Cryptocurrency
5 Top Cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin
Like most people, your eyes might have widened in amazement when you heard that there were over 2000 existing cryptocurrencies and counting in addition to Bitcoin.
Like most people, your eyes might have widened in amazement when you heard that there were over 2000 existing cryptocurrencies and counting in addition to Bitcoin. That’s a huge number to keep up with. If you’re also like most people, you probably decided to play it safe by sticking to Bitcoin because its the most popular and the first cryptocurrency. Or, maybe you’re like the rest of us, exploring the possibilities that the other 2000+ cryptocurrencies offer. No one ever went into the entire 2000+, at least not any that we know of. So, if you’re looking for some information on the other 2000+ cryptocurrencies you should be paying attention to and why? This post is for you.
A Quick Look at Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the giant in the crypto world. It distinguished itself both as the first cryptocurrency to go mainstream and the first cryptocurrency that most people embrace when they step into the crypto sphere. In addition to this, this is the only cryptocurrency that most people know and understand. A major reason behind this may be attributed to the success of this cryptocurrency and the sustainability of its entire system. The downside to Bitcoin is its speed and volatility.
A Look at the other 5
What you need to know is that like Bitcoin, there are other cryptocurrencies that have changed the game in their own unique ways. These cryptocurrencies are worthy of note because some are disrupting transaction and remittance as we know it. Some of them created to bridge gaps identified in Bitcoin
Cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin are called altcoins and here are 5 of them you should know
1. Ethereum
With a market cap of $31,690,974,037 as at the time of this post, Ethereum is the second largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. The Ethereum blockchain was launched in 2015. It is a decentralized platform that allows for the creation of systems which run without any downtime.
Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, set out to build Ethereum because of some of the shortcomings he experienced in using Bitcoin. In addition to having a currency called Ether or ETH, the Ethereum blockchain can be used to carry out transactions, build apps and games, and to build other types of virtual currencies.
2. XRP
Like Ethereum, XRP is the token of a more sophisticated agenda. Ripple labs launched in 2012 with an aim to create systems that would disrupt transactions and remittance. In this light, they created solutions like Ripple net and Xrapid. These solutions make cross-border transactions seamless, fast and cost-effective. Making it easy for people to carry out both little and huge transactions across borders.
READ: Fidelity Bank and NIPOST to extend financial inclusion to rural areas
3. Litecoin
Litecoin is usually referred to as “silver” in relation to Bitcoin’s “gold”. It was created to bridge some of the gaps experienced in using bitcoin for transactions. Thus, as a means of transaction, it is faster and a lot more efficient. It is also a more suitable option for smaller transactions.
4. Tether
The first important fact about Tether (USDT) is that it is a stable coin. What this means that it has a stable value because it is hitched to other stable financial instruments like fiat currency, gold, or even other cryptocurrencies. USDT is hitched to the American dollar and is meant to mirror its value. If you’re looking for some stability amidst all the volatility that exists in the crypto space, you might want to check this out.
5. Dash
If you thought Bitcoin was the cryptocurrency that allowed the most anonymity and privacy, think again. Dash was created with a lot of focus on user privacy and anonymity. Like a lot of other altcoins, Dash was created to close the shortcomings experienced in bitcoin such as speed and lower transaction fees.
Business News
Bitcoin loses $1500 in 3 mins, pigs get slaughtered in BTC market
Bitcoin rose above $10,000 for the first time in six weeks in a move that seems to show a bullish momentum has the $10,000 resistance mark been broken.
Some hours ago, Bitcoin rose above $10,000 for the first time in six weeks in a move that seems to show a bullish momentum as the $10,000 resistance mark been broken.
However, during the rally, over $100 million worth of Bitcoin short positions were liquidated as Bitcoin plunged by nearly $1,500 in less than 3 minutes, before rebounding to around $9,458. Bitcoin is trading at $9,540 4 am local time.
Bitcoin’s plunge was bad news for the bulls. By falling back below the $10,000 psychological support, it has shown a likely downward trend as investors start to close their positions.
According to data retrieved from crypto derivatives platform, Skew.com, an approximate $96 million worth of long positions were wiped with this lower move. This is lower than the $125 million liquidation event that took place when BTC took out $10,000 yesterday, suggesting that the market was leaning to such a trend.
(READ MORE:Tether, the most promising stable coin, now the third most valuable cryptocurrency)
Things you need to understand about Bitcoin’s volatility
The price of Bitcoin is so volatile because of its high use for financial gain by investors and crypto traders. As such, individuals and hedge funds sell and buy Bitcoins like they would do for any other financial asset (Stocks, bonds) with regulatory limitations.
One of the key biases touted by Bitcoin bears is that Bitcoin remains below the key resistance of $10,500 and has refused to break that mark since early 2020.
$10,500 is the level at which the bitcoin price was rejected during two crucial rallies over the past 12 months.
The fact that BTC has made successive takes at the level without breaking past it suggests that the crypto market is still situated in a downtrend.
(READ MORE:Electroneum, a Cryptocurrency, to launch electricity Top-Ups in Nigeria)
Robert Sluymer of Fundstrat Global Advisors, for instance, recently commented on the importance of the level. He said:
“Next directional move on tap for BTC’s as bull-bear convictions are about to be tested. Bears can point to the downtrend at 10-10.5K. Bulls have the long-term uptrend (200-week SMA) at their back and the past week’s resilience as BTC’s quickly rebounded from its 200-DMA.”
Cryptocurrency
Nigeria holds the aces in the peer to peer use of Bitcoin
Nigeria leads the pack in the peer to peer use of bitcoin in African continent with more than $35 million, while the closest rival, South Africa
Nigerians’ use of Bitcoin in the past month has surged exponentially, as the use of Bitcoin for peer to peer lending in the country recorded a feat.
Recent statistics showed that Nigeria led the pack with more than $35 million, while the closest rival, South Africa, had a transactional value of just $7 million during the last thirty days, according to usefultulips (a Bitcoin analytic data provider).
READ ALSO: Hedge funds, institutional investors rush to own stakes in Bitcoin
Among the top countries in the last 30 days leading in peer to peer Bitcoin transactional trades on the African continent are:
Nigeria – $35, 147, 166
South Africa – $7, 130, 711
Kenya – $6, 904, 750
Ghana – $4, 007,376
Central African Republic – $336, 579
Tanzania – $220, 463
In addition the report showed that Nigeria’s transactional value of Bitcoin’s peer to peer lending outsized all African countries totaling ($18, 599, 579)
What you should know: In Bitcoin’s case, Peer to peer is the exchanging of Bitcoins between parties (such as individuals) without the involvement of a central authority.
(READ MORE:A mysterious Bitcoin Whale causes brief panic sell-offs at Bitcoin’s Market)
This means peer to peer use of Bitcoin takes a decentralized approach in the exchange of Bitcoins between individuals and groups.
It shows that Bitcoin’s long-running narrative as the “digital gold” for hedging against global economic turmoil is gaining the trust of Nigerians for payments and transfers.
The financial market turmoil triggered by COVID-19 has definitely changed the way Nigerians view the whole financial system as data also obtained from Google trend shows Nigeria leading the pack around the world in Bitcoin searches. This is a testament to the fact that Nigerians truly love their Bitcoin.
Business News
Bulls push Bitcoin pass $10,000, as America’s turmoil intensifies
Meanwhile, popular Hedge Fund manager, Michael Novogratz, said Bitcoin’s bullish momentum might have just started. His forecast was based on quantitative easing done by global central banks and the high geopolitical uncertainty around the world.
The flagship currency has finally done it. Just hours ago, at around 11.30 pm Nigerian time, Bitcoin surged pass $10,000 for the first time in weeks, touching price levels as high as $10,250. This marked a 7% jump in gains from where Bitcoin was trading prior to the move, according to data obtained from Coinmarketcap.
While commenting on the incredible performance, the Chief Investment Officer at Orthogonal Trading, Joshua Green, simply said, “ETH broke out already, BTC now having its turn… The macro and fundamental scenario is very bullish, and the market has been shorting into $10,000, under-allocated above $10,000.”
In addition, popular Hedge Fund manager, Michael Novogratz, said Bitcoin’s bullish momentum might have just started. His forecast was based on quantitative easing done by global central banks and the high geopolitical uncertainty around the world.
“$BTC is coiling. It will take out 10k soon. All the tragic turmoil in the USA (United States of America) adds to the narrative. Budgets are going one way and it is the opposite of balanced. When 10k goes it will move fast. Get on the train,” Novogratz said.
$BTC is coiling. It will take out 10k soon. All the tragic turmoil in the USA adds to the narrative. Budgets are going one way and it’s the opposite of balanced. When 10k goes it will move fast. Get on the train.
— Michael Novogratz (@novogratz) June 1, 2020
This echoes the words of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones, who have both stated that the surge in government spending and rising debts are favourable to Bitcoin’s macro fundamentals.
It is worth noting that Bitcoin’s bullish move above the strong price resistance level of $10,000, occurred as America’s President Trump ordered the National Guard to disperse masses of protestors close to White House grounds. A wave of violence has been sweeping through American cities, following the tragic death of George Floyd, a black American citizen who was killed by a white police officer.
