It’s finally here! Shapeshift’s New Platform launches today! I have been using their beta platform for several months now reporting bugs and helping add some user friendly features by reporting feedback and ways to improve this brand new non custodial platform. I wrote a pretty in-depth review of the beta a few weeks back, so I won’t rehash the entire user experience here, so I will link that review so you can get the nitty-gritty details HERE.
This is an exciting time for cryptocurrency in general. Facebook is launching a controversial new coin called “Libra”. The government has sent a request to have the development of it stopped so they can review it and “approve” it before it’s released. The audacity of this, as if they have any say in what private organizations can and cannot work on is baffling, but I digress.
I will briefly detail below some of the key features and benefits of using this platform and non custodial exchange for all your crypto asset management.
Trade Assets Offline
The cornerstone feature here (in my opinion) is the fact that we can perform trading assets while having our private keys kept completely offline via the KeepKey (Or Trezor). They are also planning to add Ledger support soon as well, but the easiest hardware wallet to use is by far the KeepKey, as it was the primary wallet used during beta.
As you can see above, the dashboard is very streamlined and easy to view and manage the assets you can trade, view the balance and the price, view market cap, and so much more. The ability to have all the information I need in one place is very convenient. additionally, I can view my portfolio without having my hardware wallet present. In fact, I only need it to sign a transaction. Once you sign, you can disconnected it and it will be transferred to your wallet balance immediately and be reflected next time you connect.
Shapeshift has really thought of the user experience and making it easy for anyone of any skill level and knowledge of crypto to safely manage their private keys and learn how to trade using this platform. Now that the platform is out of beta, they will be focusing on adding more assets being added to the platform for trade and asset management. As this is also a trade engine, as well as a portfolio manager, incorporating more detailed analytics will only improve upon this foundation.
Manage Your Portfolio In One Location
Here are some of the touted features of this platform, and why you should sign up for free HERE:
1.) Shapeshift Trading – You can seamlessly buy, sell, or trade dozens or crypto assets directly in the platform. Trading is non-custodial, so there is no need to trust a third party. This is a MASSIVE plus and a differentiator from any other exchange out there.
2.) Hardware Security – Utilize the best practice of offline security. Retain control of your private keys while enjoying an intuitive web interface. This is the best of both worlds and I will add that this is not currently possible on any other hardware wallet platform currently.
3.) Real Time Market Data – Get real-time market prices and historical data without ever having to leave the interface. This means no extra tabs or historical charts from any other 3rd-party site that you have to toggle between to get the data you need. This allows you to enjoy a beautiful ad-free experience.
4.) Portfolio Performance – Visualize your portfolio performance through graphs, sparklines, and real-time value movement. View your dashboard balances at anytime, anywhere. Your hardware wallet only needs to be connected for signing transactions.
The video below gives you a quick demo of how this works. It truly is a unique hardware wallet experience.
Shapeshift’s New Platform: Conclusion
After personally testing this platform and providing feedback and improvements for several months, I am very proud of what the Shapeshift team has accomplished. I am also excited to see how it expands with other hardware and new features and coins that will be added. There is NO other exchange that offers non-custodial trading, and to me that is a HUGE deal.
Part of “Becoming Your Own Bank” means maintaining full control over your funds at all times and not having to put trust in anyone but yourself. Self sovereign finance is the way of the future, and that is very exciting to see how this will continue to play out as adoption continues to snowball.
***CLICK HERE TO BUY KEEPKEY FOR 50% OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY***
Just click the above link and use code “GENESISFOX” at checkout
What do you guys think? Are you excited for the revolutionary change in asset management? Let me know in the comments below!
Cheers,
The Crypto Renegade
NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. This adds no cost to you but it helps me focus on giving as much value as possible in every single post by being compensated for recommending products that help people succeed.
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FOLD App Review | How To Earn Free Sats Back In 2020
In this Fold App Review, I am going to discuss why this free app is a good way to start accumulating free bitcoin and start “stacking sats” as they say. I’m always looking for new ways to start accumulating more bitcoin and finding real world use cases where I can do so, outside fo buying it directly from an exchange.
This is primarily targeted for mobile use (using their iOS and Android app) for using this. If you want to learn about ways to earn free bitcoin while shopping on a desktop computer, then I would check out my full review of Lolli App, HERE.
I am going to touch on some of the basics of how much you can earn with it, how it works, who it’s really designed for, and my overall feelings of if it’s actually worth using. If that is what you’re looking for, then look no further!
Who Is The Fold App Intended For?
If you frequently make purchases with Amazon, Uber, Starbucks, Target, and Sephora (to name a few), then this app is for you. This app allows you purchase discounted gift cards, as well as earn free bitcoin (satoshis) for each purchase that you make. Once the order goes through, it’s credited to your bitcoin wallet within the app almost immediately.
This is designed not only to save you money on what you are already spending, but allows you to earn free bitcoin rewards for doing so. If you’re already spending at these places, why not get free bitcoin for doing it, right?
In the app, you can always see which vendors have offers and they are adding more all the time. Additionally, the discount your receive varies for each vendor. For example, Airbnb will give you 3% cash (bitcoin) back, but L.L. Bean will give you 10% back. The app is constantly updating to offer you the best deals.
How Does The Fold App Work?
This works for both online and physical locations. Since it’s gift card based, once you make a purchase in the app, it will generate a gift card and a bar code on your screen, for the cashier to scan and use directly.
This will also provide a “gift card code” for you to enter at on-line checkout and you can mix and match between buying online and in store as much as you want with no penalties or fees.
I will break it down step by step below on how to set this up and how it works in a few simple steps.
NOTE: You will receive the bitcoin rewards for the amount of gift card purchased, not the actual products you buy with them.
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Load a gift card you buy with Bitcoin on the Fold app, to your account
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Use that gift card at select retailers and restaurants by using the barcode or the number beneath it.
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You can make online purchases with your Fold gift card or you can purchase at physical locations
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At physical locations, all you need is to scan the bar code from the app on your phone at the cash register
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Every purchase you make with the gift cards that you have on your Fold app will credit you with Bitcoin cashback
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The amount of Bitcoin cashback you get on any purchase depends on the individual retailer or restaurant
Is The Fold App Worth Using?
If you are looking to start dipping your toe into cryptocurrency and you’re not quite ready to buy it directly yet, then this is for you! This is a seamless way for you to spend your normal fiat currency and start earning bitcoin back on direct gift card purchases.
This is also good for sending gifts directly, so whether it’s the holidays and you want to send a gift via email (or Twitter) you can earn bitcoin to your wallet for doing so. This can be used for any occasion as well, not just for gifting.
For the avid crypto users, they are also implementing lightning payments this year as well, so you’ll receive even more discounts if you decide to grow the crypto-economy by paying with crypto, instead of using a debit/credit card as well. More on that as it develops…
So, is the Fold App worth using? I would definitely say yes. Especially if you spend frequently at these places anyways and purchases exceed at least 15$ in most cases, then there is no downside here, only upside.
What do you think? Would you use the Fold App for free bitcoin? Let us know down below in the comments!
Cheers,
The Crypto Renegade
NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. This adds no cost to you but it helps me focus on giving as much value as possible in every single post by being compensated for recommending products that help people accumulate and secure their crypto.
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OPEN DIME Review (2020) – The ONLY Way To Physically Transfer Bitcoin Offline
In this review, I am going to deep dive into the Open Dime bitcoin credit stick! What does is it do? How does it work? When would I ever need to use one? I am going to dive pretty deep into this EXTREMELY unique bitcoin credit stick, that allows you to make a bitcoin transaction OFF the blockchain. This is a secure USB-like device that is designed to have a one-way transaction of bitcoin (physically) between two parties.
As a hardware wallet enthusiast, I was very eager to test this device out in person and it honestly is unlike anything else I’ve ever used. It seems futuristic and is really the only way to transfer bitcoin to another person COMPLETELY off the grid (not even the blockchain) and is a really cool concept that has plenty of specific use-cases, but to be honest, isn’t ideal for every day bitcoin use.
The review/walkthrough below is fairly detailed and lengthy, but if you want to know what my final verdict on this device is, scroll down to my conclusion at the bottom to get a recap.
Additionally, here is a link to a related hardware wallet that is very similar to this, in the sense that operates completely offline. You can check that out HERE!
Let’s get to the Open Dime review below!
What Is The Open Dime?
“Opendime is a small USB stick that allows you to spend Bitcoin like a dollar bill. Pass it along multiple times. Connect to any USB to check balance. Unseal anytime to spend online. Trust no one.”
This is directly from Open Dime’s website. This device is designed to be able to pass bitcoin along from one person to another (and even down the line for multiple people) while still being secure and exposing the private key to no one. There is a secure “Bubble” that is required to be punctured in order to gain access to the private key. This means that there will be evidence if there is any tampering or foul play when holding or inspecting of the device.
This is the world’s first way to physically transfer bitcoin from one user to another (in person), while still remaining secure. In other words, it allows for a bitcoin transaction and is able to be passed along from person to person without having the need to know any passwords or wait for confirmation times on on the blockchain.
In simple terms, it’s basically a disposable hardware wallet that is used like cash. Use it accordingly.
What Comes In The Bag?
In the bag, (yes, it comes in a durable plastic bag for transparency) comes 3 Open Dime USB-sticks. This is currently going for about $37.50 for this 3-pack or roughly $12.50 per Open Dime stick.
All 3 sticks are loosely packed in a plastic bag that includes a card that includes instructions to visit opendime.com/start in order to walk through the setup process to start loading bitcoin onto the devices.
Now, if you click that link, you’ll notice that it just redirects to their homepage. I am a bit disappointed as there is only a card that gives you 3-steps to get started.
- Plug Into USB
2. Open index.htm
3. Follow The Steps
Pretty simple, right? Well, there is no other printed form of instructions. On the device (once it’s plugged in), you will find a “readme” file on the device to learn how to setup.
Design & Setup
Design
The device is pretty basic and bear-bones. There’s nothing beautiful about it, but yet it’s beautiful. It looks line an rough, unfinished product, but there’s something geeky about that kind of look. The idea of an open PCB is not only to minimize the unit cost. It also comes from being transparent and not having a closed product. I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but Opendime is an open source project. Anyone with a little programming knowledge can audit it on Github.
From the 2.0 version, the edges are now oval and not rough. The board itself is very firm and can not be broken easily and certainly not accidentally. My personal opinion is that their latest version is very well-made. I like the openness of the product. At the same time, everything is visible, but not easy to break or mess up with accidentally if you’re a newbie. The PCB and other components are protected with a glue.
Setup
The USB stick does not require drivers to work, it’s plug and play. The device was recognized instantly.
The first step is to plug the Bitcoin stick into your PC (Or Mac).
Once the device is inserted, the second step is to open the index.htm file inside the Open dime folder.
Next, when the index.htm file is opened in the browser you will be asked to agree to the terms of service. The pop-up warning is displayed in several languages.
Light status Explanation Green with brief flicker Sealed. Your funds are secure. Red and green alternating UNSEALED. Private key has been revealed Green solid, brief flash of red Not yet loaded with enough entropy (setup time). Green flashing (fast) Reading/writing to drive. The next step is to create the private key.
Generating the private key
After the device is plugged into your PC’s USB port, you will have to generate a private key in order to load the funds into your Opendime. This process is very user-friendly and easy. Bear in mind that during this process Open dime does not have a control over the private key, nor do you. The private key will be randomly generated onto a device microchip using random entropy you add to the device memory. It does not require an internet access to do so.
Firstly, the FAQ advice that for better randomness, you use images only you have. The instructions say that you’d have to add at least of 256kb of data. However, they do not state anywhere that the total file size should not be larger than the USB device memory which is around 1.29 MB.
In my first attempt, prior to knowing the maximum size, I tried to add around 5MB of data and got an error. Seeing that, I’ve selected only two images and copied them onto > Open Dime and device generated a completely random private key. Once the public key is ready, there will be a few noticeable changes to the device.
- When sealed, the Open Dime will flash green when plugged in into the PC.
- When .htm file is opened, you will see a very clear message on the screen that you now have a private key.
This entire process is very intuitive. I like that there are so many signals that show the state of your device, both physically and inside the PC. This is very smart engineering and user experience at the same time.
Verifying the device
The device can be verified in the following ways :
- phone charger / USB – the LED light indicates the status
- physically inspecting it – check if the resistor has been damaged
- factory seal to make sure it comes from genuine OD factory.
- Samurai wallet – Android only
- Google Chrome extension- iOS only
Once I began learning about Open Dime, I clearly understood the need that this little device can be verified and audited. At first, I thought there is only one way to verify Opendime, but as I began tapping into it, I realized how many different ways are to verify the Bitcoin bearer bond.
Adding Bitcoin to Open Dime
The next step is the best of all – adding the funds to your crypto piggy bank. You can only add bitcoin to a device if you created the public key which automatically shows receiving public address.
You can find the public address for your Open Dime inside the folder. It can be found as a text and a QR code in jpeg image format. The way you’ll be sending the money to your USB stick depends on the wallet you’ll be using. The process is pretty much similar, you can either copy/paste the text address or scan the QR code from the folder. Make sure to double check that the address is correct and confirm the payment.
Soon after the payment has been sent, you will be able to see a transaction on the bitcoin network, it may take a time depending on the network state that it gets confirmed. And that’s all.
Your Open dime went from an empty piggy bank to an item with a verifiable value. You can now exchange it like a cash from one hand to another and add funds to it an unlimited amount of times.
Since transaction will be happening off-chain, there will be no confirmations or mining fees. The participants of the transactions are verifying it instead and passing it from one hand to another, an infinite amount of times. The private key will be sealed neither you nor anyone else will know it until the device is unsealed.
Unsealing your Open Dime
Once you’re ready to spend bitcoin from your crypto piggy bank, you have to break it. Once you break it there’s no way back. Use a pin or a needle and push through the marked hole on the PCB. You need first to pierce the glue and then by pushing, you will push out the resistor. By doing so, you’re making a permanent physical change to your device, which reveals your private key.
This is probably the most amazing feature of the device. By doing a permanent damage, you can’t cheat in a transaction, because you broke the chain of trust. The device itself will now flash red once inserted into a PC, power bank or a mobile phone very visibly signaling that the private key is no longer a secret. This is at the same time the biggest risk of the device. This means that in order to get the bitcoin out of it, you’ll have to reveal it to a PC. Which further means you have to trust that PC and its security.
Compatibility & Security
The setup can be done on any device that can read a conventional USB stick. The private key can then be imported into all common wallets after the resistance breaks out, including the following: Copay, Electrum, Samourai Wallet, Breadwallet, and Bitcoin Core.
A special feature is the app Samourai Wallet , which has implemented a complete integration for the Bitcoin Stick Opendime. This allows you to quickly check a stick on the go via OTG cable. There is also an extension for the well-known Electrum Software Wallet .
Verify the authenticity of the stick The latest generation of Open dime products includes a new chip to make fake devices impossible. Note: This test is an advanced use and is not required for normal use. For people who want to verify an Open dime before use, Open dime provides a python program. With this, all test steps of the new chip can be carried out. It’s a simple command line program, but requires some preparation.
To verify the authenticity of a stick, Open Dime offers manual and automatic possibilities in the form of the Python script trustme.py. Unfortunately, this does not happen automatically and a is time-consuming, so most users will probably simply use the stick without checking in advance.
The transparent case and the two status LED’s already provide a basic way to detect manipulations on the hardware wallet. Details of all security measures can be found in the Open dime white paper. Opendime’s entire code is also on GitHub.
Does It Only Support Bitcoin?
Short answer is, Yes. This device was designed in the earlier bitcoin days to be used as pee-to-peer electronic cash and stays true to it’s roots. You can also see the open source code their used on github as mentioned above.
Open Dime – Conclusion
Overall, my experience was good with this device, and I would feel comfortable recommending it. But, ONLY to someone who is very technically savvy.
It’s awesome that Open dime enables me to transact off-chain, privately and securely without having to trust an online generator or a third party with my private key generation. Additionally, they are completely open-source and provide one of the best support experiences I encountered from a cryptocurrency company.
I gave away an Open Dime to my brother for his birthday and for now, I believe this is absolutely the best and safest way to give someone a bitcoin.
Some of the disadvantages of the devices are that it looks rough, though I do not mind that. Quite opposite, it really makes you feel like a nerdy cypher punk while using it.
A more serious limitation is that Open dime is disposable. There’s no way to re-use it. You can’t recover the seed or send crypto from it. Fluctuating exchange rates might be an issue in this kind of transactions. All of these things are not impossible to solve and I hope that we will see even better physical cryptocurrency solutions from the Open dime team.
What do you think? Would you ever use an Open Dime? Let us know in the comments below!
Cheers,
The Crypto Renegade
NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. This adds no cost to you but it helps me focus on giving as much value as possible in every single post by being compensated for recommending products that help people succeed.
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Ellipal Titan vs KeepKey (2020) | Which Hardware Wallet Has A Better UX?
Ellipal Titan vs KeepKey! In this comparison, we are going to do a head-to-head of two of the most competitive and popular new cryptocurrency hardware wallets in this edition of the hardware wallet roundups.
I am going to dive into which of these hardware wallets is better and more secure. How big is your portfolio? Do you need mobile AND desktop support? Do you use any 3rd party wallets for integration? Do you need web-based access instead of a required download?
These are all questions you will need to consider when deciding which of these wallets will be best for you. At the end of the day, the coin support is one of the most important factors (besides security) when deciding which hardware wallet is best for you.
Ultimately, if it doesn’t support the coins you want to store offline, it won’t work for your particular situation. So keep that in mind as we dive into what I consider to be the most important factors when making such an important decision, such as choosing a cryptocurrency hardware wallet.
Ellipal Titan: Overview
This is a really unique device and has a very robust form factor that has ratings that rival that of some high-end smartphones. What separates this hardware wallet from the majority of other popular wallets is its communication method. So, what do I mean by that? This device has NO: USB Connection, NFC Connection, WiFi Connection, Bluetooth Connection, or Cellular Connection. So, how do you use it? The short answer is: QR Codes.
Ellipal Titan: Security
This is a 100% air-gapped device, so ultimately it is more secure than any other way to interact with a hardware wallet. Period. The device has a tamper-resistant enclosure that includes a self-destruct mechanism for any potential way to access the internals of the device.
It is built in such a way that if anyone tries to break the screen or drill a hole through to device in an attempt to open its internal layout, the private keys will be erased. This is extremely powerful and will ultimately deter people from trying to hack this completely wireless device.
Ellipal Titan: User Experience (UX)
This hardware wallet has a camera, a 4-inch full color display, and does not display any balances on the device itself. The portfolio management and execution of the device is managed via a companion iOS and Android app that is used to initiate transactions and allows you to utilize the camera from your smartphone to transfer funds securely to the cold wallet, and vice versa.
I have been using this device for several weeks now, and in my personal opinion, it has been super easy to use and also very secure. I like knowing that my device is essentially indestructible and does not require any other 3rd party connection in order for it to function. This not only makes it very convenient, but it also very secure and eliminates room for error when typing or copying pasting wallet addresses that you are trying to transact with.
Ellipal Titan: Coin Support
This is always the section I check the most when reviewing hardware wallets, because although functionality and security are important, none of that matters unless it supports the coins you want to store offline. So here is the current list of supported coins and the one that are currently in development listed in the below picture.
KeepKey: Overview
KeepKey has been one of my absolute favorite hardware wallets to use in 2019. I was asked to test and report back issues with the ShapeShift beta that was a complete overhaul and utilized the KeepKey as it’s cornerstone of promoting keeping possession of your private keys under your control while you conduct trades, which has never been done before.
It was an ambitious goal, but they pulled it off in spades, and as a result it resulted in one of the best user experiences while using a hardware wallet I’ve ever encountered. It was quick, safe, and makes it easier than ever to manage your assets, portfolio, and trades all while keeping all your keys on a hardware wallet and never forfeiting custody. This is truly a game-changer and will pave the way for future hardware wallets moving into the next decade.
Let’s find out why below!
KeepKey: Security
KeepKey has a true random number generator (TRNG) for it’s PIN interface for extra physical security. In addition to offline storage, KeepKey’s PIN code and number randomization makes sure that
1) Your wallet is secure from physical theft.
2) That a hacker couldn’t steal bitcoins from your wallet with malware.
KeepKey is an HD wallet, meaning your entire wallet can be backed up with the 12 words generated on setup. 12 words is the default setting, although KeepKey supports seed lengths of 18 and 24.
The seed is generated using entropy from both the device itself and the computer used for setup. The seed is generated offline on the KeepKey and displayed on the device’s screen. The device’s offline screen makes sure the seed is never displayed on an internet-connected device.
KeepKey: User Experience (UX)
This is a complete overhaul that includes all of their services including: Instant Trades, Real-Time Market Data via CoinCap, In-App Crypto Purchases, and KeepKey Integration.
That last part is of particular interest to me because I’ve wanted to find a way to execute purchases and trades while having my KeepKey connected, while ensuring that my private keys are protected throughout the entire process.
This is a very important detail, especially if you want to make purchases online with that extra protection and also ensure that my private keys are never compromised in a trade. This truly is the ultimate non-custodial hardware wallet solution. Here’s a few screenshots and user flows based on my experience using this web app.
KeepKey: Coin Support
Natively, this wallet in the current beta form supports over 40 assets with more on the way! Here is a current list of assets that are supported right now. Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty. For years, KeepKey only supported: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Namecoin, Dogecoin, and Dash. For a hardware wallet that needs to compete in this market place, that needed a serious upgrade.
Luckily, they have been making some AMAZING changes and not only added a ton of ERC-20 Support, but more importantly, they are revamping their entire platform to have one fluid, seamless application that integrates all of their core services (See my previous post for details on this). This is extremely powerful, and a decision that I believe will catapult them ahead of the competition. They are currently in a closed beta, and it is expected that they will be releasing this later in 2019. Stay tuned for news on this.
Some of the notable coins that have been added are:
-Chainlink (LINK)
-DigixDAO (DGD)
-Binance Coin (BNB)
-Dai (DAI)
-Maker (MKR)
-TrueUSD (TUSD)
Ellipal Titan vs KeepKey: Conclusion
Overall, this is a very difficult choice. These 2 wallets have been my favorite user experience of any hardware wallets in the past 2 months. However, I use them for VERY different purposes.
First, I use the KeepKey for when I want to make crypto trades and not have to send my private keys to the exchange. This is the only hardware wallet (currently) that allows you to trade and still maintain full non-custodial control throughout the entire process. As mentioned above, they completely revamped their software to include trading, portfolio management, and more.
With that said, the Ellipal Titan does allow you to trade certain coins using their QR code transfer process, but you still have to transfer your private keys to a 3rd party while the trade executes, which is pretty close, but not the same.
I use the Ellipal Titan for long term “HODLing” and the KeepKey for trading and portfolio management. There is no “wrong” choice, it ultimately depends on your trading habits and your goals. At the end of the day, I would still go with the ELLIPAL TITAN, for the reasons stated above, but the KeepKey is a VERY close second.
What do you think? Would you choose the BC VAULT over the D’CENT Wallet? Let us know down below in the comments!
Cheers,
The Crypto Renegade
NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. This adds no cost to you but it helps me focus on giving as much value as possible in every single post by being compensated for recommending products that help people succeed.
