Do you have any emerging startups that you are thinking about investing in?
I Recently Fell Down The Rabbit Hole ..
Of researching new (or not so new) startups. I read so much now that I feel like I have less of a grasp on my basic understanding and knowledge of digital money investments, then when I started .. if that makes any sense. I usually don't write about my thoughts on this topic, mostly because of my lack of confidence in the knowledge I have. Then I thought, what better way to gain some confidence then by sharing my thoughts and getting some feed back.
Like I said, I read a lot of stuff. Some of it made sense while other stuff read like stereo instructions (haha). I like to read, but rarely make quick life altering decisions based on that which I had read. I like to give it some time to see how things unfold. I guess you could say that my risk level is more conservative. I have missed out on some amazing investment opportunities, but that's okay. That's how the metaphorical ball bounces in life. No regrets here.
Pool Together ..
So, back to the topic of startups.. There is one in particular that I have had my eye on, ‘Pool Together’. It is an interesting concept where two things, I never thought could possibly be put together, are now joined. Those two things are the “Lottery” and a “Savings Account”.. digital currency savings.
Pool Together has been around since June of 2019, and maybe the startup period is just about over, but this is a new concept to me. Pool Together has basically created a way to save your digital currency, by building their startup on top of Compound.
For those of you that do not know what Compound is (taken right from the web); Me- "GOOGLE, What is Compound?" -- GOOGLE- “Compound is an algorithmic money market protocol on Ethereum that lets users earn interest or borrow assets against collateral. Anyone can supply assets to Compound's liquidity pool and immediately begin earning continuously-compounding interest.”
I have an Ethereum digital wallet that contains DAI, USDC and some Tether (and and and). I take my Dai, USDC or Tether, whose value is generally equal to one US dollar, and deposit some of those digital dollars into my shiny new Pool Together account. Hey, they would be sitting in my Ethereum wallet collecting practically nothing anyhow.. Right? Well, there is some fluctuation. Not a whole heck of a lot though, and rather boring.. Like my USD savings account.
For every dollar of DAI, USDC or Teather I deposit into my Pool Together account, I receive one ticket. For a week, everyone’s currency (everyone who has made a deposit into a Pool Together account), will be earning interest. At the end of the week, that interest is given to one lucky person via a random drawing, like a traditional lottery.
The neat part is that no one loses their money. They may not win any money, but their balance remains unchanged. Next week, the same thing happens. As long as you leave your dollars in the account, you still have your tickets thus having a chance to win the interest pool on the next draw.
The Risk ..
There's always some sort of risk. Everything comes with some sort of perceived or inherent risk, so what’s the risk with saving on Pool Together? Pool Together is powered by the Ethereum blockchain (new tech running off of Ethereum). With that in mind, there are things you are "gambling" (pun intended) on not to happen, such as Protocol Dependency Risk, Smart Contract Exploit Risk, and Wallet Loss Risk [all found listed on their website as potential risk factors].
Risk is something we all acknowledge when making investments in and on a blockchain technology, whether it's a new product, new idea, or old tech. You have to decide if you are willing to part with your entire investment.
Whether it’s in ETF’s, stocks, bonds, gold, silver, tokens, Bitcoin or whatever floats your boat.. DON’T INVEST MORE THAN YOUR WILLING TO LOOSE!
I ‘m not going to get into how you decide what your personal acceptable investment loss threshold is. That’s PERSONAL and not a "One Shoe Fits All" mentality. This is something you should always be thinking about and have figured out before you enter into any investment. Take the time and do it. It may save you a lot of grief and counseling later.
So Pool Together comes with some risks, possibly a good deal of risk. But.. Is the risk worth it?
Who's Buying In? ..
I was astonished to read that of those who participated, roughly 50% of them had previously not been saving any other way. Over half of those 50%, had played the lottery in the past six months.
I have to wonder, is the market ready for this? Are we ready to ditch our old gambling behaviors and redirect those funds into a saving behavior? This could be a (evolving) solution to an ever growing problem that younger generations are currently faced with; The inability to save. Give them the financial tools, that marry multiple concepts which are very familiar to them, and ultimately give them financial incentive and responsibility (hmmmm... I Think?).
Back To The Big Question ..
The big question still lingers.. In my opinion at least.. Is the inherent risk worth it? That’s where I am now. Their idea, their product, their technology, it’s all too new right now for me to make my decision. I want to see more data. Who's winning? What do they have to say? Is everything really TRANSPARENT? I don't know and this blog post won't answer that for you. Sorry to disappoint.
Will I give it a go on limited feedback from my TRUSTED peers? Maybe. Maybe just a few dollars. We’ll see.
If you're interested in checking it out for yourself, I’ll include the link below.
Knowledge Is Power ..
If you don’t get anything else out of all that research you are doing on new developments and products in the crypto world, at least you got the thrill of learning about something new. Hey, maybe you'll even have some useful knowledge to brag about one day.. unlike me.
The world of digital currency and technology is rapidly changing and morphing in this way and that. I find that even though my knowledge is minimal compared to most of you, I still enjoy being in the know.
Let me know in the comments if you were recently turned on to something new; something you recently discovered whether old or new. Ultimately, (going back up top to my original question and before my rant) ..
Do you have any emerging startups that you are thinking about investing in?
Thank you for reading my ramble about a topic I don't normally write about. I just thought "What the heck". I just felt like something a little different today. Hope you enjoyed it.
*sources not mentioned above:
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Thank you for swinging by my blog and checking out the post. Have a great day!
“When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for you to stand upon or you will be taught to fly.”
― Patrick Overton, The leaning tree: [poems]
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About Me ~ The Artist
My art work incorporates a wide variety of subject matter, including landscape, seascape, cityscape, and still life images. My works are the product of a continuing process of exploration through which I seek to portray personal and visionary interpretations of my surroundings. My paintings are impressions of places and events from everyday life, an interpretation of my imagination, and personal responses to what I see and feel on a daily basis. More recently I have invested generous amounts of time into my landscape painting. I am surrounded by natural and man made beauty, which inherently presents itself in the tri-state area, and almost demands that I paint it.
Not everything is art. Art is not everything, but it comes close. Art is everywhere and all the time. Art makes you experience the beauty of the world, the people in it, and the places we call home. Art itself is so influential that it can tell stories, show feelings, and express passion or fury. Art exists in addition to language; expression of sensations and thoughts, revealing a way of thinking too subtle and delicate for words.
For me art requires love, honesty and perseverance. In return, it reveals some personal, non-analyzable, and creative untamed passion. For the public, art with its magnificent beauty, improves mood and health and builds better human beings and communities. It engages the intellect, softens the heart, strengthens the soul and frees the spirit.
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