How to mine cryptocurrency: A step-by-step guide

 Brief Notes

• At its core, cryptocurrency mining involves using computer power to solve complex equations or algorithms. 
• By solving these algorithms, miners help record and validate transactions on a blockchain, earning rewards for their efforts.
• Miners can mine solo, join a pool of miners or participate in cloud mining to generate profits.
• Mining is also for everyone, as it is possible on almost any device, and miners can contribute from the comfort of their homes.
• Cryptocurrency miners can participate on multiple networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum Classic and Litecoin.

Banks and governmental entities completely control the traditional financial system. For example, when a user makes a transaction with their debit card, a bank can approve or deny the transaction based on its rules, often leaving the user with no say.

On the other hand, blockchain networks are open entities that aren’t controlled by a single person or group. They offer much more fairness by removing the need for a single entity to validate transactions.

A lot of this fairness comes down to a blockchain requiring its users to validate transactions through a process called cryptocurrency mining. Miners agreeing on transactions and creating new blocks enable blockchain transactions to be decentralized and thus censorship-free and fair.

This cryptocurrency mining for beginners article details the basics of crypto mining and why it’s important. It also breaks down how to mine cryptocurrency in 2024, the different ways to get into mining, as well as the pros and cons of doing so.

The basics of cryptocurrency mining

When someone makes a transaction with cryptocurrency on a blockchain, a block receives their transaction data. Once the block is full, it must be checked for validity before it is committed to the blockchain ledger. Just like a paper ledger, where an account may be recording transactions, once a page (or block) is full, the accountant may ask an auditor to check that all the info is correct. On a blockchain, once the block is full, it is validated and confirmed correct by miners. 

Each block in a blockchain has a unique 64-digit code made up of numbers and letters. To validate a block, a user must find that code by mining it.

When mining, miners use computer power to solve complex algorithms until one equals a block’s hexadecimal code, similar to how a real-world miner constantly digs through dirt to find a piece of gold. 

The algorithms a computer attempts to solve represent the dirt a miner searches through. Once a crypto miner finds the code, the block is considered valid and added to the blockchain.

The miner receives a block reward (in the form of new Bitcoin 

BTC

$59,166

, for example) for their efforts, just as gold is the reward for a real-life miner’s efforts.

But, it’s important to note that while many miners work to find a block’s code, only the first one to do so receives a reward. This is like a race where only the first runner to cross the finish line wins the prize.

Miners may acquire more powerful hardware, such as graphics processing units (GPUs), to increase their mining power or hashrate. The higher their hashrate, the more likely the miner will reach a code before their competitors.

Did you know? The first-ever block of Bitcoin, known as the “Genesis Block,” was mined by Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, in January 2009. This block included a hidden message: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.”

How to mine Bitcoin

You can mine Bitcoin through cloud mining or by installing software on your PC that utilizes its central processing unit (CPU), GPU or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Specialized mining rigs are also available.

However, if you are wondering how to start Bitcoin mining, consider the following factors.

Firstly, the network automatically halves its block rewards every four years in an event called the halving, similar to a company reducing bonuses periodically. The most recent Halving took place on April 19, 2024, and lowered the Bitcoin block reward from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC.

Secondly, the average Bitcoin block mining time is 10 minutes, meaning a new block is added to the Bitcoin chain roughly every 10 minutes. This intentional number results from mining difficulty programmed into the Bitcoin blockchain. Mining difficulty changes based on the number of miners contributing to the Bitcoin network, much like a game getting harder as more players join. 

While you can mine Bitcoin independently, due to the network’s high mining difficulty, it is better to mine Bitcoin through a mining pool such as F2Pool or SlushPool, similar to joining a team, to increase chances of success.

For those considering how to start a crypto mining business, it’s important to understand the complexities involved. A profitable crypto mining business requires a ton of hash power and involves significant upfront costs to establish competitive mining capabilities. But, it can yield substantial returns despite the high costs.

How to mine crypto at home

The best way to mine cryptocurrency at home is through a mining rig. Mining rigs aren’t too different from a typical PC, but their hardware makes them stand out.

A miner can participate with their traditional computer hardware. Graphics cards provide enough power to solve complex algorithms at a reasonable pace and are one of the more accessible ways to get involved in the process.

However, dedicated mining rigs harness ASICs — cards built for decrypting specific encryption algorithms, such as Bitcoin’s SHA-256 algorithm.

Did you know? In the early days of Bitcoin, it was possible to mine hundreds of coins using just a regular home computer. Today, mining even a fraction of a Bitcoin requires specialized hardware and significant electricity consumption.

Cryptocurrency mining hardware

When learning how to mine crypto on PC, note that the rig’s many parts contribute to its hashrate. The most significant contributors are the CPU and its GPU.

CPU mining

• In Bitcoin’s early days, CPUs were a popular way to mine the asset. 
• While it’s still possible to mine with a CPU today, using a GPU or an ASIC miner is better for higher profits. It’s like using a basic calculator for complex math; it works, but there are better tools now.
• However, a good CPU is still essential as it dictates how fast a computer can interact with its different parts. 

GPU mining

• Computers use GPUs, also known as graphics cards, to render graphics and run other visual processes.
• Due to their power and accessibility, GPUs are a popular method of cryptocurrency mining. It’s like having a high-performance sports car for a race.
• One can increase their hashrate by harnessing multiple GPUs if their rig allows it.

Any PC will come with a CPU and a GPU, which make for great starter mining machines. Yet, dedicated mining rigs have the pieces of a normal PC with an ASIC over a typical GPU.

ASIC mining

• ASIC stands for application-specific integrated circuit, which is similar to a GPU, but it’s built specifically for crypto mining. 
• ASICs are expensive but result in an increased hashrate compared to a GPU.
• An ASIC is also more efficient, uses less power and is more environmentally friendly, much like an energy-efficient appliance in your home. This often results in the most profitable cryptocurrency mining.
• Due to their specific nature, an ASIC is bound to last longer than a GPU, which can “fry” over time due to being overworked.
• Depending on the currency one is mining, they can purchase an ASIC optimized for their network to increase their hashrate. For example, a Litecoin 

  LTC

  

  $65.22

  -optimized ASIC works differently than a Bitcoin-optimized ASIC due to their distinctive encryption methods. It’s like having specialized tools for different jobs to maximize efficiency.

Did you know? One of the largest Bitcoin mining farms is located in Iceland. Its cold climate and abundance of geothermal energy make it an ideal location for mining, helping to keep hardware cool and energy costs low.

Cryptocurrency mining software

After deciding on your hardware, be it a PC or mining rig, you will next need to find the right mining software.

The best mining programs support GPU and ASIC mining and offer an accessible way for new miners to get involved. For example, NiceHash is a mining client that auto-detects a user’s hardware and automatically directs their hash power to generate the most profits.

However, what ultimately matters is if a user is trying to solo mine, join a mining pool or start cloud mining.

Solo mining

• Solo miners compete with the rest of the world to find a block’s target hash. 
• Like fishing alone in a vast ocean, they face tough competition but, if successful, earn a complete block reward.
• Solo miners might struggle to earn block rewards and will likely deal with high electricity bills.

Mining pool

• Mining pools are groups of miners consolidating their hash power to find a block’s target hash.
• Pools, just like teams, are much more likely to earn block rewards, though rewards are split based on each user’s contribution. 
• A mining pool is a sustainable way for miners with less hash power to get involved, as their lower power is still a valuable contribution. 
• Most mining pools charge a small fee in addition to the reward splitting. While rewards are more consistent, they’re valued less than those of a solo miner.

Cloud mining

• Cloud mining brings the mining process to users without a mining rig.
• One can sign up for a cloud mining cryptocurrency platform and rent a miner’s hash power — essentially covering its electricity and maintenance costs. 
• The user earns a share of the block reward proportional to their funding contribution.
• On the other side, miners with a mining rig can offer their power to a cloud mining pool to subsidize their expenses.

Finally, you will need a crypto wallet to store block rewards. Wallets come in multiple forms, including desktop, mobile and exchange wallets. Any wallet can receive block rewards, but each type has risks and advantages.

With all of these decisions made, you can finally build a mining rig. 

How to build a crypto mining rig

The proper cryptocurrency mining setup requires the following hardware:

• GPU: The GPU is like the engine of a mining rig, crucial for achieving a higher hashrate, similar to how a car’s engine power determines its speed. More GPUs increase the rig’s computational power, the same as adding more engines to a vehicle for greater horsepower.
• Motherboard: The motherboard acts as the central nervous system, connecting all parts of the rig, much like a hub that links various devices in a home entertainment system.
• Random access memory (RAM): RAM serves as the rig’s short-term memory, enabling it to run mining software efficiently, similar to how a desk with ample workspace helps one organize tasks smoothly.
• Power supply unit (PSU): A mining rig needs a power supply unit to run power from an electricity grid to a computer. The more GPUs a computer has, the more power it needs to run properly. Think of the PSU as a power grid for the rig, delivering electricity to all components.
• Hard drive or solid-state drive (HDD/SDD): Mining rigs need an SSD or HDD for storage, as one must download mining software to participate in the process. It is similar to how a toolbox stores necessary equipment for a task.
• CPU: A CPU pairs with the motherboard to instruct a computer’s many parts. Faster CPUs result in more calculations per second, resulting in a speedier rig overall.

Once you have all these parts, you should follow a guide to assemble the PC so it can start mining.

Is it possible to mine Bitcoin via a smartphone?

If you are wondering how to mine cryptocurrency on Android or in general, you should note that while phones share similar parts with PCs, they lack the power of a dedicated rig. Attempting to mine on a phone could be likened to using a bicycle in a race against cars — it’s less effective and may cost more than it earns. 

Thus, mining cryptocurrency on phones can be difficult, as they’re not nearly as powerful as a typical mining rig, and attempting to mine via phone may cost more than it brings in.

How to mine altcoins

Altcoin mining involves mining cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin, such as Ether 

ETH

$2,521

 and Litecoin. In September 2022, Ethereum switched from a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism to a proof-of-stake (PoS) mechanism, which means it is no longer a mineable currency.

That said, miners looking to mine Ether can still do so via Ethereum Classic 

ETC

$18.53

 — a fork of Ethereum that still runs on a PoW consensus mechanism. 

Litecoin follows a mining process similar to that of its predecessor, Bitcoin (Litecoin is a fork of Bitcoin and one of the older cryptocurrencies still around today). To mine Litecoin, you just need to find Litecoin-specific mining software, such as Ukrpool or Zergpool. Similar steps apply to other altcoins. Researching an asset’s specific hashing algorithm and building a rig that caters to it for optimal results is important.

Pros and cons of cryptocurrency mining

Pros

• Accessibility: Thanks to mining pools, cloud mining, and other methods, cryptocurrency mining is accessible to those with the hardware (or the funds) to get started.
• Decentralization: Due to mining, the world can enjoy a decentralized financial infrastructure free from the power of a central authority.
• Higher security: Mining incentivizes users to act in a network’s best interest, ensuring security and preventing double-spending problems
• Passive income: Once set up, cryptocurrency mining can generate passive income, especially when using cloud mining or mining pools.

Cons

• Costs: While cryptocurrency mining can generate profits, it can also be expensive due to hardware and electricity costs. Essentially, the answer to the question “how to mine cryptocurrency for free” is that it’s impossible.
• Volatility: Depending on one’s choice of coin, mining a currency can still result in a loss if the asset’s price drops.
• Risk of theft: Crypto miners are a target for bad actors, and without the proper security methods in place, they may suffer a theft of funds.
• Mining difficulty: Networks have various types of mining difficulty. Many, such as Bitcoin, lower their block rewards over time while increasing difficulty, which results in lower rewards despite the higher requirements.

Did you know? Some Bitcoin mining operations are now powered entirely by renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectric, solar and wind power. For instance, a significant portion of Bitcoin mining in Canada and Scandinavia uses hydropower to reduce the environmental impact of mining.

The future of crypto mining

While this beginner’s guide to crypto mining has covered the current state of mining, it’s important to consider the future of this lucrative process.

Bitcoin mining is as prevalent as ever in 2024, with United States citizens spending $2.7 billion on it in the first few months alone. This isn’t to mention that the Bitcoin halving will continue every four years, making Bitcoin scarcer and scarcer as time goes on. 

However, the cost of mining and its energy usage will significantly affect its longevity. Many crypto projects, such as Ethereum, have shifted to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. These projects claim that PoS is the future of crypto and that it will address many of mining’s faults. 

But, the transition from PoW to PoS is not without its challenges, including centralization of power among significant holders. As the crypto landscape evolves, the debate between PoW and PoS and other consensus mechanisms will continue to shape the future of blockchain technology.

The goal of six-pack abs mainly depends on losing weight by completing exercises that focus on the muscles in the abdominal area.

The goal of six-pack abs mainly depends on losing weight by completing exercises that focus on the muscles in the abdominal area.

By incorporating these exercises into your fitness routine, you can target your abdominal muscles effectively. Remember to maintain proper form and breathing control to maximize the benefits and avoid injury. Consistency and dedication are key to achieving those coveted six-pack abs.

There are dozens of such exercises, including many meant for other major muscle groups but can be modified to include a workout for your abdominal muscles. Here are some major abdominal emphasis exercises.

Crunches

Crunches are done by lying on the floor, either on a mat or not, with your arms crossed in front of your chest. Many people do crunches with their hands behind their heads, but this can create lower back problems due to the pull on the head and neck. A slightly different position is to place your fingertips behind your ears rather than crossing them on your chest. It’s important not to pull on the neck or ears for assistance in rising off the floor. Instead, suck the abdomen back toward the spine and inhale through the nose at the same time. Raise the shoulders toward the knees using only the abdominal muscles. The entire back should not be lifted from the floor, as this is likely to create back strain. No additional benefit to the abdomen is gained by raising the entire torso. The key part of the crunch is the initial flexing of the abdominal muscles as the shoulders are lifted off the floor. As the shoulders clear the floor, exhale through your mouth. Complete the exhalation with a gasp to expel the last of the air from the lungs as your shoulders stay clear of the floor. Lower the shoulders back to the point where the shoulder blade touches the ground while inhaling. It’s important to maintain proper breathing control and muscle flexing to get maximum benefit from crunches

Sit-Ups

Once again, start in a position on the floor with your feet flat and your knees bent. The fingers should be placed behind the ears, or you can cross your arms on your chest. Slowly raise the entire back off the floor while inhaling deeply and exhale as you reverse the move. This exercise can be made more challenging in several ways. For instance, you can do sit-ups from an incline with your head lower than your lower body. You can then add weights on the chest to lift while you are sitting up. Weights can become heavier on an incline bench. The next difficult step can be attained by holding the feet off the ground while doing sit-ups or making a bicycle pedaling motion while doing sit-ups with your legs. These exercises may not be easy but are very beneficial to the abdominal area.

Leg Lifts

Leg lifts begin with the legs straight and the hands at your sides while lying on the floor. Lift both legs up at the same time without bending the knees until the legs are at a ninety-degree angle or as close as possible. Not everyone is flexible enough to reach the ninety-degree angle. Lower the legs as close as possible to the floor without actually touching and repeat several times. Increase the challenge of this exercise by adding weights to the legs while lifting them. Another challenging exercise for improving definition and musculature in the abdomen is to hang from a pull-up bar while lifting both legs to a ninety-degree position. As with most other exercises, try to stay conscious of breathing while slowly doing the routines.

Jackknife Sit-Ups

This exercise begins by lying flat on the floor with the hands at your sides to provide better balance. At the same time, you raise your knees, bring your torso up slowly till the face and knees meet. Return slowly to the original position while in full control of the movement. The jackknife name comes from the natural tendency of the legs to bend at the knee with the feet dropping to the hips presenting the shape of a jackknife. The difficulty level of this position can be increased by holding a weight between the feet while performing the sit-ups.

V-Ups

This exercise begins with you on your back on the floor with the arms extended over your head. Bring both legs and torso up at the same time without bending the knees or the arms. Keep the pace slow and steady and reach for your feet with your extended hands at the top of the arc. If possible, try to touch your feet, but this move can be tricky until your level of flexibility increases. As with other exercises, adding weight between the feet increases the difficulty level.

New African Magazine

 New African Magazine

The need for a reformed climate finance architecture to reflect today’s climate reality
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:37:07 +0000

As climate action gains momentum, climate finance serves as a critical pathway to mitigation, resilience building and adaptation initiatives. But the voice of the most climate-vulnerable countries must be echoed in every decision if we are to achieve impact at scale. Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, ARC Group and Abdoul Salam Bello, World Bank Group discuss. As a […]

The post The need for a reformed climate finance architecture to reflect today’s climate reality appeared first on New African Magazine.

Backbase to release its 4th edition of the African Banking Digital Transformation Report at GITEX Africa 2024
Fri, 24 May 2024 08:31:42 +0000

Backbase, the creator of the global leader in Engagement Banking Platform, is thrilled to announce the launch of the 4th edition of the African Banking Digital Transformation Report at GITEX Africa 2024. This report, produced in collaboration with the pan-African publication African Banker, has become a cornerstone in Africa’s financial news landscape, offering deep insights […]

The post Backbase to release its 4th edition of the African Banking Digital Transformation Report at GITEX Africa 2024 appeared first on New African Magazine.

Harnessing the Power of Vision: Meg Whitman’s Transformative Diplomacy in Africa
Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:49 +0000

In a time of global uncertainty, a ray of hope emerges from the heart of Kenya, where Meg Whitman, the U.S. Ambassador, stands as a beacon of visionary leadership. Her unwavering commitment to redefining America’s relationship with Africa has ignited a spark that is reigniting hope and unlocking new realms of prosperity for both continents. […]

The post Harnessing the Power of Vision: Meg Whitman’s Transformative Diplomacy in Africa appeared first on New African Magazine.

We need to counter negative stereotypes and uplift Africa’s image in the world – Adesina
Mon, 13 May 2024 13:06:35 +0000

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group, has made a fervent call to end negative stereotyping of the continent in the international media and to champion a more positive portrayal of Africa and its development.  Report by Omar Ben Yedder in Nairobi. Speaking at the All Africa Media Leaders’ Summit in Nairobi, […]

The post We need to counter negative stereotypes and uplift Africa’s image in the world – Adesina appeared first on New African Magazine.

We must not despair of Africa
Mon, 13 May 2024 08:31:57 +0000

Dov Zerah is a former Director General of the French Development Agency, and a great connoisseur of the African continent. He has just launched a think-tank on Africa, La palabre sous le Baobab, to stop feeling sorry for the state of France’s relations with the continent. Why this think tank on Africa? How would you […]

The post We must not despair of Africa appeared first on New African Magazine.

Africa is at a demographic crossroads
Mon, 13 May 2024 08:17:13 +0000

Jean-Michel Severino, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the I&P fund, believes that Africa will benefit from the demographic dividend, and then from the growth of its population. How do you see Africa developing today? Structural adjustment is over. Africa is entering a period of demographic transition. The birth rate is starting to fall. We […]

The post Africa is at a demographic crossroads appeared first on New African Magazine.

 Affiliate marketing is a partnership between a business and a content creator (or affiliate) to bring attention to a company’s products or services. The affiliate handles content creation and/or distribution, and the business pays a commission to the affiliate for every sale they drive.   

Certain affiliate programs even reward their affiliates on a per-click basis. 

To track traffic and sales generated by any one affiliate partner, the brand assigns them a unique link that directs users to a specific sales page. The affiliate is then paid a certain percentage of sales made through those links. 

People who click on your link also get a tiny file called a cookie stored on their device. This (usually) holds an expiry date, so you get paid even if they delay buying for a while.

Here’s an example of how it works:

Someone visits your post on the best winter jackets.

They click the Amazon affiliate link for one of your recommendations.

They close their browser to pick their kid up from school.

They go back to Amazon the next day to check out the product again.

They buy the recommended product, along with some ski gear.

Thanks to the affiliate cookie stored on this person’s device, you earn a commission on the recommended product and the ski gear

Africa News

Africa.com

CORRECTION – A Model for African Producers: Wing Wah’s $2B Integrated Energy Project to Bolster Resource Monetization in the Republic of the Congo
Sat, 22 Jun 2024 13:36:06 +0000

The Republic of the Congo has a goal of increasing hydrocarbon production to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) and projects such as Wing Wah Oil Company’s Banga Kayo development will […]

Security Threat Looms as Defragmentation of NAS Poses Concern in Yei: United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) asks to assist
Sat, 22 Jun 2024 10:44:24 +0000

Persistent violence by armed groups has been raised as the top concern for communities and local authorities in Yei and Lainya in the Central Equatoria region during a peace and […]

Liberia: President Boakai Publishes his Assets Declaration
Sat, 22 Jun 2024 10:13:10 +0000

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has made public his assets declaration as part of his unwavering stand for transparency and aversion to corruption and graft. The President said his action […]

Africa Offers Attractive Investment Opportunities for Japanese Firms, Say African Development Bank Leaders
Sat, 22 Jun 2024 09:38:51 +0000

Africa presents a compelling investment destination for Japanese firms, with high growth potential and the African Development Bank’s strong support to manage risks, African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) leaders stressed […]

CORRECTION – Nigeria: African Development Bank and Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited sign $15 million agreement to enhance infrastructure financing
Sat, 22 Jun 2024 08:40:54 +0000

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited (InfraCredit) have signed an agreement for a $15 million subordinated loan facility to strengthen InfraCredit’s capital base and attract institutional […]

Ambassador of Belarus P.Vziatkin meets with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia
Fri, 21 Jun 2024 19:32:54 +0000

Promising areas of cooperation and current issues on the bilateral agenda were discussed on June 21, 2024 in Addis Ababa during the meeting between Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the […]

President Museveni Presides Over Signing Of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) To Construct Kidepo International Airport
Fri, 21 Jun 2024 19:26:46 +0000

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday evening presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Uganda and United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and […]

A Model for African Producers: Wing Wah’s $2B Integrated Energy Project to Bolster Resource Monetization in the Republic of the Congo
Fri, 21 Jun 2024 18:00:26 +0000

The Republic of the Congo has a goal of increasing hydrocarbon production to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) and projects such as Wing Wah Oil Company’s Bango Kayo development will […]

Liberia: African Development Fund approves $10 million from Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) Trust Fund to scale up nutrition project
Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:48:57 +0000

The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund has approved an additional $10 million from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) to implement activities and scale up […]

The Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Program Partners with Tunisia Africa Business Meeting to Drive Economic Growth and Food Security
Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:44:34 +0000

The 4th Meeting of the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) Board of Governors (BoG) alongside the 11th Meeting of the AATB Executive Committee (EC) will take place on July 1-2, 2024, […]

World Hydrogen Summit (WHS) 2024: Financing the Green Hydrogen Revolution

 Hydrogen has become a key investment for the worldwide energy transition. Invest International facilitates and finances green hydrogen projects in emerging markets and developing countries (EMDC), contributing to local sustainable development and supporting the energy transition in Northwest Europe. Join us in Rotterdam at the World Hydrogen Summit ‘24 to learn more about the challenges and solutions in the development and financing of these projects and opportunities for Dutch entrepreneurs.

Invest International partners with Incision for the best surgical Healthcare worldwide

Invest International announces an equity investment of €3 million in Incision, a fast-growing Dutch medical software company specializing in surgical care. Founded in Amsterdam, Incision has rapidly established an international profile for its digital support products and clinical training solutions, improving the performance and efficiency of surgical units and operating rooms (ORs).

Over €46 Million Allocated for Dutch Greenhouse Technology in Africa and Southeast Asia

Invest International has allocated over €46 million in financing to facilitate the adoption of Dutch greenhouse technology in Vietnam, Ghana, and Tunisia. The Dutch companies spearheading these projects have developed impactful initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable local food security and employment opportunities. From establishing greenhouses in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta to cultivating a tomato industry in Tunisia, these endeavors are projected to create 3,500 jobs. Dutch greenhouse technology holds significant potential for enhancing food security and employment in emerging markets, and Invest International’s financing serves to advance this cause, underscoring the Netherlands’ leadership in horticulture and greenhouse construction.

Ethiopia and the Netherlands are jointly building a cooling center to support fruit and vegetable exports

The Ethiopian government has signed an agreement with Invest International, which acts on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, to realize the first phase of a large cooling center 70 kilometers from the capital Addis Ababa. The project, known as Cool Port Addis, is designed to facilitate the export of horticultural crops from Ethiopia in a cooled state to the port of Rotterdam and other market destinations in the ensuing years.

Collaboration with BNR: Exploring International Entrepreneurship through Inspiring Stories

Are you eager to stay ahead of the latest developments in doing international business? Look no further than BNRs program Internationaal Zakendoen. Every week, from February 5 2024 onwards at 1:10 PM, an item about International Entrepreneurship is broadcasted within the Business program.

A collaboration between BNR and Invest International. Featuring captivating narratives and invaluable insights into the realm of international business. Subsequently, you can revisit these episodes as a podcast on multiple platforms.

Invest International doubles financing for SME exports

Invest International expands the options for export financing of small transactions for Dutch SMEs and doubles the budget with €30 million to €60 million. The additional facility was presented today in the presence of the minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Geoffrey van Leeuwen, the chairman of MKB-Nederland Jacco Vonhof and Dutch entrepreneurs that already make use of the facility. In addition to increasing the export budget, it is now also possible to finance associated working capital.

Invest International invests €5 million in The Waste Transformers to expand global operations

Invest International provides financing to The Waste Transformers, a Dutch company specializing in manufacturing and on-site installation of biogas generators. The €5 million capital injection will be used to finance The Waste Transformers’ international expansion, focusing on local processing of food waste and converting it into clean energy and natural fertilizers. The company has projects in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The investment is part of a funding round totaling €10 million.

Meet our country representatives: Hans Docter in Vietnam

We are kicking off our series on country representatives with Hans Docter, who became our representative in Vietnam in September 2023. Find out what motivated Hans to take up this new challenge, which sectors he’s focusing on, what his day-to-day looks like and how he supports potential clients, such as Dutch SMEs.

Injective (INJ) Partners with The Graph to Enhance Open Data Accessibility

Injective (INJ)has announced its integration with The Graph’s decentralized network, leveraging Firehose and Substreams technology. This collaboration aims to provide developers worldwide with improved access to on-chain data, facilitating the scaling of decentralized applications (dApps), 

Streamlined Data, Empowered Developers

The Graph is renowned for its robust indexing and querying capabilities, enabling developers to efficiently access blockchain data necessary for application development. By integrating with The Graph’s Substreams and Substreams-powered subgraph solutions, Injective offers developers seamless access to on-chain data, setting a new standard for data accessibility and application development.

SFC Suspends Ha Po Kwan for 12 Months Over Misconduct

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has banned Ha Po Kwan from regulated activities for 12 months due to misconduct,

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has announced a 12-month suspension of Ha Po Kwan from engaging in regulated activities. The decision came in response to allegations of misconduct, according to the SFC.

Details of the Misconduct

Ha Po Kwan, a licensed representative, was found to have breached several regulatory requirements. The SFC's investigation revealed that Kwan engaged in improper practices that violated the standards expected of licensed individuals. Specific details of the misconduct were not disclosed, but the regulatory body emphasized the seriousness of the breaches.

Regulatory Implications

The suspension highlights the SFC's commitment to maintaining high standards in Hong Kong's financial markets. This action serves as a reminder to all licensed representatives of the importance of adhering to regulatory requirements. The SFC has been increasingly vigilant in monitoring and enforcing compliance to ensure market integrity.

Industry Reactions

The financial industry has taken note of the SFC's decision, with many viewing it as a necessary step to uphold trust in the regulatory framework. This suspension is among several recent actions by the SFC aimed at curbing misconduct and promoting ethical behavior within the industry.

The SFC's stringent measures are part of a broader strategy to enhance market transparency and protect investors. Market participants are advised to stay informed about regulatory changes and ensure that their practices align with the established guidelines.

Collaboration between the Netherlands and Ivory Coast on Coastal Protection

 Netherlands and the governments of Ivory Coast, represented by Ivory Coast officials, Invest International, and the Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher, have initiated a project to strengthen the coastline near Abidjan. The collaboration aims to protect Ivory Coast’s coastline from flooding and erosion using sustainable, nature based solutions. To begin, a feasibility study funded by a one million euros investment will assess the best methods for coastal reinforcement. 

The subsequent implementation phase, anticipated to cost millions of euros, will safeguard Ivory Coast’s coastal regions and creates substantial opportunities for Dutch companies.

8 best affiliate marketing tools available in 2024

  Affiliate marketing tools can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Here's a roundup of some of the best tools available in 2024, both free and paid, that cater to various aspects of affiliate marketing:

1. Grammarly: This AI-powered writing assistant is essential for ensuring your content is free of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. It also offers style improvements and a plagiarism checker. Grammarly's free version is quite robust, but the Premium and Business plans provide advanced features like vocabulary enhancement and full-sentence rewrites
2. Jasper AI: Formerly known as Jarvis AI, Jasper is a powerful AI tool designed to help create content quickly. It supports over 25 languages and offers more than 50 content templates, making it ideal for generating long-form articles, blog posts, and other content necessary for affiliate marketing​.
3. Frase IO: This tool combines AI content generation with advanced topic research and keyword optimization. It's perfect for creating well-researched and SEO-optimized content. While it's a bit pricey, its comprehensive document editing and SEO features make it a valuable tool for serious affiliate marketers​
4. Canva: A user-friendly graphic design tool, Canva is great for creating professional-looking graphics, affiliate banners, and social media ads. It offers a wide range of templates and a collaboration feature, making it suitable for both individuals and teams​
5. Google Search Console: An essential free tool from Google, it helps you monitor and improve your website’s organic search performance. It provides insights into which queries bring users to your site and identifies your top landing pages, aiding in optimization efforts
6. Sumo: Ideal for building an email list, Sumo allows you to install email capture forms on your site, which can help convert visitors into customers over time. It offers a free version that is quite effective for beginners​
7. Fiverr: This freelance marketplace is excellent for outsourcing various tasks such as content creation, web development, and more. It’s a valuable resource when you need to scale your affiliate marketing efforts without expanding your in-house team​
8. Affise: A comprehensive affiliate marketing platform that helps manage and optimize your marketing campaigns. It offers features like smart targeting, real-time BI tools, and fraud protection, making it suitable for scaling your affiliate network​

These tools cover a wide range of needs from content creation and graphic design to SEO optimization and email marketing, helping streamline your affiliate marketing efforts and boost your productivity.

Michael Saylor: Bitcoin is ‘succeeding… avoid the tendency to F with it’

 “Bitcoin has gotten too mature… has become too powerful to be threatened by another crypto,” Saylor says. “I think this is going to be a case of a rising tide is going to lift all boats.”

"optimist” on the latest episode of Peter McCormack’s YouTube show, “What Bitcoin Did.”

Saylor also, bluntly, cautioned against any actions that could impede the flagship cryptocurrency’s progress.

“Bitcoin is going to succeed,” Saylor said. “It’s succeeding as fast as it could reasonably succeed and we ought to try to avoid the tendency to F with it.”

He also remains convinced that Bitcoin can solve global economic challenges. It’s sound money due to its capped supply, he says, contrasting it with conventional currencies susceptible to government-driven inflation.

The 59-year-old billionaire, who reportedly owns more than 17,000 Bitcoin, posited that the cryptocurrency stands at the precipice of widespread acceptance by nation-states, financial institutions, and institutional investors.

Whether another digital asset can surpass it is highly unlikely, according to Saylor.

MBUZE IN THE MUD: AGULU COMMUNITY SENTS BEN OBI (MBUZE AGULU) PACKING TO RESTORE SANITY TO THE TOWN

 

Strips him off his traditional title as a former Agulu chieftain 

Chief. Ben Obi (Mbuze Agulu) a notorious political nuisance who has bent on attacking the Anambra State Government and also causing serious chaos in Agulu community has been stopped by the Agulu people.

Ben Obi who's political position during the immediate past Government regime was supposed to be a blessing and a great influence to the people of Agulu, rather it was a havoc on the community.

In the early hours of today, we received a communique from the leadership and all the people of Agulu Union Nigeria taking drastic actions to end rascality in the community.

An undisputed developmental decisions and resolutions from the Agulu People's Union to shut Mbuze Agulu and his cohorts down and put a stop to thier evil acts against the community.

Mr. Ben Obi and his cliques earlier this year came up with a devilish plan to demonstrate against the State Government, the President General of Agulu People's Union Nigeria and the traditional ruler of Agulu.

This was how terrorism started in most war countries and states. 

Shame on Mr. Ben Obi for choosing the path of evil!!!

This new development from Agulu People's Union Nigeria is indeed highly commendable and I urge other towns in Anambra to do so to fish out and caution evil people amongst them.

BREAKING FINANCIAL CURSES

https://fohmint.com/downloads/breaking-financial-curses/

Egusi pepper soup

 Egusi pepper soup is a delicious Nigerian soup made with melon seeds (egusi), local spices, and meat or fish. The soup is particularly common among the Niger-Deltans, although different cultures in Nigeria have their own variations. 

Ingredients

• 1.2 kg of chicken pieces
• 1 medium mackerel or any similar fish
• 2 cups of egusi (melon seeds)
• 1/2 cup dried crayfish
• 10 okra fingers, sliced
• 8-10 scotch bonnet chilies, blended
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1.5 tbsps peppersoup spice mix
• seasoning cubes
• Salt
• 
  
  
  
  

Procedure

1. Grind the egusi and crayfish; set aside.
2. Put the chicken in a pot, add 2 seasoning cubes, some salt, and onions; steam for 10 minutes.
3. Add the peppersoup mix, ground crayfish, and 1 liter of water to the pot. Cover and cook till the meat is tender.
4. Add the fish, chilies, and egusi and crayfish mixture; cook till the fish is done. You can add more water if need be.
5. Finally, add the okra and simmer for about 3 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust to suit your taste.
6. Turn off the heat and serve with any swallow of your choice.

How to stop Spam Emails

How to stop Spam Emails: Keywords,Tutorials,Tools,Marketing,Affiliates

How can be done to stop emails entering the spam folder?

The problem many people encounters when it comes email sending, is their email ends up in spam folder. Sometimes the recipient could not check his Spam folder. In some cases the software deletes in from the spam making it not available to the recipient. For the beginners it will discourage them from going further as they might give up that it is not working.

How can be done to stop emails entering the Spam folder?

Capitalized Email subject

The email can enter the spam folder when the subject is in Capital letters as the most of the spam email had their subject in Capital letter. This makes it possible for the spider to locate such as a spam

Provide an unsubscribe link

Every email messages that can repeat itself or to be sent several times can be offensive to the recipient and as such a case it might be regarded as spam. It might be that the recipient is not interested on the message. This is why the unsubscribe link must be provided in order to avoid the repetition of such email without the authorization of the recipient. The received might decide to stop such email coming to his email box by using the unsubscribe link to stop the email.

Set up email authentication

When an email is originated from an authenticated source it will be trusted. The email had trace back to the sender, so the sender can receive response from the receiver. The source of the email plays an important role in determining how the email will be treated. And in some cases such email can be verified if they are spam or not.

Do not send more than one attachment.

One message might be seen as a spam if it contains more than one attachment. When an email is containing more than one attachment it might likely be offensive to the receiver as such email might occupy big space when received. There are some emails that sent some attachment that contained spam emails or virus in order to deceive the receiver in this case the sever might detect this as a spam email thereby relocating it to the spam folder.

Use trusted email hosting

Some hosting company that does not always comply with the regulations of the spam prevention can be flagged and regarded as an un-trusted. Some server had be used to send several spam emails and deceptive emails. This hosting sever had not integrity with the email server so any email been sent from the server can be suspicions.

Spam tag words

Avoid words that are considered spam , such as cheap, free, limited offer, and others
Many words had reports attached to it, because it had been used several times to send a fraudulent emails, therefore using such word can land the email to spam folder.

Special server

You can use a special server such as VPS, Dedicated server. If the server is shared server it means that you have no control of what will be going out or coming in to the server. That is why it advisable to use the special server, where can be in control of some activities of the server. You can control the server in sending authentic emails. The most important thing you apply is to use a special server for your email marketing. Because email hosting usually provides extra security features for email marketing.

The subject of the email

The subject of the email is relevant to the content of the email. The subject of the email is not related to the body of the email. This is also can be regarded as a fraudulent email because the subject maybe attractive the recipient but the message will be saying a different thing from the subject. Some subject like How to become a millionaire, Free Offers etc. Some subject might be deceptive, when an email had such a word it will be regarded as a spam as well.