8 Important Cryptocurrency Projects Besides Bitcoin

The crypto-scape is constantly evolving. New features, platforms, and networks continue to enter the market weekly. While many of these new ventures are simply rehashes, some projects fully embrace innovation. These eight projects are reshaping the market and changing how people think about cryptocurrencies.

ETH 2.0

Ethereum had a massive upgrade. The world’s largest ecosystem has converted from a Proof-of-Work consensus mechanism to a Proof-of-Stake. The new Ethereum is faster, more flexible, and offers regular users the chance to secure the network and earn rewards via a staking protocol.

Already, ETH 2.0 Validator pools are popping up in the market. These networks help to adopt the upgraded chain further and allow regular users to stake and earn rewards without meeting the required 32 ETH Validator minimum. The upgrade is seen by many as the most important project in the market due to its sheer size and overall community support.

Lightning Network

The Lightning Network is a second-layer protocol that has the potential to reduce congestion on Bitcoin’s blockchain. The platform integrates private payment channels that allow you to conduct unlimited transactions for a fraction of the cost of traditional Bitcoin transactions. In addition, the Lightning Network allows Bitcoin to operate as a currency in that you can send micropayments in seconds.

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The network has been in Beta testing for over two years and has made numerous strides in expansion. Over the last year, the Lightning Network found integration on several top exchanges, payment processors, and even games. Nevertheless, the Lightning Network is set to remain a key project for the foreseeable future.

PancakeSwap

PancakeSwap is a DeFi DEX and decentralized ecosystem that has seen considerable market hype as of late. PancakeSwap is the largest Dapp on the BNB Chain at this time. The DEX operates as an AMM packed with various DeFi features, such as support for staking, farming, and NFTs. As a result, PancakeSwap has become a popular alternative for DeFi users seeking a break from the growing congestion and GAS fees associated with Ethereum-based platforms.

As more investors seek alternatives to big crypto exchanges such as Coinbase or Binance, DEXs such as Pancake fill the void. PancakeSwap offers users access to the top Ethereum-based and BSC-based tokens securely and privately. There is no registration required to trade tokens, and the platform supports many of the top wallets in the market, like MetaMask.

Polkadot

Polkadot could be considered one of the most advanced blockchains in the world. The network introduces various new technologies that give it some impressive stats. For example, Polkadot relies on a shared infrastructure that provides the blockchain with limitless scalability. Furthermore, unlike the competition, Polkadot integrates an open consensus mechanism. This mechanism can be adapted to fit the needs of the network when required.

Polkadot’s design allows it to conduct cross-chain transactions seamlessly. This strategy enables the platform to communicate with other chains efficiently. Notably, Polkadot also does away with hard forks. The chain can upgrade the chain in a gradual manner that is less disruptive to the community.

EOS

EOS is another programmable smart chain that has investors’ interests peaked. The platform is developer-focused and hosts smart contracts on Virtual Machines. Unlike its main competitor, Ethereum, EOS has no GAS fees. This approach allows developers to create Dapps with zero transaction fees for users. Consequently, the ESO ecosystem is rapidly expanding.

There are currently 686 active Dapps. These platforms have conducted over $1.74 billion in transactions. EOS’s developers also upgraded the ICO hosting capabilities of the blockchain, scalability, and overall efficiency. For these reasons, developers continue to migrate to EOS.

BNB Chain

The popular exchange coin BNB recently got some new spring after the network launched the BNB Chain. The new blockchain wasn’t meant to replace Binance’s original network but rather provide an integrated way to take advantage of all the new features that fourth-generation blockchains offer.

Specifically, the BNB Chain allows BNB users to stake, farm, and program smart contracts. The network also supports the creation and trading of NFTs. Also, BSC is far cheaper and faster than Ethereum. The introduction of supportive markets and other Dapps has also helped to make BNB a well-recognized project.

WBTC

What if you could use your BTC on the Ethereum network? WBTC (Wrapped Bitcoin) answers this question spectacularly. This next-gen protocol locks your Bitcoin into a smart contract and issues a corresponding ERC-20 token.

Once you convert your BTC over to WBTC, you gain access to all ETH ecosystem features. You can stake, farm, and even lend your WBTC to secure returns. Additionally, it’s cheaper and faster to send WBTC than traditional BTC.

OpenSea

OpenSea makes a list because it’s part of the current nun-fungible token (NFT) revolution. NFTs are unique blockchain tokens that can represent any real-world or digital asset. OpenSea provides collectors and traders with a secure marketplace to meet up. The platform is a pioneer in the market, as it was one of the first marketplaces to enter service. There are over four million NFTs available on OpenSea at this time.

Final Verdict

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Each of these platforms serves a vital role in pushing large-scale cryptocurrency adoption forward. As such, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with these networks and how you can introduce them into your investment strategy. The main thing is to always DYOR, and you will surely find endless opportunities in the crypto market.