## Are you aware of [Bitcoin's](/coins/btc) growing energy problem?

The process of mining Bitcoin has resulted in a growing energy problem. This has turned it into a topic of heavy debate over the past few years.

Bitcoin mining is becoming more and more controversial because of its highly energy-hungry process by design. The cryptocurrency requires enormous hash calculations to process financial transactions without intermediaries. The primary impetus for each of these calculations is electricity. This article will discuss Bitcoin server mining, its growing energy problem, and why it has become a point of concern for the globe. 

## What is Bitcoin Server Mining?

Bitcoin server mining is creating new Bitcoins by solving complicated math problems. It consists of computing systems with specialised chips competing to solve mathematical puzzles. The mining process verifies transactions on the cryptocurrency's network and makes them reliable. When you successfully mine a Bitcoin, you will receive a predetermined number of Bitcoins.

## How Much Energy is Consumed?

Bitcoin's estimated energy consumption shot up from an annual rate of 6.6 terawatt-hours in 2017 to 138 terawatt-hours in early 2022. That's more energy than the annual consumption of countries like Sweden, Norway, and Malaysia.

## Why Does Mining for Bitcoin Use So Much Energy?

Bitcoin mining consumes a lot of energy to help computers solve complex mathematical problems to verify transactions. The intricacy of the calculations increases as the number of Bitcoin miners grows, forcing them to invest in even more powerful machines and more giant server farms for competitive advantage.

However, the Bitcoin proponents say the cryptocurrency still only uses a minute proportion of global electricity consumption – less than what's required to power the world's Christmas lights.

## Are We Trying to Reduce the Carbon Footprint?

As the debate over Bitcoin's growing energy problem raised climate concerns, many miners worldwide have been trying to embrace green energy in mining. The strategies miners should use to reduce carbon footprint include:

•	Improving mining processes
•	Cleaning up electricity supply
•	Shifting to renewable sources
•	Optimizing transportation
•	Reducing waste

## Are Bitcoin's Emissions Dropping?

While notable personalities like Elon Musk, Michael Saylor, and Jack Dorsey exhort the industry to fuel-switch green energy, there has been a surprise increase in global carbon emissions. According to one of the leading energy journals, [Elsevier's Joule](https://www.journals.elsevier.com/joule/recent-articles), the share of renewables in the overall energy mining dropped from 42% in 2020 to 25% in August 2021. Likewise, the carbon footprint from generating electricity grew by 17% between 2020 and 2021.

## Has the Climate Concern Impacted the Crypto Markets?

Yes, it has. Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, said in February 2021 that the company had invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin. He added that it would accept the cryptocurrency as a payment method for its products. This move made the digital currency more popular with investors. However, Musk later that year announced a stunning turnabout that Tesla had suspended vehicle purchases using Bitcoin due to its climate change concerns. The decision provoked a sell-off in Bitcoin that affected many other cryptocurrencies.

## What is the Most Efficient Bitcoin Miner?

The widely considered best Bitcoin miner is Antminer S19, followed by WhatsMiner M30S+ and AvalonMiner 1246. This mining hardware varies in power consumption, hash rate rating, and price. You can use profitability calculators with mining pools to find the best one for you.

## What Does the Future Hold?

Bitcoin's critics say the energy-hungry "proof of work" (PoW) system used on its blockchain was never designed to hold up what's now a trillion-dollar asset. This debate gave the backers of rival cryptocurrencies a chance to seize on Bitcoin's growing energy problem as an argument to shift to lower-power alternatives. Ethereum is widely expected to switch from energy-consuming PoW to "proof of stake" (PoS) by 2022. This will slash its estimated energy consumption by about 99%. Like Cardano and Solana, many newer blockchains also use variations of "proof of stake" as an alternative process that takes up less electricity.

The bright side is that Bitcoin's development community is experimenting with solutions to improve its energy efficiency, which may alleviate the climate concern. What the future holds for Bitcoin server mining and investors is still unknown. However, it remains the world's dominant cryptocurrency despite many challenges.


Bitcoin's Growing Energy Problem - All Revealed

Cryptocurrencies like [Bitcoin](/coins/btc), Litecoin and some others are generated through mining. Crypto Tab Browser was designed to make mining easier for miners. The digital world is greatly advancing, including the world of cryptocurrency. Hopefully, Crypto Tab will bring a lot of positive impact for crypto miners. Read on for more insights!

## Crypto Tab Browser

According to the creators, Crypto Tab Browser is an app that supports mining and browsing the web. This browser stands out as the first of its kind.

[Crypto Tab](https://cryptotab.net/en/) is a one-of-a-kind browser used to surf the web and mine Bitcoin simultaneously. If your mining is successful, you get rewarded with the mined Bitcoin. 

You are probably wondering how possible it is for a browser to have the capability of mining Bitcoin, considering the high level of hardware devices needed. 

The app is said to be a free, reliable cryptocurrency mining app, but is it?

## What is Mining?

To fully understand what Crypto Tab Browser is about, you must first understand what mining is and how it works.
The mining process creates new coins for some cryptocurrencies. This helps to maintain the circulation of the coins. 
Mining for most coins, especially Bitcoin, is usually not easy. Mining requires high hardware capable of solving complex problems. The miner who first solves the next block and broadcasts it, if approved, gets added to the blockchain. The miner then gets rewarded with the mined coins. 

Crypto Tab creates an easy opportunity for Bitcoin miners to earn Bitcoin. Miners will enjoy this browser, with its lightweight browsing speed and fast and ready-to-mine feature. The best part is that the browser is completely free.

## Features of the Crypto Tab Browser

Based on the description of the browser by its authors, the browser:

•	Is a super-fast, lightweight browser: This app offers a fast internet speed. Aside from having good mining features, Crypto Tab provides a good browsing experience.
•	It has built-in mining features CryptoTab: this is the unique feature of this app. Mining is a process that requires unique hardware devices, but with this app, you can mine with any device. 
•	It is user-friendly: Users can easily assess the browser
•	Sync everything across multiple devices: The app can be synced with all your devices. 

## What Can the Browser Do?

•	Crypto Tab Browser is a reliable browser with lots of unique features. 
•	Miners can earn on the browser while still surfing the internet. 
•	Mining on the browser is fast due to its fast built-in mining algorithms. 
•	It can be used on all devices, including desktops and tablets. 
•	It mines bitcoin: 

## Some controversies about Crypto Tab

Despite all these positive attributes of Crypto Tab, most people still have their doubts about the browser. 
Although Crypto Tab is a free browser, people still suspect it to be a scam. Whether the browser is a scam or not remains uncertain.


Crypto Tab Browser: What You Need to Know

[Bitcoin's](/coins/btc) price rose above $30,613, increasing by 5.62% in the last 24 hours. [Ethereum's](/coins/eth) price also rose by 7.02% to $1,902 in the same time frame.  

The [Bitcoin (BTC) price](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin/) remained far above the $28,500 support zone and began a new upward trend over the $29,200 resistance mark. As of writing, the price has surpassed $30,600 and has increased by more than 5% in a single day. 

Similarly, the price of Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, is back over the $1,850 resistance level and is up 6% in a day.

BTC and ETH were not along in experiencing 24 hours of notable value rises on the cryptocurrency markets.
Ripple (XRP), which is another major altcoin, was aiming for an upward break over $0.40. ADA gained 12% and broke through the $0.50 resistance level. 

## Bitcoin Price Rises

The Bitcoin price began to rise steadily after establishing a solid base at $28,500. BTC surpassed $30,000 and entered the positive zone. The next significant resistance level is at $30,500. A clear move above $30,500 may signal the start of a more rapid rise. It might rise to $32,000 in this case. On the downside, $29,500 provides immediate support. The major weekly support is at $28,500. 

## Ethereum Price Update

Ethereum's price stayed firmly over $1,700 and began a steady rise above the $1,850 resistance zone. On the flipside, immediate resistance is found at $1,920. The next significant barrier is at $1,950, over which the price might break $2,000 for the first time in months. If there is a downward correction, the market may find offers, around $1,820. The next big support is at $1,750. 

A co-founder of a cryptocurrency exchange stated that Bitcoin remains stable. Although, reaching its ultimate strength will take time, experts have observed.

Over the previous 24 hours, the overall cryptocurrency market volume has climbed by 4.74% to $53.47 billion.
Keep following Latest Moni from Moni Talks for the latest cryptocurrency price rise news, breaking market stories and blockchain insight.


Bitcoin Price and Ethereum Price See 24hr Rise

Tricksters behind the Bitcoin Trader scam have been exploiting pictures of celebrities from the hit TV show Dragon's Den to attract gullible investors to invest.

It is a scam. The pictures and false quotes have attracted investors into a get-rich-quick [bitcoin](/coins/btc) scam on websites and social platforms.

Let's discuss in detail the Bitcoin Trader scam.

## What is Dragon’s Den?

[Dragons' Den, produced by the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006vq92), is a popular UK reality TV show. Promising entrepreneurs put their business visions to professionals and ask for investments.

The show features a board of investors known as "dragons" who are ready to place their own money in potential business visions.

## What is the Bitcoin Trader Scam?

The Bitcoin Trader scam is a phony investment opportunity that falsely asserts that it is connected with the famous BBC show. The scam has distinct versions, but all share one common trait; they ask for money from unsuspecting investors in trade for a fake investment option.

Tricksters draw gullible investors into trading with their money by manipulating pictures of celebrities from the TV show on websites and social media platforms.

The Bitcoin Trader scam is an example of how phony sites exploit the names of renowned public figures, superstars, and TV shows to encourage a get-rich-quick strategy. It's not a genuine investment opportunity, but something to trick innocent people and take their money by luring them with false promises.

Some of the well-known false claims from the Bitcoin Trader scam include:

•	A phony news report asserting Deborah Meaden, one of the investors on Dragons' Den, made a £250,000 investment in bitcoin. It is not true.
•	A bogus interview with Sarah Davies and Jenny Campbell, two new investors on Dragons' Den, asserting they had invested in bitcoin. Again, it's completely fake.
•	A fake interview with Peter Jones claimed he was initiating a bitcoin investment program after witnessing the get-rich-quick bitcoin scheme. This is also false.
•	Last, but not least, Theo Paphitis is said to be backing bitcoin as a lucrative cryptocurrency on the Dragon's Den show. This, too, is phony.

## In Summary

Bitcoin Trader is a scam. It's a phony get-rich-quick system that falsely promises investors enormous profits within a short span.

It is not legal.

Advances in technology bring advances in digital fraud, and cryptocurrency is not immune. Investors should conduct thorough research of the website or social media platform before investing their money.


Bitcoin Trader Scam: Dragon's Den

If you've been searching for a Bitcoin Code review, this article might help.

Nowadays, seeing how much profit it earned some individuals, many people want to get into crypto. Of course, when talking about cryptocurrencies, the first that comes up to one's mind is bitcoin.

The possibility of growing a passive income by trading [bitcoins](/coins/btc) has become very attractive lately. However, numerous auto trading platforms already have bad reviews, so people are being much more cautious about investing. It is hard to evaluate which trading platform is legit and which is a scam.
Bitcoin Code is an auto trading platform for cryptocurrencies that promises "insane returns" and "great profits" with "just a few minutes of work".

As we already mentioned, there is no real way to be sure whether something is a scam or not. The Bitcoin Code is known and has its own growing community of users who claim the scheme has been more than lucrative.

We have witnessed the evolution of different auto trading platforms, such as Bitcoin Revolution, which also has trading robots doing everything for the client.

With Bitcoin Code, everything seems pretty much the same. The user deposits money and then activates the live trading feature and sets stop-loss limits. 

The bots do everything else, such as market analysis, placing orders, and performing transactions.

## What is the Bitcoin Code?

The Bitcoin Code is usually described as an automated trading platform that trades for the client. 

The math seems simple - buying low, selling high. With only a $250 deposit and relying on a sophisticated, 99.4% accurate algorithm, the robot tracks the crypto market and trades 0.01 seconds ahead of market movements.

There is an option of performing manual trades as well, but it's available only to clients with intermediate knowledge of how manual trading works.

## Is it a Scam?

As we already mentioned, it is easy to believe that one can get rich over the night by investing only $250. However, everyone with a little bit of "Poirot" in them can see that Bitcoin Code is a scam.

Everything, including a photo of Bitcoin Code's alleged creator Steve McKay, is fake.

The photo of the alleged multi-millionaire who "has featured on the cover of Forbes magazine" and claims his team can help you "earn a guaranteed $13,000 in exactly 24 hours", is a photo of a rented actor from e-gig website [Fiverr](https://www.fiverr.com/banjoman15).

Also, if you try and look it up on Google, most search results will give the Bitcoin Code good reviews and claim it's the "real deal".

However, if you ask Facebook, things are definitely darker than it looks. Back in 2018, the company had to remove fake Daily Mirror ads stating Martin Lewis, of Money Saving Expert, had made a fortune from Bitcoin Code.

Mr. Lewis is now suing Facebook, which was paid to publish the fake adverts.

Steve McKay, therefore, never has been on "Dragon's Den" or in Forbes. This is a group of crypto scammers, and Steve McKay doesn't exist.
Every trading scheme with his name turned out to be an investment scam that is better to avoid.

However, this scheme isn't illegal per se. Because the client willingly gives their assets (whether it's $250 or even more) and is warned about the potential risks of trading – this cannot be charged as illicit activity.

The only real advice would be that if you want to try legit cryptocurrency trading, you should try some free demos with virtual money and do your own research before making any investment.


Bitcoin Code Review: Scam or Legit?

In July 2021, the US internet sales behemoth [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/) shook the crypto market after letting out a blockchain and cryptocurrency lead job advertisement.

The ad specified that the company wanted someone to develop the case for crypto, drive the vision and product strategy, and gain leadership buy-in and investment.

According to sources, the directive for this advertisement came from the headman - Jeff Bezos himself - and it meant more than merely looking into options. Allegedly, Bezos was (and still is) interested in implementing cryptocurrencies into Amazon's business, particularly [Bitcoin](/coins/btc), [Ethereum](/coins/eth), Cardano, and Bitcoin Cash. After that, according to reports, the company would develop its native token as well.

Still, even though there were plenty of rumors, they were never officially confirmed. Amazon did, however, hint that it plans to jump into the creation of Amazon cryptocurrency, and the year 2022 was on everybody's mouth.

## Who will be Amazon’s Crypto Head?

According to the job ad, the company searched for "an experienced product leader" to develop a roadmap for Amazon blockchain and cryptocurrency strategy.

It stated that the successful candidate would leverage expertise in blockchain, distributed ledger, central bank digital currencies, and cryptocurrency to drive the concept forward.

This step seems logical since other big fintech companies, such as Facebook, Visa, and Google, also recruited whole teams of experts charged with creating a new blockchain and crypto-related workspace.

## When Could Amazon Launch?

As we already mentioned, there were no official details on Amazon's possible launch date. However, 2022 was the year everyone mentioned when discussing the digital currency that would be standing shoulder to shoulder with Bitcoin and Ethereum.

There is already something called Amazon Coin; a virtual currency that can be bought on Amazon's website and then be used to purchase apps, games, and in-app items from the Amazon Appstore. Each Amazon Coin is worth $0.01 and can be bought in cheaper stacks on the Appstore app, Fire tablets, and the Amazon website. Still, it is not an Amazon cryptocurrency, per se, since these coins are non-refundable after purchase.

In the case of the actual company's cryptocurrency, the users should use it to shop on the Amazon website, trade with it, and, eventually, exchange it for other tokens.

Nowadays, the global finance industry deals with trillions of dollars daily, serving billions of users. However, the whole sector has problems with bureaucracy, high costs, frequent fraud, and constant delays. Third parties such as payment networks, stock exchanges, and money transfer services deal with crime daily. Therefore, the costs of regulation are rising as end-users ultimately bear the burden.

## Amazon to Sell NFTs Soon

Amazon admitted mulling similar projects in the past, even though these projects were rather understated than the one which wraps the Amazon cryptocurrency nowadays.

Amazon already has 'Amazon Managed Blockchain' service that, according to its webpage, "makes it easy to join public networks or create and manage scalable private networks using the popular open-source frameworks Hyperledger Fabric and Ethereum”.

However, the most recent reports show that Amazon is not even near adding cryptocurrencies as the payment option for its retail services but is interested in the Web3 space. Recently, company Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy commented that even though developing an Amazon coin is not planned for the near future, there is a possibility for the company to sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on its e-commerce platform.


Status Quo on Amazon Cryptocurrency Development

In this review, we discuss [Bitcoin Trader](https://www.bitcointrader.com/), a cryptocurrency trading bot whose aim is to improve the profitability of crypto traders within the market. 

The [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) robot was developed as a flexible trading tool, merging automated and manual trading tools to benefit a wide range of traders. It is easy to operate and works based on predefined rules set by users. These can be altered at any time; the rules can be changed based on the trader's preference, experience level, or risk appetite.

Machine learning models and artificial intelligence are used by Bitcoin Trader to analyse the markets and spot movements of various trends. Thus, finding the best entry and exit points for trades and increasing the trader's chances of a higher return. The developers of this robot state that it scans the latest market news, analyses trends, and enters trades quickly and frequently, with the system being 0.1 seconds faster than the market itself.

## Strain on Users Reduced

They add that the bot can help with market analysis and reduce the strain of extensive research on users. It is also believed that the bot is 85% accurate. Furthermore, it ties traders with brokers across the world. The broker then bears the responsibility of position sizing and trade execution. 

The system also allows you to set your specifications and trade based on your research. This suits more experienced traders, who better understand the market and are more comfortable conducting their research. The goal is for you to make a profit regardless of your trading strategy or system.

The robot’s speed also extends to its transactions, processing deposits within minutes. Withdrawals are also processed in 24 hours. The bot doesn’t charge any fees for transactions or account maintenance, nor are commissions taken on your trades. This greatly benefits the customer, as your only cost is the minimum deposit, which currently stands at $250. This price is in line with many other crypto trading bots in the financial space. With the demo account, you get the chance to do proper research and improve your position. There is also customer support via email and phone.

#No Software Installation Needed

Bitcoin Trader is a web-based platform, so no software installation is needed, and no updates need to be downloaded. It can be used from any desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone worldwide, providing there is a stable internet connection. Also, even though the name is Bitcoin trader, you can trade a vast number of cryptocurrencies on the platform. Verification is also quick, with the only information required being the user information and their payment details.

The Bitcoin Trader robot seems credible, with a success rate of 85%, and there are no fees apart from its minimum deposit amount. However, there are risks involved, as with any form of trading, that can lead to you losing your initial deposit. Therefore you must approach the bot with caution and proper research before using it to put on trades. You must start with funds that you can do away with and only trade within the appropriate risk parameter and don’t trade over the minimum balance.



Bitcoin Trader Review: What Is It?

Could you spend Elon Musk's money if you had it? And what would you spend it on?

For some, well, not all; it's no news that Elon is known for making bold investments in various industries, like automobiles, crypto, space exploration, etc.

Considering how wealthy he has been over the last decades, this is no surprise - earning a massive amount of money off his investments and being the world's richest man with well over $200 billion in net worth.

Elon holds a significant interest in three important companies; Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter. The business magnate spent a whopping $2.89 billion purchasing a 9.2% stake in Twitter, which, in turn, made him the company's largest shareholder.

Elon is known for bold purchases and wise investments, and Twitter shares surged about 27% right after the purchase.
 
## Elon Musk's Best Investments To Date

Over time, Musk has invested in Tesla, PayPal, SpaceX, and DeepMind Technologies, which became successful companies.

### Tesla

Even though he wasn't a founding member of Tesla, he was among those who led an early round of financing the company back in 2004. And in 2008, he became the CEO of the company. Today Tesla is a significant EV manufacturer and the largest EV company by sales and market share.
PayPal
 
Musk founded X.com with others and that ended up being PayPal in 2001. When the owners sold PayPal to eBay in 2002, Musk, who with an 11.7% stake was the company's largest shareholder, received more than $150 million.
 
### SpaceX
 
In 2002, Elon founded SpaceX with a mission to innovate on space technology and a primary aim of taking humans to Mars. Pretty lofty goals, right? Since its inception, Elon has helped the company take on significant space projects; in 2021, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract to haul astronauts to the lunar orbit of the moon's surface in its Starship vehicles. 

## How Would You Spend Elon Musk Money
 
Considering how wealthy Elon is, being the richest man on Earth, you must have thought: 'How would I spend Elon Musk's money?'. Here are some ideas:

## Buy Bitcoin in Large Amounts
 
If you're keen on investing like Elon or just looking for ways to spend your money reasonably, you can purchase and hold Bitcoin in large amounts. Yes, it's a wise decision; in the past and present times, famous business magnates have evangelized the importance of owning Bitcoin. 

Why? Because it might just be the next big thing in finance, if it isn't already.
 
## Start or Invest in a Company You Love
 
Everyone is passionate about something. If that's you, then spending money on starting a company of your liking isn't such a bad idea. It's easier said than done, but what are the odds of losing if you try? You get to do what you love and start something you're passionate about that could lead to something big.

## Final Thoughts

Suppose you have well over a billion dollars. In that case, you can invest in companies, companies that you love their products oh so much, and, more so, companies that have the potential to innovate or change an industry constantly over time.

Do you love Apple products or Tesla cars? Investing in Tesla and Apple is a perfect way to spend your money wisely without worrying over significant losses.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Spend Elon Musk Money? How Would You Spend Billions?

The [BTC](/coins/btc) price is now trading at $28K, indicating that it is highly oversold, as evidenced by RSI levels around 30%.

Indeed, the RSI has hit levels not seen since the May 2021 crisis. The price may have a positive retracement and retest the broken $30K barrier in the immediate term. However, it is also feasible that it will continue to fall towards $24K and $20K, which might eventually indicate a mid-term bottom. 

The 50-day and 100-day moving averages also form a bearish crossing, which might increase the likelihood of lower prices sooner rather than later. BTC price has broken below the huge bearish flag that has been building over the previous few months, indicating a negative continuation scenario. 
 
The downtrend is presently displaying symptoms of fatigue, with the past few candles closing with large wicks to the downward. The RSI is also attempting to break above the oversold area, implying a short-term positive pullback to the previously breached $30K barrier. However, the bears have total control, and a collapse below the $24K level remains likely. 

The futures market undoubtedly had an influential role in this collapse, since Bitcoin's open interest was unusually high even as the price fell from $48K to $37K in April. This gradual decline in open interest during a 20% drop indicated that many stop losses and liquidation targets of long positions were located below the $37K, $33K, and $28K support levels.  

However, the open interest is still significantly greater than in May 2021 following the drop from the $64K ATH, indicating that the futures market is still hot, despite the current decline. Because high open interest results in significant volatility, this might be taken as a negative indication. Rising inflation, geopolitical events, and concerns about the Fed tightening monetary policy have all contributed to heightened market volatility. 

The Fed raised interest rates on Wednesday - the first time in more than 20 years - signalling that future rate hikes are likely and that the balance sheet runoff will begin in June. Some analysts believe [TerraUSD (UST)](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/terrausd/), one of the most popular stable currencies, also contributed to Bitcoin's fall this week. UST is supposed to be tethered to the dollar, but it plummeted to 29 cents this week and crashed in a simulated bank run as investors panicked and sold out their tokens. 

Since December 25, 2021, the BTC price has not risen beyond $50,000. Despite the problems, Bitcoin has remained above its January low of less than $34,000, which was the lowest in the preceding six months. BTC price dropped by 40% since its all-time high above $68,000 on November 10, owing to rising inflation, a sluggish job market recovery, and the Fed's continuous signs that it will begin winding down the measures to assist the economy.

Despite a poor start to the year, Bitcoin entered 2021 on a high note, thanks to a robust November and early December that gave way to the recent downward trend. After beginning 2021 around the $30,000 level, Bitcoin rose throughout the year, reaching its current all-time high of $68,000 on November 10.  

Despite decreasing dramatically from its most recent all-time high, many analysts believe BTC price will eventually surge beyond $100,000, describing it as a matter of when, not if.

Bitcoin reached its first high in 2021 when it surpassed $60,000 in April. Since then, the price fluctuation has highlighted the cryptocurrency's unpredictability when more individuals are eager to participate. Bitcoin bounced dramatically up and down in the weeks between a July low that brought it below $30,000 and its most recent peak in November. 

## Analysts’ Views of BTC Price

According to a crypto specialist, price fluctuations are expected for individuals who invest in crypto for the long term. Big drops are not a cause for concern, and he avoids reviewing his stocks during dangerous market falls.

Humphrey Yang's set it and forget it attitude to cryptocurrencies mirrors his approach to traditional stock market trading. Still, other experts believe Bitcoin is too distinct from traditional assets to draw historical similarities.  

Recent price fluctuations have been accompanied by rising inflation, persistent uncertainty over the country's protracted battle with COVID-19, and new regulatory steps by the United States government, notably Biden's recent executive order.
 
## Cryptocurrency Crime and Tax Evasion 

A few main themes have developed about new cryptocurrency regulation in the US: preventing cryptocurrency crime and tax fraud, ensuring stable coin regulation, and the possibility for investment vehicles like crypto ETFs and other funds.
The decentralised nature of digital currencies is a significant appeal for many crypto aficionados. However, regulatory guidelines can assist in protecting investors.  

One proposal would broaden the definition of a brokerage to include firms that support digital asset trading, such as cryptocurrency exchanges. This type of move would imply higher tax reporting duty to assist the IRS in tracking crypto tax evasion. 

Companies that facilitate crypto trades would be compelled to provide tax information about such exchanges to the IRS, beginning with the 2024 tax season, under a proposed new rule being examined by legislators.  

Furthermore, Gensler has spoken about the necessity for increased legislation to help avoid future ransomware attacks. 

## Stable Coin Regulation 

Stable coins are most utilised by sophisticated traders to decrease costs on crypto-to-crypto exchanges, but the Biden administration analysis suggests that stable coins may become a more general digital payment system. Because cryptocurrency is still in its infancy as an asset class, any new regulations may influence investors' portfolios.

According to Gensler, unscrupulous actors may be able to dodge public policy measures and other punishments targeted at preventing money laundering or guaranteeing tax compliance by avoiding the use of US dollars in direct crypto-to-crypto exchanges. 

## Cryptocurrency ETFs 

Cryptocurrencies ETFs are not now accessible in the US, but they may provide a future method for investors to invest in cryptocurrency without buying directly from an exchange. "There's not a method to acquire an asset that closely tracks the price of a certain cryptocurrency until an ETF is approved," explains Jeremy Schneider. That implies that the only method for investors to do so is to purchase coins directly from an exchange. If you are interested in cryptocurrency, these funds, like a traditional ETF or index fund, may help you diversify your assets among multiple coins. 

## Biden's Executive Order  

President Joe Biden has authorised federal agencies to establish a plan for laws and regulations on digital assets such as bitcoin with the signing of a new executive order on cryptocurrency. 

According to experts, the decision will assist in creating the regulatory clarity needed for significant institutional adoption of Bitcoin and other digital assets. Long-term investors may benefit from more stability in the usually turbulent crypto sector. After an early burst that saw the price of Bitcoin rise, it quickly dropped again. 

Biden's directive also directs US authorities to ensure that the country's cryptocurrency regulations are consistent with US allies. It charges the Financial Stability Oversight Council to investigate any illegal financial issues. Furthermore, the law underlines the significance of a new central bank digital currency issued by the government. Biden's executive order is a timely reminder that US politicians are closely monitoring Bitcoin and how it may impact financial markets in the future. This should not persuade crypto investors to make quick adjustments to their long-term investment strategy.

Experts advise sticking to the most established cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Ethereum, and investing just what you are willing to lose or no more than 5% of your overall portfolio. Budget essentials such as emergency preparedness, debt repayment, and retirement savings should take precedence over Bitcoin investments. Regarding where to purchase and sell cryptocurrencies, stick with a well-known, high-volume cryptocurrency exchange. 

## China’s Ban on Financial Institutions from Cryptocurrency Business 

China has prohibited financial institutions and payment businesses from offering cryptocurrency transaction services and has advised investors against speculative crypto trading.

According to a blockchain analysis business, a combination of factors has contributed to the recent sell-off, in which new short-term investors dumping their holdings in response to the latest decline may be adding to the reduction in Bitcoin's value. However, the stock and cryptocurrency markets have historically gained despite greater volatility and this is expected to continue. As a precaution, experts urge investors to keep investments small to handle volatility. 

To conclude, if Bitcoin survives as a digital asset class, which it may, it will be seen as a high-risk asset class. As a result, it might see a significant gain in value in the future or go the other way and become worthless. Therefore, it remains to be seen if Bitcoin is indeed the future “world money".


BTC Price: Bitcoin Update

This article addresses how to calculate the conversion of BTC into GBP. Before we start, it's important to understand what bitcoin really is.

[Bitcoin](/coins/btc) is a decentralised online cryptocurrency that can be sent from user to user on a peer-to-peer network without intermediaries.

The cryptocurrency is also called "digital gold" due to its high value, which no government or bank can manipulate. It is increasing in popularity as a payment method because it offers a more efficient and cheaper way to do business.

After hitting an extortionate value, Bitcoin is losing some of its value today. As the value changes, many people are concerned about the loss. To understand how much you can potentially lose or gain, you need to determine the fluctuation for each day. Let's look at how to calculate BTC to GBP daily.

## BTC to GBP: Calculate the Value Daily

The [value of Bitcoin changes every day,](https://coinmarketcap.com/) so there's no straightforward formula to work out the price of 1 BTC in GBP. So, let's keep the following as a rough guide for better understanding.

First, you need to find the number of Bitcoins currently in circulation. You can visit any reputable cryptocurrency app or website that tracks data on it.

Next, find the exchange rate for today. You can use a converter, easily found online, to find a reasonable estimate for the current exchange rate. But remember, the price of 1 BTC depends on its value relative to other cryptocurrencies.

For a rough idea of what one bitcoin worth is in pounds sterling today, consider doing the following formula:

1 BTC = (Current value of 1 BTC in GBP / The exchange rate from that day’s date) 0.000033 * 30,362.43 = 1.00196019 GBP
This method can give you a rough estimation of what one BTC is worth in GBP in today’s money terms. But since the price changes every day, the value of 1 BTC to GBP will also change.

The best thing about cryptocurrency is that it's backed by mathematical proof instead of any authority. The digital currency is immune to political influence as it's not subject to government control or inflation.

## How to Calculate the BTC to GBP Exchange Rate?

The BTC to GBP exchange rate is the rate at which Bitcoin will be exchanged for the British pound on a specific date or time. As no central banks control the cryptocurrency market, calculating an exchange rate for this system can be challenging. Use the formula mentioned above to calculate the current price of one BTC to GBP.

1 BTC = 1.00196019 GBP

## Conclusion

As cryptocurrency is becoming more and more relevant in today's technological revolution, it has become most important to understand the conversion of Bitcoin into GBP. The value of Bitcoin fluctuates each day, so you need to check the value daily to determine how much Bitcoin is worth in GBP today.
 
 
 
 



BTC to GBP: 1 Bitcoin to British Pound Sterling

This week we watched as the [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) price crashed to its lowest level in almost a year, infamously going along with the stock market plunge.

This, however, isn't unexpected and can be attributed to the Federal Reserve's tightening its grip on the overall economy. Last week, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell stated the central bank accepted a half-percentage-point interest rate rise in an attempt to restrain inflation that reached its record heights in the last 40 years.

Constant rising inflation, paired with a heavy growth of the interest rates, creates one of the most significant short-term dangers for the American economy. The Fed also cautioned that the Russia-Ukraine conflict could represent a dangerous threat to the country's financial stability.

The central bank said that more 'adverse surprises' in interest rates and inflation could affect the financial system negatively, especially if they are accompanied by economic activity declining.

The rest of the algorithm is pretty clear - as the Fed raises rates, the U.S. Dollar Index became the strongest in the last 20 years.

The Crypto community is not happy with the Fed's supremacy over the digital currency markets. Bitcoin's price crashed by 17% in April - the worst monthly performance this year. The biggest cryptocurrency by its market cap completed six consecutive red weekly candles, a phenomenon that hasn't happened since 2014.

However, solace of a kind is found in the fact that crypto prices are following equities, especially tech stocks. This means that the fall isn't the direct result of investors not believing in crypto. Still, it shows that Bitcoin is still not considered a hedge against inflation.

## Fears of Crypto Winter

Analysts argue about what could happen next. Some are afraid of repeating the crypto winter 2018, while others claim the crypto sector is in a better condition now than it was four years ago.

Still, the geopolitical situation is far from ideal. Last year was marked by a COVID pandemic that boosted virtual finance and resulted in altcoins jumping more than 5,000%. This year, we are witnessing an exodus from the crypto market.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at more than 40% lower than its all-time high. It won't be easy to HODL and many will be tempted to sell. 

However, to sell a loss, you're limiting yourself from profiting.

The Fed may be a big deal, but it isn't the only regulator of the digital currency market. The whole sector is still in diapers and we're still waiting for it to be regulated.

## Crypto Not Losing Its Grip

Be that as it may, we doubt the crypto market will lose its grip. However, some investors may reallocate from Bitcoin or gold to the dollar in the short term. Still, it is believed that Bitcoin will still be guided mainly by basic factors, such as an increase in users and network usage.

On the other hand, Bitcoin bulls will most probably take advantage of the Fed's move and, almost regardless of price, buy the dip.



 Bitcoin Price Crash After Fed Raises Rates

Bitcoin saw more than 19 million coins of the 21 million maximum supply in circulation at the beginning of April 2022. This has made it easy for miners to answer the question, 'how many [Bitcoins](/coins/btc) are out there to mine?'.

Bitcoin is the most popular digital asset, and the largest by market capitalisation.

## What happened?

On April 1, 2022, SBI Crypto mined the 19th million block, which was termed '730002'. As of writing, BTC's circulating supply was 19,017,800. This milestone has sent waves across the crypto finance market, with many novices or beginner traders asking how many Bitcoins there are. When Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin in 2009, he released a maximum supply of 21 million BTCs.

## Why is it important?

Fewer than 2 million BTCs are left to be mined. This provides closure to investors and miners that want to know how many Bitcoins are there now.

Bitcoin is involved in millions of transactions daily.

Although it would take until the year 2140 before the last BTC is mined, the attribute of scarcity has started trending across social media and search engines (DuckDuckGo, Bing, Yahoo Search, and Google).

Since scarcity is an attribute that confers value on a currency, in addition to durability, non-counterfeitability, utility, divisibility, and transferability, many stakeholders of the crypto finance space have started making bullish forecasts about the digital gold.

Among them is New York-based certified public accountant Kate Waltman, who specialises in crypto and predicted a $100,000 valuation for BTC in 2022.

Jurrien Timmer, the global macro director at [Fidelity Investments](https://www.fidelity.com/go/join-fidelity-investments?imm_pid=700000001009130&immid=100742&imm_eid=ep6546361576&msclkid=689d26d656f11e95ca4344ac6e1e3c35), projects BTC could reach $100,000 in 2022.

Bitcoin could command the least possible price of $100,000 and the best possible price of $150,000 by the close of 2022, per the analysis of Ian Ballina, the founder of Token Metrics (a crypto research and media company).

Blockchain data analyst Matthew Hyland foresees BTC reaching the $100,000 price milestone in 2022.

The chief executive officer of Parallax Digital (digital assets marketing and consulting firm), Robert Breedlove, believes BTC has the potential to reach $12.5 million in 2031.

## Bitcoin’s driving factors that could lead to a rally in 2022

As of writing, there are more than 19,000 cryptos on the market. Since BTC is the first blockchain-backed cryptocurrency, it is not surprising to come across questions such as how many types of Bitcoins are there.

There is one Bitcoin and its price patterns affect other tokens, which are collectively called alternate coins (altcoins).

Although Bitcoin is a primary driver of the price of thousands of coins, these drivers need to kick in for experts' valuations to come to fruition in 2022.

The aura of scarcity will undoubtedly throw more liquidity into Bitcoin. In addition to this, mainstream adoption of Bitcoin will play an invaluable role in the token’s valuation. What’s more, the improvement of Bitcoin’s ecosystem with the triggering of the Taproot upgrade in November 2021 could see more decentralized applications and protocols (dApps) add more weight to the token.

With the clampdown on mining rigs by China and India, Bitcoin will thrive in more mining-friendly countries so that more coins will be added into circulation.

You should not forget that as proof-of-work (POW) networks, Ethereum mining revenue beat Bitcoin in the first quarter of 2022.
Lastly, Bitcoin could reach new milestones if favorable regulations are implemented.

Billions of people still consider BTC as a coin that is involved in dark web activities due to its appearance in several cybersecurity reports.

Once BTC gains the backing of major economies globally, it would be easy for the token to spike and reach new high highs.

As of writing, BTC still trades in a bearish cycle and needs whales/institutional investors to push its price to new milestones.

## Frequently Asked Questions 

### How many Bitcoins are available? 

There are 1,892,200 BTCs left to be mined as of April 21, 2022.

### How many Bitcoins are there in total?

There are 21 million BTCs in maximum supply.

### How many Bitcoins were there in 2010?

The first block was mined on January 9, 2009, and consisted of 50 Bitcoins. By the end of 2010, there were approximately 3,396,000 BTC mined.


How many Bitcoins are there? Just 9% left!

Taxes are an important part of realising profit while trading cryptocurrencies and considering your British [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) profit. It is crucial to be on the right side of the law and pay what you owe to the government.

The UK does not have a specific tax for bitcoin or cryptocurrencies; instead, it falls into the categories of Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax. We will explain the main differences between the two to help you understand into which of the two you fall.

Capital Gains Tax is implemented when doing the following with cryptocurrencies; selling crypto, trading crypto, spending crypto, and/or gifting crypto. You don't pay tax on all proceeds, or if one of these actions results in a loss, you only have to pay on crypto gains or, in other words, when you've made a profit.

You don't pay tax if you gift crypto to a spouse or civil partner.

It would be best to consider what tax bracket you fall into when calculating your gains. Unlike other countries, the UK taxes all capital gains and is taxed under the same rates and based on how much you earn annually. 

## The following are from the 2020-2021 tax year:

•	if the amount earned is more than £50,279, you are charged 20%

•	if the amount earned is below £50,270, you pay 10%

It's worth noting that if your crypto gains are less than £12,300 for the year, you do not need to pay any tax.
To calculate Capital Gains Tax, you need to work out your cost basis. To do this, you need to find out the Great British pound (GBP) price at which you bought plus any transaction fees. Once you have this figure, it is pretty straightforward. Capital gain is the difference between the price at which you purchased and the price at which you disposed of the asset. For example, if you buy Bitcoin worth £3,000 at the time of purchase and decide to sell it a month later for £3,300, your capital gain would be £300. It is important to keep track of your losses too, as recording them with [HMRC](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs) can offset against your gains, reducing the total amount you owe in taxes.

### The following actions are excluded from paying tax in the UK:

•	buying crypto with GBP

•	holding crypto

•	transferring between wallets

•	donating crypto to charity

Lost crypto is also not considered to be disposed of. For example, if you lose your private key and prove that you cannot regain access, you can submit a negligible value claim. If your application is successful, you may be able to claim that as a capital loss, reducing your taxes.

So, we've discussed Capital Gains Tax, but what is Income Tax? Crypto is taxed as income when a person gets paid in crypto, acquires staking rewards, mines tokens, or receives airdrops. HMRC has yet to decide what decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols are considered income. Examples of unclear but most likely income-taxed protocols include; referral rewards, learn to earn, watch to earn, play to earn, and shop to earn.

### Lastly, let's look at the Income Tax brackets for crypto:

•	up to £12,570 = 0% tax

•	£12,571 - £50,270 = 20%

•	£50,271 - £150,00 = 40%

•	any amount over £150,000 = 45%

Hopefully, this maximizes your British bitcoin profit!


British Bitcoin Profit: Paying Your Taxes

Aside from being a famous chef, the world has heard Gordon Ramsay Bitcoin views in recent years.
There have also been numerous ads claiming he has made vast sums of money from investing in Bitcoin.

Crypto enthusiasts and investors are curious about Gordon Ramsay and questions like; does he own a Bitcoin, has he invested in Bitcoin, and is he a crypto trader?

## Who is Gordon Ramsay?

Gordon Ramsay is a well-known celebrity chef. However, he might have a keen interest in Bitcoin or crypto.
Through his work as a chef, he has a popular restaurant group, founded in 1997. His fame as a chef began in 1999, and today he's known as one of the most influential chefs in the world.

Aside from being a chef, he's a well-known, established businessman who has made many intelligent investments over the years. In addition, he has acted as a brand ambassador for a variety of businesses.

## Does Gordon Ramsay Use Bitcoin?

For him, being one of the few celebrities who discuss crypto publicly, people have asked questions about his involvement in Bitcoin. One is; does Gordon Ramsay use Bitcoin?

Over time, as that particular question gets asked, there has been speculation that he does own Bitcoin. Although this might be entirely true, he hasn't said publicly that he does.

Some publications have even reported that claims that Ramsay is making millions of dollars through Bitcoin are fake. Gordon himself has said that he has never traded Bitcoin or made money from Bitcoin trade or investments.

## Did He Invest In Bitcoin?

Although the celebrated chef has been linked to numerous crypto trading systems, he has never endorsed them. Moreover, there isn't any proof that the businessman has made any crypto investments. 

There have been instances of crypto trading companies using his name and photo to promote their businesses. They even go as far as using his pictures and fake testimonials of him to promote their business. They claimed that the chef had recommended the trading system to investors, enthusiasts, and potential customers.

## Is He Part of the Bitcoin Revolution Platform

It was claimed that he had invested in the Bitcoin Revolution Platform, a platform for trading cryptocurrency. It performs data-driven trades for customers; it's an automated trading platform.

However, the chef and businessman has denied any involvement with the platform. Even after an investigation by various media outlets, there wasn't any proof that he was involved in the investment.

Although Gordon Ramsay has a variety of investments and is a well-known businessperson, there is no evidence he has ever invested in Bitcoin. Although he may be knowledgeable about cryptocurrency, he hasn't made an official statement about his involvement in cryptocurrency, even though he might talk about it from time to time.


The Gordon Ramsay Bitcoin Question

Time to look at a [Bitcoin](/news/category/bitcoin-news) news prediction. Bitcoin's (BTC) price action hasn't been favourable for investors lately as the king coin tumbled below $40k for the first time since January. Although BTC has since recovered to just above $46k, some analysts still believe that the crypto-asset is unlikely to fall further.

Bitcoin hit a high of $42,000 on January 8, but has since struggled to sustain momentum. It has dropped by more than 40% from its all-time high of $58,300.

According to Bitcoin news prediction data from [CoinMarketCap](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin/), BTC currently trades around $46,200, up by 1.51% in the past 24 hours. BTC is up by 2.8% in the last seven days and down by 11.9% in the past month.

After surging early in the day, bitcoin was largely steady on Sunday evening, while the crypto share price increased 0.9% to $2.2 trillion.
Bitcoin trading volume in the last 24-hour is $27,374,680,521. The market is still trending down with good volume as investors sell off their cryptos in anticipation of further losses.

The Google search trend for the keyword "bitcoin" is lower than yesterday. Perhaps this indicates that fewer people are searching Google for information about bitcoin than they were 24 hours ago.

The social media buzz on forums such as Reddit and Twitter has increased since yesterday. Still, the sentiment remains steady, with some positive and negative posts by different users.

Overall, I think that today's outlook for bitcoin is neutral to slightly bullish. I believe there will be more upside potential as we approach August 1 when the BIP148 user-activated soft fork happens on the Bitcoin network.

## Bitcoin News Prediction and Forecast

Predicting Bitcoin price has always been a hot topic in the cryptocurrency industry. Many people are interested in predicting future bitcoin prices, especially if they consider investing in bitcoin.

Cryptocurrencies will grow and become more valuable, that is not in doubt. However, no one can be sure where Bitcoin will be in the next few years.

Generally, if an asset increases significantly (e.g., by more than $10k), there will be a correction period where it will fall back to its original level. This is not always the case with Bitcoin, as we have seen. Some analysts believe that this correction period may never come for Bitcoin, or at least not for some time.

## Bitcoin on a Roll. What's Next?

In terms of technicals, BTC is currently trading at a critical support level of $46,000. A sell trend confirmation below this level will take the price to even lower levels.

The next 72 hours will be very telling for bitcoin bulls. If there is no reversal from current levels, we may see a retest of the $40,000 level.
However, while the overall outlook for Bitcoin remains bearish, technical indicators show that BTC/USD is unlikely to fall further in the short term. The RSI has been trending above 30 since March 20, which indicates that sellers are no longer in control. This suggests that Bitcoin will most likely consolidate around current levels over the next few days before making another attempt to break resistance at $50k or even $55k.

## Our Verdict

Bitcoin has been swinging in a wide range since January this year. The BTC/USD pair was seen falling from the highs of $64,000 and then $52,000 to the lows of $43,000 and $46,000. It seems that the coin is finding support at the current price level and is unlikely to fall further. The next leg of the journey will be decided by how Bitcoin manages to stay above the current price level.

As per our Bitcoin news prediction, we believe that there is a significant amount of support for BTC at its current levels. Investors are likely to buy Bitcoin during this period because they see it as an excellent buying opportunity.



Bitcoin news prediction: Will BTC Rally? 

Do you choose [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) or [Ethereum](/coins/eth)? Yes, there are thousands of coins and tokens, but these remain the big names.

Disclaimer – This article is not investment advice and should not be taken as recommending a strategy. It is for information only. Before investing your money, ensure you conduct your own extensive research.

Cryptocurrencies are the assets increasing numbers of people are looking to as they seek to diversify their portfolios.

Volatility, and therefore a higher chance of earning huge profits, is one reason.

It has been a bumpy ride for crypto. After taking centre stage in 2016-17, its prominence faded due to acceptance levels and [regulation](/news/tag/regulation) concerns.

More recently, interest has soared with record-breaking values and a market cap in excess of $2 trillion.

The potential profits have driven interest, but other benefits of cryptocurrencies have helped. These include:

- Decentralised Nature
- Fast Transactions
- Secure Transactions
- Transparent System

The upwards trend has led to many investors considering digital assets and beginning to learn about them. Some then face a dilemma; where do they invest?

Due to their market prominence, the main choices are Bitcoin or Ethereum. But which one?

## Bitcoin

Bitcoin (BTC) is often regarded as the first cryptocurrency, coded by anonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. As the first and best know, bitcoin has become synonymous with cryptocurrency. Its name recognition has contributed to stellar values.

At the time of writing, BTC is trading for $20,194 and is responsible for around 40% of the cryptocurrency market. At its peak, it traded at $68,789.63.

Bitcoin’s efficiency is, comparatively, lower than many other well-known cryptocurrencies. The transaction speeds are relatively low, and power consumption is high.

This is because Bitcoin works on the Proof of Work (POW) principle rather than Proof of Stake (POS).

However, BTC fulfils its purpose of being a decentralised currency that can be traded globally with ease and convenience.

## Ethereum

Second on the list of cryptocurrencies [by market cap is Ethereum](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/ethereum/). At the time of writing, its price is $1496.70.

Ethereum has a market cap of $365 billion, considerably less than Bitcoin’s $817 billion. This represents around 18% of the cryptocurrency market. Its value has increased from $1,300 to the current price in just a year.

Ethereum is a popular blockchain used for drafting smart contracts to assist in almost any form of transaction. The transactional token that facilitates operations on the Ethereum network is ether.

Like Bitcoin, it works on the less efficient Proof of Work (POW) principle, yet is more efficient and has higher utility when compared to that of the Bitcoin blockchain.

To improve its efficiency, Ethereum plans to launch an update named Ethereum 2.0, which will work on the Proof of Stake (POS) principle. The aim is to make the overall blockchain more efficient.

Due to the Ethereum blockchain’s ability to code smart contracts, its utility value, compared with Bitcoin, is a lot more. Due to this property, it’s easy to develop a Decentralised Application (dApp) on the Ethereum blockchain. In addition, smart contracts are easier to code, which is helpful in developing decentralised finance contracts and assists in NFTs transactions.

The Ethereum blockchain is so versatile that it even helps form new cryptocurrency tokens, altcoins coded on the Ethereum blockchain. They can stand out individually, separate from ether, and have individual use cases like any other cryptocurrency.

## The Future

If we compare ETH and BTC prices for the last year, ETH seems to be the more logical investment as it had a better high to low ratio than BTC.

As the move towards decentralisation continues, the applications of the Ethereum blockchain will increase, making it tough competition for Bitcoin, even when their values are so far apart.

## Disclaimer

This article is not investment advice and should not be taken as a recommended strategy. It is for information only. Before investing your money, ensure you conduct your own extensive research.

You can read more guest articles at [brendanbeeken.com](https://brendanbeeken.com/).


Guide to Ethereum vs Bitcoin

Without question, [Bitcoin (BTC)](/coins/btc) and the Bitcoin network are the best-known names in blockchain and cryptocurrency. 

The individual, or group, behind the invention of Bitcoin, remains pseudonymous, and this has arguably had a massive impact on the community.  Additionally, there is no individual with total power or control over the system. 

 
 

## Cryptography 


A simplistic way to think of Bitcoin is a combination of computing, cryptography, and a system of economic competition designed to ensure following the rules is in everyone’s best interest, without a central authority. The network manages itself, with no single party controlling the system. 
Honest work that supports the network, such as validating transactions, is rewarded, creating a mechanism for new bitcoin to be programmatically introduced into the system in a predictable way, achieving the key quality of scarcity. 
While Bitcoin participants may at times have conflicting interests, they share the goal of seeing Bitcoin succeed. But who controls the Bitcoin ledger, and how does it achieve sound money? 

 

## Design 

 
 

Bitcoin can be explained as a peer-to-peer network of computers all following a set of rules and instructions (the Bitcoin protocol) for validating transactions and issuing new coins. Any computer running any software that respects these rules - Bitcoin Nodes - can participate in the Bitcoin network.  
 

The protocol is like the banking laws of a country, but the Bitcoin protocol is enforced by code, and not by law. 

Bitcoin has a ledger of all the transactions - the blockchain - where transactions are recorded in blocks created at set intervals and connected to the previous block to create a chain. Then there is the mechanism for adding blocks to the chain and reaching an agreement, or consensus, that transactions are valid and the chain accurate – this is mining. 

The ledger and the way transactions are validated are revolutionary.  

We trust banks to maintain the integrity of their ledgers, but cannot verify this for ourselves. On the Bitcoin network, anyone can have a copy of the ledger containing every transaction ever made. This allows everyone to mathematically verify that every transaction in it is legitimate, and transactions that don’t respect the rules are automatically rejected by the software. 

This does lead to questions, however. For example, how do we all agree that the current version is the most up to date one and how can thousands of computers reach consensus without someone in charge? 

 
 

## Mining  

 
 

[Mining](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bitcoin-mining.asp) is about solving a complex mathematical problem, and it is competitive, with the winner being able to add to the chain of transactions and receive a reward. 

Everyone can verify that the solution is right, so if a miner cheats, other participants will simply discard the block.  

In theory, anyone can mine, but the maths problems are so difficult, and the competition so fierce, you’d need a lot of specialised computer equipment. Despite the costs this can involve, it can be very profitable, and the competition ensures no one person has complete control. 

## Supply 

 
As mentioned, mining is also the way new bitcoin (BTC) enters the system. When a miner gets to add a new block of transactions to the blockchain, they receive a reward of new bitcoins. 

The transaction fee is the sum of fees paid for all transactions included in that block, which vary according to demand. This is BTC already in circulation. 

The block rewards, however, are entirely new coins and currently set at 6.25 BTC per block until 2024. This process will continue until all 21 million BTC are released, at which point miners will only receive transaction fees. 

It is this which gives BTC the scarcity its value needs. 

 
 

## Sound Money 

 
 

So, bitcoin achieves reliable digital scarcity with no one in charge. What about the other properties of sound money? 

- **Durability** – As every node has a copy of the ledger, destroying the Bitcoin network would require that all 50,000 nodes be destroyed at the same time, along with all backups. Unlikely. 

- **Divisibility** – The smallest unit of Bitcoin is the satoshi, which is 1/100,000,000 of one coin. That’s far more precise than even the smallest microtransactions would require, although network fees make that level of precision impractical at the moment. 

- **Fungibility** - All Bitcoin have equal value, just like one gram of gold is equal to any other gram of gold. 

- **Portability** – It is entirely digital and incredibly portable, and can be stored on a computer, mobile phone, and on paper. 

 
 

## Limitations 

 
No system is entirely perfect. For the Bitcoin network, the chief limitation focuses on the relationship between security, scalability, and decentralisation.  

- Scalability is the capacity of the system to execute a higher volume of transactions  

- Security is the capacity to protect the ledger from cheating and attacks  

- Decentralisation is what stops any one party from controlling the network 



When you design a network, you have to make trade-offs in this area as you can’t have all three completely. [Fiat currency](link) is scalable and quite secure, but is centralised and controlled by a small group. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is focused on decentralisation and is secure, but at the price of scalability. 

 

At the moment, Bitcoin's maximum transaction speed makes it impractical to scale (compare five transactions per second to the reported 50,000+ leading debit/card handlers deal with). This, to an extent, is why bitcoin is stored for value rather than used as a medium of exchange. 

What is Bitcoin? A Guide

Bitcoin and other popular cryptocurrencies seem to be rallying after a frightful start to the 2022 trading season, but not before we stood in horror watching the digital assets market sink to its lowest levels since last summer earlier this month.  The world’s most popular and heavily capitalised cryptocurrency, [Bitcoin](/coins/btc), sank well below the “psychological” $40,000 _floor_ last week, to an anaemic value of $32,982.  Bitcoin recovered some of its footing this week, reaching a price of $36,000, as aggressive investors began to dip their toes back in the digital waters – that’s progress, but certainly well off the bellwether’s high of $69,000 last November.

2021 was arguably one of the most astonishing years for cryptocurrencies as the market finally broke through a ceiling of sorts and achieved a state of “mainstream adoption”.  Interest in digital assets soared as the first ever Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) was introduced on the New York Stock Exchange last fall (under the ticker “[BITO](https://www.proshares.com/our-etfs/strategic/bito)”), El-Salvador formally adopted Bitcoin as legal tender, and interest in Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) reached a fever pitch after the artist known as Beeple, sold his NFT artwork, called “Everydays: The First 5000 Days,” last Spring for a mind-numbing $69 million.

All this interest and hoopla over cryptocurrencies sent the value of the digital assets market past the $2 trillion mark.

We get it.  After all the euphoria we experienced during cryptocurrency’s 2021 trading season, and the subsequent market crash that has erased the last 6 months of progress, the thought of having to report the profits from those crypto-purchases last year to a governmental authority probably sounds terribly unappealing.  Take heed.  If you’ve experienced any thoughts or are considering concealing profits that you’ve made from any cryptocurrency trades from the tax man, it wouldn’t be a prudent course-of-action. 

Am I being paranoid?  Hardly.  The IRS in America has been perfectly clear in the fact that they are watching cryptocurrency as closely as they ever have.  This will become all too evident when you look at page one of your tax returns this year.  On it, there is likely to be a _yes_ or _no_ option at the top of the first page asking about your ownership of _any_ “virtual currency.”

After the year cryptocurrencies had in 2021, and the 5000% gains experienced by some assets, trust us, the tax professionals are hardly _the least_ informed on what’s happening in the digital assets market.  So, don’t try feigning ignorance.  Claiming that “you didn’t know” isn’t an option for 2021, or beyond.

Being willfully dishonest on a government document can subject you to penalties that include perjury.  That’s a bad way to start 2022.  In the last analysis, any _selling_ and _buying_ of any type of digital assets that took place in 2021 _is expected_ to be reported.  If the extent of your trading was buying and simply holding, you likely won’t owe a thing…yet.

The time to ask questions of your tax professional is before you file, not after.

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