Learn and Understand Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies
In-depth resources for understanding Bitcoin and cryptocurrency
We’ve put together a collection of great articles to help explain Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in a way that anyone can understand. Whether you’re looking to learn about cryptocurrency before deciding which one to invest in, or you just want to brush up on your crypto slang, diving into the resources below will put you on the path to a better understanding of crypto so you can take the reigns on your financial future.
Bitcoin is an invention that, for the first time in history, enabled a group of software users to create and manage a digital money supply outside the control of any government or bank.
A revolutionary idea when introduced in 2009, Bitcoin continues to have implications that are just beginning to be understood and explored by technologists and economists today.
Crypto 101
A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend.
Bitcoin is an invention that, for the first time in history, enabled a group of software users to create and manage a digital money supply outside the control of any government or bank. Read more here about Bitcoin.
A blockchain is a decentralized, distributed, and oftentimes public, digital ledger consisting of records called blocks that is used to record transactions across many computers so that any involved block cannot be altered retroactively, without the alteration of all subsequent blocks.
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, while blockchain is a distributed database. Bitcoin is powered by blockchain technology, but blockchain has found many uses beyond Bitcoin. Bitcoin promotes anonymity, while blockchain is about transparency.
A transaction is a transfer of value between Bitcoin wallets that gets included in the block chain. Bitcoin wallets keep a secret piece of data called a private key or seed, which is used to sign transactions, providing a mathematical proof that they have come from the owner of the wallet. The signature also prevents the transaction from being altered by anybody once it has been issued. All transactions are broadcast to the network and usually begin to be confirmed within 10-20 minutes, through a process called mining.
Bitcoin mining is the process of making computer hardware do mathematical calculations for the Bitcoin network to confirm transactions and increase security. As a reward for their services, Bitcoin miners can collect transaction fees for the transactions they confirm, along with newly created bitcoins. Mining is a specialized and competitive market where the rewards are divided up according to how much calculation is done. Not all Bitcoin users do Bitcoin mining, and it is not an easy way to make money.
As of February 2020, Bitcoin was legal in the U.S., Japan, the U.K., Canada, and most other developed countries. In the emerging markets, the legal status of Bitcoin still varied dramatically. China heavily restricted Bitcoin without actually criminalizing the holding of bitcoins. India banned banks from dealing in bitcoins and left the overall legal status of cryptocurrencies unclear. In general, it is necessary to look at Bitcoin laws in specific countries.
Even where Bitcoin is legal, most of the laws that apply to other assets also apply to Bitcoin. Tax laws are the area where most people are likely to run into trouble. For tax purposes, bitcoins are usually treated as property rather than currency. Bitcoin is generally not considered legal tender.
We make buying bitcoin safe and easy. Just follow these simple steps to get started:
- Sign up for an ALT 5 Pro account
Provide an email address, choose a username, and pick a strong, secure password. - Verify your account
Once you have verified your account, you can buy BTC with other cryptocurrencies. All you need to do is provide your name, date of birth, country and phone number. If you’d like to use fiat currencies, like USD or EUR, you’ll need to provide additional support documents verifying your identity. - Deposit fiat or cryptocurrency
To deposit crypto, just create a deposit address and send the funds to this address. Funding your account with fiat currencies for trading can be done in a number of ways, including SWIFT, SEPA and domestic wire transfers. The option you select will be based on your location and preference. - Start buying bitcoin!
Once your fiat or cryptocurrency hits your account, you’re ready to start buying bitcoin.
