Bitcoin was the pioneering example of cryptocurrency that exists. However, unlike the above image, it isn’t some physical form of coin or currency you can keep in your wallet. Bitcoin is basically a line of code (as in programming) with value; which can be purchased and sold for money.
According to Bitcoinplay.net (via TechWeez), a year after the invention of the cryptocurrency (2010), 10,000 Bitcoin could only get you two boxes of pizza. The same isn’t the case today.
As at the time of writing this article, 1 Bitcoin is worth over $8,500, having almost peaked at $20,000 in 2017.
Nakamoto created Bitcoin out of the desire and thought of having a decentralized currency — money that no authority, company, or individual had control over and owners of the currency could not be traced or identified.
Like physical currency where you keep your money in your pockets, purse or a wallet, a “Bitcoin Wallet” is a special program that allows you store your Bitcoin and also, transfer to other users, a merchant or customer that accepts Bitcoin as a form of payment; picture it as removing a couple of Naira or dollar note from your purse to give to another person.
Transfer of Bitcoin is safe, reliable and remain completely anonymous as it is a form of digital money that uses encryption to secure transactions. This same encryption guides the creation of new units.
How do I get Bitcoin? you might ask. Well, for the purpose of explaining its acquisition, I’d compare Bitcoin to Oil. Bitcoin is like a commodity (a currency in the real sense of it) that you can acquire by; Buying it, or Mining (Creating) it.
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How do I mine (create) Bitcoin?
Well, it would surprise you to know that mining Bitcoin is absolutely FREE! Yes, free. However, the resources and the know-how you need to possess to mine the virtual currency might cost you some dough. Before moving to the mining of the currency, there are some facts that needs to be stated forehand:
Only 12.5 Bitcoin can be mined / created every 10 minutes.
There are finite Bitcoin — there can only be 21 million Bitcoin in existence.
The creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, is believed to own 1 million of Bitcoin
In July 2017, the total amount of Bitcoin in circulation were believed to be about 16.4 million.
By 2041, the 21 million cap on Bitcoin quantity is estimated to be reached.
The above being said. Mining Bitcoin is a complex, capital and energy-intensive process as it requires sophisticated hardware, constant power (electricity) and internet. Presently, there are thousands of miners actively mining Bitcoin and all they do is to compete solve a complex mathematical puzzle within the space of 10 minutes.
The fastest miner to successfully solve the puzzle gets rewarded with 12.5 Bitcoin (currently worth over 100,000 USD). Miners make money by selling newly generated coin to interested buyers.
How do I Buy or Sell Bitcoin?
Generally, to buy or sell Bitcoin, you have to have a wallet and be registered on platforms where Bitcoin are bought and sold. These Bitcoin sales and purchase websites are known as Bitcoin Exchanges.
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The volume of Bitcoin you intend to buy or sell determines the type of buyer you are. And the type of buyer you are determines the type of Exchange you use. Exchanges like Gemini and GDAX deal with buyers and sellers of large volume of Bitcoin.
Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp, Paybis are trusted exchange for trading smaller volumes of Bitcoin. In Africa, you can buy or sell on Bitkoin Africa.
It is noteworthy to state that security and trust is a big factor to consider when choosing Exchange platforms to trade your Bitcoin. Back in 2016, Bitcoin worth millions of dollars we’re stolen when Bitfinex, a Bitcoin Exchange platform was hacked.
So be careful on which Exchange you use and how you use them. You don’t want your coins stolen, do you? It is also advised to choose Bitcoin retail exchange platforms (like Poloinex) that verify customers during trade.
Depending on the Exchange, you can choose to trade your Bitcoin for cash, or other cryptocurrencies.
How do I store my Bitcoin?
As mentioned earlier, a Bitcoin Wallet is like a virtual purse where you store your Bitcoin…and there are different types of them:
1. Hardware Wallet
This is a physical wallet; a device specifically made for Bitcoin transactions. It connects to the internet before a transaction can be carried out and unlike other wallets, it is the most secure as it is almost impossible to hack. It may however get easily stolen..or damaged.
Example of Hardware Wallet include Ledger Wallet, Trezor and KeepKey.
2. Online and Mobile Wallets
These are typically online wallets that can be accessed on the internet and mobile gadgets anywhere you are. It is free, easy to set up, and convenient but less secure.
There are several online wallet providers but safety remains an issue since your wallet key are saved on their database; they could be hacked. Some trusted online and mobile wallets include Coinbase and Blockchain.
3. Software Wallet
This is a wallet which, just like any other software, you install on your computer. This wallet allots more control and security over your wallet but you have to ensure your computer is safeguarded against hackers and prying eyes and insured against impromptu damage by backing it up. The official Bitcoin Wallet can be downloaded on the official Bitcoin website here.
4. Paper Wallet
This is often used for long-term storage of Bitcoin. Paper Wallets are basically a piece of paper on which the private and public keys of your bitcoin address are printed. Platforms like BitcoinPaperWallet and WalletGenerator offer Paper wallets.
The above are summarized bits on the most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin: its history, some facts, creating it, buying it, selling it, and storing it.
What do you think about Bitcoin? Have you ever traded it before? Bought or sold it before? Got any question? Ask in the comments box.
Bitcoin is basically 31,000 thousand lines of code that was created by a (fake) man by the name Satoshi Nakamoto. It is believed that Satoshi Nakamoto was only an alias used by the creator (whose real name, face, and overall identity remain unknown) when he invented Bitcoin in early 2009.
According to Bitcoinplay.net (via TechWeez), a year after the invention of the cryptocurrency (2010), 10,000 Bitcoin could only get you two boxes of pizza. The same isn’t the case today.
As at the time of writing this article, 1 Bitcoin is worth over $8,500, having almost peaked at $20,000 in 2017.
Nakamoto created Bitcoin out of the desire and thought of having a decentralized currency — money that no authority, company, or individual had control over and owners of the currency could not be traced or identified.
Like physical currency where you keep your money in your pockets, purse or a wallet, a “Bitcoin Wallet” is a special program that allows you store your Bitcoin and also, transfer to other users, a merchant or customer that accepts Bitcoin as a form of payment; picture it as removing a couple of Naira or dollar note from your purse to give to another person.
Transfer of Bitcoin is safe, reliable and remain completely anonymous as it is a form of digital money that uses encryption to secure transactions. This same encryption guides the creation of new units.
How do I get Bitcoin? you might ask. Well, for the purpose of explaining its acquisition, I’d compare Bitcoin to Oil. Bitcoin is like a commodity (a currency in the real sense of it) that you can acquire by; Buying it, or Mining (Creating) it.
All the Best Deals on Jumia
How do I mine (create) Bitcoin?
Well, it would surprise you to know that mining Bitcoin is absolutely FREE! Yes, free. However, the resources and the know-how you need to possess to mine the virtual currency might cost you some dough. Before moving to the mining of the currency, there are some facts that needs to be stated forehand:
Only 12.5 Bitcoin can be mined / created every 10 minutes.
There are finite Bitcoin — there can only be 21 million Bitcoin in existence.
The creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, is believed to own 1 million of Bitcoin
In July 2017, the total amount of Bitcoin in circulation were believed to be about 16.4 million.
By 2041, the 21 million cap on Bitcoin quantity is estimated to be reached.
The above being said. Mining Bitcoin is a complex, capital and energy-intensive process as it requires sophisticated hardware, constant power (electricity) and internet. Presently, there are thousands of miners actively mining Bitcoin and all they do is to compete solve a complex mathematical puzzle within the space of 10 minutes.
The fastest miner to successfully solve the puzzle gets rewarded with 12.5 Bitcoin (currently worth over 100,000 USD). Miners make money by selling newly generated coin to interested buyers.
How do I Buy or Sell Bitcoin?
Generally, to buy or sell Bitcoin, you have to have a wallet and be registered on platforms where Bitcoin are bought and sold. These Bitcoin sales and purchase websites are known as Bitcoin Exchanges.
Jumia Stay Safe Deals
The volume of Bitcoin you intend to buy or sell determines the type of buyer you are. And the type of buyer you are determines the type of Exchange you use. Exchanges like Gemini and GDAX deal with buyers and sellers of large volume of Bitcoin.
Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp, Paybis are trusted exchange for trading smaller volumes of Bitcoin. In Africa, you can buy or sell on Bitkoin Africa.
It is noteworthy to state that security and trust is a big factor to consider when choosing Exchange platforms to trade your Bitcoin. Back in 2016, Bitcoin worth millions of dollars we’re stolen when Bitfinex, a Bitcoin Exchange platform was hacked.
So be careful on which Exchange you use and how you use them. You don’t want your coins stolen, do you? It is also advised to choose Bitcoin retail exchange platforms (like Poloinex) that verify customers during trade.
Depending on the Exchange, you can choose to trade your Bitcoin for cash, or other cryptocurrencies.
How do I store my Bitcoin?
As mentioned earlier, a Bitcoin Wallet is like a virtual purse where you store your Bitcoin…and there are different types of them:
1. Hardware Wallet
This is a physical wallet; a device specifically made for Bitcoin transactions. It connects to the internet before a transaction can be carried out and unlike other wallets, it is the most secure as it is almost impossible to hack. It may however get easily stolen..or damaged.
Example of Hardware Wallet include Ledger Wallet, Trezor and KeepKey.
2. Online and Mobile Wallets
These are typically online wallets that can be accessed on the internet and mobile gadgets anywhere you are. It is free, easy to set up, and convenient but less secure.
There are several online wallet providers but safety remains an issue since your wallet key are saved on their database; they could be hacked. Some trusted online and mobile wallets include Coinbase and Blockchain.
3. Software Wallet
This is a wallet which, just like any other software, you install on your computer. This wallet allots more control and security over your wallet but you have to ensure your computer is safeguarded against hackers and prying eyes and insured against impromptu damage by backing it up. The official Bitcoin Wallet can be downloaded on the official Bitcoin website here.
4. Paper Wallet
This is often used for long-term storage of Bitcoin. Paper Wallets are basically a piece of paper on which the private and public keys of your bitcoin address are printed. Platforms like BitcoinPaperWallet and WalletGenerator offer Paper wallets.
The above are summarized bits on the most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin: its history, some facts, creating it, buying it, selling it, and storing it.
What do you think about Bitcoin? Have you ever traded it before? Bought or sold it before? Got any question? Ask in the comments box.
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