This should be easy: Install wallet, collect Rektdrop, commence staking. Simple. Right? Well, not exactly. Not when there’s a laundry list of validators staring you down — Keplr has 151 on this network alone — it’s a little much. I chalk it up to indecision as the result of overabundance; what psychologists refer to as Choice Overload (1). Meanwhile, the APR's on a downward spiral and I’m passing up snapshot opportunities the longer I wait. I think, "forget it!" Pick one (validator) from the middle, for decentralization’s sake and get this show on the road.
Golden Ratio Staking was my first choice. I spent a month with them before redelegating at the suggestion of a trusted Telegram associate. Let's just say he didn’t twist my arm leading up to the name-drop: GATA DAO offered auto-compounding, slash protection and consistent uptime — all the incentives one could ask for in a seamless transition.
Historic or intergalactic? Why not both?
Then there's the mainstay; two NFT collections where decentralized finance and scratching posts collide. It started with Colonial Cats, 17th-century-inspired NFTs complete with muskets, tricorned hats and — for choosy collectors — recurring Atom royalties to sweeten the pot. The space-themed iteration is interesting in its own right, but sales have cooled off since launch. For some reason, ten percent of the collection has yet to mint despite the uncharacteristically low floor-price. I wonder: what’s the hold-up? These cats come packaged in a way that’ll pay for themselves in the future. On top of monthly epoch rewards, part of the revenue generated from new collection sales go to previous collections’ owners across the board. Sound like a nice arrangement? It should. For 4999 STARS, you can buy your very own Voyager Cat here.
As of August, the team has validators running on SifChain, Nomic, Evmos and Juno. According to GATA DAO’s co-founder and project manager, SIF Wassie, they’re largely the same, at least from a technical standpoint. Here's how it breaks down: Validator secures network, network rewards accurate data, validator pays out rewards; that’s about as simple as it gets. When asked about his favorite network, Wassie was quick to answer: Juno; "They're a little better for communication by the team and it has a more active validator community." Then again, with plans for additional nodes underway, he's open to new possibilities including, among others, a changing of the guard. "Let's see which blockchain changes my point of view in future, when we increase our validation operations.” The optimism is warranted for good reason. With new, high-yield rewards on the horizon, the possibilities seem endless.
With validator selection, time is a factor; the sooner you get in, the more opportunities you have to earn. But, what if changing gears on a whim is your thing? What if friendly advice, however well-meaning, was hit-or-miss and you had only intuition to fall back on? Well, the good news is there’s middle ground; it lies somewhere between impulsivity and indecision. Look for NFTs that bestow voting rights, where fungibility is secondary to governance. Look for sustainable staking incentives and reliable rewards. Look for dedicated developers within arm’s reach and a regular presence on social media. You'll know it when you see it; the project aligns with your investment goals and you’ll be there in time for the yields. Choose wisely.
About GATA DAO: GATA DAO is a Cosmos-based DAO utilizing NFTs for governance. GATA NFTs confer voting rights for owners; they have a say in the project’s trajectory upon purchase. The DAO operates multiple validators to secure the blockchain and compensate GATA owners for participation in the community.
GATA DAO Links:
Website I Twitter I Medium I Discord
Contact Details:
Company: Gatadao.zone
Contact: @Cryptopital
Sources:
1.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614539165
