We were all reminded of the
power of money in 2008, when seemingly without warning, major American
financial players crumbled to the tune of $700 billion dollars in government
bailouts. This seemingly-local sub-prime crisis took down the world’s largest
names in finance, and forced the nationalization of banks on both sides of the
Atlantic.
Countries’ economies
shifted. Some countries even went bankrupt because of it. The weaknesses in our
financial system
are clearer than ever. Out of this pure weakness rose a white paper, simply titled: Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.
are clearer than ever. Out of this pure weakness rose a white paper, simply titled: Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.
In it, author Satoshi
Nakamoto presents a different view of how money could work: inclusive,
participative, transparent, inexpensive, and, most importantly, not controlled
by any one government, institution, company or even person. The premise of
Bitcoin is total financial inclusivity, using the Internet. We believe in
Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision. The flow of money has been restricted, controlled
and manipulated by a small group of players for far too long. Digital
currencies like Bitcoin are transforming these systems.
Bitcoin is the currency of the Internet: distributed, worldwide, decentralized digital
money. Unlike traditional currencies such as dollars, bitcoins are issued and
managed without any central authority whatsoever: there is no government,
company, or bank in charge of Bitcoin. As such, it is more resistant to wild
inflation and corrupt banks. With Bitcoin, you can be your own bank.
Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, an
anonymous developer. What makes bitcoin so unique is that it is completely decentralized.
Users participating in the network create bitcoins by mining them via their
specially designed computer systems. In return, the users who mine these coins
also participate in the network ensuring it stays completely decentralized.
Since bitcoin’s first appearance, there has been a dispute in which many
argue that bitcoin is simply a new payment method rather than a currency. There
is a limited, but growing amount of online vendors who accept bitcoin as payment. And if you look at it that way, bitcoin can
perfectly be considered as a payment method.
In fact, these
claims are supported by the business model of companies such as Coinbase or
BitPay, which are proof that bitcoin is only being used as a payment method.
Bitcoin, itself
does not have any value: no one sells items in Bitcoin amounts, but rather in
dollar amounts that are paid via Bitcoin. A single Bitcoin’s value is
determined solely by supply and demand which is expressed in dollars. So in a
sense, its value is pegged to the value of the dollar. Many argue that this is
the key factor in which Bitcoin cannot count as a real currency.
But these
arguments are simply the tip of the iceberg in a discussion that leads to
nowhere. By using the same approach one might argue that even cash is only a
payment method and that gold has no value as it is expressed in currency
amounts, and that Bitcoin is equally a commodity like gold.
Just a set of mixed up ideas which can’t bring a real
contribute whatsoever, but that in a certain way, these could even make some
sense.
Bitcoin is in
fact, a payment method as it is a digital cash like currency and the US even recognize it as a commodity as well. Simple as that. Just like
cash and gold, bitcoin is a mean of exchange as well. And I think this buries
the discussion!
Bitcoin is a new kind of money (digital
currency) that can be transferred over the internet without the need for a
third-party such as a bank or other financial institution.
Why Bitcoin?
It's an easier
and faster way to deliver money to anyone anywhere at any time. There are no
minimum transaction or exchange fees, so you save money in the process.
How does Bitcoin work technologically?
In 2009,
Satoshi Nakamoto released Bitcoin as a piece of software and system. Because
Bitcoin is software, anybody can run it on a computer and then be able to
participate in the global economy.
Bitcoin is
therefore a lot like email. Bitcoin software is known as the blockchain which
tracks ownership the way that banks do. Blockchain is very different than a
bank's ledger because it is public and distributed and this means it can be
instantly viewed from anywhere and is updated constantly.
The software
is also open-source, meaning that no one institution or government or person
has control over the entire system.
What is a bitcoin address?
A bitcoin address is a alphanumeric bitcoin code.
Your alphanumeric address looks similar to this: 1HB5XKLmjFVj8ALj6mfBsbifRoD6miY36v.
Your alphanumeric address looks similar to this: 1HB5XKLmjFVj8ALj6mfBsbifRoD6miY36v.
You may
use the bitcoin address to receive bitcoin directly. It's just easier
to remember and easier to read.
A QR code lists the bitcoin address.
A QR code lists the bitcoin address.
To make money with bitcoin click here.
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