Welp MagazineComparing digital currencies to fiat currencies or conventional currencies such as dollars and euros presents a unique challenge. It is because cryptocurrencies only exist in the digital world, as opposed to real money that can be traced and transferred in person. Most of those systems would have to be rebuilt from scratch if we used digital money instead. Before the current versions, which are based on blockchain technology, took off and became widely used, there were various efforts at cryptocurrencies. Moreover, in order to get the most out of their bitcoin trading, traders may use platforms like biticodes app.
Several attempts at cryptocurrencies failed to acquire mainstream acceptance before the current versions. These are concepts from the United States and the Netherlands in the early 1980s. Author Wei Dai provided the first description of contemporary cryptocurrencies in 1998. 3 With the publication of a white paper outlining the principles of blockchain technology and bitcoin, the notion became completely apparent in 2008. Satoshi Nakamoto, a pseudonym for either a person or group of individuals, is the creator of the white paper.
Biggest events in crypto history
The popularity of digital currencies kept growing worldwide even as the coronavirus pandemic entered its second year, and the cryptocurrency market thrived to set new records. Firms in the sector came to the stock market. Some states tightened their regulations over crypto. The metaverse stopped being science fiction, and a nation embraced Bitcoin as its official currency. These were some of the underlines of the year 2021.
1. Entry of PayPal into the cryptocurrency market
PayPal, the world’s largest payments company, formally debuted its cryptocurrency service on October 21. Users can now buy, sell, and store four distinct types of cryptocurrencies using their PayPal accounts. PayPal’s cryptocurrency capability is only available to U.S. consumers, but the company has stated that it wants to expand its cryptocurrency operations in 2021 and even enable users to utilize their cryptocurrency balances at any retailer that accepts PayPal.
Although PayPal’s cryptocurrency service will not appeal to die-hard crypto fans, it nonetheless gives the asset class which has had a bad reputation since its inception a significant boost in credibility.
2. Bitcoin was adopted by Wall Street banks
The world’s largest investment bank, Morgan Stanley, offered clients access to Bitcoin for the first time in March 2021. At the time, the 90-year-old bank declared that for the first time, its high-net-worth clients would have access to funds from the dominant digital asset.
3. Coinbase went public
One of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges struck the American stock exchange as well. A momentous moment for the sector occurred when Coinbase surfaced on Nasdaq, the second-largest stock exchange in the U.S. The company had a perfect debut on the stock exchange after reporting a 70% increase in its share price on opening day.
4. Bitcoin halving (third)
The 3rd Bitcoin halving was eagerly awaited by the cryptocurrency world since some believed it would signal the start of the following significant Bitcoin bull run. On May 11, 2020, while Bitcoin was valued at $8,700, the 3rd Bitcoin halving took place. The Bitcoin block prize was halved from 12.5 BTC to 6.25 BTC. While this undoubtedly had a brief effect on the Bitcoin mining ecosystem, the BTC hashrate was able to fully rebound and soon began setting new records.
5. Cryptocurrencies got banned in China
In 2021, the digital asset sector will be subject to one of the broadest prohibitions in recorded history. Chinese authorities started cracking down on cryptocurrency mining activities in the mid of the year, stopping the trading of digital assets and eventually putting an end to the local cryptocurrency market’s expansion.
6. CoinMarketCap buying by Binance
The acquisition of CoinMarketCap by Binance in 2020 would surely be the greatest blockbuster transaction in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors. The two businesses did not disclose the acquisition’s financial details, although it was worth over $400 million and involved the largest cryptocurrency exchange acquiring the biggest cryptocurrency-related website.
7. Bitcoin broke records
The leading cryptocurrency achieved its 2017 peak of $20,000 at the beginning of 2021. The price then continued to soar, reaching a peak of $70,000 in November, while the market capitalization reached its greatest ever level, surpassing $1.2 trillion for the first time.
Last words
The future of cryptocurrencies is not an “if,” but a “when” question. Nobody can say for sure but given that they now exist and are not going anywhere, there has never been a better time to educate oneself about cryptocurrencies.
