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Digitalization has made it possible for the global population to deal with currencies that are not regulated by the government. Cryptocurrency carries its share of problems, which are lack of public trust, and susceptibility to fraud. Despite that, it has attained the green signal in countries around the world, each with a different regulatory framework governing its action. Things have not been a smooth run in India where the Central Bank issued a notification for impeding banks from undertaking Bitcoin transactions.
The Bitcoin Journey In India
The first Bitcoin exchange was launched in India in 2012 but it underwent a major surge in 2017. By October 2017, the price of 1 BTC became INR 295000. This was accompanied by a drastic rise in the user base of major Indian bitcoin exchanges like Unocoin and Zebpay. But the Reserve Bank Of India played it safe by sending cautionary messages against the use of this virtual cryptocurrency since 2013. The main concern surrounded the lack of any authority to look after its licensing and registration.
Another problem pertaining to Bitcoin is its extreme volatility. This led to the RBI terming the crypto market as a “Ponzi Scheme and an environmental disaster” in August 2018. The Bitcoin live price in India is approximately 975000 INR. RBI prohibited investors from exchanging it for INR from banks and other financial institutions. It has also placed a ban on financial institutions from offering their services to crypto businesses.
Amidst these issues, the Indian Supreme Court lifted the banking ban imposed on crypto exchanges. The BTC market in India has been experiencing a massive rise in peer-to-peer activity ever since then, it has even managed to exceed China. The blanket ban was deemed to be unconstitutional by the Indian Supreme Court as prohibiting tech was not a solution. Rather a risk-based framework needs to be put into place for monitoring the cryptos. Following the order by the Supreme Court, different crypto agencies around India made solid efforts of re-integrating INR support via bank accounts.
Opportunities Ahead For Bitcoins:
- Bitcoin can be used in the legal services field for systematizing specific obligations like contractual payment duties. Automating these payments for self-execution after certain contractual obligations have been fulfilled can simplify the whole process. This can reduce the time spent on compliance directives and monitoring of resources.
- The real estate sector is handicapped by red-tapism which makes even the simplest of processes highly time-consuming. But the decentralized nature of blockchain can do away with the requirement of middlemen and other verification requirements for regulatory compliance.
- The providers of wholesale insurance stand highly benefited by the applications of blockchain in the insurance sector. Different procedures of processing of claims and KYC regulatory compliance can be streamlined. Deloitte has projected smart contracts that can pave the path for a smooth workflow and seamless error checking. The reach of micro-insurance can also be enhanced in this way by facilitating micro-payments on the basis of data availability.
- Bitcoins can provide the perfect solution to rights management and revenue sharing of intellectual property. This is the reason behind its massive popularity amongst gaming companies trading in gaming content.
- Users can opt for bitcoins in making small payments and disbursing other health-related payments automatically. This helps to streamline the healthcare process of patients during times of crisis.
Bitcoin completely eliminates the role of third parties which might otherwise make the transactions a highly risky affair. The low transaction fee of bitcoins further adds to its lucrativeness as the fee you pay is directly proportional to the amount of money transferred online. Usage of bitcoin requires zero paper verification and also allows payment through mobile wallets.
Challenges Of Bitcoins
- Bitcoin is immensely affected by high price volatility. One day it might be worth thousands and the other day it might hit a record low level. This volatility makes it difficult for investors to park their funds while aiming to buy Bitcoin in India.
- Speculating in Bitcoin is also very cumbersome as it is not affected by normal factors which influence other banks.
- Bitcoin mining consumes a lot of energy and miners mostly rely on non-renewable sources. This adversely affects the environment in the long run.
- The crypto world keeps on evolving continuously and Bitcoin might lose its position if a new contender comes in to take its spot in the upcoming years. Bitcoin’s value in the trading market can get adversely affected following the development of other superior currencies.
- Cryptocurrency market has been linked time and again with black market transactions and this has severely damaged the image of bitcoin trading. Scammers often take advantage of the lack of any governing body and this can lead to massive losses for the investors.
Recent Developments In Crypto Sphere
An inter-disciplinary committee was formed by the SBI, RBI, and NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs. The Indian government has thoroughly encouraged the utilization of various technological benefits while cautioning against the potential grey areas.
Final Words
Antipathy towards central regulation and authority has led to the birth of Bitcoin. It gained initial popularity, given the anonymous nature of the transaction but this also drew the attention of governing authorities and financial regulators. RBI has made it evident from the very beginning that the lack of trust and fear of the unknown is its biggest concern. The Central Bank has not explored the probability of fraud in any of its documents although chances of fraud cannot be eliminated even with traditional money. However, regulation can minimize the risk and the same needs to be implemented in India for the effective development of this virtual currency. One of the biggest questions concerning the Indian population is the outcome of imparting legal status to Bitcoins. Whatever be the result, Indian citizens have been advised by the RBI to keep vigil while entering into crypto transactions using Bitcoins.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Bitcoin And How Does It Work?
Bitcoin is decentralized digital money that may be bought, sold, and exchanged without an intermediary such as a bank. Bitcoin is based on a blockchain that is considered to be a distributed digital ledger. As the name suggests, blockchain is a linked database made up of blocks that store information about each transaction, such as the date and time, total amount, buyer and seller, and a unique identifier for each exchange. Entries are linked in chronological order to form a digital blockchain
Is Bitcoin Trading Is Legal In India?
In 2020, the Supreme Court of India lifted the RBI’s restrictions on cryptocurrencies. According to the Supreme Court, the existence of Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency is unregulated but not unlawful. The verdict has greatly aided the world of digital money in the country. To put it another way, investing in Bitcoin is perfectly legal, and you may do so through various apps and traders.
What Is Meant By Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a digital currency that was initially released in January 2009. It is based on ideas offered by Satoshi Nakamoto, a mysterious and pseudonymous figure, in a whitepaper. The name of the person or individuals who invented technology has not been revealed. Bitcoin promises lower transaction fees than other online payment systems, and unlike government-issued currencies, it is decentralized.
What Is Bitcoin Used For?
Bitcoin was created as a means of sending money over the internet. The digital currency was designed to be a non-centralized alternative payment system that could be used in the same way as traditional currencies. Bitcoin is being used by an increasing number of businesses and individuals. This includes establishments such as restaurants, apartments, and law firms.
How Much Is 1 Bitcoin Worth Today?
Check out the current price of Bitcoin on the WazirX exchange. Bitcoin's value is primarily determined by its supply and demand in the market. Other elements have an impact on its worth. Its intrinsic value can also be calculated by calculating the average marginal cost of producing a Bitcoin at any given time, based on the block reward, electricity price, mining hardware energy efficiency, and mining difficulty.
How To Invest In Bitcoin?
Bitcoin may be invested in two ways: through mining or exchanges. Bitcoin mining is carried out by high-powered computers that solve challenging computational arithmetic problems that are too difficult to complete by hand and complex enough to tax even the most powerful computers. WazirX, a Bitcoin exchange, is another alternative.
How To Make Bitcoin?
Bitcoin mining is not just the process of putting new Bitcoins into circulation, but it is also an essential part of the blockchain ledger's upkeep and development. It is carried out with the assistance of highly advanced computers that answer challenging computational math problems. Miners are rewarded for their efforts as auditors. They are in charge of ensuring that Bitcoin transactions are legitimate. Satoshi Nakamoto, who is the founder of Bitcoin, innovated this standard for keeping Bitcoin users ethical. Miners help to prevent the "double-spending problem" by confirming transactions.
Is Bitcoin Mining Free?
Bitcoin mining isn't free, but it can be tried on a budget. Bitcoin mining is an essential part of the blockchain ledger's upkeep and development and the act of issuing new Bitcoins. It is accomplished by the use of cutting-edge computers that tackle complicated computational arithmetic problems. The effort of auditor miners is rewarded. They're in charge of ensuring that Bitcoin transactions go off without a fuss and that they're legal.
Is Bitcoin Legal In India?
In India, Bitcoin is not illegal. Because of cryptocurrency's rapid evolution, policymakers and regulators seemed to have recognized the chance to accept the new technology early. From the infamous 'RBI ban' in 2018 to reports of an impending bill banning cryptos in 2021 that has yet to develop, India has seen its fair share of ups and downs when it comes to Bitcoin regulation. Last year, the Supreme Court Of India approved the use of Bitcoin throughout the country. According to the Supreme Court, the existence of Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency is unregulated but not unlawful.
Is Bitcoin A Good Investment For The Future?
Some investors are afraid of the risks or devastation, but others are very eager to pursue the possibility of profit from a Bitcoin investment. A Bitcoin investment is similar to stock investing, except it can be more volatile.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency is not a legal tender and is currently unregulated. Kindly ensure that you undertake sufficient risk assessment when trading cryptocurrencies as they are often subject to high price volatility. The information provided in this section doesn't represent any investment advice or WazirX's official position. WazirX reserves the right in its sole discretion to amend or change this blog post at any time and for any reasons without prior notice.
