How to Buy Fantom (FTM)
Beginner’s Guide
What Is Fantom (FTM)?
Fantom is a directed acyclic graph (DAG) smart contract platform providing decentralized finance (DeFi) services to developers using its own bespoke consensus algorithm. Together with its in-house token FTM, Fantom aims to solve problems associated with smart-contract platforms, specifically transaction speed, which developers say they have reduced to under two seconds. The Fantom Foundation, which oversees the Fantom product offering, was originally created in 2018, with the launch of OPERA, Fantom’s mainnet, coming in December 2019. Fantom is an open-source decentralized smart contract platform for DApps and digital assets that was created as an alternative to Ethereum. Fantom has the goal of overcoming the limitations of previous generation blockchains and balancing three components: scalability, security and decentralization. The project offers a set of tools to simplify the process of integrating existing DApps, as well as a detailed staking reward system and built-in DeFi instruments.
How to Buy Fantom Summary
- Get a Fantom wallet (e.g. Ledger, Trezor , Exodus, Guarda, AtomicWallet)
- Find an exchange that sells Fantom (e.g. , Binance ,OKX, Gate , Bitfinex , Kucoin)
- Deposit money and make the trade
- Withdraw the Fantom to your wallet
Buying Fantom in 3 Simple Steps
Step 1 – Get a FTM wallet
Fantom Hardware Wallets
Fantom (FTM) is a relatively new cryptocurrency that is rapidly gaining popularity due to its innovative blockchain technology and potential use cases. If you are interested in investing in Fantom, it is important to keep your FTM tokens secure. One way to do this is by using a hardware wallet, which is a physical device that stores your private keys offline and provides an additional layer of security.
At the moment, there are no hardware wallets that support Fantom (FTM) natively. However, you can still use certain hardware wallets that support Ethereum (ETH) and ERC-20 tokens, which FTM is based on. Here are some of the most popular hardware wallets that you can use to store your FTM securely:
Ledger Nano S: The Ledger Nano S is a popular hardware wallet that supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum (ETH) and ERC-20 tokens. You can use the Ledger Live software to manage your FTM tokens and send and receive transactions securely.
Ledger Nano X: The Ledger Nano X is an upgraded version of the Ledger Nano S, with additional features such as Bluetooth connectivity and more storage capacity. It also supports Ethereum (ETH) and ERC-20 tokens, and can be used with the Ledger Live software to manage your FTM tokens.
Trezor: The Trezor hardware wallet is another popular option that supports Ethereum (ETH) and ERC-20 tokens. You can use the Trezor Suite software to manage your FTM tokens and securely sign transactions.
KeepKey: The KeepKey hardware wallet is another option that supports Ethereum (ETH) and ERC-20 tokens. You can use the KeepKey client to manage your FTM tokens and securely sign transactions.
When using a hardware wallet to store your FTM tokens, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and keep your recovery phrase and private keys safe. By using a hardware wallet, you can keep your FTM tokens secure and protect them from hacking or other security threats.
The best option for storing any cryptocurrency would be to use a hardware wallet. These are pieces of hardware that store the private key to your coins offline.
Today, there are two leading hardware manufacturers to choose from – Ledger and TREZOR. Both companies have different models of hardware wallets that will get the job done.
If you want deeper insights on specific models, you can read my Ledger Nano X review or my TREZOR Model T review.
Fantom Software Wallets
Fantom (FTM) is a promising cryptocurrency that offers fast transaction times and low fees. If you are planning to invest in FTM, you will need a wallet to store your tokens. There are several software wallets that support FTM and allow you to send and receive transactions securely. Here are some of the most popular software wallets for storing FTM:
Opera Wallet: Opera is a popular web browser that also includes a built-in crypto wallet. You can use the Opera wallet to store and manage your FTM tokens, as well as other cryptocurrencies. The wallet is easy to use and supports all ERC-20 tokens.
MyEtherWallet (MEW): MyEtherWallet is a popular open-source wallet that supports Ethereum (ETH) and all ERC-20 tokens, including FTM. You can use MEW to create a new wallet, access an existing one, and manage your FTM tokens securely.
Trust Wallet: Trust Wallet is a mobile wallet that allows you to store and manage your FTM tokens on your smartphone. The wallet is available for both iOS and Android and supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including FTM. Trust Wallet is easy to use and offers a simple interface.
Atomic Wallet: Atomic Wallet is a desktop and mobile wallet that supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including FTM. The wallet offers strong security features, including encryption and a backup and recovery option. Atomic Wallet also allows you to exchange FTM with other cryptocurrencies directly within the wallet.
When using a software wallet to store your FTM tokens, it is important to keep your private keys and recovery phrase safe and secure. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully and keep your wallet software up to date. By using a software wallet, you can access your FTM tokens from anywhere, at any time, and keep them secure.
Hardware wallets cost money, so if you’re not sure how serious you are about cryptocurrencies and just want to get a taste of what they feel like, perhaps you would be better off starting with a software wallet.
A software wallet is a free program that lets you store your coins on your computer or mobile phone.
The easiest Fantom software wallets to get started with are undoubtedly Exodus, Atomic Wallet and Guarda . All wallets are very intuitive. Exodus, Atomic Wallet and Guarda is available on desktop for Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as on mobile for both iOS and Android. If you want more information you can read my Exodus, AtomicWallet and Guarda review.
Step 2 – Find an Fantom (FTM) Exchange
Buy Fantom through Binance
- Binance is a cryptocurrency exchange which is the largest exchange in the world in terms of daily trading volume of cryptocurrencies. It was founded in 2017 and is registered in the Cayman Islands. Binance was founded by Changpeng Zhao, a developer who had previously created high frequency trading software.
Buy Fantom through Coinbase
- Coinbase is a convenient and cheap way to buy Ethereum and the platform is open to 200+ countries). Coinbase will sell you CRO for a variable fee that depends on your payment method (credit cards have a higher fee than wire transfers), order size and market volatility. Here’s how you buy Ethereum on Coinbase: Open a Coinbase account Add your payment method (Credit card or bank account) Go to “Buy/Sell” and select the amount of Ethereum you desire Click “Buy Cronos”
Buy Fantom through Gate.io
- Gate.io is a crypto exchange founded in the fall of 2017. The platform is a part of Gate Technology Inc corporation, and has a registration address in Virginia, USA. The platform does not have an official license. Its interface is available for working in three versions: English, Chinese and Japanese.
Buy Fantom through Bitfinex
- Bitfinex is a cryptocurrency exchange owned and operated by iFinex Inc registered in the British Virgin Islands.Their customers’ money has been stolen or lost in several incidents, and they have been unable to secure normal banking relationships.Bitfinex was founded in December 2012 as a peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchange, offering digital asset trading services to users around the world. Bitfinex initially started as a P2P margin lending platform for Bitcoin and later added support for more cryptocurrencies.
Buy Fantom through Kucoin
- Kucoin is a global cryptocurrency exchange for numerous digital assets and cryptocurrencies. Launched in September 2017, KuCoin has grown into one of the most popular crypto exchanges and already has over 8 million registered users from 700+ countries and regions. According to Alexa traffic ranking, KuCoin’s monthly unique ranking is in the top 5 globally. Known as the “People’s Exchange”, KuCoin operates in Seychelles, providing users with multi-language and 24/7 customer service. Meanwhile, KuCoin has established local communities all over the world in South Korea, Japan, Spain, Italy, Vietnam, Turkey, Russia, India, and other regions, providing users with the most local services. Currently, 1 out of every 4 crypto holders in the world is with KuCoin.
Step 3 – Withdraw Your Fantom
Once you decide on an exchange, open an account and buy your Fantom. Make sure to withdraw the Fantom from the exchange to your personal wallet. Never leave coins on an exchange, as you risk losing them all if that exchange gets hacked or shuts down (which has happened in the past) and always double check address before send coins because you can send the coins to wrong address .
Overview
What Is Fantom ?
Fantom is a directed acyclic graph (DAG) smart contract platform providing decentralized finance (DeFi) services to developers using its own bespoke consensus algorithm.
Together with its in-house token FTM, Fantom aims to solve problems associated with smart-contract platforms, specifically transaction speed, which developers say they have reduced to under two seconds.
The Fantom Foundation, which oversees the Fantom product offering, was originally created in 2018, with the launch of OPERA, Fantom’s mainnet, coming in December 2019.
Fantom is an open-source decentralized smart contract platform for DApps and digital assets that was created as an alternative to Ethereum. Fantom has the goal of overcoming the limitations of previous generation blockchains and balancing three components: scalability, security and decentralization. The project offers a set of tools to simplify the process of integrating existing DApps, as well as a detailed staking reward system and built-in DeFi instruments.
Fantom is a Layer-1 blockchain that uses a scratch-built consensus mechanism and independent consensus layer, Lachesis, to facilitate DeFi and related services on the basis of smart contracts. Lachesis provides security for other layers as well, including Opera, Fantom’s EVM-compatible smart contract chain. The long-playing mission of the project is to “grant compatibility between all transaction bodies around the world.”
One of Fantom’s key strengths is its performance and efficient transaction processing, namely thousands of transactions per second, where transactions are settled in 1-2 seconds, and the cost is fractions of a cent per transaction. As a result, Fantom provides higher scalability but at a lower cost.
The ecosystem is based on two main technologies: Lachesis protocol and Opera.
The Lachesis protocol is the core consensus layer that secures the Fantom network by providing both transaction speed and security.
Lachesis is an aBFT consensus engine that uses a directed acyclic graph (DAG) algorithm. How it works: network data can be processed at different times, and the network filters the participants, allowing only one third, which are allocated due to erroneous or malicious behavior, without compromising network processes.
Fantom’s Asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerant (aBFT) Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism maintains the efficiency of the entire network, its design provides security at maximum speed. Fantom developers emphasize that the PoS mechanism is a leaderless phenomenon — there are no leaders of blocks and participants, and anyone can join (or leave) the network of nodes at a convenient moment.
The key qualities of Lachesis are: asynchronous, leaderless, Byzantine fault-tolerant, and near-instant finality.
As for Opera, it’s an application development layer or Fantom’s mainnet deployment platform, permissionless and open-source hosting DApps. Thanks to EVM integration and support for the Solidity programming language, Fantom has a full set of smart contract capabilities, which allows users to seamlessly interact with Ethereum platforms while maintaining the advantage of Fantom’s transaction efficiency.
The Fantom Foundation concluded that removing block leaders improves network security, so Opera uses a PoS model and leaderless validators (validators do not determine which blocks are valid).
In addition to being a fast, secure and cheap payment platform that enables to make fast and secure payments at minimal cost, Fantom also features on-chain governance where users vote with FTM tokens (one token equals one vote). Of the features: users have the right to express the degree of agreement / disagreement on a scale from 0 to 4.
FTM is the native utility in-house PoS token of Fantom that powers the ecosystem and is applied for payments, network fees, staking, and governance. FTM forms the backbone of transactions, and allows fee collection and staking activities, along with the user rewards the latter represents.
Who Are the Founders of Fantom?
The Fantom Foundation was founded by South Korean computer scientist Dr. Ahn Byung Ik. Currently, the platform’s CEO is Michael Kong.
The team behind Fantom has extensive experience primarily in the field of full-stack blockchain development, and aimed to create a smart contract platform which privileges scalability, decentralization and security.
According to its official website, Fantom’s team also consists of specialist engineers, scientists, researchers, designers and entrepreneurs. Employees are located throughout the world, matching the ethos of a distributed platform.
What Makes Fantom Unique?
Fantom (FTM) is a cryptocurrency that is based on a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) consensus mechanism, which sets it apart from other blockchain-based cryptocurrencies. Here are some of the key features that make Fantom unique:
Speed and scalability: One of the main advantages of Fantom is its fast transaction speed and high scalability. The DAG consensus mechanism allows for parallel processing of transactions, which means that the network can handle a large number of transactions at once. This makes Fantom ideal for use cases that require fast and secure transactions, such as micropayments, remittances, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
Low fees: Another benefit of the DAG consensus mechanism is that it enables Fantom to process transactions with low fees. Because the network does not rely on miners to validate transactions, there are no transaction fees associated with mining. This means that users can send and receive transactions without incurring high fees, making it more accessible to a wider range of users.
Interoperability: Fantom is designed to be interoperable with other blockchains, which means that it can be used to transfer assets and data across different networks. This is achieved through the use of bridges, which allow tokens and data to be transferred between different blockchains. This interoperability feature makes Fantom a valuable tool for DeFi applications and other use cases that require cross-chain communication.
Smart contract support: Fantom supports smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. This allows for the creation of decentralized applications (DApps) on the Fantom network, such as DeFi protocols and NFT marketplaces.
Overall, Fantom’s combination of speed, scalability, low fees, interoperability, and smart contract support make it a promising cryptocurrency with a range of potential use cases.
How Many Fantom (FTM) Coins Are There In Circulation?
FTM is a proof-of-stake (PoS) token which in fact exists in several incarnations.
The platform’s compatibility with Ethereum means that users can purchase an ERC-20 standard FTM, which is automatically converted to native FTM once received to their wallet. Another version of FTM is available on Binance Chain using its BEP2 standard. Only the native FTM can be used on the Fantom OPERA mainnet itself. The total supply of FTM is 3.175 billion tokens, of which 2,134,638,448 FTM is currently in circulation. The rest will be released subject to a schedule running through 2023. Staking forms an important part of tokenomics, with a proportion of the supply reserved specifically for staking rewards to users who hold FTM.
How Is the Fantom Network Secured?
Fantom uses a bespoke variety of proof-of-stake algorithm to provide services and secure its network. Known as Lachesis, it is an example of a so-called asynchronous byzantine fault tolerant (aBFT) consensus mechanism.
By removing leadership among network participants, Fantom avoids low-cost attack risk, while staking adds further user incentives to secure operations using FTM token holdings.