π Aptos (APT) 6-month investment review - Honest experience and practical guide
Hello! Recently, interest in Aptos (APT) has been heating up amid fierce competition that can be called the ""Layer 1 Blockchain War."" I also started investing in Aptos at the end of last year and have been watching it for about 6 months now, and I will tell you in detail along with my honest review.
At first, I thought it was simply a ""new Ethereum killer,"" but after using it and investing in it myself, I was able to discover much greater potential than I thought. Of course, it wasn't all good, and there were many failures and trial and error. I will explain it with stories from my own experiences so that even beginners in cryptocurrency can easily understand it, so please read until the end!
π Introducing Aptos (APT) - A next-generation blockchain that inherited Meta's DNA
Aptos can be defined in one word as ""an ultra-fast blockchain created by developers from Meta (formerly Facebook)"". At first, I thought, ""Another Ethereum killer,"" but when I used it myself, it was really different.
The biggest feature of Aptos is that it can process 160,000 transactions per second. Compared to Ethereum, which processes about 15 transactions per second, it's a huge difference. If Ethereum is a one-lane road in the countryside, Aptos is like a 16-lane highway.
And the user interface is really intuitive. Even my mother (of course, I explained it to her) can easily create a wallet and make transactions. I think this is the key to popularization. No matter how good the technology is, it's meaningless if it's difficult for ordinary people to use.
What impressed me the most was the fee structure. I remember that gas fees were tens of thousands of won for each transaction on Ethereum, but Aptos is really only a few tens of won. At this level, I thought it would be possible to make small daily payments.
π The History of Aptos - A Journey That Started with Libra
The story of Aptos actually began with Meta's 'Libra' project in 2019. At the time, the whole world was paying attention to Meta's cryptocurrency, but the project was canceled due to opposition from each country's government, and the core developers independently created Aptos.
Aptos Labs was officially established at the end of 2021, and the mainnet was launched in October 2022. I first started investing in December, two months after the mainnet was launched, and the price at the time was really cheap when I think about it now. I still regret not buying more back then π
The reason the Libra project failed was political issues, not technical limitations. Rather, I think they created a more complete blockchain based on that experience. It's a situation where the saying ""failure is the mother of success"" really applies.
I looked into the team's background before starting the investment, and it was really trustworthy. It seems like a group of people who want to develop real blockchain technology, not just a hastily put together team to make money.
⚙️ How Aptos Works - The Move Language is a Game Changer
The core of Aptos is the 'Move' programming language. To be honest, at first I didn't think much of it, thinking, ""It's just another programming language,"" but when I asked a developer friend about it, he said it was truly innovative.
The biggest advantage of the Move language is 'asset-centric programming'. Simply put, it means that digital assets (tokens, NFTs, etc.) can be treated as real objects. For example, just as you can't have an object in two places at once, Move fundamentally prevents mistakes like duplicating or destroying tokens.
Aptos also uses a technology called 'parallel processing'. While existing blockchains process transactions one by one in sequence, Aptos can process multiple transactions simultaneously. It's like the difference between an 8-lane highway and a 1-lane road.
At first, it was hard to understand why these technical features were important, but when I actually used it, I could feel the difference. Especially when trading DeFi, it's really convenient that the transaction is processed immediately without being blocked.
For non-developers, it's probably okay to think of it as ""fast, safe, and cheap."" What's more important than technical details is that the user experience is definitely good.
π― Where to Use Aptos - What Can You Actually Do?
I'll introduce you to the things I've actually experienced in the Aptos ecosystem for 6 months. To be honest, at first I was at a loss and thought, ""What can I do?"", but there were more diverse services than I thought.
1. DeFi (Decentralized Finance)
I swapped tokens on 'PancakeSwap on Aptos', the Aptos version of PancakeSwap, and the gas fee is really cheap. While Ethereum costs several dollars per transaction, Aptos only costs 0.001 APT (about 10 won). This is less than the price of a cup of coffee.
I also traded on DEXs like Liquid Swap and Thala, and I was satisfied with the low slippage and fast transaction speed. In particular, I can earn commission income by providing liquidity, so it's like killing two birds with one stone.
2. NFT Marketplace
I looked at the works on NFT markets like Topaz and Souffl3 and purchased a few. The collection called 'Aptos Monkeys' was particularly popular. The minting (issuance) process is also really fast and simple. There is no frustration at all when minting NFTs on Ethereum.
3. Game dApp
I played a battle game called 'Aptos Arena', and since it has a P2E (Play to Earn) element, you can earn tokens while playing. The game itself is fun, and I was satisfied because there was almost no lag or delay that is typical of blockchain games. It feels like playing a regular mobile game.
4. Social Finance
Recently, dApps that combine social media and finance have also appeared. Platforms like Twitter are starting to have features that allow you to give and receive tips, and systems that allow you to directly support content creators. It's still in its early stages, but it seems promising.
π± Aptos Exchange - Where can I buy and sell it?
Aptos can now be traded on most major exchanges. I'll recommend exchanges based on the ones I've actually used. At first, I didn't know where to buy it, so I tried several exchanges.
Domestic Exchanges:
- Upbit: Most commonly used. Direct KRW trading is possible, and the trading volume is sufficient. The fee is reasonable at 0.05%, and above all, it feels safe.
- Bithumb: The fee is slightly cheaper than Upbit. They sometimes hold events, and the UI is clean and easy to use.
- Coinone: I sometimes use it when there are promotional events. There are times when the benefits for new subscribers are good.
Overseas exchanges:
- Binance: As expected from the global leader, it has the best liquidity. It has a lot of trading volume, so there is little slippage, and it supports various trading pairs.
- OKX: The fee is low, and you can also trade futures. It's easy to use because it supports Korean.
- Coinbase: It's a US exchange, so it's stable, but the fees are a bit high. On the other hand, the security is really solid.
Personally, I use Upbit for everyday trading, and Binance for large transactions or when I need special functions. It's good to have accounts on multiple exchanges so that you can respond flexibly depending on the situation.
π₯ Aptos Community - Where do you get information?
The Aptos community is really active! In particular, many developers participate, so technical discussions are often held. At first, I didn't know where to get information, so I was lost, but now I have my own routine.
Official Channel:
- Twitter @Aptos_Network: Be sure to check for official updates. You can get the latest information on new partnerships and technology updates.
- Discord: Live chat and developer Q&A are active. It's in English, but it's worth participating even if you have to translate it.
- Medium: You can check out tech blogs and roadmap announcements. It's a bit difficult, but it's very helpful if you read it carefully.
Korean Community:
- Telegram 'Apptos Korea': Active in sharing information mainly with Korean investors. It's good for sharing market situations and investment tips.
- KakaoTalk Open Chat: It's a beginner-friendly atmosphere. There are many people who kindly answer questions.
- Naver Cafe: There are many detailed analysis articles. If you read them when you have time, you can gain insights that will help you invest.
What I felt while participating in the community is that Aptos investors are less speculative and more technology-oriented than other coin communities. Of course, there is the price, but there is also a lot of interest in technological advancements and ecosystem expansion.
π Aptos Wallet - Safe storage is the top priority
I had a lot of trouble choosing Aptos Wallet at first. Since it is a new blockchain, there were not many wallets that supported it. However, now there are many more options. I will share my experience using various wallets for 6 months.
Software wallet (for daily use):
- Petra Wallet: This is an official Aptos-supported wallet. It is easy to use as a Chrome extension, and it is also stable. I use this as my main.
- Martian Wallet: It's convenient because it also has a mobile app. The UI is intuitive and it's easy to connect to various dApps.
- Pontem Wallet: The UI is clean and easy to use. I especially recommend it to beginners.
Hardware wallet (for long-term storage):
- Ledger Nano S/X: Apptos support was recently added. Security is solid, but the setup is a bit complicated.
- Treasure: It's not officially supported yet, but it'll be added soon. I'm waiting.
• Frequently traded small amount (20% of total): Petra Wallet
• Mostly for long-term storage (70% of total): Ledger hardware wallet
• Exchange storage (10% of total): For immediate trading
At first, I kept all my coins on the exchange, but when I heard about the hacking incident, I quickly moved them to a wallet. Managing personal wallets is a hassle, but I think it's necessary for security.
The most important thing when using a wallet is storing the seed phrase (mnemonic). I write it down on paper and keep it in a safe, and then encrypt it and put it in the cloud