By November 2017, it was trading at nearly $7,000. For instance, in November 2016 bitcoin was trading at about $700. Monero is built on highly anonymized transactions while Civic is designed to provide government identity data.Ĭryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular with investors as they are highly volatile and in some cases appreciating rapidly. For example, while bitcoin is often compared to gold, Ethereum allows for smart contracts. Not all of these currencies are alike, and most have a specific purpose. More than 1,100 cryptocurrencies are currently available the best known is bitcoin.

What are cryptocurrencies?Ĭryptocurrencies are a new asset class that allows one user to transfer a “coin” to another using both encryption and a digital ledger, also known as blockchain technology. Investors in cryptocurrencies do not enjoy the same legal and regulatory protections that are common in other currency and financial transactions and it is critical that investors consider the evolving risks in this area prior to investing. Before investing, you must understand the unpredictable nature of various types of cryptocurrency, as well as potential security, regulatory, accounting, and tax issues. While many are aware of more common currencies, some potential investors do not know the wide variety of cryptocurrency assets and how they work. Cryptocurrency is gaining traction with investors for many reasons, including its nontraditional structure and potential for significant return on investment.

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