There is an “architectural shift” in technology and in the world brought upon by cryptoassets, which many crypto supporters miss, according to Marc Andreessen, co-founder of venture capital powerhouse Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and founder of Netscape Communications Corporation.
Today, a16z announced a new USD 2.2bn fund to continue investing in crypto networks.
Meanwhile, in a recent interview with economic blogger Noah Smith, Andreessen compared the topic of crypto with the parable of the blind men and the elephant, allowing people to interpret many different parts in many different ways, or use it to make their point. As an example, he gave people seizing on “the money part,” then either glorifying crypto as a new type of monetary system that brings freedom from the nation-state, or “crucify[ing] it as a danger to economic stability and the ability for governments to tax.”
However, while these are interesting arguments, Andreessen stressed,
“I think they all miss a more fundamental point, which is that crypto represents an architectural shift in how technology works and therefore how the world works. That architectural shift is called distributed consensus — the ability for many untrusted participants in a network to establish consistency and trust.”
According to him, the Internet has never had this until now and it will take thirty years to work through all of the things that can be done as a result. While money is the easiest application of this idea, other things that can now be built in theory include Internet native contracts, loans, insurance, title to real-world assets, unique digital goods aka non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and online corporate structures such as digital autonomous organizations (DAOs), among others, the investor said.
This also presents a great impact on and shift in incentives – which further impacts reaching these applications.
Collaborative human effort online so far was either in the form of a literal adoption of real-world corporate norms, such as a company with a website, or an open-source project like Linux that didn’t have any money directly attached to it, said Andreessen.
“With crypto, you can now create thousands of new kinds of incentive systems for collaborative work online, since participants in a crypto project can get paid directly without a real-world company even needing to exist,” he said.
While open-source software development has been great, people are generally willing to work more for money than for free, “and all of a sudden all those things become possible and even easy to do.” And though it will take a few decades to see the results of this as well, “I don’t think it’s crazy that this could be a civilizational shift in how people work and get paid,” said Andreessen.
He also discussed the idea that AI is somewhat a left-wing idea, having centralized machines making top-down decisions, but that crypto is a right-wing idea, having many distributed agents, humans and bots, making bottom-up decisions, he said, citing another prominent venture capitalist Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal.
The tech industry has historically been dominated by left-wing politics and today’s big tech companies are intertwined with the US Democratic Party, Andreessen said, noting,
“Crypto potentially represents the creation of a whole new category of technology, quite literally right-wing tech that is far more aggressively decentralized and far more comfortable with entrepreneurialism and free voluntary exchange. If you believe, as I do, that the world needs far more technology, this is a very powerful idea, a step function increase in what the technology world can do.”
As for a16z becoming known for innovating in the space of venture capital itself, Andreessen said that there is something old and something new about venture capital – and this something new includes crypto.
“So we sit at the vortex of this combination of the very old and the very new. It’s certainly possible that venture capital itself gets pulled into this vortex and comes out the other side radically transformed, and in fact, this is what some of the smartest crypto experts are predicting,” Andreessen concluded.
Binance is one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, providing a platform for traders to buy, sell, and store their digital assets. As the popularity of cryptocurrency continues to grow, so does the potential for earning it. For those who are new to the market, Binance offers a variety of ways to earn crypto, many of which are accessible to beginners. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore 22 ways to earn crypto on Binance.
1. Trading Crypto:
One of the most popular ways to earn crypto on Binance is through trading. With a wide variety of cryptocurrencies available on the exchange, users can take advantage of market movements and actively buy and sell digital assets. Binance offers trading pairs with both fiat currencies and other cryptocurrencies, making it easier to get started in trading.
2. Staking:
Staking is a process where users hold their coins in a wallet for a specific amount of time to help secure the network. On Binance, you can stake various cryptocurrencies, including BNB, DOT, and ADA. Not only does staking earn you interest on your holdings, but it also supports the respective blockchain network.
3. Savings:
Binance offers a savings feature that allows users to earn interest on their idle funds. Users can choose between flexible or locked savings, with different APY (annual percentage yield) rates depending on their preference. The flexible savings option allows users to withdraw their funds at any time, while the locked savings option requires a set period of time to earn a higher APY.
4. Binance Earn:
Binance Earn is another platform that offers opportunities to earn crypto with minimal effort. Through Binance Earn, users can participate in activities such as locked staking, dual savings, and farming and liquidity mining programs, all designed to provide higher returns on investment.
5. Crypto Loans:
Binance offers a crypto loan feature where users can use their digital assets as collateral to borrow funds. This feature is beneficial for those who do not want to sell their crypto holdings and still need access to cash. The loans are available in various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Binance Coin (BNB).
6. Referral Program:
Binance has a referral program that rewards users for introducing friends to the platform. By inviting friends to join Binance, users can earn up to 40% commission on their referrals’ trading fees. Additionally, as a referred user, you can also receive discounted trading fees for the first 30 days.
7. Binance Launchpad Programs:
Binance Launchpad is a platform that helps blockchain projects launch their tokens through a token sale. By participating in these token sales, users can potentially purchase new tokens at a discounted price, which can later be traded on Binance for a higher value.
8. Trading Competitions:
Binance regularly organizes trading competitions that allow users to earn bonus crypto rewards for their trading activities. These competitions come with different rewards, such as cash prizes, newly launched tokens, and special discounts on trading fees.
9. Binance Futures:
For those interested in trading with leverage, Binance Futures offers a way to earn crypto through leveraged trading. With up to 125x leverage, users can amplify their potential profits while exposing themselves to higher risks.
10. OTC Trading:
Binance also offers Over-the-Counter (OTC) trading services, where larger trades can be made quickly and efficiently. OTC trading usually comes with lower fees and a higher level of security, making it an attractive option for institutions and high net worth individuals.
11. Binance Pool:
Binance Pool is a platform for miners to contribute their computing power to mine cryptocurrencies. By joining Binance Pool, miners can earn rewards in the respective cryptocurrency being mined.
12. Savings Vault:
Savings Vault is another savings feature on Binance that allows users to save their digital assets for a set period of time and earn rewards. The longer the savings period, the higher the interest rates users can receive.
13. Margin Trading:
Margin trading on Binance allows users to borrow funds and increase their buying power. However, margin trading also comes with a higher level of risk, so it is important to understand the mechanics and potential consequences before participating.
14. Binance Debit Card:
Through the Binance debit card, users can convert their cryptocurrency into fiat currency and spend it at millions of merchants worldwide. By spending your crypto, you can potentially earn cashback rewards in the form of Binance coins.
15. Binance Academy:
Binance Academy is an educational platform that provides users with informative articles, videos, and courses about cryptocurrency and blockchain. By completing these modules, users can earn a certificate and potentially receive rewards in the form of cryptocurrency.
16. Rewards Center:
The Binance Rewards Center offers a range of options for users to earn crypto. You can claim rewards by completing tasks such as account verification, referring friends, and participating in trading competitions.
17. Binance Visa Card:
Binance recently announced the launch of its Visa debit card, allowing users to spend their cryptocurrencies directly. By using the card, users can earn up to 8% cashback in the form of Binance coins.
18. Trust Wallet Staking:
Trust Wallet, which is owned by Binance, offers staking opportunities for various cryptocurrencies. By holding your crypto in the Trust Wallet app, users can earn staking rewards in a hassle-free manner.
19. Binance Charity:
Binance Charity is a non-profit organization that uses blockchain technology to help those in need. By donating to this organization, users can earn a good reputation and the satisfaction of knowing their contributions are making a real difference.
20. Launchpool:
Binance Launchpool offers a way to earn new digital assets by staking Binance coins. By staking BNB, users can participate in the token launch of new projects, where they can receive a portion of the newly issued tokens as a reward.
21. Binance Savings:
Binance Savings is a feature that offers users a way to invest in different cryptocurrencies and earn fixed interest rates. The interest rates offered by Binance Savings are generally higher than traditional savings accounts, making it an attractive option for those looking to diversify their portfolio.
22. Binance Academy Trading Competition:
Binance Academy regularly organizes trading competitions where users can win cashback rewards for learning how to trade on the platform. These competitions are designed for new users to develop their trading skills and potentially earn some crypto during the process.
In conclusion, Binance provides numerous opportunities for users to earn crypto, and the best part is, you don’t need to be a financial expert to participate. With various features and programs designed to suit different risk tolerances and investment goals, there’s something for everyone on Binance. As always, it is essential to do your own research and understand the risks involved before participating in any cryptocurrency-related activities. Happy earning!