Bitcoin is a type of digital currency which operates outside the mandate of a central authority. There are several variants of the cryptocurrency which have resulted from forks. These include bitcoin cash, bitcoin gold and bitcoin diamond.
Bitcoin is credited as the original and most well-known cryptocurrency. It was created by a person or group of people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009 and was intended to be used as a method of payment free from government supervision, transfer delays or transactions fees. However, bitcoin is not yet widely accepted for all transactions as some consider them too volatile to be a suitable method of payment.
How does bitcoin work?
Bitcoin relies on two underlying mechanisms in order to function – the blockchain and the mining process.
What is the blockchain?
The blockchain is a shared digital ledger which holds a record of all bitcoin transactions. Each cryptocurrency transactions are grouped together into ‘blocks’ by miners. The transactions are then cryptographically secured before they are added to the existing blockchain. Each ‘node’ or computer connected to the network automatically downloads a copy of the blockchain which allows everyone to track transactions without the need for central record keeping.
The blockchain is accessible to everybody at any time. The shared record can’t be changed without the agreement of the rest of the network.
What is mining?
Mining is the process of attaching new transaction records as blocks to the existing blockchain. Once a block is secured, new units of cryptocurrency known as ‘block rewards’ get credited to the miner. Miners can inject these units directly back into the market. Due to their crucial role in the process, miners can exert ownership of their bitcoin within the blockchain.
How does leveraged bitcoin trading work?
When you buy bitcoin on an exchange, the price of one bitcoin is usually quoted against the US dollar (USD). In other words, you are selling USD in order to buy bitcoin. If the price of bitcoin rises you will be able to sell for a profit, because bitcoin is now worth more USD than when you bought it. If the price falls and you decide to sell, then you would make a loss.
With CMC Markets, you trade bitcoin via a CFD account. This allows you to speculate on bitcoin price movements without owning the actual cryptocurrency. You aren’t taking ownership of bitcoin. Instead, you’re opening a position which will increase or decrease in value depending on bitcoin’s price movement against the dollar.
CFDs are leveraged products. This means you only need to deposit a percentage of the full value of a trade in order to open a position. You won’t have to tie up all your capital in one go by buying bitcoin outright, but can instead use an initial deposit to get exposure to larger amounts. While leveraged trading allows you to magnify your returns, losses will also be magnified as they are based on the full value of the position. You could lose more than your deposit.
Why trade bitcoin with CMC Markets?
Open a long or short position**
CFDs allow you to trade on both rising and falling prices.
Efficient use of capital
Leveraged trading means you only deposit a small percentage of the full value of a trade in order to open a position. Remember that both profits and losses will be magnified, and you could lose more than your deposit.
No exchange account or bitcoin wallet
Unlike trading the underlying bitcoin, there is no need to open an exchange account or bitcoin wallet to hold the bitcoin you have bought. This means no waiting for approval from the exchange, no concerns about keeping your wallet secure, and no fees if you want to withdraw funds later.
Trade with an established provider
CMC Markets is a regulated provider. We have over 28 years of experience in the industry and also offer support for all our clients whenever the markets are open.
Trade responsibly
Cryptocurrencies are still relatively new for most people and can be extremely volatile. We want our clients to have access to in-depth educational materials to support their trading.
What factors affect bitcoin’s price?
Bitcoin’s volatility is driven by many factors, including:
- Forks: if the software of different miners becomes misaligned then a split or ‘fork’ may occur in the blockchain. This results in the existence of two different blockchains. It’s up to the network of miners to agree which version to continue using. Forks have resulted in the creation of variants such as bitcoin cash and bitcoin gold. Find out more about forks
- Regulation: bitcoin is currently unregulated by both governments and central banks. There are questions about how this may change over the next few years and what impact this could have on its value.
- Supply: there may be a finite number of bitcoins (21 million) which are expected to be mined by 2040. Plus, availability fluctuates depending on the rate at which they enter the market.
- Press: prices can be affected by public perception, security and longevity.
- Adoption: currently it hasn’t been widely adopted by businesses or consumers as a method of payment. But, some see potential in the blockchain technology and think this could become more widely adopted in the future.
*Awarded Highest Overall Client Satisfaction, Best Customer Service, Best Platform Features, Best Value for Money, Investment Trends Singapore CFD & FX Report 2017.
**Please note we may, at our sole discretion, restrict your ability to go short.
