Cryptocurrency
A cryptocurrency is a digital asset or token secured by cryptography. Such assets are transferred on decentralized networks based on blockchain technology.
Cryptocurrencies are not issued or controlled by any central authority, such as the federal bank of a sovereign nation as is the case with fiat money such as the US dollar. Cryptocurrencies are therefore protected from government interference, although this does not mean they cannot be manipulated by other parties.
Blockchain
A blockchain is essentially a set of interconnected “blocks” that form an online ledger that is distributed across computers around the world. These linked blocks contain recorded transactions that are verified by nodes in the network. Nodes are the network computers running the software client that locally stores the blockchain data.
The data is updated as transactions are stored in each block and every copy of the blockchain is updated simultaneously, keeping all the records identical and accurate. As the network relies on consensus mechanisms to verify transactions, it is almost impossible to forge a fraudulent transaction.
Mining
Units of cryptocurrencies are created through a process known as mining, which involves using computing power to solve complex mathematical problems. The computer in the network that solves the problem the fastest generates the next block in the chain and is rewarded with units of that network, such as bitcoin. In the early days of Bitcoin, individual users were able to participate in mining. Nowadays, the computing power necessary is only achieved through a powerful network of computers known as a “mining pool”.
Types
Bitcoin is the most popular and widely known cryptocurrency, as well as the most valuable as measured by total market capitalization. It was created by an individual (or perhaps a group) called Satoshi Nakamoto and introduced via a white paper in 2008. With the success of Bitcoin, thousands of other cryptocurrencies have since been created with different attributes for various functions.
Ethereum, the second most valuable cryptocurrency, features a smart contract platform that allows for numerous protocols including borrowing and lending services. There are also “stable coin” cryptocurrencies, which attempt to offer price stability and are backed by a reserve asset such as US dollars.
There are also altcoins, some of which are forks of Bitcoin and others are new currencies, tokens, or assets that have been built from scratch. These altcoins include meme coins inspired by memes and internet jokes. Dogecoin, for example, was inspired by the Doge meme created from a viral photo of a Shiba Inu.
Purchasing Cryptocurrencies
The primary method to convert fiat currency into a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin is using an exchange. Cryptocurrency exchanges enable users to purchase crypto assets by funding their account using government-issued currencies such as the US dollar or the Euro and then trading on their platform. The exchange generates an online wallet where the assets are stored, although these assets can generally be withdrawn to a private wallet. Exchanges are almost universally required to comply with various Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, which is an identity verification process that must be completed before a user purchases or sells cryptocurrencies.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Cryptocurrencies were originally designed with the intent of revolutionizing existing financial infrastructure through greater efficiency and transparency combined with lower costs. There exists, however, a notable divide between the theoretical ideal of a transparent and decentralized system and its practical implementation in the real world.
Outlined below are the primary advantages and disadvantages of cryptocurrencies:
Advantages
Decentralization
Unlike traditional financial infrastructures, such as banks and monetary institutions, centralized intermediaries are unnecessary to enforce trust and facilitate transactions between two parties. Decentralized cryptocurrencies theoretically remove the ability of a central party to censor transactions or adjust the money supply. They also allow parties in any part of the world to transact without requiring permission from governing authorities.
Efficiency
Cryptocurrency transfers are often much faster than transactions using third-party intermediaries, and on many platforms, can be very low cost. It is possible, for example, to send millions of dollars for under $5 on the Ethereum network. At times, however, the transaction costs for the most popular cryptocurrencies can rise to up to $50 per transaction.
Transparency
All cryptocurrency transactions are visible on the publicly distributed blockchain ledger and there are tools that allow anyone to look up the data for any transactions that have occurred on the network. It is also possible to audit the money supply to ensure that additional coins have not been illegitimately generated.
Security
The only way to sign transactions or access the funds in your wallet is by gaining access to the private key of your crypto wallet. Furthermore, transactions are secured by the cryptographic nature of the blockchain and cannot be reversed like credit cards. However, there are drawbacks to the nature of crypto assets discussed below.
Disadvantages
Pseudo-anonymity
While cryptocurrencies are not generally connected to an individual’s name, transactions on the blockchain can be tracked and traced. Furthermore, exchanges around the world almost universally require know-your-customer (KYC) regulation, which forces these institutions to collect identifying personal details before a customer is able to trade on their platform.
Criminal Activity
Like with physical cash, cryptocurrencies have the potential to be used by criminals. In the early days of Bitcoin, there was an online marketplace on the dark web called Silk Road which allowed users to purchase illegal drugs and conduct other nefarious activities.
Decentralization
While cryptocurrencies are meant to be decentralized in theory, their ownership is often highly concentrated and the most value is generally accrued by the early investors. The statistic of highly skewed ownership is easily verifiable using blockchain data. In a study conducted by Makarov and Schoar (2021), conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, it was found around 10,000 individuals held about one-third of Bitcoin at that time.
Security
Cryptocurrency blockchains are very secure through cryptography, though the wallets and exchanges where cryptocurrency assets are held can be hacked. One of the most famous exchange hacks occurred in 2014 when hackers accessed and stole over 700,000 Bitcoin.
Price Volatility
The frequency and volatility of cryptocurrency price changes are remarkable when compared with traditional financial markets. For example, on December 22, 2017, the price of Bitcoin dropped more than 30% in a single day from over $16,000 USD to nearly $11,000 USD.
Energy Usage
The mining of popular cryptocurrencies requires substantial energy costs, in some cases as much as what powers entire countries. While that may be true, cryptocurrency supporters argue that the existing financial structure uses far more energy than the power required for mining.
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