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Financial Technology: What Is Cryptocurrency?

Financial Technology: What Is Cryptocurrency?

By Competitive Technology

Currency is a type of money that is used to buy things. Most countries have different currencies as per the rules of each central government and the economic system of each country.  Of course, traditional currencies are not the only things that can be used to buy products from the market.

In recent years, the emergence of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has helped to solve some of the common financial obstacles customers face in everyday transactions. 

Growth in market trends related to cryptocurrency trading have surpassed stocks during the last two years, so it’s important to know the intricacies of digital currencies in modern use.  In this article, we will discuss some very important advantages and disadvantages of digital currencies in greater depth.  

Source: YouTube

What is a Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is actually a digital currency that has no involvement with the government of the country when it is exchanged between two parties. It is an encrypted currency. While it’s exchanged between two parties either the public or private keys can be used.

For these reasons, the use of digital currency reduces  processing fee as it requires no involvement with central governments or large financial institutions.  Let’s further consider some advantages of cryptocurrency investments in the following sections.

Decentralization

In any country, the use of a currency’s transactional flow of is solely controlled with the help of government regulations and large financial institutions.  But when using cryptocurrencies, consumer decisions are conducted on a peer-to-peer basis and this helps ease of use in a number of different technological areas.

Low Operation Costs

As consumers, we have all experienced cases where we had to pay extra fees, often levied by private organizations. But if consumers use cryptocurrencies, no extra fees are required for the transaction but a very low processing fee is paid by buyers.

Unlimited Transactions

Often things happen when we need to take out cash from the atm or banks and we get an alert that above a fixed amount we cannot withdraw or transfer in a single transaction or on a single day. In cryptocurrency, consumers do not find any such limitation. Here you can do as much transaction as much you want that is two without limit of a number of transactions on a day.

No Delays in Transfer

Most often it happens that when we transfer money using a traditional bank, which often takes a few days to reach the particular account. But with the cryptocurrency, you will not have to face any such problem. Here the speed of transaction is very very fast as the number of mediators in this transaction is already removed. So not much processing and very quick transaction.

Universal Currency Options

Most of us face the problem of changing the currency and then posting it in the bank account or transfer it to any other international account. Due to different currency, we have to face may barriers here also. But with the use of this cryptocurrency, the is no more like a barrier.

No Bans on Address or Location

When we go to a bank to open an account, the bank asks many documents with us and also take many days to open an account. Herewith cryptocurrency, everything is easy. In the case of cryptocurrency anyone having internet and a device anytime they want. It also doesn’t need a special document to open the account.

Transparent Transactions Every Time

In cryptocurrency, every transaction is passed under the observation of blockchain so everything is clear where and how much cryptocurrency has been used. If you want to keep your identity hidden you can, and if you want to let others know your cryptocurrency address, you can also do that. Both options are available here in the blockchain.

Disadvantages of Cryptocurrency

Even though this cryptocurrency has so many advantages, some of its advantages may prove not good for us and the advantages convert to be disadvantages with no time. Some of them are as follows. 

Money Paid Can’t Be Reversed If Recipient Address is Wrong 

Have you ever gone through the situation that you were paying someone else and actually paid someone else but you were not late enough you did try to revere the process and got your mistake corrected. But it doesn’t happen the same in case of cryptocurrency.

One of the biggest cons of this cryptocurrency is that if once you pay someone either by intention or my mistake you can’t get back your money unless the person whom you transferred the money, transfers it in your account back.

Vulnerable to Hacking and Other Illegal Activities

As we know that cryptocurrency is volatile in nature means it moves from one account to another very fastly, it is always at high risk by the terrorist and other illegal hackers. Since there is no role of the gov in its a transaction, the risk of hacking the account becomes even more.

Still Not Accepted in Many Countries

As we have discussed above that this is the currency that can be transferred without the barrier of conversion of one country currency to another, it makes it not fit to be used in many countries. Many countries have still not accepted the use of cryptocurrency within the country as they don’t find it safe for the country.

Conclusion

As we have seen above that there are many advantages and disadvantages to the cryptocurrency, we should use it wisely and very carefully. If a single step can make your dream come true, the same can go wrong if done without proper thinking. This topic is not so small that it can be covered in just one article. However, I hope this provided you with very basic and important things to know. 

Nowadays, when we play video games on mobile devices or do some online shopping, we earn some points which we can redeem on the next purchase or sometimes we can redeem these points also. Cryptocurrency is also something like this. This is not the actual currency but can do many of the work which a normal currency can do but in a different way.

Crypto Technology: Why Should Businesses Use Cryptocurrency?

Many businesses in the world use cryptocurrency as a means of completing business transactions with both their vendors and customers. Many are yet to understand what cryptocurrencies really are. Worse still, some are yet to the awareness of the existence of cryptocurrencies. What exactly is a cryptocurrency and how does it help businesses?

What is Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency also known as virtual or digital currency are digital coins whose value can be transferred only online from one computer wallet to another. This transaction process is protected by an advanced information security process called cryptography (encryption of cryptocurrencies so they cannot be duplicated).

Cryptocurrencies operate in a decentralized system independent of the control and regulation of governmental financial agencies and banking systems. Most people now use cryptocurrencies as a form of cash, especially when making transactions online.

Why Should Businesses Subscribe to Crypto Usage?

With the rise of cryptocurrencies came numerous risk, as they were the targets of hackers and online thieves due to its unregulated and digital nature. Some of these risks include duplication of cryptocurrencies and the risk of losing for coins if your private key (a set of numbers that verify your identity as the owner of a crypto wallet) is copied by someone or lost. Many of these risks, however, have been eliminated to the barest minimum by a technology called blockchain, making cryptocurrencies highly safe for usage.

With its rapidly growing popularity in the global market, many businesses are faced with the question of whether they should accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment. The answer to this question cannot be a general because your business accepting and using cryptocurrencies as a form of payment is based on your business needs and goals.

Using cryptocurrencies, however, come with its numerous advantages comes with its numerous that you don’t want your business to miss out from. Highlighted below are some of the important reasons why cryptocurrencies would actually be advantageous to your business.

Cost Efficient:

The use of cryptocurrency is actually one very simple and effective way of saving your business transactional costs in the long run. With the arrival of cryptocurrencies, cam the elimination of the cost of using banking and other monetary services like PayPal or Living Without Microsoft in order to perform monetary transactions.

When these banks and financial services process monetary transactions, they incur a lot of chargers which are passed on to the end-users. With cryptocurrencies, these charges are significantly reduced. Because of its decentralized system, it does not require middlemen. It just simply enables owners to transfer money to their recipient account without incurring the amount of charges they would normally have if using other forms of monetary transactions.

Pan-Global Acceptance:

Cryptocurrencies, unlike our normal payments, are now accepted worldwide. Utilizing cryptocurrency as a tool for promoting your business, will save your business the stress of exchange fees and exchange rates. Most especially if your business deals in supplying and purchasing of products and raw materials from other countries. Due to its global nature, it can successfully help you circumvent foreign transactional fees.

Time-Efficient:

Cryptocurrencies have an added advantage when it comes to time. When transferring transactions are processed immediately and completed in a few minutes. With its usage, you no longer have to be frustrated by the long process of identity verification and time spent by banks when they perform monetary transactions. Since waiting is not part of the world’s description of time management, cryptocurrencies time efficiency is definitely a perk you don’t want to miss out on.

Trusted and Secure:

Its transaction is one of the most trusted in and secured financial transactions. You are secured from being sent counterfeited or duplicated coins. This is made possible by the advancement of blockchain technology which regulates and records all transactions made. Once transactions are made, they are recorded in a block which (houses all recent cryptocurrency used), and are linked together to a chain. This prevents you from and chargebacks.

Cryptocurrency transaction is trusted because it requires a confirmation from both the payers and payee before payments are missed. Finally, you don’t have to be scared of losing your coins. Hackers cannot fake your identity because you re kept anonymous.

Autonomy:

With baking institutions and other financial stuff, your autonomy when it comes to your money is reduced. There are many regulations that you have to follow before keeping certain amounts in your account or before performing some transactions beyond some stipulated amount, cryptocurrency, on the other hand, removes this challenge. You have total control of your wallets and can make of any amount you deem fit. You don’t have to go through the stress of verifying your identity. All thanks to its decentralized nature.

Create Investment Opportunities:

The increasing of cryptocurrency price especially bitcoin (which is now at almost $8000 for a crypto coin) provides you with an awesome investment opportunity. This volatile nature of cryptocurrency is best for investors who are seeking very high profits and are willing to take the elevated risks involved. With this opportunity, you can buy a cryptocurrency at a time when the price is reasonably low and expect it to skyrocket so you can sell later in the future

Easy to Use:

If not for any other reason, this should convince you to accept cryptocurrency for your business technology. They are very easy to use and transfer with just a computer and internet access. No need to go through the complex procedures required by banks.

Currency of the Future:

Believe it or not, cryptocurrency is gradually taking over our paper currency. More cryptocurrencies are created every day and people are becoming more familiar with the world of digital currencies. It has also been anticipated by financial experts and cryptocurrencies users alike that cryptocurrency is likely to replace paper money in the nearest future.

Conclusion

Cryptocurrency, since its invention has gone through many phases. But one thing is sure: cryptocurrency has come to stay. They are now accepted generally in the global market. With its popularity, it is important for a business to use cryptocurrency as their payment. This is advisable because cryptocurrency would soon become the world’s “new dollar”.

Crypto Markets: Basics of Bitcoin

You hear about it in almost every street corner. It has now become the new currency and it is probably replacing our bank systems. This leaves most of us bedazzled as to what bitcoin really is. Where did it come from and why has it become so popular? You need the answers to this technology question to decide whether to invest in it.

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a form of digital currency (or cryptocurrency as it is popularly known) which was created in 2009. It is a virtual currency, unlike our paper currencies like the dollar, euro, yen, etc. It is an online cash and its transaction records are stored online by agencies and blockchains.

Bitcoins are rapidly becoming popular with many businesses. Many large retailers around the world have already subscribed to it is usage. In recent times, it has now been accepted globally and is now highly valued. Unlike traditional currencies that are regulated by government authorities like the central bank, bitcoins are independent of these organizations.

Bitcoin is created by many businesses and people through advanced computer technologies that decipher technical mathematical problems. The process is simple. When the computer software successfully figures out these mathematical problems, they reward the bitcoin mines with bitcoins.

History of Bitcoin

Although bitcoin gained popularity recently, it has existed for a long time. In 2008, an anonymous group under the pseudo name of Santoshi Nakamoto published a white paper titled ‘A peer to peer electronic cash system’ proposing that bitcoin should be used for business.

In 2009, it was made available for public use and blockchain started recording and verifying mining processes (processes through which new bitcoins are made) as well as transactions made with bitcoins. It was the year 2010 that bitcoin was assigned value as people started making attempts to trade with them. With time, its value rose to over $1000 per bitcoin. However, in 2013 its price plunged drastically to approximately to $3000. It gradually rose with time till it became about $8000 as of today.

Crypto: Commodity or Currency?

Due to its nature, many are confused as to whether bitcoin is a currency or commodity. In 2015, bitcoin was classified as a commodity by the CFTC (Commodity Future Trading Commission). A body tasked with regulating commodities in the US and like other cryptocurrencies, they have been considered to be commodity under the exchange act. Also, they are considered as currencies because they fit properly into some of the description of currencies in the following ways:

  • Bitcoin circulates as a medium of exchange
  • Bitcoin is generally accepted and have gained prevalence
  • Bitcoin is used as a form of barter trade

In general, bitcoin can be said to be both a commodity and a currency; just like many commodities that have served a similar purpose in the course of history like diamonds, gold, and salt.

How was Bitcoin Created?

Bitcoins are created through a painstaking process called mining. This is done with is the use of specialized computers to solve a complex computational problem; so as to process and record all bitcoins or transactions. When done successfully, bitcoins are awarded to the computer which is for the owner to keep. The mathematical process becomes more complex to unravel as the days go by.

Why was Bitcoin Created?

Like many other things in life, bitcoin has a reason for its emergence. It was not just stumbled upon by a group of people who thought “hey, we could make a nice form of currency”. The emergence of bitcoin was purposeful and well thought of. According to the crypto experts, Santoshi Nakamoto (anonymous pseudonym), had the following goals:

  • Remove third-party intermediaries that are needed for conducting online monetary transactions. The cost of these services requires lots of money which is then passed on to the end-users.
  • Eliminate the financial limitation of transferring money online. There are certain limitations on the amount of money a person can transfer per day. With bitcoin, such limitations are eliminated.
  • Create a decentralized monetary system whereby money is sent from peer to peer without any regulatory third-party. Since bitcoin is not owned by anyone, it is controlled by all bitcoin users in the world, this goal was achieved.

How is Bitcoin Different from Fiat Currencies?

Bitcoin as we have discussed earlier is a decentralized peer to peer monetary system. This makes it stand out from the traditional paper currency. Other ways in which bitcoin is different include:

  • Bitcoin is not regulated by a central government financial institution like the central bank or other banks for that matter.
  • Bitcoin’s transfer process is easier, faster and does not incur charges which are placed on end-users.
  • Bitcoin doesn’t flow through the banking system but from one company to another.
  • Bitcoin’s decentralization makes it widely accepted throughout the globe.
  • Bitcoin’s anonymous users can transfer and receive bitcoin without personal information required.

How Does Bitcoin Work?

Since bitcoin is not managed by a regulatory system but by people who process transactions called miners. The next question that originally comes to mind is ‘how does it work?’. All bitcoin transactions are recorded in a public log called blockchain (a list of blocks that are fused using cryptography which is a method for solving codes

Bitcoin miners ensure that all bitcoin transactions are legit and documented by cataloging all bitcoin transactions within a time frame into a block and fused with a sophisticated cryptography. This process makes it impossible for an owner to send the same bitcoin twice

How to Get Bitcoins?

You can get bitcoins through the following ways:

  • Buying Bitcoin with real cash
  • Receiving Bitcoin as a means of payment
  • Finding Bitcoin through the process of bitcoin mining

Crypto Markets: Security and Privacy

Bitcoins are to some extent relatively secure as it will be almost impossible for someone to steal your bitcoins by faking your identity. This is because when you create your bitcoin wallet, you are given two keys, a public key, and a private key.

Public keys are used for transactions, especially when bitcoins are being transferred to you. Private keys are a set of numbers that must be closely guarded, this is because it is your identity. Without these set of numbers, it will be impossible to get access to one’s bitcoins. However, in the circumstance when your private keys come into the knowledge another, your bitcoins can be stolen. Also in technical sense, your identity cannot be faked, because your personal information is not a requirement to complete a bitcoin transaction.

Conclusion

Bitcoins are rapidly becoming a global currency accepted in various countries around the world. It has made monetary transaction easier and still has more prospects in the future.

Financial Technology: The Future of Cryptocurrency

With the advent of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, cryptocurrency is gradually becoming “the new cash”. Many transactions are now being made easy, hassle-free, and cost-effective. As they gradually penetrate the global economic system many are concerned about its future.

What is Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is a digital (virtual) currency that is encrypted through a complex method called cryptography, which serves as its security. Hence it is difficult for it to be duplicated or counterfeited. Cryptocurrencies are not regulated by financial authorities such as The Central Bank. It is rather a decentralized monetary system, whose control and regulation is effected through blockchain technology.

Due to its decentralized system, cryptocurrencies are immune to the influences and manipulation of government (they cannot control its circulation and production). Bitcoin emerged as the first known blockchain cryptocurrency, gaining fame globally. With time, however, others emerged some of which are Ethereum (ETH), Dash (DASH), Z-cash (ZEC), Litecoin (LTC) among others.

Cryptocurrency History

Although cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoins appeared recently, the idea of cryptocurrencies very certainly not a recent one. Various cryptocurrencies such as Electronic Cash and B- money were developed, but they had a major obstacle which impeded their progress, this is singular issue was; how to avoid the double-spending problem i.e. the using of a cryptocurrency twice. There was a need to prevent it from being duplicated and counterfeited.

In the early 2000’s, however, the first breakthrough seemed to have occurred with regards to this problem, because the first popular decentralized currency surfaced. The breakthrough came by way of the very popular Bitcoin, in precisely the year 2009, packing features which resolved the prior issues former cryptocurrencies faced. Bitcoin has a very secure system known as the blockchain technology which prevents it from being duplicated or used twice. The emergence of other cryptocurrencies hereafter followed one of which is the Litecoin(LTC) which was released in the year 2011.

What Does the Future Hold for Cryptocurrencies?

The decentralized and encrypted nature of cryptocurrency has made a rapidly growing and very recognized means of payment globally. However, one basic feature of the cryptocurrency, its finite supply, has caused a growing concern among many about its future. Many express optimism about its future prospects while others are pessimistic about it. Many counties such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australian have accepted the use of the cryptocurrency, many are hopeful to the possibility of the currency gaining acceptance and usage in more countries of the world.

Popular Optimistic Predictions

A number of predictions have been made with regards to the future of the cryptocurrency some gaining popularity.

Lori Beer, J.P. Morgan Chase CIO 

Blockchain will replace the existing technology.

Kim Dotcom – Advises his fans to buy cryptocurrency:

Dollars are gradually becoming worthless.

Jeff Sprecher, CEO of NYSE (world’s largest stock exchange):

Cryptocurrency is the first worldwide currency.  

Pessimistic Statements

Other than the positive prospects cryptocurrency has for the future, people are still skeptical about it. A notable expression of pessimism was relayed through the person of Vitalik Buterin, the creator of Ethereum (the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency):

The Blockchain industry is about to hit the ceiling, there is no room for growth.

The Future of Cryptocurrency Looks Bright

Global Usage:

The traditional means of payment, i.e. paper currency, though still largely used by people all over the world, there is a prevalent belief that people will switch over to the cryptocurrency in the future, especially businesses, because with this they can evade middlemen costs from various businesses. This, in turn, will make services cheaper for end users. All these they believe will happen whether people are aware of it or not.

Government Agencies:

In the future, with the availability and security of the blockchain, the government will adopt cryptocurrencies for the management of their states, because, in the future, cryptocurrency will manage the cash flow in the country.

Exchange Trading:

More currencies are emerging and in the future more will still come and their prices will rise. Many would start trading in different cryptocurrencies.

When the prices of other cryptocurrencies like Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Stellar rise, they will have massive influence in cryptocurrency exchange and crypto world.

Financial Industry / Banking:

Since the cryptocurrency is rapidly growing and making business transactions, banking and other financial industries may experience hindrances in their operations, hence to avoid this, bank will have to accept cryptocurrencies to stay relevant and when this happens, cryptocurrency currency bank accounts will be available and people can open them instead of computer wallets.

Cryptocurrencies would gain wide usage such that debit cards would be made available to facilitate transactions. Generally, this optimistic believe that in the future, cryptocurrency will replace fiat currency and the world evolve to a point of cashless transactions.

What’s Happening Now?

Though many predictions have been made some engendering hope and others while professing the arrival of subsequent doomsday, we have to observe the happening around us with regards to the cryptocurrencies.

Many industries are presently adopting and promoting the usage of cryptocurrencies, some of which are:

  • IBM, Barclay, CLS partnered to form ledger connect to launch blockchain apps for usage in banks.
  • Iran announced to make crypto mining industry.
  • Cyclean, a blockchain company based in Singapore, is launching blockchain-enabled electric vehicles that will mine crypto as people travel.
  • New York medical school founded and launched a research center focused on how to apply blockchain in healthcare.
  • Kaliningrad, Russia, now offers cryptocurrency as a means of hostel room payment.
  • Major Cineplex, a big movie theatre in Thailand, is integrating payment in crypto, to allow customers to pay with cryptocurrencies.

Conclusion

Although pessimists have given their takes, we can see from the predictions and cases that cryptocurrencies definitely have a bright future ahead of it. With the rapid and constant growth of the blockchain industry (the engine of the cryptocurrency), trends suggest that cryptocurrency will be the new money of the future. That future is gradually coming to play as more and more people and businesses are now subscribing to cryptocurrency for their everyday transactions.