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SEC vs Crypto: Major Legal Battles That Shaped the Industry

The clash between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the cryptocurrency industry has defined much of the regulatory landscape for digital assets. For over a decade, the SEC has argued that many crypto projects are skirting securities laws, while the crypto industry claims outdated rules unfairly target it. The result has been a series of legal showdowns that have shaped how crypto is regulated, built, and traded in the U.S. An Orlando lawyer with experience in securities and fintech law may closely watch these developments as the outcomes continue to impact compliance strategies nationwide.

The DAO Report (2017): The Starting Gun

Before the courts got involved, the SEC issued a landmark report 2017 on an Ethereum-based project called The DAO. This decentralized venture capital fund raised $150 million in ether. The SEC didn’t file a lawsuit, but the report was a clear warning: digital tokens that behave like investment contracts could be treated as securities.

The agency leaned on the Howey Test—a legal standard from a 1946 Supreme Court case—to determine whether something qualifies as a security. According to the test, if people invest money in a common enterprise expecting profits from the efforts of others, it’s a security. The SEC concluded that the DAO tokens met those criteria. This report set the tone for years of enforcement.

SEC v. Kik Interactive (2020): First Major Win

Kik, the company behind a popular messaging app, raised $100 million in 2017 by selling its Kin tokens. 2019, the SEC sued, arguing that the sale was an unregistered securities offering. Kik claimed Kin was a currency, not a security.

In 2020, the court sided with the SEC. It found that Kik’s public token sale and marketing of the tokens fit the Howey Test. This case gave the SEC confidence to pursue similar cases and signalled to startups that token launches carried legal risks.

SEC v. Ripple Labs (2020–2023): A Partial Blow

Ripple’s case has been one of the most closely watched in crypto history. In December 2020, the SEC sued Ripple for selling XRP as an unregistered security. In 2023, the court ruled that Ripple broke the law in sales to institutional investors but not to retail buyers on exchanges. The main issue was whether buyers expected profits from Ripple’s efforts.

This nuanced decision undermined the SEC’s broad stance that most tokens are securities. While the case didn’t fully exonerate Ripple, it showed that context matters—and not every token sale fits neatly into the Howey framework.

SEC v. LBRY (2021–2023): A Loss for Crypto

LBRY, a decentralized content platform, was sued for selling its LBC tokens without registering them. In 2022, a judge ruled that LBRY violated securities laws—even though it didn’t hold a formal token sale. The court noted that the company used token sales to fund operations, and buyers reasonably expected profit.

This decision was a setback for crypto. Unlike the Ripple ruling, it didn’t carve out exceptions for retail sales. LBRY ultimately shut down in 2023 after losing its appeal.

SEC v. Coinbase and Binance (2023–ongoing): The Big Guns

In mid-2023, the SEC sued Coinbase and Binance, the world’s two largest crypto exchanges. The agency accused both of operating unregistered securities exchanges and offering tokens that qualify as securities.

These cases aim to answer a bigger question: Do secondary market trades of crypto tokens fall under SEC oversight? If the SEC wins, it could force exchanges to delist dozens of tokens or register as securities platforms—an expensive and uncertain process. So far, both companies are fighting back in court, and no final rulings have been issued. However, the cases are expected to set a precedent.

Beyond the Courts: Regulatory Gridlock

One major issue is that the U.S. still doesn’t have clear legislation defining how crypto should be regulated. The SEC has taken the lead through enforcement, while the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) claims authority over crypto commodities like bitcoin.

Congress has introduced several crypto bills, but none have passed into law. This leaves startups and investors guessing what’s allowed and what isn’t. Until a legislative framework is established, the SEC will likely continue regulating through litigation.

The SEC’s battles with the crypto industry have clarified some legal boundaries but left others murky. The courts have shown they’re willing to challenge the SEC’s broad interpretations, but they’ve also upheld the agency’s authority in key areas.

What’s clear is that the crypto industry can’t operate in a legal vacuum. Whether through Congress or the courts, clear rules are coming—eventually. For now, the SEC remains a powerful force, shaping the crypto space one lawsuit at a time.

Posted by Laney Seward in Cryptocurrency

How Cashing Out Small Payments Enhances Cryptocurrency Liquidity in Korea

People using mobile payment systems on a busy Korean street, integrating digital finance.

Cashing out small payments (소액결제 현금화) has emerged as a significant component of the evolving financial landscape in Korea, particularly within the cryptocurrency sector. The process entails converting mobile payments like T-Money or online game credits into cash through various services.

Such transactions have become vital in increasing the liquidity of cryptocurrencies within the region and advancing the digital economy in Korea.

Cashing Out Small Payments

Cashing out small payments is an even more refined practice of converting minor digital payments into cash or converting them into crypto assets. Mobile payments through smartphones, like those for gaming and purchasing items at convenience stores, are quite popular in Korea.

With the emergence of mobile-first apps and services, many users find themselves with low balances stuck in their digital wallets and try to make such balances usable readily.

This phenomenon is not only about offering convenience but rather about meeting society’s growing demand for liquidity in a digital economy. When small payments, like rewards, are cashed out into more liquid forms, be it cash or crypto, it greatly empowers users, especially those ostracized from the traditional banking system.

Subsequently, the country adopting blockchain and digital currencies is providing better overall liquidity to the cryptocurrency market.

The Importance of Cryptocurrency Liquidity

Liquidity is defined as the ease with which an asset such as cryptocurrency can be purchased or sold without substantially changing its market price. The liquidity of digital currencies is very important as it ensures smoother transactions, reduces price volatility, and makes digital assets attractive to investors.

With high rates of cryptocurrency adoption, Korea records high trading volumes of digital currencies. The ability to cash out crypto rewards provides more supply and demand, improving the overall liquidity of the market.

When individuals convert small payments into crypto assets, they are driving up the demand for the currencies while simultaneously enhancing their liquidity.

 

ALSO READ: 6 Ways Finance 48 Helps Crypto Investors Fund Their Portfolio

 

How Cashing Out Small Payments Benefits Crypto Markets

The practice of cashing out small payments enhances the liquidity of cryptocurrencies by expanding their user base. A good number of Koreans engage in small transactions, such as those made through mobile payments and online gaming rewards, which ease their onboarding into the crypto ecosystem.

For instance, a user can transform a small value into Bitcoin or Ethereum, which will then be traded within the broader crypto marketplace.

Also, mobile payment providers and exchanges are starting to implement methods for turning these small balances into crypto with relative ease. This improves the overall user experience and caters to the growing number of participants in the market.

Consequently, the increased exposure helps improve the liquidity and accessibility of cryptocurrencies.

The Future of Cashing Out Small Payments in Korea

In terms of the prospects of cashing out small payments, this will most probably change further with advances in payment technologies and with the increasing adoption of crypto into traditional finance systems.

With the advancement of mobile payment providers and crypto exchanges, there are better and more secure mechanisms for users to turn small balances into crypto, further enhancing liquidity.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the practice of cashing out small payments boosts the liquidity of cryptocurrency in Korea. Facilitating lower thresholds of exchange of digital balances to either cash or cryptocurrency aids in supporting the accessibility to wider crypto adoption as well as fluidity in the market.

The effect of cashing out small payments on liquidity will continue to impact the evolution of finance as mobile-first services integrate with crypto platforms more deeply.

Posted by Jacki Feliks in Cryptocurrency

6 Ways Finance 48 Helps Crypto Investors Fund Their Portfolio

Three professionals discuss crypto funding options around a laptop in modern office.

Investing in crypto can be highly profitable while also being exceedingly dangerous, and many investors are trying to look for methods on how they can diversify their portfolios.

The development of blockchain technology coupled with digital currencies has opened several doors to growth for portfolios.

Nevertheless, meeting the target of a high level of capital liquidity while having a trustworthy partner is a key requirement for funding a crypto portfolio, which is a difficult task.

Finance 48 is a business that has focused its means on enabling investment in cryptocurrency by providing timely solutions in financing in Australia.

This article will discuss six crucial areas in which Finance 48 assists cryptocurrency investors in financing their portfolios.

1. Accelerated Capital Deployment

A major pain point for people working in the crypto world is raising capital for investment in the stipulated time. This enables investors to buy additional digital assets or even expedite strategies to invest in other industries.

The most important aspect of the entire process is the timing. Finance 48 offers rapid loans, which allow the investors to seize new incredible opportunities for investing with no delay.

The entire application process has been enhanced and now enables us to approve requests much quicker than previously, allowing us to invest in our favourite crypto prospects much quicker.

2. Custom Loan Offerings

At Finance 48, it is believed that each and every investor has varying needs and requirements.

If it is a single crypto project you are looking to fund or if it is an overall portfolio expansion that you require, the Finance 48 group will ensure you receive custom loan package offers.

The collaborative approach demonstrated with clients aids in devising tailored financing strategies for crypto investors seeking funds for their investment objectives.

3. Rate Competitiveness

Interest rates are among the greatest factors that can influence the overall cost of a loan. If you like diversity as an investor, it is provided to you since Finance 48 has a number of lenders offering various rates.

This translates to more flexible repayment terms and enhanced overall portfolio growth opportunities.

 

ALSO READ: 6 Ways the Crypto Industry Is Fueling the Growth of AI-Powered Trading

 

4. Restructuring A Loan With Different Terms

Existing debts or other commitments seldom come as a barrier with crypto investors, and as a solution to this, Finance 48 presents refinancing opportunities for their clients.

It allows them to restructure their debts or merge all their obligations together and rearranges the rates, freeing up the funds to focus on boosting their crypto portfolios.

5. Access To Vehicles And Equipment Financing

Apart from cryptocurrency, many crypto investors also have a keen interest in vehicles and equipment, which can serve as collateral for further investments.

Finance 48 assists in obtaining loans against such assets, giving an important additional tool to those crypto investors who wish to expand their portfolios by utilizing their available assets further.

6. All-Inclusive Finances

Besides loans, Finance 48 also assists in getting other forms of funding for businesses as well as personal reasons.

Also, they assist in getting business loans or buying property, which is very helpful for crypto-based investors as they are able to control their finances rather well, enabling them to concentrate on the investment.

Conclusion

Due to the nature of crypto assets, investors encounter financing challenges that make it difficult for them to grow a portfolio, but Finance 48, availing the necessary tools, makes the entire procedure quite simple.

Be it the fast loans, custom solutions, or competitive rates, Finance 48 enables crypto investors to have the right amount of capital needed to broaden their portfolios with assurance and efficiency.

Posted by Jacki Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Brokerage Firm Bernstein Says Research Indicates Listed BTC Miners Have Greater Advantage

Bernstein, the Private Wealth Management Unit of brokerage firm Bernstein Alliance LP, reports that SEC and CFTC listed bitcoin (BTC) miners have greater advantage over unlisted miners. Bernstein explained that it is so because unlike private firms and unlisted entities trading elsewhere, publicly listed firms have easier access to financial options and funding offers.
Logo image SECBy the way, while the SEC stands for Securities and Exchange Commission, CFTC stands for Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

What Bernstein Analysts are Saying as the Current Trend in the Capital Markets

According to Gautam Chhugani, Senior Analyst and Managing Director of the Global Digital Assets Unit at Bernstein, having the capability to raise debt/equity in the deep capital markets where the highest volumes of trades take place, gives listed BTC miners a natural advantage over non-listed U.S. miners. Such capability is important particularly in a capital intensive industry that is facing a market that shows range bound price activity only. It’s a condition also known as market consolidation, in which a long-term trend is neither continuous nor countering.

bitcoin crypto minerThe Bernstein report further mentioned that the cryptocurrency mining industry is currently divided into companies dedicated to bitcoin mining while some are shifting into becoming artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. While Bernstein’s analysts say that both are viable business opportunities, consolidation is becoming a popular theme since scale matters.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Investments

As Crypto Market Value Surges Back to 2 Trillion, US Congress Crypto Bill Moves Forward

various cryptocurrenciesThe recent continuous increase of cryptocurrency prices had pushed the crypto market value back to $2 trillion with Bitcoin and Ether still in the lead. The price surges are being attributed to the inflows coming from new spot bitcoin Exchange-Traded-Funds (ETFs).

What Exactly are Spot Bitcoin ETFsbtc Bitcoin Exchange-Traded-Funds

Inasmuch as the surge in prices of BTC is attributed to the large amount of money infused in new Spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded-Funds (ETFs), the proposed bill defines whether crypto money is to be treated as a security or an investment commodity.

The crypto market describes a spot bitcoin ETF as an actual amount of cryptocurrencies held as an investment fund, of which the value directly follows the current bitcoin prices. It stands in contrast to future-based exchange traded funds that base their value on contracts speculating the future price of the BTC.

House Committee Moves Forward with Proposed Cryptocurrency Bill

Lawmakers and traditional financial institutions like banks are pushing for legislations that clearly prescribe the regulatory guidelines that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) will follow in regulating the crypto industry. Actually, the House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee recently deliberated and approved a bill that establishes the conditions that would define crypto money as a security or investment commodity.

The bill outlines the extent of the oversight and regulatory responsibilities of the CFTC, while also clarifying the official power of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the crypto industry. The clarification is considered important by the digital currency industry as many crypto advocates are complaining of the SEC’s tendency to overreach its jurisdiction.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency, Investments

Lawsuit Loans : Understanding the Importance of Legal Funding Companies

personal injury lawsuitLawsuit loan companies or legal funding companies are in the business of offering pre settlement money to legal claimants of personal injury lawsuits. Court proceedings could drag on while the plaintiff is already running out of funds, since he still has to recover from his injury.
That is why accepting a pre settlement offer as an alternative to waiting for the court’s decision is a practical solution to imminent financial problems.

What Exactly are Lawsuit Loans?

A Lawsuit Loan is also called a pre settlement funding, provided as an advance payment of the expected proceeds of the personal injury lawsuit claim. Basically, the legal funding company will be repaid with interest, but only if the lawsuit will yield compensatory damages in favor of the plaintiff.
Otherwise, if the outcome of the personal injury lawsuit is not favorable and did not award the compensatory damages being claimed by the plaintiff, the legal funding company cannot demand payment of the lawsuit loan from the plaintiff.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Lawsuit Loan Company

Choosing a legal funding company is of utmost importance as there are certain conditions and aspects of the loan that must be stated clearly.
factors determining a lawsuitUnderstand that compensatory damages are awarded by a civil court if it has been proven without doubt that the plaintiff suffered losses as results of the unlawful action, misconduct or negligence of another party. The money awarded will be the source of funds that will be used by the plaintiff to repay the lawsuit loan or pre settlement funding.
However, if the court’s decision over the personal injury lawsuit did not result in the awarding of compensatory damages, the lawsuit loan company cannot demand payment from the plaintiff. Moreover, when choosing a lawsuit loan provider the following factors and conditions must be taken into consideration:
Determine whether the lawsuit funding company charges interests or collects a flat fee on the type of lawsuit loan granted.
If the company collects interests, determine if the rate stated is on a per annum or semi-annual basis. That way, a consumer will not be misled by a seemingly low interest rate; 17.5% semi-annual rate is equivalent to 35% per annum.
Also, make sure the lawsuit loan company does not compound the interest collected. Compounding denotes calculating and collecting interest on an interest-bearing base amount.
Consider the swiftness by which a lawsuit loan or pre settlement funding is provided for the plaintiff’s immediate use.
Also, consider the lawsuit loan company’s openness in working with one’s lawyer in clarifying the terms and conditions of the lawsuit loan. While there is pre settltement risk present in the granting of the lawsuit loan, the company must not pass on the fungible cost of such risks to their customers.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Finance

Financial Concepts For Towing Business

Where do you start when you want to navigate the technicalities of running a business financially?

As a startup entrepreneur, you need to constantly monitor the financial health of your business. In addition, you will most likely interact with banks and lenders, investors, or other business partners. In all these cases, financial vocabulary is very important for Towing San Jose entrepreneurs.

The most common financial concepts for towing entrepreneurs

Cash flow

This is part of financial planning and is one of the basic elements of a successful business. It shows, over a period of time, all the cycles of your business, i.e. the high and low points, when cash comes into the business, and when it goes out.

Turnover

This is the number of sales of products/services in a certain period. Constantly monitored, it helps you have a better understanding of the evolution in relation to other similar companies on the market, growth over time, etc.

Operating profit

It is the profit the company makes from its core activity. It is calculated by subtracting the total expenses from the total revenues of a company without taking into account taxes, fees, etc.

Gross margin

This is the percentage of the company’s turnover, after deducting the cost of production or acquisition of the goods and services sold.

Debt ratio

This is the comparison between equity, money available to the entrepreneur or obtained from investors in exchange for a stake in the company, and liabilities.

towing san jose

Capital expenditure or investments

For example, if you buy a high-performance laptop or renovate your premises to make them more attractive to customers, you are recording expenses now that will create benefits for the business in the future.

Degree of concentration

This is an indicator usually expressed as a percentage that measures what percentage of business you do with a particular customer or supplier.

Principles of financial management

The golden rule in business is not to mix personal money and business accounts. This rule allows you to protect your savings and also see if the business is one that brings you profits or the opposite. But most importantly, you won’t get into trouble with the tax authorities and you won’t be sued.

This rule also applies when you use personal things for business purposes. It’s important to keep track of them. Most small business owners use their personal car to get to all kinds of meetings, but also to do many other things. Don’t forget to consult with your accountant and determine together which expenses are deductible, so you can share the cost of car maintenance. The same goes for your mobile phone or other goods.

Posted by Ned Queen in Finance

Bitcoin Investors Continue to Get Anxious as Prices Drop Below $30K

Since Bitcoin prices started slipping down from its highest of $68,000 in November 2021, the past week saw a price drop of $26,000, the lowest seen in the past 16 months. Today, May 18, BTC price closed at $28,947.21 USD after yesterday’s closing price of $29,716. Although Bitcoin trading in May 04 saw a surge in BTC price that ended with a $40K value, this all the more saw more BTCs being sold in the cryptocurrency market.

Factors Triggering BTC’s Increase Volatility

Cryptocurrency experts are saying the increased volatility in Bitcoin prices is a result of several factors, namely: price inflation, the geopolitical crisis in Europe, particularly Russia’s Ukraine invasion and anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s stricter monetary policy and government plans of regulating the US cryptocurrency industry.

Hope Springs Eternal for BTC Prices to Rise Again

Yet many believe the price will stabilize once BTC owners decide to hold on to their digital asset and wait for the turn around to happen. Hope springs eternal as far as BTCs are concerned since experts believe it’s just a question of when the trun around will happen. The expectation is that BTC prices can even soar to up to $100,000 apiece.

The greatest influencing factor is the Russian Ukraine conflict, which according to Bone Fide Wealth found and certified financial planner Doug Boneparth brings a tremendous degree of volatility regardless of the asset class in question. However, the volatility of the market conditions makes it difficult for investors to hold on to their investing strategies.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

New Developments Transpire in US Cryptocurrency Market as Price Continues to Plummet

The slump that the cryptocurrency market has been experiencing since last week is regarded as being the worst plunge in months. Bitcoin (BTC) plummeted to $34,000 while Ethereum (ETH) sunk below $2,200. The huge price drop came after the Federal Reserve’s report on a possible government-issued digital currency. This was during the middle of the stock market’s worst week for almost two years. According to the CoinMarketCap statistics, crypto market cap went below $2 trillion between the sell-off.

The great news though came this Monday, although it wasn’t until Wednesday that the delayed recovery effect was felt. investors placed $14 million into crypto funds but mainly to take advantage of the price dip. According to the report, the inflows last week mostly went to Bitcoin-focused accounts totalling USD 13.8 million.

US Government to Issue Its Own Digital Currency

The Biden government announced plans of issuing its own U.S digital currency and has taken the first step to determine the potential impact of such plan. The Federal Reserve is asking the opinion of citizens on the possible release of a digital dollar, tentatively called the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

Apparently the US Central Bank will issue and support the digitalized cash. Actually, if this pushes through, the U.S. will simply follow suit to China and Sweden, the firsts to experiment the adoption of cryptocurrencies

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Robinhood Poised to Add Crypto Wallet to Its Stock Trading App

Popular provider of stock trading app Robinhood recently announced intentions of delving further into cryptocurrencies, by offering crypto wallets to app users. The new feature won’t be officially released until next year as the feature will be up for beta testing by next month.

During the testing stage, shortlisted Robinhood app users for will have the capability to send, receive, and trade crypto tokens by using the app’s crypto wallet. Apparently, the feature has been highly requested by users as around 60% of their users bought cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Dogecoin during the past quarter, However, Robinhood customers who do so, have been unable to send and/or trade their crypto assets elsewhere.

Robinhood’s COO Christine Brown expounded that they have developed an app feature that customers participating in cryptocurrency transactions have been requesting for quite some time. Giving in to the clamor will actually open up opportunities for Robinhood to take part in the crypto space, allowing the stock trading app to compete against leading crypto exchange site Coinbase.

Is the Forthcoming Robinhood Feature Free?

The Robinhood crypto wallet will be free as the company wants to make it easy and affordable for their users to take part in the crypto market, using a crypto wallet that works similarly to the one offered by Coinbase.

However, users should take note that they will still be required to pay related fees for any cryptocurrency transactions made using the app, including transfers of digital assets to the crypto wallet.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin and Altcoins Prices Continue to Fall

The prices of bitcoin and ethereum continue to drop as investors give in to fears of another global economic slump caused by the quick-spreading delta variant. Although vaccines have become available, the newest COVID-19 variant appears to be much stronger than the original coronavirus strain. Moreover, most countries including the U.S. are faced with anti-vaxxers who remain vulnerable to risks of contracting and spreading the new variant that originated in India.

At present the current investing is centered on government-backed treasure bonds that financial analysts believe are the safest gambling products.

Last Thursday at around 4:00 a.m. EST, bitcoin price dropped below $32,500; but was able to slowly gain ground, which led to a current trading price of 33,316. The problem though is that with cryptocurrency trading, drops in bitcoin prices usually affect the prices of altcoins. The price of ethereum for one, has sunk and is currently trading at $2150, a price that is 8.7% when compared to the previous price index for ether.

Since May, BTC prices began to take a downward trend coming from an all time-high of $65,000 achieved in April. Some traders had hoped that the price falls were temporary and that a turnabout will eventually take place. However, others are saying that BTC prices will sink to $20,000, before institutional investors resume with their buying activities.

CNBC’s Squawk Box Interview with Galaxy CEO Links the Price Drops to China

Mike Novogratz , the CEO of Galaxy Digital who appeared as Squawk Box guest las Thursday said the BTC price drops are results of China’s war against cryptocurrencies. BTC investors in China have been selling off their digital assets, while U.S. investors are buying them. According to Novogratz, China’s crackdown on entities involved in crypto exchanges in China is all part of the “cold war” being waged against the U.S.

On Tuesday last week, another China-based company suspected of rendering software as a service for entities facilitating digital currency transactions, was shut down by China’s central bank. Shut down orders have been regularly taking place in connection with the country’s existing ban against the local cryptocurrency industry.

The price-backslides in bitcoin markets, were triggered by the state of emerg ency declared by Japan. As had been anticipated, the country’s COVID-19 cases spiked after officials of the country insisted on holding the Tokyo Olympic games. As a result trading on equity markets went on a decline, as news of Japan’s emergency declaration sowed fears of another global economic catastrophe.

Posted by Madelina Feliks

SEC Docs Reveal Coinbase and Bakkt Behind Hedge-Fund Tycoon’s Bitcoin Venture

US SEC docs revealed billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones’ source of bitcoin assets are the top cryptocurrency trading houses Coinbase and Bakkt, Tudor Jones is one of the early Waĺl Street adopters of bitcoins as hedge fund investment, which he announced in May 2020. He said he invested 1% of his assets in the digital coin as he saw the potential of BTC futures as an inflation hedge against the pending “great monetary inflation” of a resulting economic fallout caused by the global pandemic.

Tudor Jones’ announcement of his bitcoin investment created the right effect. Many other Wall Street investors took his advice by investing in bitcoin futures, while the demand for BTC trended, BTC trading prices soared at record-breaking levels. As of this writing BTC trading closed at $56,467, a far cry from the $9,846 price by which the hedge fund billionaire placed 1% of his assets into BTCs.

Initially, many in the financial trading sector had reservations about Tudor’s promotion of BTC, since they remained doubtful if Tudor actually made outright investments in the cryptocurrency. .The founder of the $44 billion Tudor Investment Corporation whomused to be skeptic about cryptocurrencies, further forecasted that Wall Street was about to witness the phenomenal “birthing of a store of value,” in the crypto money.

Coinbase Prefers Not to Comment on the Revelations

As it is Coinbase Custody Trust Company and Tagomi Trading LLC the brokerage firm acquired by Coinbase in May 2020, the same period Jone made the decision to invest in bitcoins, as well as Bakkt Trust Company, are the current providers of custodial services to the family-exclusive Tudor Jones digital assets. Coinbase prefer not to respond to the revelations that linked them to the hedge fund billionaire’s BTC assets. After all, secrecy and anonymity are among the factors that have been drawing traditional investors to use the digital coin as their hedge investment.

According to Chainalysis, the said companies have played major roles in bitcoin’s bull market in 2020-2021, as blockchain’s data showed that they actively participated in trading more than 500,000 BTCs to financial trading whales during the latter part of 2020.
Continue reading →

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Elon Musk’s Dogecoin Endorsement Sets Off Buying Frenzy for the D Coin

After Elon Musk said he would take a break from Twitter, he returned 2 days later with a tweet calling the Dogecoin cryptocurrency ” the people’s crypto.” As investors have been looking into other cryptocurrencies or altcoins that have the makings of the next important crypto money, Musk’s endorsement immediately had set off a buying frenzy for Doge coins.

Musk’s tweet had sent Dogecoin trades surging by more than 50%, boosting the price range of the virtual coin to between $0.054 to $0.064 from a previous $0.0012 After the buying spree occured, Musk tweeted an image of himself depicted as Lion King’s Rafiki, proudly holding the Doge dog mascot up high, whilst adding “ur welcome” as text.

Apparently, the Tesla Chief’s trade recommendations have been making an impact, his recent tweets of support for CD Projekt, Etsy and the controversial games retail giant GameStop created a positive effect. Musk’s support of GameStop had actually boosted a covert 2-year in the making plan hatched by a group of anonymous stock investors converging at Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets forum.

Background Info about Dogecoin

Dogecoin or DOGE is represented by the D symbol , and uses the image of the Shiba Inu dog that originated from the “Doge” meme. It was introduced in December 2013 by founders Billy Markus, an IBM software engineer and Jackson Palmer, an Adobe software engineer. Their goal was to create a digital payment system that will reach a demographic that is far more wide ranging than.bitcoin This explains Elon Musk’s branding of DOGE as the people’s crypto.

In July 2020, a TikTok video that aimed to hike the coin’s worth to $1.sparked an increase of Dogecoin’s price. Reddit users, likewise, gave attention to Dogecoin, as additional support to the Tesla giant’s D coin endorsement. As a result, Dogecoin soared further, bringing the increase in price at an estimated 800%.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

PayPal Moves Forward w/ Cryptocurrency Services Ahead of 2021 Schedule

PayPal announced last Nov. 12, that customers do not have to wait until 2021 for them to open a cryptocurrency account, as the service is now available to use. Qualified PayPal account holders will be able to buy, sell and hold specific cryptocurrencies like bitcoin (BTC), bitcoin cash (BCH), etherium (ETH) and litecoin (LTC). Moreover, the cryptocurrency purchasing limit has been raised to $20k weekly, from the previous $15K per week mentioned in the initial announcement.

PayPal revealed its plans of offering cryptocurrency services last October 21, 2020, whilst stating the the projected rollout will take place in the early part of 2021. Paypal’s cryptocurrency services currently include selling, buying and holding of any of the aforementioned cryptocurrencies.

PayPal’s Cryptocurrency Services is in Partnership with Venmo and Paxos

As it is, the terms and conditions of Paypal’s cryptocurrency services includes a prohibition against the direct transfer of crypto money to the cryptocurrency accounts of relatives and friends, or as direct payment for goods and services purchased from accredited merchants. Apparently, that particular aspect will require the use of Venmo’s social payment platform to which cryptocurrency service involving collaboration with the social payment processor will be available only in 2021 and to PayPal’s network of 26 million merchants,

In the meantime, the availability of PayPal’s cryptocurrency services is currently being carried out through a partnership with Paxos, a fintech firm tasked to handle cryptocurrency transactions in Paypa’s behalf. Paxos is a New York-based financial technology company that uses a private blockchain network in keeping custody of cryptocurrency accounts for delivery, payment and settlement of cryptocurrency transactions. That is why withdrawing crypto money from a PayPal account using an external crypto e-wallet is not allowed.

Basic Eligibility Requirements to Open a PayPal Cryptocurrency Account

First off, a person must be a U.S. resident aged at least 18 years or older; or of the age of majority recognized by the state in which an individual resides. However, the service is still not available to residents of Hawaii.

An existing personal PayPal cash account is necessary, as a means to access the Cryptocurrencies Hub since all related crypto services will be linked to the main PayPal account. A person’s login details to his personal Paypal account will be the same credentials to use when accessing the Cryptocurrencies Hub, as the latter will form part of that person’s Cash Account.

Paypal will also verify the previously verified information submitted when the personal Cash Account was opened, before a Paypal account holder is given access to the Cryptocurrencies Hub. The payments processor also reserves the right to verify from time to time, required information such as name, address, birthday and Taxpayer Identification Number by requesting a copy of a person’s government issued photo ID, or the most recent utility bill or any other proof of current residency.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Security Researchers Explain Methodology of Crypto Exchange Hackers

Security researchers who convened at the Black Hat virtual conference, reported on how the notorious group CryptoCore was able to hack $200 million worth of crypto money. The heist, as reported by Cointelegraph last June 2020, saw several crypto exchanges operating across the globe, losing cryptocurrencies from cyber attacks perpetuated by way of a phishing campaign that lasted for two years.

The report revealed how crypto exchanges become vulnerable to hackers despite claims of having high privacy and tight security measure in place to protect their funds. Researchers enumerated three methodologies that allowed hackers to succeed in attacking five crypto exchanges in Japan, the Middle East and the U. S, .Omer Shlomovits, cofounder of KZen Networks and Aumasson, a cryptographer categorized the attacks as:

1) Insider attack or inside job,
2) Exploitation of a relationship between a crypto exchange and a customer
3) Partial extraction of secret keys.

According to the report, the approach was similar to breaking open a conventional bank vault by turning on six keys all at the same, which means the hackers had to dissect private keys into smaller pieces in preparation for their cyber heist.

Insider Attack or Inside Job

An insider, explores and exploits the vulnerability of the cryptocurrency exchange’s open-source library. Using the refresh mechanism, an inside attacker who is also a key holder initiates a refresh. Then he or she does some manipulation to alter some keys but at the same time retain some. The manipulation will cause a denial of service that permanently locks out the cryptocurrency exchange out of its own digital funds.

Another way that an inside attacker launches an incursion is to figure out private keys generated by exchange customers when initiating multiple key refreshes. This enables the inside attacker to carry out the stealing process by manipulating exchange processes using false validation statements.

Exploitation of Relationship between Crypto Exchange and Customer

Shlomovits and Aumasson said attacks could occur once the insider becomes a trusted party in a crypto exchange for which they receive their portions of the key. Any of the trusted parties with malicious intent can generate random numbers that is up for public verification. However, the researchers found out that in the case of Binance, the site skipped the checking of random values generated by trusted parties.

Extraction of Secret Keys

Malicious trusted parties use the unvalidated values in sending constructed messages to other users, who in turn, assign the unvalidated information. Exchange users using multiple key refreshers become the targets of the malicious trusted parties, for purposes of extracting private keys to use in launching the cyber hack.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Small- Scale Crypto Miners Not Optimistic Over Post-Coronavirus Comeback

As U.S. president Donald Trump wavers on decision to extend the U.S. lockdown or reopen economies, cryptocurrency miners are still weighing on potential outcomes.

Although cryptocurrency trading had slightly recovered, there is still hesitation among miners. The costs of analyzing blockchain transactions remain the same, while prices of digital currency fluctuate; earning them coin values not enough to even recover previous losses.

Most crypto traders do not foresee immediate economic recovery once businesses reopen. The public will have been left with reduced funds, or none at all, to even think of heading out for a buying spree. Besides, the Centers for Disease Control has warned that there could be a second wave that could be more severe than the first. It is likely that any plans for investing or buying will be put on hold as emergency funds; probably until there is certainty of a stable economy..

Unprofitable Bitcoin Mining Operations Could  Cripple Start-Up Mining Businesses

Ideally, the best scenario is one in which the bitcoin price will rise. That way mining operation will regain its profitable traits. In early March, the cryptocurrency industry saw several operators liquidating their bitcoin-backed loans, whilst miners decided to shut down their mining machines.

 

There are also analysis reports of start-up privately-owned mining corporations, to likely disappear. That is  if providers of hardware and funds will give priority to larger mining operators.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Amidst Continuing Hacks and Scams, How Should the Cryptocurrency System Move Forward in 2020?

It is now widely recognized that the cryptocurrency financial system has become a burgeoning industry. So much so that it has become ripe with opportunities for fraudsters and hackers, as millions have become victims of cryptocurrency investment scams and cyber attacks. Apparently, the common factor that has made victims vulnerable to criminal elements is their complacency.

They see the blockchain system as having sufficient shield against the prying eyes of financial regulators and tax enforcers. Yet they also take it to mean that the entire workings of the cryptocurrency financial system is safe from the schemes devised by scammers and hackers. .

Victims tend to overlook the fact that the beginning and end of cryptocurrency transactions still require participation of banking institutions. Not unless one is a cryptocurrency miner who gets to own a unit of cryptocurrency for every block of encrypted transactions he or she adds to the blockchain system.

Purchasing cryptocurrency with real cash, is still the fastest approach to owning digital money. Mainly because it takes high-powered computers to solve complex encryptions plus a lot of hard work is involved. Now in order to have real-world value, cryptocurrencies have to be cashed out through bonafide bank accounts or central bank-accredited payment processors.

Actions Taken to Strengthen the Security of Financial Transactions Involving Cryptocurrency Exchanges

As far as The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication or SWIFT is concerned, they have reacted to cyber attacks by reinforcing cybersecurity controls, and by identifying the weakest players in the SWIFT community.

Moreover, this organization of global financial telecommunication experts, makes sure that information about the modus operandi of known cyber attackers, are disseminated worldwide to prevent further occurrences of hacking incidents.

In the cryptocurrency system, which is basically a decentralized method of exchanging digital funds, whilst working outside of a central bank or a recognized administrator, members of the cryptocurrency community rely on each other in preventing scams and hacking incidents.

Cryptocurrency service providers like operators of crypto exchange platforms and digital asset custodianship, have also taken steps to prevent digital funds from being stolen. However, the fact that many crypto-related investment frauds and illegal cash-outs still happen, the use of encryption controls, of blacklisting addresses and of capping cash-out transaction, have not proven as sufficient deterrents against criminal elements and their modus operandi.

What Financial Experts Recommend to the Cryptocurrency Community in Moving Forward to 2020

Many articles written about cryptocurrency fraud suggest that it is not only the technology of the system that requires strengthening. Proponents and players in the digital currency market must acknowledge that it takes more than encryption to provide the necessary check and balances in ensuring the validity of blockchain transactions.

Improving the cryptocurrency system also requires risk management and adherence to basic financial controls. Particularly that of segregating duties, functions and roles among those who have access to the blockchain system to deflect conflicts of interests. Segregation pertains to those who have custody of customer assets, as well as from those who facilitate trading or exchanges of cryptocurrency funds.

Most important of all is to instill the importance of education or know-how among participants, before entering into cryptocurrency transactions.

Rather than have digital asset owners and potential investors rely on information provided by influencers, participants should have a clear understanding of how crypto-exchanges and fund transfers work; of the risks involved, as well as have accessible information about established institutions and organizations that can help in verifying the legitimacy of digital investment offers.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency, Finance

Facebook’s Libra Cryptocurrency Faces More Withdrawal of Support for the Project

As U.S. legislators and regulators continue to scrutinize Facebook’s planned launch of its Libra cryptocurrency, six (6) other financial backers of the project have announced withdrawal of their support.

Wary of becoming involved in a financial project that has yet to present proof that it is capable of meeting and complying with regulatory requirements, major credit card companies Visa and Mastercard, decided not to pursue plans of becoming founding members of the Libra Association.

Other companies that withdrew pledge of financial support and membership from the Libra Association, include eBay, Stripe, Booking Holdings and Mercado Pago. This recent development came after PayPal formally announced the company’s withdrawal a week ago.

As a result, the Libra cryptocurrency will only have Netherlands-based PayU on board as payments processor. However, it is purported the PayU is not accessible in the U.S. and Canada, as well as in some areas in the Middle East and Africa.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says that it is necessary for the Libra cryptocurrency to meet financial regulatory standards, which up to now is not up to par.

Moreover, Secretary Mnuchin warned that if Facebook’s Libra launches while not meeting the anti-money laundering standards and the standards set by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Treasury Department would take enforcement actions against Facebook and its proposed governing body, the Libra Association.

Remaining Libra Associates Still Optimistic about the Libra Cryptocurrency Project

Despite the mounting pressure to comply with financial regulatory requirements, and the rising number of partners withdrawing as Libra Associates, the remaining partners held an inaugural meeting in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday (October 14, 2019).

Reuters reported that the remaining 21 members, out of the original 28 previously named as Libra Associates, reaffirmed their support for the cryptocurrency undertaking. The group formed and voted on the 5-member board, whilst agreeing to an interim articles of association, developed in accordance with Swiss Laws.

Making up the 5-member board are Facebook Executive David Marcus, and representatives of PayU, Andreessen Horowitz, Xapo Holdings Limited and non-profit organization Kiva Microfunds.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Facebook and Its Libra Cryptocurrency Project Suffer from Trust Issues

Facebook’s Libra project is about combining online shopping and making other online financial transactions right on the Facebook platform, whilst using only a single digital currency as acceptable mode of payment. Facebook would call its own kind of cryptocurrency as Libra.

The mechanics looks appealing as it will make Facebook a one-stop-shop environment where people can communicate, meet, shop and transact at the same time. However, there is just one important problem that Facebook will find difficult to hurdle: lack of trust among Facebook users.

The general perception is that the social media site lacks the capability and diligence to prevent the certain forces in the Internet from gaining access to FB-Libra user’s financial information and activities if ever.

Why Many Consider the Facebook Libra Project as Untrustworthy

When Facebook revealed its “Project Libra” sometime in June, it instantly projected a picture in which people living ordinary lives will finally have a chance to dip its hands into the growing world of cryptocurrency. The project looked appealing because it made the process of dealing with cryptocurrency so convenient and at the same time not so complicated.

Yet that is exactly the problem, Project Libra seems all too easy, which if handled by a social media site like Facebook is too risky. After all, not a few million users have had the experience of getting their FB accounts hacked, or the security of their personal information breached.

Technology websites like Tech Republic can present a decade-long list of privacy information breach that the Facebook platform allowed to transpire through the years.

The worst and the most recent was the one carried out by a political consulting and strategic communications company called Cambridge Analytica. The firm was able to gather personally identifiable information from 87 million users who were enticed to take a personality quiz called “This is Your Life.”

The U.S. Congress, through the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs held a hearing in which FB Messenger Exec David Marcus and supposed head of the Libra project launch, was grilled on all sides. The hearing ended with Committee Chairman, Senator Maxine Waters, requesting the social media company not to go ahead with the Libra launch until such time that proper legislation governing cryptocurrency operations are in place.

Recent Poll Shows Only 2% of People Surveyed Trust Facebook’s Project Libra

A recent survey conducted by US-based CivicScience involving 1,799 American adults showed that 77% do not trust Facebook with their personal information, while only 2% put a lot of trust on Facebook.

The survey also revealed that when it comes to trusting Facebook’s Libra Project, at least 40% of those who responded say they had less trust in Libra over whatever trust they have for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Posted by Madelina Feliks

Cryptocurrency : What are Altcoins?

Altcoins, which is short for Alternative Coins are the other types of cryptocurrency we can use in the world of decentralized financial transactions. Altcoins were introduced much later after bitcoin, around 2013. Albeit built and working on the same framework by which bitcoins are recorded and transacted, their introduction as alternative cryptocurrency was meant to address discerned limitations of bitcoins, as a medium of exchange outside of financial institutions and regulations.

Hundreds of altcoins arrived, but not all remained or stayed long enough in the cryptocurrency market like Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Dash, Cardano and ZCash, just to name a few. To have an idea if a certain type of alternative coin has chances of achieving growth and stability as a digital currency, it would be best to understand the significance of their respective market capitalization.

What is Cryptocurrency Market Capitalization?

Similar to investing in shares of stocks, the cryptocurrency market capitalization depends on the value per coin and the number of coins circulating in the cryptocurrency market, if more will invest and use a type of altcoin, the greater the market capitalization and potential for growth.

Cryptocurrency Market Capitalization = Price per Coin x Total Supply of Coins in Circulation

Now if there is an increase in the supply of a cryptocurrency, chances are there will also be an increase in the price of the token. Some investors may venture into buying a low-priced, small cap altcoin, which therefore increases the supply in circulation. In exactly the same way, if the supply in circulation decreases, the price per token and the market capitalization also goes down.

The upward or downward trend in market capitalization of an altcoin therefore, indicates whether there is growth or the opposite.

Let us cite Litecoin as example, being one of the most popular altcoins currently in use. This digital currency had a market capitalization of $3.32 billion and price per token of $57.37 in August 2018; denoting that at that time, 58, 207, 830 Litecoins were in circulation.

Now as of this writing (June 13, 2019) Litecoin has a market capitalization of 8.38 billion. The increase of $5.06 billion between August 2018 and June 2019), denotes that there were corresponding increases in the Litecoin supply in circulation during the period. The supply of Litecoin in circulation rose to 62,198,601. As the related demand for Litecoin increased, the price of this altcoin soared to $134.6123 per token.

Litecoin’s popularity and resulting growth is mainly due to its quicker-settlement attribute. As alternative cryptocurrency, a Litecoin transaction can be settled in 2 and ½ minutes, which in contrast to bitcoin takes 10 minutes.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Is It Smart To Invest In Bitcoins?

Bitcoin is probably the world’s most talked about currency, though it’s still a wonder to many. Let’s change that and cover a quick overview of Bitcoins. Here is all you need to know about Bitcoin before you even start trading them. Bitcoin, like the euro and the dollar, is a currency used to pay for goods and services online. As opposed to traditional currencies, Bitcoin features the following:

  • It follows a decentralized system where no government or central bank has control over the currency source.
    Bitcoin is entirely digital which means there are no physical coins or paper bills to represent bitcoins. Bitcoins are regularly monitored by blockchains which constantly update records that trace the history of each Bitcoin generated.
  • Bitcoins are linked with a wallet ID instead of your own personal details, however, this does not necessarily make it completely anonymous.
  • Bitcoin started in 2008 by Satoshi Nakamoto. This person released a paper speaking about how Bitcoins can potentially work and after a year it began being mined and traded.

People are so fascinated by Bitcoins because there are no middlemen like banks that charge too many fees. Because it prevails fully on the web, transactions are done entirely by the use of wallet IDs contrary to using your personal information.

Bitcoins can be purchased

You can easily purchase bitcoins using cash, credit or debit cards, or through wire transfers. However, before making a purchase, you will want to set up a bitcoin “wallet” from which the wallet ID is based on. This is simply a place to keep your bitcoins, much like your wallet keeps your money, cards, and other personal IDs.

Bitcoins can be mined

Bitcoin mining is much like mining gold online and thus the term mining. The process makes use of bitcoin trading bots such as those found in Pheeva.com. With banknotes, the government makes the decision as to when is it best to print notes and disperse funds, however, Bitcoin does not have any central regulator, that’s why anyone can mine bitcoins online.

Is it wise to invest in Bitcoin?

Be aware that investing some of your savings on Bitcoin is not the same as investing in the stock market. Having bitcoins is not similar to keeping money in banks.

Wall Street does not trade bitcoins and it also cannot be purchased or sold by brokers. So anything and everything is entirely up to you. Because of its irregular nature, Bitcoin is constantly fluctuating in price and occurs more often than other currencies. If you do not like the risk, you should consider a safer investment than Bitcoin. There is also no real value like gold. The value of bitcoin is what people think. Considering this, its value can be a bit daunting.

Seeing that the number of bitcoins is restricted and Bitcoin is no longer going to be generated after 2040, the idea of diving into some investment is a good idea and it could help broaden your portfolio. The future of Bitcoin is bright but bound on a risky path. Sometime soon, the government may purchase Bitcoin to be stockpiled like gold. This can have a lot of negative effects, but it means that the limited bitcoin would surge in demand.

Reminders when investing in Bitcoins

The most wide-spread type of investment in Bitcoins to buy and stick to Bitcoin and hope that it appreciates in value so that you could make a sale. As with all investments, you must not invest more than what you are willing to lose. Bitcoin is still a very dangerous investment. The key thing to consider when purchasing Bitcoins is to purchase only via reputable exchanges.

One more important reminder is to avoid purchasing all Bitcoins in one transaction. Instead, make use of the dollar cost averaging approach to purchasing fixed amounts on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis. This allows you to buy the largest bitcoin when the price goes up, and the least bitcoin when the price goes down.

Posted by Laney Seward in Cryptocurrency

Blockchain: Understanding Its Significance to the Security of Cryptocurrency Transactions

Blockchain may seem a bit confusing when trying to know your way around cryptocurrency transactions. Yet a clearer understanding of its significance, will give you greater confidence when entering into deals that allow or require cryptocurrency payments such as bitcoin.

The term blockchain in its simplest meaning refers to digital information stored in a database of cryptocurrency transactions. That is why other blockchain definitions refer to it as the public ledger, as every block includes a record of the (1) date, (2) time (3) amount transacted, and (4) the username of the the person initiating the bitcoin payment, and of the person or entity who will receive thè specified bitcoin amount.

A blockchain, as the term denotes is something larger than just of a single, linear digital information. It comprises multiple transactions linked or chained together and recorded as if appearing as one page of a physical ledger. A blockchain though does not have a standard size like a ledger page, but it can store as much as 1 MB of data coming from multiple bitcoin transactions.

However, not all information of a digital currency or bitcoin transaction entering the cryptocurrency database, immediately becomes part of the chain comprising a blockchain. Certain conditions must be met before one gets stored as a component of a blockchain.

When Does a Block Become Part of a Blockchain?

A block of digital information becomes legitimate public ledger entry only if it has been verified, conformed and transformed as component of a blockchain.

First off, if you are the sender of a bitcoin payment you must have a private key known only to you. You obtained a private key when you received that bitcoin, also by way of a transaction that went through your cryptocurrency network.

Private Key vs. Public Key Validation

A private key is a specific code that gives you the legitimate ownership and authorization to use, or send that specific bitcoin to a bitcoin peer in the same network. A private key though, gives you legitimate ownership of the bitcoin only if it is compatible with a public key generated by the database. If a private key and the public key do not make a match, then the bitcoin transaction is invalid and will not be broadcasted in the network as a legitimate bitcoin transaction.

Although a private key validates your transaction, digital currency procedures require confirmation by a third party who will attest to the legitimacy of the transaction. This is where bitcoin miners come into the picture, because their job is to make mathematical computations that will confirm or counter-check if such a transaction has indeed transpired within the network.

Confirmation by Bitcoin Miners

Currently, best practices recommend at least 6 confirmations to be regarded as sound guarantee that the broadcasted bitcoin transaction is legitimate. A confirmation is evidenced by a hash produced by way of mathematical computation, making it unique and attributable only to the block representing the bitcoin transaction. Moreover, that same hash will link with the hash of the most recent block that càme in as new addition.

Each block therefore, once appearing in a blockchain will be difficult to alter or modify. Anyone attempting to do so, has to tamper with several unique hash data linked together as codes of a block.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency or Digital Currency: How Much Do You Understand and Know About It?

Transacting by way of bitcoins is an undertaking that requires a whole lot of understanding before a person gets the confidence to enter into cryptocurrency transactions.

First off, it is not the same as paying real cash to another party through a bank or via an ewallet to complete an online transaction. Here, a cryptocurrency payer needs to be part of a network of peers or persons agreeing to pay and receive payments by way of cryptocurrency.

What is Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency represents value of money that was paid or received by a peer to another, then entered as a transaction in a database of entries. In order to send cryptocurrency as payment, the payor or sender of the cryptocurrency must be the holder of a private key that validates his or her right to send that amount of cryptocurrency to a peer.

The recipient peer, on the other hand, will receive his own set of codes that will serve as his private key. That set of key will then give him the right to use the cryptocurrency received for his own future cryptocurrency transaction.

Every private key assigned to a transaction that has been entered in the cryptocurrency database must match a public key. Take note that entries in the database cannot be altered or modified unless that particular condition is met. Otherwise, an invalid private key cannot create a valid cryptocurrency transaction.

Presently, the cryptocurrency widely used is the bitcoin. Persons wishing to use cryptocurrency as means of sending payment must first buy a bitcoin value using real money.

How to Buy Bitcoins

The simplest way to buy bitcoins is to buy them from a reputable bitcoin trader that usually deals with bitcoin exchange transactions. Since real money must be paid in order to acquire a sum of bitcoin by way of credit or debit card, a first time buyer must make certain that he is buying from a legitimate site.

Usually a legitimate bitcoin dealer will sell only minimal amounts, e.g. $50 or less. So once a purchase has been made, the transaction enters the cryptocurrency database. The buyer then receives a private key that will allow him to use the bitcoin for whatever purpose it will serve him.

If a bitcoin buyer wishes to store bitcoins, maintaining a bitcoin wallet is advisable. Here, a person can easily keep track of how much bitcoin he owns, as well as determine the actual real money value of his stored bitcoins.

At some point in time, he may also want to sell some of his bitcoins at a higher price than its actual cost in order to gain profit. However, the value by which a bitcoin is sold depends on the current free market exchange rate, which means the current price index that most bitcoin buyers are willing to pay in exchange for real money.

Posted by Madelina Feliks in Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency: The Future of Finance?

Cryptocurrency is Changing the Financial Landscape

Cryptocurrency has made waves in the financial world over the past decade. It has become a serious contender as a new form of money. From Bitcoin to Ethereum, the crypto market continues to grow, attracting more investors and institutions.

Bitcoin’s Continued Rise

Bitcoin remains the leading cryptocurrency. Despite volatility, Bitcoin has seen substantial growth in value, with many predicting that it could surpass traditional forms of money. Institutional investors are becoming more involved, further legitimizing Bitcoin’s place in the financial world.

The Role of Institutional Investors

Institutions like Tesla, MicroStrategy, and even JPMorgan have started investing in Bitcoin. This has given the cryptocurrency legitimacy, and many investors now see it as a hedge against inflation and traditional currency risks.

Ethereum: The Smart Contract Revolution

Ethereum is not just a cryptocurrency; it’s a decentralized platform for building smart contracts. These contracts automate business agreements without the need for intermediaries. Ethereum’s innovative approach has led to an explosion of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, which allow users to lend, borrow, and trade without traditional banks.

The Growth of DeFi

Decentralized finance is disrupting the traditional financial system. DeFi platforms have grown rapidly, offering higher yields for savings and alternative investment opportunities. These platforms are gaining popularity among investors looking for new ways to manage their assets.

Regulation and Future of Crypto

One of the biggest challenges facing cryptocurrency is regulation. Governments around the world are considering how to regulate digital currencies. In the US, the SEC has been closely monitoring the space, and other countries are introducing crypto regulations to prevent illegal activities and protect investors.

The Need for Clearer Regulations

Clear and comprehensive regulations are needed to provide stability to the crypto market. While some regulation is necessary to prevent fraud and ensure security, overly stringent regulations could stifle innovation in the crypto space.

Conclusion: The Future of Crypto Is Uncertain, but Bright

Cryptocurrency continues to grow in importance. It is reshaping how people think about money, investment, and finance. While there are still hurdles to overcome, the future of crypto looks bright, especially as technology and regulations evolve.

Posted by Lora Kaety in Cryptocurrency, Finance
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