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2024
May 12.
Innovation and quality outshine expanding low-cost Chinese webshops
While Chinese companies offering cheap, lower-quality products are flooding Europe with their goods at full throttle, more and more people are turning to a new alternative way of shopping. This phenomenon is the emergence of crowdfunding in online shopping, which makes premium and luxury-level products accessible. Both share low pricing, but the outcomes of these two types of shopping differ drastically.
The record-breaking traffic of online stores offering mostly Chinese products is due to the fact that they allow you to buy almost anything at incredibly low prices for those who care more about price than quality.
Through often pushy, psychologically burdensome advertising strategies, consumers are frequently persuaded to buy trinkets they didn’t even really need. The cheap prices mask this, and it only becomes apparent how much unnecessary stuff we’ve purchased when we realize that the money could have stayed in our pockets if we hadn’t been lured by the prices. Countless customer comments report that some products are unusable right after unboxing—or become that way within a few days—and ultimately turn into simple plastic waste. One of the most popular platforms of this kind, Temu, has even faced accusations of slave labor, and Grizzly Research has pointed out risks of data theft associated with them. Meanwhile, toxic waste is flooding the continent in large volumes, burdening not only the market but also the planet—making global climate neutrality an impossible goal.
Thanks to a commercial innovation, the premium category is also accessible at similar prices
In 2024, however, there is already a solution to these problems and market needs, one that—thanks to a technological innovation—offers even better results in online shopping. Hungarian-born but now mostly internationally engaged businessman Joe Bitter (József Bitter) has been operating a highly successful e-commerce network since 2006.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that the internet made all the world’s products accessible. It didn’t—it only made them more conveniently reachable. In fact, with the spread of the internet, material and existential inequalities became even more glaring, and social media only amplified this. The gap continues to widen: those with less money find solace in the Chinese dumping market, while the wealthier pay increasingly outrageous amounts for overpriced luxury brands. The former, through open and ruthless price wars, eliminate market competitors, while the latter use their excessive profit margins not for product or wage development or climate neutrality, but rather to enrich their investors through dividends—thus quality improvement is left behind,” explained Joe Bitter.
Joe, who is also known in Hungary as a recognized crypto-billionaire due to his early recognition of Bitcoin and portfolio dating back to 2012, has made it a personal and exciting mission to innovate online commerce and offer a solution to this problem.
“We turned to crowdfunding, which has already proven effective in many areas, and used it as a foundation. We created a social platform where the world’s best-known brands and Hungarian businesses can list their products, including their most expensive and luxury items. On this social platform, customers can register in the usual way and find everyday shopping items, but premium and luxury products are also listed separately. The striking difference is that luxury products, due to their high price, cannot be purchased individually, but only collectively, through community financing,” Bitter added.
Interested users can participate with any amount they choose, contributing as much as their dream car, a new home, the latest top-tier smartphone, or a game console is worth to them. Due to user demand, even Cinema City double tickets and trays of HELL energy drinks can be crowdfunded in unlimited quantities. This solution, which shifts sellers and buyers from webshops to a social platform, is called Social Shopping, and its market-leading pioneer is the Allyos – SocialStore mobile application. Social Shopping is a technology trademark. It is a shopping alternative where premium and luxury items can be purchased through crowdfunding, and participation is only possible via redeemable discounts.
“Twenty years of classic international e-commerce taught us that price wars benefit no one—and they are especially dangerous for merchants. Everyone is in business for profit. In the long term, this does not serve consumer interests either, as the process and quality of service will suffer. And with current automation trends, their jobs—and therefore their livelihood—will be at risk. If people lose their income, they won’t be able to buy anything. Not even cheap Chinese products. We’ve always preferred the Steve Jobs-like Apple approach. Let’s offer something different, exclusive value to our clients, so they don’t base their decisions purely on low prices. Let’s give them more—a desirable lifestyle that helps them stand out from the average. Allyos has made the premium segment accessible. For just $10 a month, you can become a member of the elite club—the opportunity is yours. And it’s completely interactive, community-driven, and available 24/7,” explained Joe Bitter.
The results are astonishing: with SocialStore, members achieve an average of 76% better shopping results thanks to crowdfunding. With a $280 spend, it’s possible to get a Xiaomi e-scooter, PlayStation 5 console, Tefal air fryer, a $83 Douglas perfume voucher, or an Apple Watch 9. Stories like these are almost daily occurrences from shoppers. Some users report spending about $3,600 over the course of a year and walking away with premium products worth $9,400 in total. Of course, all pre-screened merchants selling through the platform provide free shipping throughout Europe.
April 8.
Incredible but True: Bitcoin is Available Again for $10
Almost everyone has heard of or knows the king of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin, often referred to as digital gold. Many are also aware that a “halving” occurs every four years, with the next one due on April 20. The all-time high price of $73,000 scares off many, but a market expert has introduced an innovation that provides a solution.
Joe Bitter is a well-known early investor in Hungary, who got involved in the crypto world back in 2011 when Bitcoin was trading at just $12. As he puts it, although the media has declared Bitcoin dead at least a hundred times, it keeps breaking new records. Two recurring issues have consistently surfaced, and now he has the opportunity to offer solutions to those interested.
“When the Hungarian press last asked me about the topic in September last year, BTC was at $25,000. Those who paid attention back then have seen their portfolios triple in value at the current $73,000 price point. A 300% return in half a year is entirely reasonable. Foreign experts I know are expecting $80,000 for the halving and a price level of $250,000 by the end of the year. Some even forecast half a million dollars next year as the peak of this trend. It’s simple supply and demand. Today, 900 Bitcoins are mined daily; from the end of April, that will be halved to 450 per day. Since the launch of the U.S. ETFs, demand from big banks has been 8,000 Bitcoins per day, and by mid-year, that is projected to rise to 22,000 daily,” explained Joe Bitter.
At $72,000, Bitcoin has overtaken silver on the global market, becoming the 8th most valuable asset in the world. Fifteen years of innovation have outpaced millennia of tradition — a truly historic event. These are exciting times, with another milestone potentially entering the history books: for the first time, Bitcoin is now available through social shopping. Joe is also the founder of the Hungary-based Allyos – SocialStore social platform, which is revolutionizing online commerce with its redeemable discount-based crowdfunding system. The concept is introduced to the world under the “Social Shopping” patent.
Joe says that everyone talking about Bitcoin only cares about the price — no one talks about the underlying technology or the massive corporations, giant banks, and startups that are building and innovating on blockchain by the thousands. It’s true that scammers are present here as well, which is why 90% of listed cryptos are still scams. Beginners should stay away from those — but this is still the stock exchange of the future.
“You didn’t understand it at $10. You laughed at it at $100. You missed it at $1,000. You thought it was too risky at $20,000, and now it’s too expensive at $70,000. So the question is valid: when will you want to be a part of it and start earning? With the $10 social crowdfunding, I believe we’ve created a great opportunity for many. I may be a polarizing figure, but this reminds me of Andrew Tate’s one-liner in response to those mocking the color of his $5.5 million Bugatti on social media: ‘Ew, ugly color.’ To which he replied, ‘What color is your Bugatti?’ It’s funny, but also revealing — the biggest banks, national leaders, and financial authorities who for years hunted us down, labeled us criminals, threatened to ban us, and hated us — like J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch, or BlackRock — now all want to be our friends. They’re putting all their clients’ money into this, and according to them, Bitcoin is the best thing in the world…” explained Joe Bitter.
2023
December 7.
Influencers Aim to Beat Inflation on a New Social Platform
Hungarian celebrities are showcasing the future of online shopping to the world.
An increasingly popular new social platform is now available in 49 countries, revolutionizing how we shop online like never before. Thanks to this innovation, shopping becomes a joyful experience even in the digital space, and now products once considered unattainable are within reach. Influencers—who previously promoted luxury goods on their social media pages, often upsetting many of their followers—are now joining this trend. Allyos, the next generation of social platforms, lets users create a free profile—just like on Facebook or TikTok—and shop at prices of their choosing.
Crowdfunding isn’t new—platforms like Kickstarter, Patreon, and GoFundMe are well-known examples—but Allyos is built on a concept called Social Shopping. Social Shopping is both a trademark and technological innovation of Allyos – SocialStore, making it the first platform of its kind in the world. Unlike typical crowdfunding, Allyos allows participants to collectively purchase premium products from global brands using only redeemable discounts. The good news? It all works through a simple, user-friendly mobile app.
Say Goodbye to Ads and Product Promotions on Popular Social Media
In major countries like China and the U.S., influencer-led livestream sales have become wildly popular. Charismatic celebrities can sell thousands of items within minutes to their followers. However, the problem is that even if one million followers watch the promo, only a fraction can afford the product due to skyrocketing prices. Moreover, social media platforms are flooded with promotional content from influencers, which often causes negative reactions among followers and derails the original purpose of social media. In response, several countries have started banning ads and promotional content—sometimes even deleting influencer profiles. Most recently, India, Nepal, and now Indonesia have banned such TikTok content entirely.
Allyos aims to solve this problem. Here, product promotion and sales aren’t a nuisance—they’re the core of the platform. Luxury items that were once merely showcased are now accessible to everyone, with influencers acting as collaborative teammates in a new, exciting social shopping movement. Buyers pool small amounts of money to purchase expensive products together. One participant is then randomly selected to receive the product, while the others get to redeem their contributions as discounts on future purchases.
For example, anyone can contribute just $10 to potentially receive items worth thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. The minimum participation amount in these collective purchases is only $1, giving anyone a risk-free chance to significantly improve their lifestyle.
“Many influencers face daily criticism for promoting luxury products that most followers simply can’t afford, even though they’re just fulfilling their brand obligations. These promotions often fail to boost actual sales, only increasing brand awareness. With Social Shopping, these two goals finally align. Followers can now team up with their favorite influencers to buy products they once only dreamed of. This creates a new kind of shared experience—not only do they interactively buy items together, but they also enjoy these products in real life with loved ones,” explained Joe Bitter, co-founder of Allyos.
Millions Given Away to Kick Off the Platform
Allyos is expanding with influencer profiles, now open for registration on its official website. Interest among top content creators is already surging. The app will include influencer profiles across ten categories—from electronics and beauty to fashion, travel, real estate, fitness, music, and even luxury cars. Allyos is currently in talks with major agencies and well-known figures, from Andi Tóth to Totalcar.
“Although we’ve collaborated with influencers before to test the best methods, many successful social purchases happened thanks to creators like Zsozéatya, Tech2, Rekál, or Timii Farkas. Users loved the personal handovers of the jointly purchased products,” said Joe. He added that this new feature is already proving to be a success: influencers with 10,000 followers can earn an average of $20,000 per month on the platform.
To support their growth, influencers can invite their existing followers to participate in their first social purchase. For instance, an influencer with 10,000 Instagram followers can distribute around $10,000 in credits to build their Allyos team. Many success stories have already emerged from the ever-growing Allyos community, all thanks to this innovative market concept.
“Many users have obtained various products for just a few dollars. Since Allyos functions as a real-time, interactive live marketplace, all transactions are in U.S. dollars. Nearly 1,000 products have already found their new owners through social shopping. Examples include CinemaCity movie tickets purchased for $1, Gucci perfume for $10, a Sony PlayStation 5 for $10, or even an iPhone 14 Pro for $34. One user even spent $3,600 over two years and received products worth $9,450.” said the Allyos founder.
September 22.
A Hungarian Billionaire Entrepreneur Is Conquering the World with a New Social Platform
Joe Bitter Went from Cleaner to Crypto-Millionaire
Joe Bitter, born József Bitter, moved to Ireland in 2004 and has since lived in many parts of the world. The Hungarian-born businessman, known for his e-commerce ventures operating in 76 countries, catapulted his career to a new level with his early cryptocurrency investments. Although he could easily retire comfortably today, Bitter has a mission close to his heart: to make luxury products accessible to the widest range of consumers while ensuring maximum profit for sellers. To this end, he has developed a new kind of social platform based on alternative principles.
The entrepreneur has always been open to financial investments and innovations. By the age of 29, he had already achieved financial independence, which he attributes to his constant exploration of new paths, open-mindedness, and ongoing personal development.
“By 2006, I had worked my way through the ranks of manual laborers in Dublin—I was a cleaner, painter, even a car clamp operator. I focused on learning the language, acquiring useful information, and connecting with valuable people, as well as drawing from foreign cultures. In 2007, I started a business that failed by 2008. I began analyzing what went wrong and started improving myself. I attended free professional seminars, all-day lectures, and listened to audiobooks. I was always critical of the current financial system and joined several international groups led by recognized experts like Robert Kiyosaki, who focused on alternative financial solutions. That’s how I first encountered Bitcoin and the blockchain technology behind it, through Max Keiser and Jeff Berwick back in 2010. I thought if this really takes off, it could be the key to financial independence—everyone could manage their own wealth without external access or control,” said Joe Bitter, co-founder of the startup Allyos. This idea continued to guide him throughout the development of Allyos.
Joe Bitter’s cryptocurrency journey is like something out of a fairy tale: a cautious investment years ago has grown into a multi-million-dollar fortune.
“I’ve basically been an entrepreneur since I was 12 and had saved up my first million forints by the time I was 17. Back then, I was importing 50–125cc motorcycles from Italy, refurbishing and selling them. I learned the necessary Italian phrases in three months and asked my father to drive the van since I didn’t even have a license. In 2012, I bought my first Bitcoin using the profits from my first successful online store, which I launched on eBay three years earlier. I bought Bitcoin at $12.41 and invested around $2,500. Until 2014, I just observed the market—there were many skeptics back then—but every time I researched it, the blockchain technology made sense both technically and fundamentally. I saw that it actually worked in practice. Later, I expanded my portfolio with various crypto projects, even buying 1 million Dogecoin just for fun when it launched. I noticed more and more large corporations and banks started secretly investing in blockchain-based projects, which only confirmed my belief. At the same time, I remained open to traditional financial markets, trading stocks and investing in international real estate. In 2015, most of my e-commerce stores began accepting crypto payments, and I also bought mining machines in Iceland to expand my crypto portfolio and generate passive income.”
From $2,500 to $6.7 Million
Bitter points out that this market is not for the faint of heart, as fluctuations of 20–30% are common and can be daunting for many.
“I’ve seen this happen at least a hundred times in the past 11 years—it just makes me smile now. When prices are high, I sell a little to buy back more during dips. That’s exactly what I’m doing now. It recently dropped about 10–15%, but before the correction, my portfolio was worth $6,7 million. In other words, over 11 years, my $2,500 grew to around $6.7 million,” Joe Bitter explained.
Over the years, it wasn’t just the profits that grew—there were some nerve-racking moments when less experienced investors were sounding the alarm. If Bitter had listened to them, he wouldn’t be where he is today. Thanks to his perseverance, he is now considered a major player in the crypto market.
“By the end of 2017, the price peaked at nearly $20,000, then dropped quickly to $3,500 by late summer/fall 2018. During that time, I received countless calls urging me to sell everything, claiming the bubble had burst. I told them I’d seen worse—like drops from $100 to $8 or $1,300 to $110. This is just a correction. I won’t even consider reallocating major assets until Bitcoin hits $1 million.”
Even though Joe Bitter could now live off his portfolio, he found a passion project along the way that still keeps him working hard: the social shopping app Allyos. Co-founded with his friend Kristóf Herczeg, the idea was born on February 22, 2016. They developed the concept continuously and launched it in 2018.
“On November 22, 2018, we released the first public version after closed beta testing. It went live in 48 countries, but we wanted to focus on the Hungarian market for several reasons. The product wasn’t fully ready—far from perfect—but that was our goal. We received tons of feedback and valuable suggestions from users. Their support was crucial. To this day, the IT development is handled by top Hungarian developers, including the teams from BigFish and Broduction,” Bitter explained.
So what makes the Allyos – SocialStore platform revolutionary? After downloading the app, users can register and create profiles, much like on Facebook or TikTok. A chat feature called “Space” enables direct communication among users. The platform brings together users with the intent to shop—because here, everyone sets their own price, guaranteeing the best deal. The model is based on globally known crowdfunding principles.
“Unlike conventional systems, there are two ways to buy here. As the name SocialStore suggests, the ‘Store’ side functions like Amazon, offering discounted products with free shipping. Each product features a visible discount amount, but here’s the innovation: since Allyos is a platform like Uber or Airbnb—it doesn’t handle shipping or warehousing—the products listed come from recognized brands, distributors, and retailers. Some listing partners include Tesla, Alza, CinemaCity, OMV, Sony, IKEA, Apple, MediaMarkt, and the list keeps growing. The unique feature—and one of the platform’s trademarks—is that the seller’s discount amount also serves a social function. That’s why we call it a social discount,” Bitter explained.
“With 15 years of international e-commerce experience, I’ve seen all sides of the industry. Social shopping is the ideal solution from every perspective: manufacturers and distributors can sell at higher prices and better margins, escaping the race to the bottom. Meanwhile, the discount no longer benefits just one person—it gains social value that helps people achieve their dreams. From a consumer’s point of view, inflation and rising prices are constant challenges, but why should the majority work their whole lives for premium products, a mid-range car, or a tropical vacation? That’s why we set the minimum contribution for a social purchase at just one dollar. At this level, anyone can have a chance to obtain their dream item. If someone uses Allyos for their everyday shopping, manufacturers and distributors effectively invite them to participate through the shared discount. Shopping with friends in a place where a $83,000 Mercedes no longer seems like a dream—because you decide how much you contribute, even if it’s just $275—feels completely different. The success of this model is evident from our 400,000 downloads, 82,000 registered users, and 750 successful social shoppers,” said Joe Bitter.
If You Missed Bitcoin at $12, Here’s a Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
Joe’s story stylishly illustrates the power of the social shopping model behind Allyos – SocialStore. Even the most popular cryptocurrency is available on the platform’s “Social” side, where users can collectively pool 0.1 BTC or 0.01 BTC. Since the minimum participation is $1, the only limit to how many lucky users can buy Bitcoin for less than Joe’s 2012 entry price of $13—while the current price stands at $26,000—is how quickly people flock to the platform.
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