After months of applying for jobs in silence and getting nowhere, I’m doing something that terrifies me: sharing my entire learning journey publicly.

No more hiding behind “I’m still learning.” No more waiting for perfection. Just building, shipping, and learning out loud.

Here’s why I’m doing this — and why you might want to consider it too.

The Problem with Silent Learning

For the past year, I’ve been quietly building at the intersection of frontend development and AI/ML. I completed my Master’s in Electrical/Electronic Engineering with a focus on Cognitive Radar Systems. I published 6 papers on signal processing and deep learning. I shipped multiple projects combining React frontends with machine learning models.

But I kept it all quiet.

I told myself I wasn’t “ready” to call myself an AI/ML engineer. I waited for my code to be perfect before sharing it. I applied for jobs privately, hoping my resume would speak for itself.

The result? Crickets.

Meanwhile, I watched people with less experience but more visibility land opportunities I was qualified for. I saw developers openly sharing their mistakes and learning process build communities around their work.

That’s when it clicked: visibility matters more than perfection.

What I’ve Actually Built

Over the past year, I’ve been working on projects that combine my frontend skills with AI/ML:

Smart Resume AI — I contributed to an NLP-powered resume parsing system and built the React frontend that integrates ML models. It processes thousands of CVs and matches candidates to jobs automatically.

Web3 Analytics Platform — I created 9 interactive dashboards combining Python ML models with Streamlit frontends. These tools track DeFi protocols, NFT collections, and blockchain metrics in real-time.

Sentiment Analytics Tool — An AI-powered sentiment analysis application built with React and FastAPI that processes text in real-time.

Cognitive Radar Detection System — My Master’s research on using deep learning for adaptive target detection and tracking. This work was published in peer-reviewed journals and secured a TETFund research grant.

You can explore all of these projects on my GitHub.

But here’s the honest truth: I’m not an expert yet.

My Unique Position (And Probably Yours Too)

I’m not an ML expert who can architect neural networks from scratch. I can’t compete with PhD researchers who’ve spent years in the field.

But here’s what I can do: I can take ML models and build complete, production-ready applications around them.

Most ML engineers struggle to build user-facing interfaces. They can train incredible models but don’t know React, don’t understand UX, and can’t ship products people actually want to use.

Most frontend developers don’t understand how to integrate ML models. They can build beautiful interfaces but don’t know how to work with APIs that serve predictions, handle model outputs, or visualize complex data.

I bridge both worlds.

I spent 4+ years mastering React, Vue, and TypeScript. I understand responsive design, state management, and user experience. But I also completed a Master’s degree focused on AI, published research on deep learning, and implemented ML models in production.

That combination is rare. And if you’re reading this thinking “that sounds like me,” then you have the same advantage.

What I’m Learning Now

I’m currently diving deep into:

• Edge AI / TinyML — Deploying ML models on edge devices like Raspberry Pi
• Advanced Computer Vision — Semantic segmentation, YOLO object detection
• Real-time Inference Optimization — Making models fast enough for production
• MLOps & Production Pipelines — Taking models from notebooks to actual applications

I’m documenting everything as I learn. The wins. The mistakes. The “I spent 6 hours debugging only to find a missing comma” moments.

Because that’s the real work. And that’s what I think people need to see more of.

Why Build in Public?

Building in public isn’t just about getting a job (though that’s definitely a goal). It’s about:

1. Accountability — When you commit publicly, you’re more likely to follow through.

2. Community — The best feedback comes from people who are solving similar problems.

3. Opportunities — Jobs, collaborations, and projects find you when you’re visible.

4. Learning — Teaching others forces you to understand concepts more deeply.

5. Impact — Your journey might inspire someone else who’s exactly where you were six months ago.

What’s Next for Me

In the coming days, I’ll be breaking down each project on my GitHub:

• The problem I was solving
• Technical decisions and trade-offs
• What worked and what didn’t
• What I’d do differently next time

In the coming weeks, I’ll be building more sophisticated projects and improving my existing ones.

I’m open to feedback, criticism, and collaboration. That’s how we grow.

If You’re in the Same Boat

Maybe you’ve been learning quietly too. Maybe you have projects on your laptop that no one’s seen. Maybe you’re afraid to call yourself an engineer because you don’t feel “ready.”

Here’s what I wish someone had told me months ago:

You’re already an engineer. Just say it.

If you’re building things, solving problems, and shipping code — you’re an engineer. The title doesn’t require permission from anyone else.

Stop waiting for perfection. Start sharing your work. Start learning in public.

The worst that happens? You learn faster and build a portfolio that actually showcases what you can do.

The best that happens? You connect with people building amazing things, get feedback that makes you better, and land opportunities you never would have found otherwise.

Let’s Connect

I’m committing to this publicly, and I’d love to connect with others doing the same.

If you’re:

• Building AI/ML products and needs a developer
• Learning in public
• Looking for a developer who understands both ML models and user interfaces
• Interested in collaborating on projects

Let’s talk.

You can find me on:

• GitHub: github.com/objemmanuel
• Portfolio: objemmanuel.github.io
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/obiajulu-emmanuel-609170234
• Medium: @objemmanuel2000
• ResearchGate: Emmanuel Obiajulu

I’ll be sharing project breakdowns, technical tutorials, and honest reflections on what I’m learning.

Let’s build something together.

Chinedu Emmanuel Obiajulu
Frontend Developer | AI/ML Engineer | Electrical/Electronics Engineer
Building at the intersection of intelligent algorithms and beautiful interfaces

Are you building in public? What’s holding you back from sharing your work? Let me know in the comments.

Bitcoin and ethereum are down more than 50% from their all-time highs in late 2021. While there have been small surges in recent weeks, the crypto market as a whole is largely stalled. While no one knows for sure, some experts say crypto prices could fall even further before any sustained recovery.

Bitcoin hit multiple new all-time high prices in 2021 — followed by big drops — and more institutional buy-in from major companies. Ethereum, the second-biggest cryptocurrency, notched its own new all-time high late last year as well, and then crashed below $900 in June, its lowest level since the start of 2021. U.S. government officials and the Biden administration have increasingly expressed interest in new regulations for cryptocurrency.

All the while, people’s interest in crypto remains high: it’s a hot topic not only among investors but in popular culture too, thanks to everyone from long-standing investors like Elon Musk to that kid from your high school on Facebook.

In many ways, 2021 was a “breakthrough,” says Dave Abner, head of global development at Gemini, a popular cryptocurrency exchange. “There’s tremendous focus and attention being paid to [the crypto industry].”

Will cryptocurrency soar, plummet, or tease investors along an unpredictable path for the foreseeable future? Will Bitcoin continue its volatility? Will regulation play a more significant role? Which type of cryptocurrency will be the best bet this coming year?

There are as many predictions as there are analysts charting the future of cryptocurrency.

Crypto continued its popularity in 2021. Crypto became accepted by Goldman Sachs. Coinbase debuted in April 2021 (the first major crypto company to go public), and the first U.S. exchange-traded fund linked to Bitcoin launched in October.

According to CNBC, the best-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, had a good year. The digital currency has been up nearly 70 percent since the start of 2021, driving the entire crypto market to a combined $2 trillion in value.

Crypto Prediction #1: Heading for a Crypto Crash or an Exciting Climb?

Cryptocurrency prices could fall further in 2022. They leaped to a record high of almost $69,000 in November, but they are now below $50,000, down nearly 30 percent from its high. Carol Alexander, a Sussex University professor of finance, expects Bitcoin to plummet to a low of $10,000 in 2022, which would erase most of its gains in the past year and a half.

Others don’t see a crash in 2022. Yuya Hasegawa, a crypto market analyst at Japanese digital asset exchange Bitbank, believes the most significant risk factor is [quantitative tapering] by the Fed. He thinks it has been decided and is probably priced in.

Sayantani Sanyal reported that many factors point to higher Bitcoin prices, namely greater acceptance by businesses in higher demand from Bitcoin ETFs. In Analytics Insight, Sanyal says that market analysts predict that Bitcoin could hit USD $100,000 by the end of 2023, and others say it can climb to the mark in the first quarter of 2022. Others write that Bitcoin won’t reach more than USD $70,000 by the end of 2022.

Bitcoin Price History

As the first cryptocurrency to hit the mainstream, Bitcoin has broken down many walls in the space and created a pathway for other projects to flourish. Although BTC was thought of as the ‘best’ crypto for a long time, other coins have sprung up that possess appealing use cases that have taken the attention away from Bitcoin. However, many investors still look to buy Bitcoin due to its value potential and low volatility relative to other coins.

In its most basic sense, Bitcoin is a decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) digital currency that verifies transactions through blockchain technology. This technology is widely used in today’s cryptocurrency market, but back in 2009, when BTC was launched, the concept was alien to most industries.

Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has remained anonymous since publishing his famous whitepaper in 2008, in which he detailed the specifics of how Bitcoin would function. BTC’s first-ever block was mined in early 2009, and the coin immediately began picking up traction from tech-savvy students and programmers. Nakamoto then handed over control of the code to another developer in 2010 and has not been seen or heard from since.

Crypto Prediction #2: A Lot More Investors Will Adopt Bitcoin

Crypto prediction: According to The Ascent, Ric Edelman, founder of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals, predicts that more than 500 million people worldwide will own Bitcoin by the end of 2022. CoinTelegraph, BlockFi co-founder Flori Marquez agrees, crediting regulatory clarity and improved understanding of the industry for helping drive greater adoption.

Crypto Prediction #3: The First Spot Bitcoin ETF Could Get Approved

Some crypto investors predict that the first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States could be approved this year, giving investors direct exposure to the cryptocurrency itself. The Securities and Exchange Commission allowed the launch of ProShares’ Bitcoin Strategy ETF last year, but that just tracks Bitcoin futures contracts. However, because the market is now large and mature enough to support it, analysts believe a Bitcoin Spot ETF will be approved.

A derivative is a contract or product whose value is determined by an underlying asset. Currencies, exchange rates, commodities, stocks, and the rate of interest are all examples of derivative assets. The buyer and seller of such contracts have directly opposed predictions for the future trading price. To earn a profit, both parties wager on the underlying assets’ future value.

What is derivative trading in crypto?

The underlying asset in crypto derivatives trading can be any cryptocurrency token. Two parties that enter into a financial contract speculate on the cryptocurrency’s price on a future date. During the first phase of the contract, the sides agree on a selling/buying price for the cryptocurrency on a specific day, regardless of the market price. As a result, investors can profit from changes in the underlying asset’s price by purchasing the currency at a cheaper price and selling it at a higher price.

What are the most popular types of derivatives in crypto?

Crypto derivatives can be of the following types, depending on the conditions of a contract:

• Futures: A futures contract is a legal agreement between two parties to purchase or sell an underlying asset at a specified price and date in the future. The contract is directly executed on a regulated exchange.
• Options: A trader with an options contract has the choice, but not the duty, to purchase or sell an underlying asset at a defined future date and price.
• Perpetual contracts: Unlike futures or options, perpetual contracts have no expiration or settlement date. Under some circumstances (e.g. the account holds certain amount of a crypto etc.), traders can keep their positions open indefinitely.
• Swaps: A swap is a contract between two parties to exchange cash flows at a later date according to a pre-determined formula. They are OTC (over-the-counter) contracts, similar to forwards, and are not traded on exchanges.

Crypto Derivative Markets vs. Crypto Spot Markets: What is the difference?

A BTC spot market allows traders to purchase and sell Bitcoins at any time, but also comes with certain limitations. For example, investors can only make money when the price of Bitcoin goes up. If the price drops, anyone holding BTC will experience a loss. Even those that were lucky enough to sell before a significant dip and intend to buy back lower, need prices to bounce back up. If these do not, then there is no way to profit. Another characteristic of spot markets is that they force traders to hold the assets they want to speculate on.

A Bitcoin derivative, on the other hand, can allow people to trade contracts that follow the price of Bitcoin without ever having to actually own any Bitcoin.

How to trade Crypto Derivatives?

Explained in Tradition Derivative Markets

This example is best illustrated with a physical asset. Imagine you want to speculate on the price of oil. You could actually go and physically purchase barrels of oil and sell them when prices have moved up. Of course, this is impractical and costly as you would also have to consider storage and transportation fees. A much better approach would be to trade an instrument or contract whose price is tethered to that of oil instead.

Explained in Crypto Derivative Markets

These contracts are agreements that you sign with an opposing party. Let’s return to BTC and imagine that you believe the price will go up while another person believes the price will go down. You and this other speculator can sign an agreement stating that after a certain period of time, once the price has moved in any direction, one of the parties will have to pay the other the difference in price.

1. Benefits and drawbacks of crypto derivatives

• Crypto derivatives allow market participants not to hold the physical asset, which avoids the need to navigate wallets and other complicated market infrastructure.
• Facing regulated counterparties is a safer way for new buy side participants to get access to the asset class.
• Many of the potential drawbacks relate to the nature of the underlying reference crypto assets, rather than the nature of derivative contracts. These drawbacks include: price volatility/market risk, 24 hour trading and the resulting need for risk controls and unexpected technology/protocol changes.
• An investor’s perspective and background will determine which factors are most important: crypto-native firms are more interested in the products and financial institutions are more interested in risk for clients.

1. Crypto market features and impact on crypto derivatives

• Whilst crypto markets lack aspects of traditional markets infrastructure which help price discovery, such as centralised exchanges and shared protocols for valuations (end-of-day valuations, etc.), it also has infrastructure which provides new means for managing credit risk, such as technology which provides 24 hour and a real-time view of portfolio valuations.
• After some initial uncertainty, cryptocurrencies are now widely considered a form of property in many legal systems, albeit a novel form of property. See e.g. AA v Persons Unknown, Re Bitcoin [2019] EQHC 3556 (Comm), ai Ltd and another v Persons Unknown Category A and others [2021] EWHC 2254 (Comm) and the UK Jurisdictional Task Force’s November 2019 Legal Statement on Crypto-Assets and Smart Contracts. One important area where the legal status of crypto currencies has not yet been finally resolved is whether crypto currencies are property for the purposes of financial collateral arrangements (which would simplify and strengthen collateral arrangements).
• The Index Disruption / Index Adjustment Event provisions (an index sponsor fails to calculate and announce a relevant reference index) do not cater for the increasing role of decentralised exchanges (which rely on distributed ledgers rather than a central index administrator).
• Buy side participants increasingly report that they are unhappy with the valuation mechanics in Section 6(e) of the ISDA Master Agreement as they apply to crypto derivatives. For instance, the accuracy (or usefulness) of quotations from third party may be less in crypto markets, especially where there is fragmented liquidity in the relevant underlying (split across several exchanges). It is practice in some crypto derivatives to specify certain trusted dealers or sources of information.
• The current Credit Support Annex does not readily account for novel issues relating to crypto assets which may be held in custody, such as airdrops, forks, and most secure method of custody for different assets.

Cryptocurrency exchanges are platforms that facilitate the trading of cryptocurrencies for other assets, including digital and fiat currencies. In effect, cryptocurrency exchanges act as an intermediary between a buyer and a seller and make money through commissions and transaction fees.

On common cryptocurrency exchanges, $100 can be exchanged for bitcoin of equivalent value, and vice-versa. Similarly, bitcoin worth $100 can be exchanged for Ethereum of equivalent value. The same concept can be applied to different assets based on what is offered by the exchange.

Advantages of using cryptocurrency

Using cryptocurrency could offer opportunities for some businesses. The benefits may include:

• A cryptocurrency transaction is generally a quick and straightforward process. For example, Bitcoins can be transferred from one digital wallet to another, using only a smartphone or computer.
• Every cryptocurrency transaction is recorded in a public list called the blockchain, which is the technology that enables its existence. This makes it possible to trace the history of Bitcoins to stop people from spending coins they do not own, making copies or undoing transactions.
• Blockchain aims to cut out intermediaries, such as banks and online marketplaces, which means there are no payment processing fees.
• Cryptocurrency payments are becoming more widely used, amongst large organizations, and in sectors including fashion and pharmaceuticals.

Disadvantages of using cryptocurrency

There are some business disadvantages to using cryptocurrency:

• It is possible to lose your virtual wallet or delete your currency. There have also been thefts from websites that let you store your cryptocurrency remotely.
• The value of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoins can change significantly, so some people don’t feel it is safe to turn ‘real’ money into Bitcoins.
• The cryptocurrency market is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) so there are no rules in place to protect your business.
• If companies or consumers move to a new cryptocurrency from you or stop using digital currencies entirely, it could lose value and become worthless.
• Cryptocurrency exchanges are vulnerable to cyber attacks, which could lead to an irreparable loss of your investment.
• Cryptocurrency can be vulnerable to scams. Scammers often use platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to trick people into these investments.

Centralized vs. Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Centralized cryptocurrency exchanges act as a third-party between a buyer and a seller. Since they are operated and controlled by a company, centralized exchanges offer more reliability. Approximately 99% of all crypto transactions go through centralized exchanges. Examples of centralized cryptocurrency exchanges include:

• Coinbase
• GDAX
• Kraken
• Gemini
• Bitget

Decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges (DEX) allow users to execute peer-to-peer transactions without the need for a third party or an intermediary. Due to some of the issues associated with centralized exchanges, decentralized exchanges are preferred by some users.

However, decentralized exchanges do not facilitate the trading of fiat currencies for cryptocurrencies. Examples of decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges include:

• AirSwap
• io
• Barterdex
• Blocknet

Advantages of Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchanges

1. User-friendly

Centralized exchanges offer beginner investors a familiar, friendly way of trading and investing in cryptocurrencies. As opposed to using crypto wallets and peer-to-peer transactions, which can be complex, users of centralized exchanges can log into their accounts, view their account balances, and make transactions through applications and websites.

2. Reliable

Centralized exchanges offer an extra layer of security and reliability when it comes to transactions and trading. By facilitating the transaction through a developed, centralized platform, centralized exchanges offer higher levels of comfort.

Disadvantages of Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchanges

1. Hacking risk

Centralized exchanges are operated by companies that are responsible for the holdings of their customers. Large exchanges usually hold billions of dollars worth of bitcoin, making them a target for hackers and theft.

An example of such an incident is Mt.Gox, which was once the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange company before it reported the theft of 850,000 bitcoins, leading to its suspension.

2. Transaction fees

Unlike peer-to-peer transactions, centralized exchanges often charge high transaction fees for their services and convenience, which can be especially high when trading in large amounts.

Advantages of Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchanges

1. Mitigating hacking risk

Users of decentralized exchanges do not need to transfer their assets to a third party. Therefore, there is no risk of a company or organization being hacked, and users are assured of greater safety from hacking and theft.

2. Preventing market manipulation

Due to their nature of allowing for the peer-to-peer exchange of cryptocurrencies, decentralized exchanges prevent market manipulation, protecting users from fake trading and wash trading.

3. Anonymity

Decentralized exchanges do not require customers to fill out know-your-customer (KYC) forms, offering privacy and anonymity to users.

Disadvantages of Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchanges

1. Complexity

Users of decentralized exchanges must remember the keys and passwords to their crypto wallets, or their assets are lost forever and cannot be recovered. They require the user to learn and get familiar with the platform and the process, unlike centralized exchanges, which offer a more convenient and user-friendly process.

2. Lack of fiat payments

Decentralized exchanges do not allow for the trading of fiat currencies for digital ones, making them less convenient for users that do not already hold cryptocurrencies.

3. Liquidity struggles

Some 99% of crypto transactions are facilitated by centralized exchanges, which suggests that they are accountable for the majority of the trading volume. Due to the lack of volume, decentralized exchanges often lack liquidity, and it can be difficult to find buyers and sellers when trading volumes are low.

BENEFITS OF USING A CRYPTO EXCHANGE

Decentralization and Faster Currency Transfers
Being decentralized means Bitcoin is independent of central authorities like financial institutions and government agencies. As such, its database is immune to manipulation by banks and governments. The blockchain network books transfer immediately, and this facilitates express transfers. Essentially, Bitcoin transactions do not require third parties.

A Bitcoin exchange connects a cryptocurrency buyer and a seller. The duration a transaction takes depends on the time a person deposits funds and places an order. Nevertheless, the decentralization aspect of Bitcoin reduces the time any transfer takes.

24/7 Operations
Cryptocurrency exchanges allow people to trade virtual currencies 24/7. That’s because they are online marketplaces for virtual currencies. People can purchase and sell Bitcoin and other virtual currencies on these platforms at any time. And this is a significant advantage of electronic money. The time barrier doesn’t have meaning because people can exchange virtual currencies anytime, anywhere.

Instant Settling and Transaction Irreversibility
A crypto exchange allows you to purchase or sell Bitcoin instantly. And you can’t undo a Bitcoin transaction, and this differentiates it from bank transfers. Essentially, the exchange occurs immediately, and the blockchain network formalizes the change faster. Traditional platforms require days to settle a transaction. That’s why more people are opting for crypto exchanges.

Fractional Purchasing
Bitcoin exchanges allow people to purchase any fraction of this digital asset. For instance, if you want to trade or invest $523 in this virtual currency, you can do that on a crypto exchange. Thus, you don’t have to purchase an entire Bitcoin. Instead, you can buy a fraction of it, enabling even a small investor to start trading Bitcoin without spending all their fortunes. And this differentiates crypto exchanges from traditional exchanges that require investors to purchase a minimum of one stock or whole numbers.

Secure Interfaces
Developers designed crypto exchanges with mobile and web users in mind. As such, they are easy to use and secure. Most Bitcoin exchanges are suitable for light clients in smartphones or browsers. And you can access them using any device, though they use safe, modern technology. The best crypto exchanges are intuitive, fast, and easy to use. The overall customer experience of the best platforms is excellent.

Bitcoin exchanges create a shift from traditional platforms. They enable people to purchase and sell virtual currencies using fiat money or other assets. Their innovative nature allows people to quickly analyze the crypto market to make more informed trading decisions.

Messages

• version — Information about program version and block count. Exchanged when first connecting.
• verack — Sent in response to a version message to acknowledge that we are willing to connect.
• addr — List of one or more IP addresses and ports.
• inv — “I have these blocks/transactions: …” Normally sent only when a new block or transaction is being relayed. This is only a list, not the actual data.
• getdata — Request a single block or transaction by hash.
• getblocks — Request an inv of all blocks in a range.
• getheaders — Request a headers message containing all block headers in a range.
• tx — Send a transaction. This is sent only in response to a getdata request.
• block — Send a block. This is sent only in response to a getdata request.
• headers — Send up to 2,000 block headers. Non-generators can download the headers of blocks instead of entire blocks.
• getaddr — Request an addr message containing a bunch of known-active peers (for bootstrapping).
• submitorder, checkorder, and reply — Used when performing an IP transaction.
• alert — Send a network alert.
• ping — Does nothing. Used to check that the connection is still online. A TCP error will occur if the connection has died.

As more individuals get interested in cryptocurrency like bitcoin, there is a greater need for them to understand how the system works. Of course, this is true in any sector, but the uniqueness of cryptocurrency heightens the appeal. While you don’t need to comprehend blockchain to profit from an increase in Bitcoin’s price in India, having a rudimentary understanding of the concepts that are bandied around might be beneficial.

The word isn’t limited to crypto and is commonly used outside of it.

In layman’s language, a node is an intersection point or connection in a telecommunication network. A node can also refer to any system or physical equipment that is connected to a network and capable of performing specific duties such as creating, receiving, or sending data across a communication channel.

In virtual money, however, a node is a computer that is linked to a cryptocurrency network and may perform certain tasks such as producing, receiving, and moving data.

Depending on the protocol, the explanation may differ. For example, a resident network might have a fax machine, three laptops and a file server. The network in this scenario has five nodes, each with its own MAC address for identification.

The term “node” is most commonly used in the blockchain industry.

Familiarizing with Blockchain Nodes

Blockchain nodes are network stakeholders and their devices that are authorized to keep track of the distributed ledger and serve as communication hubs for various network tasks.

A blockchain node’s primary job is to confirm the legality of each subsequent batch of network transactions, known as blocks. In addition, allocating a unique identifier to each node in the network helps to distinguish a node from other nodes in the network easily.

A Proof-of-Work (PoW) blockchain, such as Bitcoin (BTC) or Monero (XMR), includes miners, who are responsible for the following.

Only “full nodes” are required to store all blockchain transactions on their devices. These nodes are in charge of validating blocks and transactions.

On the other hand, lightweight nodes have low storage requirements because they just need to download block headers to verify transactions. A block reward is not always included in either of these versions of a full node.

Functions of nodes

A block broadcasts all the network nodes when a miner seeks to add a new block of transactions to the blockchain. Based on the legitimacy of a block, nodes might accept or reject it (validity of signatures and transactions). When a node accepts a new block of transactions, it saves and stores it on top of the existing blocks. In a nutshell, nodes do the following:

• Nodes determine whether or not a block of transactions is legitimate and accept or reject it.
• Nodes save and store transaction blocks (storing blockchain transaction history).
• This transaction history is broadcast and disseminated by nodes to other nodes that may need to synchronize with the blockchain ( updates on transaction history are important).

Connection

To connect to a peer, you send a version message containing your version number, block count, and current time. The remote peer will send back a verack message and his own version message if he is accepting connections from your version. You will respond with your own verack if you are accepting connections from his version.

The time data from all of your peers is collected, and the median is used by Bitcoin for all network tasks that use the time (except for other version messages).

You then exchange getaddr and addr messages, storing all addresses that you don’t know about. addr messages often contain only one address, but sometimes contain up to 1000. This is most common at the beginning of an exchange.

Standard relaying

When someone sends a transaction, they send an inv message containing it to all of their peers. Their peers will request the full transaction with getdata. If they consider the transaction valid after receiving it, they will also broadcast the transaction to all of their peers with an inv, and so on. Peers ask for or relay transactions only if they don’t already have them. A peer will never rebroadcast a transaction that it already knows about, though transactions will eventually be forgotten if they don’t get into a block after a while. The sender and receiver of the transaction will rebroadcast, however.

Anyone who is generating will collect valid received transactions and work on including them in a block. When someone does find a block, they send an inv containing it to all of their peers, as above. It works the same as transactions.

Everyone broadcasts an addr containing their own IP address every 24 hours. Nodes relay these messages to a couple of their peers and store the address if it’s new to them. Through this system, everyone has a reasonably clear picture of which IPs are connected to the network at the moment. After connecting to the network, you get added to everyone’s address database almost instantly because of your initial addr.

Network alerts are broadcast with alert messages. No inv-like system is used; these contain the entire alert. If a received alert is valid (signed by one of the people with the private key), it is relayed to all peers. For as long as an alert is still in effect, it is rebroadcast at the start of every new connection.

Securing a Blockchain

The availability of a blockchain node is another approach to classify it. For example, an “online node” is a node that is assigned to send updates all across the network consistently and always to be online.

On the other hand, offline nodes only need to download the most recent copy of the ledger every time they rejoin the network to stay in sync with the rest of the network. This process is termed synchronizing with the blockchain.

A single node can potentially operate a complete blockchain, but because it is kept on a single device, it is particularly vulnerable to things like power outages, hackers, and systemic malfunctions. The more complete nodes a blockchain has, the better it is able to withstand such disasters. It will be difficult for a corrupt party to wipe out all of the blockchain data at once since the data is dispersed over so many machines. A single node may potentially keep a full blockchain running even if a significant number of nodes fall offline and become unavailable due to a worldwide catastrophe.

Even if all nodes fall down, it only takes one node with the whole blockchain history to back up and restore access to all the data.

Node vs. Miner

In order to choose legitimate transactions to generate a new block, a miner must always operate a complete node. Because it lacks access to the whole blockchain history, it cannot identify which proposed transactions are legitimate based on the current blockchain’s transaction history (i.e., whether all balances involved in the transactions are adequate to conduct the proposed transactions). As a result, a miner is always a complete node. On the other hand, a node does not have to be a miner. A device can run a complete node by receiving, storing, and broadcasting all transaction data without actually creating new blocks of transactions (much like a server). In this scenario, it acts more like a passing point with a directory, whereas a miner does the same and tries to produce new blocks of transactions.

the word is on everyone’s lips right now. Delving into this new and exciting world of all-online digital money, not tied to any government and not subject to any regulation, can make people feel like they’re stepping into the future — or the Wild West, depending on how much anxiety you have about this new payment technology!

There is much to know about these digital currencies. It’s important to gain, at the very least, a rough understanding of how they work and what they can do before you dive into buying a cryptocurrency or investing in it. Here’s what you need to know about getting, using, and trading digital money, no matter if you’re looking to replace fiat currency or if you’re looking for a way to invest in the future.

How does cryptocurrency work?

Bitcoin and most other cryptocurrencies are supported by a technology known as blockchain, which maintains a tamper-resistant record of transactions and keeps track of who owns what. The creation of blockchains addressed a problem faced by previous efforts to create purely digital currencies: preventing people from making copies of their holdings and attempting to spend it twice

Individual units of cryptocurrencies can be referred to as coins or tokens, depending on how they are used. Some are intended to be units of exchange for goods and services, others are stores of value, and some can be used to participate in specific software programs such as games and financial products.

How are cryptocurrencies created?

One common way cryptocurrencies are created is through a process known as mining, which is used by Bitcoin. Mining can be an energy-intensive process in which computers solve complex puzzles in order to verify the authenticity of transactions on the network. As a reward, the owners of those computers can receive newly created cryptocurrency. Other cryptocurrencies use different methods to create and distribute tokens, and many have a significantly lighter environmental impact.

For most people, the easiest way to get cryptocurrency is to buy it, either from an exchange or another user.

Cryptocurrency examples

There are thousands of cryptocurrencies. Some of the best known include:

Bitcoin: Founded in 2009, Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency and is still the most commonly traded. The currency was developed by Satoshi Nakamoto — widely believed to be a pseudonym for an individual or group of people whose precise identity remains unknown.

Ethereum: Developed in 2015, Ethereum is a blockchain platform with its own cryptocurrency, called Ether (ETH) or Ethereum. It is the most popular cryptocurrency after Bitcoin.

Litecoin: This currency is most similar to bitcoin but has moved more quickly to develop new innovations, including faster payments and processes to allow more transactions.

Ripple: Ripple is a distributed ledger system that was founded in 2012. Ripple can be used to track different kinds of transactions, not just cryptocurrency. The company behind it has worked with various banks and financial institutions.

Non-Bitcoin cryptocurrencies are collectively known as “altcoins” to distinguish them from the original.

How to buy cryptocurrency

You may be wondering how to buy cryptocurrency safely. There are typically three steps involved. These are:

Step 1: Choosing a platform

The first step is deciding which platform to use. Generally, you can choose between a traditional broker or dedicated cryptocurrency exchange:

• Traditional brokers. These are online brokers who offer ways to buy and sell cryptocurrency, as well as other financial assets like stocks, bonds, and ETFs. These platforms tend to offer lower trading costs but fewer crypto features.
• Cryptocurrency exchanges. There are many cryptocurrency exchanges to choose from, each offering different cryptocurrencies, wallet storage, interest-bearing account options, and more. Many exchanges charge asset-based fees.

When comparing different platforms, consider which cryptocurrencies are on offer, what fees they charge, their security features, storage and withdrawal options, and any educational resources.

Step 2: Funding your account

Once you have chosen your platform, the next step is to fund your account so you can begin trading. Most crypto exchanges allow users to purchase crypto using fiat (i.e., government-issued) currencies such as the US Dollar, the British Pound, or the Euro using their debit or credit cards — although this varies by platform.

Crypto purchases with credit cards are considered risky, and some exchanges don’t support them. Some credit card companies don’t allow crypto transactions either. This is because cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and it is not advisable to risk going into debt — or potentially paying high credit card transaction fees — for certain assets.

Some platforms will also accept ACH transfers and wire transfers. The accepted payment methods and time taken for deposits or withdrawals differ per platform. Equally, the time taken for deposits to clear varies by payment method.

An important factor to consider is fees. These include potential deposit and withdrawal transaction fees plus trading fees. Fees will vary by payment method and platform, which is something to research at the outset.

Step 3: Placing an order

You can place an order via your broker’s or exchange’s web or mobile platform. If you are planning to buy cryptocurrencies, you can do so by selecting “buy,” choosing the order type, entering the amount of cryptocurrencies you want to purchase, and confirming the order. The same process applies to “sell” orders.

There are also other ways to invest in crypto. These include payment services like PayPal, Cash App, and Venmo, which allow users to buy, sell, or hold cryptocurrencies. In addition, there are the following investment vehicles:

• Bitcoin trusts: You can buy shares of Bitcoin trusts with a regular brokerage account. These vehicles give retail investors exposure to crypto through the stock market.
• Bitcoin mutual funds: There are Bitcoin ETFs and Bitcoin mutual funds to choose from.
• Blockchain stocks or ETFs: You can also indirectly invest in crypto through blockchain companies that specialize in the technology behind crypto and crypto transactions. Alternatively, you can buy stocks or ETFs of companies that use blockchain technology.

The best option for you will depend on your investment goals and risk appetite.

How to store cryptocurrency

Once you have purchased cryptocurrency, you need to store it safely to protect it from hacks or theft. Usually, cryptocurrency is stored in crypto wallets, which are physical devices or online software used to store the private keys to your cryptocurrencies securely. Some exchanges provide wallet services, making it easy for you to store directly through the platform. However, not all exchanges or brokers automatically provide wallet services for you.

There are different wallet providers to choose from. The terms “hot wallet” and “cold wallet” are used:

• Hot wallet storage: “hot wallets” refer to crypto storage that uses online software to protect the private keys to your assets.
• Cold wallet storage: Unlike hot wallets, cold wallets (also known as hardware wallets) rely on offline electronic devices to securely store your private keys.

Typically, cold wallets tend to charge fees, while hot wallets don’t.

The Best of Both Worlds

Some technical analysis methods combine well with fundamental analysis to provide additional information to investors. These include:

1) Volume Trends: When an analyst or an investor is researching a stock, it’s good to know what other investors think about it. After all, they might have some additional insight into the company or they might be creating a trend.

One of the most popular methods for gauging market sentiment is to take a look at the recently traded volume. Large spikes suggest that the stock has garnered much attention from the trading community and that the shares are under either accumulation or distribution.

Volume indicators are popular tools among traders because they can help confirm whether other investors agree with your perspective on a security. Traders generally watch for the volume to increase as an identified trend gains momentum. A sudden decrease in volume can suggest that traders are losing interest and that a reversal may be on its way.
Intra-day charting is growing in popularity because it enables traders to watch for spikes in volume, which often correspond with block trades and can be extremely helpful in deciphering exactly when large institutions are trading.

2) Tracking Short-Term Movements: While many fundamental investors tend to focus on the long haul, the odds are that they still want to obtain a favorable buy-in price and/or a favorable selling price upon liquidating a position. Technical analysis can be handy in these situations as well.

More specifically, when a stock punches through its 15- or 21-day moving average (either to the upside or the downside), it usually continues along that trend for a short period of time. In other words, it is largely an indicator of what to expect in the coming term. Incidentally, 50- and 200-day moving averages are often used by chartists and some fundamental investors to determine longer term breakout patterns.
For those looking to time a trade or to solidify a favorable entry or exit price in a given stock, these types of charts and analyses are invaluable.

3) Tracking Reactions Over Time: Many fundamental analysts will look at a chart of a specific stock, industry, index or market to determine how that entity has performed over time when certain types of news (such as positive earnings or economic data) has been released.

Patterns have a tendency to repeat themselves, and the investors who were lured (or put off by) the news in question tend to react in a similar manner over time.

For example, if you take a look at the charts of various housing stocks, you’ll often see that they react negatively when the Federal Reserve chooses to forgo a cut in interest rates. Or check out how home improvement stores tend to react when reports of new and existing home sales decline. The reactive move lower is pretty consistent each time.

In short, by analyzing historical trends, investors can ballpark the possible reaction to a future event.

The Downside to Blending

Technical analysis may also provide an inaccurate or incomplete perspective on a stock because:

1) It’s History: While it is possible to decipher and anticipate certain movements based on patterns or when a particular stock crosses a major moving average, charts cannot usually predict future positive or negative fundamental data — instead they are heavily focused on the past.

However, if news leaks out that a company is about to release a good quarter (for example), investors might be able to take advantage of it and this good news will be apparent in the chart. A simple chart cannot provide the investor with crucial long-term fundamental information such as the future direction of cash flow or earnings per share.
2) The Crowd is Sometimes Wrong: As mentioned above, it’s nice to buy into a stock that has upside momentum. However, it is important to note and understand that the crowd is sometimes wrong. In other words, it is possible that a stock that’s being accumulated en masse this week may be under heavy distribution the next. Conversely, stocks that are being heavily sold this week may be under accumulation in the weeks to come.

A terrific example of the “crowd is wrong” mentality can be found in the large amount of money that went into technology shares at the turn of the millennium. In fact, money kept flowing into shares of companies such as CMGI or JDS Uniphase, as well as a number of other high-tech issues. When the bottom dropped out, the money flow into these stocks and the stock markets on which they traded dried up almost overnight. The charts did not indicate that such a harsh correction was coming.

3) Charts Don’t Typically or Consistently Forecast Macro Trends: Charts also are generally unable to accurately forecast macroeconomic trends. For example, it is nearly impossible to look at a major player in the oil and gas sector and decipher definitively whether OPEC intends to increase the amount of oil it pumps, or whether a fire that just started at a shipping facility in Venezuela will affect near-term supplies.

4) There is Subjectivity: When it comes to reading a chart, a certain amount of subjectivity comes into play. Some may see a chart and feel that a stock is basing, while another person might see it and conclude that there is still more downside to be had.

So who is right? Again, there’s no calculation that can be done to solve the argument, as might be the case with fundamental analysis. When it comes to charting, only time will tell which way the markets will actually go.

Bottom Line

Technical analysis can be a valuable tool, but it is important to realize the benefits as well as the limitations before diving in. There is no definite answer about whether technical analysis should be used as a substitute to fundamental analysis, but many agree that it has its merits when used as a compliment to other investing strategies.

A Traditional Gold Rush

The 2021 NFT hype is a traditional gold rush, but the hype is different from the ICO hype in 2017, which involved many scams raising funds from consumers driven by Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO). While there are certainly plenty of scams with NFTs, as we will see, with NFTs eventually offering real utility, speculation and extreme prices will likely disappear for the vast majority of NFTs simply because NFTs will become ubiquitous.
One of the great things that has come out of the NFT frenzy, though, is that for the first time, digital artists can get paid for their work and contribution to society. However, that does not mean that NFTs are without challenges. In fact, there are plenty, and if you are interested in minting or trading NFTs, it is important to be aware of them.

5 Challenges of NFTs

NFTs seem to solve digital ownership, but, as of yet, most NFTs do not consider copyright, actual legal ownership, piracy, theft or other human problems.

1. Who Owns the Underlying Asset?

NFTs prove that you own something that is hosted somewhere, but that does not mean that the underlying asset is truly yours. What NFTs address is that it shows that you made a transaction for a certain digital asset, so it is a verifiable receipt that indicates that you own the asset.
The actual NFTs — as in the actual digital artwork — are, ideally, stored on a decentralized file-sharing system such as IPFS, FileCoin or Storj, but they can also be stored on a central server such as AWS as it is often too expensive to store a large JPG, GIF, Video or MP3 decentralized. Instead, often just the web address of where the artwork is stored, is stored on the blockchain. If the items are hosted on a centralized location, the entity that runs that server can simply delete the item, even if you paid millions of dollars for it.

A token is a smart contract pointing to the location of that web address on the blockchain (that points to the server that stores your asset), which is stored in a digital wallet. As the web address is on the blockchain, that cannot be changed, but someone can remove the asset from the server making your immutable and expensive web address return a ‘404 not found’.
Unless your expensive artwork is stored on a decentralized storage system, you might own a receipt of a certain asset, but you certainly do not possess it, and the owner of the server where it is stored actually controls it and can delete it if wanted.

2. Centralization in a Decentralized Ecosystem

Therefore, it would be wise to use one of the well-known marketplaces such as OpenSea, but even that is no guarantee for success. While OpenSea uses the IPFS, since it is a centralized exchange, they also control the keys, similar to any centralized crypto exchange. If OpenSea decides to remove or freeze the digital asset because of a copyright infringement or other reason, your NFT becomes worthless, and this has happened already more than once.
For example, at the end of 2021, OpenSea stepped in to block the sale of stolen, expensive NFTs from collector Todd Kramer, a well-known art gallery owner, reportedly worth $2.2 million. Using a phishing attack, the NFTs were stolen from his hot wallet — a wallet connected to the internet. While it might be nice for Todd that the thief cannot resell his NFTs, it raises important questions about the decentralization of these NFTs.

3. Hacked Wallets and Blockchain Security Challenges

If it is stored on decentralized storage, only the user who holds the NFT should be able to access it and control it. To make matters worse, most NFTs — the pointers to where the asset is stored — are stored on a centralized exchange, which is similar to your crypto stored on a centralized exchange, and this means that if the exchange gets hacked, you can lose your valuable NFTs.
If the NFT is on your decentralized wallet and is on a hot wallet connected to the internet, you are responsible for the security. As Todd Kramer discovered, if you are hacked due to a phishing scam, you can still lose your NFTs.
To make matters worse, NFTs are stored on a blockchain. This can be Ethereum, Solana, EOS or any of the other few dozen blockchains that enable NFTs. These blockchains are kept secure by decentralized miners or stakes, the administrators, and the more administrators, the more secure a blockchain becomes as it becomes harder to perform a so-called 51% attack.

This is an attack where a group of miners hold more than 50% of the network’s hashing rate, and as they control the majority, they can reverse transactions that were completed while the group were in control. Meaning they could double-spend tokens, which is the entire promise that blockchains aims to prevent.
Blockchains that become the victim to a 51% attack will probably not live very long, and if your NFTs are stored on such a blockchain, your NFTs might become completely worthless. Of course, most of the NFTs reside on Ethereum, which has a broad adoption and is truly decentralised due to its age,. However, this comes at a cost as Ethereum’s gas fees, the price that needs to be paid to record a transaction, has gone through the roof, which makes the network prone to inequality to the extent that many organizations have tried to prevent in Web 2.0.
There are also other chains used for NFTs which will be cheaper to use, but these might be more centralized and, therefore, have weaker security. This all means that for NFTs to achieve mass adoption, transaction costs need to go down, ideally to zero or close to zero, while decentralization needs to go up to ensure that an NFT purchased today for $10.000 is still holds value in the future.

4. Fat Finger Mistakes

If you are unlucky, you bought an expensive NFT and either your wallet can get hacked, the security of the blockchain storing the NFT can be breached, or the centralized database storing your actual artwork can be hacked, and the criminal can delete the actual asset, in which case you still hold the NFT pointing to a web address pointing to a server, but since there is nothing on that server, you own nothing.
If that does not happen, then you still have your own responsibility to make sure that when you do sell your Bored Ape, you do not sell it for the wrong price, as happened to NFT owner Max who accidentally sold his bored ape for 0.75 ETH (around $3000) instead of 75 ETH (around $300.000). Before the owner could fix his mistake, a bot had snapped up the unique collector’s item by sending the transaction with 8 ETH (around $34000) of gas fees to ensure it was instantly processed.
These so-called fat-finger errors have happened before. While it is annoying for the original owner, it also shows a bigger problem that has been causing many debates around the world in the past years; net neutrality. The objective of net neutrality has always been to give everyone equal access to the internet and that internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all internet communications equally. Obviously, due to the gas fees, this no longer applies in the world of blockchain, which could pose a threat for the future, further increasing the digital divide and inequality.

5. Scams and Copyright Infringements

Unfortunately, that is not all, there are also plenty of scams and copyright infringements, or some call it satire or art in itself, of famous and expensive NFT collectibles such as the Bored Ape Yacht Club. One example is the Phunky Ape Yacht Club (or PAYC) which simply flipped the right-facing Bored Apes to face left and resold them, making around $1.8 million in the process.
PAYC has since been banned from centralized markets such as OpenSea, Raible and Mintable, which again shows the power these centralized markets have by creating a seamless trading experience for the masses.
Suppose you are lucky, and all works fine. In that case, you are still not yet out of the woods because it might very well be that the NFT you bought does not come with the right IP or copyrights, potentially preventing you from monetizing it and only using it as a nice image to view in your wallet or virtual home, which everyone else can do as well.
In fact, most NFTs sold in 2021 did not come with any copyright or IP, meaning that you cannot monetize the NFT, which is a crucial component for a vibrant economy. The collection of the Bored Ape Yacht Club does as we discussed, resulting in a vibrant community and steep prices, but most collectibles don’t, and all you have is a pointer towards an item stored somewhere, which is not a sustainable solution if NFTs are meant to achieve mass adoption.

Final Thoughts

If the above shows anything, it is important to always do your own research before diving in, as is the case with trading cryptocurrencies. Of course, this seems all very depressing, and it is, but it is not the end of the world. After all, it is still early days.
As the legal system catches up and the blockchain ecosystem continues to evolve and develop, i.e., truly decentralized storage of your digital assets, interoperable blockchains and minimum to no transaction fees become feasible, all the above problems will likely disappear.
Despite these challenges, NFTs are still a much better system than the current centralized approach, where a company can simply delete years of your work with a click of a button. NFTs that offer utility are amazing, and NFTs will define the metaverse economy, but we will first need to solve these five NFT challenges.

Cost

Going into new ventures, Investment is the most important and primary aspect. Getting an Employee onboard involves a lengthy and costly process. Searching Job Sites or Recruitment Agencies, negotiating a Salary (top talents don’t come cheap), providing Healthcare and Insurance services and in case of long-term engagements keeping them appraised with perks and increments; seems like a huge task.
Pros: Freelancers in most cases are easier to find and cheaper to engage.
Cons: Cheaper the freelancer lower the quality or skills.

Flexibility of Team structure

The graph for Resource Allocation of every Software development project follows a progression of growth during the Requirement Gathering phase and reaches the top during Development phase, gradually dying down during the Maintenance phase. Hence the team structure varies requiring off boarding of resources gradually.
Pros: Flexibility in case of upsizing or downsizing the team.
But depending on the hurdles faced in development the time periods may vary. Freelancers work on either Fixed price projects or Hourly basis. Hence your Project plan should be topnotch for you to completely utilize hired freelancers.
Cons : Incase of fixed price projects, Tracking of the time invested by the freelancer is not possible. Moreover, freelancers aren’t used to reporting time distribution. A daily/hourly timesheet might be restrictive for a freelancer.
Short period commitments are a norm in freelancing. Most SMBs require Developers for short intervals until their custom software goes live. Beyond that they expect ad hoc support services for bugs.
Cons: Maintenance support is difficult, in case of freelancers, as the chances that the same developer can he hired are thin, and a new developer might have to engage longer hours just to get a hang of the issue.

Quality of Developers

Quality of Employees to Freelancers is a matter of debate. Even though we consider the same level of talent on both ends; the processes followed by them in each scenario differs. Companies involve in a complete Background check, Technical interviews, HR interviews and Aptitude test if required before hiring, hence assuring a skilled developer.
Pros: Freelancers are considered to be Experts in their domains; hence enabling them to work independently without any support.
Cons: Freelancing portals have no screening process and developers must be evaluated based on the projects they have uploaded.
Cons: Freelancers though having the required qualifications/certifications would not necessarily be skilled in aspects beyond technical.

Quality of software

As IT industries have evolved they have seen marginal improvement in the Processes being followed, the quality analysis reviews being done which together define the Industry standards. Companies try to comply themselves to either of the following standards — IEEE, ISO, ANSI, EIA.
Pros: Since most freelancers are completely dependent on the review/feedbacks they get from the client to get their next job. They are required to strive to satisfy the clients requirements.
Cons : Since the freelancing movement wasn’t bound to an Industry; Industry norms didn’t apply to them. Developing a SW according to ISO standards can be tedious for the freelancer. Hence quality gets confined to the developer and tester’s perspectives. You will need to hire a separate Quality Analyst to evaluate the work done.
Access to Global Talent

Pros : Freelancing allows you to hire talented developers across the globe.
Cons: Communicating your ideas to a person from different cultures and backgrounds can be difficult. With distinct business processes being followed across different countries, aligning a stranger to your world might be time consuming.
In such cases expert teams specific to requirement gathering come into play, who would communicate your specifications in refined and curtailed format to the developer.

Control

Pro : With a single individual handling a project, all decisions are quick and instinctive.
With the drive to hire the top talent in the freelancer world, the client might end up with multiple resources at distributed locations.
Cons: In such cases assuring that all resources are on the same page, is challenging. Furthermore, to supervise these developers is an added task for the client.
The Management and supervision of development team is a Leads task who can act as a guide to the resources on behalf of the client.

Bonding

Cons: Due to the fragile nature of the relationship, even though you spend notable time with different freelancers at different stages of the project, a sense of belonging is not generated at both ends.
Entrepreneurs are looking for venues that would provide them benefits from both streams of workforce. The Flexibility of the freelancers with the Expertise, Quality and Reliability of Organizations.