What is IOTA (IOTA)?

IOTA (AKA Internet Of Things Applications) is a layer 1 Distributed Ledger Technology set to be applied in the Internet of Things ecosystem; as opposed to traditional blockchain approaches, IOTA works on a different data structure known as Tangle, a Directed  Acyclic Graph (DAG). The transactions between connected devices and machines made by IOTA will be facilitated by a secure and seamless flow of data and value. Each new transaction confirms two previous ones, thus increasing the scalability and performance of the entire system, with zero miners involved. This is what IOTA is all about; solving the scalability problem that has made several cryptocurrencies very unsuccessful, including bitcoin.

Key Features:

Fee-less Transactions: Transactions are without fees to allow microtransactions in the IoT. 

Scalability: As the network grows, it gets faster and more efficient, thus shortening confirmation times.

Decentralized: The entire IOTA concept has a direct peer-to-peer association that does not require a central authority.

Quantum Resistant: IOTA is set to employ future quantum-resistant cryptography for advancement in future technology.

Energy Efficiency: No mining activities are carried out by IOTA, thus being more eco-friendly.

Security: The Tangle applies very sophisticated algorithms against double-spends and menaces to security.

What is IOTA Coin/Token? 

IOTA Protocol’s native currency, IOTA, powers its Tangle network, which is a fee-less system that employs Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) technology as opposed to the traditional blockchain. This architecture promises scalable, secure, and efficient microtransactions, which is important for IoT applications. 

IOTA facilitates use cases in smart cities, automotive, healthcare, and supply chain management towards facilitating data exchange and innovations like tracking product authenticity or autonomous data-sharing between devices.

What is the Stardust Protocol? The Major Upgrade of IOTA

The Stardust protocol, launched on October 4, 2023, represents a transformative upgrade to the IOTA ecosystem, significantly enhancing its functionality and scalability. This upgrade introduces a multi-asset ledger, enabling users to create custom tokens, including native tokens and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), without requiring complex smart contracts. This simplification broadens tokenization possibilities for users.

Key features include output unlock conditions like time locks for secure and customizable transactions and the ability to attach metadata to outputs for seamless integration into applications. 

Stardust also supports Layer 2 smart contract chains through IOTA Smart Contracts (ISC), combining main-layer efficiency with the flexibility of smart contracts. This upgrade solidifies IOTA’s position as a versatile platform for IoT ecosystems and beyond, driving innovation in blockchain technology.

Using Tangle technology, IOTA is powering an endless variety of real-world applications with secure, fee-less transactions and data integrity.

What are the Applications of IOTA Tangle in the Real World?

Smart Cities: Taipei has partnered with IOTA to facilitate identity verification using TangleID and monitor the air quality so that it can make services more efficient within the city. 

Smart Energy: IOTA supports decentralized grids; it is being used for smart EV charging in the Netherlands through ElaadNL. 

eHealth: Guaranteed immutable medical records with added secrecy by the innovative Masked Authenticated Messaging (MAM) technology. 

Mobility: This feature enables vehicle-to-cash payment for parking, tolls, and services; Volkswagen is investigating it for the integrity of data and updates. 

Identity of Things (IDoT): Integrity-improving identity, tamper-proof identity for devices and help build detection for malicious sensors. 

Supply Chains: Enhanced product traceability, ensuring transparent origins, and with it, trust can be built among stakeholders.

Where can u buy IOTA Coins?

IOTA tokens (IOTA) are available on various top exchanges. Notable platforms include Binance, which offers trading pairs such as USDT, BTC, BUSD, ETH, and BNB; Bitfinex, which deals with USD, BTC, and ETH pairs; KuCoin, which has USDT and BTC pairs; and Bitvavo, which offers EUR trading pairs.

Before performing any operations, be ready to go on each of the exchanges for someone who is not likely to meet all their requirements, such as security, withdrawal, needs, etc. It is also advised that you transfer your IOTA tokens to a secure wallet, like the official Firefly Wallet, to have control over your assets.

IOTA tokens-supported Wallets?

IOTA supports various wallets for secure storage and management of IOTA tokens. The Firefly Wallet, developed by the IOTA Foundation, is the official wallet, offering a user-friendly interface and high security. For broader ecosystem support, Bloom Wallet provides advanced features tailored for IOTA users. Additionally, TanglePay supports IOTA and Shimmer tokens, focusing on DeFi and NFT applications. Beyond the IOTA ecosystem, wallets like Ledger Nano hardware wallets are compatible with offline, secure storage of MIOTA. Users are advised to choose wallets based on their specific needs and always transfer tokens to a secure wallet after purchasing them.

IOTA Token Tokenomics 

IOTA was launched with an ICO on December 21, 2015, with tokens priced at $0.00059 and total sales of $590,000 BTC, which were at a pre-valuation of 1.64 million dollars. The Token Generation Event (TGE) was opened on June 13, 2017, and tokens were listed for $0.64, realizing a 643x ROI above the ICO price. In the fourth quarter of 2021, IOTA raised $100 million in a private fundraising round with major investors like HTX Ventures, Signum Capital, and LD Capital.

Who are the founders of IOTA and what is IOATA History?

• Launch of Jinn Project (2014):
  The Jinn project was initiated to create energy-efficient microprocessors designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It was founded by Sergey Ivancheglo, Serguei Popov, and David Sønstebø.

• Transition to IOTA (2015):
  Jinn evolved into IOTA, focusing on building a distributed ledger specifically tailored for IoT environments.

• Introduction of Tangle Technology:
  IOTA replaced traditional blockchain systems with a directed acyclic graph (DAG) called Tangle, enabling feeless micropayments and scalable data transfer.

• Public Token Sale (2015):
  IOTA conducted its first token sale, raising 1,337 Bitcoin (equivalent to approximately $434,000).

• Mainnet Launch (2016):
• The IOTA Mainnet was launched, transforming the IoT landscape by allowing low-power devices to share data securely and efficiently.