Recognizing utility and the current level of adoption is an essential step for investing in the right cryptocurrency projects. These are some useful web tools for researching cryptocurrency networks.

RESEARCHING LAYER-1 CHAINS

Layer-1 crypto projects refer to autonomous blockchain networks that can process, validate, and finalize crypto transactions without the need for another network.

Such autonomous networks include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche, Binance, Cardano, Polkadot, Cosmos, etc. These blockchains are particularly important for the crypto industry as they provide the infrastructure for building applications and creating sophisticated ecosystems.

Researching Layer-1 Projects

The following tools can help investors estimate the level of utility and current adoption of several layer-1 projects:

• https://www.dapp.com/dapps (compare and review over 5,500 DAPPs built on the 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 refer to one-time payments made by blockchain users to compensate for the process and validation of their transactions on the network.

The following table presents a basic comparison of layer-1 blockchains and gas fees:

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 offers a collection of research tools for exploring Ethereum, BTC, DAOs, etc:

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

 

Layer-2 Protocols

Contrary to layer-1, layer-2 protocols require the use of another network (layer-1) for achieving consensus and securing transactions. Layer-2 protocols solve the scalability issues of layer-1 chains and reduce the cost per transaction. Polygon on Ethereum and the Lightning Network on Bitcoin are examples of successful layer-2 implementations.

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

---

RESEARCHING TOKENOMICS (TOKEN ECONOMICS)

Tokenomics explore the key factors that influence a token's future supply and value. Tokenomics include information such as circulating/total supply, distribution, incentive mechanisms, and burn schedules. This part of the crypto analysis is essential for determining the future supply of a project and is considered to be part of fundamental analysis.

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

---

RESEARCHING DEFI (DECENTRALIZED FINANCE)

DeFi stands for Decentralized Finance and refers to a financial ecosystem that is built on top of blockchain technology. Most DeFi applications are built on top of Ethereum, but other protocols are used as well.

• 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)

---

RESEARCHING DEXs (DECENTRALIZED EXCHANGES)

Decentralized exchanges, also known as DEXs, are peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplaces where investors can buy/sell cryptocurrencies without needing an intermediary. The transfer of digital assets and funds is exclusively based on algorithms. These DEXs are built on layer-1 blockchains such as Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, etc.

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

---

RESEARCHING DAOs (DECENTRALIZED ORGANIZATIONS)

DAO is the acronym of a Decentralized Autonomous Organization and refers to an online organization that is ruled directly by its members via online voting. DAOs aim to achieve a democratic and transparent administration by avoiding the hazards of centralized authority and central government.

• 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)

---

RESEARCHING NFT TOOLS

NFT means non-fungible token and refers to a digital token built and recorded on a blockchain such as Ethereum or Solana. This token is linked with the value of a particular digital or even physical asset. The blockchain is used as a ledger recording the ownership status of the NFT.

• 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)

---

GENERAL INFORMATION

These are some additional websites offering general information regarding crypto 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, you may explore some key crypto investment firms that include asset management firms. The main focus should be on their portfolios, especially as it concerns early-stage projects:

• Grayscale Investments (assets under management exceeding $45 billion USD)
• Multicoin Capital (assets under management exceeding $3 billion USD)
• Pantera Capital Management (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