There has been much talk about bitcoin, blockchain, e-wallets and the way cryptocurrencies are handled. The truth is that most of you are here because of the love for the game. The excitement and the prizes. And this is the way it should be. It is our job to secure the best possible experience and to take care of the technicalities. We have realized that there are some good people among you who are simply not familiar enough with setting up Bitcoin accounts and taking care of e-wallets, passwords, etc.Therefore, we have decided to make the entire process easier and offer you to let us handle all this for you with the new deposit method QBDirect. We can take away the hassle and technical matters and above all – enable you to save on fees.
Starting now, you will be able to buy bitcoin through us, and we will credit it directly to your account. This service is available for casino players exclusively. Apart from incomparable simplicity, which is becoming a kind of our trademark, one of the main advantages include extremely low fees.
The Bitcoins you bought will be credited instantly to your casino account in the currency that the account has been opened in. And you will be set to play. Please note that you are required to wager the full amount at least once before a bitcoin wallet transfer can be requested.
In case you have any further questions or need any additional details about QBDirect, feel free to contact our support team.
Sources of renewable energy are something we have to regard highly and use wisely for the sake of humanity. Traditionally, the production of renewable energy has been linked to the burning forestry material and agricultural waste biomass. Only at the beginning of the 20th century did the hydropower plants started to be used on a larger scale, and nowadays these are dominant with approximately one quarter of renewable energy consumption being accounted for. The times we live in are linking renewable energy and blockchain technology, in an exploration of more efficient ways to produce, distribute and sustain energy.
So, how does the blockchain fit into this picture?
Many people claim that blockchain could be the future of renewable energy. When we hear the word “blockchain” we immediately think of Bitcoin. However, BTC is just one of the aspects of blockchain use. The focus is on a network that is decentralized and controlled by users themselves, with all transaction data being stored on “nodes” or small computers. Blockchain also ensures that the information stored is secured and reliable.
Bitcoin and Energy Consumption
Apart from being very handy and covering the transmission of data and assets instantly, with no “middle man”, blockchain network also uses some energy to run. A lot of energy. There are data that suggest that only in March 2018, the Bitcoin network globally used consumed energy which is equivalent to approximately 86.5% of the energy consumption of the Czech Republic. The fact is that any Bitcoin transaction uses some 500,000 times more energy than a single Visa transaction, entailing huge carbon emissions. However, the alternatives are being developed and some of them are already in use, such as the system called “proof of stake”, which uses significantly lower amounts of energy due to the fact that it does not require that mining, i.e. validating blocks is performed by all the “nodes”.
Blockchain-Based Energy Supply Vs. Traditional Grid
When it comes to the energy sector, the industry in general is still hesitant, possibly because of the blockchain’s ability to keep the records decentralized.Nevertheless, we are witnessing to the growing number of, let us call them, “independent renewable energy installations” which supply households with as much energy as one need. These are usually put on rooftops in the form of solar panels. In some countries, such solar panels can cause stress to the electricity grids, which were designed with centralized powerplants in mind.
There are indications that blockchain could stabilize the grid by allowing users to trade with energy among themselves, which actually means that the users would pay each other directly. From the consumer’s point of view, additional advantage of using blockchain would be in thinking in advance and promoting incentives for local consumption, while producing.
Furthermore, with proper tools, blockchain could ensure the tracking of electricity and its consumption in real time and avoid double counting.
Also, as a network that defies the mainstream, blockchain can allow smaller players, i.e. energy producers to engage and take a share of the market.
The downside to this solution would be eliminating big players in the market, such as distributors, suppliers, retailers – just to name a few.
Blockchain and Renewable Energy in the US
“The Brooklyn Microgrid” is the project based on the above-mentioned principles. In its core, it is a system which produces, stores and trades energy locally, among the members of the community. On the other side, it is not completely decentralized, as the grid itself is still being maintained by the utility provider.Nevertheless, the fact that the energy is produced and traded among and by the users themselves makes the grid more resilient and sustainable. How does it work in practice? Well, you could use your electric car, for example, or solar panels, or any other energy installation to supply the energy to the grid. You could then use the energy yourself or sell it to another consumer. In case there happens to be any extra energy left, you could store it among the members of the grid, making the community energy independent. How cool is that?
For additional info on The Brooklyn Microgrid, you can visit their web site.
As almost all leading cryptocurrencies today, Litecoin is the means of payment meant to be accessible globally, working as an open source on a decentralized peer-to-peer network.
One of the most important features of cryptos, and Litecoin is not an exception, is the ability to provide instant payments with low to zero costs. In addition to this, Litecoin is said to have faster confirmation times than other leading cryptos. Litecoins Are Mined. Litecoin miners are usually rewarded with 25 new Litecoins per block. Litecoin network is purportedly predicted to produce 84 million Litecoins, a lot more than BTC units are supposed to be produced.
How Does Litecoin Works Comparing to Bitcoin
Litecoin is functioning on the basis of blockchain technology, and we have seen so far that blockchain is revolutionizing the industries around the world by providing transparency in tracing all participants in the process within seconds, as well as by securing anonymity of the individuals behind the accounts.When compared to Bitcoin, LTC’s blockchain can handle higher transaction volumes, due to more frequent block generation. What does it mean for regular persons like you and me, or any random merchant using it? Well, basically, it means that we can be provided with faster confirmation times, and at the same time – be able to wait for additional confirmations if selling on a larger scale.
Litecoin Stored in Wallets
Digital wallets are programs that enable you to send and receive cryptocurrencies. As with all other cryptos, Litecoin wallets exist in several versions: paper wallets, software wallets, hardware wallets. One thing is for sure: security is the first feature you should look for when choosing the right wallet to store your assets. This is a quick overview:
Paper wallets – It may sound strange, but “paper wallets” are the ones to consider for maximum security. This basically means that you would right down the passwords, i.e. your private keys, the old-fashion way – on a piece of paper. This is by far, the safest way to store your keys. The downside to this is the fact that once you wish to send the money, you would need a software wallet to import the funds to. You can check out the detailed explanation here.
Software wallets – These types of wallets are considered to be a bit safer than web wallets. Software wallet enables you to store your funds on your desktop or mobile device. However, each wallet used online is prone to hacking. Therefore, software wallets are recommended for smaller amounts of money.
Hardware wallets – This is the most frequently recommended wallet, due to its ability to provide maximum security possible. It means that your private keys are stored offline, which is very important. Once you wish to send or receive funds, you should connect your hardware wallet to your computer via USB and enjoy the ride. This also means that all of the confidential tasks, such as signing transactions, for example, would be done offline. The cozy thing about the Litecoin wallet is the fact that it enables you to see your balance but asks for the password before transferring the funds, keeping you safe from yourself, so-to-speak. The downside to this type of wallets is the price, while all of the above-stated wallets are free. For example, Ledger hardware wallet can be found at app. $59-$269 and Trezor hardware wallets come with the price of app. $80 – $170. For further info on Ledger, you can explore here.
A pet among the cryptos. Dogecoin, a steady cryptocurrency with no meaningful advantage over other cryptocurrencies, but with the most passionate community of fans.
What Is a Dogecoin
The same as Bitcoin, Dogecoin is a decentralized cryptocurrency working in a peer-to-peer network. It is actually one of the oldest cryptos that endured the test of time, mostly due to the support of its passionate community. It was initially designed as a digital currency for higher trading volume and instant transactions. One of its specificities is the fact that there is no hard cap on the number of Dogecoins that can be produced. Dogecoin is functioning on blockchain, but it uses a different algorithm than Bitcoin does.
Its current position as 26th by market capitalization among cryptocurrencies, says that it may not be the leading crypto, but it has proved its ability to keep steady in stormy weather.
Trivia
The mascot of Dogecoin is a Japanese dog bread called Shiba Inu, symbolizing friendship. This could be the fact that the designer had in mind – that this cryptocurrency will become one of your best friends. Shiba Inu is the small, but very fast dog from Japan, which is said to adapt well to difficult terrains. At the beginning, he was used for hunting. It likes to be cleaned like no other dog breed. Sometimes aggressive, it is recommended not to let them close to children. Perhaps the most interesting characteristic of Shiba Inu is the scream this dog can produce. It is very high pitched and loud, and it is usually produced if the dog is being handled in a wrong way.Similarly, when Shiba Inu is happy, it will let you know.
How to Use Dogecoin
The same as with Bitcoin, the first thing that you need to do is get yourself an e-wallet. Different Dogecoin wallets come with different features. Whichever you choose, your assets would be more secure than keeping them on a platform. Software wallets are free, while hardware wallets require some investment. However, great number of users decide on a software wallet, because its free, and because so far, we have all been accustomed to keeping our private keys, i.e. passwords in physical form, rather than online. This brings us to another matter: once you get yourself a Dogecoin wallet, you will need to set up the Dogecoin address. For detailed instructions on getting the wallet and initial set up of address, you can watch the video below.
The next thing to do is finding an exchange that trades with Dogecoin. Most of the Dogecoin fans use Kraken, Changelly, Poloniex, YoBit. Remember to always check out the reviews of cryptocurrency exchanges before signing up and buying, as some of the terms & conditions may change rapidly.
Buying Dogecoin itself can be tricky because you cannot buy it directly with a credit card, or a debit card for that matter. Nevertheless, you can buy another cryptocurrency using this payment method (on Coinbase or Coinmama), and trade it for Dogecoin.
A very important step in dealing with cryptos is to withdraw the coins you have bought, from the exchange into your wallet. By doing this, you are taking control over your assets.
“I think that we’re just in the final days of a long transition away from the old retail-centric game release model. Good times ahead.” – Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney
It seems that Ripple clicked with the above stated Sweeney’s thinking about the revolution in gaming and that it is time for the “brave and lucky to have a bright future.”
Ripple And Forte Developing The In-Game Items Marketplace
I bet most of you remember childhood days and exchanging or selling baseball cards. Collecting the cards that reflect your favorite game had a special flavor to it and even today, brings back some nice memories. While estimating the value of a card, you would look at the player, the print year, the condition the card is in, how rare it is. The rarest cards would have the highest value. And what makes the card rare? The number of cards in circulation. I was reminded about this while exploring the subject of this text, since Ripple and Forte are planning to put the items from games in circulation on their special marketplace. To think how big a leap the technology has taken in few decades!
To the excitement of XRP fans and gamers, Ripple has recently announced partnership with gaming start-up Forte in development of games that use Ripple technology, XRP token included. Reportedly, Ripple’s Xpring initiative will invest $100 million in XRP in the project itself. The amount is intended for developers only, experienced in gaming, as an incentive to make great games, as well as to build game-related economies. What this actually means is that they have a plan to develop the trading market for in-game digital goods. And not just any goods, but every item would be unique, as the tokens would be pinned to them. Such unique items would be available for buying and trading by using smart contracts. Forte has reportedly issued a statement claiming that the goal of the entire project is to create “the game-based economies that more closely mirror our experience in real economies”.
Setting The Rules & Running on Blockchain
Now, from the player’s perspective, the important thing is that he or she would be in a position to own the in-game assets and to trade with them. The rules applied at this marketplace would be pre-set by developers, who would also be deciding on the premiums. The more time and energy players invest in collecting the items, the game dynamics is increased, and hence the market will spread.We are all witnessing the tendencies to exclude the so-called “middle man” whenever possible, in every industry known to us. This is a way to cut the costs, and modern technology provides the means to do it, while making all processes transparent and secure more than ever before. In that respect, the mentioned marketplace would cut out third parties, assets would be easily tracked and verified with all owners participating and transactions would be done legally, transparently, while protecting the user’s anonymity.
As gaming is part of the entertainment industry, where companies strive to provide the ultimate gaming experience, the goal of this project is to make this process fun and to secure the gaming experience and trading run smoothly. There would be no complex issues and gamers would not need to worry about the blockchain technology running in the back.
Additionally, the public has also been informed that Xpring and Forte have a plan to include various cryptos and enable flow across various blockchains by developing an easy-to-use wallet which would be able to facilitate cross-chain transactions using Interledger. Sounds awfully complex, right? But it is not. To put it simply: apart from trading with XRP, the marketplace would accept other cryptocurrencies as well, and trading would be possible with users of other platforms as well. Again, this is the technical issue and a good thing to know if you are a developer or more interested in how the systems runs from within. If you are a player, yours is to relax, enjoy the game, collect the items, and trade….
Need we say that all transactions on Forte platform would be settled in XRP? This fact is believed to bring benefits to Ripple, especially if we take into consideration that the gaming industry should earn over $100 billion globally in 2019, according to some predictions. There are reviews that agree on the fact that XRP is the right choice for this project, due to its speed, finality, liquidity and low cost.
There Are Rarely “Pros” Without “Cons”
As with all other things in life, there are voices highlighting the negative aspects of this endeavor. Namely, some believe that Ripple has took on a difficult task to persuade the gaming industry that peer-to-peer economies are not the thing to be afraid of, and that by enabling gamers to buy the in-game items would not lead to decrease of buying the items from video game providers. William Quigley, CEO of OPSkins and WAX called this a “flawed logic” and made a clever comparison with the car industry, claiming that it operates just fine in spite of the fact that you can sell your car after purchasing it from a dealer. However, he feels “it’s still an obstacle encountered in the gaming world, where only a tiny, tiny percentage of video games offer virtual items that players can own and trade with each other.”
As a reminder, Forte is known for its mobile gaming company Kabam, while its cofounder Brett Seyler comes with experience in companies such as GarageGames, Unity, BeyondGames. Among the investors we found name such as Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam, Coinbase Ventures, 16z Crypto.
