Innovation in digital advertising is nothing new, with a constant stream of new startups looking to make an impact in this extremely lucrative industry. Yet for all of the new ideas, two persistent problems remain – the issues of ad fraud and user privacy.Â
These are the main challenges that AdEx is attempting to tackle, and it’s touting a more efficient, transparent and privacy-focused platform that delivers the kinds of outcomes advertisers want, while giving regular internet users more control over the kinds of ads they see.Â
Key to this platform is AdEx’s native ADX cryptocurrency, which is a unique digital asset that balances synergies between the participants of its ad network.Â
AdEx was founded in 2017 with a clear purpose in mind, looking to disrupt the online advertising industry. To do this, it prioritizes transparency and user privacy while eliminating middlemen costs and introducing new mechanisms to prevent ad click fraud. It has been around for quite a while already and has already built up a solid user base in that time, and in recent months it has undergone an extensive evolution, with fresh features and a renewed focus on advertisers and DeFi capabilities such as ADX staking.Â
This shift has seen AdEx transform itself from a more traditional ad exchange to a demand-side platform that delivers programmatic ads for Web3 advertisers. The basic premise is that Web3 companies can advertise to Web2 audiences and access an untapped user base, as opposed to the crypto-native crowd. At the same time, AdEx has retained its focus on combating ad fraud, improving privacy and reducing costs.Â
How Is ADX Used?Â
The ADX cryptocurrency is the digital asset that powers AdEx’s ecosystem, with use cases such as paying for ads and rewarding users who support the network and agree to share their personal data. It plays a key role in AdEx’s ecosystem, enabling users to make swift, low-cost transactions over a secure and transparent network.Â
These are the main applications of ADX:Â
- Digital Ads: As the native token of AdEx, ADX is the primary currency of its platform, used by advertisers to purchase ad space. They can also use other crypto assets, like USDT, USDC and DAI to pay for ads, but paying in ADX entitles advertisers to significant discounts, allowing them to stretch their ad campaign budgets further and increase impressions. Meanwhile, publishers receive ADX for displaying AdEx’s client’s ads.Â
- Staking & Validating: To create demand for ADX and secure the AdEx blockchain network, the protocol has created a staking and validation process that everyone can participate in. Because AdEx’s network is a proof-of-stake blockchain, it requires users to stake and delegate ADX to secure the network and process transactions. In return, users earn ADX tokens as rewards. The process incentivizes the AdEx community to participate in the network and ensure its security.Â
- DeFi applications: Besides staking ADX, holders can also use the tokens in a range of DeFi protocols. Thanks to its compatibility with the Ethereum blockchain, it can be used for borrowing, lending and yield farming.Â
Where to buy ADX?
ADX tokens are widely available for purchase on a number of popular centralized and decentralized exchange platforms, making it extremely accessible. CEX platforms that support ADX include Binance, Binance.us, Kraken, HTX, HitBTC, KuCoin, Bitrue, Gate.io and 1inch Exchange, while DEXs include Uniswap V3, PancakeSwap, SushiSwap, Balancer Exchange, ChangeNOW, Lets Exchange and Kriptomat.Â
In addition, it’s also possible to obtain ADX tokens by downloading AdEx’s Ambire Wallet and using the internal swap function.Â
How To Store ADX?
Storing ADX tokens is simple, with the best method being AdEx’s Ambire Wallet, which was designed to provide simple and secure management, and integrates staking functionality directly within the wallet.Â
Other options include hardware wallets such as Trezor and Ledger, plus browser and mobile-based wallets like Metamask and Trust Wallet.Â
Users can also store their ADX in the AdEx staking portal, where they can lock up their tokens in secure smart contracts and earn a passive income based on their holdings and participate in protocol governance.Â
Another option is to simply store your ADX tokens on the exchange where it was purchased. Platforms such as Binance, Kraken and Gate.io all provide users with a secure wallet for storing their digital assets, but these are custodial solutions that require them to trust the exchange with their funds.Â
How To Stake ADX?
Staking ADX is a fundamental feature of the AdEx, empowering token holders to help secure the network by participating in its operations, in return for regular rewards. When users agree to lock up their ADX tokens through the AdEx Staking Portal, they are contributing to the network’s security. To encourage more users to do this, staking is incentivized with generous rewards, which are based on the amount of ADX staked and the duration they’re locked up.Â
Validators are also required to lock up ADX tokens as a kind of security deposit in order to provide computational power to the network and process transactions. Their role is to validate transactions and confirm the legitimacy of interactions between advertisers and publishers using the AdEx platform. The use of validators helps to prevent double spending and ad-fraud, and ensures consensus is reached across participants in the network.Â
Another reason to stake ADX is to participate in governance. Each ADX token staked gives users a small amount of voting power, so they participate in the democratic decision-making process that informs the protocol’s development, including new features.Â
Staking ADX is a quick and easy process. Users simply head to the AdEx Staking Portal, connect their wallet that holds their ADX tokens, choose how many tokens they want to stake, then confirm the transaction to start earning rewards.Â
In addition, Ambire Wallet users have the option to stake directly, without needing to visit the Staking Portal. Â
What Impacts The Price Of ADX?
Like all cryptocurrencies, the price of ADX is determined through supply and demand, based on the level of trading that takes place on cryptocurrency exchanges. Numerous factors can influence the level of demand for ADX, with positive news about AdEx such as improvements to its platform, new customers joining the network and new exchange listings all likely to increase its value.Â
User adoption is another factor that has more of a long-term impact. After all, the more advertisers that use AdEx, the more successful its platform will be, increasing the need for those users to own ADX tokens. If you believe in the long-term success of AdEx’s business model, then ADX is likely to be a smart investment.
The broader cryptocurrency market conditions will also have a strong influence on the price of ADX. It’s well known within the crypto industry that if the price of Bitcoin drops, virtually every altcoin will follow suit, and the opposite is also true. So if Bitcoin goes up, most altcoins, including ADX, will be expected to rise too. Â
Another key factor that can boost or drop the price of ADX is the predictions of popular market analysts. Professional crypto traders use technical analysis to guide their decisions, and if someone with a large following spots a trend or signal that’s likely to indicate a rise or fall in value, a number of traders will act accordingly, putting pressure on the ADX spot price.Â