Image courtesy of GammaLaw
Digital currencies have created a buzz since the sudden rise of the Bitcoin price. They have, over time, become a new trend in the global money market due to their incredible benefits. Here are some of the aspects that tend to make cryptocurrencies so important.
Bitcoin and Litecoin are arguably the most trusted and safest digital currencies in the world. In a world where looters and cons are everywhere, virtually everyone wants to trade safely. Cryptocurrencies give online traders that assurance, and that’s why people consider them as a reliable means of exchange.
The recent increase in the demand for Litecoin and Bitcoin can be attributed to policies that govern cryptocurrency networks. Cryptocurrencies are a digital currency, which means traders rarely need a third-party to complete a transaction. That often gives online traders a sense of security and reassurance. Cryptocurrencies tend to allow online retailers to transact anytime and anywhere.
Bitcoin and Litecoin are considered a low-cost means of transaction. The cost of transacting with cryptocurrencies can be far less than other currencies. The fact that the cryptocurrency network is responsible for compensating miners tends to eliminate transaction fees. Low-cost transactions could mean that cryptocurrency users won’t shell out money in exchange for Bitcoin and Litecoin. All a cryptocurrency user may need to transact is knowledge of cryptocurrencies and a smart phone.
Cryptocurrencies can be stored in a safe e-wallet or USB drive. Storing your bitcoin or Litecoin in either an e-wallet or USB drive may not attract any fee.
Privacy has been a concern for most people transacting over the internet. Cryptocurrency users can expect their financial transactions to be highly confidential. You can transact using bitcoin and still be anonymous. With digital currencies, the seller and buyer don’t transfer money directly. Instead, the cryptocurrency network often serves as an intermediary, which means that users may not share their credentials with anyone. Cryptocurrencies can be used as a new measure to curb identity theft, which has become a menace in the global money market. If something seems doubtful, you are at liberty to share any information you may want with your merchant. By accepting payment in digital currencies, online traders tend to accept and welcome clients who would wish to remain anonymous. Accepting payments in bitcoin can make a brand an industry leader and increase its awareness.
Cryptocurrencies can be bought in a fraction. That means you can invest any amount of money in cryptocurrencies. For example, if you can’t afford a full unit of bitcoin, you can split it and invest in a quarter or half of it. That can help reduce the cost of investing in cryptocurrencies and avoid overspending. With a crypto converter, an investor can find out the price of any digital currency in their country.
Using digital currencies can make you autonomous. Cryptocurrencies tend to eliminate third-parties, so you can be sure that no fees or commissions are involved. These currencies can also allow online traders to manage their accounts.
Decentralization is a feature that often makes cryptocurrencies lucrative for merchants and customers alike. It means that digital currencies can’t be subservient to any authority or agency. No one owns digital currencies, which means no individual can have control over it. Digital currencies can provide online retailers with the freedom to transact without worrying about geographical barriers.
Digital currencies are considered a game-changer in the global money market. Their incredible benefits are arguably the reason behind their recent popularity. Cryptocurrencies are considered the safest and most trusted currencies around the world. You can store Bitcoin and Litecoin in the cloud or USB drive and move with them anywhere around the world. By using bitcoin, online traders can expect their transactions to be confidential. Digital currencies are also a reliable medium of exchange that can give sellers and buyers control over their accounts. The fact that Bitcoin and Litecoin can be bought in a fraction can make digital currencies an affordable investment.
Open your free digital wallet here to store your cryptocurrencies in a safe place.
You know about Bitcoin: The original digital currency based on blockchain. Every transaction is written to a shared ledger and verified by the rest of the network. Each set of approved transactions is a “block” added to the chain.
But you may have missed the buzz on Bitcoin mining. It’s not just for web geeks or digital currency traders. There are thousands of people around the world looking to profit in this way.
What is Bitcoin Mining?
Participants try to guess a random number generated by the system. Those who get the answer “own” the next block of transactions and collect a reward; currently 12.5 bitcoins. If you manage this, you can also collect fees on transactions in the block you created.
This number comes from a complex equation. In the early days it was handled by ordinary computers, and then GPUs (graphics processing units), which were better suited to the task. Over the years the equation has evolved in difficulty to regulate the rate of discovery.
Technology
Bitcoin miners now rely on hardware-intensive systems known as ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), which appeared in 2013. If you own or can get access to such a system, you stand to guess a fair amount of numbers on the blocks constantly taking shape.
If this sounds like an easy way to profit, it is. Many people have joined the ranks of digital currency miners. However, with so much competition, the big question is whether there are still decent profits to be made.
Can You Still Make Money?
The more computers that are trying to capture the number, the harder the equation becomes and the fewer numbers you get.
But Bitcoins also tend to go up in value. It was a price spike in 2013 that launched mining as a popular investment option. Speculators agree that the value of Bitcoin should continue rising as its popularity grows.
Investments Required
To maximize your return on Bitcoin mining, you need an ASIC system. These computing solutions utilize high-end hardware that generates a lot of heat. Such a setup requires state-of-the-art cooling and ventilation systems along with higher utility bills to operate all of this.
Without an ASIC of your own, your odds of scoring aren’t good. It is possible to save some money by leasing an ASIC rather than buying one outright.
Other Options
Fortunately for the smaller investor, recent years have seen the rise of cloud mining, or cloud hashing. This response to growing demand is basically another cloud service where you get to lease a portion of someone else’s ASCI-enabled data center.
A cheaper option, albeit with smaller potential rewards, is a mining pool. This is a third-party service that uses investor funds to do their own mining and shares out the profits. The upside of this is that you don’t need technical or financial knowledge at all; you just need to come up the minimum investment required by the service.
Profit Potential
You can join some of these investment pools for as little as $500. Some of these third-party services state that you could earn your investment back in as little as two months or so, and start seeing profit after three. When these claims are legit, or even close to it, you’re seeing a remarkable and fairly consistent ROI better than most forms of investment.
However, transaction fees are currently voluntary on the part of individual users of Bitcoin, as is whether the transaction should even be included in a block. This is encouraged as the transaction is more quickly verified if it’s part of a block. Even so, your profit depends on the current value of Bitcoin, the number and size of transaction fees involved, and the number of people sharing the rewards.
Federal Regulation
In 2015 the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) declared that digital currency trading is legal and subject to fair trading laws. However, this doesn’t guarantee that you’re protected. Prudent investors always do the homework: Know who you’re dealing with and determine realistic expectations.
Risks in Bitcoin Mining
The Bitcoin reward is halved every 210,000 blocks, or about four years. As the reward approaches zero, it may not be profitable at all unless transaction fees are increased and enforced. And while the general trend is up, there’s also fluctuation in Bitcoin value.
There’s also a question of integrity. As more cloud services spring up, you’ll have a widely varying scenario of payouts, contract stipulations, and the potential for dishonest reporting; even outright fraud. Also, on the downside: The IRS says that mining profits may be taxed as individual investment gains!
Is Bitcoin mining still a good investment? At the present time, yes, and hopefully for years to come with appropriate changes. Are you ready to sit back and let the computers make you bitcoins?
Jen McKenzie is a writer at Assignyourwriter company (https://assignyourwriter.co.uk/team/jen-mckenzie/) and an independent business consultant from New York. She writes extensively on business, education and human resource topics. When Jennifer is not at her desk working, you can usually find her hiking or taking a road trip with her two dogs. You can reach Jennifer (https://twitter.com/jenmcknzie) @jenmcknzie (https://twitter.com/jenmcknzie)
Open your free digital wallet here to store your cryptocurrencies in a safe place.
For people who have traced the movements of Bitcoin since its inception, it’s hard to believe that it has only been around for less than a decade. As discussed here on HolyTransaction, the world’s first cryptocurrency has had a wild ride so far, from the downright bizarre (two pizzas for 10,000 BTC) to the extremely exciting. As of the start of the year, Bitcoin’s market cap was valued at $280 billion (€226 billion), with cryptocurrency like Ethereum following at impressive valuations of $90.4 billion (€73 billion).
These figures make investing in cryptocurrencies incredibly tempting, but also quite daunting. With such a young market, there aren’t a lot of set rules or trends that can help guide you on your investment journey. This is where looking at similar trading commodities like gold and other precious metals come in. After all, FXCM explains that gold trading is simultaneously one of the oldest and most exciting ways to invest in global markets, and this remains true whether in times of war and turmoil or peace and prosperity. With the right focus and lots of discipline, there’s plenty of wisdom to be uncovered from looking at the history of gold trading.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to dip your toes into the cryptocurrency pool or an experienced trader hoping to build your wisdom in Bitcoin investing, here are five golden lessons for today’s cryptocurrency investors.
Diversify, diversify, diversify!
This tip seems basic, but focusing on a single trading commodity remains one of the most common mistakes investors make. A conservative position in gold investing means a maximum of 10% gold in your portfolio, and this is something that you can keep in mind when investing in cryptocurrencies. This can not only protect you from unexpected Bitcoin price dips, but can also open up better growth opportunities with lower risks and good returns. From the over 1,300 different cryptocurrencies in existence, This is Money recommends looking into altcoins like Litecoin, Monero, and Dash this 2018.
Stay calm in the face of volatility.
Gold can easily swing by a hundred pips and reverse every few minutes, which means trading in gold requires a certain degree of thick skin and steel-like determination. These are also very handy when trading cryptocurrencies, which are infamous for their volatility. In crypto-speak, be ready to “HODL”, or hold on for dear life (your coins), even when everyone else is panicking.
Set a loss limit.
Be sure to set acceptable loss limits for your investments and avoid buying too much. Financial Times reports that even a trusty commodity like gold has its own set of risks, which means it’s healthy to set stops for each individual trade for a maximum allowable loss that you are comfortable with. Invest only what you can stand to lose, and keep evaluating your trading strategies to learn which cryptocurrencies are best suited for you.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
Whatever your feelings are about shiny yellow metals or blockchain-enabled digital currencies, Forbes claims that these are still commodities that can be sold when prices are high and bought when prices are low. Focus on market trends and see where the prices are heading, and use these to inform your decisions. Pay attention to cycles, growth patterns, and market potential to make decisions, instead of which cryptocurrencies everyone else is buying.
Security and safety is a must.
Last but not least, invest only on trusted trading platforms and certified services. Millions of people have been victimised by gold-related scams and fraudulent brokers over the years, and it’s important to carry the same level of vigilance when carrying out cryptocurrency wallet transactions. Keep your money and investments safe with your free digital wallet here at HolyTransaction.
Do you have any other tips for cryptocurrency trading? Let us know in the comments below!
Open your free digital wallet here to store your cryptocurrencies in a safe place.
Open your free digital wallet here to store your cryptocurrencies in a safe place.