In the following article we will present 10 crypto tools almost every crypto enthusiast is using. These are tools we wish we knew about when we first started being interested in crypto. If you’ve been into crypto even for a short while, you might know about most of them, but we’ll also indicate how to best use them and why they are so useful.
Not financial advice!
The information in the present article and website does not represent financial advice. We are not financial advisors or expert traders. The information in the current article is intended for informational and educational purposes only, to help crypto newbies better navigate the crypto space.
1. Crypto listing websites: Coingecko and CoinMarketCap
With coin listing websites such as Coingecko and CoinMarketCap you can track how the general crypto market is doing and you can check comprehensive data on thousands of cryptocurrencies, including prices, market capitalization, trading volume, exchanges and more. You can use these platforms to track market trends, research new projects, and stay informed about the latest developments in the crypto space.
Is one better than the other? Well, CoinMarketCap is owned by Binance and it does offer more tools. It is also generally harder for new tokens and coins to be listed on CoinMarketCap. Though either one should be ok to use.
2. Blockchain scanners
Blockchain scanners allow users to explore and analyse transactions on various blockchains. These tools provide valuable insights into transaction history, wallet balances, and network activity, helping users monitor the health and performance of different blockchain networks and various crypto coins or tokens.
Blockchain scanners are especially useful to verify and analyse the Smart Contract of a specific coin or token to make sure there is no malicious code included in the contract. You can also check balances of all the holders to make sure top wallets and the wallets of the founders or team behind the crypto token / coin don’t have too large of a share of the supply. You can also check for token transfers between these top wallets and/or team/founder wallets to make sure there is no manipulation.
Every blockchain has one or multiple scanners:
Bitcoin – https://btcscan.org/
Ethereum – https://etherscan.io/
BASE – https://basescan.org/
BNB smart chain – https://bscscan.com/
Solana – https://solscan.io/
3. Tradingview
TradingView is a versatile charting platform that enables users to perform technical analysis, spot trends, and develop trading strategies. With its intuitive interface and advanced charting tools, TradingView is a valuable resource for traders of all skill levels.
You can use it for free with limited indicators per chart.
4. Wallets: Metamask, Exodus etc.
Wallets are essential tools for storing, sending, and receiving cryptocurrencies securely.
In general, there are multiple types of crypto wallets:
1. Cold wallets – hardware wallets and paper wallets
2. Hot wallets – desktop wallets, mobile wallets, web wallets.
Cold wallets are are not connected to the internet and are stored offline, whereas hot wallets are connected to the internet which may lead to more risks, but are more user friendly.
We won’t get into too much details about wallets, but we do want to mention some of the most popular ones:
MetaMask is probably the most widely used wallet for interacting with Ethereum based applications. It is a web extension which acts as a wallet and has support for many Ethereum based networks (including BASE).
Exodus is one of the most used desktop wallets. It is user-friendly and has support for multiple cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, USDC, Solana and many other.
5. ETH gas tracker
One major issue for the Ethereum main-net is it’s significant transaction costs (gas cost). With this tool, you can check if the network is currently congested or if gas costs are high at the moment. You can also check for times when gas costs are lower: gas costs tend to be lower during the weekend.
If you are not in a rush, you can elect to wait for lower gas costs before making a transaction. If you are in a rush, you can monitor gas prices to transaction costs and avoid delays: selecting a higher than average gas price for your transactions will usually prioritize them.
6. Blockfolio
Blockfolio is one of the most popular apps to track your crypto or investment portfolios. It enables users to monitor their holdings across multiple exchanges and wallets. The app has real-time price updates and customizable alerts.
7. Crypto exchanges
There are 2 main types of crypto exchanges:
1) Centralized exchanges (CEX) such as Coinbase, Kraken and Binance.
2) Decentralized exchanges (DEX) such as Uniswap.
Centralized exchanges (CEX) usually require users to provide identification documentation in order to comply with local and international laws. Usually, you can only buy crypto with fiat money (Dollars, Euro etc.) from centralized exchanges. With centralized exchanges, the cryptocurrencies you buy, sell or hold are not in your own wallet, but the wallet of the exchange.
Decentralized exchanges don’t hold any of your cryptocurrencies. Instead, you allow them to interact with your wallet and transfer coins and tokens directly. In other words, a decentralized exchange (or DEX) is a peer-to-peer marketplace where transactions occur directly between crypto traders.
8. DexTools
With DexTools, you can check real-time data, charts, transactions for various decentralized tokens and liquidity pools. It is especially useful if you plan on using decentralized exchanges (DEXs) or if you want to look into small market cap coins.
9. Crypto news aggregators
It’s important to keep up to date on the crypto market, but a lot of time we tend to go down the rabbit hole and end up wasting time on social media or news websites. But with news aggregators you can better and more efficiently inform yourself on the state of the market.
Crypto news aggregators curate and organize news articles, blog posts, and updates from various sources across the web, providing users with a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in the cryptocurrency space.
One crypto news aggregator that is fairly recommended by crypto veterans is https://cryptopanic.com/
10. Telegram
Telegram is a messaging application that is very popular among cryptocurrency communities, projects, and enthusiasts. By joining relevant Telegram groups and channels, you can connect with like-minded individuals, access valuable insights, and stay updated on the latest news and developments in the crypto space.
Though do keep in mind that it is also rife with pump-and-dump groups and shilling. Don’t get scammed!
Our telegram group is pretty chill. Feel free to join us: https://t.me/stepupbase
11. CoinMarketCal (Bonus)
This website presents a curated list of important updates and events for various cryptocurrencies: project launches, token listings, conferences, and software updates. The main strategy in regards to upcoming major events for a coin is “buy the rumor, sell the news.”
12. Token Unlocks (Bonus)
On this website you can check when a part of the circulating supply for a specific token / coin will be unlocked. Larger projects usually lock some of the circulating supply that was bought by investors during pre-sales. Team allocation of tokens is also usually vested for a period of time. With this tool, you can make sure you are not dumped on.
By the way, STEPUP’s liquidity is locked for 3 years.
There are, of course, many useful crypto tools, but these are more than enough to get you started and to help you STEPUP on your crypto journey.