This article written by David Pieper was originally published in the December 2013 issue of Traders' Magazine.
Some people compare the current hype with the historical tulip bubble, some people talk about a new currency age – the topic is the virtual currency called Bitcoin. This article shows the advantages of Bitcoins, how they work and what perspective Bitcoins have in the future.
One alternative might be Bitcoins. But what are Bitcoins? It is a virtual currency that consists of cryptographically coded data that is forgery-proof. Bitcoins enable the direct transfer from one user to the other and render intermediates like commercial banks and central banks redundant. Instead of a central third party – the central bank or commercial bank – you have a global P2P (Peer-to-Peer) network, where every user takes care of the control of the currency system. The decentralised structure avoids having single powerful players using the system in their favour or manipulating it. A major advantage of Bitcoins in contrast to the current monetary system is anonymity and cheap transaction costs.
- David Pieper has been busy studying the stock market since the late 90s. As early as during his business studies at university and later during a career as an investment analyst at a bank, he combined fundamental analysis with the benefits of technical analysis. Mr Pieper focuses on trading CFDs and works as a freelance writer in the field of technical analysis.
Some people compare the current hype with the historical tulip bubble, some people talk about a new currency age – the topic is the virtual currency called Bitcoin. This article shows the advantages of Bitcoins, how they work and what perspective Bitcoins have in the future.
Decentralised, Unregulated and Anonymous
The concept of Bitcoin was introduced publicly for the first time by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 – a time when the global financial world was on the edge. Since then our existing monetary system has been faced with a deepening crisis of confidence and therefore the call for an alternative has become louder.One alternative might be Bitcoins. But what are Bitcoins? It is a virtual currency that consists of cryptographically coded data that is forgery-proof. Bitcoins enable the direct transfer from one user to the other and render intermediates like commercial banks and central banks redundant. Instead of a central third party – the central bank or commercial bank – you have a global P2P (Peer-to-Peer) network, where every user takes care of the control of the currency system. The decentralised structure avoids having single powerful players using the system in their favour or manipulating it. A major advantage of Bitcoins in contrast to the current monetary system is anonymity and cheap transaction costs.
Money Creation in a Different Way
Bitcoins are not issued by a central institution but have to be created. All users within the network can take part. » Decentralised, Unregulated and Anonymous The concept of Bitcoin was introduced publicly for the first time by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 – a time when the global financial world was on the edge. Since then our existing monetary system has been faced with a deepening crisis of confidence and therefore the call for an alternative has become louder. insights 21 But it only makes sense if you have a high-performance computer because they earn Bitcoins for the resolution of a highly-complex arithmetic problem. The “Mining”, the money creation, is organised in a way that you need more performance power with time to create additional units of money – it is similar to the production of natural resources. The network creates about 25 new Bitcoins in ten minutes at the moment. In contrast to the current monetary system, where the big central banks try to out do each other by money printing, the Bitcoin money supply is limited from the beginning – to 21 million units which guarantees monetary stability Bitcoin supporters say.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD weakens to near 1.1900 as traders eye US data
EUR/USD eases to near 1.1900 in Tuesday's European trading hours, snapping the two-day winning streak. Markets turn cautious, lifting the haven demand for the US Dollar ahead of the release of key US economic data, including Retail Sales and ADP Employment Change 4-week average.
GBP/USD stays in the red below 1.3700 on renewed USD demand
GBP/USD trades on a weaker note below 1.3700 in the European session on Tuesday. The pair faces challenges due to renewed US Dollar demand, UK political risks and rising expectations of a March Bank of England rate cut. The immediate focus is now on the US Retail Sales data.
USD/JPY drops toward 155.00 as focus shifts to US data
USD/JPY meets fresh supply and inches closer toward 155.00 in the Asian session on Tuesday. The Japanese Yen holds the upper hand over the US Dollar after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to a historic landslide win and on intervention talks. Traders brace for key US economic data that could offer more clues on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD weakens to near 1.1900 as traders eye US data
EUR/USD eases to near 1.1900 in Tuesday's European trading hours, snapping the two-day winning streak. Markets turn cautious, lifting the haven demand for the US Dollar ahead of the release of key US economic data, including Retail Sales and ADP Employment Change 4-week average.
GBP/USD stays in the red below 1.3700 on renewed USD demand
GBP/USD trades on a weaker note below 1.3700 in the European session on Tuesday. The pair faces challenges due to renewed US Dollar demand, UK political risks and rising expectations of a March Bank of England rate cut. The immediate focus is now on the US Retail Sales data.
Gold sticks to modest losses above $5,000 ahead of US data
Gold sticks to modest intraday losses through the first half of the European session, though it holds comfortably above the $5,000 psychological mark and the daily swing low. The outcome of Japan's snap election on Sunday removes political uncertainty, which along with signs of easing tensions in the Middle East, remains supportive of the upbeat market mood. This turns out to be a key factor exerting downward pressure on the safe-haven precious metal.
Bitcoin Cash trades lower, risks dead-cat bounce amid bearish signals
Bitcoin Cash trades in the red below $522 at the time of writing on Tuesday, after multiple rejections at key resistance. BCH’s derivatives and on-chain indicators point to growing bearish sentiment and raise the risk of a dead-cat bounce toward lower support levels.
Follow the money, what USD/JPY in Tokyo is really telling you
Over the past two Tokyo sessions, this has not been a rate story. Not even close. Interest rate differentials have been spectators, not drivers. What has moved USD/JPY in local hours has been flow and flow alone.
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