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Altcoins & Tokens
What the biggest altcoins and tokens do, how their supply works and what can go wrong, plus a checklist for judging any new coin.
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Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to evaluate Monero activity: nodes, explorers, view keysMonero hides sender, receiver and amount, so evaluate activity with a node, a block explorer or your wallet's view key. A view key audits payments.
Vahe Hakobyan3 min readRead guide
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Every guide in this topic, labelled by level.
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to evaluate demand for Chainlink servicesEvaluate Chainlink demand by counting active mainnet integrations and paid oracle requests. Check CCIP messages, then record each source and date.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat Is Polkadot? DOT and Parachains ExplainedPolkadot is a network of blockchains joined by a relay chain, and DOT is its token for staking and governance. Its mainnet launched in May 2020.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow does Polkadot process a transaction?Polkadot processes transactions on parachains while the relay chain secures them; DOT transfers run on the relay chain, where validators finalize.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerMain risks of using Polkadot: staking, bridges, lawPolkadot risks include staking penalties, locked crowdloans and bridge failures. The SEC named DOT a security in 2023, but that is not a ban.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to evaluate Polkadot activityPolkadot activity is public: relay chain, parachains, XCM, staking and governance each need a separate look. Use official explorers and note dates.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to compare Polkadot with other blockchainsCompare Polkadot by checking use case, consensus, token utility, costs, governance and bridges against named chains, then record each source and date.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerUniswap: what it is and what role it playsUniswap is a decentralized exchange protocol on Ethereum where people swap tokens from their own wallets. Its UNI token is used for governance.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow Uniswap UNI Supply Works and Who Can Change ItUNI began with a fixed supply and no default minting; circulating supply grows through vesting unlocks, and UNI holders vote on any inflation.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to evaluate demand for Uniswap: usage, not priceUniswap demand is protocol usage, not just the UNI token price. Check volume, liquidity, and fee revenue across chains and pools to judge it well.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat is Cosmos? The network and ATOM explainedCosmos links independent chains so they can swap data and tokens, and ATOM is the Cosmos Hub token for staking and voting. The hub launched in March 2019.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow Cosmos processes transactions: wallet to final blockCosmos processes a transaction in your wallet, then nodes gossip it and validators finalize it. You need a wallet, the chain's gas token, and the chain ID.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat are the main risks of using Cosmos?The main Cosmos risks are staking lockups, slashing, failed IBC transfers and chain bugs; ATOM is the Cosmos Hub token, not gas on every chain.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to Evaluate Activity on Cosmos: A Beginner’s GuideCosmos activity is per chain: use a block explorer to read transactions and IBC transfers, then check active addresses, staking and governance data.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerComparing Cosmos with other blockchains: what to checkCosmos is a network of independent chains linked by IBC, not one blockchain, so compare each chain's consensus, security, token role and governance.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat is Aave and what role does the AAVE token play?Aave lets you pool crypto to earn interest, borrow against collateral, and vote with AAVE. It is not a bank, so deposits are not FDIC-insured.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat are the main risks of holding AAVE?AAVE is a DeFi governance token, not a bank deposit or stablecoin, and its holders face protocol, staking and US legal risks that are not settled.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to evaluate demand for Aave with on-chain dataAave demand shows in deposits, borrows, active users, and revenue, not just the AAVE price. Compare borrow volume with total value locked on its own.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow does TRON process transactions: signing to finalityTRON wallets sign a transaction and broadcast it to a node; elected Super Representatives add it to a block. Bandwidth or energy covers the fee.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat are the main risks of using TRON?TRON's biggest dangers are a small group of block producers, token scams, irreversible transfers, stablecoin freezes by issuers, and SEC action over TRX sales.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to evaluate activity on TRONA TRON block explorer such as Tronscan shows if an address, token or contract is active. Read its TRX and TRC-20 transfers and compare senders and dates.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to compare TRON with other blockchainsCompare TRON on costs, speed, consensus, ecosystem and security, then check Tronscan for current figures and note the date you read each one.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat is Maker and what is its role?Maker was the protocol behind the DAI stablecoin, and MKR was its governance token. A 2024 rebrand to Sky made SKY the voting token for the system.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerMaker token supply: how MKR is minted, burned, and migratedMKR supply is not fixed: the protocol mints tokens for bad debt and burns tokens bought with surplus Dai, with holders voting on the rules behind both.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat are the main risks of holding Maker (MKR)?MKR holders face bad debt, governance attacks, code failures and US law. The 2024 Sky upgrade made SKY the token that governs and can be diluted.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to evaluate demand for Maker and DAIDemand for Maker shows in DAI supply and protocol revenue. Check official Sky dashboards, an Ethereum explorer, and record the date for each metric.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat is BNB Chain and what is BNB?BNB Chain is a blockchain network that runs smart contracts, and BNB is its native coin for fees and staking. Binance created it and launched it in 2020.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow BNB Chain processes a transaction, step by stepBNB Chain confirms a transaction after your wallet broadcasts it, a validator includes it in a block, and validators finalize that block. Gas uses BNB.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerWhat are the main risks of using BNB Chain?BNB Chain risks include centralization, DeFi hacks, scams, bridge exploits and US legal action; its bridge was hacked in October 2022, a major exploit.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to evaluate activity on BNB ChainEvaluating BNB Chain activity starts with confirming which network the numbers come from, then reading BscScan pages and holder lists for bot warnings.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Altcoins & TokensBeginnerHow to compare BNB Chain with other blockchainsTo compare BNB Chain with other blockchains, run the same checks on each network, then confirm EVM support and review validators and US tax rules.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026