Cryptocurrency, shortened as crypto, is any digital or virtual currency. Cryptography is used to ensure transactions are secure.
Cryptocurrencies do not have a regulating or central issuing power; rather, they depend on a decentralized system to record transactions and issue new units. It doesn’t depend on banks to conduct transactions.
So what does it use? It relies on a peer to peer system that allows anyone to send and receive money from anywhere. This currency exists purely as digital entries and is recorded on an online database that describes specific transactions.
Each time a transaction is done with cryptocurrency funds, it will be recorded in a public ledger. Every owner of cryptocurrency keeps their funds in a digital wallet.
Cryptocurrency is so named because of its use of encryption to keep and verify transactions. Cryptocurrency can only exist digitally and virtually because it uses encryption methods only computers can understand.
This advanced coding used to store and transmit crypto data provides security and safety as transactions between wallets, and public ledgers are happening.
Bitcoin was the first Cryptocurrency and was established in 2009. It is still the most well-known cryptocurrency today. However, it is not the only cryptocurrency that exists. Other cryptocurrency options include DogeCoin and Ethereum, BNB (Binance Coin), Tether and Solana.
To trade or exchange these currencies, one would need to use the services of a crypto exchange or digital currency exchange (DCE).
A Cryptocurrency Exchange is a business that allows customers trade digital currencies and cryptocurrencies for other assets, such as fiat money or other digital currencies.
The functions of crypto exchanges are very similar to those offered by online brokerage platforms. You can use them to purchase and sell digital currencies or tokens for various cryptocurrencies.
Crypto Exchanges can accept credit card payments, wire transfers, or other forms of payment in exchange for digital currencies or cryptocurrencies.
Binance is one such dedicated cryptocurrency exchange.
Binance and Overview What Is A Binance Wallet
For those of you who prefer a more visual experience, here is a video review from Beau Troxclair on his YouTube channel 0xBeau. You can still read our article for a complete overview of Binance.
When it comes to cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance continues to be one of the top cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. Binance has the largest trading volume of any cryptocurrency exchange and offers users the most trading pairs in cryptocurrency.
Binance was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao (“CZ” Zhao). It was initially based in China but was quickly moved out of the country due to crypto restrictions getting stricter and stricter. It has been moved around from Japan and Malta, but it did not have a permanent home.
However, news has come out that the company signed a memorandum with Bermuda and Malta to finally establish its home base. What Is A Binance Wallet
Binance’s popularity came from a user base that preferred its low fees, many available cryptocurrencies, and innovative products. The platform currently offers many crypto-based products.
From Binance, you can avail of such services as exchange, earn, staking, derivatives, loans, payments, credit cards, NFTs, and more.
Binance has its own unique tokens, cryptocurrencies and coins. BUSD is a stablecoin. BNB is a strong performer because of its low fees.
However, Binance has its problems and dark sides.
The United States Department of Justice (Internal Revenue Service) investigated the company in 2021 for money laundering and tax crimes.
The company is one of the largest cryptocurrency platforms on the market. It is not surprising that there are many cryptocurrencies and digital currencies available. You can get decentralized finance tokens (DeFi), stable coins, alt currencies, and other popular cryptos.
A few examples of this include:
Binance Coins (BNB)
Matic Network (MATIC).
For those who want them, Binance also offers and support for the more popular cryptocurrencies such as:
Trading currencies and tokens are not offered free on any platform. However, choosing Binance as your trading platform will give you deals that may as well be free. Comparable to other cryptocurrency exchanges, which charge commissions and fees, this is quite a difference. The highest spot trading fee so far is 0.1%.
The platform uses a maker/taker fee structure. Fees will vary depending on trading volume or Binance Coin (BNB). balance. As a rule of thumb, the higher the volume of your trade, the lower the fees your trades are subjected to. What Is A Binance Wallet
Users can get discounts on certain services, and this is not all. Such as:
Using Binance (BNB) coins in trades
If you achieve Very Important Person (VIP status) by trading a certain amount of assets.
That said, Binance users are still subject to other fees. Different fees will apply depending on which type of withdrawal you make and what payment method you use. The chart below is an example.
Binance lets you earn crypto assets. Of course, these come with varying degrees of risk. A few options include earning 50% APR or more on certain cryptos in its staking program or putting assets into flexible savings accounts for lower but more consistent rates.
The platform offers more staking options. They also pay higher rates than other exchanges.
You can also earn income by adding liquidity to pairs of tokens, but this is a riskier option. It is up to you to decide if these risks are worth taking. Before you jump into these opportunities, you need to be aware of what is at stake.
Advanced Trading Tools
Binance’s advanced trading features make it easy to tailor your trading options. Setting a limit to buying or selling crypto at a specific price is easy. It even accommodates beginner users with its “convert” function.
The advanced trading interface has a lot of charting options that are a delight for veteran traders. A Bitcoin futures section allows people to speculate on the price of Bitcoin.
The platform allows you to sell leveraged tokens in connection to earning opportunities with inherent risk. Customers can multiply their currency positions by selling leveraged tokens. This strategy is risky because it can increase losses and even cause traders to lose their whole position.
The Binance Shortcomings
This is not for newbies
Binance is definitely not for beginners. It is a complicated platform created with experienced and veteran traders in mind. The general aim of the platform is to have these earners maximize their profits.
We previously discussed the advanced trading tools and the risky opportunities Binance provides its users to earn passive income on their crypto holdings. The thing is, most of these features will only be useful when you know what those things mean and what you are doing.
As for the risky opportunities, more often than not, this is where beginner traders and newbies lose their money. To understand the hidden and inherent risks that trades can carry, it takes years of experience.
It can be difficult to navigate the vast market selection and in-depth dashboards offered by the platform, especially for those just starting out in crypto investing.
Once you get the hang of the platform, you will find it very easy to manage your assets. Also, for what it’s worth, Binance has a simpler interface designed for first-timers. You also have a lot of educational resources.
While Binance is not that beginner friendly, it still has a lot of resources to help those who want to learn. It is still not a platform where you just buy Bitcoin and then sit back and relax. What Is A Binance Wallet
As we have already mentioned, Binance has faced many problems. Major countries that have it in for Binance include Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, and Thailand.
The United States authorities are currently investigating the platform in regard to possible money laundering, tax fraud, and insider trading. Binance has not been charged and no criminal charges have been filed. Should anything come out of this, only time will tell.
Binance took steps to improve its compliance team, and keep regulators in line. This could be difficult as many of the products that Binance customers love are also those that attract regulatory attention.
It is not available in the U.S.
Due to US regulations, Binance.US was created as a separate platform for U.S. customers. This U.S. version of Binance has fewer features and cryptocurrencies offered.
Binance.US also trades over 120 cryptocurrencies and does not offer futures trading or leveraged token. Also, it lacks availability as it is not available to the whole country. It is not available in Hawaii, New York or Texas.
Now that we’ve seen some of the good and the bad of Binance, we can finally talk about how it works.
As we know, Binance functions as a cryptocurrency exchange. It offers a wide range of services. These include:
Trade, buy, and sell cryptocurrency
Establish recurring purchases
Earn passive income
Advanced features like crypto derivative products, limits orders and peer-to-peer trading are available.
Trade non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
To get exposure to new cryptos, you can join Binance’s Launchpad or Launchpool
Access portfolio insights, plus live tracking and alerts
Keep track of your tax obligations with its tax reporting tool
That said, it still bears repeating that the platform’s broad range of products is what landed them on the crosshairs of many regulatory bodies around the world. On their side, Binance does warn users of the risks involved with investing in the platform.
It also has an anti-addiction setting just in case users become too involved with trading. The system warns traders about the risks involved in trading derivatives if they suffer heavy losses or a losing streak. They are encouraged to take a break from trading and rest.
The platform believes responsible traders should be critical and keep themselves in check to avoid harmful excesses like compulsive trading or gambling.
These are just reminders. Retail investors will ultimately decide how to manage risk and where they should invest their money.
Sign up for your Binance account
Creating and registering your very own Binance account is simple and can be done within a few minutes. There are two types of accounts available: unverified and verified.
For unverified users
Click the register button on the Binance homepage
Enter Email address
Create a password
Accept Binance’s Terms and Conditions of Use
Click “Create an Account”
Register by email to confirm your registration
For Verified Accounts
Register now for an unverified Account
Login to your account
Go to User Center and click Identity Verification
Please fill in your details
Choose an ID type for document verification, such as a Passport or Driver’s license
Upload a file or take a picture of the document
Take a picture of yourself
Click confirm after you have uploaded the document and image.
Binance will then review your submission as soon as they can. What Is A Binance Wallet
From then on, you will have to wait for an email from Binance to ensure that your account has been verified.
As we’ve mentioned, Binance offers a variety of trading tools. Some of these tools include their real-time charting tools with moving averages and exponential moving averages. Trading is also convenient and accessible, as users can place trades through the Binance app, Binance website, or Binance desktop app.
The platform allows traders to view their trade history and portfolios. They can view the order book and price charts. The platform also gives users a selection of order types. You can place stop orders, limit orders and stop-limit orders.
Users can also choose from different trading views to better understand data and view it in the way that they prefer. There are many views to choose from, including classic, margin and OTC views.
Binance offers a custodial wallet on its platform. It also recommends Trust Wallet, which supports thousands of cryptocurrencies on most major blockchains. It’s easy to transfer funds from Binance to a Trust Wallet, or another external crypto wallet.
Usually, withdrawals are complete within 10 minutes, and even the costs are minimal. Since you can use Binance via a multitude of platforms such as desktop, mobile, or through a web-based app, users will need to provide some personal information to verify their account to get started.
We all know that one of Binance’s selling points is its low fees. This does not mean users are exempt from any charges. Users of Binance are still required to pay fees for using the platform.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
Deposit fees depend on the currency and method of payment. Although bank transfers are usually free, debit card payments will often incur fees.
Depending on your country, Binance might allow credit or debit card payments, bank transfers, and peer-to-peer payments.
You can withdraw money as a fiat currency from a bank account. You can also withdraw cryptocurrency to a wallet, or another exchange. Fees for these withdrawals and minimum amounts will be based on your method and currency. What Is A Binance Wallet
The trading volume and trading history over the last 30 days will determine the percentage of your trading fees. It will also impact the amount of BNB that you have.
Maker orders, which add liquidity to the market, will get lower fees than taker or remover orders.
It also encourages users to use their native currency, Binance Coin (BNB). Anyone doing so can get a 25% discount on the trading fee. Binance offers 0% trading for selected Bitcoin and Binance USD pairs (BUSD).
The chart below shows how VIP status, the 30-day trade volume, and maker/taker are related.
30-Day Trade Volume (BUSD)
Less than 1,000,000
1,000,000 to 4,999,999 and at least 25 BNB
Between 5,000,000 and 19,999,999 with at least 100 BNB
0.08% / 0.10%
Between 20,000,000 and 119,999.999, with at least 250 BNB
0.07% / 0.10%
120,000,000 to 199.999.999 with at least 500 BNB
0.07% / 0.09%
200,000,000 to 499,999,999 and at least 1,000 BNB
0.06% / 0.08%
500,000,000 to 99,999,999999 and at most 1,750 BNB
0.05% / 0.07%
Between 1,000,000,000 and 2,499,999.999999 and at most 3,000 BNB
0.04% / 0.06%
Between 2,500,000,000 and 4,999,999.999999999 with at least 4,500 BNB
0.03% / 0.05%
More than 5,000,000,000 and at least 5,500 BNB
0.02% / 0.04%
Binance is a platform that handles sensitive and high-stakes data. It should be expected that it has strong security measures to protect their assets and clients.
Binance offers two-factor authentication via the Google Authenticator app, or a short message service for customers. It uses address whitelisting, device administration, and the ability restrict device access.
Binance also claims to have its own insurance fund made by storing 10% of all trading fees in a secure fund. This insurance fund is supposed to protect against hacking losses, which Binance is well-versed in (more later).
This insurance is not the same as having a third party doing it, but it does give users some protection.
Lastly, as its main security feature, Binance keeps most of its funds offline in cold storage. This is to avoid any contact with hackers.
Customers should be cautious about Binance, however, as it has a poor track record in security. The platform was hacked in early 2019 for $40 million in BTC. Another major hack occurred in October 2022. This time, it cost them $570 million in BNB.
However, there is a bright side to this; sometimes, it would be better to have exchanges experience these incidents so they know which part of their security they should focus on and fix. The customer side can at least see how the platform handles them and their customers when these incidents occur.
Binance quickly responded to the hack and reimbursed all those affected through their Secure Asset Fund for Users. This cold storage wallet keeps enough capital to cover users’ losses.
In terms of customer support, Binance offers three basic options. You can submit a ticket, ask a basic question through chat, and reach out via Twitter.
You simply need to fill out a form on the Binance website for tickets. Submitting a ticket entitles you to receive email assistance.
For support, all you need to do is tag or mention Binance (@BinanceHelpDesk). Because it is more visible, Binance encourages users to tweet about their problems through this channel.
If you need to get in touch with Binance directly, there is a chat box at the bottom right corner. You can access this on the Binance website.
Low fees are one of the main reasons Binance is a top choice for crypto exchanges. It is a no-brainer. It is a no-brainer. Crypto traders and investors can keep more of their earnings and investments if the platform charges lower fees.
Ability to earn passive income in many ways.
It is impossible to not desire passive income. Binance offers many opportunities to make passive income. It’s like being paid for nothing. These opportunities come with inherent risks. As such, these are not for the faint-hearted. What Is A Binance Wallet
Wide selection of Cryptocurrencies: From Bitcoin to Dogecoin and Etherium, there is no shortage of cryptocurrency you can buy from Binance. And that number is growing, with newly added cryptos like Fish(FISH) and Fanverse (FT).
BNB is the platform’s crypto. This allows crypto investors and traders flexibility in making their selections.
Advanced Trading Tools
The tools that a trading platform provides to its users will determine how good it is. In the case of Binance, it gives users enough tools for a more flexible trading experience. Investors and traders will have no trouble trading on the platform.
Multiple ways of Depositing Money
You cannot start trading if you have no money at stake. Binance makes it easier to start crypto trading by making it easy to deposit funds through its many ways.
Flexible Order Types and Trading Options
Trading is like gambling. While assets and stocks may be worth a lot right now, you never know when they will lose value. Binance, one of the best trading platforms, should allow users to trade in any way they like. What Is A Binance Wallet
Platform can be overwhelming for beginner users.
Of course, multiple options and advanced tools are not always a good thing. A multitude of choices can overwhelm beginners and make it difficult to choose from. Some experienced traders even claim they are intimidated by Binance’s many available options.
Regulation issues in many countries
Binance has been faced with numerous legal and regulatory issues. This is a major issue that many investors are considering switching to other exchanges.
That said, the platform has been trying hard to remedy these regulatory issues and doing its best to meet the requirements to comply with and solve these issues.
It is not available in the United States
Binance was temporarily banned in the United States due to problems with US regulatory bodies. Binance U.S. was created by the parent company to provide a U.S-exclusive version.
Binance U.S. has a smaller selection than the original Binance. It is not available in certain states, such as New York and Vermont.
There is no built-in digital wallet
Most popular cryptocurrency exchange platforms have their digital wallets built-in and included in. For some reason, Binance does not. Instead, it recommends Trust Wallet, a third-party service. While it has a good reputation, there might be issues as they can only offer limited support What Is A Binance Wallet
Binance Last Thoughts
Let me begin by saying that I’m a complete beginner when it comes crypto. My knowledge is based on a few YouTube videos, articles here and there, as well as some Reddit threads.
I chose Binance for the main reason that many choose the platform, and that is because of its low fees. I entered cryptocurrency because I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. I am not planning to take this seriously (yet).
It took me no time to create my account and verify it. Within just a few minutes, I could look at the UI and everything the platform offers. And here is what I have to say…..
So with confidence, I can honestly back the opinion that Binance is not beginner friendly. Binance presented me with a lot of options that were overwhelming and intimidating. I had to get a friend to teach me what all the stuff was all about.
So with his help, along with some tutorials found in Binance Support, I was able to get some of my bearings and begin trading. Though it still gets confusing, I’m getting the hang of it.
Right now, I hope I bet on the right horse, not the wrong one.
Binance Frequently Asked Questions What Is A Binance Wallet
Is Binance Safe?
Yes, it is safe, but it does not have a good track record.
While Binance has its own set of key security features, it still is a blight on its record that it was hacked twice. The company did beef up its security, but in the end, time will judge if these security measures can survive attacks.
How Would You Decide if Binance is Right for You?
To be honest, it is difficult to pinpoint which platform is right for you until you read their reviews and try the services yourself.
However, for the sake of having an answer, you may deem Binance is a right fit for you if:
You are not a newbie in crypto trading, and you have intermediate to the advanced crypto trading experience.
You want a service that charges low fees and carries many currencies.
You are looking for a service with many advanced features.
You are an institutional trader carrying a high or ultra-high net worth.
You are not a citizen of the United States.
Does Bianance Offer FOREX Trading?
No, Binance does not offer traditional Forex (Foreign Exchange Trading).
The main reason is that it lacks the amount of currency pairing needed to join the FOREX exchange. A company must have access to thousands of currency pairings in order to be able enter FOREX-only markets. It is a far cry from Binance, which only has over 50 currency pairings.
CFD trading is offered by Binance
Unlike FOREX trading, Binance does offer CFD (Contracts for Difference) trading.
They are still controversial in crypto, and many prefer native assets. Unlike CFD’s, these assets can easily be withdrawn to a personal wallet. That said, CFDs do have their advantage. They can be extremely liquid.
What Is A Binance Wallet
It is only a matter time before cryptocurrency becomes mainstream and is recognized everywhere. As such, marketplaces where people can buy, sell, exchange and trade digital assets have become crucial places.
To address this market demand, cryptocurrency exchanges were created.
By definition, a cryptocurrency exchange is an online marketplace where users can exchange one kind of digital asset for another. These exchanges will be based on the market value of the given assets.
In the real world, banks are financial institutions that are licensed to receive deposits, transfer funds, and store money for their clients. The banks regulate money. They are the only legal institution that can offer customers the ability to exchange fiat currencies for another.
Meanwhile, a stock exchange is a facility where stock brokers trade company stocks and other securities. Only stocks that are listed on an exchange can be purchased or sold. As such, stock exchanges are basically marketplaces where stock buyers and sellers do their business.
In the digital world, cryptocurrency exchanges provide similar services to banks and Stock exchanges.
There are still people who treat cryptocurrency with fear and anxiety. For some people, cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency exchanges are treated as borderline illegal online marketplaces.
They believe that these places can facilitate the trade of unregistered securities. They fear that crypto exchanges could be used by criminals to launder money, and they have limited AML/KYC capabilities to evade the law.
Some of these claims may not be entirely true. Just as with dealing with cryptocurrencies in general, using cryptocurrency exchanges come with its own inherent risks.
There is also the possibility of your funds getting locked in the exchange, leaving you with no way of withdrawing or even selling your cryptocurrency and other digital assets. This can happen especially when the cryptocurrency exchange you are using has been seized by law enforcement or is under investigation by the proper authorities.
Lastly, there is a very big possibility of you losing your money from speculating cryptocurrency and then having the rug pulled under you by the founders or founding team of these exchanges. This is especially true if these founders are scammers or hustlers who excel at what they do.
It is important to remember that cryptocurrency and any other related technology are always a risky business. It is smart to always proceed with caution. Like with gambling, there are more chances of losing than winning. High-risk, high reward.
If you prefer to see the experience in a more visual way, Mark Farfan’s YouTube video review is for you. To get a comprehensive overview of Binance, you may still want to check out our article below, which compares it to some competitors.
Binance Exchange What Is A Binance Wallet
Binance is the most popular cryptocurrency exchange in the entire world. It has the highest trading volume of any crypto exchange service and offers the most number of cryptocurrency trading pairs.
Binance was established in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao, a Chinese-Canadian entrepreneur. The company was initially based in China, but with the growing crypto restriction on crypto in the country, it was moved to Japan and soon to Malta.
Back then, the company had no place to call home.
The company is currently based in Malta. Binance is available in most countries, with the exception of the United States where Binance.US was created.
Binance’s popularity among its users is due to its low fees, large selection of cryptocurrencies available, and innovative products. The platform has a lot to offer in terms of products that are based on cryptocurrencies.
These products/services offer the opportunity to earn, trade, stake, derive and NFTs. The service allows you to get loans, make payments and even apply for credit cards.
Cryptos Under Binance
Binance also has its own set of tokens and cryptocurrencies. In fact, there are two.
The BUSD is the first. It is a fiat-backed stablecoin issued by Binance and Paxos. Each token of this stablecoin is backed 1:1 with US dollars in reserve. The company created BUSD as a means to provide a more stable cryptocurrency alternative for traders and investors wanting to avoid the volatile nature of the digital asset market.
BNB is the second. It was previously known as Binance Coin. The initial coin offering (ICO), launched it in 2017. This was to provide an asset for users back when Binance was still very young. It began as an ERC-20 standard token built on the Ethereum blockchain.
Currently, it is a native token of the Binance ecosystem, where it plays an essential role by powering operations. It is used to pay listing, exchange, trading fees, and other expenses users incur on the platform.
This is the main reason Binance is the largest crypto exchange platform worldwide. Binance trades are as good as free. The platform charges a maker/taker fee. The trading volume and Binance Coin balance will determine the fees.
Despite this, fees are still charged by the platform for certain services, including withdrawals and payment types.
Large Selection of Cryptos
A crypto exchange platform will only be as good as the selection of cryptocurrencies available in its market. Of course, being the biggest one there is, Binance carries a lot and other digital currencies available.
There are even decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens available, as well as stablecoins, altcoins, and other popular cryptos.
Some of the currencies available include:
Binance Coins (BNB)
Matic Network (MATIC)
There are many other options.
Multiple ways to Earn
Binance is a platform that allows users to make more money from their crypto assets. Customers can try to earn income via adding liquidity to pairs of tokens. You can also try on some staking options available on the platform.
That said, most of these opportunities carry great risk, so it is up to users to discern and weigh these risks. That said, trading and dealing with crypto is already risky in itself.
Advanced trading tools
Binance wouldn’t be considered a crypto-exchange platform if it didn’t have trading tools.
Binance offers advanced trading tools that make it easy to tailor trading options. It is easier to place limit orders to buy or sell crypto at a certain price.
Charting tools can also be extremely useful for veterans traders when making trade decisions. There are even features that allow users to sell leveraged tokens and make trade easier.
Binance Trading Experience
Binance’s overall trading experience is excellent. You can trade with Binance using a variety of trading tools, which allow for faster and more efficient transactions. You can even use real-time charts with moving averages, which makes it easy and accessible.
When trading, you do not need to be stuck to your computer. You can use Binance in any way you like. You can do it through the Binance App, the Binance website, or even the Binance desktop app.
Traders will not need to use multiple platforms or other tools to keep track of their portfolios as the platform already does it for them. Even those who want to keep track of their trades will only need to access their trade history, which is also available on the exchange platform.
Even how they view their trading can be customized. This allows for easier comprehension of data. Users can even choose how they want these data presented. This makes it easier for users to identify the most important.
Binance Trading Fees
Binance trading fees will depend on the customers’ trading history and trading volume in the past 30 days. Another thing that will matter is the amount of BNB the user has.
Whether you are a maker or a taker will also determine how much you will get on fees. Takers, who remove liquidity orders from a market, tend to get higher fees than makers (those who add liquidity to it).
As Binance has its own native currency, the platform encourages using its payment for transactions. You get 25% off your trading fees when you use BNB to make trades. Binance offers 0% trading for selected Bitcoin and Binance USD pairs (BUSD).
The chart below can be used as a quick reference for Binance’s fees.
30-Day Trade Volume (BUSD)
Less than 1,000,000
1,000,000 to 4,999,999 and at least 25 BNB
5,000,000 to 19,999,999 and at least 100 BNB
0.08% / 0.10%
Between 20,000,000 and 119,999.999, with at least 250 BNB
0.07% / 0.10%
120,000,000 to 199.999.999 with at least 500 BNB
0.07% / 0.09%
Between 200,000,000 and 499,999.999,999 with at least 1,000 BNB
0.06% / 0.08%
500,000,000 to 99,999,999999 and at most 1,750 BNB
0.05% / 0.07%
1,000,000,000 to 2,499,999,999 and at least 3,000 BNB
0.04% / 0.06%
Between 2,500,000,000 and 4,999,999.999999999 with at least 4,500 BNB
0.03% / 0.05%
More than 5,000,000,000 and at least 5,500 BNB
0.02% / 0.04%
Binance is a crypto-currency company that has many problems and controversy, despite being the most prominent.
The year 2019 was a terrible year for the exchange platform.
On May 7, 2019, it was revealed that Binance became a victim of a “large-scale security breach.” It was reported that hackers had stolen 7,000 Bitcoin worth $40 million then. That said, the site reimbursed customers through its “Secure Asset Fund for Users(SAFU).
However, it wasn’t as rough as the year 2021 was. It’s not true to say that Binance had a difficult year in 2021.
On allegations of tax crimes and money laundering, the United States Department of Justice investigated the company.
It was also forced to cancel its planned launch in Britain of a digital asset marketplace. This was due to their application not meeting the anti-money laundering requirements set by their government.
The next year, it was once again put in hot water as it was reported that Binance was said to have shared client data with the Russian government. These said data included names and addresses of users in a bid to fight crime.
In October the same year, another hacker attacked its network. The company had to temporarily suspend transactions and fund transfers after detecting an exploit between two blockchains. The issue had been contained as soon as it popped up.
From the total $570m stolen, approximately $100m of funds were not recovered.
Binance Pros and Cons
Easy Access to Passive Income Opportunities
Large Selection of Cryptocurrencies
Sophisticated trading tools
Multiple ways of Depositing Money
Flexible Order Types and Trading Options
Non-beginner friendly. Many features can be overwhelming for beginners to use and access
Regulation issues with many countries, including major ones such as the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Due to regulatory issues, the service is not available in the United States. Even the US-specific service, Binance U.S. (a more limited version), is unavailable in some states.
There are two cryptocurrency platforms that can be used, and they have different approaches. Coinbase and Binance are the best examples.
One is a United States-based exchange that is designed for beginners with a simple interface and limited transaction types, while the other has a steep learning curve and is more suited to veteran users.
The crux of the difference between Coinbase and Binance is who their main audience is and how they cater to these people.
Coinbase, or Coinbase Global, Inc, is an American publicly traded company that operates as a cryptocurrency exchange platform. The platform is a distributed business, so all employees work remotely.
As such, the company does not have a physical headquarters because they don’t need one. The company used to have its headquarters in San Francisco. However, this palace was demolished and the company moved to remote-first.
Coinbase was founded in June 2012 by Brian Armstrong, a former Airbnb engineer. He joined the Y Combinator incubator program and received a $150,000 cash injection.
After seeing Armstrong’s Reddit post, Fred Ehrsam became his co-founder. This was back when bitcoin was worth only $6 and only known by ” a few nerds on the internet” (Ehrsam’s words, not mine).
They believed bitcoin was an insane idea that would revolutionize finance and money. Both men shared the belief that bitcoin would be huge. As such, they wanted to bring crypto to the mainstream and make it easy to use. This was the impetus behind Coinbase.
Coinbase is now the largest crypto exchange in America and the world, but its humble beginnings are not glamorous. In truth, Coinbase launched out of a two-bedroom apartment that was shared with another company. What Is A Binance Wallet
Cryptos Under Coinbase
Coinbase does not have its original coin or cryptocurrency. That said, the platform does support over 100 cryptocurrencies. As the need arises, they add new cryptocurrencies regularly.
Here’s a look at the various cryptocurrencies that coinbase offers:
USD Coin (USDC)
Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Stellar Lumens (XLM)
A wide selection of cryptocurrency
There is a reason why coinbase is the biggest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States. The market offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies.
From a Bitcoin (BTC) focused exchange. Coinbase now offers over 150 different cryptocurrency types. You can even trade Bitcoin (BTC), and other major currencies, for smaller or newer digital tokens.
Coinbase is the only cryptocurrency exchange that offers a wide selection of products in the U.S. market.
Simple and advanced trading
Coinbase offers two trading tools to make it easier for users to access their accounts. Users can choose between a simple trade option or an advanced trading option.
Simple trading options are easy to use for beginners. This option has one drawback: it charges higher fees. This is contrary to the crypto investing philosophy of keeping fees low.
Meanwhile, advanced trading offers more features, such as charts, a live order book, and even the ability to limit orders. This option is cheaper, but it comes with a tradeoff: it’s more difficult to use, more complicated, and more intimidating for new users.
To avoid high fees, it is highly recommended to trade in advanced trading.
Earn Free Crypto
Coinbase offers a cool feature to help customers earn more cryptocurrency. Coinbase Earn allows users to earn crypto for learning more.
It is encouraged that users read more about cryptocurrency through educational modules. Once they have completed one module, coinsbase will allow them to earn more.
While the feature does not give much, it still doesn’t hurt. Even a few crypto bits can be a blessing in this economy. Also, anyone who declines to pay for money is a fool. Even if the amount is not.
As lightly touched above, coinbase has a library that is a well of educational resource. These resources range form the basics of crypto, tips, and tutorials to more complex stuff and even market updates. Coinbase is the best platform to start investing in crypto.
Coinbase up its accessibility factor by allowing users to access their accounts with a mobile app. Like the web platform, their mobile app provides user-friendly ways to buy, sell, and manage your cryptocurrency.
The Coinbase app isn’t just garbage. It’s legit and gets high ratings from both the Apple App Store as well as Google Play Store.
Your Coinbase account can allow you to earn interest on many cryptocurrencies. This is because Coinbase pays interest on specific stables, like USD Coin (USDC), automatically.
This allows you stake certain cryptocurrencies such as Solana (SOL), and Ethereum (ETH).
Staking allows participants to receive rewards for their crypto assets. It is how many cryptocurrencies verify transactions. You commit your crypto assets to support a blockchain network and confirm transactions when staking in cryptocurrencies. What Is A Binance Wallet
You will receive certain rewards for staking cryptos. This is not possible for all cryptos. It varies depending on your region as well as the cryptocurrency.
Coinbase Debit card
Aside from trading, Coinbase allows users to access and spend their hard-earned wealth using the Coinbase card.
A Coinbase account allows you to apply for a Coinbase Card, which is a prepaid Visa debit credit card that can be linked to your Coinbase balance. Through it, you can spend your cryptocurrency to pay for some services (especially those services and establishments that welcome Bitcoin and other crypto payments).
What’s more, using the Coinbase card gives you a chance to win crypto rewards. You can even choose which crypto from a rotating list you earn for this rewards
Coinbase Trading Experience
Coinbase offers a different kind of service than Binance, which has lower fees and more advanced training tools. Coinbase’s target market is those just beginning their crypto journey.
The platform offers tools that allow investors new to crypto trading a fast, easy, and secure way to trade. This is in line with their original goal to “make Bitcoin easier to use.”
They are determined to realize this vision and allow users to earn cryptocurrency by watching tutorial videos that are geared towards beginners.
However, this doesn’t mean that veteran traders have only beginner tools to use. For that, Coinbase offers Coinbase Pro. A platform that is specialized for seasoned traders. What Is A Binance Wallet
Coinbase Pro is different because it was designed for professional traders. It gives them more tools that allow for greater customization of their trades. You can choose from several order types such as stop, limit or margin orders.
Users can also access real-time charting tools, trade history, order book, and price charts. This will allow them to make better decisions about how they move their positions or trades.
Although it states pro on the can, that doesn’t necessarily mean users will need to pay a fee for Coinbase Pro. No, there is no need for that. Anyone can access the pro version of Coinbase by creating an account.
Coinbase Trading Fees
Coinbase doesn’t disclose their fees and pricing. They even removed their full fee schedule from their online help section. That said, this doesn’t mean you will pay your fees blindly. Costs are still shown when entering a trade, so you still know how much you will pay.
To be honest, this is where coinbase falls off from the competition. The fee structure is too complicated and difficult to understand. It is said that the fee structure depends on three confusing factors:
Coinbase charges a spread on cryptocurrency sales and purchases. There is a huge charge that rates will vary depending on market fluctuations.
Coinbase claims that fees are based on a variety of factors, including the chosen payment method, market conditions (volatility or liquidity) and the order size.
Lastly, Coinbase also charges fees to cover the costs of executing transactions on the external blockchain networks that support the cryptocurrencies in which it deals. What Is A Binance Wallet
That said, Coinbase Pro’s pricing model is more straightforward. It is based on the customer’s monthly trading volume and liquidity of the asset at the time of purchase. Coinbase Pro users must have a bank account to make withdrawals and deposits.
The chart below gives an idea of the fees you can expect on the main coinbase platform:
$10 or less
From $10 to $25
$25 to $50
From $50 to $200
Trades above $200 have a percentage-based fee rather than a flat fee.
The chart below gives an overview of Coinbase Pro’s fees.
Get up to $10K
$10K – $50K
$50K – $100K
$100K – $1M
$1M – $15M
$15M – $75M
$75M – $250M
$250M – $400M
Given how much of cryptocurrency is still in a legal area, there is a distinct chance that those involved in it will have their fair share of issues or controversies.
Coinbase acknowledged that customers were being charged more for cryptocurrencies they purchased with debit and credit cards than they originally intended. This was due to problems that started when banks and card issuers charged the merchant category code (MCC) of crypto purchases earlier that month.
This was due to the fact that cryptocurrency payments were classified as “cash advances”, and banks and credit card issuers may begin charging cash advance fees for these purchases.
In a Financial Times article, Visa, the credit card company, blamed Coinbase at first. However, it later rescinded those statements and clarified on the Coinbase blog that the “issue was not caused by Coinbase”
Coinbase received more customer complaints than ever in 2018, with an increase of over 100%. These complaints were mostly referred to as “money not available when promised.” Coinbase solved the problem by increasing customer service staff to decrease wait times.
Coinbase also participated in the first ever case of insider trading in cryptocurrency. A former product manager of the company as he shared information about certain tokens listed by the company. The company provided prosecutors with the right information for an internal investigation.
Coinbase Pros and Cons
Easy to use and very friendly for those just starting in cryptocurrency
Supports a large number of cryptocurrencies
Offers the opportunity to earn cryptocurrency and learn about them.
You can trade simple or advanced depending on your preference
Offers coinbase debit card, which allows for easy withdrawing of funds What Is A Binance Wallet
Complex and complicated fees structure, which is not transparent
Some transactions attract high fees
There are limited staking opportunities and interest possibilities.
There are a bunch of altcoins missing from their selection
Binance and Kraken, both giants in the cryptocurrency industry, have millions of users. There might seem like a huge gap between the two platforms should we compare their rank (Binance being first and Kraken at fourth), but there is more to it than that.
Binance.US users, for example, are severely limited by the fact that they cannot access Binance’s U.S.-based platform (Binance.US). while Kraken is widely available in the country.
These two platforms share many similarities, including both offering advanced trading options and low fees as well as mobile apps. Both platforms are targeted at experienced or veteran cryptocurrency traders.
Ultimately, it will be up to customers to choose which platform by choosing what they value most. Will it be Binance and their offers of slightly lower fees, a huge variety of coins, and additional way of managing your funds. Or will it be Kraken and its high regard for security standards, which won them a bank charter approval in Wyoming in 2021. What Is A Binance Wallet
Kraken is a fully functional crypto exchange characterized by its low fees and a good selection of tokens, coins, and cryptocurrencies. This platform is unique in that it offers advanced trading tools such as margin.
Kraken’s main cause is to become the best and most secure crypto trading platform. In fact, users and traders have praised Kraken for being one of the only crypto exchanges that “has been probably the only exchange that hasn’t been involved in some kind of shady activity against its users…that doesn’t indulge in questionable corporate policies,”
Jesse Powell, Kraken’s founder and former CEO, tweeted that the November 2022 FTX Controversy was a “”…Happy life, pay a fee for matching trades” A balance sheet is mostly Bitcoin, some ETH.
Jesse Powell (alumnus from California State University, Sacramento) and Thanh Luu, co-founded Kraken in 2011. However, it was only launched in September 2013, offering Bitcoin, Litecoin, and euro trades. Additional currencies and margin trading were to follow.
Powell began working on Kraken as a possible replacement for Mt.Gox, another bitcoin exchange based in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. He was a consultant for that exchange before its collapse in 2014 due to failing security audits.
Kraken also joined with other US Bitcoin players in the formation of the “Committee for the Establishment of the Digital Asset Transfer Authority”, the industry’s selfregulating group. What Is A Binance Wallet
The year 2014 was very big for Kraken. The company received a Series A investment of $ 5,000,000 from Hummingbird Ventures in March 2014.
It was later listed on Bloomberg Terminal as one of the first bitcoin exchanges. Then it has chosen to assist with investigating the lost bitcoins of Mt. Gox, Powell’s former employer. Because of its track record of being secure, Kraken is trusted.
After Wyoming granted such a charter, Kraken was the first cryptocurrency exchange to have a special purpose deposit institution (SPDI), charter in September 2020.
Chief Executive Officer Powell resigned as CEO of the platform on September 21st, 2022. He said that he had spent more time on the product, the user experience and industry advocacy.
Dave Ripley replaced him as CEO.
Cryptos under Kraken
Kraken supports at most 110 cryptocurrencies. Some of the more popular and well-known currencies include:
Stellar Lumens (XLM)
Aside from that, Kraken also supports some stablecoins which include Tether, USD Coin, as well as Dai. A limited number of Kraken currency exchanges are also available in certain territories. You can convert US dollars into Canadian dollars, Japanese Yuen and Swiss Francs. What Is A Binance Wallet
Since its founding in 2011 and launching in 2013, Kraken has been a mainstay of the cryptocurrency industry. Since its inception, Kraken’s focus was on security. It has never stopped focusing on it over the years. In fact, it is the only cryptocurrency exchange that has not had any major hacking accounts.
This exchange, which is based in the United States, is the industry’s leader in terms security. Some in the industry associate Kraken with financial stability and physical security. A claim that the company is just too happy to boast about
Healthy Range of Available Cryptocurrencies
Kraken offers trades on its platform with over 160 coins and seven fiat currency. It’s not the largest amount but it’s still quite healthy and comparable to the top crypto exchanges. What Is A Binance Wallet
This amount helps Kraken maintain high liquidity, making buying and selling at a fair price easier on the platform.
Kraken works using currency pairs, a one-to-one equivalency between two currencies. It is the price quote of the exchange rate of two different currencies traded in FX markets.
Kraken would use dollars to buy Bitcoin, and vice versa. If you are using dollars to buy Bitcoin and then Bitcoin to buy Ethereum, you will always be swapping one currency for another.
In the case of Kraken, not all of its currencies are exchangeable for the others.
Advanced trading features
Kraken is one of the few exchanges offering margin, stop orders, and crypto short sales. Kraken also has a dark pool where high-volume investors can trade without their names being known.
Kraken lets you leverage currency pairs up to 5x. Some eligible pro clients can access up to $500,000 in the margin. This does not remove the risk that margin trading inherently brings.
The fees are affordable.
While it is not the lowest in the market, the prices of Kraken’s fees are pretty competitive and on par with several exchanges. It is even cheaper than other exchanges.
There are no fixed trading fees. They will vary from one exchange to the next. One sure factor, though, is that your fees will depend on your monthly trade history. While we will talk about fees in depth in another segment, it is important to know that fees are higher when using the instant buy feature rather than the pro platform.
Strong Staking Options
Staking options within Kraken are pretty good. You can stake in over 15 cryptos. Users can earn as much as 20%, up to 0.25%.
Staking refers to the act of holding your coins in order to make a contribution to the security of a specific blockchain. It can be a great way to passively earn an income.
Kraken Trading Experience
Kraken users can choose between Kraken and Kraken Pro. Kraken Pro is the cheaper of these two exchanges. Anyone can access both platforms with a Kraken Account.
Kraken is a trading platform that’s geared towards intermediate-to-experienced users. The platform is accessible to beginners if they wish. It is suggested that they start with the central Kraken platform to learn the ropes. What Is A Binance Wallet
Kraken allows verified accounts to quickly buy cryptocurrency from linked bank accounts. From there, selling or converting your crypto into your account is just a simple process. Inside the website, orders are done using a straightforward form, which will mostly only take a few seconds.
Their system makes it easy to buy cryptocurrencies using your bank account balance. Your account doesn’t need to be funded first.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security feature that you can use to protect your Kraken account. To log in to your account, you’ll need to have your device.
Kraken Pro, on the other hand is Kraken’s most advanced trading platform. At first glance, it has a more complex interface than the regular Kraken exchange. Kraken Pro is intimidating for new traders. However, it is worth learning. What Is A Binance Wallet
It includes more detail about assets, active charts and the ability to view open orders.
Kraken allows you to pay lower fees, as we have already stated. So if you think you are ready, it would be better to make the same trade with Kraken Pro instead of Kraken. You will pay less but earn more in the end.
Kraken’s fees fall in the middle of the market, as we have already stated. It is not the lowest on the market and it is not the highest. Other factors may affect the price of the fees you are about to pay.
Prices and fees may vary depending on the platform. Kraken Pro will always have cheaper fees than the normal Kraken.
Fees for instant purchases are 1.5% for most cryptos and 0.9% for stablecoins that use the U.S. Dollar or another stablecoin.
There are also additional fees that depend on how you fund your purchases. For funding with a bank account, these fees range from 0.5% to 1.5%. Meanwhile, 3.75% + 25 Euro cents with a debit card, credit card, or digital wallet. What Is A Binance Wallet
Meanwhile, Kraken Pro’s pricing is pretty different. The fees for Kraken Pro are generally lower than those on the main Kraken platform. Your fees will also be based on your total trading volume over the last 30 days. Another fee to remember is that most transactions are subject to a 0.26% taker fee or 0.16% maker fee.
Below is a general chart of their maker-taker fees in a 30-day volume in US dollars.
30- Day Volume (USD)
$0 – $50,000
$50,001 – $100,000
$100,001 – $250,000
$250,001 – $500,000
$500,001 – $1,000,000
$1,000,001 – $2,500,000
$2,500,001 – $5,000,000
$5,000,001 – $10,000,000
There really are not many issues concerning Kraken aside from disagreement with a work culture which is something the company has already worked on and moved on
Kraken’s security record has been excellent and Kraken is the only major cryptocurrency exchange not to be hacked.
That said, Kraken has its fair share of issues regarding government regulations.
In April 2018, Kraken refused to comply with an investigation by the New York Attorney General’s Office on issues about the measures taken by crypto exchanges to protect their customers from money laundering and market manipulation.
Kraken believes that this would be a bad business decision.
Approximately a year after, the Office of Foreign Assets Control investigated the exchange for potential violation of sanction regimes by allowing trade for customers based in Iran. Kraken was fined $1.25million by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in September 2021 for allowing unregistered margin trades.
Kraken Pros & Cons
Advanced and sophisticated features like margin trading and staking.
Good and dependable customer service option
Relatively low Bitcoin withdrawal fees (BTC).
Offers a variety of educational materials.
The most secure exchange on the market
Simple user interface
Base Kraken platform has pretty expensive fees compared to the Kraken Pro version. Luckily both modes can easily be accessed as long as you have a Kraken account.
Kraken only accepts a few fiat currencies
Some users have complained about having their accounts hacked. What Is A Binance Wallet
Binance and Crypto.com are some of the more popular exchanges in the cryptocurrency industry. Both provide a variety of features such as low fees and staking as well advanced trading. However, it does not mean that the two platforms are identical.
There is a reason one is better than the other, but that does not mean that you should automatically run toward the higher-ranked exchange for the sake of numbers. There are many factors that influence which exchange is ranked higher than another.
The better way to choose your crypto exchange is to examine both options and determine which one appeals to you more. Will you choose the more investor-friendly Binance with its wider selection of cryptocurrencies to invest in, or will you take Crypto.com’s side, which offers a more user-friendly experience and lower fees. What Is A Binance Wallet
Crypto.com was founded in Hong Kong back in 2018. It was originally called Monaco by founders Bobby Bao, Gary Or, Kris Marszalek, and Rafael Melo. When Crypto.com purchased the domain of Matt Blaze, a cryptography researcher, it became Crypto.com.
Domain sellers might sell the domain for a larger sum, with the domain being valued at between US$5 and 10 million.
As for the overall platform, Crypto.com does what most cryptocurrency exchanges does. It lets users trade, invest, stake in a currency, and many other things.
It also has a huge selection of currencies numbering at least 250 different currencies, reasonable fees, and even discounts to some specific customers (like those with huge stakes in the Crypto.com’s very own coin, the cronos (CRO).
Crypto.com’s main selling point and focus is in their exchange. They offer many crypto services, including their own crypto wallet and an NFT shop. The company has even partnered with Shopify those in the e-commerce platform accept cryptocurrency as a valid payment.
Overall, we can consider Crypto.com as an all in one cryptocurrency platform that is perfect for investors and traders who want to do more than buy and hold. With Crypto.com, cryptocurrency can also be currency.
Cryptos under Crypto.com
In terms of selection, Crypto.com has a huge one available. It support more than 250 currencies for spot trading with a subset of staking. Some of the more popular currencies available in the platform include:
USD Coin (USDC)
Cronos (CRO) is Crypto.com’s coin. A significant stake in this cryptocurrency will reward you with lower trading fees and higher stalking interest rates as well as higher credit card rewards. What Is A Binance Wallet
Crypto.com has a lot going for it aside from being just a plain old trading platform. You can trade cryptocurrencies and buy and sell them on the exchange.
Crypto.com lets you spend your crypto with a prepaid Visa Card. Crypto.com places a lot of weight on cryptocurrency’s currency component.
Crypto.com’s low fees can rival that of many sites.
In fact, there are transactions within Crypto.com that do not even require any fees. You can deposit your money via wire transfer or electronic bank to your account.
Crypto.com also allows you to purchase and sell cryptocurrency at its true cost, giving the real meaning of “what you see is what you get.”
That said, the platform does charge you a fee for crypto purchases made with a credit card or a debit card. Payments made with a debit card or credit card might also be subject to a cash advance fee for crypto purchases.
Convert your Money Easily
Although this feature isn’t unique to Crypto.com it deserves to be listed. The Crypto.com app allows users to convert their fiat currencies into crypto. Crypto.com only supports 20 fiat currencies.
These fiat currencies include USD, GBP, and EUR, among others. But, just because a fiat currency is listed on Crypto.com, does not necessarily mean it will be available for you to trade. Your country of residence will still be a big factor limiting your ability to trade in certain fiat currencies.
One of the greatest perks that you can receive as a Crypto.com member is the availability Visa Cards linked to your Crypto.com account with its crypto currency.
Currently, Crypto.com has five types of prepaid Visa Cards available to its users. These cards must be charged before they can be used fully.
The type of Card available for you will also depend on how much CRO stake you have in the platform.
Their Ruby Steel card is the lowest available tier, and it also offers a 1% cash back on your contribution. To be eligible, you must have at least $400 in stake.
For those with deeper pockets, Obsidian tier is available. This tier earns you 5% cash back or cryptoback, as well as lots of bonuses. To qualify, you will need to have at least $400,000 in stakes. What Is A Binance Wallet
Midnight Blue, Jade Green/ Royal Indigo and Frosted Rose Gold/ Icy White are some of the other cards that are available. These cards don’t have an annual fee, and you get a certain number of ATM withdrawals and foreign transaction each month for no additional charge.
Crypto.com is more than a place to purchase tokens and coins. It’s a one-stop shop that offers everything crypto. Those who have a Crypto.com account can also earn high rates of interest. In fact, Crypto.com have some of the best high-yield savings accounts in the market.
You may have to keep a lot of cash in CRO to benefit from this perk, but the maximum interest you can earn is below 10%.
The interest rate you can acquire will depend on factors like the duration of time you leave your money, the currency you save, and the amount of CRO you have staked.
Using the app, you can increase your interest rate in multiple ways. One way is to stake more than 4,000 CROs. You can even get more if your stake exceeds 40,000 CROs, but this may seem excessive.
You can also increase the interest rate if you deposit for a one-month term to three-month terms. Between these choices, depositing for one-month terms might be more flexible, but three-month term deposits yield better rates.
Lastly, investing in stablecoin also increases your interest rate. Stablecoins usually peg their values to an external reference. Some can even be tied to the U.S. Dollar. These stablecoins can help you earn more interest.
Stablecoins, being stable, are less likely to appreciate in value than normal cryptocurrencies. That also means they are also less likely to depreciate in value.
It is risky to keep your crypto savings. Cryptocurrencies are still a volatile entity, and if it fails, your savings may be reduced… by a lot.
Gifts Cards and Phone Top Ups
Gift Cards and Phone Top-ups are other ways that Crypto.com allows you to spend your crypto. Buy gift cards from popular brands to earn cash back benefits.
Crypto.com offers gift cards from popular brands covering different industries like hotels, general retail, games, airlines, education, and even entertainment from at least 41 countries. You can also find gift cards from the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Singapore and Spain.
Brands include Macy’s, Barnes & Noble, Airbnb, and many more.
The amount of cashback you get will still depend on how much CRO you have staked and what type of company it is.
Crypto.com Trading Experience
When using Crypto.com, your trades will mostly revolve around its mobile app, which serves as the platform’s central hub. For those who have been trading stocks on their phone or tablet before, the experience will be easy and similar to what you would expect. What Is A Binance Wallet
The app in question shows the user’s portfolio and a list of their more popular assets. It includes everything needed that Crypto.com says it offers. With it, you can trade currencies, earn through staking in crypto, make payments with cryptocurrency, and even sign up for a Crypto.com credit card.
Without chart tools, where would you find a trading app? The Crypto.com app shares a simple set of data which aims to not overwhelm or intimidate users. These charts provide enough information for users to understand the cryptocurrency and blockchain, which might be useful before they buy.
In terms of fiat currencies, Crypto.com has a fair selection. The most popular are the Australian (AUD), Canadian (CAD), and the euro (EUR) dollars, as well as the British pound sterling and the U.S. Dollar (USD), which are all very popular. This allows users from multiple countries to buy and enter crypto using their local currency.
Crypto.com’s trading fees are very competitive. In fact, they are among those who offer the lowest trading fees in the market. Trade volume can be higher and qualify for lower fees, as low as 0.4% for makers or 0.1% for takers. This is even with no CRO.
Users who have at least 5,000 CRO in their bank account can get discounted trading fees. Rates go lower with larger stakes.
However, Crypto.com users who are newer than 25 000 USD will be charged 0.4% for trades that have a monthly volume less than $25,000.
Below is a table that shows fees for spot trades and margin trades for customers who have no CRO stake.
30-Day Spot Trading Volume (USD)
Greater than or equal to 250,000
More than 1,000,000 or equal
More than 5,000,000 or equal to 5,000,000
Greater than 10,000,000 or equal to 10,000,000
Meanwhile, the table below is the maker and taker rates for those who have less a stake of than or equal to 100 CRO (3% discount)
30 Day Spot Trading Volume (USD)
Less than 250,000
Greater than or equal to 250,000
Greater than or equal to 1,000,000
More than 5,000,000 or equal to 5,000,000
Greater than or equal to 10,000,000
As said, the higher your CRO stakes are the bigger your discounts. Stakes over 50,000 CRO are exempt from maker fees. People with even higher stakes may be eligible for rebates.
Like most cryptocurrency exchanges, Crypto.com does have its fair share of problems.
On January 2022, Crypto.com was the victim of a serious hack. According to reports, the company had lost US$15 Million worth of Ether. After users reported suspicious activity to their accounts, the company lost US$15 million worth of Ether. The company quickly paused withdrawals which were later restored. The company reported that no customer funds were lost alongside the restoration of withdrawals.
Crypto.com’s problems were mostly caused by the decline in cryptocurrency. As such, Crypto.com had to let go of hundreds of employees, which started in May. In October 2022 alone, it was reported that the company had to lay off at least 30% to 40% of its staff.
In November of 2022, their exchange token Cronos (CRO) has lost approximately $1 billion in value. This was in part due to the collapse of FTX. Crypto.com CEO Marszalek reassured that the exchange was operating normally.
Crypto.com Pros and Cons
Competitively Low fees
There are many ways to pay with crypto
Convert money quickly
Visa card perk with great cash back rewards
Earn interest on crypto
Pretty big selection of cryptocurrency coins and tokens What Is A Binance Wallet
Has strong security
User interface and the exchange itself is pretty difficult to navigate
There are limited availability of coins.
Some areas are lacking customer service and some of it is very poor.
When Comparing KuCoin and Binance side by side, the winner is pretty clear. It is Binance, and that is by a lot. KuCoin was one of the first platforms to trade cryptocurrencies. However, FTX and Kraken have taken over.
KuCoin is still available to its users, but most traders avoid it like the plague. Many negative reviews have been written about the exchange, with a variety of reasons. Some are semantics while others are alarming.
KuCoin was founded in 2017 by top tech geeks Micahel Gan and Eric Don. It is a cryptocurrency exchange platform that was launched by Top Lan, Kent Li. John Lee, Jack Zhum, Linda Lin, and John Lee. The company was established in 2013.
KuCoin started because of MichaelGan’s eagerness to learn about blockchain and its application possibilities. Eric was his boss and he told him about Bitcoin. He then got involved in the action.
He was shocked to discover that some of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges at that time were difficult to use for beginners. This was in direct proportion to the impact blockchain had on the world, particularly with the way that crypto and Bitcoin changed the global financial system.
Eric and Michael had already written the first code for KuCoin in a coffee shop by the end of 2013. This was how the platform, which would later be known as the “People’s Exchange,” got its start.
Cryptos under KuCoin
Since it is an older cryptocurrency exchange platform, it is not surprising that there is a pretty sizable selection of cryptocurrencies you can buy and trade in the exchange.
Veteran traders looking for a wide selection of assets may appreciate this extensive selection of coins and tokens. In fact, it is one of KuCoin’s strongest aspects that the platform is a goldmine for altcoins and tokens. What Is A Binance Wallet
It was also one of the main reasons why the company was founded in the first place, to give fewer mainstream currencies their spotlight and allow people to access them.
These lesser-known coins are riskier than the more stable and popular ones. People need to be aware of what they are getting into.
KuCoin has its token, called KuCoin Token or KCS. The following are some other popular coins that can be found on the exchange platform:
Binance Coin (BNB)
Internet Computer (ICP)
Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)
USD Coin (USDC)
These are only a small selection of the many options available on the exchange platform.
A wide range of coins
KuCoin offers a wide range of tokens, coins and altcoins that are available for trading on their exchange. In fact, it ranks in the upper echelon when selecting coins available in the exchange.
It is also easier to find smaller coins than other platforms on these platforms. For traders who want to branch out into less popular crypto, KuCoin will be the perfect platform for them.
It is a key mission of KuCoin to help smaller and more recent cryptocurrencies succeed. They even have a Spotlight section that promotes new currencies.
This is a good thing for users and the coin, as it allows them to start using a new currency earlier.
KuCoin has very low trading fees. Although it’s not the lowest on the market, it’s still low enough to be competitive with other exchanges.
In KuCoin, you don’t have to pay any monthly account fees. The withdrawal fees are the same as other exchanges and deposits to KuCoin are free. That said, you will still need to pay a fee to deposit fiat money, such as U.S. dollars. What Is A Binance Wallet
These fees depend on the transfer method you choose and what third-party app that you use.
Earn Through Interest on Your Crypto
KuCoin, like most cryptocurrency exchanges lets you make money with your crypto. KuCoin Earn is the name of the KuCoin service.
With KuCoin earn, you are given two ways to earn from your crypto. First, you can take coins through Pool-X, a company backed by KuCoin. The second way is to loan out your crypto and get paid the interest.
Loaning your crypto nets your interest bigger than what you’d normally get with a saving account. That said, the coin and its demand still affect how much you earn.
The exchange claims that you can make a lot of money this way, with an average earning rate of 8% to 12.5%. KuCoin uses this money to finance margin trading. Although it might seem risky, the company assures that all lenders will be fully repaid.
That repayment might come from the borrower’s collateral or a KuCoin margin insurance fund.
KuCoin provides veteran users with plenty of toys and extra features to play with. They allow for margin trading, which allows users to leverage their position, which means borrowing money to buy more crypto.
KuCoin also allows the use of trading bots in its mobile app. This allows you to trade your cryptocurrency without having to do it yourself. Instead, you can let a computer handle that task for you. This is very convenient because you don’t always have to be online in order to run your business.
That said, using bots can be pretty risky. Bots can be prone to glitches, and being too dependent on them may cost you a lot of opportunities. Then there is the fact that you mostly don’t know about their perimeters and strategies when doing their trades.
As such, the convenience bots provide may not be worth the uncertainty of how they’re handling your assets.
KuCoin Trading Experience
The KuCoin trading experience can start either through an online portal or an Android and iOS mobile app. Both have an abundance of features and tools which you can use when doing trades on the platform.
After logging into your KuCoin account on mobile or desktop, you can access KuCoin’s dashboard or front page. From there, users can do whatever they want, from viewing markets, buying, trading, and lending crypto, as well as many other activities.
In the case of order types, the platform supports four. These include market order, limit or stop-limit orders, and stop-market orders.
Users have access to orders as well as margin, futures and P2P trading. You can stake your crypto to earn some back or get a discount on trading fees. What Is A Binance Wallet
The exchange recently added a Trading Bot feature that will simplify the entire trading process.
KuCoin is a great cryptocurrency with many advanced features. This might be a boon to veteran traders. They can be difficult for novice traders, as they aren’t user-friendly on mobile platforms.
When it comes to trading fees, KuCoin divides their rates by levels. These trading fees will mostly depend on 3 factors. To determine the trading fee level, you have to look at the Minimum KCS Holding within the last 30 days, and the Spot trading volume last 30 days (BTC), or the Future Trading Volume within the last 30 days (BTC).
Below is a table that shows which trading level corresponds to which.
Trading Fee Level
Min KCS Holding last 30 Days
Spot Trading Volume Last 30 Days (BTC)
Futures Trading Volume Last 30 Days (BTC)
These levels will determine how much you’ll have to pay for taker or maker fees. Spot trading fees will be charged based on the base currency of the trading pairs. KCS users will receive 20% off for paying fees.
Also, KuCoins has a 24h withdrawal limit.
24-hour Withdrawal Limit
0.1% / 0.1%
0.09% / 0.1%
0.07% / 0.09%
0.05% / 0.08%
0.03% / 0.07%
0% / 0.07%
0% / 0.06%
0% / 0.05%
-0.005% / 0.045%
-0.005% / 0.04%
-0.005% / 0.035%
-0.005% / 0.03%
-0.005% / 0.025%
To be honest, KuCoin does not have the best reputation in the industry. Just by looking at reviews of the company, you can already see a glimpse of how bad the dissatisfaction is.
Trustpilot reviews gave it an average rating of 1.7 stars out 600 reviews. Many of the negative reviews focus on customer service, withdrawals, or even deposits. What Is A Binance Wallet
KuCoin was also accused of manipulating the market. Some even claimed that their assets disappeared randomly from their accounts. This is a problem especially when it comes to assets, money and finance.
Then there is an issue of security.
While KuCoin is a generally secure crypto exchange, it was subject to a major hack back in 2020. The exchange lost about $280 million worth of crypto from users’ hot wallets to hackers. This was a serious security breach, despite the fact that all assets were covered by an insurance plan.
KuCoin Pros and Cons
Strong user base
Wide range of coins
Earn interest on your crypto
Advanced trading features
Good customer service
The U.S. has not granted license for this product.
Payment methods are limited
Can be intimidating and overwhelming for new traders
Bittrex and Binance are two crypto exchanges with more similarities than differences. Both have similar features that users can use. Despite being similar, the two platforms have major differences.
One key difference between these two platforms has to do with size. While Binance boasts about the largest amount of trading volumes among the different exchanges, Bittrex aims for a more scaled-down experience.
Bittrex was once one of the top cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. Still, Binance surpassed them after the former implemented stricter Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering policies.
Bittrex, a cryptocurrency exchange, aims to provide a high-quality service with trust and focus.
It was founded in 2014 by three cybersecurity engineers from Amazon: Bill Shihara, co-founder and CEO; Richie Lai, co-founder, and chief information officer; and Rami Kawach, co-founder and chief technology officer. Its headquarters can be found in Seattle.
In the beginning, the platform only offered crypto-to-crypto trading, but it soon introduced fiat-to-crypto trading. What Is A Binance Wallet
Despite the newness of their fiat trading, they still offer a wide selection of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. They are also available in 46 states of the United States, except Hawaii, New York, Vermont, and Vermont.
Cryptos under Bittrex
Bittrex has a wide selection of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins available in their exchange. This variety, like most exchanges makes Bittrex platforms attractive to traders.
Their selections include:
A huge selection of cryptocurrency
Bittrex offers a large selection of cryptocurrency in their marketplace, as we have already stated. This makes it pretty attractive for customers looking for new, more niche but riskier trades.
Bittrex offers low fees starting at 0.3% This can get lower depending on the trade volume. It is still not the lowest on the market. Some exchanges charge lower fees than others.
Execution of fast trading
Unlike other services, Bittrex has a custom-built trading engine that allows faster trades. This engine even works well despite high demand. This is a great way for investors to take advantage of volatile markets like cryptocurrency’s price fluctuations.
Cardano (ADA), cryptocurrency holders would be thrilled to have this platform. Bittrex allows users to stake their Cardano crypto throughout the exchange. You can get up to 5.5% in reward. What Is A Binance Wallet
We all know how arcane-ish finances in general are. So by association, cryptocurrency is just as mind-boggling and arcane. Any way you can educate yourself about the topic is a blessing.
Bittrex has an impressive library of educational resources available in its Discover section. You will find references and articles on a variety of crypto topics here. You will find references and lessons on topics that range from crypto taxes to crypto mining.
You can even see a breakdown of some of these cryptocurrencies on the platform, which will give you an idea about what you’re betting on and whether it is worth your time.
While it does not fully remove the risk in cryptocurrency, at least it helps users make more informed decisions. What Is A Binance Wallet
Bittrex offers a referral program. If someone you know opens an account with Bittrex and uses your link, you’ll earn 10% on all trading commissions.
This may not seem like much. Referring a serious crypto whale can net you substantial rewards. Although unreliable, it is a good and less risky way to passively earn crypto income.
Bittrex Trading Experience
Trading on Bittrex is a no-frills, straightforward experience. Logging in is all that’s required to access the trading dashboard. It can be accessed via a desktop or mobile app.
In the desktop interface, users have a simple “instant buy Buy/Sell” option. This option lets users quickly make trades or purchase crypto with a debit card, bank account, or Bittrex account balance.
A real-time view of all the market data available on the platform is also available to users. Besides that, users have the option for more advanced order types. You can also choose from stop, stop limit, trailing stop and laddered orders.
Bittrex has a simple fee structure that makes it easier to understand their fees than other exchanges. You still receive fee discounts for trades that have higher volumes. Overall, these fees are pretty low but are not the lowest available in the market.
30-Day Volume (USD)
$25,000 – $50,000
$50,000 – $100,000
$100,000 – $1 million
$1 million – $5 million
$5 million – $10 million
$10 million – $60 million
$60 million – $100 million
$100 million +
Bittrex has been on the receiving end of negative reviews from its users. Many of these problems are caused by account lockouts, assets that have been frozen, and identity verification issues. These problems are widespread across all crypto exchanges.
The platform hasn’t experienced any major setbacks or controversies.
Bittrex Pros & Cons
Extensive selection of available cryptocurrency
Very low fees
Advanced trading tools
Very useful educational content
Mediocre and mostly unhelpful customer support
Can be challenging for beginners
Binance versus eToro What Is A Binance Wallet
Binance and eToro are two of the most well-known cryptocurrency platforms. They are both very well-known and have a strong market presence.
However, there is a difference that divides the two. They are two very different platforms. Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange, eToro is not. It is, in fact, a cryptocurrency broker.
Binance sells a wide range of digital assets ranging from the usual cryptocurrency to NFTs and other services. A cryptocurrency broker also sells crypto along with other investment products such as stocks and fractional shares.
eToro was not founded as a cryptocurrency platform, unlike most companies in this review. Rather, the Tel Aviv-based company was originally an online forex broker under the name RetailFX. This was in 2007.
When RetailFX started offering commodities, indices, and stocks, it changed its name to eToro. It later launched the innovative social trading feature, which allowed users to copy trades from successful traders on the platform.
eToro only got involved in the crypto market when it added support for BTC in 2014. CFDs could now be bought and sold to non-U.S. users. The world’s most popular digital currency. It added support for Ripple and Ethereum four years later. What Is A Binance Wallet
Also, in 2018, eToro went full steam on the crypto industry. More coins and currencies were added to the platform. The company also launched eToroX, a digital asset platform and its crypto wallet.
Cryptos under eToro
eToro’s digital asset platform has a limited selection of cryptocurrency options. They were not originally set up as an exchange, but rather as a brokerage. Nevertheless, the service does include some of the most popular currencies:
Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
Stellar Lumens (XLM)
CopyTrader is eToro’s most distinctive feature. This feature existed long before the platform began to explore the crypto industry. What Is A Binance Wallet
This basically allows eToro users to copy trades done by their favorite traders with just one click. The trade can be initiated by setting the money that the user wants to spend.
The platform will then set the funds and attempt to match the positions of their favorite eToro traders proportionally.
It is completely free, which is quite surprising. There is a need to pay an additional fee for this feature, which can be used as much as the user wants.
Invest more than crypto.
It was expected that users would still be able to participate in the action since the platform began in foreign currency.
eToro allows you to have both stocks and cryptocurrency in one account. The platform also offers stock trading at zero commissions and the possibility to purchase fractional shares.
Even for people who want to test out stock investing, eToro offers a virtual brokerage account that lets you simulate owning stocks without putting real money at risk.
Fee Debit card deposits
Unlike most cryptocurrency exchanges, eToro does not charge fees for users who want to do a debit card deposit. Investors can deposit fiat money using a bank transfer or debit card for no additional fees.
Users should be aware that there is a conversion charge for transactions not in U.S. dollars.
eToro Trading Experience
eToro can be used as a web-based platform or as a mobile app.
Starting in the platform is as easy as depositing fiat currency from a debit card or bank account, and then they can trade immediately.
A trading tab provides an intuitive view of the current prices, buys, sales, and converts crypto.
CopyTrading is the top perk that makes trading simple and straightforward. You can even trade with high-performing traders on the platform.
The platform provides basic market and limit orders. However, it lacks some of the more advanced conditional orders and more advanced charting capabilities.
Also, the lack of cryptocurrency choices limits the cryptocurrency fairs the platform can offer.
It’s also eToroX – the digital asset platform that is the most prominent.
Some of the new features included in eToroX include U.S. dollar deposits, margin trading, trading APIs, and fast execution.
When it comes to fees, eToro is a breath of fresh air. Unlike most cryptocurrency exchanges, which don’t show their fee, eToro lists the fees it charges when trading crypto.
eToro users are charged a flat fee of 1% per trade in crypto. This 1% market fee is added to the market price the platform calls a bid-ask spread. It is also included in the platform’s price when users open or closes their position.
However, many users don’t like the fact that eToro charges a fee for each round trip. This is different from other exchanges, which only charge fees when an asset is purchased or sold.
eToro charges 1% upfront for the eventual sale and a $1 purchase fee.
This could be a problem when users transfer their coins to an external wallet. As they can no longer return them to the trading platform.
It is not surprising that there have been many controversies about the platform due to its age. However, most of these do not involve the crypto market.
However, one did occur during the 2021 closing of leveraged positions. Early that year, European clients of the platform were notified of the following:
Margin positions for all leveraged crypto position should be changed from leveraged to non-leveraged. Otherwise, they will be closed in less than four hours.


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Title: Fire history in the ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forests on the east slope of the Washington Cascades.
Author: Everett, Richard L.; Schellhaas, Richard; Keenum, Dave et al.;
Source: Forest Ecology and Management. 129: 207-225
Publication Series: Miscellaneous Publication
Description: We collected 490 and 233 fire scars on two ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)/Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) dominated landscapes on the east slope of the Washington Cascades that contained a record of 3901 and 2309 cross-dated fire events. During the pre-settlement period (1700/1750±1860), the Weibull median fire-free interval (WMFFI) and the mean firefree interval (MFFI) were 6.6±7 years at both sites. The MFFI during the settlement period (1860±1910) varied within 3 years of the pre-settlement value, but increased to 38 and 43 years for a truncated fire suppression period between 1910 and 1996. Increased variation in MFFI among aspect polygons suggests fire regimes have become more complex since Euro-settlement. In the pre-settlement period, an area equal to approximately 50±60% of the study areas burned every 6±7 years, an amount of fire disturbance apparently in balance with landscape and stand vegetation structure. Overlapping fires have created a complex mosaic of different fire histories on these forested landscapes. Mapped fire events from the 1700±1910 showed 134 and 157 separate fire history polygons (FHP) at the two sites. Fire disturbance rates and patterns are suggested as ecologically defensible reference points for landscape heterogeneity to reduce the potential for catastrophic fires and to establish vegetation disturbance management guidelines.
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Everett, Richard L.; Schellhaas, Richard; Keenum, Dave, et al. 2000. Fire history in the ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forests on the east slope of the Washington Cascades. Forest Ecology and Management. 129: 207-225
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Tissue-based environmental quality benchmarks and standards
- First Online:
- Cite this article as:
- Meador, J.P., Warne, M.S.J., Chapman, P.M. et al. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2014) 21: 28. doi:10.1007/s11356-013-1714-x
Although the use of tissue concentrations (residues) of chemical contaminants as the dose metric to characterize chemical toxicity to aquatic organisms has been gaining acceptance over the past 20 years, tissue concentrations are less commonly used in water quality management and have yet to be formally adopted as benchmarks or environmental quality standards (EQS). This synthesis paper addresses advantages and disadvantages for the development and application of tissue-based EQS as an alternative and supplement to exposure-based EQS determined with water and sediment concentration data. Tissue-based EQS can be readily developed in parallel with conventional toxicity tests, and achieved by quantification of chemical concentrations in tissue alongside traditional concentration-response toxicity testing. Tissue-residue toxicity metrics can be used as benchmarks for screening and monitoring water and sediment quality, to derive equivalent water or sediment EQS, and for ecological risk assessments and weight of evidence approaches for assessing ecosystem impairment. Tissue-based toxicity metrics and associated EQS provide several advantages; however, there are some limitations to consider and key knowledge gaps to fill.


Extreme Exercise: How much is too much?
USF psychiatrist Dr. Pauline Powers says finding the right balance of exercise can be difficult in a society that has shifted the focus of exercise from health to appearance.
University of South Florida psychiatry professor Pauline Powers, MD, is all for exercise being part of a healthy lifestyle. In fact, she manages to fit time with a personal trainer twice a week and YMCA aerobics into her hectic schedule.
But, she also wryly notes that working out won’t prevent death. In fact –like too much of any good thing – too much exercise can make you sick, Dr. Powers said.
“There’s a real emphasis on the obesity epidemic in today’s society. The message that tends to come across is that everyone is overweight and under-exercising,” she said. “While not enough people are exercising and too many people are overweight, it is not true that the majority is overweight and not exercising. We just don’t really hear much about the dangers of extreme exercise.”
Dr. Powers co-authored the recently published book The Exercise Balance with psychologist colleague Ron Thompson, PhD. Both specialize in the treatment of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia and severe obesity.
The book discusses both ends of the exercise spectrum — from addictive exercisers who push their bodies to extremes to meet unrealistic standards for thinness or “fitness” to sedentary people who need to be more active. Using a combination of clinical studies and real-life examples, the authors offer practical guidelines for creating individualized, balanced exercise plans, including those tailored for different age groups and people with chronic illnesses.
Dr. Powers, past president of the National Eating Disorders Association, became interested in exercise addiction because many patients she treats have developed a dysfunctional relationship between exercise and eating. “At least half of the people with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa started with too much exercise,” she said, “and the more compulsive the exercise the greater the psychopathology of their eating disorders.”
Ironically, Dr. Powers said, while the debate about obesity grabs the headlines, increasing numbers of people are also engaging in excessive exercise – spending hours a day at the gym or training for ultramarathons that tax their endurance in extreme temperatures and terrain.
The health hazards of a sedentary lifestyle, including hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, have been widely publicized, but excessive exercise has its own set of medical consequences, she added. These include stress fractures, musculoskeletal injuries, cardiovascular complications, and, among women who train excessively, a condition known as female athlete triad, which is characterized by dieting, menstrual irregularity, and bone loss.
Some people erroneously believe “if some exercise is good, then more must be better,’ much like ‘if thin is good, thinner is better,’” Dr Powers said. But, among even competitive athletes who train more intensively than the average American, too much exercise may lead to “overtraining syndrome” or “staleness” – a condition marked by fatigue, weight loss, depression, and even a decrease in sports performance.
“More exercise does not necessarily improve athletic performance, nor does reducing weight or body fat,” she said. “It might if an athlete is not training enough, or if they’ve become overweight. But, usually that’s not the case, and it’s factors like genetics and personality traits that make the competitive difference.”
Most people (who are not competitive athletes) need to set reasonable and realistic goals for health and fitness, taking into account physical factors, such as their body type and muscle mass, and life circumstances like age and health status, Dr. Powers said. “My neighbor, who is a triathlete, wants me to run a marathon with her. Well, I’ll never be able to run a marathon. I can run 2 miles, but not a marathon.”
So, how do you know if you’re just embracing physical fitness or overdoing exercise? A big indication is if the intensity of exercise starts interfering with your work, school or relationships, Dr. Powers said. For instance, family and friends complain that they never see you anymore, or your boss notices you’re not finishing projects on time.
“If exercise becomes so all-consuming that you can’t interrupt your workout to go on vacation – you have to exercise when the plane is taking off – then that’s a problem!”
Here are a few more signs of excessive exercise:
– Compulsively following the same exercise routine for years without missing a day
– Feeling obliged to exercise no matter what the circumstances, or feeling guilty or anxious about any lapse or reduction in activity.
– Relying on physical activity as the only means of coping with stress.
– Continuing to exercise despite illness or injury, even when advised by your doctor to take a break while you heal.
– Automatically equating exercise with eating and weight control. For instance, developing a preoccupation with having to exercise to compensate for eating.
The book includes a more extensive questionnaire for assessing exercise abuse among the general public. It also includes a chapter discussing the special circumstances of competitive athletes, a group at higher risk for excessive exercise and eating disorders.
Dr. Powers emphasizes the importance of the circumstances and context surrounding your exercise routine in determining whether it’s balanced. “When my neighbor is training for triathlons she steps up her exercise regimen,” she said. “But once the competition is over, she goes back to a more moderate routine. And if she hurts something while she’s training, she does not continue running, biking or swimming.”
Dr. Powers in one of few photos with a scale. As a physician who treats many patients with eating disorders, she discourages the connection of eating with exercise and weight control.
Achieving exercise balance has become more challenging as society has shifted the focus of exercise from health to appearance – for instance, glamorizing people in entertainment or sports who maintain a low weight, Dr. Powers said. “It’s especially a real problem to figure out how to help people who adore exercise and also have an eating disorder.”
Dr. Powers recalled the first patient she met with anorexia. Even though the emaciated young girl was strapped to the bed in a pediatric intensive care unit, she was lifting her body up and down and moving her arms as much as possible within the arm restraints. She was in danger of losing her life, and she was exercising.
“You really can’t stop people from exercising unless you sedate them. It’s better to work with people to help them recognize the difference between moderation and too much exercise,” she said. “I discourage patients with eating disorders from exercising right after they eat a meal – to try to get them away from that mindset that says ‘OK, I can only eat if I exercise for half an hour.’”
“I want them to think of eating normally as one thing you do for your health, and exercising moderately is another – rather than making a compulsive connection between the two.”
- Story by Anne DeLotto Baier/USF Health Communications
- Photos by Eric Younghans/USF Health Media Center


Louis Lewin (1854-1929)
Louis Lewin (November 9, 1850 - December 1, 1929) was a German pharmacologist. In 1886, he published the first methodical analysis of the Peyote cactus. A German scientist, Lewin took up the task of classifying drugs and plants in accordance to their psychological effects. The classifications were Inebriantia (Inebriants), Exitantia (Stimulants), Euphorica (Euphoriants), Hypnotica (Tranquilizers), and Phantastica (Hallucinogens).
He received his education at the gymnasium and the University of Berlin (M.D. 1876). The two years following his graduation he spent in Munich, in the laboratories of von Voit and Pettenkofer. Returning to Berlin in 1878, he became assistant at the pharmacological institute of the university, and in 1881 he was admitted to the medical faculty as Privatdozent. In 1897 he was finally appointed professor.
One of Lewin's most enduring tasks was to create a system of classification for drugs and psychoactive plants based on their pharmacologic action. His original categories were:
- Inebriantia (Inebriants - Such as alcohol or ether)
- Exitantia (Stimulants - Such as Khat or Amphetamine)
- Euphorica (Euphoriants and Narcotics - Such as Heroin)
- Hypnotica (Tranquilizers - Such as Kava)
- Phantastica (Hallucinogens or Entheogens - Such as Peyote or Ayahuasca)


On Oct. 31, a large section of bluff on the Wisconsin shore of Lake Michigan collapsed next to the We Energies Oak Creek Power Plant.
The collapse sent a pick-up truck, dredging equipment and other debris, soil, mud and 2,500 cubic yards of coal ash — enough to fill 200 dump trucks — into the lake. Coal ash is a dangerous by-product of burning coal for energy. It contains harmful chemicals including arsenic, lead and mercury, which are poisonous and can cause cancer and damage to the nervous system, especially in children.
Despite its hazardous characteristics, there is no federal regulation of coal ash, and state laws concerning coal combustion waste disposal are usually weak or nonexistent. Across the country, millions of tons of coal ash are being stored in ponds, landfills and abandoned mines, letting contaminants seep into the groundwater. This exposes neighboring communities and wildlife to toxic and carcinogenic substances.
There have been several major spills in recent years — Georgia in 2002, Pennsylvania in 2005 and Tennessee in 2008 — each flooding surrounding residential areas with thousands of tons of poisonous coal ash.
Coal-fired power plants are the second largest industrial waste producers in the U.S., emitting 131 million tons of waste per year. Just two weeks ago the coal industry successfully lobbied the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill stripping the Environmental Protection Agency of the authority to protect Americans from coal ash.
This latest coal ash spill into Lake Michigan is an urgent reminder of the terrible hazards of major coal ash spills and slow, but no less dangerous, contamination. We need to demand that our Congress-people revoke the recent bill and enable the EPA to pass federal regulations protecting our communities and environment.


Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition caused by pressure to the median nerve within the wrist, or carpal tunnel. It may cause a tingling sensation, numbness of the fingers, weakness or aching. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by repetitive motion or overuse, fluid retention during pregnancy, injury to the nerve in the carpal tunnel or rheumatoid arthritis.
Dupuytren’s contracture is a disabling hand disorder in which thick, scar-like tissue bands form within the palm and may extend into the fingers. It can cause restricted movement, bending the fingers into an abnormal position.