Since the initial release of Bitcoin in 2009, Cryptocurrencies have slowly been taking over the world. Heralded by some as the future of global finance, there are a lot of debates surrounding cryptocurrencies and questions that have yet to be answered. Most people have heard of cryptocurrencies, but do you truly know what they are and how they work? Let’s take a look at this question to see what we can learn.
Cryptocurrencies: The Basics
In the past, the value of a currency was usually weighed against the value of precious material. Gold was the option of choice for this, with many of the world’s modern currencies starting out as a form of token that signified the value of a different material. This has changed as time has gone by, with the value of currencies being tied more to the value of an economy.
Cryptocurrencies aim to change this.
Rather than being tied to a state or government, cryptocurrencies are decentralized. This means that they aren’t controlled by governments, countries, or any body, and that the value of each cryptocurrency is based on a resource. This resource is usually computing power, generating coins like Bitcoin, Etherium, and many more.
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have seen a huge surge in popularity since their launches. This makes them incredibly valuable to investors.
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What Is Bitcoin?
At this point, most people have heard of Bitcoin. This option is the most popular cryptocurrency on the market, with a single Bitcoin coming in with a value of $56,799 at the time of writing. But how did Bitcoin get to this point?
The original creator of Bitcoin is unknown, other than an alias called Satoshi Nakamoto. Whoever this person is, they are currently rated as the 15th wealthiest person in the world, though the fortune they own has barely been touched in recent times. Back in 2009, though, Bitcoin hit the market and promised to change the way that money works forever.
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that doesn’t have a central bank or single administrator. The network that Bitcoin operates on is called a blockchain, and the example used with this currency is entirely peer-to-peer.
Why Is Mining A Cryptocurrency So Hard?
If you know about cryptocurrencies, you’ve probably heard of crypto mining before. In the past, currencies like Bitcoin were minable with gaming computers, but this soon got much harder. As each block is mined, the next one is a little harder to get through, and this means that a currency’s value is able to rise while the challenge of mining it becomes greater.
It also means that most people don’t have access to the hardware required to mine Bitcoins. Companies like Mawson can help you with this, providing you with everything you need to start mining Bitcoin without having to invest a fortune into your own hardware.
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The Problems With Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies can make a tempting investment option, with many people making a fortune from their digital cash. Of course, though, many people have also lost a lot.
A great example of this comes in the form of Mt. Gox. Originally a Magic The Gathering card exchange, Mt. Gox was an early adopter of Bitcoin and became the world’s leading Bitcoin exchange in 2013. Unfortunately, in 2014, Mt. Gox was the victim of a type of heist that had never been seen before. More than $450 million of normal people’s money was stolen in the blink of an eye, never to be recovered.
There have been large-scale cryptocurrency thefts, but people have also lost millions of dollars, thanks to forgotten passwords or broken hardware. This sort of issue is becoming less common as time goes by and cryptocurrencies improve. Working with experts in mining will drastically lower your chances of being a victim to issues like these.
Investing In Cryptocurrencies
It would be a mistake to assume that investing in cryptocurrencies is only possible if you mine them for yourself.
Modern exchanges that resemble Mt. Gox can be found online, and this sort of service has gotten a lot better in recent years. Alongside this, though, you could also consider the idea of paying another company to handle your Bitcoin investment for you.
Companies like Mawson work extremely hard to provide sustainable and efficient Bitcoin mining services. This can enable you to start building your digital fortune without taking on any of the risks yourself, while also making it possible to get advice from experts when you first start with your crypto investments.
So, What Is A Cryptocurrency?
In simple terms, a cryptocurrency is a digital currency that is designed to emulate real-world money, without the bureaucracy. There is always a limit to the number of coins that can be generated with each currency, and anyone has the chance to work on mining them. Of course, though, it can take a huge amount of resources to get anything out of this.
Cryptocurrencies are certainly here to stay, and they offer an exciting alternative to the money that we know today, that a lot of people find easier to trust. You need to decide for yourself when you are weighing up the value of money like this, but this shouldn’t be too hard with the right research and learning. And, of course, you can always look to companies like Mawson for help with your journey into cryptocurrencies.
