NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token. Each NFT Token is different and cannot be exchanged with one another.

Fungible means that each item is identical and can be exchanged with one another example Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Binance, Etherium etc. NFT’s being non-fungible, means each token is different and cannot be exchanged with one another. It is a unique digital asset. It provides authenticity and ownership to a specific item. This item can be in the form of art, music, videos or virtual items in games.

Key Features of NFT

Use Cases of NFT

NFT became popular in 2021, when few of the digital art items were sold in millions of dollars.

How NFT works?

Step-by-step procedure of working of NFT:

1. Blockchain Technology:

NFTs are developed on Blockchain technology which is a decentralized system. Majority of NFTs are built using Etherium blockchain. But there are other blockchains as well which support NFTs like Solona, Flow etc. In blockhain all the transactions are recorded thus one can verify who owns a particular NFT.

2. Tokenization (Minting)

An NFT is created by creating a unique token on blockchain. This process is known as minting during which digital content like art, music, videos etc is attached to a unique token. This token entry is stored in the blockchain thereby making sure that NFT are unique and they can not be copied, altered or destroyed.

The process of creating an NFT is called minting. During minting, digital content like art, music, videos, or virtual items is tied to a unique token. This token is recorded on the blockchain, and this entry ensures that the NFT cannot be copied, altered, or destroyed.

Etherium which is used to create NFTs uses Smart Contracts with the terms mentioned within the code. These contracts manage ownership, transfer and royalty rights when the NFT is sold to someone.

3. Ownership

When someone buys an NFT, they own a token that points to the digital item stored on a server. Only one person can own a specific NFT at a given point of time, even if the digital file is copied or downloaded by others.

4. Marketplaces

People can list, buy and sell NFTs on various marketplaces using cryptocurrency mainly Ether. Examples of these platforms are:

• OpenSea
• Binance
• Crypto
• Rarible

5. Standards

Their are specific standards related to NFT. These are:

ERC-721: It is the common standard for NFT on the Ethereum blockchain. It says that each token must be unique or non-fungible.

ERC-1155: It is a multi-token standard which allows both fungible and non-fungible tokens in the same smart contract.

6. Real life Utilities of NFT

Use cases of NFT can be in the form of Digital Art, music, gaming, Virtual Real Estate, Collectibles and Domain Names. Click here to know more.

7. Resale

There is a mechanism of royalties through smart contracts. In this the original creator of NFT can earn a share of the sale whenever NFT is resold. Thus it provides long-term earning option for artists and creators.

8. Authenticity

Since NFT uses blockchain, there’s a public record of transactions of NFT indicating their ownership. We can verify authenticity and scarcity of digital items. It depends upon the artists, how many copies of digital artwork they want to mint, thus making the asset rare and valuable.

9. Environmental concerns

There is an environmental impact of NFTs which are based on Ethereum as minting and transactions on blockchains consume lot of resources.

In short, NFTs work by creating a unique, verifiable digital asset on a blockchain. They enable creators, artists, and collectors to trade and monetize digital content securely.

Can NFT be converted to cash

Yes, NFTs can be converted into cash, but there are a few steps since NFTs are mainly bought and sold using cryptocurrency. These steps are as follows:

• Go to NFT marketplace and sell the NFT for cryptocurrency.
• Transfer the cryptocurrency you obtained to a crypto exchange.
• Sell your cryptocurrency for fiat currency (like USD, EUR, etc.).
• Withdraw the cash to your bank account.

Which NFT is the most expensive?

The most expensive NFT ever sold (as of 2023) is “Everydays: The First 5000 Days” by digital artist Beeple (Mike Winkelmann). This artwork was sold for $69.3 million in March 2021 at a Christie’s auction.

Other Expensive NFTs are listed below:

1. CryptoPunk #5822 – This NFT was created by Larva Labs and was sold for $23.7 million in February 2022.
2. CryptoPunk #7523 – This NFT is known as “Covid Alien” due to its mask. It was sold for $11.8 million in June 2021 at a Sotheby’s auction.
3. Beeple’s “Human One” – This is a hybrid physical-digital sculpture combined with an NFT. It was sold for $28.9 million in November 2021.
4. XCopy’s “Right-click and Save As guy” – It was sold for $7.09 million in December 2021.

When was NFT launched?

NFTs were first conceptualized and launched around 2014, but they gained significant popularity in 2017.

Key Launch Dates:

• 2014: First NFT-like concept was introduced by Kevin McCoy.
• 2017: The launch of ERC-721 standard, CryptoPunks, and CryptoKitties officially marked the beginning of the NFT era.
• 2021: Explosive growth in the NFT market took place in 2021 and were adopted widespread.

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Web 3.0 is the third generation of internet. Key feature of Web 3.0 is decentralization which leads to technologies such as Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Blockchain & Distributed Ledger.

What is Web 3.0?

Web 3.0 or Web3 is the future version of internet. In Web 3.0, we will directly indulge into the digital world. It is also known as semantic web which will be able to understand us and our context deeper, in such a manner that it will give us the exact information that we want and in the same format we want i.e. it will give us more desired internet experience.

Currently it’s work is in progress. In Web 3.0 there will be individual control of personal data. It can read between the lines to understand the intent behind our online request. It assembles the information just like humans. Therefore it will be of great utility to the users. It is decentralized and open web.

History of Web 2.0 & Web 1.0

The left side, represents Web 1.0, which features a vintage computer with a slow dial-up connection. There is a simple text-based website, and a search engine with limited results. The right side, symbolizing Web 2.0, displays a sleek modern computer, a dynamic, multimedia-rich website, and a search engine with numerous filters and advanced options. There is a stark contrast, illustrating the evolution from a static, one-way information system to an interactive, user-generated, and more engaging experience.

Web 1.0 started in 1990’s. It is a static web or read-only web. Emails started during this time. Interactive pages were not there.

Web 2.0 is the second version of web which is currently going on. It is also referred to as social web. The static pages of Web 1.0 got replaced by dynamic pages of Web 2.0 with features such as social interaction, engagement, user generated content.

Social platforms such as Orkut, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp all were developed during this. Billions of people are of these platforms. Banking & Trading are at next level. Data is huge. Mobile devices like iPhones & Android smartphones are key innovations of Web 2.0.

Two important events took place in 2004 which was the starting era of Web 2.0 i.e. Google’s IPO launched and secondly Facebook was developed. Main companies of Web 2.0 like Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook (now Meta), Netflix are today among the world’s biggest companies based on market capitalization.

A huge number of applications were developed giving opportunity to millions of people to earn on a part time or full time basis by renting their cars, homes, delivering food & groceries, selling of goods & services.

However certain industries and sectors who could not adapt to Web 2.0 model went to loss like retail, entertainment, media & advertising. A new form of marketing has come into boom, known as Digital Marketing. Content marketing has enabled a lot of people to earn money on social media platforms.

Features of Web 3.0 Applications

1. Decentralization

Applications are designed on decentralized network rather than centralized servers. Example Blockchain

2. Ownership of Data

Users have control and ownership on their personal data.

3. Smart Contracts

When the conditions mentioned on the contract are met, those contracts will automatically be executed.

4. No Permission required

Users don’t need to take permission from any central authority to interact with the network.

5. Interoperability

Different platforms & applications can work together over here.

Examples of Web 3.0 Applications

1. Cryptocurrencies

These are digital currencies that works on Blockchain. Example Bitcoin, Ethereum

2. Decentralized Finance Platforms (DeFi)

It provides financial services like lending, borrowing, trading without any central authority in between. Example Uniswap, Compound.

3. Decentralized Applications (dApps)

These include applications running on decentralized networks like social media, gaming which involve digital assets. Example CryptoKitties, AxieInfinity.

4. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DOAs)

These include organizations which are governed by smart contracts and where decisions are taken collectively by the token holders. Example MakerDAO, Aragon.

5. Web 3.0 Browsers

These include browsers that give access to decentralized applications and the Web 3.0 environment. Example Brave, MetaMask.

6. Social Networks

These include social media platforms where content is owned by users and can be monetized through tokens. Example Steemit, Minds.

7. Decentralized Marketplaces

These include platforms where you can buy, sell, and trade digital assets like NFTs (non-fungible tokens). Example OpenSea, Rarible.

8. Data Storage Solutions

These include decentralized storage system where data is stored on distributed networks but not on centralized servers. Example IPFS, FileCoin.

Web 3.0 vs Web 2.0

Above image shows comparison of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 versions of the internet.

Leftside of the image represents, Web 2.0. It is shown as a vibrant, multi-colored world, with an emphasis on social media and user-generated content. The hardware and software are represented by a smartphone, laptop, and an interconnected web of colorful lines.

In contrast, Web 3.0, on the right side is shown as a more advanced, interconnected, and decentralized world. The hardware is represented by futuristic devices like virtual reality headsets and holographic displays. The software features include blockchain technology, AI, and machine learning algorithms.

The two versions of the internet are connected by a bridge, symbolizing the ongoing transition from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0.

What is Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is a type of finance which enable people to do peer to peer transaction without an intermediary in between. It means there is no third party or any central institution involved in the financial transactions. So you don’t have to pay to any central authority like bank for financial transactions. DeFi has secured distributed ledgers just like cryptocurrencies. It uses security protocols.

DeFi is in its starting phase. Therefore it is prone to hacks & thefts.

Applications of Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

In DeFi applications people can use their money for purpose like purchases, loans, gifts, trading etc without a third party intervention. These applications can be installed on a laptop, tablet, or on mobile. People can do financial transactions in any part of the world using blockchain without any third party involved. These financial transactions involve cryptocurrency in exchange of goods or services provided.

DeFi applications can provide basic services like savings accounts and also advances services like providing liquidity to businesses or investors. One such example is Aave where you can give loans to the borrower in the form of crypto-assets thereby earn interest from them. 

Web 3.0 vs Digital Marketing

Currently business rely on advertising, public relations & direct marketing for the promotion of their goods and services. But with the start of Web 3.0, the digital marketing ecosystem will change a lot.

For example, cookies will be removed from the web browsers. Cookies are used to store data about people’s behavior on internet. With cookies removed, it will be difficult for B2B business owners to target their specific audience. As without this information , it would be difficult for marketers to understand their audience and provide them with relevant information.

How Web 3.0 will impact Digital Marketing

1. Customer Data & Privacy

As data in Web 3.0 is more decentralized and secured, the marketers will have to use a different way to collect and store data. That is they have to find a new way to identify and target their audience. This new way should be such that it protects user’s data and maintain their privacy.

2. User Experience

Web 3.0 will provide new user experience which will lead to new strategy for reaching and engaging your target audience. People will be interacting to the online world using augmented or virtual reality.

3. Marketing Strategy

In web 3.0 there will be new challenges and opportunities for Digital marketers as third party cookies won’t be available. So they will need to utilize user data sources. This will help in creating personalized and targeted content.

Web 3.0 and Social Media

With the coming of Web 3.0, some of the platforms are shifting from traditional Web2.0 to modern Web 3.0 version. One such example is Social Media Platforms. In web 3.0 data, content and online interactions will be controlled by the user itself.

Above image shows a futuristic vision of a Web 3.0 social media platform. There’s a meta-reality interface where users can interact with their avatars. The avatars are diverse, with various body types, skin colors, and clothing styles. The background is a digital landscape with floating islands, a futuristic city, and a serene landscape. There’s a dialogue box at the bottom, where one user avatar is sending a message to another.

Multiple Social media platforms have been developed on Web 3.0 that are decentralized and respect consumer privacy. List is as follows:

1. Second Life

2. Mastodon

3. Horizon Worlds

4. Zepeto

Metaverse

It is a virtual world where people interact in the form of their Avatars in 3D environment. It is a digital universe which is a combination of physical reality and digital reality. It runs on technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Blockchain. Facebook renamed its brand to Meta and announced that it would focus its future on the upcoming “metaverse.” To know more about metaverse, visit here.

For more details you can Contact Us here.

What is Stock Investment?

Stock Investment basically means to invest in companies’ stocks or shares. It is one of the most popular investment idea in India. When you own a stock or a share of a company you are actually owing a part of the company that’s why it is called a share. Investing in the stock market can give you high returns, but it also involves high risks.

History of Stock Investment

Stock Investment for Beginners

If you are a beginner and you want to invest in stock market, then you need to first ask yourself why have you come here for investing, if it is because of these 3 reasons then my advice is that you should not do stock investing.

1. You have heard from your relative or friend that they have made a huge money in stock market.
2. You have read in the newspaper that people have earned around 300-400% in an IPO launch which is not completely true.
3. You have heard that a particular share value has increased over a lot in a small period of time, so you also want to trade in it and grow your money rapidly.

But if you have come here for following two reasons then stock investment is meant for you and you have come at the right place to begin with. These reasons are:

1. You know that the value of your money is going down by 0.5% every month considering inflation rate as 6%. So you want to invest your money so that you can beat inflation. Then it is a valid reason for stock investment.
2. You want your money to make more money for you. Just like there are lakhs of people working day and night for Tata’s or Ambani’s helping them to grow their money. They let their money work for them. This is how the rich people become more richer as they leverage the power of their money in making more money.

Steps to do Stock Investment Safely

There are chances of losses in Stock Investment. But there are ways to reduce those risks. With following steps you can do stock investment safely. These include analyzing your goals, your risk-appetite, your time-horizon etc. These steps are explained below:

1. Make SMART Goals

You should be clear about your investment goals. Goals will help you make investment decisions wisely and stay focused. You need to set both short-term & long-term goals. As you will make your investment strategy accordingly. Short term goals like saving for a vacation, long-term goals like child’s education, planning for early retirement. For long term goals you can take high risk but for short term you can’t be aggressive.

Your Goals should be SMART meaning:

• S – Specific
  Your goal needs to be specific and narrow for effective planning.
• M – Measurable
  You should be able to measure the progress of your goal.
• A – Achievable
  That Goal should be achievable within a certain time frame.
• R – Relevant
  Goal should align with your values and long term objectives i.e. it should be relevant.
• T – Time Bound
  Set the timeline of goal which is achievable and motivates you to prioritize accordingly.

2. Calculate how much you can put into Stock Investment

List all your sources of income. Keep aside an emergency fund for covering your expenses for at least 3 to 6 months such as your EMI’s, your monthly rents and other essential bills. Its recommended to pay your high interest debts such as credit card dues. After all these calculations you will get an idea of how much money you can put into stock investment.

FYI – There is a Minimum 10% rule – which says that you should invest at least 10% of your income every month in long-term investments. Simultaneously you should increase your investment amount every year by 10%. Then after a period of 20 years, it will give you very high returns because of the power of compounding, provided you need to be patient.

Even if your funds are small for investment, don’t worry. Just remember, investing is a Marathon, not a Sprint, its a long journey ahead.

3. Evaluate your Risk Capacity

It is a necessary step to evaluate as returns in Stock Market are unpredictable. You may loose everything over here or you may earn indefinitely. So invest only the amount you can take risk of. Higher risk may give you high returns and reverse is also true.

Also you need to see your timeline. If you have bigger timeline you can take higher risk as will give you time to recover from potential losses. But if your timeline is small, you need to do conservative investments. Select stocks based on your risk taking capacity. For Example:

Risk	Stock Investment Asset
Low	Dividend Stocks & Bonds
Medium	Mid-Cap & Large Capitalization Stocks, Index Funds, Exchange Traded Funds
High	Small Cap Stocks, Growth Stocks, Sector Specific Investments

Your risk capacity may change with time so adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

4. Strategy to pick Stock wisely for Stock Investment

By purchasing share of a company you start owning that business and let professionals working in that company, work for your business growth, thereby giving you profits.

How do you select a particular stock or how do you choose a company as its a big task of selecting 10 to 20 companies out of a total of 5000 companies. Also we don’t have that much time after coming from work or office to do research on companies and then select the ones that we feel will perform well.

So strategy that I follow in selecting a company is to see the most common brands that we find in our surroundings. We ourself are a witness of that company performing well because of its regular customer base, we see in our day-to-day basis.

You yourself list down 15-20 companies from your daily routine whose product you, your friends & your relatives use in their daily routines. Just note down the companies as we proceed further. Assume yourself in such situations and list down the companies whose products you see or consume.

1. We start from the morning, in morning when we getup, we use brush & toothpaste, so which Company paste or brush you or your loved ones use. Note it down.
2. Which company soap, shampoo, oil you or your friends/relatives commonly use.
3. Then you drink Milk, Tea or coffee so which brand you prefer.
4. After that you go to office via cab. Which app you use to book your cab.
5. When you work in office, the software that you work on was designed by which company, the communication channel that you use in your office belongs to which company. The gadgets that are their in your office are of which company.
6. At lunch time when you order food from outside through which platform you order your food.
7. From which restaurant or food chain you order your food.
8. From which mode you make the payment, which bank app, credit card/debit card you like.
9. At which company you work in. You know a lot about your company where you spend daily around 10 hrs. You know how it is doing. If it’s performance is good, start owning your company by buying its shares instead of just working for it. You might also have the knowledge of its competitors. If you feel your competitor company is performing better then start buy its shares.
10. At evening which outlet do you go to drink your coffee or have snacks.
11. When you plan to go for watching movie which multiplex you prefer.
12. The clothes that you buy are from which brand. Your formal clothes, your casual clothes.
13. Which company shoes, wallet, belt, watch you wear.
14. At home which company AC, TV, dishwasher, Washing Machine or other appliances you use.
15. Which company Laptop or Mobile you use.

This way you can select the company whose shares you should buy. As these companies have been part of your life for so long. You and a lot of people near you are a customer base of such companies, you have known their business model for long.

So start owning these companies by owning their stocks, don’t just be their customers. I can’t guarantee but I am sure that if you stick with this strategy and invest in 10 or 15 or 20 stocks accordingly, you will change your life or your spouse life and definitely your children’s life in over a period of 20 years due to company’s steady growth and using the power of compounding.

You can’t guarantee in stock market that this strategy will work 100%, as anything can happen in the market. But this is my belief, if you follow it then you will get good returns in time.

5. Diversify your portfolio in Stock Investment

This is the benefit of creating diverse portfolio in the stock market. Invest in multiple stocks(say 10-15) rather than just one or two. So even if say out of 10, 7 stocks not worked as expected but remaining 3 will give you so much benefit that you will end up with good average returns in your portfolio. Because you never know which stock might fall.

Stock market has the power of converting your 100 to zero and reverse is also true i.e. from 100 it can take you to infinity. So give your time in the stock market of around 20 years, be patient and I believe you will surely get success.

I know this might feel boring but believe me boring investment gives you good returns in time. Don’t buy any stock which is hyped or of any xyz company about which you don’t have any knowledge or you don’t know its track record and just that it is claiming hypothetical things like it will go to moon and bring water etc. Because such hyped companies stocks are over priced. You might enter into loss if that company didn’t deliver what it promised.

Again these are my suggestions. I am not imposing or can not guarantee you anything.

6. Track, Learn & Review

Risks & Benefits in Stock Investment

There are benefits in Stock Investments but there are certain risks involved as well. Both are explained below:

How I buy my first Stock

In order to buy your first stock in India, you need to open a Demat account through a SEBI- registered broker. You need to provide your Aadhar Card & Pan Card details. After the account is set up, you can start trading using the broker’s online platform or mobile app.

Platforms for Stock Investment

• Finology
• Zerodha
• Angel One
• Groww

Books related to Stock Investment

1. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

For more information on Stock Investment, click on Contact Us.

Crypto investment is a new type of investment which began recently. The first cryptocurrency known as Bitcoin started in 2009. We will discuss in detail about Crypto and Crypto investment in this article.

What is Crypto?

Crypto or cryptocurrency is a type of digital currency that exists virtually or digitally. Its transactions are secured by cryptography. That’s why it is almost impossible to create its fake copy. They are not controlled or regulated by any central authority. They use decentralized systems to secure transactions and to issue new units.

How Crypto got its name?

Cryptocurrency got its name from cryptography which is a process of securing any data so that only the person for whom that data was intended to can see it. It uses encryption algorithms to secure transactions.

How are transactions done on Crypto?

There is no centralized authority or any bank involved in crypto transactions. Hence the mode of transaction here is Peer to Peer where one can send payment to anyone from anywhere. There is no physical money over here. Any transaction done is recorded in the form of digital entries in an online public ledger.

Concepts related to Crypto

1. Currency vs Money

Each country has its own currency. For example Indian currency is INR. Currency is regulated by the government. It can also be manipulated by the government. For example Rs. 2000 note was an Indian currency. Government banned it, after which it has zero value.

Money on the other hand has value to it. Its value can’t be zero as it has value stored in it. For example gold, silver etc they have value. Government can’t ban it. It has value in all other countries as well. One country Currency may or may not be acceptable in another country but money(like gold, silver) are acceptable throughout the world. This is why currency and money are different. Currency can be printed any no of times by the government but money is a limited resource. For instance Gold is extracted through mining and we have limited resources of it.

2. Centralised vs Decentralised

Currency is controlled by government. This is called as centralised system. Government can print as many currency as it wants. This is the major cause of inflation. Decentralised on the other hand is not controlled by any authority or government. For example Bitcoin. Bitcoin can’t be created or mined unlimited no of times. It has a limited resource or supply. Thus it also has a value stored in it. Hence it is similar to gold or silver.

The currencies of one country can impact the currency of another as they are very interconnected. China once dropped its currency. This had an impact on the stock market of USA. As a result the currency of US also dropped. So if a government manipulates its currency it may affect the whole world. In order to get rid of this, a new type of currency was developed known as cryptocurrency which was decentralised.

3. Fiat Currency

The currency of any government is called fiat currency. For example INR, USD, YEN, EURO etc. Earlier any country could print only that much amount of currency as its gold reserves or assets. But in todays date country is printing currency without being banked by any assets or gold reserves. So they can print as many currency they want. One such example is of Zimbabwe. Their economy went bankrupt due to printing a lot of currency.

Since Fiat currency can be manipulated by government people think that its a fake currency. It is not backed by any gold or assets. So its a suggestion if you have a currency, convert it into asset like gold or silver or invest it into a land. As a result the value of your money won’t depreciate. Also you will not be affected by inflation.

4. Digital vs Physical currency

Before Corona, people trusted a lot in physical currency but not in Digital currency. People didn’t have strong faith in digital Platforms like PayTM at that time. As they trusted only the money in bank is safe. What if PayTM or any other platform ran away with our money. But after corona, people started trusting digital payment platforms like PayTM, GPay, PhonePE, UPI’s etc.

This money involved here is digital money. Physical currency can be stolen, torn, misplaced but not the digital money. So now-a-days most of the transactions are digital rather than hard cash. Crypto is also digital money. You don’t get any physical coin of crypto when you buy them. It is present in a digital format. There are multiple platforms to do crypto investment which are mentioned later.

5. AltCoins

Cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin are called as Altcoins. This is to distinguish them from the original.

What technology Crypto is built upon?

There is a famous saying that nothing can stop an idea whose time has come. That idea is Blockchain. Crypto is an application of Blockchain technology. Another application that is based on Blockchain is Web3.0. There are various ways of achieving what blockchain does but blockchain is the most popular way.

A lot of what we will do in the near future would definitely be powered by blockchain. It is fundamentally different way of peer to peer connectivity. There are 2 key elements of blockchain – one is that it is distributed, second is it has a shared memory. Blockchain is actually a chain of blocks. This block stores data in an encrypted form in a decentralized system.

For example for Bitcoin there is a separate chain of blocks. That block stores transactions in an encrypted format. This chain of blocks is stored at multiple nodes. If a new transaction is done on bitcoin, then this transaction is first verified at various nodes level. If majority of nodes give approval of the transaction then a block related to that transaction is added to the chain. The new chain is then communicated to all the nodes of the Bitcoin system and the blockchain is then updated at all the nodes of the system.

This is how data in blockchain is decentralized and uses shared memory for storage in an encrypted format. If a person tries to change the existing block (data) deliberately then it is sent for verification to all other nodes which then identifies that there is some problem and reject that digital entry. This is how the digital ledger is maintained publicly in secured manner.

Types of Crypto

There are multiple crypto currencies (ranging in thousands) where you can invest. There are 13,217 cryptocurrencies that exist as of March 2024. However, not all of them are active. There are some ‘dead’ cryptocurrencies also. After leaving the dead or inactive crypto, the active cryptocurrencies comes to around 8,985. Total no of cryptocurrency users in the world are around 560 million.

Some of the best known are:

1. Bitcoin

The world’s first cryptocurrency was Bitcoin. A research paper was published in 2008 related to Bitcoin. When Satoshi Nakamoto first created Bitcoin, their was a limit defined for bitcoin which was 21 million. The rule states that when the total no of bitcoins reaches a maximum value of 21 million, no more Bitcoin will be issued. No of bitcoins which have been mined uptill now is 19,769,606.25. Bitcoin operates on its own blockchain. Bitcoin market capitalization is at USD 1.3 Trillion in April 2024.

2. Ethereum

Like Bitcoin, Ethereum operates on its own blockchain. It was developed in 2015. There is no capped limit on Ethereum coins. Hence any no of Ethereum coins can be mined. Apart from Cryptocurrency it offers framework to develop applications on this platform.

3. Litecoin

Litecoin was developed in 2011 by Charlie Lee. It is similar to Bitcoin. Due to this similarity it is sometimes known as the “Silver to Bitcoin’s Gold”. It offers low transaction fees and gives faster confirmation of transactions.

4. Binance

This coin is issued by Binance exchange & traders. It runs on Ethereum blockchain. There is a maximum limit of 200 million for BNB tokens. One can use BNB in a wide range of applications and use cases.

5. Dogecoin

It was introduced in 2013. It was made to make fun of the wild speculations in cryptocurrencies. It is also called as “meme coin” or the first dog coin.

How Crypto Investment works?

There are 3 steps involved in doing Crypto Investment :-

1. Select a Platform

There are two options in this:
a) Traditional Brokers:
They offer facility to buy or sell cryptocurrency along with other financial assets such as stocks,
bonds, ETF’s. They have lower trading cost but few cryptocurrency features.

b) Cryptocurrency Exchange:
There are multiple options in cryptocurrency exchanges. Each one offers different
cryptocurrencies, have their own security features, have their storage and withdrawal options, and
charge their asset based fees. Hence select the exchange accordingly.

2. Add money to your account

After selecting the platform, you need to add money to your account in order to start the trading. You can use fiat currencies such as US Dollar, Indian Rupee, Euro etc on most of the crypto exchange platform to purchase crypto. You can use either your debit card or credit card.

Some exchanges don’t support credit card. Some credit card companies disallow crypto transactions. This is because there is a lot of risk involved in cryptocurrencies. Time taken for deposits or withdrawals vary in exchange platforms. Different platform have different fees for deposit and withdrawal. Their security features are also different. Thus you need to select the platform after doing your research.

3. Buy or Sell Crypto

You can buy or sell crypto either through broker or through exchange platform. You clock on Buy and enter the amount of cryptocurrency you want to purchase and confirm your transaction. Similarly you do for Sell.

Other Crypto Investment options:

There are payment gateway companies like PayPal, Cash App, Venmo etc which gives facility to buy, sell or hold cryptocurrencies. Apart from this there are other ways to invest in crypto like:

• Bitcoin trusts: Investors can buy shares of Bitcoin trusts with a regular brokerage account of stock market.
• Bitcoin mutual funds: Investors can also invest in Bitcoin ETFs and Bitcoin mutual funds. 
• Blockchain stocks or ETFs: You can buy stocks or ETFs of companies using Blockchain technology.

Choose the investment option based on your goal and risk appetite.

Is Crypto Investment safe or not?

Do the complete research on cryptocurrency. Know the technology behind them and then invest. Every coin is designed with a specific purpose. After knowing that you would be at a better place to decide in which one to invest. It might happen you are investing in a particular coin but 5 years down the line it got finished. So invest wisely after doing research.

Crypto investment is meant for long term investment and not meant for making money in short term. For short term it will be called as trading but for long term it is called as investment.

Like in stock market you invest in bluechip stocks which don’t give you high rewards but in long run give you good returns. Similarly you invest in good crypto like bitcoin, ethereum etc which give slow rewards but are safe comparatively.

Various Crypto Investment platforms

1. CoinDCX

2. Binance

3. Mudrex

4. Crypto.com

5. Zebpay

6. CoinSwitch Kuber

Is Crypto Investment legal in India?

Crypto investment is legal In India and is taxable upto 30%. Though it is not regulated by government but government is approving of the blockchain technology being used in cryptocurrency and it is suggesting to implement the same for its digital currency like UPI to ensure safety.

Where can you use Cryptocurrency?

Crypto Investment related courses

https://www.udemy.com/courses/finance-and-accounting/cryptocurrency-and-blockchain

https://www.coursera.org/search?query=cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency related Frauds

Summary

For more details you can Contact us here.

If you are looking for some cool Investment ideas to invest, you have landed on the correct page that will list down popular investment ideas in India in 2024.

If you are looking for some cool Investment ideas to invest, you have landed on the correct page that will list down popular investment ideas in India in 2024.

Meaning of Investment

Investment means to allocate money into an asset or business with the objective of gaining profit from it over a period of time. It is a way of generating wealth thereby enabling you to achieve your financial goals and secure your future.

There are multiple investment ideas where you can allocate your money into depending upon your risk appetite and financial goals for example you can invest in traditional entities like Fixed Deposits(FDs) and gold bonds to modern options such as mutual funds & stocks.  

Types of Investment Ideas based on Risk

1. Low Risk Investments

These include investments which have minimal or zero risk providing guaranteed returns. These are meant for those who prefer low risk and safe returns. Investment ideas for this type are Fixed Deposits(FDs), Public Provident Fund(PPF), Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, Gold

2. Medium Risk Investments

These include investments which have slightly higher risk than low risk investments. These are meant for those who are looking for balanced portfolio. Investment ideas for this type of investments are Debt Funds, Corporate Bonds, Government Bonds.

3. High Risk Investments

These include investments which have higher risk than medium risk investments. These are market linked. These are suitable for those who can take more risk for high return. Investment ideas for this type are Stocks, Mutual Funds, ULIPs etc.

Top 20 Investment Ideas in India in 2024

1. Fixed Deposits (FDs)

It is one of the most traditional & popular investment idea where you deposit money for a fixed period of time at a stable interest rate.

• Bank FDs: Offer a stable return, typically between 5-8% per annum.
• Corporate FDs: Higher interest rates but with slightly higher risk.

2. Public Provident Fund (PPF)

PPF is a government scheme meant for long-term investment. Investments here start at just Rs. 500/- per annum. It is an investment idea for retirement.

• Interest Rate: It is approximately 7-8% per annum which is compounded annually.
• Lock-in Period: It is of 15 years duration however partial withdrawal is allowed after specific intervals.
• Tax Benefits: Interest earned and Maturity amount are exempted from tax.

3. National Pension Scheme (NPS)

NPS is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). It is an investment idea for retirement.

• Tax Benefits: Amount invested is eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C and 80CCD.
• Returns: Over here funds are invested in bonds, government securities, stocks etc. thereby giving higher returns as compared to traditional savings plans.

4. Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS)

SCSS is another government scheme designed for senior citizens in India. Investment idea behind this scheme is to provide a secured source of income for senior citizens during their retirement years.

• Tax Benefits: The principal amount invested is eligible for deduction under Section 80C, up to a limit of ₹1.5 lakh. However, the interest earned is taxable.
• Returns: Fixed Interest rate which is 8.2% per annum (as of Q2 FY 2023-24).

5. Sukanya Samridhi Yojana (SSY)

SSY is a government scheme launched as a part of the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign. This investment idea is basically designed for parents who have girl child and want to save for her future. This encourages parents to save and invest for the education and marriage of their daughter in future.

• Eligibility: The scheme is open for parents or legal guardians of a girl child from birth up to 10 years of age.
• Interest Rate: The interest rate is set by the government and is reviewed quarterly. It is relatively higher than other small savings schemes and is compounded annually.
• Tax Benefits: Contributions made to the SSY account qualify for deductions under Section 80C up to a specified limit. Additionally, interest earned and maturity proceeds are tax-free.

6. National Savings Certificate (NSC)

NSC is a savings scheme offered by the Department of Post, Government of India. It is a long-term investment idea where people can invest a lump sum amount and earn a fixed rate of interest over a period of time.

• Investment: There are two options for maturity periods: 5 years and 10 years. Investors can choose the period based on their financial goals and liquidity needs.
• Interest Rate: The interest rate is set by the government and is revised quarterly. When a person purchase the certificate, the interest rate remains fixed for the total period of the certificate. The interest is compounded annually but is payable only at maturity.
• Tax Benefits: Investments made are eligible for tax benefits under Section 80C, up to a specified limit. However, the interest earned is taxable and it needs to be declared in the person’s income tax return.

7. Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)

Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) is a savings scheme offered by the Department of Posts, Government of India. This investment idea started to encourage people of rural and urban areas to go for long-term investments.

• Interest Rate: The interest rate is set by the government and is revised periodically. This rate remains fixed throughout the tenure of the investment.
• Interest calculation: The Interest here is compounded semi-annually. This means that interest is calculated every 6 months and is added to the principal amount.
• Tax Benefits: Investments made here do not qualify for any tax benefits under Section 80C. Also, the interest earned is taxable according to the investor’s income tax slab.

8. Post Office Time Deposit (POTD)

POTD is a fixed-term investment idea which is offered by Department of Posts, Government of India. It is same as fixed deposit (FD) provided by banks.

• Interest Rate: The interest rates are fixed at the time of deposit and are guaranteed for the entire tenure. Interest is compounded quarterly, ensuring a higher effective return compared to simple interest.
• Tax Benefits: Investments in the 5-year Post Office Time Deposit are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C. Interest earned on deposits is taxable according to the investor’s income tax slab.

9. Gold

Gold is one of the oldest investment idea of India and a popular one too. This is because it is considered as auspicious metal in India. It is low risk investment. The traditional way of investing in gold is through buying gold ornaments, gold bars or gold coins.

New investment ideas have come up through which one can buy gold digitally via gold deposits, Gold ETFs and Sovereign Gold Bonds. Gold Bonds are financial assets issued by government or financial institutions. They are backed by physical gold. The investment idea behind buying gold digitally is they enable a person to invest in gold without actually owning the physical gold.

• Physical Gold: Jewelry, coins, and bars.
• Digital Gold: Gold ETFs and Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs).

10. Government Bonds

Government issues bonds in the form of debt security. It is an investment idea through which government raise capital for serving its various purposes such as paying existing debts, financing infrastructure projects etc.

When an investor purchases a government bond, he/she actually gives loan to the government. Government then promises to pay the investor an interest at a fixed rate for a specific time interval ranging from few months to years. When the bond term is over, government pays the principal amount to the investor. It is considered a low risk investment as it is backed by the credibility of the government.

• Government Bonds: Lower risk with guaranteed returns. Example RBI Saving Bond.
• Corporate Bonds: Higher interest rates but with higher risk.

11. RBI Saving Bonds

The Reserve Bank of India Savings Bond is an investment idea by the Government of India. It is a safe investment option through which one can earn fixed returns.

• Interest Rate: The interest rate is fixed when the bond is issued and remains same throughout the period of 7 years.
• Interest: Interest is paid semi-annually. It is credited directly to the person’s bank account.
• Tax Benefits: Interest earned is taxable under the investor’s income tax slab. Tax is deducted at source (TDS) if the interest crosses a specified limit.

12. Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are a common pool of money invested in multiple assets like equities, bonds etc. These are managed by fund managers who diversify our investment portfolio thereby mitigating risk. There are different types of mutual funds namely debt, hybrid, growth etc. They are meant for both long term and short term investment.

• Debt Mutual Funds: Here investment is done in fixed-income securities, suitable for safe investors.
• Hybrid Mutual Funds: Here investment is done in both equity and debt, thereby balancing risk and return.

13. Liquid Funds

Liquid funds are a type of Mutual Fund which are designed to provide high liquidity and minimal risk. It involves investment in short-term money market assets such as treasury bills, commercial paper, certificates of deposit etc. They are popular choice for investors looking to invest surplus funds for short durations.

• Liquidity: These funds offer high liquidity. Investors can redeem their units and access their money as quickly as one business day.
• Returns: The returns here are higher than those of traditional investment ideas but lower than those of long-term debt funds.

14. Initial Public Offerings (IPO)

IPO is launched by a company when it changes its status from private to public. In this process company offers its shares to the public for the first time. This way company raise funds by selling its ownership in the form of shares to individual and institutional investors.

An IPO helps both the company and the investors. Company gets the required funds from public for its growth whereas the investors get a chance to participate in company’s growth story at the early stages.

There are two types of IPO:

• Fixed price offering:
  Here the company fix the price of shares before offering them to the market. This price remains consistent throughout the process of IPO offering. To decide the price, company collaborate with merchant bankers and underwriters. Investors like this IPO due to its transparency.
  
• Book building offering:
  Here the company offers price band of 20% on the shares. The minimum share price is called as floor price whereas the maximum share price is known as the cap price. Investors need to specify the number of shares they are going to buy and at what price. Final decision is taken depending upon the investors’ bids.

15. Stock Market Investment

Stocks is one of the most popular investment idea in India. When you own a stock or a share of a company you are actually owing a part of the company that’s why it is called a share. Investing in the stock market can give you high returns, but it also involves high risks. You should do proper research before investing in stocks. Their are different types of stocks based on market capitalization:

• Blue-Chip Stocks: Companies with a history of reliable performance and stable returns.
• Mid and Small-Cap Stocks: Potential for higher returns, though with increased risk.

For more information on Stock Investing, visit here.

16. Real Estate

Real estate is also a popular investment idea in India. It requires a huge amount of investment. The returns are also big. You can also go for monthly rental income over here. It is a good investment idea for long term investment.

• Commercial Property: It provides higher rental income but involves higher investment costs.

17. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

They are companies that owns and operates income-producing real estate across property sectors. It is an investment idea where one can earn income from real estate without the tension of busing, managing, or financing properties themselves.

18. ULIP’s

ULIP stands for Unit Linked Insurance Plan. It gives us two benefits. One is we get a life insurance cover which protects our family financially from any unfortunate incident. Another benefit is we can invest for on a long-term basis in the fund of our choice. It can be equity, debt or a combination of both the funds depending on our risk-appetite and goals. Thus it is a good option for you and your family’s long term goals.

Benefits of Investing in ULIP’s

• You can choose the amount of life cover that you want. Minimum Life cover offered is 10 times your annual premium. Some companies offer Life cover of even 40 times of your annual premium.
• You can choose where to invest – whether in Equity fund, Debt fund or mix of both i.e. Balanced fund. You also have the option of switching between the funds.
• They are designed to achieve your goals such as wealth creation, retirement planning, saving for your child’s future etc.
• You can save tax by investing in ULIP. You can avail tax benefit on premium payments. You can avail tax benefit on maturity amount subject to conditions on Section 10D.
• There is also an option of partial withdrawal through which you can withdraw a part of your money in the case of emergency like child’s education, family vacation, other emergencies etc.

19. Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency secured by encryption algorithms. It work as a virtual accounting system and is not controlled by any central authority such as government or a bank. Cryptocurrency allows people to make payment directly to each other through computer network. It uses blockchain technology. There are more than 25000 cryptocurrencies. Examples include Bitcoin & Ethereum.

• Volatility: Crypto investment idea is suitable for those who can tolerate high risk as prices can fluctuate significantly.
• Security: Blockchain technology is highly secured but when it comes to off-chain, crypto storage repositories such as exchange and wallets can be hacked.
• Regulation: India is creating a framework for cryptocurrency.

For information related to crypto you can visit this link https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/what-is-cryptocurrency

20. Peer to Peer (P2P) Lending

In P2P lending, a person directly lends money to individuals or businesses without any financial institution acting as an intermediary in between. It is done through online platforms which brings together lenders and borrowers. In this investment idea the borrower has to pay interest to the lender along with the principal amount.

This is how peer to peer lending works:

• A borrower who needs loan goes to online P2P platform and has to fill an online application over there.
• The platform reviews the application and check the risk and credit rating of the applicant. Then, the applicant is assigned the interest rate accordingly.
• On the approval of the application, the applicant receives some options of the investors based on his credit rating and interest rates.
• The applicant selects one of the option out of the available ones.
• The applicant has to pay periodic (usually monthly) interest payments and repay the principal amount at maturity.

How to start investing in above popular Investment ideas?

• Analyse your needs & Risk capacity
• Look for various Investment Ideas listed above
• Select one based on your risk apetite

Things to consider before investing in above popular Investment ideas

1. Diverse Portfolio
2. Financial goals
3. Risk Apetite
4. Time Duration
5. Research
6. Tax Benefit

Some of the Famous Investment Quotes

1. ‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest’

Benjamin Franklin

2. ‘The stock market is filled with individuals who know the price of everything, but the value of nothing.’

Phillip Fisher

3. ‘How many millionaires do you know who have become wealthy by investing in savings accounts? I rest my case.‘ 

Robert G. Allen

4. ‘Don’t look for the needle in the haystack. Just buy the haystack!’

John Bogle

5. ‘I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.‘

Warren Buffett

6. ‘Financial peace isn’t the acquisition of stuff. It’s learning to live on less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest. You can’t win until you do this.’

Dave Ramsey

7. ‘Know what you own, and know why you own it.’ 

Peter Lynch

Conclusion

Investment is crucial if you want to grow your money in order to beat inflation. With proper investment strategies, you can make money from money. You should diverse your portfolio by investing in multiple financial assets rather that investing in only one. This is because at a time only one or two asset might crash but not the other ones. So its not a better idea to put all your eggs in one basket. Choose your investment ideas wisely based on your goals, risk appetite and timelines after doing complete research on them.

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