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Digital Money Defined and How it Works
The advancements in modern technology revolutionized the industry such that there emerged digital money. With digital money, international payments are made simpler. The exchange rates are also relatively inexpensive and you are guaranteed with secure payments.
But, What is Digital Money?
In a gist, digital money is an electronic form of payment. Unlike cash, it has no tangible form, and payments or exchanges transpire over computers. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple, are examples of digital money. You can trade in Bitcoin, purchase Ethereum, or buy Ripple through several cryptocurrency exchange platforms. Most of these platforms are relatively easy to use and some even offer a direct link on your electronic wallet accounts.
How Does Digital Money Work?
Blockchain Network
Digital money is created, stored, and exchanged in its individual blockchain network. A blockchain is all about digital information stored in a public database. When a user requests for a transaction, the transaction is broadcast over a peer-to-peer (P2P) network that is composed of computers which are also referred to as nodes. The nodes are integrated with algorithms that can verify the validity of the transactions.
Once the transaction is verified, it is combined with other transactions, which eventually creates a new block of data. The resulting new block is then added to the existing blockchain, completing the transaction request. The blocks are already permanent and any information stored in them can no longer be altered.
Mining
In the blockchain network, mining is the process of verifying the validity of the transactions. The process includes the creation of a hash or a unique sequence of cryptographic information. This information is often based on the transaction data inside the block that is up for verification, the result of complex mathematical formulas, as well as the hash of the last block on the chain. It is only upon the completion of this hash that a new block is confirmed and added to the chain.
Storage
Digital money is often stored in digital currency wallets. These wallets are simply software programs with the capability of retaining digital money indefinitely. Some even come with mobile wallets that provide users with a convenient means of accessing their digital money whenever they need to. Digital wallets often have a public key and a private key. The public key is responsible for recording the location of your wallet in the blockchain network. While anyone in the chain can access it, the public key doesn’t contain any personal identifiable data. On the other hand, only the rightful owner of the digital wallet sees the private key. This key contains the cryptographic information that authorizes the transactions in the wallet.
There are now several businesses that accept digital money as a form of payment for their goods and services. Aside from this, some individuals are building their portfolio with cryptocurrency with others even considering it a safe haven asset. It can, therefore, be deemed that digital money is here to stay and in the future, it can be the primary means of payment preferred in various industries.
Ethereum price has been hovering around its highest level in 7 months for the past few days amid a boost in the crypto market. ETH has jumped more than 49% in its year-to-date price, increasing 5% in the past week. Ethereum’s total market cap has slipped by more than 3% over the last day, while the total volume of the altcoin traded increased by more than 6%.
Fundamentals
Just like most cryptocurrencies, Ethereum price found support in the recent fiasco in the banking sector. The recent vulnerability in the banking sector pumped liquidity in the global crypto market as investors shifted to other assets such as cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, saw its price hit its highest level in 9 months, while Ethereum jumped to a 7-month high.
The global crypto market was in the red later on Wednesday as investors chewed on the Fed’s latest interest rate decision. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced on Wednesday a 25-basis point hike in the federal funds to 5%, down from 4.75%.
According to a statement by the US Federal Reserve, the FOMC remains highly attentive to inflation risks as it seeks to achieve an inflation rate of 2%in the long run. The Committee also announced that it anticipates additional policy firming to help in attaining a stance of monetary policy to aid in achieving the 2% target.
According to the Fed’s…
Bitcoin price has been hovering above its highest level since June 2022 over the past few hours. The largest cryptocurrency by market cap has jumped by 28.30% in the past week, while its year-to-date price inches higher to 70.63%. Bitcoin’s total market cap has increased by 4.77% over the last 24 hours to $547.7 billion, while the total volume of the coin traded rose by 50%.
BTC Skyrockets
Bitcoin price was rallying on Monday as most altcoins slumped, led by the largest altcoin by market cap, Ethereum. The global crypto market cap has increased 2.49% over the last day to $1.18 trillion, while the total crypto market volume jumped 34.88%. Bitcoin’s dominance inched 0.98% over the past 24 hours to 46.34%, its highest level since June 2022.
The recent global banking crisis in which three major banks in the US were closed within days has pushed the BTC price higher. Silvergate Capital, Signature Bank, and Silicon Valley Bank recently disclosed operational difficulties, prompting regulators to shut them down.
Switzerland’s largest banking institution, UBS, announced on Sunday that it had entered a merger deal with its embattled rival Credit Suisse. UBS announced that it would buy its rival for $3.25 billion, with Swiss regulators playing a key role in the ideal. According to the Swiss National Bank, the merger will secure financial stability and protect the Swiss economy.
Bitcoin reacted positively to the news, cruising…
Solana price joined in on the recent rally in the global cryptocurrency market, jumping nearly 17% in the past week. Solana has made substantial gains this year, climbing 102% in its year-to-date price. SOL ranks as the 11th largest cryptocurrency after Binance USD and ahead of Polkadot. Despite the altcoin’s recent rally, the total volume of the coin traded has continued to dwindle.
Fundamentals
Solana price was trading slightly higher on Friday as Bitcoin and other altcoins extended their rally despite the bank contagion fears weighing on the markets. Bitcoin and Ethereum have been leading the recent rally in the market, jumping more than 30% and 20% in the past week, respectively.
Investors have welcomed the resilient crypto prices amid the recent crisis in the banking sector this week. The week started with the collapse of Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank on Sunday until the focus shifted to Credit Suisse and First Republic Bank. Traders have been digesting the fate of Credit Suisse even after the bank said that it would borrow up to 50 billion Swiss Francs from the Swiss National Bank.
Several analysts have linked the recent rally in the crypto market to lingering bank worries. Even so, crypto prices are heavily influenced by inflation and the Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. According to analysts, the recent decline in banking stocks points to the vulnerability of traditional institutions, raising liquidity concerns…
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