Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. A cryptocurrency is difficult to counterfeit because of this security feature. A defining feature of a cryptocurrency, and arguably its most endearing allure, is its organic nature; it is not issued by any central authority, rendering it theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation.
Decentralized cryptocurrency is produced by the entire cryptocurrency system collectively, at a rate which is defined when the system is created and which is publicly known. In centralized banking and economic systems such as the Federal Reserve System, corporate boards or governments control the supply of currency by printing units of fiat money or demanding additions to digital banking ledgers. In case of decentralized cryptocurrency, companies or governments cannot produce new units, and have not so far provided backing for other firms, banks or corporate entities which hold asset value measured in it. The underlying technical system upon which decentralized cryptocurrencies are based was created by the group or individual known as Satoshi Nakamoto.
As of May 2018, over 1,800 cryptocurrency specifications existed. Within a cryptocurrency system, the safety, integrity and balance of ledgers is maintained by a community of mutually distrustful parties referred to as miners: who use their computers to help validate and timestamp transactions, adding them to the ledger in accordance with a particular timestamping scheme.
Miners are paid by the network for their services. Cryptocurrencies are used primarily outside existing banking and governmental institutions and exchanged over the Internet. While these alternative, decentralized modes of exchange are in the early stages of development, they have the unique potential to challenge existing systems of currency and payments. As of December 2017 total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies is bigger than 600 billion USD and record high daily volume is larger than 500 billion USD.
Cryptocurrency fans say 2022 will be a big year for the crypto world. They’re predicting that the total market capitalization for all cryptocurrencies will surpass $1 trillion by the end of 2022. They believe this bull run will be driven by institutional investors, who will finally dip their toes in the water and start buying cryptocurrencies en masse
So, should you invest in cryptocurrency?
That’s a decision only you can make. But if you’re thinking about it, here are a few things you should keep in mind.
Cryptocurrencies are still in their infancy. They’re not yet widely accepted as a form of payment, and their value is highly volatile. So, if you do decide to invest, be prepared for your investment to go up or down.
Invest only as much as you can afford to lose. Cryptocurrencies may never reach the heights that some bulls are predicting. If their value does drop, you don’t want to be left holding the bag.
Do your research. If you’re going to invest in cryptocurrency, it’s important to understand the technology behind it and the potential risks. There are a lot of scams out there, so be sure you know what you’re getting into before you hand over your hard-earned cash.
No one can predict the future, so take everything you hear about cryptocurrency with a grain of salt. The truth is, no one really knows what’s going to happen.
At the end of the day, whether or not you invest in cryptocurrency is up to you. But if you do, be prepared for a wild ride.
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