The supply of Bitcoin is capped at 21 million units, so how many [Bitcoins](/coins/btc) are left to mine?

The cap is established by the source code of Bitcoin, written by its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, and which cannot be modified. Once every Bitcoin is mined, the number of coins in circulation will be fixed indefinitely. 

In comparison, central government money has no set boundaries. Governments can issue as many dollars or rupees as they need if they do not mind the resultant inflation. Before Bitcoin, digital cash had the problem of double-spending. Until its development, the only method to ensure a party did not spend money twice was for some central authority to track coins transferred and received, updating users' balances – just like the existing banking system.

However, Nakamoto's discovery enabled computers running a piece of software to impose rigorous spending constraints that prohibited a digital representation of value from being spent twice for the first time – or made it prohibitively expensive to do so. Previously, miners would sell their freshly created Bitcoin on the market to fund operational expenditures in US dollars. However, mining companies are increasingly adding their created currencies to their balance sheets and issuing Bitcoin-backed loans. As a result, Bitcoin has become even rarer as a more significant proportion of the entire Bitcoin supply is locked up for the long term.

As of January 2022, 18.9 million Bitcoins had been mined, with around 2.1 million Bitcoins left to be mined. The block reward - or the number of new Bitcoins awarded to crypto miners for creating a new Bitcoin block - determines how long it takes to mine one Bitcoin. At the moment, 6.25 Bitcoins is the block reward, and a new block is generated every 10 minutes or so. Every 1.6 minutes, a new Bitcoin is mined.

## Production of Bitcoin 

According to the Cambridge Bitcoin Power Consumption Index, the production of Bitcoin requires 143.5 terawatt-hours of electricity per year, which is more than in Ukraine or Norway. As of August 2021, mining a single Bitcoin would need nine years of household-equivalent power. Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, are necessary computer hardware and can cost up to $10,000. ASICs consume massive quantities of energy, which has sparked criticism from environmentalists and restricts miners' profitability. Joining a mining pool is one method to share some of the hefty costs of mining. Pools enable miners to share resources and increase capabilities, but shared resources imply shared incentives. Therefore, the potential payment is lower while using a pool.

Surprisingly, the Bitcoin protocol's supply restriction of 21 million is not stated in its white paper or code. Instead, the ever-decreasing quantity of Bitcoins paid by each block, together with the decentralised network of computers enforcing that reward, allows the network to implicitly forbid the issuing of Bitcoin beyond the limit.  

Nakamoto set the restriction to make the money rare and to minimise inflation that may result from an infinite supply. The idea is simple: if there is a limited amount of Bitcoin, its value would eventually grow due to increased demand and less supply. The difficulty is that Bitcoin achieved 90% of its maximum supply earlier this month. The most significant effect of approaching and eventually exceeding Bitcoin's supply cap is that mining will become significantly less economical. However, the procedure will take more than a century. Bitcoin miners will still be compensated, but only through transaction fees rather than newly generated coins. Since the cryptocurrency's inception in 2009, about 19 million bitcoins, or 90% of the total, have been mined.

Nonetheless, recent predictions indicate that the final Bitcoin will not be created until about 2140. The rate of new Bitcoin left to mine is expected to diminish over time. Every 210,000 blocks, the pay-out for mining each block of bitcoin, which is done every 10 minutes, is cut in half. This occurs every four years. The reward per block had decreased from its original value of 50 BTC per block in 2009 to just 6.25 bitcoin by 2022. By the end of 2024, miners are scheduled to receive just 1.56 Bitcoins for confirming a block of transactions.  

## The History of Bitcoin Mining

Mining was swift at first: according to research firm [Messari](https://messari.io/), half of the 21 million potential Bitcoins had already been mined by late 2012. In 2021, issuance dropped significantly, with fewer than half a million BTC mined for the entire year. If demand for Bitcoin continues to rise, reaching the supply limit would certainly raise its price. This is because everyone desiring to acquire Bitcoin will have to do it from another person, giving sellers influence over the price. Even if all Bitcoins are produced, far less than 21 million will be actively circulating. Chainalysis, a data analytics firm, believes that nearly one-fifth of all coins created have been lost. Bitcoin is stranded in wallets with lost keys, by the physical loss of hard drives where those keys were kept, or even in wallets belonging to deceased owners who never passed on the credentials required to access them. If Bitcoin in 2140 is mainly used as a store of value rather than for everyday purchases, miners can still profit - even with low transaction volumes and the absence of block rewards.

Miners can charge hefty transaction fees to execute high-value or big batches of transactions, with more efficient "layer 2" blockchains like the Lightning Network collaborating with the Bitcoin blockchain to allow everyday Bitcoin spending. However, because the rewards are half every four years, the cost of operating the enterprise will soon outweigh the miners' earnings. Mining may become an unsustainable economic model. Transaction fees will, however, eventually climb because only a limited number of transactions may be validated every 10 minutes. This would be compensation for miners suffering a lack of block rewards, but the transaction amount is dependent on the network's future state. Miners might also employ innovation to improve energy efficiency and reduce expenses. 

If the number of network transactions grows in the future, the pace of the transactions may slow. Bitcoin's architecture prioritised accuracy and integrity over speed. If the volume of transactions in the network falls, Bitcoin could become a reserve asset. That would push out small retail traders, which would be replaced by substantial institutional players, raising transaction costs and making trading more expensive.  
Furthermore, if Bitcoin mining becomes unprofitable in the absence of block rewards, the following damaging effects may occur: 
Groups of miners may create cartels to dominate mining resources and charge higher transaction fees.  

Selfish mining happens when miners agree to hide new legitimate blocks and then release them as orphan blocks. The Bitcoin network has not verified these new blocks. This method can lengthen block processing delays and guarantee that fresh blocks are subject to large fees when they are issued to the blockchain. 

Scarcity will undoubtedly contribute to increased Bitcoin buying. FOMO (fear of missing out) cold create a rush to purchase the rare asset, and those who already own it will be in an advantageous position to sell. However, there is also hope that prospective rules will help keep volatility under control. 

Furthermore, if supply stagnation continues to increase Bitcoin's value for the next 100 years, consider this thought experiment: a home worth one Bitcoin now would be worth half a Bitcoin in 10 years, one-tenth of a Bitcoin in 30 years, 0.05 Bitcoin in 40 years, and so on. Such a system would not function in the same way we expect rupees and dollars to, which explains both the excitement and concern about what Bitcoin in its current shape may do to our economic system. 

Bitcoin doesn't just bring scarcity to the digital domain. It offers a predictable monetary policy that can be planned over time, and which differs from the present monetary system in which governments and policymakers can expand the supply of money, as we have seen in recent years. As a result, currency depreciation is impossible in Bitcoin, and its users' purchasing power is safeguarded. In addition to safeguarding people's buying power, Bitcoin's predictable policy allows users to prepare for the future because they can be confident that no one will debase their money. Important societal improvements may be possible through a strong commitment to long-term labour and investment, rather than short-term bets.

The price of Bitcoin in US dollars might be viewed as a lagging reflection of humanity's comprehension of the technology and its revolutionary value proposition. So, while the Bitcoin price may eventually trend to infinity, it will not be a reality until most of the global population or most of the world's money realises it.






	


How Many Bitcoins Are Left to Mine?

Cryptocurrency investors are being targeted by an increasing number of Bitcoin trader scams.
Bitcoin, a decentralised digital currency, was introduced to the market in 2009 by a mystery developer named Satoshi Nakamoto.

It was created to act as a virtual coin and a form of payment beyond the authority of any individual, group, or entity, thus terminating the necessity for third-party involvement in monetary transactions.

It is rewarded to blockchain miners for the work done to demonstrate trades and can be bought on multiple exchanges.
Currently, it is the leading cryptocurrency in the market. Its popularity has resulted in the development of multiple other cryptocurrencies. There are, at present, 21 million Bitcoins in the market.

Tricksters are always waiting for a chance to steal investors' money. The massive popularity of Bitcoin and the technological advancement in recent years resulted in numerous Bitcoin trader scams. According to [blockchain data firm Chainalysis](https://blog.chainalysis.com/reports/2022-crypto-crime-report-introduction/), cryptocurrency scams had a record-breaking year in 2021 – scammers stole $14 billion of crypto last year. Investors interested in Bitcoin must know how to recognise these ongoing crypto scams and the best practices to avoid them and save their money.

## How to Recognise Bitcoin Scams?

Caution signs to look out for include:

1.   Assurances of guaranteed returns:
 Bitcoin is a volatile investment. It has its ups and downs in the market. No monetary investment can assure future returns because investments can go down and up. Any Bitcoin offer that guarantees you future returns is a big red flag.
2.   Free money:
Free money is a scam. Free money is a myth, any investment opportunity, be it cash or digital coin promising free money, is likely to be fake.
 Any individual or company asking you to invest in Bitcoin and enjoy free money return is scamming you.
3.   Exaggerated marketing:
All enterprises advertise themselves. But one way that crypto scammers lure people is by investing in a hefty marketing strategy. This could include online advertising, paid influencers, and offline promotion. This is planned to reach as many individuals as possible to raise finances fast in the shortest time feasible. If the crypto offering marketing feels heavy-handed or drives grand claims without backing them up, break and do detailed research to save yourself from such a scam.
4.   Bitcoin craze:
Bitcoin rose dramatically in value because genuine investors consider it a promising investment to buy at the right time, hold, and sell when the market is high. Always avoid "investment opportunities" that promise you a good return and ask you to invest in Bitcoin for Bitcoin's sake.

## 5 Common Cryptocurrency Scams

Cryptocurrency has evolved as a hunting ground for scammers. Let's dive into some common cryptocurrency scams.

1.   Fake websites

Fraudsters create phony cryptocurrency trading platforms or fake interpretations of authorised crypto wallets to scam gullible investors. These fake websites generally have similar, but slightly distinct domain titles from the sites they try to emulate. They look identical to legal sites, making it hard to differentiate. Fake crypto sites usually function in one of two ways:
•	As phishing pages - All the data you share, such as your crypto wallet's password, recovery phrase, and other monetary data, end up in the tricksters' hands.
 
•	As straightforward theft - Initially, the site may allow you to withdraw a small number of funds. As your investments function well, you tend to invest more money in the site. However, the site closes down or rejects the request when you want to withdraw your money later.
2.   Pump and Dump Scams
 
This scam sees a specific coin or token being promoted by scammers via an email blast or social media such as Twitter, Facebook, or Telegram. Traders often fall prey to such schemes and rush to buy the coins promising huge returns in a short time. Having thrived in raising the price, the tricksters then trade their holdings, resulting in a crash as the investment's value sharply falls. This can occur within minutes.

3.   Phishing Scams

Crypto phishing scams usually target data related to online wallets. Fraudsters target crypto wallet private keys, which are needed to access coins within the wallet. Their working method is similar to other phishing attempts and connected to the fake websites explained above. They send an email to draw gullible investors to a specially designed website asking them to enter personal critical data. Once the scammers have received this data, they steal the cryptocurrency in those wallets.

4.   Blackmail and Extortion Scams

Another trick crypto fraudsters use is blackmailing. They send emails that proclaim a history of adult websites accessed by the user and threaten to reveal them unless they share private keys or send cryptocurrency to the scammer.

5.   Scheming Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)

An ICO is a mode for start-up crypto firms to raise funds from future customers. Usually, users are guaranteed a discount on the new crypto coins in trade for sending popular active cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

## 10 Best Practices to Avoid Bitcoin Trader Scams

Many crypto scams are sophisticated and influential. Here are measures to save yourself from such situations.
1.   Don't believe in celebrity-backed offers:
One of the significant crypto scam trends includes fake celebrity-backed offers. BBC TV show Dragons' Den was one of them. The scam involved people going crazy behind Bitcoin investments because it was presented as celebrities supporting Bitcoin. But it was fake and was a trick used by fraudsters to steal investors' money.
2.   Protect your wallet:
To invest in Bitcoin, you require a wallet with confidential keys. If a company requests you share your keys to partake in an investment chance, it's highly likely to result in a scam. Make sure you don't share your wallet keys with strangers.
3.   Keep a watch on your wallet app:
In the initial stage of transferring money, make sure first to check the legality of a crypto wallet app. Do it by performing a small test of sending a small amount first. If, while updating a wallet app, you detect questionable behaviour, close the update, and uninstall the app instantly.
4.   Take your time:
Fraudsters often use high-pressure techniques to pressure you to invest your funds fast – for example, by assuring rewards or discounts if you partake instantly. Take your time and conduct your own analysis before financing any money in Bitcoin.
5.   Be cautious of social platform adverts:
Crypto fraudsters often use social platforms to boost fraudulent tactics. They may use unauthorised pictures of superstars or high-profile business individuals to build a sense of legality or guarantee giveaways or free cash. Beware of such tactics and don't fall prey to such scams promoted on social media. 
6.   Avoid cold calls:
If a person suddenly contacts you to tell you about a crypto investment opportunity, immediately cut the call, block the number and inform the police. Never reveal personal data or transfer money to a person who reaches you in this way.
7.   Do your research:
If you are new to Bitcoin investments, it's good to conduct thorough research about the digital coin before investing your funds. Look if there is a whitepaper you can read, find out who handles it and how it functions, and scrutinise for honest reviews and testimonials.
8.   Examine Links:
Before downloading any document or accessing any links online, examine the website to ensure it is trustworthy and is SSL-certified. With technological advancements, scams related to fake websites are increasing, so it's good to avoid landing on unsecured websites.
9.   Companies too good to be true:
Businesses that promise assured returns or overnight riches are scams. These companies have their chain set up to lure investors into investing in their fraud schemes by attracting them with positive Bitcoin returns.
10.   Only install apps from authorised platforms:
Although phony apps can end up in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, installing apps from these mediums is more secure than elsewhere.

## Final Thoughts

[Bitcoin](/coins/btc) is the most popular crypto coin in the market. With its popularity comes a high possibility of fraud. Crypto fraudsters tend to sell the information they have collected to other scammers. So, investors must scrutinise before investing funds and update their usernames and passwords across the board to avert further damage. Remember, keep your wallet key private, double-check every URL, and if something appears too good to be true, avoid it as it will probably be a scam.

Finally, as with any investment opportunity, never invest money you can't afford to lose. Even if you're not being scammed, cryptocurrency is volatile and speculative, so it's critical to comprehend the stakes.


Bitcoin Trader Scams - Best Practices to Avoid Them

Bitcoin paved the way for other cryptocurrencies. There are thousands of coins and many more new crypto coins yet to launch. Where does this leave the almighty [Bitcoin](/coins/btc)?

## What Are Altcoins?

Altcoins are cryptocurrencies that are not Bitcoin. In other words, they are alternative coins to Bitcoin. These coins share similar characteristics with Bitcoin but can improve their features. 
Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, making it the largest altcoin based on market cap. Some other major altcoins are Binance, Solana, and USDC.

New crypto coins are emerging. Based on the level of advancement in the crypto world, they are likely to do even better. For example, there were older cryptocurrencies before Solana launched, yet it is currently one of the largest coins in the crypto space.

There are more than 14,000 altcoins; some are still rising in price while others have been struggling to stay relevant. Despite the number of altcoins available, in November 2021, according to (CMC) CoinMarkeyCap, Bitcoin and Ethereum had 60% of the cryptocurrencies available in the market, while altcoins accounted for the remaining 40%.

Currently, the price of Bitcoin influences most cryptocurrencies, a significant change in the price of Bitcoin leads to a significant change in the price of altcoins.

## Type of Altcoins

There are different types of altcoins and different categories based on their functions. Each of these categories plays a different role in the crypto world. The categories include;
Mining-based coins

Like Bitcoin, these coins are mined to create more and serve as a way of controlling the circulation of the coins. Some examples of mining-based coins are Litecoin and Zcash.

### Stablecoins

Stable coins play a really important role for investors in the crypto market. They are called stable coins because they are influenced by fiat currencies, for example, US dollars. Stable coins include NUSD, NUSD, and USDT. 

### Meme coins

These are usually short-term gain coins. A joke on existing popular cryptocurrencies inspires meme coins. Examples of meme coins are Shiba Inu and Dogecoin. 

### Security tokens

Security tokens are a replica of the traditional stock. 

### Utility tokens

These are tokens used to provide services within a network. An example of a utility coin is Filecoin. 

### Are Altcoins Good Investments?

Profit and loss in cryptocurrency trading depend on the coin you invest in. So the first step in determining if a coin is a good investment is to DYOR. With that, you will be able to figure out if the coin is worth the risk.
Not all altcoins are good investments, although many have proven profitable.

Generally, investing in cryptocurrency is risky as it is a volatile market. If you invest, ensure that you do proper research, especially on new crypto coins, and take wise risk decisions.

## Are More Altcoins Needed in the Market?

The emergence of new crypto coins positively impacts the crypto market. Bitcoin is out of reach for most crypto investors based on its current price. There are lots of altcoins with good potential going for a way lesser price compared to Bitcoin. 

Some new crypto coins are making waves in the crypto world and making their investors rich. Meme coins may be short-term gain coins and have a high level of volatility, but that doesn’t change the fact that it has made many millionaires overnight. 

More altcoins mean more opportunities for cryptocurrency investors. It is up to you to ensure that you are making the right investments.

## What Do Bitcoiners Think About Altcoins?

Altcoins are more advanced than Bitcoin and are considered good alternatives. Despite all the new features altcoins possess, Bitcoin still stands as the most popular and most prominent cryptocurrency in the crypto space.
Bitcoiners may not be too open to new crypto coins, but the fact is that the entire crypto space is aware of the positive impact altcoins have on the crypto market. 

Bitcoin remains the number one cryptocurrency in the whole crypto market. Bitcoiners are aware that these new crypto coins cannot replace Bitcoin.


New Crypto Coins: Good News for Bitcoin?

## 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

[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

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? 

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

A sense of optimism hung in the crypto air this morning as [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) and other major cryptocurrencies bounced strongly after a week of heavy losses.

At the time of writing, the price of Bitcoin stood at $36,460 representing an increase of 8.10% in the last 24 hours while Ethereum gained 8.23% reaching a price of $2,423. The total market cap of crypto currently stands at $1.65 trillion, an increase of 7.71%. After a week of absolute carnage, it appears that investors have indeed bought the dip demonstrating continued strength in the cryptocurrency market.

## Increasing correlation to traditional markets

Bitcoin began its bounce on Monday as US east coast traders returned to their desks after lunch. Interestingly the US equity market also saw a strong surge during the same time indicating Bitcoin’s increased correlation with traditional markets. With many eyes on today’s meeting of the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) which is anticipated to discuss interest rate rises and continued asset purchases, this week could be very interesting indeed.

The Relative Strength Index continues to indicate Bitcoin is heavily oversold which would suggest a turnaround is imminent as buyers seek to take advantage of the discounted prices. As we have mentioned before, historically Bitcoin often begins strong rallies after precipitous falls. Could this be the start of a rally to new all-time highs?

## Alt season on hold?

Mike McGlone, Chief Commodity Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence however was not so optimistic for altcoins going on record to say, “Price reversion in crypto is likely to spread in 2022 after the assets were a poster child of speculative inflationary excess in 2021, but Bitcoin stands to come out ahead.”

However, as we can see above many of the major altcoins demonstrated as much resilience in Bitcoin with equally strong bounces. Solana, Polkadot, Atom, and Avalanche all posted 24-hour gains ranging between 12% and 17% respectively. The crypto market may be down, but it is certainly not out.

## ‘I'm loving it’

Finally, in a candidate for tweet of the year already the official Twitter account of McDonald’s Restaurants asked “[how are you doing people who run crypto twitter accounts?](https://twitter.com/McDonalds/status/1485726032967704582)” Demonstrating the humour and camaraderie that has come to be associated with what is known as ‘crypto Twitter’ McDonald’s are clearly getting their own back on all those crypto tweeters who see a job at McDonald’s as the last resort in a prolonged bear market. However, I and many others have a feeling that McDonald’s will soon be eating their own words, with extra fries.

Bitcoin and Crypto Rebound After Week of Loss

[Bitcoin](/news/category/bitcoin-news) traders woke to yet more shock Monday morning as the price of the asset tumbled to further localised lows.

At time of press, the price of the world’s number one digital asset sat at $33,728 – a fall of 5.52% in the last 24 hours. However, with the price of Bitcoin bottoming at $33,243 at 11:09 UTC this morning the current price shows that there are buyers at this level but as you may well imagine traders and investors are treading with extreme caution. 

Bitcoin wasn’t the only crypto to experience a devastating fall in value. The entire market also dropped sharply and currently stands at $1.54 trillion representing a fall of 7.01% in the last 24 hours.

## Outside factors

With market and network fundamentals at their strongest in years many investors are looking for outside factors as the reason behind the latest market crash. Tensions between Russia and NATO led allies continue to simmer over a Russian military build up at the Ukrainian border and while Russia insists it has no plans to invade, the USA and the UK have already told their embassy staff to begin making plans to leave the country. In contrast, the EU have no plans to fly diplomats out of Ukraine and is at a loss to explain why the USA and UK have given the green light adding ‘the US has not given any clear justification for its decision’.

As we reported on Friday, cryptocurrency and digital assets are still seen by many as risk-on investments which in times of uncertainty are often the first to be sacrificed, regardless of market strength.

However, there are other angles at play in this situation which many in the crypto community believe are having an impact on market activity. The US have threatened Russia with economic sanctions which will ‘bring the country to its knees’ should the country decide to stage an invasion of Ukraine. In practical terms this means deactivating Russia from the SWIFT network which has been used by every nation state to transfer capital around the world since 1972.

## ‘Alternative rails of finance’

In retaliation to the threat from Joe Biden, Russia have spoken of using ‘alternative rails of finance’ which many people believe is a nod toward distributed and decentralised networks able to move large amounts of capital such as Ripplenet or Stellar Lumens. However, with both of these firms originating in the US it is hard to believe Russia would choose to adopt their services. That being said the nature of many cryptocurrency networks is borderless and the vision they hold for the future is one of harmonious trade with drastically reduced friction in terms of policy, regulation and cost.

The last thing the world needs right now is yet another conflict and personally speaking I don’t think that is going to happen. I do believe however that a movement away from out of date and weighted legacy payment systems such as SWIFT towards the large scale use of decentralised and distributed networks that enable a fairer and balanced global economic environment is only a matter of time. However what time frame this financial transformation occurs on is anybody's guess.


Crypto Price Down as Ukraine Crisis Hits

The price of [Bitcoin](/news/category/bitcoin-news) suffered further crash losses today as the value of the world’s foremost digital currency dropped below $40,000 usd for the first time in six months. While recovering slightly since a precipitous fall to $38,250 in the early hours of this morning, the price of Bitcoin is currently trading at $39,022 usd leaving many investors to speculate what caused the drop.

The Bitcoin network has never been stronger with the hash rate at all time highs. The hash rate is the metric which illustrates the computing power needed to mine Bitcoin. A higher hash rate demonstrates confidence in the network and its long term growth. After dipping in mid 2021 the hash rate has recently rebounded to record highs.

## External influences

It is often said that positive price action usually follows higher hash rates however looking at the current market performance this is clearly not the case. As we know the cost of mining is closely tied to the price of Bitcoin. For large scale mining farms to be profitable miners need to know their break even point and calculations based on the current hash rate indicate this to be around $34,000 usd.

With the network in good health it is pertinent to look for outside factors which may have caused investors to sell off.

## $600 million ways to fry

Many people are pointing towards Friday’s options expiry of some $600 million in open interest contracts as a major factor in the price crash of Bitcoin. After almost two weeks of sideways action many investors believed that $40,000 usd represented a solid price floor. However, with speculators gambling on the value of Bitcoin through futures based ETF’s the price of an unregulated asset such as Bitcoin is always going to be open to manipulation. When you add in the fact that leveraged Bitcoin liquidations across trading platforms account for $292 million the picture of market manipulation becomes clear. Regulation has never been more needed in an industry desperate to break into the mainstream.

## Ukraine crisis

History shows us investors do not like uncertainty and when anxiety is in the air capital is often pulled from high risk assets into safe havens. Although Bitcoin is more frequently viewed as a risk free hedge to rising rates of inflation it is still considered by many to be a risk-on investment. Therefore, with the crisis in Ukraine bringing increased uncertainty to worldwide markets it is prudent to believe that a degree of long term profit is banked as significant capital leaves the market. The difficult question any serious investor should be asking right now is what and  how long will it take before Bitcoin inevitably bounces back?


Bitcoin below $40,000 for first time in 6 months

[Bitcoin](/news/category/bitcoin-news) price action remains stable but is a value surge just around the corner?

The price of Bitcoin has been steadily declining since 8th November leaving many to speculate the bull run is finally over. With a retracement close to 40% it is easy to see why this is a popular narrative. However, there are many people who believe Bitcoin has one and possibly two more bull runs left in the tank. What are the factors behind this optimism and when could this occur?

## Price volatility at record low

The current price of Bitcoin stands at $41,876 representing a fall of 2% in the last 24 hours. Bitcoin has been range bound between roughly $41,000 and $43,000 since 6th January which in the volatile land of unregulated cryptocurrency is something of a rarity. Clearly retail investors have been spooked and institutional investors are buying their time.

This price stability is reflected in the volatility, which according to the Bitcoin Volatility Index is at its lowest point since November 2021 at 2.63%. Low volatility might not be attractive to traders but from an institutional adoption angle it represents maturity and stability which in turn generates interest. Therefore the ‘boring’ price action of Bitcoin may be just what is needed to encourage more large-scale investors to the crypto table.

## Bitcoin fear and greed index

As mentioned above, the price of Bitcoin has seen a sharp pull back from record highs of November 2021. In turn, retail investment has practically disappeared as many people fear getting burnt or worse. This market sentiment is measured by the handy Fear and Greed Index which uses a handful of factors to assess how traders are likely to react given the current price. The current Fear & Greed Index score is 24% representing Extreme Fear which to the bold investor is the perfect time to buy.

## China Bitcoin ban

Many people believe the price decline of Bitcoin since November 2021 could be related to yet another Chinese Bitcoin mining and trading ban as investors in the far east sell off and take profits. This would explain the 40% drawback as a large proportion of Bitcoin mining occurred in China before the ban. The USA now accounts for the highest percentage of hashpower in the world.

Historically speaking, Bitcoin has a habit of launching a price surge just when everyone thinks the asset is dead and it is headed for zero. This could easily be the case here. The development of the Bitcoin network has come too far in the last 24 months for it to crash and burn and the adoption of nation states such as Venezuela, El Salvador and lately Tonga show just how much credibility Bitcoin still has in the tank.

## Cleaning Up Cryptocurrency

The real question is why isn't anyone buying Bitcoin, and other crypto for that matter, in large enough quantities to move the market which was evident at time throughout 2021. This could be due to many factors. As we have discussed before the market is in dire need of regulation and its absence deters many traditional investors looking to enter the space. 

Later this week US Congress is due to host a hearing of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee entitles “Cleaning Up Cryptocurrency: The energy impacts of blockchain” which is sure to make recommendations which will impact the development of the market. So, is circa $40,000 the new floor? Will it hold? And once we have regulatory clarity will investors return to the table in record numbers? Only time will tell.



Is the Bitcoin price stagnant or stable?

The largest city in Brazil is planning to invest 1% of the city’s financial reserves into [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) it was revealed yesterday.

In an attempt to rebrand the city as ‘Crypto Rio’ mayor of Rio de Janiero, Eduardo Paes, recently announced that “We are going to launch Crypto Rio and invest 1% of the treasury in cryptocurrency – the government has a role to play”.

## Property Tax Discount

The announcement came during Rio Innovation Week and was released through news agency O Globo. The revelation came as Mr Paes discussed Rio’s cryptocurrency future as he shared a stage with the mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez. The discussion also included plans to consider a 10% discount on all property tax which is paid in Bitcoin. Rio de Janeiro city Finance Secretary Pedro Paulo commented “Let us study the legal framework to do this”.

In a move that closely follows neighbours El Salvador, the Brazillian government is clearly warming to the idea of integrating cryptocurrency payments. In November last year Federal Deputy Luizão Goulart proposed a bill to legalise crypto as a payment method for both public and private sector workers in the country.

The following month leading crypto payment firm in Brazil, MercadoPago, enabled all Brazilian residents access to buy, sell and hold all major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Clearly Brazil is waking up to the economic advantages of adopting a digital framework throughout their economy.

## Inflation hedge

With inflation around the world continuing to rise, cryptocurrencies represent some of the best ways to reduce costs and increase network security and efficiency. In addition many people see Bitcoin itself as an alternative to gold and the perfect hedge against the weakening of fiat currencies.

The price of Bitcoin remains in the low $40,000’s with the price at time of press standing at $42,359 a fall of 3.72% in the last 24 hours. The overall market cap sits at $2.02 trillion, a pull back of 3.16%. Bitcoin market dominance is 39.7% which shows it is still the worlds best known and largest cryptocurrency by market cap. How long this remains the case is anyone’s guess however with major cities like Rio de Janeiro announcing their intention to invest in Bitcoin, the message to undecided or cautious investors is clear. [Buy Bitcoin](/trade).


Rio de Janeiro to invest 1% of city wealth into Bitcoin