Founded in 2020 and based in Boston by Sean Mack, Lux Algo was born with the mission to bring clarity to investors dealing with technical indicators. To do this, the startup launched a suite of tools on TradingView and Discord designed to help investors separate the noise from meaning when dealing with technical indicators. Advanced charting, profiles, signaling, and other tools are just some of the features developed by the team for this purpose.

At this time, Lux Algo’s platform is now used by over 50k traders all around the world, becoming one of the most popular vendors of technical analysis indicators. The platform’s tools can be used for scalping, swing trading, day trading, options trading, and much more across the stocks, indices, forex, futures, currencies, and commodities markets. 

As most beginners won’t be familiar with multiple investment strategies and markets, Lux Algo also gives special importance to education beyond platform tutorials. The startup offers resources that cover topics ranging from the basics of trading to advanced technical analysis indicators. This, in combination with the simplicity of the platform, makes for a tool that can help beginners navigate the current chaos.

Lux Algo’s Version 5, which was launched in late May of this year, is especially reflective of the startup’s mission. The release introduced presets designed to let users display multiple features based on their trading style. New oscillators and overlay indicators were introduced, in addition to a new toolkit, allowing users to better choose the indicator for specific market conditions.

With the markets being more volatile than ever, being on top of sudden fluctuations is increasingly important. Lux Algo also gives access to fine-tuned automated alerts that can be triggered by any condition the user sets for any specific asset. These alerts further increase the dynamism that the platform brings to the table, which is especially useful for high-frequency traders or long-term traders who want to avoid surprises.

In its effort to make smart investing as easy as possible, the Lux Algo team has also prioritized the creation of a strong community. The project’s official Discord server has over 100k users connected by their interest in trading. The server offers channels to discuss all things related to the platform, the markets, investment strategies, news, and much more. 

While there certainly is an emphasis on beginners and making technical analysis as easy as possible, this doesn’t mean that Lux Algo doesn’t pack a punch. In fact, the open-source projects run by Lux Algo in TradingView are some of the most popular. There are a total of 50 scripts liked by over 121k users, all of them covering a vast range of use cases and markets. The open-source nature of the scripts also means anyone can provide feedback, report bugs, and adapt them to their specific needs.

The democratization of the markets is a process that has gained momentum over the past years, with the fintech industry driving the effort. Unfortunately, opening the doors to the markets is not enough to truly level the playing field. Easing the technical barriers via powerful yet simple tools and education is just as important, especially during tumultuous times.

The post Lux Algo: The Startup Looking to Make Technical Analysis As Easy as 1, 2, 3 appeared first on Grit Daily News.

The cryptocurrency market is on fire, having dropped below the $900 billion mark on June 17th. The stock market has officially been declared a bear market after the S&P500 and Dow tumbled on Monday. US home prices have increased by 37% over the past 24 months, 8% more than the 24 months prior to the 2008 housing crash.

When it comes to cryptocurrency, speculation by media outlets seems to be the land of the law. “The Crypto Party Is Over”, says The Wall Street Journal. “Yes, Crypto Is Crashing Again. Blockchain Will Survive”, replies The New York Times. “Bitcoin Is Crashing Because Everything Is Crashing”, explains Vice. “Will the Crypto Crash Beget a Better Crypto Future?”, asks Time.

If you are having a hard time deciding what your next crypto investing strategy will be, you are not alone. Not only do crypto winters often prove to be the most difficult times to invest effectively but recent developments have further increased that difficulty. Terra’s crash, Celsius’s decision to freeze withdrawals, and Coinbase’s firing of over 18% of its workforce, are only some of them.

The chaos surrounding the crypto market was one of the topics discussed in the “Here’s Where to Find Alpha in 2022” panel at Grit Daily House earlier this month. Stefan Rust, Founder and CEO of Laguna DeFi; Caitlin Long, Founder & CEO of Custodia Bank; Roger Dooley, Forbes Contributor and Marketing Advisor; and Miles Paschini, Chief Executive Officer at FV Bank, took over the stage to share their insights on the current crypto market status.

Despite having clarified that they were not giving financial advice, the panelists shared their unique insights on the causes behind the current bear market and what to expect in the future. Regulation, adoption and innovation barriers, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), and crypto fundamentals are only some of the topics attendees got to hear about.

If you missed the chance to attend Grit Daily House in person and to hear what these experts had to say about seeking Alpha in 2022, worry not. Not only will you be able to watch the panel in the video below but you can also find other panels on Grit Daily’s official YouTube Channel.

The post Markets in Chaos: Here’s Where to Find Alpha in 2022 appeared first on Grit Daily News.

According to CoinGecko, the crypto market’s capitalization recently dropped under the $1 trillion mark back on June 13. The drop, which is the continuation of a bear market that started months ago, took the market back to where it was in January 2021. Institutional and private investors have suffered massive losses as a result, which has further exacerbated panic.

A year ago, the entirety of the crypto space was celebrating the increasing adoption of cryptocurrency by companies and governments around the world. Companies like Coinbase also marked important highlights by going public and disrupting the stock market. Now, the company has fired over 18% of its workforce as its shares crumble.

There is no denying it: Things look grim for crypto at this time. However, it is important to remember that cryptocurrencies are just a part of a bigger ecosystem. Blockchain, web3, NFTs, and other decentralized technologies continue to grow in adoption independent of the current crypto market. Andreessen Horowitz is an example of such growth as it raised a $4.5 billion crypto fund to invest in blockchain companies less than a month ago.

As most crypto investors know, bear markets represent a unique opportunity to “buy the dip”, which is why many are doubling down. However, while the current market is an opportunity, recent developments also have shown the importance of choosing correctly. Just take Terra’s crash as an example!

Earlier this month, Grit Daily House opened its door to blockchain enthusiasts, investors, and experts to talk about all things crypto. Stefan Rust, Founder and CEO of Laguna; Greg Gopman, Chief Marketing and Business Development at ANKR; and Christian Dickson, Senior Metaverse Director at Veritone, took the stage to participate in our “How -Not- to Invest in Crypto” panel.

During the panel, which was moderated by CoinDesk’s Jenn Sanasie, the panelists discussed a variety of topics such as challenges new investors face, choosing a project to invest in, and common mistakes. If you are interested in learning investment tips directly from those shaping the blockchain ecosystem, this is a panel you won’t want to miss.

The post Buying the Dip? Here is How -Not- to Invest in Crypto appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Chances are that you are already an active participant or thinking about joining the NFT space. Sure, you might not agree with the current trends in the space but NFTs are more than just generative artworks selling for millions. With NFTs being applied in more industries every day, their cultural and economical importance can’t be underestimated.

However, using NFTs as a profitable form of investment is not a matter of chance. Depending on the type of NFT you are acquiring, you will need to develop a certain degree of expertise: By doing your research, you already are on the right path toward making the best out of your NFT journey. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know on how to invest in NFTs!

What Are NFTs and Why Are They So Big?

Investing in technology or a market you don’t understand can be a recipe for disaster. This has been one of the most frequent criticisms the NFT market has received over the years as most investors don’t really understand how they work. Misunderstandings of what NFTs actually are and entail are too frequent, which can drive investors to lose their assets and investments.

Take the example of  Spice DAO, a group of investors who acquired a rare art book: Alexander Jodorowsky’s Dune”. The group paid $3 million for the NFT, believing it would grant them the rights over the work… Which was a mistake. What they had acquired was just a really expensive book. This mistake is far from an isolated case not only due to NFT being a pretty novel technology but also due to investors’ lack of research.

For this reason, we will first take a brief look at what NFTs are and some of the most common misconceptions around them. This will allow you to get a better understanding of the technology and the possibilities it brings to the table… Which is extremely relevant when using them as a means of investment.

What Actually Are NFTs?

Artists like Beeple and Pak have made a name for selling some of the most expensive digital artworks out there, bringing Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) to the headlines of major outlets. These artists, as well as projects like CryptoPunks, Axie Infinity, and Bored Ape Yacht Club, have made NFTs a synonym of digital collectibles for many. While this is certainly one of the purposes they can serve, NFTs are much more than just collectibles.

In essence, NFTs are a digital representation of any asset that is unique in nature and indivisible. This means an NFT could represent anything from a piece of art to real estate ownership, IDs, insurance policies, and much more. NFTs provide a means for investors, holders, collectors, and users to review the provenance of the asset they represent.

An example of some of the innovative applications given to NFTs includes when TechCrunch Founder Michael Arrington sold his apartment in Kyiv as an NFT. Other companies like Black Manta Capital Partners’ have followed these examples and created “Real Estate Token Offerings”. By the end of 2021, we also saw Auroboros’ showing of NFT-powered Augmented Reality clothing during the London Fashion Week.

These are examples of how NFTs really operate: They prove ownership over an asset that has been linked to it. When the buyer acquired Arrington’s apartment, the apartment itself was not in the NFT. This is the same case with art collectibles, which only contain a link in their metadata to the artwork they represent.  While anyone could copy the image linked to your NFT, they wouldn’t have proof of their ownership over that image or be able to prove its authenticity. This is the same as having an exact copy of famous artwork, the original will be the only one to hold real value.

Understanding that NFTs are all about ownership and authenticity is essential when investing in them, especially at a time when scams are becoming more prevalent. This will also allow you to invest in new applications of the technology, such as virtual real estate, loot boxes, and more.

NFTs are not…

Now that we have talked about the actual purpose of NFTs, it is time to clear some of the misunderstandings around them. Clearing these is of uttermost importance not only for those looking to invest in NFTs but also to help the whole ecosystem evolve. With that in mind, NFTs are not…

Worthless

A common misconception is that NFTs have no value. While it is true that NFTs are just a means to represent ownership over an authentic asset, this function and the associated asset provide them with value. Fiat currency by itself, works of art, and other types of commodities rely on demand and trust to get their value. This same principle is applied to NFTs: The scarcity and demand for the asset they represent drive their value.

While someone might be able to copy the artwork your NFT represents, in the case of collectibles, they don’t truly own it. The NFT represents ownership over the image, which means that anyone who copies it without having the NFT won’t be able to truly transact with it. Sure, anyone might have a copy of the bible but the original manuscripts are the ones to hold true value.

A Get Rich Scheme

Just like with crypto in its inception, NFT critics have resorted to terms such as “scam” and “get rich scheme” to refer to the NFT space. This is in part due to how many people are investing their life savings in NFTs and a misunderstanding of the nature of NFTs. However, NFTs are not a scam or scheme of this sort.

As we said before, the value of an NFT depends on the same principles of art, fiat, and other types of commodities. As the value of the assets depends on the market, it is up to investors to find those hidden gems to maximize profit. If an investor fails at recognizing the true value of an asset or falls victim to a scam, this is not due to the nature of the NFT but due to human error.

The NFT ecosystem has proven to be highly profitable over the past year, which of course has resulted in scammers taking advantage of this fact. As such, we recommend you get familiar with NFT scams in order to avoid them. 

Cryptocurrency 

A lot of people consider NFTs in the same ways as cryptocurrency. However, while both crypto and NFTs are based on blockchain or distributed ledger technology, they are quite different in nature. Cryptocurrencies are able to serve a financial purpose due to their fungible nature while NFTs are… Well, non-fungible.

This means that while you can exchange 1 Bitcoin for another without it affecting you in any way, you can’t do the same with an NFT. Every NFT, even if they represent the same digital asset, is different from one another. While this might not sound like much of a difference, this makes both types of assets entirely different.

Copyable

As we said before, it is possible for someone to copy the artwork or asset attached to an NFT. However, the NFT itself can’t be copied due to the immutability of blockchain technology. While physical assets like IDs can be copied in a way that they look entirely legitimate with some work, blockchain makes this impossible.

Due to how the technology works, 2 exact copies of an NFT can exist even if representing a similar asset. This means that once an NFT is minted, no one else will be able to copy it, not even the holder.

Bad for the Environment

While discussions around the environmental impact of blockchain technology have been around for years, it wasn’t until 2020 that the discussion started gaining relevance. This occurred when The New York Times published a piece titled “In Coinbase’s Rise, a Reminder: Cryptocurrencies Use Lots of Energy”.

Networks like Ethereum, which hosts some of the biggest NFT marketplaces, have a big carbon footprint. This means that by using them, you could potentially be contributing to the deterioration of the environment… Which might be against your beliefs. That being said, several networks use more energy-efficient algorithms, at least according to their development teams.

The fact is that most experts agree that concerns around the environmental impact of the blockchain (including NFTs) were blown out of proportion. Not only does most of the energy used by blockchain come from renewable sources but it often avoids energy from being wasted. Sure, blockchain (as any technology) has an environmental impact but blockchain is not a major driver of carbon emissions. You can read more about this topic here.

What Makes an NFT Valuable?

Let’s go back to the basics: Demand drives value. No matter what service or service you are thinking of, it will have value if someone is willing to pay for it. Whereas we used to trade goods with each other, humanity eventually found a means to abstract this process: Money. 

Ever since the invention of money, we have continued to create new tools to facilitate the trading of goods and services. Credit cards, stock, crypto, payment processing services, etc, are all just means to help us abstract transactions. Now, NFTs are just taking this one step further by continuing with the digitization of assets.

NFTs take advantage of their unique nature to tap into scarcity. Just in the same way that there is only one Eiffel Tower or La Gioconda, NFTs are unique. Sure, you can have 100 NFTs depicting the same artwork but each of the NFTs by itself is also unique. This means that just in the same way that the first edition of a book is worth considerably more, an NFT might be the same. If an artist as famous as Beeple mints only an NFT of its “Everydays” artwork, the value will escalate astronomically.

Now, scarcity only translates to value if there is a demand for the asset. You might remember that during the start of the COVID19 pandemic, there was a scarcity of goods like toilet paper and condoms. This prompted some people to buy them and sell them at a higher price, with many people choosing to buy from them. Once the scarcity disappeared as manufacturers produced more goods, the price normalized. 

NFTs behave in the same way. The factors that drive the demand of an NFT will depend on the type of NFT, who minted it, its functions, scarcity, and many more. With the NFT market being so popular at the time, its speculative nature is also on the roof, which can make it harder for investors to determine value. Sentiment and momentum play an important role in driving prices.

Should You Invest in NFT?

Before we jump and answer the “How to invest in NFTs?” question, you should consider if you should invest in NFT in the first place. While the potential to make money when investing in NFT is real, so is the potential to lose money.

Investing in NFT can be more complex than investing in other types of assets like gold, precious metals, and even forex, as the human element plays a bigger role. This is especially true when it comes to digital art, which is the most popular niche in the NFT market at this time.

The process of choosing the right project only gets more complex as new projects emerge. With anyone now being able to mint a token, finding the hidden gems is like finding a needle in a haystack. On the other hand, if you rely too much on momentum and FOMO, you might fall for pull rugs and other types of scams.

This brings us to the question: Should you invest in NFT? Well, the answer depends on several questions you need to consider. The golden rule you should always consider before making any type of investment is if you can afford to lose the money. 

Most advisors will tell you that NFTs can be riskier than other types of investment, which is actually the case. Not only is the NFT ecosystem pretty young and unregulated but it is also a highly volatile market. For this reason, we recommend that you only invest it if you have the time to do your research and learn about it.

Now, there are several pros to investing in NFTs. First, investing in NFT is more than just a financial activity, it can also be a hobby. Due to the potential NFTs have to represent a variety of assets, you can bring the pleasure of a hobby and make a profit together. In fact, if you are interested in an NFT niche you already know of, your chances of profit will increase considerably.

NFTs also benefit from the global reach of the internet, as all that is required for any interested party to trade them is an internet connection. This means that the exposition any given NFT has is far bigger than other commodities or assets.

The use of smart contracts by most platforms also ensures that NFT transactions are trustless, which facilitates trades. As smart contracts don’t require human intervention to ensure an outcome, you can be sure that your transactions will be completed if you use a well-designed platform.

Lastly, as NFTs are entirely digital, this means that the storage process is as simple as it gets. Get a crypto wallet, secure it, and interact with it as needed. This also translates to efficiency and reduces costs when transacting with them, as physical commodities require logistics.

NFTs can be a great means to invest in the technology of the future. However, they might not be the best option if you don’t have an eye or interest in the asset behind the NFT. This is because this would result in difficulties when it comes to recognizing trends and valuable NFTs. In such a case, another type of investment might be more appropriate for you.

How to Invest in NFTs?

We have been beating around the bush for too long. However, we believe that all of the information we have provided is essential for anyone wondering how to invest in NFTs. Now that you should have a better idea of investing in NFTs is right for you, let’s look at how you can actually do it!

Find the NFT You Want to Buy

Finding the NFT you want to invest in is the first step toward investing in NFT. This is because the wallet, cryptocurrency, and other aspects of acquiring it will depend on the platform where the NFT is offered. As the NFT will be offered via an NFT platform such as a marketplace, finding this one is part of the same step. You see, it is not only about “how to buy NFTs” but also “where to buy NFTs”.

There are multiple NFT marketplaces out there that you can use to find NFTs. From well-known platforms like OpenSea to Cardano’s Fiborite, which is about to launch, there are plenty of options out there. Each platform will come with different benefits and drawbacks, which you should consider before using them.

For example, using a platform that relies on the Ethereum Network alone means that gas prices will be considerably higher. If the platform charges you for the gas, this is something you need to account for when calculating the price. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular platforms!

OpenSea

If you are looking to buy or sell NFTs in categories like art, collectibles, music, photography, sports, virtual worlds, or domain names, OpenSea has you covered. With a vast collection in all of these categories, the marketplace is a favorite for collectors looking to acquire a variety of NFTs.

OpenSea is also known for how easy it is to use, which is a huge plus for any beginner. With a variety of resources and a vast knowledge base, you are likely to find whatever information you are looking for. If you are still unable to do so, the platform’s customer support team will provide top-notch service.

OpenSea supports 3 different networks: Ethereum, Polygon, and Klatyn. When it comes to supported cryptocurrencies, you will be able to choose between WETH, DAI, and USDC, as well as over 150 tokens. 

Rarible

With support for Ethereum, Flow, and Tezos, Rarible has distinguished itself from OpenSeafor its support to multiple blockchain networks instead of Layer2 solutions. In addition to this, personalities like Pak, Lindsay Lohan, and Floyd Mayweather Jr have chosen Rarible as their go-to platform. This has resulted in Rarible being involved in some of the biggest sales in the NFT space.

In terms of features, Rarible also shines strongly. The marketplace offers creators and buyers the chance to use multiple editions of NFTs, timed auctions, advanced royalties systems, messaging systems, and many more. All of these features are supported across digital art, collectibles, music, video, domain names, metaverse land, wearables, and more categories.

Rarible is backed by companies like CoinFund, Coinbase, Parafi, and 1kx but remains committed to its community. The marketplace’s “Rarible protocol” is completely run by its users via a DAO governance model, for example. Unlike OpenSea, Rarible makes use of its own cryptocurrency: Rari. 

Rari is not only used to pay for NFTs but also works as the governance tool of the platform, which allows it to work in a decentralized manner by having its holders vote. This is a reflection of the platform’s high emphasis on its users.

SuperRare

Another big player in the NFT space, Superare has helped artists earn more than $128 million in primary sales while also generating $84 million in secondary sales. SuperRare self-describes itself like an “Instagram meets Christie’s”’s platform focused on art, culture, and digital collections.

SuperRare relies entirely on Ether (ETH) as it runs on the Ethereum network and charges 3% in transaction fees to its buyers. However, artists must pay 15% in commissions for primary sales while receiving 10% commission in all secondary sales by default.

If you are looking for simplicity, SuperRare might be the best platform for you. With a straightforward layout, the platform makes it easy to explore art and find NFTs you might want to invest in. If you are looking for something specific, the filtering functions also make it easy to find it.

Foundation

Foundation is one of the newest players in the NFT space, having been around for less than a year. Launched in February of 2021, the marketplace has generated over $125 million for its creators and gained the praise of major collectors and artists on the Ethereum network.

As a platform operated by artists for artists, Foundation has become one of the top NFT marketplaces for those looking for great works of digital art by exclusive artists. If you are looking for a tight-knit community of NFT enthusiasts, Foundation is right for you!

Make Sure You Have a Compatible Wallet

If you have been part of the NFT or crypto ecosystem before, you probably already have a wallet. However, it is possible that the wallet(s) you use this time are not compatible with the NFT platform offering the NFT you want to invest in. As such, you want to make sure by looking at the platform’s official documentation.

If you don’t have a crypto wallet, on the other hand, you will have to create one before investing in NFTs. A crypto wallet is basically the tool that you use to “store” your crypto and NFTs. We use quotations as a wallet doesn’t really contain your tokens but it grants you access to interacting with them by storing your keys. While this technical distinction might not seem relevant at first, it can become important under certain circumstances… However, we won’t duel on the technical aspects of wallets as there are great articles such as this one by Binance Academy, which explains the ins and outs of crypto wallets.

No matter what crypto wallet you choose to use, you will need to make sure it is compatible with the NFT platform you chose to use. You also have to make absolutely sure you store your recovery phrase somewhere safe as it is the only means to recover your wallet and all the crypto you have associated with it.

Get Some Cryptocurrency (If Needed)

Now that you have a crypto wallet, it is time to ensure you can use it to buy your NFTs. As you will see when looking at the different NFT marketplaces, most of the time you will be required to complete payments using cryptocurrency. For this reason, you will need to fund your wallet with a cryptocurrency supported by the platform you chose.

Just like the cryptocurrency will depend on the networks supported by the NFT marketplace, so will the exchange you choose to use. It is important to note that not all crypto exchanges sell all cryptocurrencies, which is why you need to make sure to use an exchange that supports it.

To find a reliable cryptocurrency exchange and check supported currencies, you can take a look at CoinGecko’s exchange rankings. This will provide you with important information on how trustworthy an exchange is. That being said, most new investors will opt for popular exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, FTX, and OKX.

Connect to the Marketplace

Now that you have a wallet with crypto in it, you are ready to purchase your NFT. This process will vary depending on the platform you chose, it will be similar in most cases. Just visit the platform and locate the “login” or “connect wallet” option.

Once you click on this option, you will be prompted by your wallet to authorize the connection. This will allow you to log in or create an account on the platform as needed, with the account being linked to the wallet from that moment onwards.

Buy the NFT

You are now ready to buy the NFT you selected. Just click on the “Buy” or “Bid” options and follow the instructions. In the case of a purchase, you will be prompted to continue the process and given instructions to process the payment. Once complete, the NFT will be transferred to your wallet.

In the case of an Auction, the transfer of the token will only be completed if and once you earn the bid for it. This means that you will be required to keep a close eye on the auction in case someone outbids you.

Once the platform informs you that the NFT has been transferred to your wallet, make sure to check your wallet. While it is unlikely for transactions to fail, it is extremely important to ensure they didn’t so you can contact support in a timely manner if needed. That being said, we have never had an issue when buying an NFT in such a manner.

Congratulations You should be now the owner of an NFT. This NFT will be associated with your address, which means you own it until you decide to sell or trade it. Other users will be able to make you offers for your NFT or you can choose to sell/auction it when you desire. Now it is just a matter of crossing your fingers and hoping the value of your NFT increases!

The post How to Invest in NFTs and Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) Do It appeared first on Grit Daily News.

The deal, which values Seedrs at about $100 million, will allow Republic to become the first global private investment platform to offer its services in North America and Europe at a time when the democratization of investing has become more important than ever. The acquisition comes less than 2 months after the closing of a $150 million Series B funding round led by Valor Equity Partners. Jeff Kelisky, CEO of Seedrs, referred to the acquisition by stating:

“Seedrs’ ambition has always been to build a global private equity marketplace. This transaction is a natural development of our partnership with the Republic to achieve and go beyond that ambition. We share a similar culture, a common goal, and a commitment to the strategic opportunities that lie ahead. We have great admiration for the teams at Republic, and together we can accelerate our plans to create a powerful global private investment marketplace that will transform the finance ecosystem and the communities they serve.”

Republic was founded in 2016 with the mission to allow anyone to invest in startups, gaming, real estate, and crypto by facilitating the process via a curated list of private investing opportunities. The startup has established partnerships with organizations like AngelList, Binance, Algorand, Techstars, and more, which has resulted in over $700 million being deployed in investments. Kendrick Nguyen, Republic’s founder & CEO, said about how Seedr’s acquisition will boost this success:

“Republic launched with the mission to make private investments accessible to all. We knew international expansion was necessary to achieve cross-bordered participation. In working with Seedrs, we have admired their technological capabilities, the strength of their team and their strong presence in the UK and soon Europe. We anticipate further developing the strengths of both companies from retail, secondaries, crypto, and communities to create a clear industry leader. We look forward to working together to shape the future of the industry at this critical stage of growth and innovation.”

While the transaction still needs to be approved by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Seedr shareholders, it is expected to be completed early in 2020. Once the acquisition is completed, Republic will be able to expand its presence to Europe to deliver its innovative features and products, fcreating new financial opportunities for millions of people in the region

The post Republic Acquires Seedrs to Expand Its Startup Investing Platform to Europe appeared first on Grit Daily News.

The funding round was led by Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, with participation from Gemini’s Frontier Fund along with Network Ventures, Rarebreed Ventures, among others. The capital will allow EarlyBird to accelerate the development of its community-first childhood investing platform by expanding its engineering, product, marketing, and operations teams. Alexis Ohanian, Founder of Seven Seven Six, referred to the round by stating:

“I got a savings bond from my great aunt when I was born in 1983. No one is giving savings bonds anymore – we need an onramp to modern wealth creation for the next generation. We believe EarlyBird’s vision – sitting at the intersection of community, love, and capital – aligns well with how all the ‘rules of investing’ are currently being rewritten.”

Founded in 2019 with the mission to simplify investing in the next generation, EarlyBird is allowing parents, family, and friends to collectively strengthen the financial future of the children they love. The platform developed by the startup allows users to invest and give a multitude of financial assets like Stock, ETFs, and Cryptocurrencies, which can then start generating wealth on behalf of the child. Jordan Wexler, CEO, and Co-Founder of EarlyBird, said about this mission:

“EarlyBird started with the vision to create an accessible way for all families to begin building wealth for their children, and to do so with the support, love, and contributions of their broader communities. Since our launch, we’ve seen incredible growth, adoption, and excitement from families with a wide range of financial knowledge and backgrounds. Seven Seven Six and all of our new partners recognize the importance of financial access and approachability in investing, and we’re thrilled to have them on board as we continue to take flight.”

By allowing the community around a child to invest in their financial future from an early stage intuitively and quickly, EarlyBird not only allows its users to protect those who love. The app also empowers children to learn about investing and wealth-building from an early age, ensuring that the next generation has a chance for a brighter tomorrow.

The post EarlyBird Raised $4M to Bring Financial Security and Literacy to Youngest Generation appeared first on Grit Daily News.

The funding round was left by Mubadala Investment Company and counted with the participation of 500 Startups, Kuwait Projects Company, Shorooq Partners, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), DIFC, Hambro Perks Oryx Fund, HALA Ventures, and Vision Ventures. As a result of the round, representatives of Mubadala and 500 Startups will be joining Sarwa’s board of directors.

With this round, the startup has raised $25 million in funding since being founded back in 2017. Tim Chae, Managing Partner at 500 Startups, referred to the firm’s participation in the Series B round by stating:

“At 500, we back companies that are leading the way in changing the world. Financial literacy and inclusion are key to improving lives and building better societies, and Sarwa has boldly tackled the issue by demystifying investment and making it easier than ever before for young people to get a head start on building their personal wealth. We are fully supportive of their goal and continue to be part of their exciting journey,”

With more people around the globe looking for new ways to invest in the stock market, commission-free stock trading platforms have become increasingly popular. Sarwa is looking to capitalize on this increasing interest by providing potential investors with a way to invest with as little as $1. Mark Chahwan, Co-Founder and CEO of Sarwa, referred to the startup’s future with these words:

“Everyone on the team is excited to begin this new chapter. Thousands of clients already use Sarwa to grow their money and build a better future, and this investment will fuel our growth so that we can reach millions more. We want to ensure that everyone has access to simple, smart, and affordable financial products and services.

The fintech startup aims to revolutionize how young professionals can create wealth outside the traditional financial system by making use of a smart and simple digital platform to invest. The capital raised in the round will help achieve this mission by expanding the startup’s market position and allowing it to grow its team, while also developing new products and features.

The post Fintech Startup Sarwa Secures $15 mln in Series B Funding appeared first on Grit Daily News.

The significance of this is important for all investors to pay attention to, especially as diversification plays an ever-growing role having peace of mind in a retirement strategy during turbulent times, such as pandemics. Adam Bergman is the CEO of IRA Financial, a leading platform that provides IRA and 401K plans that are able to be used for investing in a variety of alternative assets. We caught up with him for insight on what investors should know if they are considering diversifying their retirement account into areas such as crypto or real estate.

Grit Daily: Will we see a pivot in financial and retirement planning post pandemic, if so where and what are you seeing in the current market?  

Adam Bergman: As a provider of self-directed IRA & 401(k) and Solo Roth 401(k) plans nationwide, we’ve definitely seen a surge of investors looking to diversify their retirement assets into hard assets such as real estate in light of the equity market volatility.  We’ve also seen a boom in young retirement account holders looking to gain access to the emerging asset class of cryptocurrencies.

Grit Daily: Are there asset classes you think will grow in popularity with the rise in the gig economy and freelance/consulting?  

AB: Yes – as people gain more control over their work life, they will also have control over their retirement investment decisions.  We have over 9,000 solo 401(k) plan clients that appreciate the ability to make high annual 401(k) plan contributions as well as gain the ability to make traditional and alternative asset investments with their retirement funds.  Equities, real estate, cryptos, and crowdfunding investments have been the most popular.

Grit Daily: With the crackdowns in China should Crypto and Bitcoin be part of your strategy?  

AB: I believe every American should have some exposure to cryptocurrency.  I believe the reward far outweighs the risk of owning cryptos.  The amount to invest will greatly depend on one’s net worth and appetite for risk.

Grit Daily: Are there certain alternative assets you recommend as we come out of CV19?  

AB: Definitely cryptos.  Real estate has also become a more of a popular alternative asset after COVID where investors are looking for a hedge against inflation and also are seeking steady cash flow.

Grit Daily: As an expert what do you think we can see happen in people’s financial planning in the next 2 years?  

AB: I think we can expect to see continued movement towards alternative assets, specifically in retirement accounts as a source of diversification.  I also believe younger investors will continue to push for more exposure to cryptocurrencies and pre-IPO private company investments.  Traditional equity investments, such as ETFs and individual stocks, will continue to be a main part of individual’s investors investment strategy, but I believe alternative assets will grow in its percentage of allocation for individual investors, from real estate for more mature savers looking for appreciation and cash flow to cryptos and private company investments for younger investor looking for more growth and risk.

The post As IRA and 401K Plans Open to Crypto, Investors Are Paying Attention appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Gatsby has been growing exponentially as a platform since Grit Daily last spoke to Myers and his team. The company continues to serve as a viable competitor to Robinhood, another stock trading and investing app.

“We have almost doubled our team size, and we have doubled our number of users since the beginning of 2021,” Myers said.

Gatsby recently made headline with their fundraising efforts. The company raised ten million dollars in series A funding, and continue to expand what the app can do for users.

Myers also noted new initiatives available to potential investors. 

“We have also launched options spreads strategies, stock trading, and Gatsby Rewards – a point system that pays users to trade.”

Users will gain points with every trade they make on the platform. They can choose to redeem their points for gift cards at participating retailers.

Six month ago the team was in the process of working on creating an adaptive interface for their app. This interface would feature an algorithm that would adapt to each Gatsby user’s individual preferences.

Myers said that: “Currently, depending on answers that traders give during onboarding and actions in the app, a user will have access to certain features and not others.

We built so that every trader will have as many tools as they need, but not too many to make them feel intimidated. We want to improve this system and make it more nuanced to cover more styles of trading.”

Is There A Good “Stepping Stone” To Get Started In Investing? 

Myers thinks so, and explained why Gatsby was a good place to begin for hesitant novice investors.

“The jargon on many brokerage platforms can look daunting at first blush. Many of the concepts are simpler than they seem. Do your research, and dive into the hundreds or thousands of communities across every social network to hear others opinions and due diligence techniques, or in Gatsby, you can find trade ideas right from the Social Feed.”

One year ago, Gatsby “only support[ed] level 2 options trading, which allows a user to purchase either long call or long put contracts.” Myers confirmed that now, “[Gatsby] now support[s] level three trading for users that qualify to trade spreads!”

Engaging Novice Investors: The Gatsby Method

Nobody has to be an advanced trader to understand that investing comes with monetary risk. Myers understands that there are many potential investors out there who are afraid to start due to the potential financial pitfall. He explained how getting started on Gatsby could help.

“I think it’s critical to see, transparently, what others are trading on in real-time. When you look at the Social Feed in Gatsby, you can see what others are trading. And if they’re bullish or bearish, and how frequently they trade. This is a key source of crowdsourced research and trade inspiration. And I think an important step to getting over that first hump – the ‘where do I start’ phase.”

— Jeff Myers, co-CEO

Myers hopes that Gatsby will have 100,000 new accounts by the end of 2021.

“[We] have launched crypto trading as well as additional options strategies. We want Gatsby to be the best mobile-based brokerage on the market, making it easy to place trades.”

The post Pressure on Robinhood Rises After Gatsby Pulls in $10M Fundraising Haul appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Here’s what you need to know about timing your investments.

Which Quarter is Best to Invest in Stock?

When it comes to investing in the U.S., there are some seasonal changes. You can expect the January Effect in the beginning of the year. This means that prices are often pushed up by investors as they return from the holidays. You may want to avoid buying immediately in January, and instead wait a few weeks for prices to stabilize.

Investopedia says, “September is traditionally a down month. The average return in October is positive historically, despite the record drops of 19.7% and 21.5% in 1929 and 1987.” September tends to join the summer months in slower growths, while October is considered the start of the busy winter/holiday season that is generally more profitable. However, this also depends on what kind of market you’re investing in, the year, and what else is going on. This may not ring true every single year, it’s just a trend in the market.

When Should You Buy a Stock?

The stock market goes through natural changes all year, with prices corresponding to important events, seasons, and sometimes even days of the week and times of the day. However, these changes are subtle and small. In the morning, stocks fluctuate and prices can be higher than they are in the afternoon – but only slightly. If you keep waiting for the right moment, you may miss out. Investing is better than not investing at all, according to the experts at Business Insider.

Are IPOs Worth It?

Scouring the internet for clues, opinions among professionals are split when it comes to IPOs. Some investors claim they are too risky, while others tout that investing at the right time can make a lot of money overnight. Always perform your due diligence and do your research on a company and its value and popularity before investing. Trading IPOs is slightly more complicated than regular stocks and if you want to invest in one, you’ll likely have to work with a brokerage company that will be ready to invest for you when the brand goes public, so it’s not a spur-of-the-moment transaction. You should be well informed and prepared before you go in on an IPO.

When is an IPO worth it? You can’t always guess which company will do well when it goes public, but there are some signs of a worthwhile IPO investment you should look for. Firstly, invest in an industry that you understand. This is the key to understanding the trends, which brands are popular, and which companies are innovating in a way that will bring them and you profits. If you don’t get it, this isn’t the industry to invest in for you.

Take a look at the management, board of directors, and execs listed on their website. Make sure the company hasn’t had any bad press or lawsuits. Check that those in charge have experience and a good record, otherwise you risk losing money.

One of the most important factors to consider is why the company is going public. Companies usually go public for one of two reasons – they are either in debt, but popular, and hoping to raise cash to offset their debts and continue, or they are allowing investors in to raise cash to expand, innovate, create a new product, etc. It’s best to invest in a company that has a good track record and is planning to expand. However, there are plenty of companies that have saved themselves and gone on to become profitable after going public to pay off debt.

There’s always some risk involved, there’s no real best time to invest, and how much of a risk you’re willing to take is up to you!

The post When Is The Best Time To Invest in Stocks? appeared first on Grit Daily News.