Crypto

09
Jun
2020

Are Bitcoin Certificates A Sensible Investment?

Many investors have raised eyebrows on Bitcoin certificates because these certificates were always too speculative, too uncertain, and “without intrinsic value”. But this initial assessment eventually changes for some investors who have tried investing in Bitcoin certificates.

What is a Bitcoin and how it works?

Are Bitcoins a sensible investment?

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are definitely only suitable for very risk-conscious investors. There is a risk of a total loss, theft of your own wallet, loss of access data, becoming a victim of fraud (especially when new currencies (ICOs) are published), etc. Therefore, only “play money” should be used, if at all. This means invest only with money that does not bring you economic difficulties in the event of losses.

Why invest in Bitcoin?

Although Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value, it can still bring crisis protection to some degree, at least as long as there are still people who believe in the currencies.

Similar to gold, it can be assumed that if a major crash is imminent, the prices of the cryptocurrencies are likely to rise sharply. Simply because trust in the central bank’s paper money system is waning.

Conversely, cryptocurrencies are more likely to get stuck in a stock market boom like the one in December 2019.

Assets that are likely to behave in the opposite direction to other assets are good as a hedge, which is why some investors use cryptocurrencies in addition to gold to diversify for the crash. It will then be seen whether there will be a new financial crisis.

Regardless of that, there is an assumption that the long-term rates of the two cryptocurrencies will rise – even without a crash. But this statement is more of a forecast without a real basis.

Are Bitcoin certificates a perfect investment vehicle?

The participation certificates or simply called Bitcoin certificates have advantages and disadvantages. Again, Bitcoin certificates are just as risky and speculative as a direct investment in Bitcoin.

Bitcoin certificates have an invaluable advantage. You can keep previous securities account and just buy these certificates and then you have a foot in the world of cryptocurrencies.

Disadvantages of Bitcoin certificates

  • Tax disadvantage: Certificates fall regularly under the flat tax of almost 26 percent when buying or selling. Just like ETF or stocks. After the allowance of 801 euros (single) is exceeded, this tax always applies to your winnings. It is different with a direct investment in Bitcoin and its sale: From a tax perspective, these are “private sales transactions”. There is an allowance of 600 euros per year. Any income above this amount must be taxed at the personal income tax rate. As a rule, this should be higher than the 26 percent flat tax. BUT: If you hold your Bitcoin for more than a year, the entire proceeds are tax free. Here, Bitcoin is treated like physical gold, an invaluable benefit of direct investment.
  • Issuer risk: Certificates are always subject to the risk that the issuing bank could go bankrupt. This can lead to significant losses up to the total loss of you. Especially when everyone is talking about a crash, a risk that should not be underestimated. So always choose a stable and healthy bank as an issuer.
  • Bitcoin crash, resulting in a total loss. Cancellation of the certificate by the issuer: In the securities prospectus of the certificate you will often find clauses stating that the bank may terminate the certificate in the event of unforeseen events with a period of notice. Now your Bitcoin certificates are currently in the red and the bank will cancel them in 3 months, for example. Although the certificates have no due date (open end certificates), a due date can still occur.
  • Bitcoin crashes and disappears from the market: no question – if the base value (Bitcoin) of a certificate dies, the certificate no longer has any value and you suffer a total loss. Admittedly, this also applies to direct investment.
  • Running costs: Only death is free. Of course, the issuer of a Bitcoin certificate also wants his part of the cake. For my open-end certificates, these are running costs of 1.5% per year that gnaw on my return. But you can usually get over it.

Advantages of Bitcoin certificates

  • Fast and liquid tradable: Because the transaction is carried out via the regular securities account, you can get in and out of the market in a matter of seconds. For direct investments in cryptocurrencies, this is usually a longer-term procedure until your own money is actually back in the account
  • Easy tax handling through flat tax through your broker
  • No risk of hacker attacks, theft of your wallet or dubious Bitcoin exchanges or their bankruptcies
  • Participation of almost 1: 1 of the underlying asset

Conclusion

It is not advisable to invest a large part of your assets in Bitcoin certificates mainly because they are speculative and high-risk investments. And if you have borrowed a capital to invest (https://www.southeasttitleloans.com/lending-options/), do not invest in participation certificates. To keep it simple, if Bitcoin dies, then your entire invested capital will also die and you don’t want that to happen. So if you want to diversify and include a Bitcoin certificate in your portfolio, keep it small and simple.

Posted by Lyndsey Annabel in Crypto
12
May
2020

MA of Singapore Grants Temporary Payment Services Licenses to Crypto Firms

In line with the recent passing of the Payment Services Act, the MAS announced that temporary licenses have been granted to 7 cryptocurrency companies.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) named Binance, Bitstamp, Coinbase, Gemini, Upbit, Luno and Wirex as the only cryptocurrency operators permitted to act as payment service providers up to six months. Within the six-month period, the related license applications of the said crypto firms will be approved or rejected by the MAS.

The Monetary Authority granted temporary license-exemption to the aforementioned companies, because they complied with the prerequisite of giving notification of their cryptocurrency operations in Singapore, even before the Payment Services Act passed legislation in January 2020. The MAS, which acts as the central bank of Singapore, made it clear that the unlicensed status will cease once the institution approves or rejects the related applications for payment-services licensure in the country.

Overview of the Payment Services Act of Singapore

The Payment Services Act is described as one that sets the framework for the dynamic and flexible regulation of Singapore’s payment system and providers of payment services. The purpose of which, is to establish regulatory certainty aimed at safeguarding the interest of consumers, whilst encouraging growth and innovation of the country’s payment services and FinTech systems.

”Specific Payment Services”

The regulatory framework of the PS Act applies to licensed payment Institutions that provide “specific payment services” such as account issuance, e-money issuances, merchant acquisitions, domestic money transfers, inward cross-border money transfers, and digital payment tokens. Under the Act, the payment services of cryptocurrency companies fall under the digital payment token classification.

Distinction of Licenses to Conduct Payment Services as a Business, from License to Conduct Money-Changing Services as a Business

Although some payment services may include foreign currency conversion, a licensed payment service provider must be a licensed money-changer when including stand-alone money-changing services as part of its business activities. In the same way, a licensed money changer can conduct only money-changing services, unless the operator obtains a duly approved license to provide payment services.

Distinction of Payment Services from Banking Services

The PS Act also contains prohibitions that distinguish payment services from banking services, by stating that:

Licensed payment service providers are prohibited from storing or accepting e-money as deposits on behalf of Singapore residents and of facilitating e-money cash withdrawals in Singapore dollars. This suggests that all e-money transactions will cover only direct payment transactions.

Moreover, payment service providers conducting e-money issuance as payments are prohibited from lending its customers’ money, or using customers’ money to finance any of the business activities being performed in connection with payment-service operations.

The above distinctions clearly state beforehand that for inquiries on whether the licensed money lender SG City Loan recommends, can loan out cryptocurrency money, the answer is no.

Posted by Lucia Kerri in Crypto
29
Mar
2020

Why Bitcoin Miners Ceased Operations Amidst Crisis

The Covid-19 crisis and the resulting volatility of the cryptocurrency market prompted many digital asset farms and independent miners to stop operations.

Contrary to expectations that Bitcoin, being the leading digital asset, will surge once stock market investors shift to cryptocurrency investment during the crisis, the opposite happened. Along with the stock market rush that saw many investors unloading their shares, the bitcoin market reacted similarly. The cryptocurrency market also crashed, resulting to daily losses of about 50% that eventually drove the Bitcoin price below the $4,000 threshold, down to as low as $3,600.

Although the crypto-community saw the prices of cryptocurrencies rising, after the government legislated CARES Act was passed by Senate. The increases though were not enough to warrant that the price of bitcoin will not go down below threshold again.

That being the trend, many bitcoin miners and mining farms went ahead with decisions to halt operations, wary that the worsening health crisis will yet again spur sell offs that only spell losses to digital currency miners.

Why Volatility in Prices Affects Crypto Mining Operations

First off, it should be understood that the profitability of crypto mining operations is not the same as what investors could gain when trading their digital currencies.

Cryptomining after all is cost intensive, particularly with bitcoin; being the most transacted of all digital assets. Where some bitcoin investors may realize gains by leveraging their cryptocurrencies during price volatility, the same cannot be held true for coin miners.

If at the end of the day the price of a bitcoin is much lower than the costs incurred in analyzing and solving encryptions bitcoin transactions for the day, bitcoin miners incur losses. Mainly because the bitcoin compensations they will receive will not be enough to cover the corresponding costs of mining.

Underscoring the Significance of Digital Assets in Times of Economic Crisis

One trait that can distinguish digital assets from physical assets is that the uncertainty of cryotocurrency prices creates an advantage in times of real-cash insolvency. There have been bankruptcy proceedings in which the bankruptcy court was unable to pin down digital money as potential payment in satisfying the legal demands of creditors.

The extreme volatility in the price of bitcoins as demonstrated by the recent bitcoin trading activities, makes digital currency an unlikely asset to demand as settlement for a credit obligation.

Let us say a bankruptcy court includes bitcoins without objection by creditors, because at the time of awarding, the digital currency had a value of $6,600.

However, if in the next few days the price of bitcoin drops to $2,300, the creditor can trade or exchange the digital money for real cash at the lowered price, or wait until the price rises. The creditors can no longer demand for more bitcoins, since they took a risk when they agreed to accept digital currency as settlement of the bankrupt person’s obligations.

When looking for a bankruptcy lawyer san diego businesses recommend those who will be able to make the court understand why cryptocurrencies will not work as a reliable, equitable settlement of credit obligations.

Posted by Lucia Kerri in Crypto, Cryptocurrency Mining
14
Mar
2020

Bitcoin Not Immune To Financial Market Crisis

The recent slump may come as a surprise to observers, but it is not only within the scope of what is known from Bitcoin, but is also in harmony with the financial markets. Yesterday even the “crisis currency” had given way to gold, if only by five percent.

What Happens to Bitcoin if Stock Markets Crash into a Bear Market?

However, anyone who has seen Bitcoin as a new “safe haven” in times of crisis in recent months should now be disappointed. In places, Bitcoin was even given the nickname “digital gold”.

Experts stay relaxed

For experts like Kai Kuljurgis, founder of the crypto investment platform Coindex, the recent drop in price is more an effect of the beginning professionalization of the market. A lot of institutional money has flowed into crypto values ​​in recent months. That drove the courses. However, new investors, in particular, would quickly withdraw.

Die-hard Bitcoin supporters do not see the recent price losses as a drama, but rather a good opportunity to buy cheaply.

Posted by Lyndsey Annabel in Crypto
28
Feb
2020

The Cryptocurrencies of the Cannabis Industry

Due to federal legislations, majority of cannabis-related businesses and companies are still having the biggest challenge of utilizing the banks for their transactions. As a response to address this issue, the creation of digital currencies increases in support to this kind of market and the Stocktrade’s complete coverage of Canadian marijuana stocks. Cryptocurrency is generally a big help for the cannabis market or to those individuals who wants to purchase pot and carry out weed transactions.

Bitcoin is the main crypto that popularly dominates the virtual space and how does Bitcoin actually work is an exciting thing to learn. Yet, there are alternative cryptocurrencies that penetrate the weed industry offering specific pot transactions. The most common cannabis-based crypto are, but not limited to, CannabisCoin, HempCoin, PotCoin, CannaCoin, and DopeCoin to name a few.

Cannabis-based Cryptocurrencies

Here are some details on those crypto that popularly dominating the weed sector.

CannabisCoin

CannabisCoin or CANN operates to assist companies to have easy transactions of medical marijuana within the dispensaries. This marijuana-based crypto utilizes digital wallets as well in order to manage and store coins.

HempCoin

The goal of HempCoin (THC) is to provide funding for the farming industry of weeds and the use of medical or recreational marijuana in the dispensaries. The website of HempCoin is said to be useful in the facilitation of transactions among weed farmers and local dispensaries. Purchasing of weed farming tools and equipment can be done through the website of HempCoin.

PotCoin

PotCoin is considered as the oldest cryptocurrencies within the weed industry. Solution for banking problems for those who are seeking transaction in legal marijuana is the main design of this cannabis-based cryptocurrency. Without performing any bank transaction or clearing house, the trading of PotCoin is made to life. PotCoin trades into three market places in which people are allowed to validate transactions that are blocked based on the number of coins they have on hand. In addition, the speed of transaction for POT is about 40 seconds which is really impressive compared to Bitcoin.

“New features for this crypto include HD wallets, synch times reduction, and faster synchronization of network.

DopeCoin

The mission of DopeCoin or DOPE is primarily to offer marijuana aficionados with doing their business in a more secure and modern way. Based on their website, users of DOPE can transact free of charge pseudo-anonymously. However, this should be done for just under a minute.

CannaCoin

Operating under thee Peer2Peer technology which is a decentralized blockchain, CannaCoin or CNN became known as one of the cannabis crypto. It works to provide developments of future crypto applications in relation to the production, cryptocurrency processing, vape station creation, and other cannabis-related businesses.

Posted by Lyndsey Annabel in Crypto
26
Dec
2019

Applying For A Cryptocurrency Loan?

Almost all people know what you are talking about when borrowing money. Then you go to the bank and you may receive a sum of money. For example, to start your own business, you can contact traditional or non-traditional financial institutions such as New Horizons. Yet nowadays there are also other things that you can borrow than the euro. Namely cryptocurrency. But how can you borrow such a cryptocurrency? Let’s take a look at Bitcoin Lending.

What is Bitcoin lending?

This is a way for bitcoin holders to earn extra money. You lend your cryptocurrency to someone else for a certain amount. It works just like fiat money or just borrow money. In this way, you can also borrow cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is sometimes used as collateral for loans, but that is not the case here. The whole idea is that someone will borrow cryptocurrency to make a profit with it.

Finally, after a certain period, he returns the cryptocurrency to the original owner, with an extra sum of money. The borrower can then sell the borrowed goods and buy a new one for a profit. This way both parties can earn a little extra. Will 2020 be the year in which cryptos will be adopted en masse?

Peer to peer borrowing

Bitcoin lending, also called bitcoin financing, is a form of peer to peer lending. But what exactly does that mean? Peer to peer borrowing is basically investing your money in a loan from a private person. It is a loan that does not involve a bank. An example of this p2p borrowing is: Someone is urgently looking for 2000 euros and you have that left. You then lend that directly to that person, who returns it with interest after a while.

The same works for cryptocurrency. Someone wants a specific cryptocurrency, you have that, you lend it to that person. After a while, it returns the amount of cryptocurrency with a sum of money. What he does well with your loan in the meantime doesn’t matter. You won’t lose anything with it.

Blockchain as an ideal loan aid

Blockchain is very useful when you want to apply for a loan. That does not only have to be borrowing money but can also be done when borrowing cryptocurrency. Many people don’t really know what blockchain is and what it actually means. That’s because it hasn’t been around that long. It was conceived at the same time with the arrival of the bitcoin system. But what is it anyway? Perhaps this article about Bitcoin for dummies helps you to understand things better.

A blockchain can easily be compared with a ledger. A lot of data, including financial facts, is stored together. The biggest difference between a ledger and a blockchain is that a ledger is linked to a specific thing. For example, the accounting of a company. A ledger is used for this.

Open and decentralized

However, a blockchain is open and decentralized, meaning that nobody owns the data. So it belongs to everyone. It is an open network in which everyone can participate if they want to. You can, therefore, compare this part with the internet. It belongs to nobody and anyone who wants can use it. The advantage of this is that the data is spread everywhere and therefore cannot easily be stolen or manipulated.

In short, a blockchain is a large list of data that everyone can see and has access to. Everyone can make an adjustment, which is immediately implemented for everyone. The advantage of a blockchain is that you can only add data at the bottom of the list. Old data cannot be deleted or modified. Because of this, many people rely on a blockchain.

This is the principle that is also used with bitcoins. Since cryptocurrency is not something tangible, you cannot just check whether someone actually has it. You can easily check that in a blockchain. You can only enter a transaction if the cryptocurrency has been sold to you before. This of course also gives a safe feeling when borrowing and lending cryptocurrency.

You agree that you purchase a quantity of cryptocurrency and that the initial owner will buy it back later. Suppose you would borrow a bitcoin from someone for € 200. Then you buy the bitcoin for, for example, € 2000, – and later the owner buys back what you borrowed from you for € 1800. You can see that money as collateral.

Conclusion borrowing cryptocurrency

Bitcoin lending is the purchase of cryptocurrency such as bitcoins with the agreement that the seller will buy back the bitcoin. In a sense, the money is the collateral for the loan. Bitcoin lending is made possible by blockchain, a long list with a lot of data that is accessible to everyone. Such a list of data is also used for other purposes, such as applying for a mortgage loan. Do you have Bitcoin in your portfolio and are you prepared to earn extra money with this? Think about securing your Bitcoins with Bitbond.

Posted by Lyndsey Annabel in Crypto