Cryptocurrency 101: Important things you should know?

Unlike central banks and third parties, cryptocurrency does not rely on a central authority to verify transactions and create new currency units

. In contrast, it uses cryptography to verify transactions on a publicly distributed ledger called the blockchain, which enables direct peer-to-peer payments.

The word Cryptocurrency has become nearly ubiquitous by now, but most people have no clue what cryptocurrency is.

In addition to being a digital form of cash, cryptocurrency and the technology that supports it have the power to transform many industries.

Thus, it’s worthwhile spending a bit of time learning about Cryptocurrencies.

In circulation, there are hundreds of different cryptocurrencies, each of which is valued differently.

A programmer claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto developed the first cryptocurrency in 2009, Bitcoin.

Bitcoin was launched in 2009 under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. As of March 2021, more than 18.6 million bitcoins were in circulation with an estimated value of $927 billion.

Litecoin, Peercoin, Namecoin, and Ethereum, as well as Cardano, and EOS, are some of the competing cryptocurrencies spawned by Bitcoin’s success.

All cryptocurrencies today are worth around $1.5 trillion, with Bitcoin representing over 60% of the total.

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What Is a Blockchain?

Essentially, blockchains are databases that record transactions in code. On a practical level, it’s a little like using a global checkbook scattered throughout many computers.

With a blockchain, every individual who uses a cryptocurrency has their own copy of this book to form a unified record.

Every cryptocurrency transaction is recorded in a “block” that is then linked together in a chain.

The blockchain software tracks each new transaction as it occurs, and all the copies are updated with the new information simultaneously, keeping all records as accurate as possible.

Validation techniques are used to prevent fraud, such as proof of work and proof of stake.

Read about crypto scum.

Proof of Work vs Proof of Stake

Proof of work and proof of stake are two different validation techniques used to verify transactions before they’re added to a blockchain that reward verifiers with more cryptocurrency.

Cryptocurrencies typically use either proof of work or proof of stake to verify transactions.

Proof of work

Proof of work is a method of verifying transactions on a blockchain. In this method, an algorithm provides a mathematical problem that computers race to solve.

The participating computers, or ‘miners,’ solve a mathematical puzzle to verify a group of transactions, or “blocks,” then add them to the blockchain.

A small amount of cryptocurrency is awarded to the first machine that successfully completes this task.

Solving blockchain puzzles will require tremendous amounts of computing power and electricity.

That means, in reality, miners might barely break even with the crypto they receive for validating transactions, once the costs of electricity and computing resources have been deducted.

Proof of stake

Some cryptocurrencies use the proof of stake verification method in order to reduce the computing power required to verify transactions.

With proof of stake, each person’s ability to verify transactions is limited by how many coins they are willing to temporarily store in a communal safe. This is in exchange for the chance to participate.

Anyone who stakes cryptocurrency is eligible to check transactions, but the probability of being chosen to do so increases with the amount you stake.

Due to its ability to eliminate energy-intensive equation solving, proof of stake is very efficient, allowing transactions to be verified or confirmed much faster.

Stake holders who validate a new group of transactions will receive cryptocurrency which may be equal to the aggregate amount of transaction fees collected from that block.

When you choose to verify an invalid transaction, you forfeit a portion of your stake in order to discourage fraud.

The verification of transactions is based on consensus mechanisms in both proof of stake and proof of work. As a result, while each user verifies transactions by themselves, the majority of ledger holders must then examine and approve each transaction.

The blockchain ledger could not be altered unless, for example, 51% of the ledgers matched the false version. Fraud is unlikely since it requires a great deal of resources.

How many cryptocurrencies are there?

According to CoinMarketCap.com, a market research website, more than 10,000 different cryptocurrencies are publicly traded.

A new wave of cryptocurrencies, known as initial coin offerings, allows companies to raise money through the use of currencies.

CoinMarketCap reports that cryptocurrency value dipped to more than $1.3 trillion on July 23, 2021, from a high of $2.2 trillion in April.

Approximately 608.6 billion bitcoins, the most popular digital currency, were exchanged, down from $1.2 trillion in April.

Cryptocurrency	Market Capitalization
Bitcoin	$608.6 billion
Ethereum	$240.4 billion
Tether	$61.8 billion
Binance Coin	$48.6 billion
Cardano	$37.6 billion
XRP	$27.4 billion
USD Coin	$26.9 billion
Dogecoin	$24.9 billion
Polkadot	$12.5 billion
Binance USD	$11.5 billion

How Can You Mine Cryptocurrency?

Mining is the process by which new units of cryptocurrency are released into the world in exchange for validating transactions.

Bitcoin, for example, is a proof-of-work cryptocurrency, and although it is theoretically possible for anyone to mine it, it’s becoming increasingly difficult.

Bitcoin networks become more complex and require more processing power as they grow. Once, this was doable for the average consumer, but now it is far too expensive.

Several companies have optimized their technology and equipment to compete against each other.

Remember that mining crypto coins that rely on proof of work requires a lot of energy. According to estimates, Bitcoin farms consume 0.21% of the world’s electricity.

Moreover, approximately 60% to 80% of what Bitcoin miners earn from mining is spent on electricity costs.

In a proof-of-work system, it’s impractical for the average person to earn crypto through mining.

In contrast, the proof-of-stake system requires less computing power since validators are chosen at random based on the amount they stake.

Nevertheless, you must have a cryptocurrency in order to participate in the program. (no crypto, no staking.)

How to Invest in Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency can be purchased on platforms like Coinbase and Bitfinex as well as peer-to-peer networks.

You should watch out for fees, however, as some of these exchanges charge prohibitive fees for small crypto purchases.

A typical transaction fee for Coinbase is 0.5% of your purchase plus a flat fee, between $0.99 and $2.99, dependent on your purchase size.

A few months ago, Robinhood’s investing app began offering the ability to purchase several leading cryptocurrencies without the fees of the major.

Coinbase is a popular exchange for people who aren’t technically savvy. There is no hassle in setting up an account on their site and linking it to a bank account.

It’s crucial to note that buying individual cryptocurrencies is somewhat similar to owning individual stocks.

All your money is invested in one security, so you are taking on more risk than if you spread it out over hundreds or thousands of investments, such as with a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF). At present, there are fewer crypto funds available.

Bitcoin mutual funds exist in the form of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC). However, most Americans aren’t eligible to invest in it, since it’s only open to accredited investors.

ETFs for Bitcoin or crypto are not available; however, ETFs for blockchain are available.

Individual stocks of companies involved in crypto might be an option if you wish to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency market. It is predicted that Coinbase will have an IPO sometime in 2021, which is when crypto-oriented stocks will be listed.

Additionally, you can invest in Bitcoin mining stocks such as Hive Blockchain (HIVE).

Investing in companies like IBM, Bank of America, and Microsoft that are adopting blockchain technology is a less risky way to get some crypto exposure.

What online brokers offer cryptocurrencies?

Of the online brokerages and cryptocurrency exchanges that NerdWallet reviews, the following currently offer cryptocurrencies.

Online brokers	Available for
Binance.US	Access to buy and sell more than 50 cryptocurrencies.
Coinbase	Access to buy and sell more than 50 cryptocurrencies.
eToro	Trading platform with access to 18 cryptocurrencies.
Gemini	Ability to buy and sell 40 cryptocurrencies.
Robinhood	Seven cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum.
SoFi Active Investing	Offers 20 cryptocurrencies for trading including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin.
TradeStation	Offers trading for five cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum.
Webull	Offers four cryptocurrencies for trading: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin.

Why are cryptocurrencies so popular?

A wide range of reasons make cryptocurrencies appealing to their supporters. Here are some popular ones:

Many cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, are being hailed as the currency of the future, and purchasers are racing to get them now, before the price increases.

Supporters enjoy the fact that cryptography removes central banks from controlling the money supply, since these banks tend to reduce money’s value to a certain extent via inflation over time.
Another reason supporters of cryptocurrency like the blockchain, which is a decentralized platform for recording and processing data, is that it is more secure than conventional payment systems.
There are some speculators who like cryptocurrency because it’s increasing in value and have little interest in the currency’s acceptance as a long-term money-transfer vehicle.

Conclusion

Blockchain technology is key to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies’ appeal and functionality. The database keeps track of all transactions that have ever been conducted.

Using this data structure we can create a ledger that is quite secure. Individual nodes, or computers that maintain a copy of the ledger, agree on it and share it.

Each node must verify a new block before it is confirmed, making it almost impossible to fabricate transaction histories.

In addition to its potential for online voting and crowdfunding, blockchain technology is seen as having potential benefits by companies like JPMorgan Chase (JPM) for lowering transaction costs by streamlining payment processing.