The BIS Urges the Regulation of DeFi Networks

Established in 1930, the BIS, or Bank for International Settlements for short, is a group of central banks. The main goal of the BIS is to help central banks accomplish and maintain financial and monetary stability through inter cooperation. Another important task of the BIS is to serve as a bank for various central banks.

The Bank for International Settlements is owned by 63 central banks that represent nations worldwide. Altogether, those countries account for around 95% of the world’s GDP. The headquarters are located in Basel, Switzerland. Also, it has two representative offices, one in Mexico City and the other one in Hong Kong SAR. Plus, the BIS has Innovation Hub Centres around the globe.

By analyzing banking services, they keep innovating their processes to pursue financial and monetary stability. Although, the concerns keep increasing about networks that offer DeFi services that might not be as “decentralized” as they claim. Since the DeFi sector is rapidly growing and many new investors are joining this trend, the BIS urges the regulation of DeFi networks. 

The institution set a medium-term strategy called Innovation BIS 2025, aiming to leverage tech. The plan seeks to create new collaboration channels for the central banking community in these fast-changing times. 

The Reason Why the BIS Urges the Regulation of DeFi Platforms

There’s a growing concern about DeFi platforms, the way they operate and advertise their products, but mainly the lack of regulation. They stated their preoccupation about DeFi being a “decentralization illusion” at the beginning of December. Decentralized finance is a fast-growing sector of the crypto economy. This particular sector promises to provide classic financial products such as savings accounts and loans without intermediaries such as banks.

However, the main worry is that platforms may offer DeFi services or products that might not be as decentralized as they claim. The BIS urges the regulation of DeFi networks as they hope this will help stabilize the new economy. 

The general manager of the BIS, Agustín Carstens, stated that they found that DeFi tends to be elusive. He also mentioned that there are some issues related to the fact that at some point, some agents playing a critical role might not be in it for the best interest of their users. The BIS urges the regulation of DeFi services so investors can be safe, which eventually could boost trust in the market.

What is the Response of the DeFi Sector?

The co-founder of Swarm Markets, Timo Lehes, stated that there are areas of opportunity to improve. However, he mentioned that many institutions in the crypto space are already working to fix the issues pointed out by the BIS. 

Lehes said that even though the BIS urges the regulation of DeFi ultimately, each protocol will decide whether or not to transition to a compliant business model. DeFi could gain from operating within the framework that focuses on protecting investors while maintaining open access to the markets.

What Is at Stake?

Many decentralized finance services work on top of Ethereum, which token’s Ether, one of the biggest crypto coins. The transactions are facilitated by smart contracts that automate processes through code lines. Currently, over $100 billion worth of funds sits on Ethereum-based decentralized finance protocols. Curve, Maker, and Compound are a few of the biggest platforms. 

The Bank for International Settlements believes the risks surrounding DeFi have been contained to crypto markets. Although, their concern is that if it goes forward, the growth of DeFi might be a threat to financial stability.

Conclusions

It’s well known that DeFi platforms are luring new investors with the promise of big returns on their savings and loans. But one should keep in mind that there has been an increase in the number of fraudsters and hackers taking advantage. In 2021 there was a loss of over $10 billion in DeFi thefts and scams. 

The BIS flagged “severe” vulnerabilities within the sector, including highly-leveraged trades, lack of shock absorbers, and liquidity issues. Although it’s not all bad, there may be safe aspects, but there are others that may not. DeFi, although it might be on its way to regulation, still has a long way to go. Meanwhile, all of these pros and cons should make us seriously think about it.

Amazon Crypto: New Crypto Token on the Market in 2022

The world is already head over heels for cryptocurrency. Rumors about Amazon, the giant in the e-Commerce industry, are most likely going to end up being true. They seem to be almost ready to enter the crypto market. You probably heard something about it in the past few months. However, all indications suggest that Amazon will present its crypto token in 2022.

Amazon is thinking in the same direction as Tesla, exploring the possibility of letting customers use cryptocurrencies for their payments. Although these rumors have been out there, the details remain unclear.

It looks like Amazon is setting up a blockchain – Amazon Managed Blockchain, and at the same time preparing to launch its cryptocurrency. Also, an article published in one tech magazine confirms that the company is looking for a new Head of Digital Currency and Blockchain. More information leads to the same conclusion. Amazon is ready to enter the crypto void.

What Does This Mean for Amazon?

The company denied its cryptocurrency ambitions and explained that this is one of their many experiments, and the job postings, like the one mentioned above, mean nothing more than that.

The rumor itself has increased the value of Bitcoin, and at the same time, Amazon shares gained about 1% in New York.

Still, many believe that this is inevitable. They are convinced that Amazon will eventually accept Bitcoin payments and that this turn of events will probably happen by the end of the year. As for the introduction of its crypto coin, it might happen sometime in 2022.

Let’s look at the current trends: other tech giants are doing it, why not Amazon? Competitors like Facebook (Meta) create their blockchain concepts, and Amazon needs to respond. Google’s partnership with Bakkt is clearing the road for crypto payments in the Google Pay app, as well.

The game rules are changing, and Amazon must accept it, like all other prominent players in the industry, or at least prepare everything necessary when conversion to crypto takes place.

When Can We Expect Amazon’s Crypto Token?

Currently, Amazon doesn’t accept Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies directly as a means of payment. That can change in the near future, possibly in 2022, and customers will have the option to use Amazon Crypto Token for shopping on their platform. It is in the early stage of development, and many things are still unknown.

Many sources are coming to the same conclusion, and that is the acknowledgment of the fact that Amazon’s cryptocurrency is at the final stage of development, and it is arriving in 2022. When exactly, it’s still unknown.

Flip Side of the Coin

Amazon is preparing crypto payment with Bitcoin and expanding its complete offer to eight other coins. This project has been under construction since 2019.

One of the concerns that can cross one’s mind is that this could mean too much power in one company’s hands. A company of that magnitude has the capacity to control the market, everything you buy or give, your refunds or loyalty points transferred into crypto money. For now, it is only a hypothesis. The year 2022 will reveal more.   

All of the big tech companies are part of the crypto frenzy. A well-known example is Facebook experimentation with Libra (Diem) that faced so much criticism. Others encounter it will not stop Amazon, and many are impatient to witness Amazon’s crypto future.

Crypto News: Democrats and Republicans Vote on Crypto

It seems that the last hearing at the Congress brought some light on the Democrats and Republicans Vote on Crypto legislation. During the hearing, major crypto companies stepped into the scrutiny of Congress for the first time. They argued that the booming industry requires federal supervision without the rigid policies that regulators advocate for. 

One key discussion point was deciding if digital currencies are assets that the Securities and Exchange Commission should police. Alesia Haas, Chief Financial Officer of Coinbase Global Inc., testified that she strongly disagrees with that approach. Haas argues that rules that are decades old, designed specifically for different kinds of assets, like stocks, are not appropriate for digital currencies.

The hearing lasted for almost five hours, and companies expect it to help legitimize the crypto industry. On the other hand, it revealed the difficulties that the federal government faces in trying to regulate the industry.

About the Participants

The leaders of significant crypto projects, such as Circle Internet Financial Inc., and Coinbase, were questioned. Interviewers wanted to know how their businesses should be overseen, to which the executives answered clearly. 

The lawmakers raised clear divisions that demonstrated that the prospects for approving the legislation are not clear. However, the hearing allowed crypto companies to assert that this could be a milestone for the industry. 

What Is at Stake with the Democrats and Republicans Vote on Crypto?

Millions of Americans have dived into investing in cryptocurrency assets; the market value is nearly $2.4 trillion. The regulators and lawmakers are struggling with how to monitor the securities. 

The executives’ testimonies provided some light on the learning curve that the government officials at the capital will have. Some members of the democratic party expressed their concerns about fraud and other abuses of such nature. Meanwhile, republicans focused on the fact that too much regulation will slow down the natural innovation process.

Vulnerability to Fraud

Maxine Waters cautioned that the industry is vulnerable to manipulation, fraud, or abuse without federal supervision. People in the US keep making financial investments in digital assets by the hour. Without the proper regulation, officials expect for fraud to increase too.

On the other hand, Patrick McHenry, from the republican party, argues that the Democrats first need to understand tokens. He also stated that Congress should embrace digital assets, like cryptocurrencies, to make sure investment grows in the US.

The Main Concerns About an Open System

Some Democrats in the panel stated their concerns as executives mentioned that tokens could help people without access to banks. Jeremy Allaire from Circle pointed out that it’s an open financial system. The system allows anyone with a mobile device to exchange value with another person anywhere in the world.

The committee of democrats kept questioning the protection provided for investors on tokens. Moreover, they allege that they notice extreme volatility in this market and question the possibility of a bubble. 

Conclusion

There have been a lot of people working in the creation of something new that could potentially bring technology to the masses. We’ve been witnesses to the evolution of the crypto industry. We have seen the advantages as well as the areas of opportunity for it. Unfortunately, it seems clear that it will take a few more attempts to get some of this progress done before the Democrats and Republicans vote on crypto can favor the industry.

DeFi Lost Billions to Theft in 2021

Elliptic, a risk management firm, declared that users of DeFi lost billions to scams and hacks. The number goes around $10.5 billion. The number is significantly higher when compared to the $1.5 billion from 2020. 

Decentralized finance stands for apps based on blockchain that enable people to go around the traditional banking system. With DeFi, it’s possible to bypass financial intermediaries to borrow, lend, save, or trade with other users. This is an option due to making use of automated smart contracts connected to protocols.

This particular sector of the crypto space currently has more than $250 billion in assets. Back in June 2020, its worth was less than $1 billion. A successful cycle was created by the rising prices of the coins, governance tokens, and increased use of protocols. People invested in the crypto space are seizing the moment and fast-growing their earnings.

The Downside 

As networks like Binance and Solana keep growing, they become more popular by the day. Although DeFi networks experienced growth in acceptance, subsequently, it also brought more theft. As the sector keeps riding the wave of popularity, many projects struggle to keep up with the industry. 

For thieves, all of this new boom in the industry translates to the possibility of stealing more funds. The firm Elliptic, an expert in risk management, stated that the core of this problem is poor cybersecurity. The issue with DeFi projects is that many startups don’t put enough resources into reinforcing the security. 

Another issue is that once the theft is done, recovering the funds is almost mission impossible. Crypto transactions are of irreversible nature, which makes the process of taking them back a challenging one. Which makes it one of the main reasons why DeFi lost billions in a short amount of time.

New projects are not the only one to blame. It is also the pressure of trying to keep up with this fast-paced industry. To satisfy the high demand for new products, the security of these protocols is exposed to threats. The mix of the named factors makes these startups the most attractive victims for attackers. When we say attackers, we mean of all kinds, from hackers working alone to nation-states.

The Other Side of the Coin 

Although a third party is the culprit behind the attacks in most cases, sometimes that’s not the case. Mistakes in cybersecurity can result in inserted “backdoors” by developers that lead to stealing the users’ funds. 

Just in the last couple of years, over $2 billion were stolen straight from DeFi applications. Elliptic also attributes $10 billion in losses as the value of some tokens declined due to theft or fraud. Although it’s a complex number to pin down, it’s even harder to calculate its total impact. Usually, when news breaks about some new theft, it translates to decreased confidence in the asset.

DeFi Lost Billions and What Are the Consequences?

Last year, most of the losses came from DeFi Ethereum, with $8.6 billion. The protocol started lending decentralized exchanges, derivatives products, and protocols. Uniswap, Synthetic, and MakerDAO are only some examples of this. Protocols of Binance Smart Chain are also responsible for $2.5 billion in losses since last year.

Conclusions

According to Elliptic metrics, users should be more careful when dealing with lending protocols. This mechanism enables people to borrow crypto from pools of other users. The protocols are highly vulnerable to economic exploits, just as they are to code exploits. As the crypto space becomes more mature, attacks will eventually be happening only at risky platforms. Until then, users should keep their eyes wide open and guard up. One thing is undeniable, as numbers show, DeFi has become an alluring paradise for hackers.

Expand the Dish Network & Receive Helium Tokens

Crypto enthusiasts, get excited! Now it’s possible to start earning Helium token rewards if you plan on helping the expansion of Dish Network. The cryptocurrency startup, Helium, which provides wireless networks, is joining forces with the Dish company. Now, Dish customers have the option to deploy a 5G node to share a connection and earn token rewards. 

The Helium startup made it official that a wireless network run by users is now linked to token rewards. Nowadays, their Internet of Things network possesses over a quarter of a million active nodes. Their next step is to try to do the same with a 5G connection, in collaboration with FreedomFi as the provider of infrastructure. All the focus is set on the TV and mobile service provider Dish Network, who just joined the project. 

On October 26th, Dish Network announced the contract with Helium, making it official to the rest of the world. The deal enables Dish users to share 5G by managing a node of Helium in exchange for HNT tokens as a reward.

What Does it Mean for Crypto Space?

COO of Helium, Frank Mong, declared that Dish Network understands the vast possibilities that blockchain technology can have paired with the wireless industry. The partnership is definite proof that the Helium model of incentivization with tokens can be a potent tool. 

By rewarding users with HNT tokens more people will be drawn to participate in the expansion. The goal of Helium 5G is to have a wider reach while the user also benefits from the tokens and the apps it offers.

LongFi and Helium

The first LongFi network of Helium was planned only to power Internet of Things devices like trackers and sensors. Currently, it has over 250,000 nodes operated by users, as mentioned before. Helium stated that 500,000 more are ordered, which translates to a more relevant scale coming soon. 

However, the network was not planned to handle other kinds of devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. On the other hand, the 5G network built with FreedomFi will be able to do it. The tokens that users get as a reward can naturally be exchanged for any other crypto of choice.

What’s the Next Step?

Mong declared that the first batch of 5G wireless nodes for the network of Helium would soon be shipped by FreedomFi. The expansion plan establishes that by the end of 2022, around 40,000 of Helium’s network nodes will be already deployed. However, some experts think that that scenario is optimistic, others that it will be more. In the end, it all depends on the demand. This project is not the only one working on 5G nodes. Other producers of hardware are also working on it. It’s expected that more plans like this will be announced shortly.

Helium’s Future

Although in the crypto space, anything can happen, Helium’s token has shown great promise. Throughout 2021, it went from $1.36, and it’s currently at $43.41 a token. Back in August of the same year, the project announced funding of $111 million. The main goal of such financing is to scale the plans of the decentralized project. The following month, Helium made public knowledge of its partnership with the City of San Jose in California. The association is for a pilot program that will fund internet access for households with low-income. All of that will be raised by nodes of LongFi that volunteers will operate.

Conclusion

It is still unknown what the future holds, especially when we talk about crypto-related news. Although it can seem to be promising in theory, you should also keep in mind that anything can happen. In this fast-changing world, what might seem certain today might change tomorrow. 

Be sure to consider all the factors involved in the crypto world, not only what the protocols make public. It’s always a good idea to make a decision when you’re well informed, and as mentioned before, invest only what you can afford to lose. 

Singapore Plans to Become a Global Crypto Hub

In the world of crypto, sudden shifts are the only thing you can count on. The mass popularization of crypto technology leads to entire countries changing their financial course and leaning towards crypto. The newest addition to the crypto team is Singapore.

The latest news gave us a clear insight into Singapore’s determination to become one of the leading crypto forces out there. Crypto-related businesses around the world keep wrestling with one of the fastest-growing fields in finance.

Compared to countries like China that are clamping down on crypto to sustain fraudulent activity, some countries embrace crypto, making way for new solutions that might give better long-term results. Crypto Digest covers the story of Singapore and its newly found crypto plan.

Singapore’s Crypto Plan

Mr. Ravi Menon, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) managing director, explains that the “clamp-down” approach isn’t the correct way to handle things. Instead of banning crypto, MAS is planning to enforce solid regulations. Subsequently, businesses, companies, and firms that comply with these requirements and face multiple risks regarding crypto can operate freely. 

The broader liberalization in the financial sector brings Singapore’s plans of building a digital infrastructure based on crypto technology. The country sees significant economic possibilities in crypto’s tokenized economy. Eventually, cross-border payments will come at a lower price, and hard physical assets will be traded differently. 

How Other’s Embraced Crypto

Not everyone had the same ideas regarding crypto. As we briefly mentioned, some countries had different, more restricting approaches. We have China cracking down on almost all crypto activities in the past couple of months, while Japan only allowed crypto investment funds recently.

On the other hand, El Salvador legalized Bitcoin as legal tender and embraced crypto in a completely opposite way. The United States has a variety of digital investment options with the ever-expanding asset class. However, regulators are worried about everything related to crypto, from yield-generating products to stablecoins. 

Singapore is taking a somewhat optimistic yet cautious approach. MAS believes that all crypto activity is a profitable future investment, a future that’s not clear at the moment. 

The Plans and Risks

As Ravi Menon explains, not getting into the game early on means instant disqualification. He believes that the country would be left behind if it had taken another route. Having a strong head start is the way to go. Therefore, if the new crypto technology is faced right at the beginning, it will be easier to spot the benefits, along with risks. 

Singapores’ stakes are high, as it has already established itself as one of the leading global wealth hubs. Raising safeguard is the primary action step. Counter risk measures will surely battle illicit flows that are highly possible in the crypto space.

Conclusion

Singapore and its plans to develop crypto technology, understand blockchain and smart contracts are only a preparation for a 3.0 Web version of the world, as Mr. Menon said. It is important to note that Singapore is not alone in its crypto plans. Various locations include Miami, El Salvador, Dubai, Malta, and Switzerland.

Ultimately, Singapore’s plans give us a rather interesting picture regarding the third generation of online services. With multiple countries having various approaches to this new technology, we have yet to see how the crypto future will unfold. One thing is certain, though; we will have a solid case study. If we know that crypto is here to stay, the only thing left to do is watch, learn and implement. 

CoinList 101: Get Started with the Platform that Is Driving Crypto Adoption

CoinList has a goal, and it involves the acceleration of cryptocurrency adoption. With this mission in mind, the platform has created a holistic offering for users, including everything from lending to trading tools. This multi-service platform allows users to trade, buy, lend and stake the most widely spread crypto assets. 

About CoinList

CoinList is a crypto platform that provides easy access to crypto assets prior to their listing on other popular exchanges. CointList is a global leader in new cryptocurrency issuance. They helped such projects as Solana, Filecoin, Celo, Mina, and others to connect with thousands of new token holders. CointList participates in the complete crypto lifecycle that begins with token sales and ends with staking. 

CoinList implements vetting, so the collection of crypto assets on this platform is thoroughly curated. At the moment, there are 40 cryptocurrencies one can buy or trade, including several emerging assets that haven’t yet appeared on the wider market. 

It is very easy and fast to sign up for CoinList. All you have to do is go to the page and register. CoinList will email you a verification link, and after you click it, you are in! However, in order to use their services, you will need to go through a verification process. They require your name, physical address, a picture of you, and your ID. After this stage, you are good to go!

Trading on CointList

Prior to purchasing, trading, and selling crypto, you will need to fund your wallet. The moment you are logged in, click on “Wallet” and then click “deposit.” You will be required to connect your bank account or send a wire transfer using the details you have been provided. When you have funded your account, you can start purchasing crypto. It is quite simple, as you can navigate to the “Buy and Sell” page through the left sidebar; all you need to do is select the cryptocurrency from the drop-down menu. Choose how much you want to buy and select “Preview Order.” If the transaction looks good to you, select “Confirm Order” so that the crypto can arrive in your wallet. 

It is also an option to deposit to your wallet from another platform. In addition to purchasing and holding crypto, you can trade it within the platform. In order to do that, you need to visit the “Buy and Sell” page, select assets you want to trade, and enter the amount. 

Staking on CoinList

Some cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Dogecoin are secured by Proof of Work, namely mining, and newer cryptocurrencies use a different consensus mechanism known as Proof of Stake. In PoS, the mining process is replaced with staked funds, another economic resource. Staking can be a complicated process that requires solid financing. CoinList simplifies the process, making staking more accessible for users.

The U.S. Department of Justice Establishes a Crypto Enforcement Division

What Is the Purpose of the Crypto Enforcement Division?

The main goal of a Crypto Enforcement Division is to reinforce the ability of the Department of Justice to fight crimes related to crypto. On October 6th, the DOJ made the announcement about the new unit. The unit  will only focus on financial crime strictly involving crypto. 

The US Deputy Attorney General made the statement at the beginning of October at the Aspen Cyber Summit. Lisa Monaco said that the team would reinforce the DOJ’s ability to hinder financial markets that permit the flourishing of cybercriminals.

What Are the Targets?

It was also stated that the Department of Justice would set an initiative in motion to center on civil cyber fraud. On the same day, she announced that they were launching the national team of crypto enforcement. They have already started fighting the misuse of platforms dedicated to crypto, and they have shown excellent results. It was also stated that the Crypto Enforcement Division wouldn’t hesitate to hold  the platforms that help criminals to launder money in any way accountable. Another point they made clear: they’ll go after platforms assisting criminals to hide criminal proceeds. Crypto has become a crowded space, and new threats appear every day. 

Who Will Be Part of the Crypto Enforcement Division?

At the same summit, Monaco also stated that the team would include as many experts on cybersecurity as experts on anti-money laundering. That particular mix of expertise is made to ensure the protection of consumers for online related crime to finances. 

Since crypto exchanges are set to become the banks of the future, there’s a need to make sure that users can trust these platforms when using their services. Companies that receive federal funds will also be pursued if they don’t follow the recommended cybersecurity standards . 

A Case of Success for the DOJ

The US Department of Justice is chasing cybercriminals, particularly those dealing with cryptocurrency. The latest success story is the case of Larry Harmon, a man from Ohio who got convicted. He was running a Bitcoin mixer for years. Harmon was in charge of a tool that helped “blurring” the source of Bitcoin funds. He pleaded guilty to the charges of money laundering through the service he was in charge of. However, law enforcement wasn’t able to trace them.

Conclusion 

We’re currently experiencing new challenges when it comes to the crypto space, especially when we talk about cybersecurity and its regulations. Although there are still many aspects of it to be defined, one thing is for sure; when dealing with crypto, just like when dealing with fiat money, you should always be careful; scams are gradually becoming an everyday reality even in the virtual space.

Facebook Metaverse

The prominent social media pioneer, Facebook, is investing a significant amount of $50 million in creating the Facebook Metaverse. But let’s start at the beginning; what exactly is a Metaverse? “Metaverse” is the word used to describe an online space within the digital environments. A space with social media, virtual reality, and online games. It’s a mix of “meta,” which means “after” or “beyond” and the word “universe”. The Facebook Metaverse developers are trying to get ahead of the critics by making conscious investments and having meaningful partnerships. The budget planned for the next couple of years is $50 million. The budget will be directed towards initiatives related to the project and collaborations. The Facebook Metaverse goal is to create a space for work, social interactions, and games, among other things.

Who’s in Charge of Facebook Metaverse?

CEO of Facebook, declared that the social network pioneer was on the way to transforming into a metaverse firm. Now, the company is actively investing money into that statement. For instance, the team revealed plans to invest 50 million over the following two years to give life to the Facebook Metaverse. 

The concept of the metaverse is already known in the crypto industry. Decentralized projects try to create future worlds and experiences online out of the control and supervision of centralized entities. Facebook is an excellent example of that. In simple terms, the Facebook metaverse will be about shared virtual spaces where users can interact together and coexist. 

What Will Be the Benefits of It?

Developers declared that by opening the door to gaming and social experiences, the metaverse has excellent potential to improve the way we work. Also, they believe that it will create new economic opportunities for users all over the globe. Therefore, it will be somehow similar to the way decentralized autonomous organizations operate. DAOs are built so that their goal is to disrupt the traditional model of companies as we know it.

What Can We Expect From It?

This is a very ambitious and revolutionary project. That’s why the thought does not convince some metaverse developers of Facebook being the one leading its development. There’s a lot of criticism of its record regarding the user’s privacy, and it’s one of the primary sources of misinformation. The company said in previous days that the Facebook metaverse would be built responsibly. They plan to work with expert advisors in the government and industry. For instance, the goal is to work through potential issues and new opportunities in the Facebook metaverse.

Involving communities of civil and human rights has been a must in this project since the very beginning. Most importantly, there’s a need to guarantee that these technologies will be built in a way that is empowering and inclusive.

Bitcoin Halving Explained

How Does Bitcoin Limit its Supply?

In the mining world, it’s well known that Bitcoin has a limited supply of 21 million tokens, and Bitcoin halving happens every few years. But what is Bitcoin halving? In simple terms, it’s the event where the rewards given to miners are cut by half. This event, following Bitcoin’s pre-set rules code, should happen every four years. That means that the amount of Bitcoin tokens distributed to the miners as rewards halves.

About the Supply

In order to understand halving, first, we should understand what the theory of the supply of Bitcoin is about. Satoshi Nakamoto, the mastermind behind Bitcoin, strongly believed since the beginning that scarcity creates value. It can be compared to there being only one Mona Lisa, which makes it more valuable than if there were several of them. The same thing happens with the amount of gold worldwide; because it is limited, its value increases.

Based on that same principle, Bitcoin became the first revolutionary digital asset by making it scarce. There will only be 21 million coins of Bitcoin ever issued and distributed. This limiting strategy of BTC is totally the opposite of the principles of how fiat currencies work, such as the USD. In the beginning, the US dollar had a certain amount of backup in gold as a reserve. That is a concept known as the gold standard. As time went by, those rules adapted so economies could print more money, and they could stimulate economies in need. That way, governments can print money every time they need to. 

What is Bitcoin Halving?

First, we have to clarify that mining is the process through which new Bitcoin is minted as a reward for blocks. Miners are in charge of securing and maintaining the ledger of Bitcoin, and in exchange for it, they get Bitcoin. Still, every four years, said reward gets reduced by half; therefore, the term assigned to it is “halving.” Each Bitcoin halving event minimizes the number of new coins in the supply until 2140, when the last Bitcoin will be minted.

What Makes Halving Unique?

Since Bitcoin is decentralized, which means no one controls it, it needs a great set of rules. One of the most important rules is how many Bitcoins get minted and how they are released and distributed. The halving event occurs every four years, the whole system is set in stone and basically impossible to change. Specifically, that rule makes Bitcoin practically hard money, like the case of gold, which has a limited supply almost impossible to change.

The Impact it Will Have on the Price.

There are different opinions about how halving will impact the price of the crypto. If we go by the book, in theory, because of supply and demand laws, the fact that the supply is limited should increase the price. Although, some experts claim that it could potentially have the opposite effect based on the history of Bitcoin halving events. Not only by stalling the price but actually crashing it.