Moonbeam (GLMR) is a cryptocurrency platform that improves Ethereum's capabilities by adding staking, on-chain governance, and cross-chain interoperability. It is a smart contract parachain on Polkadot that is compatible with the Ethereum network. Moonbeam's network is compatible with the Bitcoin blockchain, giving existing decentralized apps (or dApps) a more cost-effective platform. Moonbeam's utility token, Glimmer, is used to pay for gas fees, transaction costs, and node operators.
Moonbeam has been described as a risky investment due to its volatile price history and competition from other parachains. However, it has also been regarded as a good investment because of its potential to beat out other parachains, its place on the Polkadot parachain slot, and its role as the first active interoperability network on Polkadot.
What You'll Learn
Moonbeam's compatibility with Ethereum and Bitcoin
Moonbeam is a cryptocurrency platform that is compatible with both Ethereum and Bitcoin. It is a Polkadot-based smart contract parachain that works with Ethereum. It improves the system's contract execution and performs decentralized programs (DApps) and the system's security.
Moonbeam serves as a scalability and interoperability solution for Ethereum and Bitcoin. It is used as a parachain on Polkadot, which supports multi-chain interoperability by connecting blockchains to the Polkadot network. Moonbeam's compatibility with Ethereum is enhanced by the following features:
- No need to update or modify existing solidity smart contracts.
- Connect popular web technologies such as MetaMask, Hardhat, Waffles, Remix, and Truffle using a broad selection of Web3 RPC APIs.
- Use well-known Javascript libraries such as Web3.Js and Ethers.Js.
- Use your current Ethereum H160 account and ECDSA identities to communicate with Moonbeam.
- Existing oracles, gateways, wallets, and other devices developed on Moonbeam can be used to access most Polkadot connections.
Moonbeam's Ethereum-compatibility architecture includes Ethereum-style accounts that employ H160 Ethereum-style accounts and ECDSA keys, ensuring compatibility with existing Ethereum wallets. Moonbeam also offers full JSON-RPC compatibility with Ethereum, allowing developers to interact with Moonbeam nodes using familiar Ethereum tools and libraries.
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Moonbeam's utility token, Glimmer
Facilitating Operations
Glimmer is used for transaction fees and smart contract executions, including supporting the gas metering of smart contract execution. This means that Glimmer is required to power the mechanics of the network, such as facilitating transactions and executing smart contracts.
Supporting Network Health
Glimmer incentivizes collators to maintain and secure the decentralized node infrastructure. Collators are essential for the network's functionality, as they help ensure the network remains decentralized and secure.
Empowering Token Holders
Glimmer empowers token holders to participate in governance processes. Moonbeam has community governance measures in place, allowing token holders to stake their tokens and vote on proposals, elect council members, and influence the direction of the project. The more tokens staked, the more power their votes have.
Enhancing Interoperability
Moonbeam's compatibility with Ethereum and Polkadot enhances its interoperability. Glimmer can be used to bridge between different blockchains, allowing users to transact on Ether and Polkadot simultaneously. This interoperability is a key feature that sets Moonbeam apart and makes it attractive for developers and users looking to interact with multiple blockchains.
Enabling Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
Moonbeam offers a robust DeFi ecosystem, providing seamless access to decentralized finance applications. With full Ethereum compatibility and unique cross-chain features, developers and users can leverage the strengths of both the Ethereum and Polkadot ecosystems. This interoperability opens up new opportunities for decentralized finance, making it more accessible and interoperable.
NFT Integration
Moonbeam seamlessly integrates the worlds of digital art, gaming, and unique digital assets through its robust support for NFT standards and easy cross-chain capabilities. Glimmer enables users to mint, trade, and manage Ethereum-compatible NFTs with the security and scalability provided by the Moonbeam network.
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Moonbeam's potential for risky investment
Moonbeam (GLMR) is a cryptocurrency platform that works with Ethereum and is built on Polkadot. It is a risky investment, but it has serious potential.
Moonbeam's network is compatible with the Ethereum and Bitcoin blockchains, which gives it an advantage over its competitors. It also lowers the barrier of entry for new dApps. Moonbeam's ability to bridge Ethereum and Bitcoin to the Polkadot network is a significant advantage.
Moonbeam is a scalability and interoperability solution for Ethereum and Bitcoin. It is used as a parachain on Polkadot, which supports multi-chain interoperability by connecting blockchains to the Polkadot network. Moonbeam's compatibility with Ethereum is also a key advantage. It allows users to use existing developer tools and unified addresses, accounts, and signatures.
Moonbeam's price history has been volatile. It had an all-time high of just under $20, but it has since declined, settling at under $5. The total market cap hovers under $750 million, with 21% of the total supply in circulation. Moonbeam's lease on the Polkadot network will need to be renewed in less than 96 weeks, which adds to the risk of investing in the cryptocurrency.
Moonbeam is a risky investment, but it has the potential to be a good one. It is contingent on beating out other parachains, securing another lease on Polkadot, and Polkadot becoming an important Layer Zero solution. The crypto market is extremely volatile, and investors should be aware of the risks involved.
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Moonbeam's founding team and leadership
The CEO of Moonbeam and PureStake is Derek Yoo, who is also the Moonbeam founder and a core contributor. Katie Butler and Nate Hamilton of PureStake lead the Moonbeam Network's management and business teams. Stefan Mehlhorn is the Chief Operations Officer for both Moonbeam and PureStake, with expertise in early-stage business management and operations.
Moonbeam operates as a decentralised organisation, with a comprehensive, decentralised approach to development, governance, and community engagement. The Papermoon Organisation manages developer relations and controls the allocation of Treasury funds within the community-approved budget. Members of this organisation have special voting rights and drive critical governance proposals.
Moonbeam's block procedures are called collators, and stakers support the network by choosing a collator to delegate to. Ambassadors are key community members and leaders who create content, propose initiatives, and promote Moonbeam across platforms.
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Moonbeam's competition
Moonbeam has a number of competitors in the cryptocurrency space. As a Polkadot-based parachain, its closest alternative is another parachain, Fantom. However, as one of 100 parachains operating on the Polkadot relay chain, Moonbeam also competes with Acala, Astar, Parallel and Clover.
While these parachains offer different functionality, there is some overlap with Moonbeam. For example, Acala is a decentralised finance network that offers a multi-collateral, crypto-backed stablecoin and a suite of DeFi protocols for application developers. Parallel Finance is another decentralised finance platform that offers services such as lending, trading, staking, and derivatives on multi-chains. Clover, meanwhile, is another Polkadot parachain that offers similar functionality to Moonbeam, including staking, on-chain governance, and cross-chain interoperability.
Much of Moonbeam's success will depend on the success of Polkadot. However, Moonbeam has the advantage of being the first operational parachain on the Polkadot network, giving it a head start in growing its ecosystems and attracting developers.
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Frequently asked questions
Moonbeam (GLMR) is a cryptocurrency platform that makes relaunching simple. It is a Polkadot-based smart contract parachain that works with Ethereum. It improves the system's contract execution and security, as well as performing decentralized programs (DApps).
Moonbeam is used to pay for network transaction costs and the people in charge of the system's nodes. Holders can vote on governance ideas for the network. It also serves as the network's primary governance token.
Moonbeam is a risky investment. It is a new currency that has attracted a lot of investor interest. Moonbeam's price history is quite brief but it has seen a steady decline since its initial coin offering (ICO) in early 2022. The total market cap hovers under $750 million, with 21% of the total supply in circulation. The crypto market is volatile and it is important to do your research before investing.