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by Finage at August 28, 2021 5 MIN READ

Crypto

A Beginner’s Guide to Investing in Cryptocurrencies

 

We explained the answers to all the questions such as what is the new phenomenon of cryptocurrencies that swept the world, how to sell them and whether they have risks.

 

Table of Contents 

What Is Cryptocurrency and How Does It Work?

How Many Cryptocurrencies Are There and What Are They Worth?

How To Buy, Spend, and Trade Cryptocurrencies

What Are the Risks?

How To Choose a Cryptocurrency?

Final Thoughts

 

Cryptocurrencies are the general name given to digital assets that you can buy, sell, spend and trade on exchanges. Before you get into this field, you need to know how to spot risks, volatility, fraud and which crypto to buy. If you do not have a lot of ideas on these issues, you should get help from experts. Do not forget that this area can bring you profit, if used unconsciously, it can cause loss. 

Cryptocurrencies are a relatively new phenomenon that is taking the world by storm. There are thousands of these digital assets now, and more are emerging every day. So, should you buy the hype and invest in cryptocurrencies, or should you steer well? In order not to be harmed in this regard, we will give you some recommendations. Here is our short guide to the essential facts you need to know.

 

What Is Cryptocurrency and How Does It Work?

Firstly, let's start by explaining what cryptocurrencies are. Cryptocurrencies are “cryptographically secure digital representations of value or contractual rights that can be transferred, stored and traded electronically,” according to HMRC's definition.

As we understand here, it basically means that a cryptocurrency is a digital asset that can be traded and used to pay for things. It is not based on any real asset, so it has no real value. Value is determined by supply and demand. Essentially, it's only worth what a buyer would pay. This makes cryptocurrencies speculative, unpredictable, and difficult to value accurately.

 

Peer-To-Peer Transactions

The difference between cryptocurrencies is that they are not centrally regulated or controlled and operate on an open network. Transactions are peer-to-peer rather than handled by a bank or other authority.

They use 'distributed ledger technology, the best-known type of blockchain, to keep a public record of all transactions. It is a way of synchronizing and sharing data globally through a decentralized database and aims to prevent double-spending of cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies are legal, but they are not legal tender. In the UK, you may have to pay taxes to them because they are not eligible to be wrapped in tax-free wraps like ISAs.

 

How Many Cryptocurrencies Are There and What Are They Worth?

There are about 5,000 to 7,000 cryptocurrencies in existence, depending on whether you include the failed ones or not. Bitcoin is the largest cryptocurrency with a market cap of around $600 billion, followed by Ethereum. Other popular cryptocurrencies include XRP, Tether, and Litecoin. The top five cryptocurrencies currently account for more than 80% of the market.

 

How To Buy, Spend, and Trade Cryptocurrencies

There are many start-ups that offer ways to trade cryptocurrencies, but you may be skeptical about entrusting your money to a brand-new name. Founded in 2015, the more established platform Revolut now allows users to invest in currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Stellar.

 

What Are the Risks?

It would be a lie to say there is no risk. In fact, there are many, to be honest, because the whole industry is like the Wild West. Scams are rampant and the currencies themselves are volatile, but this doesn't seem to put off consumers and cryptoassets are gaining mainstream acceptance. In October, PayPal's decision to allow its US customers to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin 2021, signalled that the use of digital currencies is becoming much more common. However, not everyone agrees with the popularization of cryptocurrencies.

 

The UK financial regulator, the FCA, recently issued a statement saying, "There is growing evidence that crypto assets are hurting consumers and markets." Recently, it has dealt a blow to the cryptocurrency space by banning cryptocurrency derivatives and the sale of exchange-traded bonds to retail investors from January 2021.

 

This means that it prohibits the sale of products based on cryptocurrency prices, but you can still buy cryptocurrencies yourself. The FCA noted the difficulty consumers face in determining the true value and risks in these products and noted the existence of market abuse and financial crimes in the secondary market for crypto assets.

 

How To Choose a Cryptocurrency?

If you've read this blog post carefully and are still sure you want to dive into crypto, you need to decide which currency you want to buy. There are tons of information online so start by reading some guides and user reviews. Usually, there will be a white paper explaining what it intends to do for each cryptocurrency when it is released.

Also look at the strength of the user community, the quality of the technology and team behind the crypto asset, and of course the price performance of the currency to date. Will it last long? What do you think will drive future price movements? If in doubt, start small with one of the more established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin – read our guide on that here. Keep your opinions to yourself and be sure to educate yourself on cryptocurrency scams before you buy.

 

Final Thoughts

If you have read our article carefully and you still want to deal with cryptocurrencies, you have decided what to start with. Cryptocurrencies are among the newest and most popular phenomena of the digitalized world. It is a very popular area for those who want to catch up with the era and take a little risk and gain. However, at this point, we recommend that you act consciously and seek help from experts.

We hope that this blog post will be beneficial for you. We will continue to create useful works in order to get inspired by everyone. We are sure that we will achieve splendid things altogether. Keep on following Finage for the best and more. 

 


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