What is Cryptocurrency? Pros & Cons explained

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency in which transactions are verified with records maintained by a decentralized system.

using cryptography, rather than a centralized authority like a bank. Cryptocurrency is also a form of payment that can be exchanged online for goods and services. Many companies and brands have issued their own currencies, often called tokens, and these can be traded specifically for the goods or services that the company or brand provides. Cryptocurrencies work using a technology called blockchain.

What are the benefits of investing in crypto?

โ€ข Easy transactions
โ€ข Massive returns
โ€ข Access to a wide range of investment opportunities
โ€ข Direct control over investments
โ€ข Inflation hedge
โ€ข Cross-border payments
โ€ข 24/7 markets

These are the TOP reasons
people invest in cryptocurrency

โ€ข Massive returns

โ€ข Cross-border payments

โ€ข Direct control over investments

โ€ข 24/7 markets

top reasons other people avoiding cryptocurrency

  1. Volatility. The value of national fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar fluctuates slightly. The โ€ฆ
  2. No rewards. Consumers use credit cards, in part, to earn cash-back and point-based โ€ฆ
  3. No consumer protection. Chargebacks are expensive and time-consuming for merchants. โ€ฆ
  4. Not universal. Cash is universal. Credit and debit cards are universal. Cryptocurrency is not.

Cryptocurrency history

In 1983, Americanย cryptographerย David Chaumย conceived of a type of cryptographicย electronic moneyย calledย ecash.[15][16]ย Later, in 1995, he implemented it throughย Digicash,[17]ย an early form of cryptographic electronic payments. Digicash required user software in order to withdraw notes from a bank and designate specific encrypted keys before it can be sent to a recipient. This allowed the digital currency to be untraceable by a third party.

In 1996, theย National Security Agencyย published a paper entitledย How to Make a Mint: The Cryptography of Anonymous Electronic Cash, describing a cryptocurrency system. The paper was first published in anย MITย mailing list[18]ย and later in 1997 inย The American Law Review.[19]

In the 1997 bookย The Sovereign Individual, the authors,ย William Rees-Moggย andย James Dale Davidson, predict that the currency used in theย information ageย would be using โ€œmathematical algorithms that have no physical existenceโ€,[20]ย which has led some in the cryptocurrency community to call the bookโ€™s claim a โ€œprophecyโ€.[21]

In 1998,ย Wei Daiย described โ€œb-moneyโ€, an anonymous, distributed electronic cash system.[22]ย Shortly thereafter,ย Nick Szaboย describedย bit gold.[23]ย Likeย Bitcoinย and other cryptocurrencies that would follow it, bit gold (not to be confused with the later gold-based exchange BitGold) was described as an electronic currency system which required users to complete aย proof of workย function with solutions being cryptographically put together and published.

In January 2009, Bitcoin was created byย pseudonymousย developerย Satoshi Nakamoto. It usedย SHA-256, a cryptographic hash function, in itsย proof-of-workย scheme.[24][25]ย In April 2011,ย Name coinย was created as an attempt at forming a decentralizedย DNS. In October 2011,ย Litecoinย was released which usedย scriptย as its hash function instead of SHA-256.ย Peercoin, created in August 2012, used a hybrid of proof-of-work andย proof-of-stake.[26]

On 6 August 2014, the UK announced itsย Treasuryย had commissioned a study of cryptocurrencies, and what role, if any, they could play in the UK economy. The study was also to report on whether regulation should be considered.[27]ย Its final report was published in 2018,[28]ย and it issued a consultation on crypto assets andย stable coinsย in January 2021.[29]

In June 2021,ย El Salvadorย became the first country to accept Bitcoin asย legal tender, after theย Legislative Assemblyย had voted 62โ€“22 to pass a bill submitted by Presidentย Nayib Bukeleย classifying the cryptocurrency as such.[30]

In August 2021,ย Cubaย followed with Resolution 215 to recognize and regulate cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.[31]

In September 2021, theย government of China, the single largest market for cryptocurrency, declared all cryptocurrency transactions illegal. This completed a crackdown on cryptocurrency that had previously banned the operation of intermediaries and miners within China.

cryptocurrency purpose

The primary purpose of cryptocurrency is toย overcome the prevalent issues with traditional currenciesย by giving the control back over to the currency holders as opposed to a monetary authority. Cryptocurrency decentralizes money by not requiring centralized arbitrators, like banks, that oversee transactions.

Why Cryptocurrency Is a Good Investment?

High growth potential. Cryptocurrencies generate higher potential returns than other asset Legitimate asset class. Digital currencies are no longer a novelty or a niche Portfolio diversifier. There is a common saying among investors โ€“ donโ€™t put all the eggs into one basket Hedge against inflation Highly liquid market

Conclusion

Portfolio diversifier. There is a common saying among investors โ€“ donโ€™t put all the eggs into one basket, that means invest what you can afford to lose.