Seeing as uBIDUP, a penny auction site just for the crypto-currency, Bitcoin, is still up and running we thought it’d be a great idea to feature this insightful guest blog from Bitcoin expert, Justin Hawley of BetterOffBitCoin.com.
What is Bitcoin, and Why Would Anyone Want It?
Bitcoin. If you haven’t heard of it yet, you will. And if you have, you’re may be a bit confused about what it actually is. I hope to give you a very quick summary of Bitcoin in this article and help you at least understand the basics of Bitcoin when it comes up in conversation. For the purposes of this article, I will keep things extremely simple. I’m going to refrain from the details, and just give you the answers to what you really want to know.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a digital currency. You can use it to buy goods and services. Just like cash. The difference is that it is 100% digital. Just like you can use your bank account to purchase items online, Bitcoin transactions happen over the internet. Bitcoins can be purchased with the dollar, or created with extremely powerful computers that solve complex mathematical equations.
Why Would Anyone Want It?
That’s a loaded question. Without going into details (I’ll leave that to your independent research), here are the benefits that make Bitcoin attractive.
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Bitcoin has been an incredible investment. A single bitcoin went up in value 44,000% in 24 months. Even today it is worth approximately 500% more than it was six months ago. There are very few investments in the world that have ever compared to it.
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It is a legitimate currency. People accept it as payment, and the number of people that do grows daily. Check out www.coinmap.org for a small sampling of such businesses.
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Bitcoin can be ultra secure (if you know what you’re doing).
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Governments cannot simply freeze a bitcoin account. (Such as they did with the Euro in Cyprus recently when their economy crashed).
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You can move money across borders effortlessly. (No customs issues, for example).
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Bitcoin is dependent on an enormous collection of individuals rather than a centralized government or board. In other words, it is “decentralized”. Centralized money control such the federal reserve can and do make mistakes, ruining savings, plans, and even economies based only on the decisions of a small handful of people you will never meet. Bitcoin doesn’t have this structure or problem.
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Bitcoin’s software is open source – anyone with the skills to do so can see exactly how it works, come to a conclusion where it is going, and plan accordingly.
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You can divide bitcoins down to a ridiculous fraction. (For example, you can spend .00007 bitcoin to buy a can of pop at today’s exchange rate). So the days of “worthless pennies” and concerns about limited supply of physical coins are easily remedied. (You simply divide the currency further and spend accordingly).
Public Opinions About Bitcoin
Opinions on Bitcoin at this point in it’s development range from the die-hard believers (of which I am one), to the haters, to those who simply don’t understand what it is.
What is the future of Bitcoin?
Currently there are only about 12.5 million bitcoins in circulation. There will ever only be about 21 million. (Estimated sometime around 2140). Over the history of Bitcoin, the demand for bitcoins has far exceeded the pace at which new bitcoins enter the economy. (By the way, HOW bitcoins are created is an entirely different subject, and an equally fascinating one! I will leave that to your independent research as well.)
If trends continue, both the demand for bitcoins and the number of merchants accepting it as payment will continue to grow, and we may see a new world currency based completely on the Internet. That is the best case scenario, of course, but you can see why so many people are so excited about the potential of this digital currency. Of course, there is always the risk, as with the dollar, that demand will simply dry up and the value will plummet. This authors opinion is that the sky is the limit for bitcoin.
About the Author
Justin Hawley is the founder of Better Off Bitcoin and the owner of video production company Advanced Video Tactics. He is a familiar a face of bitcoin, public speaker, and early investor. When not advocating the digital currency, he can be found enjoying fine food and worldwide travel adventures with his lovely wife Katie.
Thanks Justin!
uBIDUP is a penny auction specializing in bitcoin auctions. What’s your opinion of Bitcoin and have you tried uBIDUP? Let us know about your penny auction experiences here or in the Penny Auction Watch Forum!
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