What is cryptocurrency and how it works? A beginner's guide to crypto in Australia

What Is Cryptocurrency?

A cryptocurrency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses strong cryptography to secure financial transactions, control the creation of additional units, and verify the transfer of assets. It is based on blockchain technology, a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers.

Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, meaning they are not subject to government or financial institution control. It allows users to transact without the need for a middleman or third party such as a bank.

Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in 2009. Since then, numerous other cryptocurrencies have been created.

How Does Cryptocurrency Work?

How do cryptocurrencies work? Cryptocurrencies use a decentralized ledger called a blockchain to record transactions. Blockchain technology is a distributed database that allows for secure, transparent and tamper-proof record keeping.

Cryptocurrencies are often traded on decentralized exchanges and can also be used to purchase goods and services.

What is a blockchain in cryptocurrency?

A blockchain is a digital ledger of all cryptocurrency transactions.

It is constantly growing as "completed" blocks are added to it with a new set of recordings.

Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data.

Blockchain technology underlies cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and Ethereum. No single entity or person controls the bitcoin network. This puts some people at ease, because it means that a large bank can't control their money.

Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in 2009. Ethereum, launched in 2015, is the second most popular cryptocurrency after bitcoin.

Blockchain technology could be used to create new types of cryptocurrencies, such as ones that are more secure or anonymous than existing ones like bitcoin and ethereum. 

Can You Generate Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can be generated through a process called mining. In order to mine cryptocurrency, miners need to solve complex mathematical problems in order to verify transactions on the blockchain. When a miner successfully verifies a transaction, they are rewarded with a small amount of Bitcoin. Bitcoin mining is a competitive process, and the more miners there are, the harder it becomes to mine Bitcoin. There are other cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin, and many of them can be mined in a similar fashion.

Though anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can mine cryptocurrency, if a person doesn't have access to the right equipment, they probably will not be able to make much money doing it.

You need specialized computer hardware and software to mine cryptocurrency effectively. Without the right tools, you won’t be able to compete with other miners and earn rewards for completing blocks.

 If you're just starting out, we recommend Coinbase or FAMEEX Exchange. These are reliable centralized exchanges that offer customer support and coin education.

Why is crypto so popular?

1. •The utility is boosting：Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are always evolving, with new uses for them being developed all the time. From new decentralized finance (or DeFi) apps to blockchain games to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), there is always something new going on in the industry. Additionally, more and more retailers and service providers are accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment.
   

2. •It is a new way to store and transmit value that is not controlled by any central authority.

3. •Their popularity is due to their advantages over traditional fiat currencies, such as lower transaction fees, faster transaction times, and increased privacy.

4. •The value of cryptocurrency fluctuates, but it has the potential to increase in value over time.

Why are cryptocurrencies so volatile?

There is a great deal of fluctuation in the cryptocurrency world because it is so new. Investors are looking to try out their money to make more of it quickly and see how cryptocurrency prices change and if they can have an impact on them.

The value of cryptocurrency is also driven by scarcity. Only a certain amount of cryptocurrency is produced. For example, there can only be 21 million Bitcoins. When demand for the cryptocurrency increases, so does its price.

Whales are large cryptocurrency holders that can sell their digital assets and cause prices to drop. These whales can manipulate the market if they can get a group of people to sell with them.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies have become a popular topic of discussion in recent years. Some people view them as a new and exciting way to invest, while others are more cautious, citing the many risks associated with this new form of currency. Below, we will explore some advantages and disadvantages of cryptocurrency to help you make a more informed decision about whether it is right for you.

Advantages of cryptocurrency include the fact that it is new and decentralized. This means that there is no one central authority controlling the currency, which can be appealing to those who are distrustful of government control. Cryptocurrency is also generally fast and has lower fees than traditional methods such as credit cards or wire transfers. Additionally, cryptocurrency is seen as more secure since it uses cryptography to protect transactions. 

However, there are also several disadvantages to using cryptocurrency. One major downside is that there is no insurance if you lose access to your funds – if you forget your password or lose your private key, your money is gone forever. Cryptocurrency is also highly volatile, meaning its value can fluctuate wildly from day to day. This makes it a risky investment, and not something that should be undertaken lightly. Another disadvantage is that they are not currently regulated by governments or financial institutions, which could make them more susceptible to fraud or manipulation.

List of cryptocurrencies - What are the largest cryptocurrencies?

The size of a cryptocurrency is based on two factors:

1. •the number of coins that are available

2. •and the price of those coins.

If you multiply these two numbers, you get the currency's market capitalization, which is the total value of all the coins. Therefore, when experts talk about the largest cryptocurrencies, they are referring to the market capitalization figure, not the price of an individual coin.

These are the top cryptocurrencies and their approximate market cap, according to CoinMarketCap, as of October 2022.

( Considering the volatility of cryptocurrencies, these numbers can change a lot even in a short time. )

1. Bitcoin – $365 billion

2. Ethereum – $156 billion

3. Tether – $68 billion

4. USD Coin – $46 billion

5. Binance Coin – $43 billion

6. Cardano – $13 billion

7. Solana – $11 billion

8. Dogecoin – $7 billion

9. Polkadot – $7 billion

Is Crypto a Good Investment?

Cryptocurrencies have been gaining popularity lately, with Bitcoin leading the pack. But is crypto a good investment? There are pros and cons to investing in cryptocurrencies.

On the plus side, they're growing in popularity and could be a good long-term investment. Their decentralized nature could also make them less susceptible to inflation than traditional investments. On the downside, they're volatile and subject to hacks and scams.

So, is crypto a good investment? It depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals. If you're willing to take on some risk for the potential of high rewards, then investing in cryptocurrencies could be a good choice for you.

Cryptocurrency is a type of investment that comes with a high degree of risk. In general, investments that are considered to be high-risk should make up a small percentage of your overall portfolio. A common guideline is to invest no more than 10% of your total portfolio in high-risk investments.

Another way is you can manage risk in your crypto portfolio by investing in a variety of cryptocurrencies. They often fluctuate in value at different rates and over different time periods, so having several investments can help offset losses in one area.

How Do You Buy Cryptocurrencies?

You can buy cryptocurrencies on a crypto exchange. To do this, you first need to open an account on a crypto exchange and deposit cash. Once your account is funded, you can place a trade order to buy cryptocurrency. Trade orders are matched by the exchange's trading engine and then executed. Your newly purchased cryptocurrency will be deposited into your account on the exchange.

Different platforms offer different methods of payment for assets, including bank transfers, crypto transfers, or credit cards. Buying crypto with cash in a person-to-person fashion is also possible. However, the availability of buying and selling crypto on any given platform can vary from region to region.

Where can I buy cryptocurrency?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best place to buy cryptocurrency will vary depending on your needs and preferences. However, there are a few general tips that can help you choose a reputable and trustworthy exchange:

1. •Look for an exchange that has been around for a while and has a good reputation.

2. •Make sure the exchange offers a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal.

3. •Choose an exchange that offers customer support in case you have any questions or problems.

4. •Compare the fees charged by different exchanges before making your decision.

How to choose a cryptocurrency 

There are many different cryptocurrencies, and they are not all equally valuable. When choosing a cryptocurrency, it is important to consider which one is the most valuable and which one will best meet your needs. Most people who first purchase cryptocurrencies choose one of the more widely circulated cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. These are good choices because they are relatively easy to use and understand. However, there are many other specific cryptocurrencies that may be more valuable for certain purposes. For example, if you are interested in investing in a particular company, you may want to purchase that company's cryptocurrency.

When it comes to choosing a cryptocurrency, there are many things to consider. Here is the guide：

1. •The first is whether the cryptocurrency is a valuable digital asset. This can be determined by looking at the market capitalization of the specific cryptocurrency.
   

2. •The second is whether the cryptocurrency is widely circulated. This can be determined by looking at the transaction volume of the specific cryptocurrency.

3. •The third is whether the cryptocurrency is easy to use. This can be determined by looking at the user interface of the specific cryptocurrency.

4. •The fourth is whether the cryptocurrency has a good reputation. This can be determined by looking at online reviews of the specific cryptocurrency.

Cryptocurrency legal and tax issues

There are a number of legal and tax issues surrounding cryptocurrency. For example, when you work with cryptocurrency, you may be required to pay taxes on any transactions you make. Cryptocurrency is also subject to a number of regulatory issues. For example, Bitcoin is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Cryptocurrencies are also subject to a variety of state and federal laws.

Is Cryptocurrency Legal?

There is no one answer to whether cryptocurrency is legal. The legality of the cryptocurrency is consented to by all traders on the internet worldwide and it varies from country to country. In some countries, cryptocurrency is completely banned, while in others it is legal with certain restrictions. Many countries have yet to clarify their stance on cryptocurrency.

Is cryptocurrency taxable?

Cryptocurrency is taxable in most jurisdictions. If you buy or sell cryptocurrency, you may be required to pay capital gains tax. If you use cryptocurrency to pay for goods or services, you may be required to pay VAT or sales tax. In some jurisdictions, cryptocurrency is treated as property, and you may be required to pay property tax on your holdings.

It is believed by some analysts that the cryptocurrency market will exceed three times its current value by 2030. What we see in these years from DeFi, and NFT to GameFi, we can know the fact that more and more investors are joining this market like JP Morgan, Wells Fargo…etc. What we can anticipate is that global governments and finance systems meet the agreement and more adoptions in cryptocurrency to broaden the method and use to change our lifestyle in payment and the current financial situation.

*This is not an investment advice. Please conduct your own research when investing in any project.