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Crypto Basics

A collection of 32 posts

Crypto Investment Trends 2026: Where Things Stand in Late October
Crypto Basics

Crypto Investment Trends 2026: Where Things Stand in Late October

Crypto trends, October 2026: stablecoin rules final, SEC tokenized-stock exemption, CLARITY Act stalled, ETF flows positive again, BTC 36% under its high.

· ZIPMEX

What Is an NFT? Non-Fungible Tokens Explained (2026)
Crypto Basics

What Is an NFT? Non-Fungible Tokens Explained (2026)

An NFT is a unique token on a blockchain that records who owns a specific item. How NFTs work, what buyers really own, and where the market stands in late 2026.

· ZIPMEX

What Is Smooth Love Potion (SLP)? Axie Infinity's Breeding Token in 2026
Crypto Basics

What Is Smooth Love Potion (SLP)? Axie Infinity's Breeding Token in 2026

SLP is Axie Infinity's in-game token for breeding and crafting. Since 7 January 2026, Origins no longer pays SLP rewards. What changed and what's left.

· ZIPMEX

What is a bull market in crypto? The 20% rule and where it comes from
Crypto Basics

What is a bull market in crypto? The 20% rule and where it comes from

A bull market is a sustained price rise, usually 20% or more from a low. Where the rule comes from, how crypto guides adapt it, and its limits.

· ZIPMEX

How Long Does It Take to Mine 1 Bitcoin? The October 2026 Numbers
bitcoin mining

How Long Does It Take to Mine 1 Bitcoin? The October 2026 Numbers

At October 2026 difficulty, one 270 TH/s miner in a pool needs about 23 years to earn 1 BTC. Solo, it finds a block every 71 years on average.

· ZIPMEX

What Does HODL Mean in Crypto? Origin, Meaning and the Real Trade-offs
Crypto Basics

What Does HODL Mean in Crypto? Origin, Meaning and the Real Trade-offs

HODL means holding crypto through price swings instead of selling. It started as a 2013 Bitcoin forum typo. Here's the origin, the risks and how holders manage them.

· ZIPMEX

Facebook Metaverse in 2026: What Is Left of Meta's Bet, and Where Crypto Fits
Crypto Basics

Facebook Metaverse in 2026: What Is Left of Meta's Bet, and Where Crypto Fits

Meta's metaverse in October 2026: Reality Labs lost $4.13bn in Q3, Horizon Worlds went mobile-first, and there is still no blockchain or token.

· ZIPMEX

Bitcoin mining websites in 2026: five checks before you pay
Bitcoin

Bitcoin mining websites in 2026: five checks before you pay

Most bitcoin mining websites sell cloud or hosted mining contracts, and regulators have shut down many as frauds. Five checks to run before you pay.

· ZIPMEX

Bitcoin Mining Hardware in 2026: Which ASICs Still Pay
bitcoin mining

Bitcoin Mining Hardware in 2026: Which ASICs Still Pay

Only SHA-256 ASICs mine Bitcoin profitably in 2026. Specs, current hashprice and the electricity price where each efficiency class breaks even.

· ZIPMEX

What Is a Bear Market? Definition, Crypto Depth and How Long It Lasts
Crypto Basics

What Is a Bear Market? Definition, Crypto Depth and How Long It Lasts

A bear market is a fall of 20% or more from a recent high. In crypto, falls have reached 70-90% and bear markets have run about one to three years.

· ZIPMEX

How to Set Up a Crypto Wallet: Steps, Wallet Types and Seed Phrase Safety
Crypto Basics

How to Set Up a Crypto Wallet: Steps, Wallet Types and Seed Phrase Safety

Set up a self-custody crypto wallet: official download, a seed phrase on paper, a small test send. Wallet types, BIP-39 basics and common mistakes.

· ZIPMEX

How to Create, Buy and Sell NFTs: A Practical Guide
nft

How to Create, Buy and Sell NFTs: A Practical Guide

How to create, buy and sell an NFT: wallets, minting, gas, listing, fees and creator earnings, checked against official documentation.

· ZIPMEX

What Is Slippage in Crypto? Complete Guide 2026
Crypto Basics

What Is Slippage in Crypto? Complete Guide 2026

· ZIPMEX

What Is Crypto Staking? How It Works, Rewards and Risks
Crypto Basics

What Is Crypto Staking? How It Works, Rewards and Risks

Crypto staking locks tokens on a proof-of-stake blockchain to help secure it in return for rewards. How it works, lock-ups, slashing, tax and rules.

· ZIPMEX

What Is an Algorithmic Stablecoin? How the Designs Work and Why Most Failed
Crypto Basics

What Is an Algorithmic Stablecoin? How the Designs Work and Why Most Failed

What an algorithmic stablecoin is, how rebase, two-token and fractional designs work, why TerraUSD and IRON failed, and US rules as of October 2026.

· ZIPMEX

Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto? The Mystery Behind Bitcoin's Creator
Bitcoin

Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto? The Mystery Behind Bitcoin's Creator

· ZIPMEX

What Is the Lightning Network? How Bitcoin's Payment Layer Works
Bitcoin

What Is the Lightning Network? How Bitcoin's Payment Layer Works

The Lightning Network moves Bitcoin payments into two-party channels and settles them on-chain later. How it works, its costs and risks, and 2026 data.

· ZIPMEX

What Are Gaming Tokens? How They Work, Main Types and Risks
Crypto Basics

What Are Gaming Tokens? How They Work, Main Types and Risks

Gaming tokens are blockchain assets used inside crypto games for payments, rewards, governance and gas. Types, examples, risks and 2026 changes.

· ZIPMEX

Grayscale Bitcoin ETF (GBTC): Fees, Holdings and How It Works in 2026
Crypto Basics

Grayscale Bitcoin ETF (GBTC): Fees, Holdings and How It Works in 2026

GBTC is Grayscale's spot bitcoin ETF on NYSE Arca. It charges 1.5% a year and held 138,505 BTC at June 30, 2026. Fees, structure and the 0.15% Mini Trust.

· ZIPMEX

Best GPU for Mining: How to Judge a Card, and Why Not for Bitcoin
How-To

Best GPU for Mining: How to Judge a Card, and Why Not for Bitcoin

No GPU mines Bitcoin profitably; ASICs do. How to judge a mining GPU by algorithm, hash rate per watt, memory and power cost, with a worked example.

· ZIPMEX

What Is a Stablecoin? How They Work, Main Types, Risks and the 2026 Rules
Crypto Basics

What Is a Stablecoin? How They Work, Main Types, Risks and the 2026 Rules

A stablecoin is a crypto token built to hold a steady price, usually $1. How the main types work, what backs them, the risks, and the US GENIUS Act.

· ZIPMEX

Bitcoin vs Ethereum: Key Differences Explained (October 2026)
Crypto Basics

Bitcoin vs Ethereum: Key Differences Explained (October 2026)

Bitcoin is fixed-supply digital money secured by mining; Ethereum is a staked, programmable platform. Supply, security, upgrades and risks compared.

· ZIPMEX

How Long Does It Take to Transfer Bitcoin?
Bitcoin

How Long Does It Take to Transfer Bitcoin?

A Bitcoin transfer gets its first confirmation in about 10 minutes, but fees and the receiver's confirmation rules decide when it counts. How to check and speed it up.

· ZIPMEX

ICO vs IEO vs IFO: Who Runs the Token Sale, and What Changed in 2026
Crypto Basics

ICO vs IEO vs IFO: Who Runs the Token Sale, and What Changed in 2026

ICO, IEO and IFO differ in who runs the token sale: the project, a centralised platform, or a DEX. Mechanics, risks and the 2026 SEC proposal.

· ZIPMEX

APY vs APR: The Difference, the Formulas and a Worked Example
DeFi

APY vs APR: The Difference, the Formulas and a Worked Example

APY is what savings earn with compounding; APR is the yearly cost of borrowing, including some fees. Formulas, a worked example and when each misleads.

· ZIPMEX

What Is BUSD? The Paxos Stablecoin That Was Wound Down, and How to Redeem It
Stablecoins

What Is BUSD? The Paxos Stablecoin That Was Wound Down, and How to Redeem It

BUSD is a Paxos-issued dollar stablecoin. Minting stopped on 21 February 2023 on NYDFS orders. Holders can still redeem for USD or convert to USDP.

· ZIPMEX

NFT Coins Explained: What They Are and What October 2026's Shutdowns Mean
nft

NFT Coins Explained: What They Are and What October 2026's Shutdowns Mean

NFT coins are fungible tokens that run NFT platforms. Live CoinGecko figures for 25 Oct 2026, and what the Blur and Abstract shutdowns mean for holders.

· ZIPMEX

Market Cap Explained: Formula, Size Tiers, Index Thresholds and Crypto Supply
Crypto Investing

Market Cap Explained: Formula, Size Tiers, Index Thresholds and Crypto Supply

Market cap is share price times shares outstanding. How the size tiers work, current S&P index thresholds, EV, and how crypto market cap differs.

· ZIPMEX

What Are Gas Fees? How Ethereum, Bitcoin and Solana Price Transactions
Ethereum

What Are Gas Fees? How Ethereum, Bitcoin and Solana Price Transactions

Gas fees are what you pay a blockchain to run your transaction. How Ethereum's base fee, tip and gas limit work, and what changed by October 2026.

· ZIPMEX

What is crypto minting? Token minting vs NFT minting explained
Crypto Basics

What is crypto minting? Token minting vs NFT minting explained

Crypto minting creates new tokens on a blockchain. Learn how token minting, NFT minting (ERC-721) and protocol issuance work, and who can mint.

· ZIPMEX