Financial technology vs. DeFi attracting a lot of attention for the business. Most people don't fully understand the idea behind Decentralized Finance. But Decentralized Finance attracting a lot of attention for the next technology in Finance.

Fintech vs. DeFi Which Big Market Now?

FinTech is the abbreviation for financial technology. As it suggests, FinTech refers to technology that supports and improves financial transactions and processes.If you conduct online banking or mobile banking transactions, you would have used FinTech — smartphone apps, algorithms, and software are all examples of FinTech.Additionally, broad definition of "DeFi," encompassing projects such as Lightning Network, Bisq, 0x, and Set Protocol. Here is a non-comprehensive list of DeFi projects

Final Report Market Financial Technology vs DeFi Now!

Financial technology vs. DeFi attracting a lot of attention for the business. Is DeFi the next level of technology? Let's see

crypto

Cryptocurrency

moneyandinvestments

Money & Investments

Credit cards become a valuable financial tool once you learn to use them sensibly and responsibly. It offers rewards, protection, convenience and helps build an effective credit score. So, what kind of benefits can one reap using a credit card? To begin with, let us examine some of the top advantages of using a credit card:

Credit Card : Benefits

Arguably, the most attractive feature of a credit card is the interest-free grace period that can be availed by users provided, the amount to be repaid, is cleared by the due date. IndusInd Bank allows up to 50 days of credit to its customers without having to pay interest.

Credit grace period (Spend Now Pay Later):

Since credit card transactions are similar to availing loans, all such transactions are reported to the credit bureaus that use them for calculating, as well as building your credit profile. Credit scores become crucial if you plan to avail loans towards business expansion, vehicle purchases, personal needs, or simply buying a new home. A healthy credit score empowers borrowers to negotiate the best deal with the lending institution, thereby helping them fulfil their financial goals.

Credit score: 

These include benefits like discounts, cash backs, reward points, loyalty credits, complimentary club memberships, free access to the airport lounges, among many others. You must select the card that offers the most and matches your lifestyle requirements.

Rewards and Benefits: 

You can time your big-ticket purchases in a way that can help you gain a longer credit period. <ul><li>Making purchases through credit cards in the initial days of the billing cycle can maximize the grace period. </li><li>Some card issuing companies provide a graphical view of your spending pattern that are divided into period buckets basis expense categories. </li></ul>This can help you analyze your expenses and make necessary adjustments to your cash flow plan.

Cash flow planning:

Banks and financial institutions offer Cardholders the option of paying for certain purchases through Equated Monthly Instalments (EMI). In fact, several card issuers even walk that extra mile, to offer interest-free EMIs with tenures ranging from 3 to 36 months. This is a useful option for those who do not wish to pay for large purchases in one go. Instead, they are comfortable spreading out the re-payments over a few months.

Credit card EMIs:

Credit card issuers offer pre-approved loans to card users with a healthy re-payment record and credit profile. Some credit card issuers offer loan amounts (with tenures ranging from 6 to 36 months) that are over and above the approved credit limit. This comes in handy in case of financial exigencies.

Instant pre-approved loan: 

The benefits of Credit cards are discussed in this article. 

Benefits of using credit cards: It offers rewards, protection, convenience and helps build an effective credit score

Explained: The benefits of using credit cards

Ralph Nelson Elliott developed Elliott Wave Theory in the 1930s to describe the market’s behavior. Elliott realized the financial markets moved in repeatable and recognizable patterns that can help forecast key turning points and the next trend. 
The basis of the complete Elliott Waves cycle is five waves in the direction of the trend, followed by a three-wave countertrend move.

Spotting Crypto Trends

Crypto traders can use the Elliott Wave principle to determine if a rally is part of a corrective phase or a continuation of the old trend. 
Depending on the market’s location within the eight-wave cycle, crypto traders can estimate the potential pivot points for the end of the second and fourth waves, helping them time their entries.

Eight Wave Cycle

Elliott Wave Theory is used in technical analysis by traders who look for recurring patterns based on market sentiment. They use these patterns to analyze market cycles and forecast future trends.
Elliott Wave Theory combines studying the patterns on a price chart with identifying extremes in investor psychology. When the analysis is performed correctly, the primary value of this theory is that it provides a detailed description of how the market behaves. As a result, traders and analysts can make predictions about future price action and investor behavior.

Defining The Elliott Wave Theory

Elliott went on to describe how these patterns link together to form larger versions of themselves. Essentially, these patterns form the same pattern of the next larger size, producing a structured progression. However, we need to specify which level of the trend we’re referring to when describing the market’s behaviour. These levels of the trend are called wave degrees.

The Basic Elliott Wave Pattern

These Elliott Wave price cycles appear in all large financial markets with price histories and are present in crypto markets, too.The emotional and psychological back-and-forth that we witness in cryptocurrency trading makes it a great candidate for Elliott Wave analysis. A trader can spot developing trends for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies with a basic knowledge of Elliott Wave and its patterns.

Elliott Wave Price Cycle

The two main phases of the crypto markets are motive and corrective. With a little training, these phases can be relatively easy to spot on a chart.Any strong directional moves are likely to be motive waves, as their goal is to make progress. Also, motive waves are thought of as having five subwaves inside of them. There are only two patterns that you will find in the motive phase: the impulse wave and diagonal wave.The impulse wave is the more commonly spotted pattern. Additionally, within an impulse, Waves 2 and 4 are the corrective waves, having completely different patterns.

The Impulse And Diagonal Wave

There are three basic corrective patterns: zigzag, flat, and triangle. The goal of the corrective patterns is to consolidate the previous trend. Some common features you will find during the corrective phase include:<ul><li>A corrective wave is called “threes,” as they contain three subwaves.</li><li>A corrective wave is a partial retracement of the previous motive wave.</li></ul>

The Three Corrective Patterns

One of the fantastic elements of Elliott Wave Theory is that the various waves often display a harmonious geometry. With Elliott’s discovery of the market’s behaviour, there are a few rules and guidelines the market tends to follow. Some of those guidelines centre around the depth of the corrective waves within an impulse.The two main corrective waves are the second and fourth waves of an impulse. The depth of the correction is different for each of these waves, so it is important to understand this distinction.

Harmony In Geometry

When viewing the complete eight-wave cycle in its entirety, there are certain portions of the cycle where trades yield a greater reward relative to the risk. These are the waves that traders will want to focus on to initiate trading opportunities.Depending on the wave degree, traders can anticipate the end of Wave 5 and the start of Wave A in a correction. For short-term day traders, Wave A won’t be large enough to make it worthwhile. However, Wave A could have a handsome reward if you’re viewing a weekly chart or larger.

Best Entries and Exits Based on the Waves

Elliott Wave analysis and Fibonacci tools work very well together. 
The Elliott Wave cycle of eight waves, plus their corresponding five subwaves, are numbers of the Fibonacci number sequence (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 …). Therefore, it is mathematically intuitive that Fibonacci tools are useful in developing an Elliott Wave count and prediction.

Elliott Wave and Fibonacci Retracement Levels

Beginning Elliott Wave traders often become frustrated since it can feel subjective as to where the wave labels are placed on the chart. The Elliott Wave Oscillator (EWO) was created to help newer traders determine which wave the market may be in.The EWO generally appears at the bottom of your chart. The highest and lowest values of the oscillator might indicate Wave 3. If the oscillator pulls back to the zero line, then it’s considered Wave 4. Lastly, if the market’s price makes a new extreme but the oscillator does not, that may indicate a fifth and final wave of the sequence.

The Elliott Wave Oscillator

Elliott Wave analysts who have learned the intricacies of Elliott Wave Theory would suggest it does a good job of describing the context of the market’s behaviour. 
However, traders new to Elliott Wave Theory may pass it off as subjective and not useful. Traders interested in learning and implementing Elliott Wave Theory can research its history and application in numerous articles. Different analytical tools work for a variety of traders.

Elliott Wave Reliability

Elliott Wave Theory is a technical analysis to look for recurring patterns based on market sentiment to forecast future trends.

technologyandthefuture

Technology & The Future

How to Use Elliott Wave Theory to Spot Crypto Trend - Bybit Learn

A company's balance sheet provides a tremendous amount of insight into its solvency and business dealings. A balance sheet consists of three primary sections: assets, liabilities, and equity.
Depending on what an analyst or investor is trying to glean, different parts of a balance sheet will provide a different insight. That being said, some of the most important areas to pay attention to are cash, accounts receivables, marketable securities, and short-term and long-term debt obligations.

Why Balance Sheets Are Important to Analysis

Many experts consider the top line, or cash, the most important item on a company's balance sheet. Other critical items include accounts receivable, short-term investments, property, plant, and equipment, and major liability items. 
The big three categories on any balance sheet are assets, liabilities, and equity.

The Three Categories

All assets should be divided into current and noncurrent assets. An asset is considered current if it can reasonably be converted into cash within one year. Cash, inventories, and net receivables are all important current assets because they offer flexibility and solvency.
Cash is the headliner. Companies that generate a lot of cash are often doing a good job satisfying customers and getting paid. While too much cash can be worrisome, too little can raise a lot of red flags.

Important Assets

Like assets, liabilities are either current or noncurrent. Current liabilities are obligations due within a year.
Fundamental investors look for companies with fewer liabilities than assets, particularly when compared against cash flow. Companies that owe more money than they bring in are usually in trouble.

Important Liabilities

Common liabilities include accounts payable, deferred income, long-term debt, and customer deposits if the business is large enough. 
Although assets are usually tangible and immediate, liabilities are usually considered equally as important, as debts and other types of liabilities must be settled before booking a profit.

Kinds Of Liabilities

Equity is equal to assets minus liabilities, and it represents how much the company's shareholders actually have a claim to. Investors should pay particular attention to retained earnings and paid-in capital under the equity section.Paid-in capital represents the initial investment amount paid by shareholders for their ownership interest. Compare this to additional paid-in capital to show the equity premium investors paid above par value. Equity considerations are among the top concerns when institutional investors and private funding groups consider a business purchase or merger.

Important Equity

Some balance sheet items are seen as more important for fundamental analysis than others, including cash, current liabilities, and retained earnings.

problemsolving

Problem Solving

The Main Focus Points When Analyzing a Balance Sheet

“A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work”.

“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went”.

“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it”.

“Every time you borrow money, you're robbing your future self”.

“The amount of money you have has got nothing to do with what you earn. People earning a million dollars a year can have no money. People earning $35,000 a year can be quite well off. It's not what you earn, it's what you spend”.

“When buying shares, ask yourself, would you buy the whole company?”

“The Stock Market is designed to transfer money from the Active to the Patient”.

Don't look for the needle in the haystack. Just buy the haystack”.

“I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best”.

“It's how you deal with failure that determines how you achieve success”.

” An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”.

The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money.

Taking some or all of these nuggets of wisdom to heart can help you be a more effective investor, money manager, and person.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

12 Quotes That Will Make You Rethink Your Personal Finances

Terra Research presented a governance proposal to expand the influence of UST and LUNA, Aave Arc launched a DeFi pool for whitelisted projects, and WonderFi Tech purchased First Ledger Corp for $162 million — all coming to you in this week’s Finance Redefined.

“UST Goes Interchain: Degen Strats Part Three,” the lengthy governance post extensively detailed the methods and procedures in which Terra’s native token, <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/terra-price-index">LUNA </a>, and $139 million of TerraUSD (UST) could be deployed to “bring awesome UST use-cases to Ethereum DeFi.”In the proposed strategy, which has gained 3,500 views and six replies from community members who self-titled themselves Lunatics, Terra would deposit between $250,000 and $50 million in UST in a bid to boost the stability of each of the new partner projects.

Terra Research proposes new utility for TerraUSD and LUNA

DeFi liquidity provider and market maker Tokemak would receive $50 million in UST for a maximum of six months, and lending and borrowing platform Rari Fuse would receive $20 million in UST across the same period. Yield aggregator Convex Finance would receive $18 million, while OlympusDAO would get $1 million in UST bonds and $425,000 in LUNA incentives for three months.

thirty organizations were granted primary whitelist entry to the service, including digital asset custodian Fireblocks, alongside Anubi Digital, Canvas Digital, SEBA Bank, GSR and crypto yield aggregator Celsius.Following the successful completion of prerequisites such as Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering protocols, these firms will gain exclusive access to “securely participate in DeFi as liquidity suppliers and borrowers” in a market that has soared 10 times in total value locked over exactly 12 months — from $30 billion to $300 billion.

New service Aave Arc aims to enhance institutional adoption in DeFi

DeFi platform <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/kevin-o-leary-backed-wonderfi-to-buy-bitbuy-parent-company-for-162m">WonderFi Technologies agreed to purchase First Ledger Corp </a>, the parent firm of the first regulated crypto exchange in Canada, Bitbuy, this week for an impressive $162 million in a bid to expand the presence of cryptocurrency and DeFi across the country.Backed by renowned billionaire investor Kevin O’Leary, WonderFi detailed its method of funding the takeover through the issuance of 70 million new shares, paying $15.7 million in upfront cash in addition to $23 million in deferred cash via a vendor-take back note due in 12 months.

WonderFi acquires parent company of Bitbuy for $162M

Terra Research presented a governance proposal, Aave Arc launched a DeFi pool and WonderFi Tech purchased First Ledger Corp.

Finance Redefined: Terra expanding UST and LUNA, and Aave Arc seeks institutional adoption, Dec. 31–Jan. 7 

Retirement planning is a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/retirement/retirement-planning-doesnt-stop-when-you-retire/">multistep process that evolves over time </a>. To have a comfortable, secure—and fun—retirement, you need to build the financial cushion that will fund it all. The fun part is why it makes sense to pay attention to the serious—and perhaps boring—part: planning how you’ll get there.

What Is retirement planning

<ul><li>Retirement planning should include determining time horizons, estimating expenses, calculating required after-tax returns, assessing <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/risktolerance.asp">risk tolerance </a>, and doing estate planning. </li><li>Start planning for retirement as soon as you can to take advantage of the power of compounding. </li><li>Younger investors can take more risk with their investments, while investors closer to retirement should be more conservative.  </li><li>Retirement plans evolve through the years, which means portfolios should be rebalanced and estate plans updated as needed. </li> </ul>

Key Points

Knowledge on Retirement planning is essential as it needs to be planned right from the beginning of career.

Regardless of your age, taking these five steps will help you build a solid retirement plan.

career

Career

5 Key Retirement Planning Steps That Everyone Should Take

“Compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world”.

finance : to pay interest on both an amount of money and the interest it has already earned.

What Is Compounding?

Compound interest = total amount of principal and interest in future (or future value) less principal amount at present (or present value)= P [(1 + i)n – 1]Where:P = principali = nominal annual interest rate in percentage termsn = number of compounding periods

Formula For Compound interest 

<ul><li>Compound interest can significantly boost investment returns over the long term. </li><li>While a $100,000 deposit that receives 5% simple annual interest would earn $50,000 in total interest over 10 years, the annual compound interest of 5% on $10,000 would amount to $62,889.46 over the same period. </li><li>If the compounding period were instead paid monthly over the same 10-year period at 5% compound interest, the total interest would instead grow to $64,700.95.</li></ul>

How Compound Interest Grows Over Time

Series of ideas on power or compounding in Personal Finance

Power of Compounding

Let’s not forget that competition is not the only dominant force in nature, it is rivaled only by its better half: <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/teamwork">cooperation</a>.

help :)

In the words of Bertrand Russell, “the only thing that will redeem mankind is cooperation."

yin-yang

Psychological research suggests that intrinsically-motivated behavior change is much more likely to be sustained in the long-term.

long-term

Unfortunately, lots of psychological <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/bul/125/6/627">research</a> has also shown that external incentives “crowd out” (i.e., undermine) people’s <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/motivation">intrinsic motivation</a> to do good. For example, <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=search.displayrecord&uid=2015-00692-001">highlighting</a> the monetary benefits of saving energy actually makes people less likely to do so. This is related to what we call negative “goal-replacement".

internalisation

Long-standing <a href="http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev.psych.59.103006.093625?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed&">research </a>has shown that the ability to be compassionate, empathize with others and to care about the natural world are evolutionarily adaptive behavioral traits. In fact, a psychological concept known as the “<a href="http://personal.lse.ac.uk/vanderli/Helper%27shigh.pdf">helper’s high</a>” suggests that “doing good” actually makes people “feel good” both psychologically as well as physically

helping

they let me help and think more in a helpful manner to ownself and others.

How competitions can lead you to do the right thing for the wrong reason

health

Health

The Psychology of Competition

<a href="https://looksrare.org/">LOOKSRARE </a>is a new venue to buy and sell non-fungible tokens, aiming to take on the behemoth that is <a href="https://thedefiant.io/opensea-millions-sales-nfts/">OpenSea </a>. The leading marketplace for digital collectibles has already done $2B in volume in January, which puts it well on track to break its August record of $3.4B in volume, <a href="https://dune.xyz/rchen8/opensea">according to Dune Analytics </a>.

First, they needed to have bought or sold at least 3 ETH worth of NFTs on OpenSea between 16 June and 16 December 2021.  Second, they will need to list an NFT for sale on LOOKSRARE.  The minimum airdrop per eligible wallet is 125 LOOKS tokens, with the most active traders receiving 10K tokens. LOOKS is trading at $2.60 on Monday afternoon in New York, making the airdrop worth between $325 and $26K.

Airdrop Eligibility

Users can also earn LOOKS by staking or trading on the site.  LOOKSRARE charges a 2% fee on trades (0.5% lower than on OpenSea) and all of those fees go to LOOKS stakers, which means anyone can get in and earn a share of the marketplace’s revenue.

Staking LOOKS

LOOKSRARE is introducing new features that are useful for people in the NFT space. For example, a buyer can make an offer specific to a collection of NFTs ( one user recently <a href="https://twitter.com/LooksRareNFT/status/1480557552698277889">offered to buy </a>any Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT for 78 ETH). Making the same offer on OpenSea would require the user to place a separate bid on every item in the collection. Other features should come soon. The team’s <a href="https://docs.looksrare.org/about/welcome-to-looksrare">about page </a>touts a modular design that should make it fast and safe to add new features.

LOOKSRARE is not the only contender bidding to challenge OpenSea and capture a slice of the booming NFT market. We <a href="https://thedefiant.io/infinity-goes-after-opensea/">previously reported on Infinity </a>, which also offered an airdrop to past OpenSea users. Other markets include <a href="https://help.zora.co/en/articles/5049199-zora101-a-beginners-guide">Zora </a>and <a href="https://www.theopendao.com/">The Open DAO </a>.

New NFT marketplace LOOKSRARE airdrops up to $26K to NFT traders.

LOOKSRARE Airdrops Token and Entices NFT Fans to Try Out New Marketplace - The Defiant

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