A Quick Guide To Cryptocurrency For Beginners

What Is Cryptocurrency? 

In more recent years we have seen more, and more people take to investing. With economical fluctuations and the economic state becoming increasingly unpredictable since the beginning of the decade, it is safe to say that people are being more inventive with where they put their money. 

Cryptocurrency has been lucrative for some, and it can be very lucrative if you manage it correctly. But, what exactly is cryptocurrency? 

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that is not linked to a country, bank, or governing body. It is universal. Bitcoin for example is not connected to any bank, or government, which can be rather freeing for its users. 

You can use them to purchase day-to-day items, although we doubt you will be able to use them in Walmart to do your weekly shop. It is more often used in trading as a digital asset for the purpose of investment. You can check out Coinbrary for more information on this. 

You can make impressive profits by doing this, however, unlike Dollars, Pounds, Euros and other currencies, cryptos are volatile, and you can lose just as much as you could gain. It is a gamble. 

How Does It Work?

Since cryptocurrencies are not overseen by a governing body, such as a bank, they operate on an open network, and transactions are completed on a peer-to-peer basis instead of being managed by a central governing force. 

To do this they use distributed ledger technology, the best form of this you might know is blockchain, which keeps a public record of all transactions. Synchronizing and sharing data globally via a decentralized database. This helps to aid in the prevention of ‘double spending’. 

Of course this ledger and blockchain technology is also very secure, with transactions not easily being tracked, and everything being under ‘lock-and-key’ so fraud based around cryptocurrency is a great deal harder than with traditional currencies. 

While cryptocurrency is legal, they are not legal tender in some countries yet, and you may actually be taxable in some places. However, in the U.S. they are not taxable and are legal tender. However, many people will only spend their cryptos online, and won’t use their Bitcoin, Dogecoin, or so on to buy things at their local mall. 

Picking A Cryptocurrency

A lot of newcomers to the cryptocurrency world will struggle with one thing in particular – which cryptocurrency to invest in. A majority of newbies to this will go for the big dog – Bitcoin. Mind you Bitcoin is not the only big dog in the crypto world anymore it is also joined by Ether and Dogecoin too, but there are thousands to choose from. 

You need to determine the value of the asset, and consider the risks, and as well as the stability of the crypto. Newer cryptocurrencies are likely to be cheaper and gain worth much faster, however, they also have the potential to fail fast too. 

Some cryptos will need a lot of computing power, so you could select an eco-version instead, or you may seek out using a specific coin exchange. Some people seek out the youngest of cryptos – currently Worldcoin holds this title with the idea of a fairer wealth distribution among the population. 

Really which you pick is up to you, but do your research before you pick one. It can feel easy to just delve straight into Bitcoin, but there is a perfect crypto for everyone now, so choose wisely.

While Bitcoin is the oldest of cryptocurrencies around, and has the most developed database, this does not make it the best, other, newer cryptos are working on developing and come with new ideas and concepts.

What Are The Risks?

Remember that cryptocurrencies are not risk-free. Cryptos are volatile, and the price can fall very fast. This is the biggest overall danger, a single crypto could be worth thousands one day and pennies the next (extreme example, but this can happen).

Of course, fraud is also a worry, while cryptos are generally safer than many other aspects of life it is not 100% foolproof. 

You should always maintain 100% security practice with your online currency, just as much as you secure your standard legal tender. 

You could also lose your password, or your hard drive too. You must maintain vigilance and care when you trade in cryptocurrency, as much as anything else. Those who fall prey to unfortunate events and risks are usually those who treat trading in cryptos as a frivolity and not as a currency – which it is, even though it is all online. 

Truth be told – It is just as risky as anything else you do online.