Everyone has heard how Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies made millionaires who bought them as recently as a year ago. Gains of 1,000% or more are not only possible, they have become common place with many of these cryptocurrencies. Someone who bought Bitcoin for less than $500 in May 2016 would have made a 1400% profit in about 17 months. Then over the past few days, we’ve seen Bitcoin lose nearly $1,000, so to say these cryptocurrencies are volatile would be an understatement.
Since the inception of bitcoin in 2008, we at Trend News have been skeptical about the viability of cryptocurrencies, given that they pose a very clear threat to governments that want to see and tax all transactions. But while we may still be wary of actual cryptocurrencies, we are very aware of the potential of the underlying technology that powers these cryptocurrencies. In fact, we believe that this technology will be a significant disruptor in data management and that it will affect every sector of the global economy in the same way that the internet has affected media.
Here are some questions and answers to get you started…
Q: What are cryptocurrencies?
The most popular cryptocurrency (CC) is BITCOIN. It was the first CC launched in 2008. Today there are over 800 CCs including Ethereum, Litecoin, Dash, Zcash, Ripple, Monero and they are all “virtual”. There are no “physical” coins or currency.
Q: How does CC work?
CCs are virtual currencies that exist in very large distributed databases. These databases use BLOCKCHAIN technology. Because each Blockchain database is widely distributed, there is no central point of attack, and every transaction is visible to everyone on the network, it is thought to be immune to hacking. Each CC has a group of administrators, often called “miners”, who approve transactions. A CC called Ethereum uses “smart contracts” to validate transactions. Crypto TREND will provide more details in upcoming news releases.
Q: What is blockchain?
Blockchain is the technology that underpins all CCs. Each transaction to buy, sell or exchange CCs is included in a BLOCK added to the chain. This technology is complex and will not be explained here, but it has the potential to revolutionize the financial services industry because transactions can be done quickly and easily, reducing or eliminating fees. The technology is also being examined for applications in many other industries.
Q: Are CC Exchanges regulated by the government?
In most cases the answer is NO, which for some users is the great attraction of this market. It’s the “wild west” at the moment, but governments in most developed countries are examining this market to decide what regulation might be needed. A big decision is whether to treat CCs as a currency or a commodity / security. Canada and the US have so far declared CCs to be legal, but the situation remains fluid in terms of reporting and tax implications. Crypto TREND will monitor and report on these developments.
Q: How can I invest in this market?
You can buy, sell and exchange CCs using the services of specialized “Exchanges” that act as brokers. You start by selecting an Exchange, creating an account, and transferring fiat currency into your account. You can then place your CC BUY and SELL orders. There are many exchanges in the world. Opening an account is fairly simple, and all of these exchanges have their own rules regarding initial funding and withdrawals.
Crypto TREND will recommend CC Exchanges in the future.
Q: Where do I keep my CC?
To have the freedom to transfer your cryptocurrencies and pay bills, you must have a digital wallet. These wallets come in several formats such as desktop, cloud-based, hardware (USB), mobile and paper. Many of them are FREE, but security is a big factor because no one wants to lose or have their wallet stolen. Crypto TREND will recommend digital wallets in the future.
Q: What can I do with CC?
In addition to investing in CC products, you can also use cryptocurrency for some financial transactions, such as money transfers and bill payments. The list of companies accepting cryptocurrency is growing rapidly and includes big hitters such as Microsoft, GAP, JC Penny, Expedia, Shopify, Bloomberg.com, Dish Network, Zynga, Subway and WordPress.
Q: What’s next?
To begin with, we’ll keep each of the Crypto TREND articles short and the scope of each one as narrow as possible. As we mentioned before, we believe that cryptocurrency technology will be a game changer and that potential investment opportunities like this are once or twice in a lifetime. Make no mistake, early investment in this sector will only be for your most speculative capital, money you can afford to lose.
Even if you don’t want to invest right now, understanding this new disruptive technology early on will put you in a good position to profit from our recommendations as you move forward.
We expect to see more news and special recommendations from Crypto TREND as we embark on this journey that may at first seem like a foreign jungle. It’s a volatile market and may not appeal to all investors, but when you’re ready, Crypto TREND will be your guide.
Stay tuned!