FIL, STX, TRX arrive on Young Platform

STX, FIL and TRX available on Young Platform

You can now buy three new cryptos on Young Platform: find out all about Tron (TRX), Stacks (STX) and Filecoin (FIL)! 

Great news! You can purchase and trade TRX, STX, and FIL on the Young Platform. While you can deposit and withdraw TRX, you can only trade STX and FIL, as deposits and withdrawals are unavailable. For more information, please refer to our Terms and Conditions.

Find out how these profoundly different decentralised protocols work to decide if they are for you!

What do you need to know about Tron (TRX), Stacks (STX), and Filecoin (FIL)?

Tron (TRX) is a blockchain infrastructure that enables the development of smart contracts and the use of decentralised applications and NFT platforms. Its founder, known to most crypto enthusiasts, is the Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun, who managed in 2017 to raise 70 million dollars through an ICO to support the project.

Stacks (STX) is a Layer 1 blockchain that enables smart contracts. This brings Ethereum’s universe of programmability to the Bitcoin blockchain. To achieve this, Stacks uses a unique consensus mechanism called Proof-of-Transfer. The mechanism requires continuous transfers of BTC to specific addresses predetermined by the network.

Filecoin is a distributed and dynamic cloud storage network that offers a powerful alternative to centralised services such as Amazon Web Services, Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive. The project aims to establish a decentralised and peer-to-peer cloud infrastructure.

How to use TRX, STX, FIL on Young Platform

Here are all the features available for Tron (TRX), Stacks (STX) and Filecoin (FIL) on Young Platform and Young Platform Pro:

  • Buying and selling with EUR
  • Recurring purchase
  • Creating a Single Currency or Customised Savings

Please note that you can only buy and sell Stacks (STX) and Filecoin (FIL) on the Young Platform, but you can’t deposit or withdraw them.

Young Platform and Young Platform Pro Commissions Update

Young Platform Exchange Fees Update

Starting on 4 March 2024, we will introduce significant updates to our commission model to enhance our users’ trading experience. These changes will make Young Platform more competitive and attractive to traders and investors.

These updates were introduced following a survey extended to the entire community, whom we warmly thank for their suggestions and feedback. 

Recognising the sensitivity of this topic, we have adopted an approach centred on transparency and valuing direct benefits to our users. To completely understand these updates, please consult our detailed commission page of Exchange Base and Exchange Pro and review the Terms and Conditions.

Young Platform 

Commissions for Euro-Crypto exchanges

The update of commission rates on Euro-Crypto transactions aims to maximise the yield of cryptocurrency buying and selling transactions by moving to a hybrid model with fixed and variable commissions

Introducing a fixed and variable structure aims to enhance users with amounts over €100, who comprise the majority of our community.  

Therefore, the variable calculation on buying and selling transactions from Euro to Crypto and vice versa was integrated, making exchanges with more significant amounts more convenient. 

Commissions for Crypto-Crypto and Euro-YNG exchanges

The fees for conversion from one cryptocurrency to another (Crypto-Crypto) and for trading the Young Token (YNG) remain unchanged, as shown in the table below.

Money Boxes 

Your dedication to gradually growing your crypto portfolio is something we deeply admire. That is why we keep the fees for recurring piggy bank purchases unchanged, making regular savings worthwhile, even for small amounts.

Young Platform Pro 

We revolutionised our commission model for Young Platform Pro from a fixed fee structure (0.2%) to a fully variable one for maker-and-taker trades. This innovation is designed to meet the needs of advanced traders, offering more favourable conditions for those trading with significant volumes.

The determination of the commission rate is based on a 30-day assessment period, during which commissions are calculated according to the trading volumes realised. The calculation is performed every day at 00:00 UTC. This implies that the adjustment of fees always occurs concerning the volumes traded in the previous thirty days.

Same Club, same benefits!

Enjoy club discounts on Young Platform and Young Platform Pro: the exact discount percentages will be applied to the new commission model. 

Fee discounts are applied to all buy and sell orders. If these orders are executed on the Pro Platform, the discount is applied up to a maximum of €50,000 volume in the last 30 days. Standard buy and sell commissions will apply if the maximum is exceeded in this timeframe. These can be found on the Commissions and Prices page.

Unlocking Commission Discounts: More Ways to Save

Invite a Friend 

Our ‘Invite a Friend’ programme is an unmissable opportunity to benefit from commission discounts. Inviting friends to join our platform, you both get a 10€ discount applicable on purchases, sales and conversions.

Joining a Club 

Joining a club offers significant advantages on commissions and access to an exclusive package of discounts on additional services, allowing you to customise your experience in the crypto world according to your preferences.

N.B. fee discounts are applied to all buy and sell orders. If these orders are executed on the Pro Platform, the discount is applied up to a maximum of €50,000 volume in the last 30 days. Standard buy and sell commissions will apply if the maximum is exceeded in this timeframe. These can be found on the Commissions and Prices page.


Stamp duty on cryptocurrencies 2024

Stamp duty on cryptocurrencies 2024

Following the new Budget Law 2023, stamp duty was introduced on Young Platform.

Young Platform has updated its Terms and Conditions, introducing new rules regarding stamp duty for its users. This update has been introduced in compliance with the Italian Budget Law 2023, particularly with circular number 30/E of the Agenzia delle Entrate having as its subject “Tax treatment of crypto-assets. Article 1, paragraphs 126 to 147, of Law No. 197 of 29 December 2022′.

As an ‘other financial operator’, Young Platform must charge stamp duty to its users for anti-money laundering regulations and tax monitoring obligations (Article 1(1) of DL 167/1990).

This tax is equal to 0.2 per cent of the value of the cryptocurrencies held by the user on 31 December of the taxable year. Let’s look at stamp duty, who is responsible for paying it, and how it can be paid.

1. Definition of Stamp Duty

Stamp duty is an indirect tax that applies to certain economic transactions as a sign of the taxpayer’s financial capacity. In practice, this tax affects transactions that indicate a specific economic availability, such as the transfer or consumption of goods and services and financial instruments. Until 2022, cryptocurrencies were exempt from this type of tax. However, with the introduction of Act No. 197 of 27 December 2022, the situation changed: now, those who own cryptocurrencies have to pay stamp duty.

2. Who is liable to pay Stamp Duty

Regardless of their tax residence, all cryptocurrency holders are now subject to the stamp duty obligation. This obligation applies irrespective of the exchange used to hold one’s cryptocurrencies.  

3. Calculation of the tax base

The taxable base for stamp duty is 0.2% of the value of cryptocurrency assets held at the end of each calendar year. It is, therefore, calculated by multiplying the value of cryptocurrencies held on 31 December of the relevant year by the 0.2% rate. If the computed tax is less than 1 euro, the applicable tax will still equal this amount (1 euro) under Article 3, paragraph 3 Presidential Decree 642/72. 

It is reported in section 3.7.3 of the Revenue Agency’s circular that explains how the tax value is calculated:

The tax base consists of the value corresponding to the value of the crypto-assets at the end of each calendar year, as recorded by the exchange platform where the purchase thereof was made. Should it not be possible to ascertain the value on the 31st of December of the reference year from the platform where the crypto-asset was originally purchased, such value may be ascertained from a similar platform where the same crypto-assets are tradeable or from specialised sites in the detection of their market values. In the absence of the aforementioned value, reference should be made to the purchase cost of the crypto-assets. If the crypto-assets are no longer held as of the date of the 31st of December, reference should be made to the value ascertained at the end of the holding period. As provided by paragraph 19 of article 19 of the decree law no. 201 of 2011, the tax is due in proportion to the days of holding and the share of ownership in the case of jointly held crypto assets.

4. How much do I have to pay for the tax?

The tax is calculated automatically by the platform. You can find the details under ‘Profile’ > ‘Payments and Gift Cards’ > ‘Stamp Duty’. 

5. By when must stamp duty be paid?

On Young Platform, the balance must be paid by 1 April of the year following the end of the tax period, i.e. by 1 April 2024 for the tax relating to 2023.

6. How is stamp duty paid?

In the specific case of Young Platform, the stamp duty will be automatically calculated and deducted from the user’s Euro Wallet as of 21/02/2024 against adequate liquidity to meet the relevant tax liability. 

Consequently, for all users who, as of 21 February 2024, did not have enough liquidity in the Euro Wallet of their Young Platform account, the charge will be made at the first useful transaction. It will be sufficient to deposit into your account via one of the following payment methods:

  • Credit, debit or prepaid card.
  • Bank transfer.
  • Converting cryptocurrencies into fiat currency.

7. Where can I find details of the tax payment?

In the Euro Wallet section, under ‘History’, there will be an entry ‘Stamp Duty’. By clicking on it, it will be possible to view the details of the transaction:

  • Transaction ID
  • Reasons under “Notes” 
  • Date of execution
  • Status

8. How often does one have to pay stamp duty? 

Stamp duty must be paid annually, due by April. The amount to be paid is based on the value of cryptocurrencies held on 31 December of the previous tax year.

NEAR, SEI, STRK and SUI arrive on Young Platform

NEAR, SEI, STRK and SUI available on Young Platform

You can now buy four new cryptos on Young Platform: find out all about NEAR (NEAR), Sei (SEI), Starknet (STRK) and Sui (SUI) 

You can now buy and sell NEAR, SEI, STRK and SUI on Young Platform! Deposits and withdrawals are not available for Sei (SEI), Starknet (STRK) and Sui (SUI), while are available for NEAR (NEAR). For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.

Find out how these innovative protocols work to decide if they are right for you!

NEAR (NEAR)

NEAR is an environmentally sustainable, scalable, fast and decentralised user-friendly Layer 

1 blockchain. This network, made secure by a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, uses sharding. This means that its blocks are divided into smaller ‘chunks’ so that each validator node has to handle a smaller amount of data.

Sei (SEI)

Sei is a Layer 1 blockchain built on Cosmos that focuses on decentralised trading, NFTs and gaming. The protocol’s slogan, ‘The fastest Layer 1 for trading’, sums up the main peculiarities of this network: speed and scalability, which it achieves thanks to an innovative Proof-of-Stake ‘Twin-Turbo’ consensus mechanism.

Starknet (STRK) and what do you need to know?

Starknet is an Ethereum scalability solution using zero-knowledge rollup technology. In particular, this network uses zk-STARK cryptographic proofs to make the network competitive in terms of scalability, speed and security. These proofs group transactions in batches or ‘batches’, allowing them to occupy much less space and lower transaction fees.

Sui (SUI)

Finally, Sui is a fast and scalable Layer 1 blockchain made secure by the Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism. To programme its smart contracts, developers use Move. This programming language was created by the same team responsible for developing Libra, the cryptocurrency Meta (formerly Facebook) designed that never saw the light of day. The consensus mechanism, consisting of the Narwhal, Bullshark and Tusk protocols, allows processing up to 120,000 transactions per second.

How to use NEAR, SEI, STRK and SUI on Young Platform

Here are all the features available for NEAR (NEAR), Sei (SEI), Starknet (STRK) and Sui (SUI) on Young Platform and Young Platform Pro:

  • Buying and selling with EUR
  • Recurring purchase
  • Creating a Single Currency or Customised Money Box

Warning. These cryptocurrencies can only be bought and sold but not withdrawn or deposited by and on Young Platform.

INJ, DYM and FET arrive on Young Platform

You can now buy three new cryptos on Young Platform: find out all about Injective (INJ), Dymension (DYM) and Fetch.ai (FET)! 

Now you can trade INJ, DYM and FET on Young Platform, but deposits and withdrawals are not available. For more information, please refer to our Terms and Conditions.

Find out how these innovative protocols work to decide if they are right for you!

Injective (INJ), Dymension (DYM) and Fetch.ai (FET) what do you need to know?

Injective is a Layer 1 blockchain built on the Cosmos ecosystem specifically for decentralised finance platforms. The Injective network allows for a high volume of transactions per second at meager fees, and sometimes even without any fees, thanks to the relay service offered by the API nodes in this network.

Fetch is a platform that combines two cutting-edge technologies – artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. The platform’s key product is Autonomous Economic Agents (AEAs), which are capable of programming themselves to fulfil specific needs. Like AI chatbots such as Chat GPT, AEAs analyse real-time data and context and act accordingly to achieve a goal.

Introducing Dymension, a new Layer 1 blockchain created on Cosmos. Its primary goal is to become a leading modular ecosystem for developing decentralised applications. The future RollApps that will be integrated into Dymension are neither dapp nor real blockchains. They are unique in that they are exceptionally easy to develop. It’s worth noting that RollApps should not be confused with Rollups, which are Layer 2 scalability solutions.

How to use INJ, DYM and FET on Young Platform

Here are all the features available for Injective (INJ), Dymension (DYM) and Fetch.ai (FET) on Young Platform and Young Platform Pro:

  • Buying and selling with EUR
  • Recurring purchase
  • Creating a Single Currency or Customised Money Box

Warning: These cryptocurrencies can only be traded on Young Platform, but cannot be deposited or withdrawn.

Flare airdrop (FLR) arrives for Young Platform users

You can now buy Flare (FLR) on Young Platform. If you were eligible for its airdrop, check your wallet!

You can now buy, sell and store FLRs on Young Platform! The good news, however, does not end there. 

An airdrop is also coming/coming for users who held Ripple (XRP) in December 2020. Here’s what Flare (FLR) is, everything you need to know about the free distribution of this token and how it fits in the context of the benefits provided to our Club members.

Flare: all you need to know

Flare is a Layer 1 Proof-of-Stake blockchain that aims at interoperability, a key component for projects that intend to communicate with decentralised applications (dapp) and protocols built on other blockchains. 

Its primary use case has to do with this very feature. As stated in its whitepaper, published in August 2020, the mission was to enable the development of smart contracts on networks that needed to be prepared to receive them.

Flare’s blockchain, which before the release of the second version was called Spark, has always been closely linked to Ripple and, in particular, to the XRP Ledger, as evidenced by the airdrop dedicated to cryptocurrency holders of the same name.

How to use FLR on Young Platform

Here are all the features available for Flare(FLR) on Young Platform and Young Platform Pro:

  • Buying and selling with EUR
  • Recurring purchase
  • Creating a Single Currency or Customised Money Box

FLR’s airdrop: who gets it?

Young will distribute the Flare token (FLR) to all users who own Ripple (XRP) in their wallet on 12 December 2020, 00:00 UTC. The number of Spark tokens that each user will receive depends on the amount of XRP held and will be calculated according to the following formula:

User A = Amount of XRP held by User A at the time of airdrop / Total XRP held by Young at the time of airdrop * Total FLR received by Young for the Airdrop.

Finally, Club members will be pleased to learn that the ‘airdrop reward’ advantage applies to this free distribution of tokens. This means that these users will receive progressively more tokens depending on which Club they belong to:

  • Club Bronze +10%;
  • Club Silver +15%;
  • Club Gold +20%;
  • Club Platinum +25%.

YNG Token: 2023 Recap

Token Young (YNG): updates and news Q2 2024

The fourth-quarter report of the YNG token – summarising the year. What has unfolded in this eventful 2023, and what are the next steps?

What transpired in the last quarter? What were the achievements throughout 2023? How many tokens were issued, bought, and sold, and what are the forthcoming actions? A complete overview of the year just ended is available in this report, drafted in January 2024.

Young Platform Club Numbers for Q4 2023

YNG is Young Platform’s utility token, providing access to the Clubs: subscription plans with exclusive benefits for our major supporters.

Currently, the Clubs consist of 1437 members, divided into:

  • 1011 in the Bronze Club;
  • 190 in the Silver Club;
  • 121 in the Gold Club;
  • 115 in the Platinum Club.

A certain quantity of YNG must be locked on Young Platform’s exchange to join a Club. The number of subscribed members is vital for token distribution analysis, especially since more members mean less selling pressure on YNG. The primary consequence? Greater price stability for YNG. Compared to the last report, Club membership has increased by 2.6%, and Platinum members by 41%.

Comparing these figures with last year’s, it’s evident that 2023 was a positive year for the adoption of Young Platform Clubs. At the end of 2022, there were 1,214 members, divided as follows:

  • 903 in the Bronze Club;
  • 174 in the Silver Club,
  • 92 in the Gold Club,
  • 45 in the Platinum Club.

Therefore, Club membership grew by 18%, and Platinum members by approximately 155%. This growth makes us optimistic about the future, particularly with many new initiatives planned for our loyal supporters in the coming months.

YNG Token Distribution

The number of YNG in circulation at the end of September was about 23.1 million. At the beginning of January, the circulating supply is approximately 23.3 million, indicating a net increase of about 166,000 tokens, or 0.9%.

These tokens were distributed through the Young Platform Step app in various ways:

  • 49,009 through completing Quizzes, Challenges, and Up&Down (before level implementation);
  • 117,341 through completing Levels.

The YNG token market is managed by an algorithm that defines the exchange rate using two underlying liquidity pools, EUR and YNG. At launch in May 2022, these pools contained:

  • 1M Euros
  • 4M YNG

Considering token sales and purchases over recent months, as of January 2023, the pools contain:

  • 750K Euros
  • 5.61M YNG

This configuration results from purchases and sales during the third quarter, summarised below along with the price trend:

Token YNG: 2023 Report

YNG Issuances in 2023

This is the conclusive report of 2023, making it the right time to summarise the year in terms of tokenomics. The way the token is issued changed after the Step 3.0 update. How has the introduction of XP impacted limiting YNG inflation?

Token YNG: 2023 Report

As the graph shows, thanks to the latest Step update, we’ve significantly limited YNG distribution. The issuance of new tokens has been reduced by 93%.

YNG Price

From a price action perspective, 2023 was a transitional year. The bearish movement affecting our token since November 2022 halted at the €0.1 level reached in February.

Subsequently, YNG, supported by the Buyback initiative, experienced an 86% bullish rally, pushing the price to a high of €0.16 by the end of August 2023. It currently fluctuates between €0.12 and €0.14.

Achievements in 2023

During 2023, we achieved numerous goals and released several new features. This report is an excellent opportunity to summarise all the work done in the last few months. Let’s detail the initiatives undertaken in 2023 to expand the appeal of our YNG token and those related to the Young Platform ecosystem in general.

YNG Token

  • Buyback: The Buyback operations were completed. We purchased €62,000 in tokens through spot transactions and supported the price with limit orders.
  • Vouchers and Benefits for Clubs: In 2023, many incredible benefits for the clubs in the form of vouchers arrived: We Road and NordVPN. In 2024, we’ll continue collaborating with other brands to offer our supporters more benefits.
  • YNG Token Listing: We are still considering listing the Young (YNG) token on other exchanges. Our main goal is to initiate trading on DEXs by the end of the first half of 2024.
  • Dust: In recent months, a feature was released that allows converting small crypto balances into Young (YNG) tokens. Dust lets you revitalise unused cryptocurrency cents.
  • Token Tracking (CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko): Our weekly reminders to CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko have yet to produce results beyond those achieved in the second quarter of 2022. Communication with CoinMarketCap, through which we provided all requested data, continued for several months but ceased when they asked for money to expedite the process.

We are considering proceeding in this direction once the token is tradable on the decentralised market. In doing so, we intend to maximise interest around the event. Currently, we are listed as an exchange on CoinMarketCap, while the YNG token appears on CoinGecko, although trading volumes still need to be available for both pages.

Young Platform Ecosystem

  • Tax Report. In May, we introduced one of our most successful features: the Tax Report,” a tool simplifying crypto declarations, offering a downloadable PDF for tax declarations. Developed in collaboration with Taxtris, it’s the first service provided by an Italian exchange. Remember, the Tax Report is discounted for Silver and Gold Club members and accessible for Platinum. 
  • Listing on Young Platform: With the market’s resurgence in 2023, we expanded the range of cryptocurrencies available on our exchange. We started with Arbitrum, Ethereum’s most-used Layer 2, then proceeded with Optimism, dYdX, GMX, Cosmos, Lido DAO, Render, and Celestia. In 2024, we’ll continue to broaden our token offerings on Young Platform to allow our users to catch new market trends.
  • Multi Network: We enabled multi-network deposits and withdrawals to meet the needs of users who intend to use Young Platform as a “launchpad” to access DeFi decentralised applications. It’s now possible to deposit and withdraw Ethereum, USDT, and USDC, even through the Arbitrum, Optimism, and BSC networks. This way, you can maximise the opportunities Web3 offers with shallow deposit and withdrawal costs.
  • Moneybox 2.0: This update expanded the range of cryptocurrencies available for recurring purchases in May. We introduced the Thematic Moneybox (composed of ready-made cryptocurrency mixes) and the Customized one, allowing you to make recurring purchases of your preferred cryptocurrencies (from 2 to 5).
  • Services for Businesses: Services for businesses that see crypto as a tool to make their business competitive and scalable have also arrived. In recent years, more and more companies and institutions have started recognising cryptocurrencies as a fundamental tool for a complete digital transition.
  • Step 3.0: Step has also been wholly revolutionised after the latest updates. Initially a pedometer app, it’s now Italy’s most-used “Cryptogame” and a guided journey to explore and study the cryptocurrency world.

Community

Development regarding the community was diverse in 2023. All the initiatives undertaken aim to establish a two-way dialogue between us and our users.

  • Discord: In 2023, we completely restructured the central hub dedicated to our community. The Young Platform Discord server also saw the creation of a channel reserved for our biggest supporters, the Platinum Club members, and we are working on creating one for other supporters. To comply with current regulations, we have yet to be able to reward the most active members with free token distributions. 2024, we plan to distribute many benefits to our most loyal supporters.
  • Telegram and WhatsApp: We also launched a new Telegram channel and a WhatsApp Community. The primary goal of these two digital spaces is to keep our users informed about the latest crypto news. We also publish weekly analyses of the price of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the best-performing cryptocurrency.

Upcoming News!

Many new developments await us in the coming weeks. Here, we can only reveal two of them, which will help us achieve two key objectives: enhancing the trading experience on our platforms and increasing the adoption of the YNG token.

The first relates to the “little robot” visible on our app and in various social media content published in recent months. Predictably, it is linked to some automated trading features we will release in the coming weeks. These will enable all our users to access intelligent solutions for purchasing and managing cryptocurrencies and tailor them according to their strategy. But that’s not all. Launching these new functions is also an incentive to join our Clubs, as members will be rewarded with various advantages. This could also positively influence YNG’s price action.

The second development is designed for those who actively and regularly use the applications of our ecosystem, particularly the Pro version. We are improving the interface to make trading on Young Platform Pro more professional. Additionally, we are enhancing our APIs and exploring various options to increase liquidity on the order books and minimise the spread as much as possible. We aim to establish partnerships with a specialised market maker in this regard.

For now, the spoilers end here. Continue following us on all our channels!

FED Meeting January 2024: Unchanged Rates

fed meeting january 2024

For the fourth consecutive meeting, the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged. Powell is sceptical about March cuts.

In a move anticipated by the market, during the FED’s meeting on January 30-31, 2024, it was decided to maintain the federal funds rate between 5.25% and 5.5%. This decision marks a continuation of the stance adopted since July 2023, reflecting the committee’s strategy in the face of good but not solidified economic indicators. “We don’t have a growth mandate. We have a mandate of maximum employment and a price stability mandate,” commented Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell following the meeting.

Since the strong inflationary wave in 2022, which reached its highest peak in forty years, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has undertaken a strict policy to rebalance the economy. This led to a series of interest rate hikes aimed at containing inflation, starting in March 2022. Indeed, since then, it has shown signs of slowing down. However, such high interest levels had not been recorded for over two decades, increasing market pressure for the Fed to intervene with a cut in the coming months.

During the January 2024 FED meeting, the Committee emphasised its intention to maintain a high vigilance. Balancing economic factors remains a delicate and non-guaranteed task: reducing interest rates could jeopardise the downward trend of inflation. On the other hand, the U.S. economy risks falling into a recession. “Inflation is still too high, ongoing progress in reducing it is not guaranteed, and the path forward is uncertain,” said Jerome Powell in his post-meeting press conference.

Despite such statements, traders continue to bet on a rate cut that would bring them between 3.75% and 4% by the end of the year. This would mean that the FED should start consistently cutting rates with increments of a quarter of a percentage point at each meeting starting in May. For those still anticipating a cut in March, Powell emphasised, “I don’t think it’s likely that the Committee will reach a level of confidence by the March meeting.”

ECB meeting January 2024: decisions and economic outlook

ECB meeting January 2024

As the ECB meeting in January 2024 approached, speculation in the financial markets was rife. However, the decisions made at the January 25, 2024 meeting reflected a cautious approach in a continually evolving economic landscape. In line with analysts’ expectations, the European Central Bank maintained interest rates at their current levels.

Maintaining Interest Rates

The Governing Council of the ECB, in its meeting on January 25, 2024, unanimously decided to keep the three key ECB interest rates unchanged. This decision means that the interest rates on the primary refinancing operations, the marginal lending facility, and the deposit facility remain at 4.5%, 4.75%, and 4%, respectively. This move aligns with the ECB’s commitment to ensuring medium-term inflation aligns with its 2% target.

Statements from Christine Lagarde

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, commented, “The Eurozone economy likely stagnated in the last quarter of 2023 and was weak in the first quarter of 2024. However, some indicators point to a recovery later in the year. Inflation, which fell to 2.9% in December, is expected to continue to decline in 2024.” She emphasised that discussing interest rate cuts is still premature, as the ECB must progress further in the disinflation process before being sure that inflation will reach its 2% target.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Lagarde highlighted the factors the ECB is monitoring that will influence future interest rate decisions. Notably, she mentioned a shift from the ‘normality’ pre-2023, suggesting that the normalisation observed in 2023 is leading towards a “non-normal” period, where we will witness a change in the drivers of the global economy and new growth modalities.

The Role of Consumption

Until now, consumption has acted as a vital growth engine, driven by favourable conditions that are waning. This gradual depletion of positive factors implies a transformation in the economy’s driving force.

Drastic Reduction in Savings

We have witnessed a significant reduction in excess savings in advanced economies, dropping from an average of 10% to figures close to zero. This decrease, along with a less tense labour market, suggests a decline in consumption power as an economic driving force.

Global Trade and Growth Prospects

Global trade is another element showing signs of normalisation and significantly impacting the Council’s decisions. Europe struggles to keep pace with the significant powers, burdened by the geopolitical situation. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, emphasised that thanks to the resilience of international trade, Europe has been able to overcome the cut in energy imports from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Governing Council’s Outlook

In the ECB meeting in January 2024, the Governing Council highlighted that new information essentially confirms their previous assessment of medium-term inflation prospects. Despite a base effect causing an increase in overall energy-related inflation, the downward trend in underlying inflation continues.

Monetary Policy: What’s Next?

The Governing Council remains committed to bringing inflation back to the 2% target on time. Based on its current assessment, the Council believes that the ECB reference rates, if maintained sufficiently long, will significantly contribute to achieving this objective.

Asset Purchase Program (APP) and PEPP

During the ECB meeting in January 2024, the Council noted that the APP portfolio is reducing at a measured and predictable pace. Regarding the PEPP (pandemic emergency purchase program), the Council plans to reinvest the capital repaid on maturing securities in the first half of 2024, reducing the PEPP portfolio by an average of €7.5 billion per month in the second half of the year, and ending reinvestments by the end of 2024.

Analysts’ Reactions

Analysts like Morgane Delle Donne, Head of Investment Strategy Europe at Global X, noted that markets anticipate a more dovish turn by the ECB within the year. Martina Daga, Macro Economist at AcomeA SGR, pointed out that the ECB’s acknowledgement of positive progress in inflation and the labour market shows a softer stance. Nicolas Forest, CIO at Candriam, highlighted the ECB’s data-dependent approach, not expecting policy easing before June. David Chappell, Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, noted that Lagarde hinted at the possibility of a rate adjustment starting in June.

Growth Estimates

The ECB revised downward its inflation and growth estimates for the Eurozone for the first quarter of 2024. This emerged from the Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF), involving 59 economists and financial analysts, conducted between January 5 and January 10.

Inflation is expected to decrease to 2.4% in 2024 and stabilise at 2% in 2025 and 2026. Real GDP growth expectations for 2024 and 2025 have also been revised downward, with a slowdown projected at 0.6% this year and a recovery to 1.3% next year.

Conclusion

The ECB meeting in January 2024 concludes with a cautious yet vigilant approach to monetary policy, reflecting the central bank’s commitment to price stability and economic growth amid revised forecasts and changing global conditions. The decision to keep interest rates unchanged, along with the downward revisions in inflation and growth estimates, indicates careful navigation in a complex economic environment.

The ultimate guide to Base airdrop

The ultimate guide to Base airdrop

Despite earlier announcements by the team at the launch of the blockchain, Base’s airdrop might be just around the corner. Base, the Layer 2 developed by Coinbase, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, might reward its network users in the coming months.

A few months ago, the same team said they would not launch a token. However, the situation appears reversed, given the recent shift in the relationship between the exchange and U.S. regulatory bodies. Learn about the potential Base airdrop, Ethereum’s Layer 2, developed by Coinbase.

What is Base, Coinbase’s Blockchain?

Base is an Ethereum Layer 2 developed by the world’s leading crypto company, Coinbase. Available in over 100 countries for several years, the exchange offers a wide range of products to an equally broad customer base (about 7.3 million) and manages approximately $130 billion in assets on its platform.

This network is built using Optimism’s development stack, which is similar to the current second most famous Ethereum scalability solution. It utilises optimistic roll-up technology to allow users to process transactions quickly and cheaply and is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

How to Qualify for Base’s Airdrop?

Neither the Base team nor Coinbase has confirmed the arrival of the Layer 2 token, so the existence of a future Base airdrop is not particular. Contrarily, they specified the opposite in the months before the mainnet launch. However, after statements by Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of Coinbase, many are more optimistic and believe that this free token distribution is imminent.

It’s important to note that it’s usually too late to qualify when a protocol announces an airdrop. Therefore, starting early is almost always mandatory, even if its arrival isn’t sure.

Since we don’t know if Base’s airdrop will occur, the requirements to receive it remain a mystery until the possible announcement of the free distribution. However, we can speculate based on past airdrops, which almost always rewarded frequent interactions with a particular protocol and the volume of crypto traded.

Practical Guide to Base’s Airdrop

Assuming Base’s airdrop is on the horizon, let’s explore the most likely steps to qualify.

  1. Access to a Decentralized Crypto Wallet and Network Integration

To receive Base’s airdrop, you must act on-chain directly on Ethereum’s Layer 2. First, you need a decentralised wallet and add Coinbase’s blockchain. Several wallets support it, notably Metamask and Coinbase Wallet, the decentralised wallet developed by the exchange.

To add the Base blockchain to your Metamask, consult the official documentation of Layer 2 and enter the necessary data. For convenience, here are the details below, but be aware that the RPC address might change over time, so always check Base’s official website.

– Name: Base Mainnet

– Description: The public mainnet for Base

– RPC Endpoint: https://mainnet.base.org

– Chain ID: 8453

– Currency Symbol: ETH

– Block Explorer: https://basescan.org

  1. Purchase Ethereum on Young Platform and Withdraw

Base, as mentioned, is an Ethereum scalability solution, so if you want to qualify for the airdrop, you need to own some Ether. This will enable you to use the dapps and process the necessary transactions to qualify for the distribution. You can use Young Platform by clicking this button if you don’t own any.

Buy ETH!

To transfer your ETH from your Young Platform account to your decentralised wallet, follow this guide. Remember, it’s essential to withdraw the ETH you want to use through the Ethereum network.

  1. Reach Base through an Official Bridge

The best way to reach Base is through the official bridge. Using it could be one of the essential requirements to qualify for free token distribution. To transfer your Ethereum (ETH) to Base, simply connect your wallet, select the amount you want to send, confirm, and approve the transaction.

  1. Utilise dapps on the Blockchain

Once your ETH has reached its destination, you should start interacting with the decentralised applications (dapps) on Layer 2 to qualify for the potential Base airdrop. Decide how to proceed based on the amount of ETH you intend to use (necessary to cover the gas fees, which are relatively low due to the high scalability of this network).

The most popular strategy for “airdrop hunting” involves making swaps between tokens available on the blockchain, using native decentralised exchanges (DEX) if possible – specifically created for that network. The most famous on Base are Aerodrome and BaseSwap, but you can check Defillama’s dedicated page to discover all the most used dapps on the network.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can explore more advanced protocols like yield farming. Lastly, you could use one of the most popular platforms exclusively on Base, such as Friend Tech, the most famous example of socialFi.

4. Regular Use of the Blockchain

Finally, the frequency of your interaction with this network might be necessary for receiving the Base airdrop if it happens. Past free token distributions have rewarded users who regularly interacted with the network.

Therefore, it’s advisable to repeat the actions described in the previous steps over time. Another criterion the Coinbase team might consider is the variety of dapps used. To meet this requirement, connect your wallet and carry out operations on different platforms of Layer 2.

Should it be confirmed, you’ve just read the likely fundamental requirements to receive the Base airdrop.