How To Buy Mina Protocol (MINA)?

A common question you often see on social media from crypto beginners is “Where can I buy Mina Protocol?” Well, you’ll be happy to hear it is actually quite a simple and straightforward process. 

Step 1: Create an account on an exchange that supports Mina Protocol (MINA)

First, you will need to open an account on a cryptocurrency exchange that supports Mina Protocol (MINA).
We recommend the following based on functionality, reputation, security, support and fees:

In order to sign up, you will need to enter some basic information, such as your email address, password, full name and, in some cases, you might also be asked for a phone number or address.

Note: On specific exchanges, you might need to complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure in order to be able to purchase cryptocurrency. This is most commonly the case with licensed and regulated exchanges.

Step 2: Deposit funds into your account

Many cryptocurrency exchanges will allow you to purchase Mina Protocol (MINA) with fiat currencies, such as EUR, USD, AUD and others. Furthermore, they will also provide you with multiple deposit methods through which you can fund your fiat account, such as credit and debit cards, ewallets or direct bank transfers.

Note: Some payment methods will have higher fees than others, such as credit card payments. Before funding your fiat account on your chosen exchange, make sure to do your due diligence to find out the fees involved with each payment method to avoid unnecessary costs.

Step 3: Buy Mina Protocol (MINA)

This process is similar across almost every cryptocurrency exchange. All you have to do is find a navigation bar or a search bar, and search for Mina Protocol (MINA) or Mina Protocol (MINA) trading pairs. Look for the section that will allow you to buy Mina Protocol (MINA), and enter the amount of the cryptocurrency that you want to spend for Mina Protocol (MINA) or the amount of fiat currency that you want to spend towards buying Mina Protocol (MINA). The exchange will then calculate the equivalent amount of Mina Protocol (MINA) based on the current market rate.

Note: Make sure to always double-check your transaction details, such as the amount of Mina Protocol (MINA) you will be buying as well as the total cost of the purchase before you end up confirming the transaction. Furthermore, many cryptocurrency exchanges will offer you their own proprietary software wallet where you will be storing your cryptocurrencies; however, you can create your own individual software wallet, or purchase a hardware wallet for the highest level of protection.

For more in-depth instructions, our ‘Absolute Beginner’s Guide To Cryptocurrency Investing‘ will take you through the process step-by step. In addition to providing instructions for sending and receiving your cryptocurrency.
And if you’re completely new to crypto our beginner, intermediate and advanced level articles will get you up to speed with everything you need to know about the cryptocurrency space starting out. 

Simplecryptoguide.com

What Is Mina Protocol (MINA)?

Mina Protocol is a minimal “succinct blockchain” built to curtail computational requirements in order to run DApps more efficiently. Mina has been described as the world’s lightest blockchain since its size is designed to remain constant despite growth in usage. Furthermore, it remains balanced in terms of security and decentralization. The project was rebranded from Coda Protocol to Mina in October 2020. 

The Mina network has a size of only 22 KB, which is miniscule when compared to Bitcoin’s 300 GB blockchain.

What Is Mina Protocol’s Main Objective?

Mina is working on achieving an efficient distributed payment system that enables users to natively verify the platform right from the genesis block. Its technical whitepaper calls this a “succinct blockchain.”

The protocol uses Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge (zk-SNARKs), a cryptographic proof that enables someone to authenticate information without revealing said information. However, enabling a user to trace the platform back to its genesis block can be impractical in a large network. As such, Mina incrementally computes SNARKS that concentrate only on the last few blocks — meaning that end-users check that zk-SNARK-compressed proof, instead of a block’s entire transaction history. 

At the heart of Mina protocol is MINA, its native currency, which functions as a utility coin and medium of exchange.

How Does Mina Protocol Function?

Mina is similar to Bitcoin, apart from how it handles transactions, but also employs the account model used in Ethereum. In this respect, the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum is that the state of the Bitcoin blockchain contains a list of unspent coins, while Ethereum’s state is made up of account balances.

Mina, on the other hand, uses a prover (or snarker, if you will), an equivalent of a miner, to ensure each block commits to the state. Mina employs the Ouroboros Samasika, a type of PoS mechanism specially designed for succinct decentralized networks since it provides bootstrapping from a genesis block.

Succinct blockchains contain two major functions: verify and update. Verification touches on consensus, blockchain summary and blocks, while the update function interacts with consensus and chain summary. Apart from the above implementations, the project uses a parallel scan state to optimize transaction processing speed, which works by grouping unproven blocks and assigning the process to parallel provers.

Major Mina Protocol Participants

Mina is all about revolutionizing the current blockchain landscape where most platforms have verifiers such as miners/stakers and light clients who act as third parties when verifying transactions. Mina takes a different approach by having multiple participants, each handling a specific function on the decentralized network.

The three major roles include verifiers, block producers and snarkers.

• Verifiers
  Verifiers interact with zk-SNARKS that deal with certifying the consensus information. Each Mina protocol user is considered a verifier, provided that their devices can handle a 22 KB chain and withstand a few milliseconds of processing time. 
• Block Producers
  Block producers take the form of stakers or miners and earn block rewards and transaction fee payments. Interestingly, the protocol doesn’t slash incentives that go to block producers. This category of participants allows Mina users to delegate their coins to them. Apart from bundling transactions into blocks, block producers also have to SNARK an equivalent number of previously committed trades as failure to do so during block production would lead to incomplete blocks and other nodes rejecting their validity. If a block producer wants to incorporate 10 transactions on the chain, they must also SNARK trades from the front of the queue. However, they have the option to produce the SNARK or use those generated by a special group of participants called snarkers.
• Snarkers
  Snarkers, also known as provers, produce zk-SNARKs used in verifying transactions.  Block producers pay snarkers from the overall transaction fees they receive for adding new blocks. However, to qualify for the fees, they have to post bids. Note that a snarker’s zk-SNARK needs to be used in a block while the block producer who uses it is responsible for incentivizing the snarker. This creates a business economy where multiple snarkers can post bids tied to the same transaction. Block producers, on the other hand, are in for the profits and will choose the bid with the lowest fees. Consequently, snarkers are challenged to produce low-cost SNARKS.

How Transactions Happen On Mina

Let’s take a closer look at the course a transaction goes through before finding a permanent record on the Mina blockchain.

• The process starts with a user initiating a transaction, after which the trade goes to the mempool, a pool of valid but unconfirmed transactions.
• Next, snarkers take over by making proofs or SNARKS. The process follows with the selection of a block producer (BP) to bundle transactions into a block. Note that a BP sifts through the mempool for profitable transactions.
• Then, the BP chooses a SNARK according to the rules in the consensus mechanism. Note that a block producer scans through the bids for the lowest-priced SNARK. In addition, recently added transactions have an updated SNARKS order book.
• Next, it’s time to incorporate the SNARKS in a block, then add the block to the chain and update the network. Snarked transactions are removed from the chain to help keep the size of the protocol constant.
• Then, the block producer upgrades the protocol’s zk-SNARKS.
• Finally, the new block becomes immutably part of the chain.

Conclusion

The use of zk-SNARKS allows the verification of the Mina protocol’s state without exposing the blockchain’s contents, consequently offering a censorship-resistant platform. 

Furthermore, zk-SNARKS immensely contribute to maintaining a constant-size network, which allows scalability, security, and decentralization. The presence of various critical participants such as snarkers, block producers and verifiers helps keep different protocol functions streamlined. 

Mina Protocol development updates in 2023

Mina Protocol has experienced a year of substantial growth and development in 2023, marked by a series of ambitious updates and community-driven initiatives. Here’s a detailed overview of the key advancements and events for Mina Protocol:

• Community Engagement and Events: The Mina Protocol community has been actively involved in various events and discussions. Notably, Mina Foundation CEO Evan Shapiro discussed the long-term vision for Mina Protocol and the community’s role in decision-making during a Twitter Space event in April. The protocol also made a notable presence at ETHToyko, offering $20K in prizes for the best zkApps built on Mina using SnarkyJS. Additionally, Mina participated in various events during Consensus week, including the first-ever ZK360 event, which delved into the world of zero knowledge with panels and fireside chats featuring industry leaders and experts​​.

• Development and zkApp Proposals: In April, Mina Foundation announced funding for 14 zkApp and 12 Dev4Dev project proposals under zkIgnite Cohort 1. This initiative is a testament to Mina’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting developers in creating applications that leverage its unique features​​.

• Roadmap Updates and Vision: Mina Protocol’s roadmap for 2023 and beyond is focused on trust minimization, enhancing zk programmability, optimizing settlement layer performance, and expanding the Minaverse for better interoperability. The roadmap underscores Mina’s ambition to become the ultimate layer one blockchain by pushing the boundaries of composability between platforms and enabling applications and platforms to connect and build off of each other on Mina​​.

• Technological Innovations and Integrations: Mina Protocol has planned several significant upgrades for deployment in the first half of 2023. These include the implementation of zkBridge, which will make zkApps accessible from Ethereum and other EVM-compatible chains, and the deployment of zkOracles and the latest version of the On-Chain Voting system. Furthermore, Mina Protocol integrated with Ledger hardware wallets, enhancing the security for MINA holders and allowing staking directly from cold storage devices​​.

In conclusion, Mina Protocol’s developments in 2023 reflect a robust and multifaceted approach towards enhancing its ecosystem. From community engagement and support for developers to roadmap execution and technological advancements, Mina Protocol is poised to solidify its position in the blockchain and DeFi space. The emphasis on zero-knowledge proofs, interoperability, and decentralized governance demonstrates Mina’s commitment to building a more secure, efficient, and user-centric blockchain infrastructure.

Official website: https://minaprotocol.com/

Best cryptocurrency wallet for Mina Protocol (MINA)

There are plenty of different crypto wallets available. The best one for you depends on your general trading habits and which provides the most security in your situation. There are two main types of wallets: hot storage wallets (digital) and cold storage or hardware wallets (physical). Both have their pros and cons, and there is not necessarily a right or wrong answer when it comes to figuring out which crypto wallet is best for you.

HOW DO I DECIDE WHICH cryptocurrency WALLET TO USE for Mina Protocol (MINA)?

Deciding which type of wallet to use depends on a variety of factors, including:

• How often you trade. In general, hot wallets are better for more active cryptocurrency traders. Quick login ability means you are only a few clicks and taps away from buying and selling crypto. Cold wallets are better suited for those looking to make less frequent trades. 
• What you want to trade. As mentioned earlier, not all wallets support all types of cryptocurrencies. However, some of the best crypto wallets have the power to trade hundreds of different currencies, providing more of a one-size-fits-all experience.
• Your peace of mind. For those worried about hacking, having a physical cold wallet stored in a safe deposit box at the bank or somewhere at home, provides the safest, most secure option. Others might be confident in their ability to keep their hot wallets secure.
• How much it costs. It is important to investigate the costs associated with each wallet. Many hot wallets will be free to set up. Meanwhile, cold wallets, like any piece of hardware, will cost money to purchase.
• What it can do. While the basics of each cryptocurrency wallet are the same, additional features can help set them apart. This is especially true of hot wallets, many of which come with advanced reporting features, insights into the crypto market, the ability to convert cryptocurrencies and more. Security features can also be a good differentiator.

For a more in-depth overview of cryptocurrency wallets visit our “Cryptocurrency Wallets Explained” guide.

If you’re going to be dealing in larger volumes of crypto, investing in cold storage might prove advantageous.
Most widespead examples of this being the Ledger Nano and the Trezor.

Ledger manufactures cold storage wallets designed for users who want increased security. Their wallets are a physical device that connects to your computer. Only when the device is connected can you send your cryptocurrency from it. Ledger offers a variety of products, such as the Ledger Nano S and the Ledger Nano X (a bluetooth connected hardware wallet).

Trezor is a pioneering hardware wallet company. The combination of world-class security with an intuitive interface and compatibility with other desktop wallets, makes it ideal for beginners and experts alike. The company has gained a lot of the Bitcoin community’s respect over the years. Trezor offers two main models – The Trezor One and Trezor Model T (which has a built in touch screen).