Understanding a cryptocurrency’s utility and its current level of adoption is an essential step when investing in the right projects. The following web tools are useful for researching cryptocurrency networks.

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RESEARCHING LAYER-1 CHAINS

Layer-1 crypto projects are independent blockchain networks that can process, validate, and finalize transactions without relying on another network.

Examples of such networks include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, Binance, Cardano, Polkadot, Cosmos, and others. These blockchains are crucial for the crypto industry, as they provide the infrastructure for building applications and creating advanced ecosystems.

Researching Layer-1 Projects

The following tools can help investors evaluate the utility and adoption of various Layer-1 projects:

• https://www.dapp.com/dapps (compare and review over 5,500 DAPPs built on top of mainstream layer-1 chains)
• https://dappradar.com/rankings (find DAPPs and total value locked (TVL) on top layer-1 blockchains)
• https://dropstab.com/products/etherdrops-bot (track key stats such as gas fees, funding rates, liquidity pools, and swaps)

Image: Layer-1 blockchains and their key DAPPs

Gas Fees

Gas fees are one-time payments that blockchain users make to cover the processing and validation of their transactions on the network.

The following table provides a basic comparison of gas fees across Layer-1 blockchains (2022):

PLATFORM	GAS FEES	GAS FEES ($)
STELLAR (XLM)	0.00001 XLM	$0.000001
SOLANA (SOL)	0.00005 SOL	$0.00016
ALGORAND (ALGO)	0.1 ALGO	$0.0003
POLYGON (MATIC)	0.012 MATIC	$0.0108
AVALANCHE (AVAX)	0.001 AVAX	$0.02
ETHEREUM (ETH)	0.0006 ETH	$0.51

On the following websites, you may find more information regarding gas fees:

• https://gassss.xyz (explore layer-1 gas fees)
• https://cryptofees.info (a list of crypto fees paid on certain projects)

CryptoStats

CryptoStats provides a set of research tools for exploring Ethereum, Bitcoin, DAOs, and more:

• https://ethburned.info (calculate the number of ETH burned due to EIP-1559)

Layer-2 Protocols

Unlike Layer-1 networks, Layer-2 protocols rely on a Layer-1 network to achieve consensus and secure transactions. Layer-2 solutions address scalability issues and lower transaction costs. Examples of successful Layer-2 implementations include Polygon on Ethereum and the Lightning Network on Bitcoin.

• https://l2beat.com/scaling/tvl (compare layer-2 protocols)

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📊 RESEARCHING TOKENOMICS (TOKEN ECONOMICS)

Tokenomics examines the key factors that influence a token’s future supply and value. It includes details such as circulating and total supply, distribution, incentive mechanisms, and burn schedules. This analysis is essential for understanding a project’s future supply and is considered a core part of fundamental analysis.

• https://token.unlocks.app/ (Token unlock schedule & data)

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🖧 RESEARCHING DEFI (DECENTRALIZED FINANCE)

DeFi stands for Decentralized Finance and refers to a financial ecosystem built on blockchain technology. Most DeFi applications run on Ethereum, though other protocols are also used.

• Defi Guide (basic DeFi tutorial)
• https://app.intotheblock.com/insights/defi/charts (explore DeFi Protocols)
• https://www.stakingrewards.com (track the Staking Rewards of popular chains)
• https://www.defipulse.com (Total Value Locked on popular DeFi projects)
• https://etherscan.io/defi-leaderboard (analytics and rankings of DeFi protocols)

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⛓️ RESEARCHING DEXs (DECENTRALIZED EXCHANGES)

Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) are peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplaces where investors can buy and sell cryptocurrencies without intermediaries. Transfers of digital assets and funds are managed entirely by algorithms. DEXs are built on Layer-1 blockchains such as Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, and others.

• https://dune.com/home (volume figures and key statistics regarding Decentralized Exchanges)
• https://app.intotheblock.com/insights/defi/charts/dexes (general DeFi insights)

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🌐 RESEARCHING DAOs (DECENTRALIZED ORGANIZATIONS)

DAO stands for Decentralized Autonomous Organization and refers to an online organization governed directly by its members through online voting. DAOs aim to create a democratic and transparent administration, avoiding the risks of centralized authority.

• https://openorgs.info (Total/Liquid treasury of popular crypto DAOs)
• https://www.tally.xyz (explore, join, or start a DAO)
• https://deepdao.io/organizations (explore popular DAOs)

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🖼️ RESEARCHING NFT TOOLS

NFT stands for non-fungible token and refers to a digital token created and recorded on a blockchain, such as Ethereum or Solana. Each NFT is tied to a specific digital or physical asset, and the blockchain acts as a ledger that records its ownership.

• https://cryptoslam.io (NFT collection rankings based on sales volume)
• https://www.apemonitor.com (track your NFT portfolio)
• https://dappradar.com/nft (track NFTs on popular Layer-1 chains)

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ℹ️ GENERAL INFORMATION

Here are some additional websites that provide general information on cryptocurrency projects:

• https://www.theblock.co/data/alternative-crypto-metrics/web-traffic (check the web traffic of key crypto terms)
• https://craft.co/ethereum (just type the project/company you are interested in, and you will find several stats and key information)
• https://www.crunchbase.com (search and find projects where early investors are putting their money)

Researching Crypto Investment Firms

Below are some key crypto investment firms, including asset management companies. The main focus should be on their portfolios, particularly their investments in early-stage projects:

• Grayscale Investments (assets under management exceeding $45 billion USD)
• Multicoin Capital (assets under management exceeding $3 billion USD)
• Pantera Capital Management (a hedge fund with an interest in blockchain-based ventures, with a median round amount of $10 million. Recent investments include the app Pintu and the game developer Oxalis Games)
• 10T Holdings (growth equity fund focused on mature stage digital projects)
• Off The Chain Capital
• Alameda Research

 

■ Crypto Researching Tools

G. Protonotarios for Tradingcenter.org (c)

September 12th, 2022