Want to jump straight to the answer? You can buy Ardor on Pionex and Binance.
A unique blockchain project that combines energy efficiency with security, the Ardor network aims to make cryptocurrency development less expensive for developers. Our guide will help you learn more about the Ardor network, its coin, and how you can add this project to your portfolio.
What is Ardor?
Ardor is a multi-blockchain project that uses a parent-child architecture to provide developers with a unique blend of functionality and security. The parent Ardor network provides a secure base chain while “child chains” branching off from the parent network can freely communicate with one another.
Child chains can also easily be removed from the Ardor infrastructure once they’re no longer needed, which reduces blockchain bloat and provides users with faster transactions. Each child chain also features its own tokens. Ardor uses a 100% proof-of-stake consensus algorithm, which reduces the energy needed to operate the project.
Brief History of Ardor
Originally introduced to the market in 2016, Ardor’s coin (ARDR) saw a sharp increase in interest in early 2018. On January 13, 2018, Ardor hit an all-time high price of $2.55 per coin. Since this time, the price of Ardor has fallen more than 88% — but it has seen a recent resurgence in investor interest beginning in January 2021, when the price of ARDR rose from a value of about $0.08 per coin to more than $0.43 per coin in April.
Step 1: Open an online account.
If you’ve never bought cryptocurrency before, you’ll need to open an account with a broker before you can start trading. A cryptocurrency broker is a financial service provider that can buy and sell crypto assets for you on your behalf. Some of the qualities you might want to search for when you decide where you’d like to open an account might include:
- Trading platform: Just like when you buy and sell stocks, your crypto broker will provide you with a unique trading platform that you can use to place buy and sell orders. Some brokers focus on offering a simple, straightforward trading platform for new investors while others cater to more experienced investors with a more advanced set of charting tools. If this is your first time trading, you might want to choose a broker that specializes in offering a simple trading experience.
- Availability of other crypto assets: If you’re only interested in buying and selling Ardor, you can use any broker that supports Ardor trading to complete your purchase. However, if you’re interested in buying and selling additional crypto assets, you’ll want to choose a broker that offers a one-stop shop for all of the assets you’re interested in. You may want to make a list of all of the cryptocurrencies you want to invest in before you search for a broker so you can quickly cross-reference each broker’s list of supported coins and tokens with your needs.
- Local availability: Not every broker is authorized to open accounts in every country — availability may even vary from state to state depending on local rules and regulations. Be sure that your broker of choice is cleared to open accounts in your area before you begin your account registration.
Not sure where to start your search for a broker? Consider a few of our favorite crypto brokers below.
Step 2: Buy a wallet (optional).
A cryptocurrency wallet is a device or software program that provides you with a personal set of private keys that you can use to keep your coins and tokens in an off-exchange account. If you prefer to add another layer of security to your cryptocurrency investment, you can store your coins and tokens in an offline hardware wallet or an online software wallet.
Let’s take a look at a few of our favorite wallet options for storing your Ardor and keeping it out of your exchange wallet when you aren’t actively trading.
Best Hardware Wallet: Ledger Nano X
The Ledger Nano X is one of the most popular hardware wallets for storing everything from major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum to smaller projects like Ardor and Chainlink. Simply install the Ardor app on your Ledger device to extend compatibility to the project’s unique blockchain structure. The Ledger Nano X features high-level security protections, including a certified secure chip for your unique set of keys. You can also quickly connect your Ledger Nano X with the corresponding Ledger Live app to manage your coins and tokens on the go and keep track of your investments from anywhere in the world.
Best Software Wallet: Ardor Wallet
If you’re searching for a convenient and free way to store your Ardor outside of your exchange account, the official Ardor wallet might be right for you. You can download the Ardor desktop wallet directly from the developers here and all downloads are free and easy to set up. You can choose from both the latest stable release for Windows, Mac products, Linux and more or you can use the newest experimental wallet if you use Linux. In addition to Ardor, you can also store all of Ardor’s child chain tokens on the same wallet.
Step 3: Make your purchase.
After you’ve fully opened your brokerage account and added funds to your account, you can place your order to buy ARDR through your trading account. To do this, you’ll need to tell your broker how many coins you want to buy and when you’d like the order to be executed by placing a buy order. There are multiple types of buy orders, and the type of buy order that you choose will determine how much money that you pay per coin and when your order is executed.
Some common types of orders you might be able to use through your broker’s platform can include:
- Limit orders: Limit orders are only executed at or below a predefined “limit price” that you set when you place the order. For example, you might set an order to buy 100 ARDR at a limit price of $0.35 per coin. In this example, your broker would only fill the order if it was possible to buy each coin at a price of $0.35 or less.
- Market orders: Market orders are executed as soon as your broker is able to execute them at the current market rate. If you’d like to ensure that your order is filled as soon as possible, a market order might be right for your needs.
You may also be able to place more complicated orders depending on the types of orders your broker supports.
Bonus:
At the end of 2020, Ardor announced that it has introduced child chain “pruning” to increase the efficiency of the network. This introduction might increase investor interest in the Ardor network, especially as energy efficiency comes to the forefront of the conversation around cryptocurrency.
Trade, Sell or Convert your ARDR
When you invest in cryptocurrencies, you have access to an ever-changing market that’s open around the clock. This means that you have the opportunity to earn a return on your investment using a multitude of trading methods. Some of the most common ways that investors may use their Ardor include:
- Selling: If you believe that the price of Ardor will rise over the course of weeks or months, you may want to store your coins in a private wallet and sell them once when the price of the coins has risen to show a significant profit.
- Trading: If you believe that the price of Ardor will fluctuate in the coming days or weeks, you may want to actively trade your coins. Active traders strategically convert their ARDR to stablecoins or fiat currency when the price of ARDR rises, then convert it back when the price falls again. This method of investing allows you to take profits as you see fit on a rolling basis.
- Converting: Depending on the exchange and wallet you’re using, you might be able to convert your ARDR directly to another coin. The investments available for conversion will vary depending on where you’re exchanging your coins.
Current Crypto Prices
2021 has been a bullish year for cryptocurrency. Many digital assets have appreciated by over 100%, and investors are still bullish on the asset class moving into 2022. Unlike traditional equities, cryptocurrencies trade 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To get the most up-to-date cryptocurrency prices, checkout our table of real-time crypto prices below.
Is Ardor a Good Investment?
Ardor is a relatively small project, making it a more risky investment than more established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. However, if you're comfortable taking on more risk, then Ardor may be a good addition to your portfolio. While Ardor does have benefits over proof of work blockchains, there are certainly proof of stake blockchains which offer similar fees and transactions per second, such as Solana and Binance Smart Chain. Be sure to do your own research before making any investment decisions.
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About Sarah Horvath
Sarah is an expert in the insurance, investing for retirement and cryptocurrency space.