Crypto — An Introduction

This article describes crypto, its history, how it works, its key features, the top 5 cryptos, and how to buy crypto in India. Crypto is a digital or virtual currency that can be transferred instantly via the Internet at a lower fee, without requiring any intermediaries such as banks or regulatory authorities. The cryptographic technique is used for securing crypto transactions.

Cryptos use a decentralized system to record transactions and emerge as the most popular investment in recent years. They are managed by Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks of computers running on open-source software.

Key Features

Many exchanges offer welcome rewards to the holders once after the signup. You can also earn an Annual Percentage Yield (APY) that’s much higher than most traditional savings accounts. Cryptos can be transferred easily to anyone else or used to pay for goods and services. Millions of people hold cryptos as part of their investment portfolios.

Global access

Crypto makes seamless transactions with people around the world. Accessibility and usability are two vital factors in driving crypto adoption globally.

Speed

Global crypto transactions are faster than traditional wired transactions. Wire transfers usually take about half a day for the money transfer from one place to another. With cryptos, transactions take only a matter of seconds.

Less Restrictions

Anyone can make transactions at any time from anywhere unlike setting up a bank account, which requires documentation and other paperwork. There are no limits on purchases and withdrawals.

Privacy

When paying with crypto, there is no need to provide unnecessary personal information as in the traditional financial market. As there is no need for sharing sensitive information over the internet, there is little risk of financial information being compromised, or identity theft.

Security

Almost all cryptos are secured using blockchain technology, which is constantly checked and verified by a huge amount of computing power.

Portability

As there are no crypto holdings tied to a financial institution or government, they are readily available across the globe without the intervention of major intermediaries of the global financial system.

Transparency

Every crypto transaction on the networks is published publicly, without exception. Hence there is no room for manipulation of transactions, changing the money supply, or adjusting the protocols mid-game.

Irreversibility

Crypto payments cannot be upturned, unlike credit card payments. This prevents fraudulent activities. For customers, it makes the transactions cheaper by eliminating the high processing fee.

Safety

The fundamental idea behind cryptos is to ensure its security as it is a permissionless and open-source environment. The Bitcoin network has never been hacked. Various cryptographers could examine all aspects of the networks and their security.

Equality

Cryptos provide equality of opportunity to traders and investors, irrespective of their physical location. Thus, creating unique opportunities for expanding people’s economic liberty around the world. Anyone having a smartphone or another internet-connected device, could able to buy, sell, and trade cryptos. Borderless transactions facilitate free trade, even in countries with stringent government controls over citizens’ finances.

Top 5 Cryptos

As digital currency took the financial world by storm post the COVID-19 pandemic, there was huge mining and trading of countless numbers of cryptos. Owing to the volatile nature of the crypto market, it is vital to recognize the best-performing coins before investing in any such coins.

#1 — Bitcoin

As a herald, Bitcoin is the most popular and largest crypto on the trading list with a current market cap of $ 584.47B USD.

#2 — Ethereum

Ethereum is second on the list next to Bitcoin. In 2017, Ethereum surged around 500%, whereas Bitcoins spiked around 1000%. Ethereum was created by Vitalik Buterin, one of the most sought-after names in the crypto industry.

#3 — Litecoin

Litecoin is a possible alternative to Bitcoin. Charlie Lee created Litecoin in 2011. After Bitcoin, it is the third in terms of transaction time Litecoin is much faster than Bitcoin and the transaction fees are almost zero.

#4 — Tether

Tether’s price is anchored at $1 per coin. Hence, it is called a stablecoin. Tether serves as a medium when traders move between cryptos. Instead of moving back to dollars, Tether can be used.

#5 — Ripple

Ripple works similarly to Bitcoin or Ethereum. However, the user can send the payments in real-time using distributed financial technology. Ripple works with banks and allows sending of money.

How to Buy Crypto in India?

Crypto exchanges have made buying and selling easier nowadays. You can create a secure user account within a few minutes and buy cryptos using your bank account or debit/credit card.

Follow the below guidelines to buy Crypto in India,

Step 1: Choose a Crypto Exchange

The first step to buying crypto in India is to choose the best crypto exchange. There are several crypto exchanges available in India, but the most popular ones include WazirX, KoinBX, ZebPay, etc.

Step 2: Account Registration

Once you have chosen a crypto exchange, the next step is to register and verify your account. You will need to provide personal information, such as name, email ID, and phone number.

Step 3: KYC Verification

As per the regulatory norms, you will also need to upload a copy of your ID proofs, such as an Aadhaar card or PAN card, and a selfie. Once after successful verification of your account, you can deposit funds into the account and start buying crypto.

Step 4: Deposit Funds

To buy crypto on an exchange, you will need to deposit funds into your account. Most of the Indian crypto exchanges accept deposits in INR through bank transfers and UPI payments.

To deposit funds, log in to your account and click on the deposit button. You will be provided with a bank account number and IFSC code to transfer funds to the exchange. Once the funds are transferred, they will be credited to your account.

Step 5: Buy Crypto

Once after depositing funds in your account, you can buy crypto. To do this, log in to your account and click on the buy button. Select the crypto you want to buy and enter the amount in INR that you want to spend.

The exchange will show the current price of the crypto and the total amount of the crypto you can buy, including transaction fees. Once you confirm the transaction, the crypto will be credited to your account.

Step 6: Withdraw Crypto

Once you have bought crypto, you can withdraw it to a wallet used to store your crypto. To withdraw crypto, log in to your account and click on the withdraw button. Enter the wallet address and the amount of crypto you want to withdraw. The exchange will deduct the withdrawal fees, and the remaining balance will be credited to your wallet.

Concluding Remarks

In recent years, crypto has gained significant popularity in India, with a growing number of people investing in digital assets. But many people are still clueless about the process for buying crypto in India due to the lack of clear regulations and guidelines from the Indian government. Also, the process of buying cryptos can be intimidating for beginners, but it is essential to choose the best and most reliable crypto exchange and take the necessary precautions to ensure a safe and secure investment.