Security of tokens should be the number one priority of all crypto users. Recent incidents such as the DEXX security incident where at least $21 million worth of user funds was lost, are evidence of the inherent risks of the crypto world. In this scenario, attackers compromised over 1000 users by simply taking advantage of the existing shortcomings of the platform’s private key management.

The One Golden Rule of Crypto: Not Your Keys, Not Your Coins

Begin by choosing the right wallet and using the best security practices on offer. There are two types of crypto wallets – Hot wallets, which have internet connectivity and cold wallets, which are stored offline. Apart from these two, there are smart contract wallets which can be programmed.

Now let’s examine BNB Chain and Trust Wallet’s opinion on crypto wallet safety and how users can make informed decisions based on them.

Lessons learnt from the DEXX security Issue.

Before we dive into what crypto wallet security implies, it is necessary that we understand more about the recent security incident mentioned before.

DEXX, which is a reputed on-chain trading terminal platform, experienced an attack on November 16th, 2024, which primarily affected Solana funds. As a result of this attack over $21 million worth of user funds were lost, with about 1000 victim addresses.

The community is concerned after finding out that more than 9000 unauthorized transactions were used in the attack. Subsequent investigations into several compromised addresses found out that the stolen funds remain in the hacker’s possession. This points to the fact that a single offender perpetrated the incident.

The root cause of the incident was identified as vulnerability in the private key storage of the platform’s server. The API for exporting wallets from DEXX returned private, unencrypted keys. This reveals that DEXX stored private keys on its servers. All this, despite branding itself as a non-custodial wallet – what an irony.

Several measures can be taken to prevent this sort of breach.

• Avoiding Storage of Private Keys: Private keys should never have been stored on DEXX’s servers, as this practice directly contradicts its non-custodial claims.
• Encryption: Sensitive data should be encrypted during transmission and storage to protect delicate user information.
• Regular Security Audits: Regular security audits should have been conducted to identify vulnerabilities before they were exploited.

Checking whether selected wallets have gone through proper audits is key for  users. When investing a substantial amount of funds, it’s better to choose reputed and time-tested platforms to decrease the chances of loss.

What to Look for in a Secure Wallet?

Consider the following features when looking for a secure cryptocurrency wallet.

Secure Key Management

Reliable wallets should commit to secure key management. They should ensure that all private keys are generated, stored and managed in the most secure manner possible. Some of the key aspects of secure key management include:

Backup and Recovery: Users should be provided with secure backup options. They should also have the ability to recover private keys or seed phrases when needed.

Seed Phrase Encryption: Ensure that the wallet has strong encryption measures for seed phrases.

Non-custodial design: Go for wallets that do not store their private keys on centralized servers. User should have full control over their private keys.

Wallet History and Security Licenses

Selecting a secure wallet is undoubtedly the most challenging thing a new Web3 user has to do. Many users face difficulties in determining whether a wallet is secure and follows the best practices and protocols.

With that being said, follow these steps to choose a secure wallet.

• Begin by checking the past records of the wallet and opting for one with a proven history and good reputation. These are likely to follow strict security protocols.
• Check whether the wallet has passed multiple audits and holds a valid security license.

Follow these above steps to make informed decisions.

Security Scanners and Alerts

Users seldom understand the full implication of a transaction when performing them or exploring dApps. When receiving a given message or prompted transaction from a dApp, it requires a lot of trust from the user’s end. Why? – because its almost impossible to know the full extent of the transaction’s consequences, just by looking at the on-screen prompt.

Fortunately, Trust Wallet’s Security Scanner feature solves this problem. This feature is responsible for analyzing transactions and identifying suspicious patterns, even before the funds are sent. This reduces the chances of users accepting or signing fraudulent or unwanted transactions. This feature alone has safeguarded $450 million from being stolen.

Wallets with this feature simulate the transaction. They then provide the results to the users instead of just displaying the message or the transaction the DApp requests. This ensures that the client’s action is the same as their expectations.

Crypto wallets are known as the gateway to interacting with dApps. But since the users do not fully understand the imitations of transactions, the security scanner feature should be used.

Step-by-Step Guide for Choosing a Wallet

The main tool for interacting with the crypto ecosystem is the crypto wallet. It functions as the gateway to dApps and blockchain networks. This makes choosing the right wallet very important, even if one is trying to play blockchain games as opposed to storing assets or executing transactions.

Before you select a wallet, ask these questions to yourself.

• Do you want to hold assets long-term or are you simply a day trader?
• What is the maximum amount of risk you can take?
• Do you want to engage with dApps, or do you need basic storage or transaction capabilities?

Crypto Wallet Types

Crypto wallets can come in two forms – software wallets and hardware wallets.

Software wallets have to be accessed using smartphones, browsers or computers. Users can conveniently connect with Web3 decentralized applications or get access to their digital assets simply by clicking.

This feature makes them popular among crypto traders. The main advantage of software wallets is the level of functionality and immediate accessibility they provide. They are versatile, capable of connecting to dApps seamlessly and be used for use cases such as crypto payments and digital IDs.

A good example of a software wallet is Trust Wallet. It is compatible with both desktops and mobile devices. 

When using a hot wallet on your PC or mobile, it’s crucial to install antivirus software for malware protection to ensure the security of your personal computer or phone. Hardware wallets on the other hand are physical devices used to store private keys in an offline environment. They are considered the safest option for crypto management and storage for this reason. It stores private keys away from internet connectivity.

Hardware wallets are ideal for users who prefer an extra layer of physical security or wish to store their crypto assets without frequent transactions. They are also suited for those who like to store their crypto long-term. However, the trade-off is not convenient, as things like transaction execution can take longer.

Can hardware and software wallets be used simultaneously?

It is possible to use hardware and software wallets at the same time. You can connect Ledger, which is a hardware wallet to Trust Wallet’s( software wallet) browser extension feature.

Are smart contract wallets safe?

Smart contract wallets use smart contracts that can function as wallets and provide features such as signature validation, asset ownership, and execution. Most use the ERC-4337 industry standard to develop a smart contract wallet even though other methods exist.

Smart contract wallets can bolster security and usability compared to traditional wallets. With smart contract wallets, users can get multi-owner accounts, flexible key management, token gas payments, account recovery, batch transactions, and advanced UX with security audits.

Conclusion

The world of cryptocurrency has both potential rewards and inherent risks. The key here is to stay informed and secure. Prioritize security by choosing wallets that can provide the above-mentioned features. Remember, it’s essential to make well-informed decisions and understand your needs before you choose a particular type of wallet.

Lastly, security is a personal thing. Stay vigilant, avoid sharing personal information and use different storage methods.

The impact of blockchain on technology and society can not be overstated. Since entering the picture following the discovery of Bitcoin in 2009, the blockchain has influenced many industries, even as it’s become a vital institutional technology itself. Blockchain technology has disrupted institutions and traditional social systems across the globe, creating new economies and incentives that have filled gaps left unattended by conventional institutions. 

Drew Pascarella, a senior lecturer of Finance at Cornell University opined that “Blockchain has the potential to be quite disruptive and make the way people work fundamentally more transparent and collaborative in the future.” This opinion is a general consensus across the industry. 

The global blockchain technology market was valued at $17.57 billion in 2023. This figure has grown to $27.84 billion in 2024 and is poised to reach $825.93 billion by 2032. The CAGR in this forecast period is 52.8%. Figures like these show how far blockchain technology has come, an evolution that we’ll be discussing in this article. Some diverse applications of this disruptive technology include Layer-1s, Layer-2s, and Real-World Assets (RWAs) and these are what we will be focusing on — highlighting the growth through some key projects. 

Understanding Blockchain Technology

The blockchain is a decentralized ledger technology that records transactions across multiple nodes (re: computers) within a business network. Before the advent of the blockchain, transactions, and record-keeping in industries suffered from vulnerabilities like fraud and cyber-attacks. A limited level of transparency also affected the operations and bottom lines of businesses in different sectors. All these have since been drastically reduced or eradicated with the introduction of blockchain technology. Now there’s greater trust, improved security, and efficiency with faster transaction speeds becoming the norm.

Layer-1 Solutions

Layer-1 blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum provide the core infrastructure for the blockchain. These chains provide network security and process transactions with Bitcoin processing up to 7 transactions per second (TPS), while Ethereum processes around 15 TPS. Traditional payment systems on their part depend on banks and payment processors to facilitate transactions. Settlements for these transactions often take 1-3 business days to reflect depending on the banking institution and the type of transfer.

Layer-1’s are becoming increasingly important for cross-chain transactions. The need for communication and data sharing with other networks has seen the rise of interoperable platforms like Aptos and MANTRA Chain. 

Aptos is a layer-1 community-driven network governed by the people who build on it. It leverages the novel Move programming language and a parallel execution engine to improve the throughput of transactions significantly. The blockchain processes approximately 160,000 TPS, validating them in under one second.

MANTRA Chain is a purpose-built layer-1 blockchain ecosystem that integrates RWAs into the blockchain space. According to Boston Consulting Group (BCG) research, the tokenized asset market will reach $16 trillion by 2030 (10% of the global GDP). Another study by Binance shows that the market value of tokenized RWAs has surged past $12 billion. This is proof that RWAs are quickly becoming a huge market with the MANTRA blockchain at the forefront of this niche offering an innovative solution: a permissionless environment where permissioned applications can flourish. This bridges the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized systems.

Scaling Solutions With Layer-2

The blockchain trilemma is a term coined by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, and it refers to the challenge of achieving three critical aspects of blockchain technology: decentralization, security, and scalability. The first pillar, security, is vital because only robust defenses can prevent and withstand malicious attacks. The peak of scalability is having blockchains accommodate an increased number of transactions and users, without a substantial increase in fees or slower transaction times. As highlighted in this article, decentralization is an essential feature of blockchain technology as control over a network is evenly distributed among participants, ensuring fairness and transparency.

Layer-2 solutions are solving this trilemma, and a great example of this is Metis. Metis is an Ethereum layer-2 Rollup platform that offers simple and fast smart contract deployment within the network. Metis provides solutions to some of the big challenges present on the Ethereum network, including transaction speed, cost, and scalability. This layer 2 is also the first Optimistic Rollup that has achieved sequencer decentralization, eliminating single points of failure and properly aligning incentives between all network participants.

Privacy and Censorship Resistance

The need for privacy and censorship resistance has seen the rise of privacy-preserving cryptocurrencies like TOMI. TOMI is the native token of tomiNET, a parallel worldwide web designed as an alternative to the government-controlled and censored web. It is targeted at users in locations where their access to open information is limited, or where businesses cannot ensure their domain-based property rights on the existing Web2 infrastructure. TOMI combines the best Web2 and Web3 technologies for a privacy-preserving, self-governing internet. 

The need for blockchain interoperability

There are currently over 55 blockchains, and these networks communicate with each other, sending and receiving data and tokens are important, especially in today’s blockchain landscape. This is blockchain interoperability. Emerging blockchains with unique features and use cases must be able to communicate and share data. This allows for seamless collaboration between different networks, thereby improving the overall utility and efficiency of blockchain technology. 

While most layer-1 blockchains don’t inherently support cross-chain interoperability, Aptos champions building a flexible and adaptable infrastructure, allowing for potentially easier integrations with cross-chain protocols. Because MANTRA is a blockchain designed for RWAs, it likely focuses on the interoperability between TradFi systems and blockchain networks. As an Ethereum layer-2 solution, Metis inherently offers interoperability with the Ethereum ecosystem. And even though tomiNet’s main focus is creating a censorship-resistant internet, it will likely adopt interoperability features that ensure seamless communication between its network and the existing Web2 infrastructure. 

Conclusion

The blockchain industry continues to grow, and the technology is marked by innovative projects like the ones mentioned in this article. These platforms offer unique solutions to the challenges of scalability, security, and decentralization on the blockchain, as they shape a more inclusive and digital ecosystem.

In the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the global adoption of crypto, particularly as this distinct asset class has increasingly become part of traditional finance (Trad-fi) systems today. Research indicates that by 2024, an astonishing 6.8% of the world’s population – approximately 560 million people own cryptocurrencies.

Narrowing down on the western hemisphere, the United States has continued to be a frontrunner in this ongoing digital race, with a remarkable 40% of American adults now holding some cryptocurrency or the other (up from 30% in 2023). Not only that, the ownership demographic landscape is also evolving rapidly, with women’s ownership rates surging from 18% in 2023 to 29% in early 2024. 

Number of verified crypto users between 2016 – 2023 (source: Techreport)

Globally, too, a growing number of countries are embracing cryptocurrencies at varying levels. India, for instance, currently lays claim to more than 93.5 million crypto users, while Vietnam boasts of an impressive ownership rate of 21.19% (followed closely by the U.S. at 15.56%).

Lastly, viewing this from an external perspective this growth is attributed to the resilience in the cryptocurrency market. After a challenging 2022, the market has progressed well all through 2023-2024, propelled by the introduction of various Bitcoin ETFs and improvement in crypto regulatory clarity.

Global BTC ownership rates (source: Crypto.com)

Cultivating trust and accessibility

With the crypto realm having matured greatly in recent years, many companies are now making use of innovative strategies to attract new users while retaining their existing clientele. At the forefront of these efforts stands user education. In recent years, firms like Coinbase and KuCoin have all started offering comprehensive tutorials and webinars to demystify the world of digital assets for potential investors.

Similarly, regulatory compliance is another domain that has been seen by many as a cornerstone of trust-building and user acquisition. To this end, entities like Binance have adapted their operations to align with local regulations. The exchange’s recent registration with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), exemplifies this ideal.

Moreover, platforms like Crypto.com offer reward programs where users earn cashback in crypto for transactions made using their cards, incentivizing spending and encouraging users to remain engaged with the platform.

Apart from such traditional efforts, companies like VALR, Africa’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, have recently taken user engagement to a completely new level. The exchange’s innovative “Global Treasure Hunt” competition, for example, has been designed to be a four-month extravaganza — offering both new and existing users the chance to earn ‘Mystery Boxes’ containing a share of $80,000 worth of cryptocurrency rewards.

The competition’s structure is designed to encourage active participation and platform exploration. Users begin by selecting a region of their choice, each themed around different global landmarks (from Tokyo to Angkor Wat). Such a unique gamification element adds an exciting layer of adventure to the crypto experience.

The future is crypto. Here’s why

Examining data found on the internet, it is evident that various signals point towards a significant increase in cryptocurrency usage in the next few years. This trend is likely to be further driven by the changing financial trends and regulatory environments which are currently being established. Likewise, there is a growing political backing for cryptocurrencies, especially among younger voters who are pushing for digital assets.

Furthermore, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approving multiple Bitcoin ETFs has become a major factor attracting possible new investors. Around 21% of non-owners have stated that these approvals have increased their inclination to invest in cryptocurrencies.

In the US specifically, this may mean about 29 million new users entering the crypto industry, leading to a significant change in the landscape.

Focused on what lies ahead, the cryptocurrency market is on the verge of a new era, largely propelled by the previously mentioned engagement tactics. Hence, with digital assets gaining more acceptance from individuals and institutions, we can anticipate an increase in innovation, expansion, and collaboration in both traditional finance and cryptocurrency sectors. Exciting times are coming!!