Integrating cryptocurrency payments is a hot topic for many, as some businesses are fence-sitting and waiting to see if crypto is here to stay. It is true that, somehow, virtual currency has yet to prove its definitive staying power.

However, it is also true that billions of dollars change hands in the form of these coins and that hundreds of millionaires were created overnight. Even while payment processors are playing it safe, we are still seeing a spike of people and consumers choosing to do business with crypto.

Let us look at crypto payments, and what benefits you stand to gain as a business should you adopt it as an alternative method of payment.

History matters

For a person living today, it is almost inconceivable to imagine a society without credit and/or debit cards. But when the technology was first adopted, very few stores actually took “plastic money”. But as the technology proved its worth, it is now universally adopted in all corners of the globe.

A decade after that, I distinctly remember seeing a documentary show on the Discovery channel, where the host’s mind was blown after a few select stores were experimenting with paying via your phone. It was presented and treated as cutting-edge tech, and maybe in a few decades, more people will adopt phone payments.

Nowadays, after the tech proved its worth, paying with your phone has become so popular, that it has phased out standard plastic card transactions.

The point of this short walk down memory lane is to underline that there was a time when set-in-stone technologies had their baby steps. And not everybody adopted them, preferring to watch them play out a bit.

Crypto seems to be going through the same growing pains, as half of the planet is convinced it is the way of the future, while the other half sees it as an internet trend that is sure to die.

But as a business, you have to ask yourself: “Can I afford to neglect and distance myself from half of the market?”.

Some of the advantages of adopting crypto

We ended the previous point with the argument of popularity and trying not to alienate a huge portion of the market by not integrating crypto. But of course, just because something is popular does not make it correct.

So, let’s discuss some other advantages related to crypto payments.

Currency that is not issued by the government

Governments tend to be severely short-sighted. They mismanage budgets and then print money quickly to cover the holes that they made. This works in the immediate future, but it destroys the value of currency in the long run.  The current global inflation crisis was created by this exact behavior.

Without getting into much technical detail, it is impossible to over-print cryptocurrency and cause inflation. So, in a way, it is extremely inflation-proof.

Its value can still go down, but that is because of other factors, such as the exchange market.

It is not advisable to have all your money in virtual coins, but you should at least have some. That is the golden rule of thriving on the market: diversify as much as possible.

Gaining easy access to international markets

The world does not have an internal currency. The dollar got close, but now, more and more countries have lost faith in the dollar, and its power is dropping.

Even though we don’t have this international currency, there are businesses that work with people from across the planet. For example, crypto casinos in US can have patrons from across the globe, and it can be hard for those people to buy dollars. Exchanging currency can be a hassle, and exchange rates can cause hesitance.

Meanwhile, crypto standards are not set by a single country, so there is no exchange needed. It’s the closest thing we have currently to an internal currency.

In addition, by using crypto, both businesses and patrons can avoid certain pesky transaction fees.

Anonymity and privacy

“If you don’t have anything to hide, then you should not worry about the lack of privacy”.

This statement is extremely wrong. In fact, as long as you are not doing anything illegal, your right to privacy is part of your dignity as a human.

Unfortunately, nowadays, businesses, governments, internet providers, and giant corporations are spying on every person on the globe. This is mostly for advertising purposes, to know how to target marketing and distribution.

Still, if you get the “ick” because you know that you are being watched and tracked, then you should definitely switch to transactions in crypto. As a business, you will still have to declare everything to the government, but your customers may appreciate that their transactions are kept secure and anonymous. Blockchain integration is the way of the future in a surveillance-based society.

Security protocols such as the SSL/TLS encryption will guarantee more privacy.

Conversion to Fiat Currency

As a business, you have to make a decision regarding the currency in which you are being paid. Stablecoins in business can be immediately converted to fiat money, or they can stay as Bitcoin, Monero, Dogecoin, or whatever form they take.

Of course, there is no right answer, only compromises. In the first scenario, if you keep the sum in crypto, you are safe from the overprinting and inflation that the government causes. Yet, the downside is that the crypto market can also crash, rapidly devaluing your earnings.

Alternatively, you can see a rapid surge in value and become very rich very fast. It’s all about weighing risk and, if possible, diversifying your prospects. In finance, it is never good to have all your eggs in one basket.

Make measured decisions

It’s easy to see people who ride trends and get ridiculously wealthy. However, we don’t notice that 9 out of 10 businesses and business strategies fail. We only note the winners.

No matter how confident you are in crypto, you should not rush headlong into its complete integration and adoption.

Setting up crypto payments as an alternative to your already existing structure is the logical first step. Then, you can watch carefully how your specific target demographic reacts.

Remember that you can control certain behaviors by offering discounts, playing with your web pages, or advertising certain features. Then, if successful, you can invest fully into crypto POS systems and make it a primary payment channel.

Gambling and gaming

The gambling and gaming industry tends to be more tech-savvy than the rest of the population, so it was to be expected that they were early adopters. Adopting alternative payments provided a huge success.

These sectors often require privacy, they have an international audience, and most transactions are done online. It was a match made in heaven.

Conclusion

Cryptocurrency, for sure, is an internet trend. People distrust fiat currency, so the promise of an international, stable, inflation-proof, fraud-proof coin is definitely tempting. This is the status that gold had in the past.

However, while it had a promising start, we are not at the stage when crypto is fully adopted across the globe.

What can be known for sure is that it has achieved a level of popularity where ignoring it would actively handicap your business.

No matter if you want to go all-in or test the water with your toe, any business owner should at least consider adopting crypto as an alternative payment method.

A halo engagement ring is an incredible symbol of love that is design where a larger central gem is surrounded by a circle of smaller diamonds or gemstones. Many people wear these rings not only for their elegant appearance but also for corporate memories. As with any type of jewelry, halo engagement rings need to be cleaned and maintained to ensure their shine in the future. Go through this list to ensure that your ring remains as bright and memorable as the moment you got engaged.

1. Clean Your Ring Regularly

Similar to other halo engagement rings, those with highly detailed settings areas are capable of accumulating dust and grime along with hand oils. Dirty utensils make the stones a home for residue that makes the stones lose their shine when not wiped clean often. Here’s how to safely clean your ring at home:

Gentle Cleaning Solution: Warm water must be added to a few drops of dishwashing soap. Now, rinse your ring for 20–30 minutes, in order to clean not only the halo but also the main stone, using a soft toothbrush.

Rinse and Dry: Wash the area well with water of a warm temperature and then dry with a rag that has no fleece on it.

However, for a thorough cleaning, the expert Jewelers should be sought after every 6 months. They are safe enough to clean your halo engagement ring and assess which of the stones is loose.

2. Handle Your Ring with Care

Never twist your ring, never expose it to extreme heat, and when putting it on or taking it off, use the fingers instead of the gems. You can rub your finger on them and the oils from your skin make them look dull. This small behavior will help maintain the halo and center stone in as clean a condition as possible.

3. Protect Your Ring from Damage

The halo engagement rings can be made to be strong and sturdy, but the special settings used when designing the ring make the engagement rings more vulnerable. Here are some tips to keep your ring safe:

Avoid Wearing It During Activities: Take off your ring when you are gardening, exercising, or whenever you must wash your hands with soap and bleach. Such activities rub the surface of the metal or cause the stones to become loose.

Store It Properly: Keep your ring in a soft jewelry case or a soft part of a jewelry box as it is to minimize contact with other pieces and create a scratch.

Those with an active way of life should opt for women’s rings with protective settings, such as a bezel or flush setting to shield the halo and the center stone.

4. Inspect Your Ring Regularly

Sometimes the small stones in the halo engagement rings may become loose since people wear them almost every day. You need to check your ring every few weeks to make sure that all the stones are still well-placed and that there are no bent prongs. In case of any problem, do not wait to have the ring repaired by a professional jeweler to avoid losing a stone.

5. It is important to refrain from using strict chemicals and fluctuating temperatures.

You shouldn’t allow your ring to come into contact with chemicals such as bleach, chlorine, or strong cleaning chemicals as this will hurt the metal and stones used in the creation of the ring. Likewise, diamonds and other usually hard gems may fracture or change color when exposed to high temperatures. “You should always take your ring off when working with chemicals or those activities that may cause you to switch between hot and cold conditions.”

6. Insure Your Ring

To be more specific, Halo engagement rings are an emotional investment besides being a financial investment. Another benefit of ensuring your ring includes giving you a guarantee that in case of loss, theft, or damage the cost of repairing or replacing the ring will be taken care of.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining and protecting your halo engagement ring is not complicated at all. To keep your ring looking as it does today for a lifetime, perhaps for the next five, ten, or twenty years, all you must do is clean it regularly, handle it correctly, and, of course, get a professional check-up now and then. If you take proper care of your valuable ring, you will continue to wear it as a symbol of the love you two share.

Whether or not a woman is sporting one of the popular halo engagement rings that are popular today or more traditional women’s rings, the secret’s time and proper care and maintenance as well as a little more tender loving care than usual.

Sapphire necklaces are beautiful pieces for ladies that make them glamorous and command great authority. These necklaces are famous because of their beautiful colors and the significance that has been ascribed to them for everyday wear or occasion wear. It becomes elusive when deciding which sapphire necklace to buy owing to so many qualities, shapes, and styles of settings. But don’t worry – here you have this guide that will assist you in the options and choose the sapphire necklace that is right for you.

Why Would Anyone Choose a Sapphire Necklace?

Sapphire is not only a beautiful gemstone but it also bears a lot of significance. Sapphire gemstone is first designated as symbolizing wisdom, loyalty, and protection, so sapphire jewelry combines history and emotion. Blue sapphires are the most well-known but the stones can be found in almost any color in the rainbow, starting with pink, yellow, green, and white. This variety guarantees that there are sapphire necklaces of most of the preferences.

Also, sapphires are hard, being third on the Mohs hardness scale, only ahead of diamonds. That makes them a nice assortment of necklaces that you will be wearing for years ahead.

Types of Sapphire Necklaces

There is nothing as important as having some basic knowledge of the kind of sapphire necklace that is available in the market today. Here are a few popular options:

Solitaire Pendant: The most elegant jewelry piece is a single sapphire dazzling on a platinum chain; there are no distractions here – it is a stone, a setting, and nothing more.

Halo Design: In this particular setting the smaller diamonds or gems are placed around the sapphire to enhance the sparkle of the stone in question.

Cluster Necklaces: For those who plan to go big, namely for those who adore showcasing a favorite jewel, a cluster design includes several sapphires or a combination of gems.

Choker or Collar Necklaces: These sit high on the neck and are a fashionable way of containing sapphires in the present generation.

Vintage or Art Deco Styles: Indeed, the best sapphire necklace if you love design detail would be one that has filigree or milgrain setting on the piece.

Elements Which Should Be Considered When Selecting a Sapphire Necklace

1. Color and Quality

Sapphire is highly appreciated for their deep impressive shades. The darker royal blue has always remained popular but lighter shades such as the cornflower blue are equally popular. Logically, think about what color is close to your heart and suits your outfit.

The clarity and cut of the stone also play a role. One should ensure that the sapphire has few flaws within it and that the cut on the gemstone brings out its sparkle.

2. Setting and Metal

In the following analysis, I shall focus on the role that the setting has in the manner in which the necklace both looks and feels. When it comes to a prong setting for a solitaire pendant or a bezel setting for a contemporary design, make sure that the design matches the client’s personality. Wearing sapphire with platinum white or even yellow gold produces sharp contrasting shades or complementary shades.

3. Occasion and Style

Consider when and where you’ll be able to wear the necklace. A plain necklace with a single sapphire stone fits well for daily wear; an intricately designed necklace with diamond stonings and settings will be perfect for ceremonial dressing.

How to Properly Care for Your Sapphire Necklace

Cleaning your sapphire necklace ensures the necklace is sparkling always; clean it gently with warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. Do not use sulfuric acid and keep it in a soft-lined box so that the jewelry does not get scratched.

Conclusion

Now necklaces sapphire are not just pieces of jewelry; they are the pieces of jewelry that have ever existed. If you are interested in the traditional beauty of the solitaire pendant or fascinated by the sparkling look of the halo setting, there is a sapphire necklace that fits your preference. So when you arrive, with factors like color, quality, and style in mind, you are assured of a piece that has your personality. But when combined with other attractive necklaces, a sapphire necklace becomes the highlight of an amazing, brilliant collection.

Five years ago, the video game industry was shaken by a loud scandal. Naturally, it was Rockstar Games causing the commotion, and again, it was GTA. This time, the issue wasn’t the usual suspects of violence, crime promotion, and blatant non-political correctness – these are familiar territories for the GTA series. What stirred up cautious users and, more importantly, parents of gamers was the introduction of a casino in the online version of GTA V, known as GTA Online. 

Puritanically-minded users and their families protested by uninstalling the game in droves, demanding refunds. Yet, this only fanned the flames of the expansion’s popularity, with online gameplay seeing an unprecedented surge in visitors.

Diamond Casino in GTA Online: From Entertainment to Scandal

Diamond Casino became one of the most significant updates to GTA Online. It was introduced as a new lobby for players where they could engage in gambling, buy luxury items, and even own a penthouse with a long criminal backstory tied to complex missions that required cooperative play. This update introduced new missions, vehicles, and the ability to manage property issues. Plus, the expansion’s narrative was filled with humorous dialogues and, overall, critiqued the state of business in America at the time.

And of course, this casino could be robbed in several ways, requiring meticulous preparation and smart execution of the heist itself.

But the real issue was the presence of mini-games reminiscent of those found in every online casino in the real world, like Wildwild casino. In the game, players used in-game currency, but there were associated microtransactions where real money could be spent on “credit cards.” Thus, players indirectly paid for these gambling simulations with real cash. Yes, winnings from Diamond Casino couldn’t be withdrawn from the game. However, they allowed players to purchase properties, cars, weapons, clothes, and other items in-game. If a player won big in the casino, they could buy something without injecting real money into the game, essentially saving or even making a profit. Formally, winnings in Los Santos’ casino enabled players not to spend money in the real world.

Political Storm Over a Virtual Wheel of Fortune

This situation sparked legal debate and reached the senators. There were calls to ban the game, shut down online services, and fine Rockstar. However, the company had its defenses, resulting in the game being condemned for promoting gambling among children. Rockstar pointed out that the game was rated PEGI 18 (ESRB M), meaning people of that age have their own money and can spend it as they wish, including playing at real online casinos (even in the UK).

Nonetheless, the UK Gambling Commission, responsible for enforcing the 2005 Gambling Act, conducted an investigation but made no legislative conclusions regarding Rockstar’s creation. This experience inspired developers to expand their game’s potential through semi-prohibited activities.

Gambling Elements in Other Games

GTA Online is far from the only game incorporating gambling elements. This phenomenon is widespread among many popular titles:

• Fallout: New Vegas – where players can try their luck in casinos, playing slots, roulette, or poker.
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – features Gwent, a card game that captivates with strategic elements but also with the thrill of combinations.
• Yakuza Series – particularly “Yakuza 0”, where you can spend time in Japanese casinos playing blackjack, poker, and other games.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 – where saloon games like poker and dominoes open new facets of gameplay.
• Cyberpunk 2077 – introduces a virtual casino with slot machines and card games.
• Final Fantasy XIV – with the card game Triple Triad, offering a sense of gambling through randomness and strategy.
• Mass Effect: Andromeda – where players can play “Quarian Poker”.
• Dragon Quest XI – provides a casino for downtime between adventures.
• Persona 5 – includes a unique casino as part of the game world.

These games illustrate how developers integrate gambling elements to enhance gameplay, creating an illusion of risk without real financial consequences.

Ballatro: Game of the Year With Gambling Notes

2024 brought us “Ballatro”, a card game awarded “Game of the Year”. It combines poker elements with a rogue-like structure, where every card choice can alter the game’s course. Although “Ballatro” doesn’t involve betting real money, the game’s mechanics evoke the same excitement and thrill as actual gambling. In the Netherlands, this caused some stir when the local audiovisual media classification institute (PEGI) initially rated it 18+, due to its gambling-like nature. Later, after clarifications, the rating was changed to 3+, as there are no real money bets involved.

Several community groups condemned the game, calling for restrictions on children’s access to it. However, the game isn’t overly simple, so it didn’t become massively popular among younger teens. But online casino managers have already noticed Ballatro’s success. It wouldn’t be surprising if, in the near future, slots styled after this popular rogue-like or its modifications appear at Wildwild casino or another.

UK Gambling Commission Tightens the Screws on Game Developers

Although the GTA saga concluded relatively painlessly for Rockstar regarding UK lawmakers and state institutions, other premium games haven’t been so fortunate. The UK Gambling Commission issued recommendations to developers, threatening age-rating restrictions for non-compliance.

Distinguishing Between Gambling and Video Games: 

Video games are not considered gambling if they don’t involve betting real money or items of real value on outcomes dependent on randomness. For instance, in “Ballatro”, although there are elements similar to gambling, players don’t bet real money, so it’s not classified as gambling under UK law.

Microtransactions and “Skinner Boxes”:

Games using loot box systems, where players buy random items for real money, raised concerns. In 2017, the UK Gambling Commission began investigating whether loot boxes could be considered a form of gambling. They acknowledged that some loot boxes might fit the gambling definition but decided not to regulate them as such if they couldn’t be converted into real money or other material value.

Regulation and Responsibility:

Game publishers must consider UK laws regarding protecting minors from gambling, advertisement restrictions, and ensuring responsible gaming. Games resembling gambling should have age ratings and warnings.

Some companies thought they could ignore these recommendations and fell under the wheels of English jurisdiction. First up was Electronic Arts.

FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT): This mode in EA’s FIFA series sparked particular discussion due to its use of loot boxes. The Gambling Commission didn’t classify FUT as gambling since virtual items couldn’t be directly exchanged for real money through EA’s system. However, they highlighted potential risks for young players and announced an initiative to raise the rating to 16+, but this was later resolved and the recommendation withdrawn.

Star Wars Battlefront II: Another EA game that had issues with loot boxes, leading to significant public backlash and changes in the game.

Thus, legislators are currently holding the line, preventing developers from turning video games into virtual casinos, which would significantly boost their microtransaction profits. How the situation will develop is hard to predict, given the rapid changes in the gaming industry, including the fast-paced adoption of AI and the growth of the 3D segment. Whether developers will strike back and when remains to be seen. 

But it’s essential to know and tell everyone that for gambling, there are casinos. Video games are entirely different mechanics, purposes, and aesthetics. They’re best when kept separate.