Though most cryptocurrency investors know of Ethereum and its network, many are unaware that there are hundreds of ERC-20 projects that attempt to make the Ethereum network more scalable and faster. The OMG Network hopes to use its Layer-2 solution to improve transaction costs and speeds on the Ethereum network — and investors are taking notice.
Start with our guide to learn more about the OMG Network and how you can add this token to your portfolio.
In recent years, Ethereum’s decentralized application (dApp) capabilities have taken center stage in the cryptocurrency realm. The OMG Network is a Layer-2 scaling solution that helps improve the speed of transactions executing on the Ethereum network.
The OMG Network uses a unique scaling solution called MoreViable Plasma, which uses a sidechain architecture that enables Ethereum to execute ERC-20 transactions more quickly and with fewer fees compared to sending the same tokens directly on the Ethereum network. The OMG token powers the network and can be used as a form of currency to fund transaction fees.
OMG is currently the 57th largest cryptocurrency project when measured by total market capitalization with a total market cap of about $443 million. Developers hope that the use of the OMG Network will encourage larger-scale implementation of Ethereum’s smart contract technology by businesses and institutional investors.
There are multiple major exchanges that offer the OMG token. The broker you choose will provide you with a trading platform that you can use to execute buy and sell orders.
Some of the factors that you might want to consider when you compare brokers include:
Your search for the right broker doesn’t need to take forever. Start by comparing a few of our favorite brokers below.
Our favorite options are all friendly for beginners and can help you start investing in the cryptocurrency market with less stress.
eToro, headquartered in Cyprus, England and Israel, has provided forex products and other CFD derivatives to retail clients since 2007. A major eToro plus is its social trading operations, including OpenBook, which allows new clients to copy trade the platform’s best performers. Its social trading features are top notch, but eToro loses points for its lack of tradable currency pairs and underwhelming research and customer service features
Gemini is a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian that offers investors access to 26 coins and tokens. Founded in the US, Gemini is expanding globally, in particular into Europe and Asia. Offerings include both major cryptocurrency projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and smaller altcoins like Orchid and 0x.
Gemini is 1 of the only brokers with multiple platform options based on skill level. New investors will love the streamlined interface of Gemini’s mobile and web apps, while advanced investors might appreciate all the tools that come with ActiveTrader.
In addition to a host of platform choices, Gemini users also have access to insured hot wallets to store tokens without worrying about digital asset theft. Learn more about what Gemini can do for you in our review.
Coinbase is one of the Internet’s largest cryptocurrency trading platforms. From Bitcoin to Litecoin or Basic Attention Token to Chainlink, Coinbase makes it exceptionally simple to buy and sell major cryptocurrency pairs.
You can even earn cryptocurrency rewards through Coinbase’s unique Coinbase Earn feature. More advanced traders will love the Coinbase Pro platform, which offers more order types and enhanced functionality.
Though Coinbase doesn’t offer the most affordable pricing or the lowest fees, its simple platform is easy enough for complete beginners to master in as little as a single trade.
Altrady is a comprehensive trading terminal that allows cryptocurrency investors to buy and sell on multiple exchanges from a single platform. This can be a major benefit for investors who want to diversify their portfolios quickly and easily. Altrady also provides investors with a large range of customization tools and features that can be used to create a personalized trading platform. Altrady’s system can be a bit overwhelming for investors who are complete beginners, but the platform offers a wealth of educational resources and instruction videos to help ease the learning curve.
Maybe you think cryptocurrency is the future, or perhaps you were swept up in the initial waves of Bitcoin. BlockFi may be your next step if you’re ready to evolve as a crypto investor.
Whether you’re a native crypto user or curious enough to start investing, BlockFi seeks to bring institutional-grade financial products to crypto markets that often face restricted access. It strives to bring clients low-cost, simple applications designed to maximize the potential of crypto assets. Learn more in our BlockFi review.
Voyager is a leading name in the sphere of cryptocurrency investing, giving you access to over 50 tokens and coins. Buy, sell and swap assets using Voyager Crypto’s simple mobile platform available as a free download for iOS and Android users.
When you invest through Voyager, you’ll pay nothing in commissions, which is a major benefit when compared to other cryptocurrency brokers. Voyager is also one of the only brokers we’ve seen that allows users to earn interest on their crypto investments.
Though the broker could do more to improve its customer service, it’s an excellent option for beginner investors and seasoned professionals alike.
The next step to buying OMG is to open a wallet where you can store your tokens after purchase. A cryptocurrency wallet provides you with a private, more secure location that keeps your investments off your exchange. This limits the possibility that you’ll lose your crypto if your exchange is hacked or compromised.
There are 2 types of cryptocurrency wallets you might want to use to store your investment:
The OMG Network’s token is an ERC-20 token, which means that it’s compatible with almost any wallet that supports Ethereum-based projects. With a wide range of wallet choices, finding the best option for you can be a challenge. Consider our favorite hardware and software wallet for this ERC-20 token below when you start your search.
Investors who are searching for a comprehensive wallet solution for all of their cryptocurrency investments will love the SafePal S1 hardware wallet. The SafePal S1 provides you with a comprehensive single location to store upwards of 10,000 cryptocurrencies and crypto projects. From major names like Bitcoin to minor ERC-20 tokens like Uniswap, you can store everything on the S1.
In addition to a wealth of support for tokens and coins, the SafePal S1 also offers top-of-the-line security features. The device uses an air gapped signing mechanism that stores your investments without the need for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections, and you can connect directly with the SafePal app when you’re on-the-go.
With a small, portable size and unlimited storage, the SafePal S1 is our recommendation for cryptocurrency investors who are serious about protecting their holdings.
MetaMask is 1 of the world’s most trusted software wallets, with more than 1 million users worldwide. You can use the MetaMask wallet through its intuitive mobile app, or you can work directly from your desktop using its browser extension.
MetaMask provides you with a private set of keys, a key vault, a secure login and more — everything that you need to get started storing your investments. The wallet is also open source, which means that developers are constantly working to patch security issues and provide you with more access to markets and decentralized applications.
If you’ve ever bought or sold a share of stock before, you’re likely already familiar with the process that you’ll go through when you place your first buy order to invest in OMG. Though the specific process you’ll go through will vary by broker, here are the basic steps you can expect to follow when you place your first order.
Bonus section: OMG Network is currently the only production-ready scaling solution for the Ethereum blockchain. This means that the price of the OMG token is likely to rise or decline in value as public interest in Ethereum and Ether shifts.
When your broker is able to fill your order, you’ll see your investment in your exchange portfolio. From here, you need to think about how you believe the price of OMG will shift in the future and choose your investment plan.
If you think that the OMG token will increase in value over the course of weeks or months, you may want to hold onto your tokens in a secure hardware or software wallet. We don’t recommend leaving your tokens on your exchange wallet for long periods of time, as this practice increases the possibility that you may lose your investment.
If you believe that OMG will show more volatility in the short-term, you might want to take a more active role in investing. Short-term investors strategically buy and sell OMG when its advantageous to them with the goal of accumulating more tokens and cashing them out for a stablecoin when it’s time to take profits.
If you’re interested in active investing, you might want to consider choosing 1 of our favorite brokers below when choosing where you want to open an account. These brokers offer comprehensive and fast platforms that will help you capitalize on small price movements more effectively.
The cryptocurrency market is constantly moving and changing. Check out a few of today’s top market movers using the table below.
As interest in the Ethereum network and its capabilities expand, you might want to consider diversifying your portfolio with a few additional ERC-20 projects. From Chainlink’s oracle connections to Uniswap’s intuitive market features, the OMG Network represents only a small percentage of developers work on the Ethereum network.
Best of all, you can easily store any ERC-20 project on a single wallet — meaning that you won’t need to invest in multiple hardware storage options to store your entire portfolio.