Social Media is a necessary and integral part of any serious cryptocurrency traders arsenal of information. There are numerous forms in which they come although Twitter and Reddit are probably the only ones you need until the transition to SteemIt is complete which is by far the top choice in the arena of social media blockchain applications.

Beyond that, it's all about the “CHAT” or the “Trollbox” as it's quickly becoming known thanks to Poloniex who recently shutdown there Trollbox indefinitely in an attempt to focus their efforts on support at which they continue to fail in epic fashion resulting in a growing migration to Bittrex.

Regardless, thanks to the wonders of modern Tech. aka smart phones and “the app” You can have direct one on one's with the founders and developers of nearly every alt coin out there and if you can't well there's your first signal of a soon to fail business. However, be sure they're truly absent and not just busy working on something new. Being the amazing source of info that Chats are I have built up quite a list that I am an active part of and many others that I just keep tabs on. The purpose of this post is to share that list at least in part in order of those which I perceive to be the most popular and or useful.

There are 2 platforms I have settled on for the time being. Downloading is optional on both as you can just use their web based app in your browser of choice.

The first & IMO most useful is Slack. Slack is indispensable for two reasons. The Chats but also the Notifications. I didn't have much use for Notifications in the beginning so I began turning them off but not long after that I got an email from one my slack teams that still had notifications enabled.

Turns out Slack is a first stop for major announcements from all Cryptocurrencies often preceding Twitter or even their main website by hours sometimes days. I can not stress enough the importance of checking Slack. Almost every token has a trade channel, often filled with trolls but also often filled with good information and the people with the sincerest interest in seeing that token succeed. You are also far more likely to find the developers active on Slack with specific channels for traders, support, developers, research and it goes on and on, some a few, some dozens.

You can sign up here: https://slack.com/

It runs in your browser or if you prefer as I do there's an app you can download as well. I find the app better as it gives me faster access to all the different channels I'm subscribed to, however if you wish to adjust your email notification settings I discovered you have to do this from the website.

Slack on the Google Chrome Web Browser

The Slack Desktop Application for Windows 10

You have a separate profile for each group you join which they refer to as teams. Also you have to get a special invite link to be added as a member of the team. Some channels are liberal with these invites and list them publicly, others do not. Really any coin you are thinking about seriously investing in, the first thing to do is look for their slack channel. Some go to great lengths to setup up a healthy community environment in which the developers and or founders take an active part, others not so much.

Slack Teams - My top picks for content quality and membership

Decred (DCR) – Hybrid Proof of Work/Proof of Stake consensus cryptocurrency meant to work with Bitcoin
Website - https://www.decred.org/
Slack Invite - https://slack.decred.org/

Stratis (STRAT) - Blockchain apps utilizing C# on the .Net framework
Website - http://stratisplatform.com/
Slack Invite - https://stratis-invite.herokuapp.com/

Stellar Lumens (STL/XLM) website - https://www.stellar.org/
Slack Invite - http://slack.stellar.org/

LibraryCredits (LBC) – free, open, and community-run digital marketplace (think decentralized YouTube on the blockchain)
Website - https://lbry.io/
Slack Invite - http://slack.lbry.io/

Game Credits (GAME) – Gaming payment solutions
Website - https://gamecredits.com/
Slack Invite - https://gamecredits.com/slack.html

Counterparty (XCP) - Smart contracts using the solidity language on Bitcoin
Website - http://counterparty.io/
Slack Invite - http://slack.counterparty.io/invite

Gnosis (GNO) – Prediction Market built on Ethereum
Website - http://gnosis.pm/
Slack Invite - https://slack.gnosis.pm/

Golem (GNT) - Get paid for your unsused processing power
Website - https://golem.network/
Slack Invite - http://golemproject.org:3000/

Waves (WAVES) - Blockchain powered application platform similar to Ethereum
Website - https://wavesplatform.com/
Slack Invite - https://wavesplatform.slack.com/

Yours – Social media platform where you get paid for the content you post and or curate
Website - https://www.yours.network/
Slack Invite - https://yours-slackin.herokuapp.com/

Akasha Social network built on Ethereum
Website - http://akasha.world/
Slack Invite - https://akasha-slack.herokuapp.com/

Iconomi (ICN) - Decentralized investment fund management platform
Website - https://www.iconomi.net/
Slack Invite - https://iconominet.herokuapp.com/

Coinfund - Not a token. As the name suggests it is an investment fund run by Jake Brukhman.
YoutTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/jbrukh/feed
Slack Invite - https://coinfund.io/

Antshares - Distributed ledger protocol
Website - https://www.antshares.org/
Slack Invite - https://antshares-slack.herokuapp.com/

Mysterium – A Decentralized VPN
Website - https://mysterium.network/
Slack Invite - http://slack.mysterium.network/

Not far behind is Telegram. Though the Gif/FUD/FOMO spam is pretty heavy in some of the groups Telegram remains another great place to stay connected with the community. While I had been aware Telegram existed for some time I never had a reason to use it till I started trading Cryptocurrencies. I am not certain which was the first group I ended up joining, maybe Litecoin I think when the first round of SegWit Fever hit and at the time I was still desperate for information.

Download is optional on this one as well. https://web.telegram.org/
If you prefer to have it installed locally it's available for free here: https://telegram.org/

Telegram Desktop Application for Windows 10

Telegram Web Version using Google Chrome

Telegram is available for the usual suspects, Linux, Windows, Mac, phones, tablets, and your trusty old desktop/laptop. It's really easy to setup and you can have the same account open on multiple devices simultaneously. Ease of use and being noticeably less taxing on device system resources does give Telegram a leg up on Slack and the Gifs are fun but thus far Telegram can not compete with the quality of information available on Slack as well as the priority notifications sent out first on Slack. Telegram has a lot to offer in the Bot Department however covering that is easily a post on its own and so it shall be. There is however a link below to a list of crypto related Telegram Bots that you will definitely want to check out in the meantime.

CRYPTOPING

FOMO Bot

My list of channels covering cryptocurrency continues to grow and it's becoming a struggle to keep up. In fact the only way really is to integrate it into my work which is why I am writing this blog and many more to come covering all areas of the “crypto-verse”.
So with out further ado,

Telegram Channels - My top picks for content quality and membership

Bitcoin Core Community
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/BitcoinCore

EOS – Latest Project by the Co-Founder of SteemIt.com and BitShares
If you're familiar with Dan Larimer then you will understand why this is both a popular chat and a greatly anticipated project.
https://t.me/EOSproject

ICO Countdown - updated list of cryptocurrency crowdsales
Website - https://www.icocountdown.com/
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/icocountdown

CIVIC – Secure low cost ID verification using blockchain technology
Website - https://tokensale.civic.com/
https://t.me/civicplatform

BANCOR - Ethereum based token conversion protocol
Website - https://bancor.network/
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/bancor

Mysterium – Decentralized VPN
Website - https://mysterium.network/
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/mysterium_network

Waves (WAVES) - Blockchain powered application platform similar to Ethereum
Website - https://wavesplatform.com/
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/Wavescommunity

Whalepool – Bitcoin Maximalists Galore
Twitter - https://twitter.com/whalepool
Teamspeak – ts.whalepool.club
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/whalepoolbt

Whaleclub Bitcoin Traders - More Bitcoin Maximalists Galore
Telegram Group Link - https://telegram.me/joinchat/BpTIDjwx_ayUl5zN84uQBw

Litecoin (LTC) – The silver to Bitcoins gold
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/Litecoin

Ethtrader (ETH) – Ethereum blockchain application platform
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/EthTrader

The Coin Farm - Very Popular good for identifying trends and pumps – Very Troll Heavy
Lots of dis-info/false-info/pleasebuymybag-info
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/thecoinfarm

Ethereum Classic (ETC)
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/ethclassic

Verge (XVG) – Privacy token similar to XMR PIVX and DASH
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/VERGExvg

Ripple (XRP) – Global Settlement Network – Will replace things like SWIFT
Twitter - http://twitter.com/ripple
Reddit - http://reddit.com/r/ripple
Telegram Group Link - https://t.me/Ripple

Regularly Updated List of All Cryptocurrency Telegram Channels
https://t.me/Crypto

Regularly Updated List of All Cryptocurrency Telegram “Bots”
These are very useful for pulling charts as well as setting up signals/alerts
https://t.me/CryptoBots

Regularly Updated List of All Cryptocurrency Communities on Telegram
https://t.me/CryptoCommunities

Aaron M Daley
Daley BTC News

Be sure to check out my other posts and please remember to upvote should you find them worthy:

Introduction to Decred - Lecture given at Coinbase by Jake Yocom-Piatt
https://steemit.com/crypto-new/@aaronmda/introduction-to-decred-lecture-given-at-coinbase-by-jake-yocom-piatt

List of Steem Witnesses I Have Voted For
https://steemit.com/steem/@aaronmda/list-of-steem-witnesses-i-have-voted-for

My Favorite Trading Tutorials
https://busy.org/bitcoin/@aaronmda/3-of-my-favorite-trading-tutorials

Why Crypto Market Prices Plummet As Soon As You Buy Them and What You Can Do To Avoid It.
https://busy.org/cryptocurrency/@aaronmda/why-crypto-market-prices-plummet-as-soon-as-you-buy-them-and-what-you-can-do-to-avoid-it

Trading $DGB Digibyte on Poloniex as it skyrocks - Know how to avoid panic sells.
https://busy.org/trading/@aaronmda/trading-usddgb-digibyte-on-poloniex-as-it-skyrocks-know-how-to-avoid-panic-sells

ICO's As Far As The Eye Can See - Know What You're Getting Into - "MadBitcoins" on YouTube
https://busy.org/crypto-news/@aaronmda/ico-s-as-far-as-the-eye-can-see-know-what-you-re-getting-into-madbitcoins-on-youtube

Mysterium The First Decentralized VPN - Coinfund Q&A with Founder Robertas Visinskis
https://busy.org/crypto-news/@aaronmda/mysterium-the-first-decentralized-vpn-coinfund-q-and-a-with-founder-robertas-visinskis

Can You Really Make Hundreds Of Dollars Per Post On SteemIt - My Experience So Far
https://steemit.com/steemit/@aaronmda/can-you-really-make-hundreds-of-dollars-per-post-on-steemit-my-experience-so-far

Augur Added To The Exodus Wallet/Exchange
https://steemit.com/crypto-news/@aaronmda/auger-now-radable-on-the-exodus-wallet

CryptoPing Review - A New Tool for Traders to Detect Sudden Volume/Price Increases and Set Alerts
https://steemit.com/cryptocurrency/@aaronmda/cryptoping-review-a-new-tool-for-traders-to-detect-sudden-volume-price-increases-and-set-alerts

Pump and Dumps - How They Work & Trading Strategies
https://steemit.com/bitcoin/@aaronmda/pump-and-dumps-how-they-work-and-trading-strategies

The Rabbit Hole
https://steemit.com/video/@aaronmda/the-rabbit-hole-2nd-attempt