their famous NFT collections and entering the SandBox project, Gucci announced they would accept using cryptocurrencies for transactions. The household name revealed they are on the verge of releasing more mind-blowing Web3 projects. Gucci's prospects gravitate towards making Web3 more intuitive and user-friendly for her users. Final Thoughts The fashion industry is undoubtedly becoming more innovative by incorporating Blockchain and Web3 technology. Brands onboarding to this productive trend is amassing a lot of benefits and providing immeasurable value for end-users. As we embrace our crypto-fueled future, fashion - amidst all its perceived frivolities - will become even more essential, bizarre, expressive, artistic, and powerful with the integration of Web3 technology. Thanks to Web3 technology, there are new and dynamic ways of thinking about clothes, accessories, and fashion. Unlike before, we can now create a more decentralized, futuristic, and efficient fashion industry by leveraging Blockchain technology and crypto tokens. This integration, in my opinion, is the future of fashion, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. What are your thoughts? Are you excited about the Web3 experience? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

On their own, Smart contracts and their Blockchains are unable to access data from outside their network. A Smart contract frequently requires access to information from the outside world relevant to the contractual agreement to know what to do. Blockchain oracles provide a credible solution to this limitation on the smart contract. They act as conduits that help Smart Contracts receive and verify external or off-chain information needed to trigger the execution of certain logic on the Blockchain. To provide a clearer insight into what this technology brings to the Blockchain ecosystem, I will delve deeper into what Blockchain oracles are and how they help execute various applications and programs on the Blockchain. What are Blockchain Oracles Blockchain Oracles, also known as Blockchain middleware, are mechanisms the Decentralized Web3 ecosystem uses to access off-chain data sources, thereby bridging the gap between the Blockchain (on-chain) and external third-party clients and services. These Decentralized oracle networks (DONs) create a hybrid smart contract design that merges on-chain code and off-chain infrastructure to bolster advanced decentralized applications (dApps). These decentralized applications are enhanced to interoperate with the Blockchain system and react to real-world events simultaneously. How do Blockchain Oracles Work Simply put, Oracles collect data using a variety of tools. The tools could be APIs, SDKs, IoT sensors, or other sources. On collating the data, the Oracle application sends the on-chain smart contract transactions containing the necessary information. The smart contracts retrieve these data from the Oracle technology and store it in its repository for easy accessibility. Data from Stock prices can be sourced from oracles like internet APIs, while analysts can determine climate/weather conditions from physical oracles like IoT sensors. There are other types of oracles from which the Blockchain sources off-chain information. Types of Blockchain Oracles Blockchain Oracles offer their services through distinctive designs and types. Here's a look at the various types: Software oracles (Inbound oracles) Software oracles are this technology's most commonly used form because of their versatility and ubiquity. These software oracles use APIs, databases, web crawlers, and more to obtain real-world data. Hardware oracles (Inbound oracles) These are oracles that physically connect to computer peripherals to obtain data. As a result of its tangible nature, this oracle type is the hardest to compromise, especially compared to the software oracles. Hardware oracles receive information from IoT sensors and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Outbound oracles Outbound oracles transmit data from the Blockchain to an external party or a third-party database. This action helps to espouse interoperability. An example is the traditional Smart Contract. Cross-chain oracles Cross-chain oracles connect data and value between blockchains, thereby supporting interoperability. Chainlink is a prominent example of Cross-chain oracles. This oracle variant has been playing a vital role in the growth of DeFi by enabling a data-rich environment that improves Smart contracts’ ability to function based on current market data. This no.1 Oracle network brand has recently introduced Meta Oracle Capabilities for DeFi, which help the on-chain liquidity pool and provide users with pricing efficiency guarantees. Compute-enabled oracles This oracle helps to solve complex and highly sophisticated computations that would be expensive to carry out on-chain. Compute-enabled oracles also help verify the data before recording it on the Blockchain. An example is using zero-knowledge proofs to generate data privacy. Use Cases of Blockchain Oracles Blockchain oracles serve different benefits from finance, digital identity, and supply chain. Finance Due to crypto volatility, the Blockchain needs a conduit that constantly updates the technology on the current off-chain trends. Through the services of the Blockchain Oracle, smart contracts can get the prices of Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies to execute in line with current market trends, giving users a DeFi advantage. Environment This technology interacts with real-world data to obtain information about the environment needed to effectuate an action on the Blockchain. For instance, they help collect weather data to execute decentralized farmer insurance contracts registered on the Blockchain. Digital Identity This technology helps to validate a user's already provided identification materials like certificates and personal documents. Supply chain Oracle technology plays a vital role in logistics operations. The oracle smart contract uses software and hardware devices to track the state of delivery goods in transit. Blockchain Oracle Problem Blockchains are isolated networks designed to produce a definite result if the user or anyone else follows the same operational procedure (Determinism). Smart contracts inherently operate on data already stored inside their ledger and cannot independently extract or push data to any external system. Oracles have become critical because most Smart contract use cases, such as DeFi, require knowledge of real-world data and off-chain events to realize up to 90% of their use cases efficiently. Combining oracles and Smart contracts benefits many industries, including asset prices in finance, weather information in insurance, randomness in gaming, IoT sensors in the supply chain, ID verification in government, and much more. Final thoughts Similar to how the internet transformed data and information exchange, Oracles are redefining the dynamics of value exchange in the blockchain and Web3 landscapes. This technology has not only increased the potential of the Blockchain beyond just finance, but it is also now applicable in our daily lives and other conventional activities. I have no doubt Blockchain oracles will remain one of the valuable building blocks to be implemented in a safe, trustworthy and credible manner for the blockchain ecosystem to expand even more. What are your thoughts? Do you think Blockchain oracles are essential facets of the Blockchain landscape? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

The music industry is awakening to the numerous potentials of the Metaverse, especially with its digital property rights transforming how musicians earn a living. Music lovers, on their part, are discovering interactive and immersive ways to connect with the music and other fans. Metaverse has caused a significant shift in how we use and interact with technology. For instance, Augmented reality (AR) combines aspects of the digital and physical worlds. It creates a digital economy where users can create, share, and monetize experiences and intellectual property (IP). The synergy of music and the Metaverse is galvanizing tremendous growth and transformation through Web3-related trends like NFT assets. These revolutionary trends revamp the musical scene beyond conventional music clips with highly immersive 3D experiences. Let's see how. Music in the Metaverse For music artists, the Metaverse brings a strong sense of ownership that allows secondary market royalties to get added to smart contracts governing the exchange of digital items. This process ensures artists' properties, so they are perpetually paid for their next legendary track every time it gets resold. Compared to the stipends musicians receive from their record labels, the Metaverse offers artists the possibility of absolute control over their works, eliminating mediators and third parties from the equation. They have complete control of rights over their supply chain. This sort of creative system enables artists to rake in insane figures, even as independent artists - a near impossible feat under the common traditional structure. For users, the Metaverse forges a specific value and sense of ownership that cannot be replicated. Fans would have the opportunity to own valuables directly from their favorite artist. Although artists get to retain the copyright of their tracks, fans would also hold a digitally signed copy of songs that can be limited or even a 1 of 1 edition. The buyer has the right to sell it, just like they could sell an autographed vinyl! In essence, the Metaverse is bridging the physical divide between artists and fans through virtual options that have opened doors for more personalized and meaningful conversations outside our reality. Some Metaverse Brands and Artists Snoop Dogg X Sandbox Snoop Dogg announced last September that he was creating his virtual world within the Sandbox, one of several rapidly growing social metaverse platforms. Users can traverse custom virtual worlds featuring all things Snoop Dogg, collect valuable NFT drops and watch exclusive in-world concerts in the "Snoopverse." Snoop's Metaverse world is so popular that one fan paid a whopping $500,000 to be the rapper's virtual neighbor. The rapper is credited for releasing the first-ever virtual music video to his track "House I Built," which was created in the Sandbox Metaverse. Binance X Trey Songz Recently launched on Binance NFT, Trey Songz, award-winning R&B singer, curated an exclusive NFT Mystery Box featuring unreleased new tracks and music pieces composed by Trey Songz himself. Another set of NFTs in the collection includes other rewards such as the latest songs, the opportunity to have zoom calls, and once-in-a-lifetime music co-creation with Trey. Lil Nas X on Roblox Roblox hosted its first-ever virtual concert in November 2020, where Lil Nas X performed to an audience of millions across two days and four shows. The shows gathered 33 million views across the performances. The show starred a motion-captured embodiment of Lil Nas X, with outfits and backdrops that all suited each of the four songs he performed. Takeaway Music has always seemed bound for interactive multimedia spaces. Integration of music in the Metaverse provides immeasurable benefits for music artists and music fans. Numerous music firms and projects are building in this immersive and value-laden space with NFT assets and records that create value for music fans and empower musicians. This reality of music in the Metaverse has undoubtedly created a new world full of endless opportunities. At the same time, many have claimed that only an elite few can genuinely afford to partake in the Metaverse. This latest iteration intensifies our modern-day music's ubiquitous and all-inclusive nature. What are your thoughts? Are you excited about having immersive musical experiences in the Metaverse? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

The early hours of May 13 happen to be the darkest time for holders of the LUNA cryptocurrency. The catastrophic devalue of the currency alongside the news of its stablecoin - TerraUSD (UST) - losing its Peg heralded an unprecedented market crash in the crypto community. Since creating a new blockchain in the wake of Terra's algorithmic stablecoin collapse, Luna continues making recovery moves with the rebranded Luna Classic (LUNC) already transformed to LUNA 2.0. Although an extensive Luna recovery plan is now in place through Luna 2.0 and other new projects, let's get a keen insight into what spawned the Luna and TerraUSD prices to nosedive. Let's dive deep into the main reasons which caused Luna to crash. What Happened to Terra Luna? To understand how the Luna crash occurred, you need to get conversant with the stabilization mechanism of the UST and the concept of Unrealized Market Value. A Stablecoin is simply a currency guaranteeing the price stability of a coin. Like other Stablecoins, UST gets used as a stabilization tool for the LUNA token. By minting and burning tokens, users can regulate the supply of LUNA or stabilize the token's price. Whenever UST prices exceed $1, traders are encouraged to burn LUNA in exchange for UST and then sell the stablecoin for a $0.01 profit. On the flip side, if the UST price drops below $1, traders are expected to burn one UST and receive a $1 value of LUNA, or they can choose to sell the LUNA for a $0.01 profit. This transaction and stabilization mechanism is known as the 'Arbitrage mechanism.' Unrealized Market Value, on its part, is a theoretical profit that appears only on financial statements. This concept explains instances like the increase in crypto assets' value like LUNA that's yet to be sold for real cash. Traders realize value after they sell the asset. Just like unrealized market value, the Market capitalization of coins represents an estimated market value of a specific cryptocurrency, not necessarily how much its entire supply is worth if it was all sold at once. Sometimes, a smaller cap coin can create an inflated and sizable total market value. So why did LUNA crash, and what has it to do with all of these? The main issue spawned when investors who owned LUNA chose to sell it right away rather than hold it for the long term or remain bullish on the coin while hoping for a price increase. This scenario brought LUNA under constant selling pressure, especially when UST commenced trading at a sharply de-pegged price. Stablecoins are supposed to maintain a 1:1 ratio; for each cryptocurrency coin or token issued, there should be cash, cash equivalents, or hard assets backing. For example, the two largest stablecoins by market capitalization, Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), are backed by fiat-equivalent reserves issued by centralized firms. Meanwhile, UST is an algorithmic stablecoin mainly backed by its sister cryptocurrency, LUNA, but was also backed by Bitcoin. For a “stablecoin” like UST, the more it is commercially used generically and in the Web3 decentralized economy, the more valuable its coin, LUNA, becomes. On the way up, this minting and destroying mechanism comes in handy. However, if UST fails to reverse its downward trend, a death spiral is bound to occur, warranting the indefinite minting of LUNA to re-establish UST as its anchor. With the Luna crash, this was not just the story. Unfortunately for most investors, a certain $85 million UST - US Dollar swap destabilized the pool. After this event, random defenders and investors began the attempt to restore balance to the Curve pool, with holders selling approximately 50,000 ETH and sending another 20,000 to the Binance platform. Because of this, there was insufficient reserve to maintain the stablecoin price peg at $1. Another problem was the promise of a stable 20% annual yield through the Anchor protocol. This brought a lot of demand into the Ecosystem. This demand kept LUNA from crashing too early by inflating the demand for UST through the Anchor Protocol. With such a high demand for UST, LUNA was burned each time UST was created. Thus, the LUNA coin exploded in value in a very short amount of time, artificially decreasing the supply. People felt these big players would remain anchored to the UST at this point, but the reverse was the case. The statistical curve from the point of depeg was very smooth and undistorted with the performance of a free-fall. After Luna's unrealized market cap was exploited, the price of the stablecoin began to slump. The UST started depegging on May 10 at precisely 0:00 hrs; it dragged LUNA alongside it. UST holders were concerned the token would lose value, peg, and begin to sell off. They were also worried traders on the Terra chain would be unable to keep up with the massive sell-off and that the price of LUNA would crash. Eventually, that was what happened. To justify the co-relation between UST and LUNA, the metric "Cumulative UST destruction over Luna Total Market Cap Reduction" is also significantly smoothed, indicating that Luna's total market cap reduction evenly distributes the impact of UST destruction. Ultimately, Terra LUNA crashed due to capital hunting and a debt crisis on the Terra Blockchain. Aftermath of Luna Crypto Crash Following the crash of the Terra Blockchain, most crypto exchanges delisted Luna and its UST pairings, just as was witnessed with Luna Coinbase deregistration. Trading firms also excluded the coin from the trading landscape. Terraform Labs proceeded to set up recovery plans to revive the dying Blockchain. On May 27, the Terra community launched a new Luna 2.0 token, built on a new decentralized and open-source public blockchain, Terra 2.0. This new underlying system severed ties with the UST stablecoin, elicited the Blockchain's plummet. DApps on the Luna Classic were also introduced to the new native token alongside the new chain, with new intriguing features set to be incorporated into the new Terra Luna 2.0 network. After the launch, holders of the previous iteration of Luna - Luna classic - were compensated for their spoils through a Luna 2.0 airdrop. The airdrop incentivized; Pre/post-crash Luna holders, pre/post-crash UST holders, and the Terra community pool. Most investors sold their new crypto tokens in a quest to rebirth and recoup some of their losses during the catastrophic black swan event. Some "Lunatics," die-hard LUNA supporters, faithfully admit the airdrop helped them recoup a small percentage of their original investments. Final Thoughts The May Luna crash was undoubtedly an unprecedented decline, especially with most investors losing a fortune. Even worse, the Crypto downtrend contagion has continued, causing global cynicism in the crypto market. The Terra/UST collapse was devastating, especially for investors, but there is still hope for LUNA and crypto. The unprecedented bullish run over the last 13 years and the fact that Bitcoin became the most prominent cryptocurrency after being a worthless asset should easily change your mind against Luna's revival. The crash happened. But, to be honest, UST was an unusual bubble showing signs of success until it wasn't. The coin was once one of the top ten most valuable cryptocurrencies before its decline. In essence, I think the LUNA crash should serve as a cautionary tale for calling shots or drawing conclusions in the Luna/UST story or even when a successful UST clone appears in 2027 and beyond. What are your thoughts? Do you believe Terra Luna would re-emerge as a valuable cryptocurrency? Follow my Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 to learn about the trends of Blockchain, Crypto, and Web3!

Meet Joy Yuan, the woman who taught AI all about beauty. When she moved to San Francisco from her native Shanghai for her studies, Joy Yuan knew she’d need to adapt to many things. There is however one challenge she had not accounted for, and which would propel her into the select group of female entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley: finding the right skincare routine for her. Joy has always been passionate around personal care and beauty products, and she had the right mix of products down to science back in China. When she landed in San Francisco, she had to find a new routine that would best work with her skin; this is when she realized that the US market was entirely different than what she was used to. Overwhelming is probably the best way to describe this. She realized that finding the right products to work with her skin was almost a full-time job. In a market with over 100,000 different websites covering beauty products and where most online reviews are fake, any dedicated consumer would need to spend several weeks narrowing down to a suitable product. This is exactly what Joy did. Unfortunately, when she applied the moisturizer she landed on, despite all the time, money, and energy she spent on her research, it irritated her skin. She attempted to reach out to a dermatologist but was told she would need to wait at least two weeks before an appointment and that appointment would cost more than $100 out of pocket. It was then that Joy, a wildly successful business executive who had generated well over $100 million in revenue for brands worldwide, had the first seed of an idea. It was during her work with a beauty social media platform that her idea matured, and the seed blossomed. Relying on both her personal trial and error and bad stories, as well as her most recent professional experience in the field, she came to a realization: “Why not use data and AI technology to aggregate beauty information, and use that information to offer tailored beauty advice to users based on their own skin data?” Like most successful entrepreneurs, she had identified the problem she was passionate about solving. Reauty was born. Reauty is the flagship product of Joy’s company, Blingy, a tech start-up building the most authentic, transparent, and trustworthy community for the beauty industry and beyond. Transparency isn’t a buzzword for her but rather a fundamental piece of the puzzle. Doing her due diligence, Joy realized that the FDA was very laid back with the ingredients they allowed into skincare and cosmetics sold in the United States. FDA banned one item for every 10 that were banned by their counterpart in the United Kingdom. As she built her solution, Joy knew a fundamental feature would be to provide her users with the most comprehensive database for ingredients for beauty products worldwide, ensuring they could make informed decisions and put their health first. Frustrated at all the trial and error she had to put up with, but a great believer in “changing the world with creativity,” Joy turned to advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to provide beauty product consumers with the shortcut that she (and they) sorely needed: a combination of AI-driven skin analysis (including over 10 dermatological features), deep machine learning, product scoring algorithms, and a comprehensive database that provides consumers with the personalized solutions, beauty tips, and product recommendations in seconds. But Reauty isn’t “just” the most trustworthy and sophisticated recommendation engine for beauty products. It is an app that contains a social e-commerce platform and the perfect space for users to connect authentically and share their experiences with their preferred beauty products. Reauty is fixing the deeply imperfect rules of the beauty industry and is enabling beauty influencers and brands to connect and form brand partnerships that deliver envious ROI for the brands, and reliable, transparent, and tailored product endorsements for users. Ultimately, the best way to describe Reauty would be the one place any beauty aficionado will ever need, featuring also the most detailed database on consumer reviews of products as well as transparent listing of components of every key product on the market, a feature that was launched after Joy personally realized there was no regulatory approval required before a beauty product could be launched to the US market. Fixing broken systems doesn’t just stop at the beauty industry, it is in her DNA. She sees Reauty with a definite social change agenda at its core “At Reauty we believe the beauty community is an open, inclusive, and diverse place where everyone is welcomed. We invite you to live true to yourself and be yourself in our transparent and inclusive beauty community.” However, Joy’s work on social change doesn’t stop there. An immigrant herself, she is a strong advocate against sexism and racism in the tech industry and frequently dedicates her time to compassionately inspire the next generation of women, helping them become their best selves. Likewise, one would be sorely mistaken to think that the beauty industry is the only one Joy Yuan intends to tackle. Indeed, the technology behind Blingy can be deployed to several other industries, supporting one David on his fight against Goliath at the time. Beauty just happens to be the first Goliath she’s set her mind on, but it is certainly not her last. As she continues building fairer and more transparent communities across the world. Her personal guiding principle and the invitation to people she crosses paths with? “When you flap the wings of change, good results happen. We don’t need superheroes to change the world, but it takes every ordinary you and me to make the impossible possible.” Flap those wings and join her and her team at Blingy in changing the world! Follow Joy's Twitter @JoyyuanWeb3 and Linkedin to learn more about her.