Next Generation Currency

Is a Cryptocurrency-Based Credit Card Feasible?

While American Express Credit Card enables cardholders to make cashless payments on purchases, it’s not a feasible financial solution in a blockchain platform. If ever a cryptocurrency-based credit payment system will be developed by American Express (AMEX), cardholders must have enough digital money in their e-wallet to pay merchants who accept bitcoin or other altcoins like Ethereum, Bitcash or Litecoin.

Both AMEX Credit Cards and cryptocurrencies are cashless methods of payment, yet the former enables acquiring or purchasing of goods or services without requiring immediate cash payment. Cryptocurrencies on the other hand, is cashless in nature, but backed by a blockchain system that confirms there is actual cash involved in every virtual transaction.

A Quick Look at How PayPal Offers Cryptocurrency Services

Even if payment processor PayPal is now offering cryptocurrency services to its customers, the services offered are restricted to buying, selling and holding of digital money within its Cryptocurrencies Hub.

While there are PayPal merchants who accept cryptocurrency as modes of payment, PayPal does not allow customers to make direct payments using digital money of whatever type. Mainly because PayPal’s blockchain partner Paxos, has to confirm the validity of every cryptocurrency transaction through a process that is entirely different from the payment processing method used by PayPal.

Credit cards like AMEX can fit into PayPal’s payment processing system as a service to customers looking to pay a PayPal merchant on credit. After all, AMEX Credit Card holders only have to confirm the validity of their AMEX card online via americanexpressconfirmcard.live in order to have the credit payment processed and approved.

How Does Cryptocurrency Payments Work in a Blockchain Platform

Cryptocurrency as a mode of payment works on the principles of a peer-to=peer payment system (P2P)., where the parties to a specific transaction have direct involvement without the need to pay fees and disclose any personal and financial information. First off, a cryptocurrency e-wallet must have sufficient balance to cover the transaction, which can be verified by way of the blockchain ledger that records all related digital currency movements.

However, the blockchain ledger uses encryptions when recording such transactions, which can take the form of a long chain of encryptions that connect a block of transactions starting from the moment the digital money first appeared in a blockchain ledger. That being the case, the recording system requires solving or determining which encryptions are related as a way of confirming the validity of the cryptocurrency used for a block of connected transactions.

The blockchain system also puts a particular set of encrypted data through a hash function, which as a test, is expected to generate one hash value. If any one attempts to change even a tiny portion of any of the original encryptions, the altered set of encrypted data will produce a completely unrecognizable hash value. Bitcoin for one uses the SHA-256, an established cryptographic hash algorithm.

Supposing a bitcoin user changed a transaction value even by 0.0001 bitcoin, the hash that will be generated by the chain of encryptions would be unrecognizable based on the SHA-256 system . In such cases, the blockchain network will not confirm a digital currency transaction as valid. .

What Do Cryptocurrency Insurance Policies Cover?

While cryptocurrency is already growing at a rapid pace, one can find only a handful of insurers offering coverages priced and valued in digital currency. Moreover, as far as blockchain-based car insurance coverage is concerned, the application for this type of car insurance is yet to be developed.

After all, insurance policies are designed to limit the amount of liability that insurers will assume in the event of loss or damage based on agreed terms and conditions. Yet cryptocurrencies are volatile money, which in a near or far future could present a dramatic change in values that will nullify the viability of offering a crypto-valued shield against potential risks. In the same way, client expectations on the amount of coverage for their assets is not assured, since the use of blockchain technology for monetary transactions is still loosely regulated.

The primary challenge for most insurers is the difficulty of calculating the value of possible risks since there is lack of sufficient information on which to develop a model for insurance pricing and valuation.

Secondly, there is still little room for growth, as clients still need to understand how a cryptocurrency insurance protection will work in a way that will not put them at a disadvantage in the long run.

Thirdly, there have been numerous cases of cryptocurrency cyberattacks and scams that make cryptocurrency insurance a less appealing choice of protection.

Some Known Examples of Cryptocurrency Insurance Already Offered

In some European countries like Germany and Norway, the use of cryptocurrency, particularly bitcoin, is already widely accepted and at the same time regulated. As opposed to digital money in the U.S. that has yet to gain legal recognition before American consumers can fully appreciate the significance of a crypto insurance coverage. Nonetheless, the following U.S. based fintech firms have already ventured into the business of offering insurance policies for certain assets:

Bee Nest – Based in San Francisco, California, this fintech collaborated with We Trust a fiduciary company. Together, they developed a blockchain-based insurance model for homeowners. In line with the offering, Bee Nest uses a proprietary digital currency called Bee Token, which the fintech initially introduced as digital currency that can be used in booking accommodations in the San Francisco area.

Guardtime – A fintech based in Irvine, California that partnered with logistics behemoth Maersk in developing a blockchain-based marine insurance. Using what fintechs call as “Smart Contracts,” Guardtime’s cryptocurrency maritime insurance policy offers a way of managing unchanging risks as they occur in the shipping industry.

Lemonade – This insurance company based in New York City uses blockchain-based technology in combination with artificial intelligence in offering cryptocurrency insurance to homeowners and renters. The Lemonade crypto insurance model involves the collection of a monthly premium starting as low as $5 per month, to cover a fixed insurance fee, while the remaining portion is allocated for future insurance claims. Claims for a loss must be made immediately to allow for quick valuation of loss coverage.

If you have been reading this in relation to your search for a cryptocurrency car insurance, and in case you do find some, our advice is not to walk into any such offers blindly. Even when looking for a regular car insurance policy, you have to shop around and make comparisons to make sure you will be getting a reasonable deal and adequate coverage.

The good news s that you can find all pertinent information you need at https://carinsurancesnearme.com/ when in the process of evaluating your options.

Cryptocurrencies and its advantages

Bitcoin, Ripple, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Co. are all examples of cryptocurrencies. These are purely virtual currencies that are primarily used online. They can be used for transactions between individuals, for business transactions, or for games such as kiss918 or gambling transactions.

Decentralized structure

Cryptocurrencies are not administered from a central point (e.g. bank) but are distributed across all participants in a special network. This decentralized structure is achieved via a distributed ledger technology – e.g. blockchain or tangle. Each participant receives a copy of the database, which contains all previous transactions.

Wallets: accounts for virtual currencies

In order for a user to participate in and actively use a cryptocurrency, they need an account, the so-called wallet. This is where the participant’s current tokens are stored – i.e. their current account balance, so to speak. There are different forms of wallets, but in principle, they all have the same functions: They are used to send, receive, and manage a participant’s tokens. Wallets are cryptographically protected and also contain the address of the owner.

Advantages of cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies offer many advantages over traditional currencies, including

  • Fast transactions with minimal waiting times in the range of a few minutes
  • Anonymous payments protect privacy
  • Decentralized payment transactions independent of financial institutions
  • Secure transactions and tamper-proof accounts through shared management via blockchain
  • Currency is valid internationally, no exchange rates, no link to national interest rate developments

Cryptocurrency Risks

There are also risks

  • Lost wallets are usually irreplaceable
  • Depending on the currency, only very limited distribution/acceptance as a means of payment
  • Strong price fluctuations

Is a cryptocurrency fiat money?

Fiat money is all means of payment that have no intrinsic value. This means that they have no real exchange value, unlike gold or raw materials, for example. The classic fiat money that everyone knows from everyday life are usual currencies: euros, dollars, and the like consist of coins and banknotes that are only worth something because you have agreed on them. Fiat money can be exchanged for goods and services practically anywhere.

Strictly speaking, cryptocurrencies are also fiat money. Not only that – they come much closer to the definition of fiat money, as they are purely virtual and thus actually have no intrinsic value at all. As long as there are enough users of a cryptocurrency who recognize its value, it can be used for a wide variety of transactions just like fiat money.

Financial Options – SME Loan Broker And Crypto Lending

Finance Brokers provide assistance to consumers looking for the right kind of loan that will meet and match their unique financing needs and conditions. In order to effectively do this, a Finance Broker lay their knowledge, expertise and experience throughout an extensive range of products from numerous lenders. They make every effort and initiative to recommend products that they believe, from their expertise, will suit the goals and needs of clients.

SME Loan Broker – Who Are They?

SME Loan Broker from Avant Consulting does just that. They offer a gamut of loan brokering services, which includes Temporary Bridging Loan, Hire Purchase, Industrial Property Loan Financing, Commercial or Shophouse Property Loan, Mortgage Refinancing, and Residential Financing to name a few. As they are dedicated to provide excellent service, they closely work with every client they have to ensure that their financial option is modified and fitted to their specific corporate needs and individual needs as well as lessen interest rates and other fees for them.

Such financial expert is imperative for consumers to explore and discover every financing option they have. They establish rapport, build client’s confidence and trust as they make such crucial financial decision.

In essence, a loan broker is an individual or a firm that functions as a go-between or financial intermediary for a borrower and a lender. Traditional as well as non-traditional lenders utilize the services of brokers to provide and complete all the needed applications, documentations, as well as all the processes to assist borrowers throughout the loaning process.

Crypto Lending – What Is It?

While many choose traditional loan financing that require the usual collateral, there are borrowers who opt for crypto lending. This trend has opened up possibilities for both big and small crypto players.

Crypto lending is a rather simple concept wherein borrowers make use of their digital assets, cryptocurrencies, as collateral to acquire a stablecoin or fiat loan. Lenders, on the other hand, provides the borrower the needed assets at an interest rate they both agreed upon. Crypto lending could also work the other way around where borrowers provide stablecoins or fiat as collateral to be able to borrow cryptocurrency.

To put it in simple term, crypto lending is collateralized loans. Although this may not sound rather revolutionary and innovative, crypto lending is still a powerful financial option that open up more opportunities and benefits for individual borrowers, businesses, traders, as well as users, which includes faster loan processes, increased accessibility, much more flexible loan terms, lower interest rates and fees, and higher standards of safety.

With the introduction and rise of crypto lending, the benefit and functionality of cryptocurrencies has considerably increased. While still in its stage of infancy, crypto lending is projected to grow as the size of the crypto lending market surpasses 10 billion US dollars when it comes to overall loan origination.

Cryptocurrency As Loan Collateral

Personal loans are an amount of money borrowed from licensed lenders which you could use for various reasons, such as for big purchases and emergency expenditures. These loans are settled or repaid typically on a monthly basis for a certain period of time depending on your situation as well as how diligent you are at settling your payments. Personal loans could be very beneficial as long as you use it well and could manage to repay it.

If you need a personal loan, always transact with a licensed money lender. For instance, credit loan is a licensed money lender in Singapore providing high-quality loans that will match your every need. With their innovative digital solutions, their loan process is easy, convenient, quick and very much secure.

Credit loan has been in service for more than 17 years. That is 17 years of experience in the financial industry. And within those years, they have made over 200 thousand clients happy and very much satisfied with their lending service making them a very reliable and credible lending company to transact with. So, if you want to be a happy client as well, choose a licensed, credible and reliable money lender for a conveniently smooth process, from the application stage to repaying your loans.

Secured And Unsecured Loans

Loans could either be unsecured or secured. Unsecured loans don’t need any form of collateral to be able to borrow some money whereas secured loans require you to provide a collateral that you agree to give up to your lender in the event that you cannot settle the loan. A few examples of accepted collateral are personal or business car, real estate, investment accounts, and valuables like jewelry, fine art or collectibles.

A more modern form of collateral are your cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies (cryptos) are digital currencies that aren’t controlled or regulated by any government unit or by any financial authority. There over 1,000 kinds of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin being the first ever to be released in 2009.

What are crypto-backed loans and why consider taking one?

Crypto-backed loans are loans wherein you use your cryptocurrency assets as collateral. In the past, many crypto holders are forced to sell their crypto assets for fiat money if they need it. Now, instead of selling their assets, they use it as collateral to be able to borrow fiat money like the USD. This allows them to keep ownership of the assets while obtaining access to the fiat they need.

What can you use a crypto-backed loan for?

Similar to personal loans, you could make use of a crypto-backed loan for various reasons, which includes:

  • Purchasing Real Estate or a Home
  • Paying Travel or Vacation Expenses
  • Financing A Start-up
  • Divesting Investments
  • Settling High-cost Debts Such as Student Loans

Cryptocurrency For Stablecoins

money lender SingaporeAlthough there are several reliable and trusted money lender Singapore, picking the right one that would suit your needs could be a tedious and frustrating process since there are numerous aspects that you need think through, including:

  • Licenses and Accreditation: Of course, it is crucial that the money lender Singapore has the necessary license from the government showing that they are operating legally and have met all the imposed standards and requirements. It has to be accredited by professional bodies as well to show it is a reliable, trusted and professional moneylender.
  • Reputation: Reputation is weight aspect to consider. Nowadays, people rely on reviews from previous clients to see how well they interact with people and provide their service. Money lenders with excellent reviews have excellent reputation.
  • Fees: All certified moneylenders will charge a certain fee when you get a loan and for the services they provide. Hence, look into these fees and compare them with other money lenders. Also ensure they are reasonable and affordable.

Crypto-backed Loans

Usually, moneylenders require some type of collateral for a loan to be approved. While borrowers provide collateral like their home, their car or other assets and property they have, others make use of cryptocurrency to back their loans.

As many are already aware, borrowers are able to make use of their cryptocurrency assets to serve as collateral when loaning fiat currency or stablecoins from lenders who accepts cryptocurrency as a collateral. This could actually work the other way around as well wherein borrowers make us of fiat currency or stablecoins as the collateral to borrow cryptocurrency assets.

crypto backed loanWhat are Stablecoins?

Stablecoins provide a lot of benefits that other cryptos don’t offer. Although they are similar to cryptocurrencies, stablecoins are more stable, as its name implies.

In a market wherein the value of the assets that one holds violently fluctuates, the choice to ‘store’ the value of funds in a manner that it eliminates volatility is rather crucial. Such option isn’t only for crypto traders, but also to retailers accepting cryptocurrencies without having to worry about the values  fluctuating.

In most circumstances, most of the stablecoins are pegged or attached to broadly utilized fiat currencies, whereas some are pegged on commodities like as Gold.

What Are They Used For?

For numerous crypto traders, stablecoins serve as a fallback or an alternative when they would like to hedge their crypto without having to cash out to fiat currency. This is quite effective particularly when markets are bear or if the intend to keep revenue in fiat. The currency of the world, after all, is still fiat not cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Stablecoins are expected to develop into a significant element in decentralized finance, popularly known as DeFi. DeFi offers an alternative to the present financial systems and structures with one that is designed and created on public blockchains.

As mentioned, stablecoins are also use for peer to peer loans. If DeFi is to progress and expand, stablecoins will surely play a significant role since people will be needing a way of transacting with one another without the volatility, and without wasting or losing advantages of cryptocurrencies.

Transition To A Cashless Economy, Cryptocurrencies

The transition to a cashless economy is accelerating in several countries including Canada. To replace cash payments including personal loans online, blockchain technology could give a serious boost.

Cryptocurrencies, however, raise concerns, particularly with regard to the security of transactions, as reported in a recent article by Cointelegraph, a digital media specializing in crypto assets.

It is predicted that by 2030, only 10% of the money spent in Canada will be spent on cash.

What Does A Cashless Future Mean?

Even if thinking about cryptocurrencies has started, Canadian authorities are in no rush to move from cash to digital. In October 2018, a study by the Bank of Canada described a number of issues related to the elimination of cash, including the reluctance of seniors to turn to electronic payments.

Maintaining operational reliability also raises fears and measures will have to be envisaged to remedy this, including that of issuing a digital currency but not a cryptocurrency. It’ would be a digital variation of the Canadian dollar which is going to contend with private payment systems.

Impact on consumption

Another Bank of Canada study found that a cryptocurrency could potentially benefit the country’s economic well-being. It “could lead to a 0.64% increase in consumption for Canada compared to economies where payments are made only in cash,” reports the Cointelegraph.

To deepen its understanding of new financial technologies, the Bank of Canada is conducting, in collaboration with TMX Group and Payments Canada, the Jasper research project, the flagship ledger technology experiment launched in 2017. They would constitute an effective solution to automate real-time securities settlement.

For its part, since 2017, Royal Bank has been testing blockchain technology to facilitate the transfer of payments between its establishments located in the United States and Canada. In particular, it has deployed software developed by Hyperledger which enables it to monitor transactions in real-time between the two countries.

What is done elsewhere

Other countries are preparing the transition to digital payments. In Australia, there has been the introduction of a bill clarifying that purchases of over 10,000 Australian dollars (about 6,750 dollars) in cash would not be legal. According to the government, this measure will deter tax evasion and encourage the transition to a cashless society.

For its part, Germany is a bit apart in the European Union while the country does not impose any restrictions on the use of cash payments. A plan to limit cash transactions to 5,000 euros (about C $ 7,300) – both domestically and throughout the eurozone – has sparked a negative reaction in German society. The fact remains that the country is in the process of revising its position in this area.

Since last year, it legally identifies bitcoin being a currency and has removed value-added tax whenever paying for services and goods with the use of cryptocurrencies.

Swedes ahead

Sweden is said to be one of the most advanced countries towards a cashless economy. The percentage of money used in this country has decreased considerably (representing only 2% of transactions) and less than 20% of stores accept cash.

This was made possible thanks to the efforts of the authorities, the unprecedented public confidence in banking structures, and the promotion of the Swedish national mobile payment system, used by more than half of the population. Small Swedish businesses have also moved to cashless payments.

In addition, the central bank of Sweden, the Riksbank, has been testing since November 2018 the first Swedish cryptocurrency called e-krona. Its chief economist, Gabriel Söderberg, believes that blockchain technology is very promising and that there will be different forms of applications in society.

If it is certain that liquidity will become digital in the more or less long term, like others he wonders about the role that blockchain technology will play in this shift.

“Right now, many of us are studying how blockchain could help future payments. I am fully open to the possibility that this could potentially be incorporated into certain forms in future payment systems, but we do not yet know to what extent, ”he summarizes.

Canada Is Taking The Next Big Step In Crypto Nation Race

First Bitcoin mutual fund in CanadaFirst Block Capital Inc., a Canadian investment company which is also active in the crypto market, stated that its own Bitcoin funds are now officially recognized as investment funds in Canada. Not only is this a big step for cryptocurrency investors, it’s also another big step for Canada in the Crypto Nation race – and could open more doors for global Bitcoin trading.

Check out also, The Best Canadian Dividend Stocks For 2020 here.

Canada’s Crypto Regulations

More market presence at better conditions

The “FBC Bitcoin Trust” has been the flagship of First Block Capital Inc. for years. The fund was officially registered as an investment fund in Canada and enables investors to save fund shares in self-managed accounts such as registered pension plans or tax-free savings accounts. In this way, investors can easily get into Bitcoin trading and benefit from it without having to worry about buying and managing the cryptocurrency themselves.

The mutual fund is currently only accessible to accredited investors via NEO Connect, a platform for fund sales, under the acronym FBCBT. Trading the Bitcoin fund should be as easy and quick as with regular funds. The 30-day redemption clause has also been deleted for the fund.

If the test phase is successful, the funds from Bitcoin and Co. could soon spread to other countries and be open to all investors, which would make buying cryptocurrencies a great success.

A big step for investing cryptocurrencies

Due to the simplicity and elimination of the “middleman”, the investment funds are a qualified investment within the meaning of the tax law. The FBC Bitcoin Trust is also the first product of its kind in Canada to be approved by both the Ontario Securities Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commission, and has given investors the opportunity to use Bitcoin as a mutual fund in savings deposit and retirement savings accounts.

Sean Clark, managing director and founder of First Block, said at the time of the announcement in a statement that he “wants to increase Bitcoin’s investment risk by removing complicated hurdles for direct cryptocurrency investments.” The company is pleased to announce that its fund is now more accessible to investors and has found a suitable partner for this project in NEO Connect. Since its introduction about a year ago, the Bitcoin fund has already won over 150 shareholders.

Investors Are In Debt For Bitcoins

Investors are now even taking out loans to buy bitcoins, the first and well-known cryptocurrency running in the market. This becomes a problem due to the crash. Governments now want to intervene.

18% of Investors Buy Bitcoin on Credit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmCshlR_abw

Given these price fluctuations, it is correspondingly worrying that investors are increasingly in debt for the purchase of cryptocurrencies. It is more alarming that many people in bad debt jump into the wagon borrowing more money from agencies. Because like the Brockhoffs, 18 percent of Bitcoin buyers are already taking out a loan. This is shown by a survey of 3000 investors in the USA and Europe, which the Coindesk website has just published.

Wolf Brandes from the Hessen Consumer Advice Center considers this to be a critical development: “An investment in bitcoins is highly risky, in the worst case there is a risk of a total loss.” Anyone who has taken out a loan quickly remains on debt. Brandes already feels reminded of the Neuer Markt. Back then, investors also dreamed of big profits, bought stocks at the pump – and ended up losing a lot of money. Felix Hufeld, head of financial supervision Bafin, also fears that the Bitcoin boom will result in “excesses that produce bitter losers”.

Banks Restrict Transactions

This is why some banks intervene. JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bank of America and Lloyds have recently stopped allowing their customers to buy bitcoins with their credit cards. By doing so, they want to protect consumers – but also themselves. The fear of banks that they will remain on debt is obviously too great if the prices for cryptocurrencies fall. Especially since credit cards in the United States and Great Britain work a little differently than in Germany: If the open amount is automatically debited from the current account every month in this country, customers in Anglo-Saxon countries can flexibly decide when and how much to repay. Unlike in Germany, in the USA and Great Britain, you can get real credit via the card and the banks have no interest in customers using it to gamble. And buying bitcoins is a gamble, as central bankers like Mario Draghi see it. Digital currencies should be classified as “very risky investments,” he said this week.

Especially since no one knows what will happen to the cryptocurrency. The few forecasts that are available differ widely. While the Danish Saxo Bank sees Bitcoin’s price rise to $ 100,000 this year, Goldman Sachs warns that some cryptocurrencies could fall to zero. Oliver Flaskämper, who has been dealing with bitcoins for years and operates Germany’s only marketplace for cryptocurrencies Bitcoin.de, therefore does not even venture a forecast. “I could also predict the lottery numbers there,” he says.

The power consumption for the production of bitcoins is high

It will also depend on politics on how Bitcoin and Co. develop. Governments and regulators worldwide are currently dealing with the question of how to control cryptocurrencies. Agustin Carstens, Director General of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), believes this is imperative. By the latter, he means the enormous energy that has to be spent to create bitcoins on high-performance computers. The electricity consumption for the production of the cryptocurrencies already corresponds to the consumption of the state of Singapore, Carstens calculates.

In Germany, the Bitcoin regulation even appears in the coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD: One wants to work for an “appropriate legal framework for trading cryptocurrencies and tokens at European and international level,” it says. At the request of Germany and France, a set of rules for cryptocurrencies could even become an issue at the meeting of the G20 finance ministers in March. The two countries propose to commission international expert bodies such as the FSB, which is responsible for financial stability issues, with a report. In addition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must be considered. But that also shows: What regulation of cryptocurrencies should look like is still open. Especially since this runs counter to the ideas of their inventors who want free currencies,

South Korea and China have banned bitcoin trading

China and South Korea, which completely ban bitcoin trading, are already going particularly far. Exchanges on which Bitcoin and Co. are traded must close. China has also banned the creation of new bitcoins. Digital currencies are generated on high-performance computers – this is not possible without access to the power grid, which China is now refusing.

Worldwide, however, a complete ban on cryptocurrencies is hardly enforceable, according to exchange operator Flaskämper. He compares this to gold: in history, too, people have always wanted to ban precious metals. But you couldn’t keep it up. In his view, a ban would not mean the end of cryptocurrencies – trading with them would only migrate to the so-called darknet. Governments could have no interest in that either.

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