<== An Outsider Look at HIVE ==>

Launch of the Outsider Guide to HIVE

I started using HIVE 42 moons ago. HIVE is a decentralized social media platform built on the HIVE blockchain. HIVE is an exciting platform as it rewards users with HIVE and other online tokens.

There are several hundred web sites interfacing with the HIVE blockchain. So, I decided to create the account @irivers (Internet Rivers), to write reviews for the blockchain.

I will also place a categorized index of the reviews on my blog.

An Outsider Look at BlockTrades.us

I created the @irivers account on June 15, 2010 using BlockTrades.us; So, I thought I would make blocktrades the subject of my first review.

BlockTrades History

Blocktrades.us was registered in 2014 and was one of the first web sites to interface with the STEEM blockchain when it went live on July 4, 2016. Note the dates, they registered BlockTrades.us before steemit.com.

The primary function of blocktrades was to serve as a swap-style exchange so that people could move BTC in and out of STEEM. For awhile it was the primary means for people to channel funds in and out of STEEM.

Justin Sun confiscated the funds in BlockTrade's account during his hostile take over of STEEM. This unethical activity severely curtailed BlockTrade's ability to act as an exchange.

The HiveBlocks team has been central to the development of the HIVE blockchain. The @blocktrades account on HIVE provides updates on core development of the blockchain.

Exchanging Currencies with BlockTrades

Unfortunately, BlockTrades.us shows its age. The site provides an extremely simple tools for swapping currencies. They currently offer swap services for Dogecoin, Ethereum, USD Tether, HIVE, HBD, Litecoin and Monero.

The problem is that BlockTrades charges high fees and does not give users control over the exchange rate.

The HiveBlocks.com blockchain explorer shows all transactions for blocktrades. It appears that very few people use Blocktrades as their primary exchange. BTW: It is always wise to examine an exchange with the blockchain explorer before using the exchange.

I've run 9 transactions through BlockTrades.us for 3682.329 HIVE. The transactions took place without a hitch. The only frustrating part of the transaction was that I had no control over the exchange rate.

NOTE: I am currently using Bittrex as my primary exchange as it lets me set the bid and ask price. This link to Bittrex has my affiliate code..

Creating Accounts with BlockTrades.us

I think blocktrades.us is the best tool for people who want to create accounts using either HIVE or BTC.

To create the @irivers account, I simply had to enter the account name. Copy the master password generated by BlockTrades and send the money for the account creation fee to blocktrades.

It is best to give Blocktrades more than the required fee. Blocktrades deposit any amount over the fee into the account. In my case, blocktrades asked for 6.1 HIVE. It charged a 4.1 HIVE account creation fee and dropped 2 HIVE into my new account.

After creating the account, I was able to use the master password to log into my hive wallet at wallet.hive.blog. I was then able to retreive the keys for the account.