No, crypto is not dead. It’s not dying. Crypto is still here. It’s simply evolving to meet the needs of its users and stave off the many threats it faces today. This article explains how crypto will survive all challenges, including scaling, adoption, regulation, and security. We’ll start with scaling and look at other topics through this lens. If crypto is going to grow meaningfully in our lifetime, it will have to scale significantly beyond where it is today. It will also need to keep up with increasing demand from new adopters entering the market for the first time every day.
What is Crypto?
Crypto is a digital currency designed to operate on the blockchain. Blockchain is a decentralized technology that records transactions on a distributed ledger shared between the participants in that transaction. The network itself can be made up of thousands or millions of computers. These computers are called miners in crypto (and most other cryptos).Â
These miners use computing power to solve complex problems that secure the network, process transactions and generate new coins. They get rewarded for their efforts by earning crypto for securing the network and processing transactions. A key feature of blockchain technology is that it allows users on the web to send value directly to one another without using any middleman or third party.Â
This includes banks or certain social media platforms charging user-to-user interactions or payment fees. Crypto achieves this by using digital signatures tied to public-private key pairs that allow users to sign off on transactions before sending them across the network where they’re verified.
Benefits of investing in cryptocurrency
DecentralizedÂ
The main benefit of a decentralized system is that no one person has control. Instead, every computer on the network contributes to the maintenance and security of the system.
SafeÂ
Since all transactions are recorded on an open ledger, they cannot be altered or tampered with unless you know how to hack into someone’s private keys.
FastÂ
Since all transactions use cryptography for authentication and verification, transactions can be verified in real-time instead of waiting days for a bank transfer to clear.
Volatility and returnsÂ
Since transactions and the value of digital assets are recorded on the blockchain, they can be accessed in real time through an internet connection. Traditional investment methods like stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities can be traded 24 hours daily for digital assets in highly volatile markets.
TransparencyÂ
Anyone can see what has happened on the blockchain to check its integrity. This gives investors a new sense of security since there is no need to rely on a third party to oversee their trades or keep track of how their money has been used (like a credit card)
SecuritiesÂ
Many traditional companies are now issuing their digital tokens on the blockchain as securities. These tokens can be sold without restrictions such as the amount that can be raised or whether they have to be equity- or debt-based investments. This makes them more accessible to people who cannot afford the minimum required amounts of stocks or bonds, such as startups and investors seeking immediate liquidity.
So, is crypto dead?
Crypto is not dead. It is still in all its glory, but its use constantly changes. While new adopters are playing a big role, scalability and other concerns threaten to make crypto a people-sized niche market. That is until solutions are found to solve the following
ScalingÂ
Crypto has struggled with scaling for years. The original blockchains were designed for fewer miners to validate transactions and generate new tokens. Still, the number of miners has increased exponentially as the ecosystem developed. As more people use cryptocurrencies, networks need to become faster and cheaper for users to use them regularly or transact with minimal fees.Â
AdoptionÂ
Once crypto scales, it must find ways to attract new users. New users come with new adopters that could push it into the mainstream public realm and change social dynamics. This includes regulation, commerce, public services and wealth transfers through decentralization.
RegulationÂ
How will governments react to a more decentralized world? It’s certainly not something they’re used to dealing with today, so there are bound to be some growing pains for all parties involved.
EntrepreneurshipÂ
The transition from a niche market to a mainstream one will require new business models that capitalize on the benefits of decentralization. This includes creating new companies, not just new products and services.
StandardsÂ
To compete with fiat currencies, digital assets must be accepted widely and consistently across different markets. This means having common standards that allow transacting parties on the network to agree on its value in real-time based on an agreed-upon price for exchange, among other attributes that a combination of insiders and outsiders will set.
Conclusion
Crypto is alive and well. It has evolved into a more advanced system than anyone could have imagined. However, it faces its fair share of problems that will soon be solved if this system wants to compete with the status quo and become widely adopted as a viable currency or asset transfer mechanism. It will be interesting to see how these challenges are addressed, especially by regulators and government agencies still trying to get their heads around decentralization.Â