The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Cryptocurrency Investing

The world of cryptocurrency investing is full of both incredible opportunities and significant risks. The cryptocurrency market has exploded in 2017, and there are now over 1,500 different coins out there competing for your investment. Cryptocurrency is an emerging technology that has the potential to change the way we live our lives. It’s like a digital currency, but it doesn’t use physical money. The first cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, which came out in 2009 and started this whole new industry of blockchain technology.

Whether you’re interested in day trading or long-term investing, this complete beginner’s guide to cryptocurrency investing will teach you what you need to know.

What Is Cryptocurrency, And How Does It Work?

Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that are not backed by any central bank or government. They are created through a process called mining, which involves verifying transactions on the blockchain network. The miner is then rewarded with new coins for their contribution of computing power to the system. The cryptocurrency market is made up of a network of individuals and businesses that trade, invest in and use digital currencies to buy goods and services.

The first decentralized cryptocurrency was Bitcoin. It’s not controlled by any central bank or government – instead it runs on blockchain technology which allows users to make peer-to-peer transactions without an intermediary like a bank. The transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain, which uses cryptography to ensure that all participants have access to it and that no one can change or delete its data without changing every copy of the ledger in existence.

Is Cryptocurrency really money?

Cryptocurrencies are digital or virtual tokens that use cryptography to secure their transactions and to control the creation of new units. Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, meaning they are not subject to government or financial institution control. Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in 2009. Cryptocurrencies are often traded on decentralized exchanges and can also be used to purchase goods and services.

Since 2010, many more cryptocurrencies have emerged on the market. All have different features and complexities and have gained varying levels of adoption. Some are traded as a form of investment, while others can be exchanged for goods or services. There are thousands of cryptocurrencies in existence today, including Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC) and Monero (XMR).

What is a Digital Token?

A digital token is a string of code that represents an asset or currency issued on a blockchain network. A simple way to think about digital tokens is as purchased entries into an organization’s database. Think about how air miles programs operate.

What is the purpose of Cryptocurrency?

To put it simply, cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual asset that uses cryptography to secure its transactions. Cryptocurrency is decentralized, meaning it isn’t subject to government or financial institution control. Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in 2009 as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Cryptocurrencies are often traded on decentralized exchanges and can also be used to purchase goods and services.

One way to define cryptocurrencies is as digital collectibles. They operate like software-based, digital versions of something you might own in real life—like a baseball card or Beanie Baby—but instead of being made out of physical materials, they are digitized. Most are created and controlled by means of blockchain technology, which makes their creation and management transparent to everyone who uses them.

Where To Buy Cryptocurrency?

The easiest way to purchase cryptocurrency is through an exchange platform. The company will provide you with a wallet where your purchased currency will be stored and the transaction history as well as other information about your account can be tracked. There are many exchange platforms available and recently there’s competition going on between kraken vs binance exchange platforms.

How To Store Your Crypto Securely?

The next step in the process is to determine how you want to store your cryptocurrency. The best way that we have found for beginners who aren’t tech-savvy or confident with security measures is using a hardware wallet like Ledger Nano S and Trezor. The wallets provide an added layer of security by storing your cryptocurrencies offline, protecting them from being hacked.

How To Get Started With Trading?

The fourth step in your journey will be getting started with trading. The first thing you need to do is decide whether you want to use a desktop or mobile application, as some exchanges offer both options; others only provide one service. The second decision that needs to be made is what type of account you want: individual or institutional? Individual accounts are meant for one person and their money. The institutional account is meant for a company or group of users, which allows you to apply efficient trading strategies in an environment shared with other institutions. The third step will be deciding what exchanges you want to use based on the different features they offer; there are dozens of them so it’s definitely worth taking some time researching the best ones. The final step is to fund your account with either fiat or cryptocurrency, and then you can start trading!

Crypto-Specific Scams And Hacks You Should Watch Out For?

The main thing to remember is that this market is still in its infancy. The cryptocurrency industry has been targeted by criminals for a number of years now, but it’s become much more developed recently and there are tons of great resources out there to help you avoid the predators. The most common threat comes from phishing scams: cybercriminals send emails purporting to be from popular services and exchanges that ask you for your login details. The exchange is a fake, however, and they simply take any information you give them before stealing all of your cryptocurrency! The other primary threat comes from hacking attacks against these companies themselves. The most famous example was the collapse of Mt Gox in 2014 when hackers stole 850,000 bitcoins from the company. It is important for you to protect yourself by understanding how the technology works, and where your exposure might lie.

Tax Implications Of Investing In Cryptocurrencies?

The IRS has decided to consider cryptocurrencies as property, not currency. The most important implication of this is that you will need to file a schedule D along with your standard tax return every year if you are holding cryptocurrency for investment (trade it on an exchange or buy and sell goods/services with it). The good news is that losses recognized on one coin can be used to offset gains on another. The bad news is that it will increase the complexity and tax burden of filing your return, because you’ll need to keep track of all your transactions just as if you had stocks or bonds.

Conclusion

The cryptocurrency market is still in the early stages. The vast majority of coins out there currently are unlikely to survive and will be completely worthless in a few years (the best example here is Dogecoin, which was started as a joke). So go through this complete beginner guide before starting your cryptocurrency journey.