This year, the crypto world entered a new era of growth, accessibility, and opportunity. Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to lead the charge, but it’s the introduction of smarter, more versatile tools like savings wallets that’s redefining how investors approach digital assets. If you’re looking for ways to grow your portfolio without riding the market volatility rollercoaster, 2024 is your year.

What’s Driving the Crypto Market in 2024?

The numbers tell the story: 2024 became a landmark year for cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, the flagship digital asset, smashed through its previous ceilings to hit an all-time high of $107 000, driven by global adoption and institutional enthusiasm. Ethereum didn’t lag too far behind — it crossed the $4 200 mark, with $2.7 billion in inflows into Ethereum-focused products, cementing its role in decentralized finance (DeFi).

The crypto market cap surged to $2.4 trillion, supported by groundbreaking financial products like Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Bitcoin ETFs, in particular, attracted $10.5 billion in inflows in just one month, bringing total ETF assets to $110 billion. These products simplify access to digital assets for both individual and institutional investors, driving the sector’s incredible growth.

At the same time, stablecoins, including USDT and USDC, now valued at $200 billion, are emerging as key tools for risk management and steady returns. Investors increasingly use them in savings wallets to generate reliable income while protecting their portfolios from market turbulence.

Where Is the Money Flowing?

Bitcoin ETFs: The New Gold Standard

Bitcoin ETFs have opened the door for mainstream investors to access crypto without the complexities of wallets and private keys. With $110 billion in total assets, these ETFs have become a crucial driver of Bitcoin’s meteoric rise.

Ethereum Staking: Rewards for Long-Term Holders

Ethereum is winning over passive income enthusiasts with staking rewards of 5% to 10% annually. These returns, combined with Ethereum’s expanding role in DeFi, make it an attractive choice for those seeking both growth and regular payouts.

Savings Wallets: Where Stability Meets Profitability

Savings wallets like Coinhold offer a balanced solution for investors who want predictable returns. These wallets provide up to 14% annual interest on stablecoins and 8% on major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, making them ideal for both cautious savers and ambitious growth seekers.

Why Coinhold Is Your Best Bet

Coinhold by EMCD is redefining what it means to earn passive income in crypto. Designed to combine ease of use, competitive rates, and robust security, Coinhold gives your digital assets the chance to grow steadily — whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned crypto investor.

What Sets Coinhold Apart

Impressive Rates: Coinhold offers up to 14% annual interest on stablecoins and 8% on Bitcoin and Ethereum, putting it ahead of most other investment tools.

Flexible Options: Choose flexible deposits for instant access to funds or fixed-term deposits for higher returns.

Security and Reliability: Powered by EMCD, a trusted name in the crypto industry, Coinhold keeps your assets safe while delivering consistent returns.

How to Get Started with Coinhold

Starting your journey with Coinhold is quick and easy. Here’s your 5 steps to passive income:

1. Sign up on the EMCD site or app 

2. Verify your identity to secure your account and comply with regulations

3. Select a plan — decide between flexible or fixed-term deposits based on your financial goals

4. Top up your wallet with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or stablecoins like USDT and USDC 

5. Earn rewards as soon as your deposit is confirmed — track your growth through Coinhold’s simple and intuitive dashboard

2024: The Year to Invest Smarter

Crypto’s 2024 evolution isn’t just about record-breaking prices — it’s about empowering investors with tools that balance risk and reward. Bitcoin ETFs and Ethereum staking are rewriting the playbook for growth, while savings wallets like Coinhold offer the consistency and flexibility needed in a volatile market.

With Coinhold, your assets don’t just sit idle — they work for you. Whether you’re planning for the long haul or seeking short-term gains, Coinhold provides the perfect blend of security and profitability. Start earning smarter today — because your crypto deserves to grow as much as you do.

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.

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!!