In , there is an upheaval within the international financial markets, due to cryptocurrencies. The forecasts on the potential of digital currencies differ widely.
While some see a huge speculative bubble that’s bound to burst, others see the digital currencies as the future. Is there potential for cryptocurrencies to be accepted as the official and global payment method and will they replace fiat currencies?
Currently, there is already a market capitalization of $ trillion across the crypto market. Responsible for this growth and demand are largely the major cryptocurrencies in the market – Bitcoin and being prominent among them.
If it continues to grow in this way, the question on everyone’s mind remains the same: Will these currencies be able to replace the euro or the dollar? Let’s see what could happen.
The Bitcoin price is determined by supply and demand. For example, whenever traders use a Binance trading bot, the demand for Bitcoin increases. The price of the currency will rise as a result. If, on the other hand, demand abruptly decreases, the Bitcoin price will fall.
However, demand is also influenced by political and global economic events. Among other things, political decisions that have an impact on the global economy will affect dramatically cryptocurrency – and then all other coins.
Unlike traditional fiat currencies, Bitcoin is organized in a decentralized manner. That’s why BTC is even more influenced by political and economic developments.
In contrast, nations are always dependent on a central bank – thus, controlling the money trade. This is not the case with Bitcoin. Instead, Bitcoins are generated through an extensive process.
Fiat money are currencies that have been designated as legal tender by the government. Unlike earlier currencies, they are not backed by a physical asset like the earlier gold standard.
Fiat currencies were expected to endure. However, many wonder if cryptocurrencies could possibly replace fiat money.
Many factors must converge for cryptocurrencies to truly replace our existing cash. It is likely that in a digital future, a majority of financial solutions will come from cryptocurrencies.
Meanwhile, not only private investors are using cryptocurrencies more and more, but also companies and even countries.
The shift towards cryptocurrencies continues to progress, and many online retailers are now accepting different cryptocurrencies as payment methods as well. Physical stores are also starting to accept digital currencies so as not to miss the boat.
More industries could follow suit and offer crypto-oriented products, as well as accept payments in coins. This would further increase the adoption of cryptocurrencies.
This process would be gradual, however, an international system for dealing with cryptocurrencies could be developed relying on specific currencies.
Disruptive business models are emerging through a force of technological innovation. This can bring down entire industries.
This can mean benefits for users and companies. New earning and service models are emerging through the crypto industry.
Of course, governments want to keep fiat currencies active for their own interest, as they can directly control them and thus strongly influence the economy.
Accordingly, they have no incentive to advance cryptocurrency adoption. China, for example, has banned Bitcoin completely.
In contrast, El Salvador has even recognized Bitcoin as an official means of payment. With the growing interest among the population, other non-authoritarian countries will enact further trade regulations and be forced to recognize the currency more on this below.
All transactions conducted within the Bitcoin blockchain are added to it in encrypted form. This makes them virtually tamper-proof.
Within the network, crypto miners struggle to perform calculations to validate a block in this way, for which they receive a reward in the form of Bitcoin. These blocks are added to the blockchain every minutes, but only after the block has been verified by the entire network.
Ever since the first Bitcoin block was created under the name ‘Genesis block’ by Satoshi Nakamoto, all transactions have been subject to a fixed process that is always followed.
Bitcoin remains the cryptocurrency with the highest trading volume. Compared to the gold market, the cryptocurrency market is very different. This is because cryptocurrencies can be traded even with small amounts, which results in strong price fluctuations.
Moreover, since Bitcoin is a limited resource and fewer and fewer BTC are being generated, demand would have to follow deflationary behavior for the price to remain reasonably stable.
However, the Bitcoin price is also influenced by positive and negative headlines in the media, the development of it intrinsic value of cryptocurrencies as an asset, as well as currency risks in terms of liquidity and also by the so-called “whales” investors who buy a large amount of Bitcoin.
As mentioned above, El Salvador has become the first country in the world to recognize Bitcoin as an official means of payment. It remains to be seen whether the digital currency will catch on and what benefits it will bring to the unbanked population.
It will also be interesting to see which countries will follow and what advantages and disadvantages it will bring to each country.
The majority of the population will use cryptocurrencies and the government recognizes the advantages for a crypto model. On top of that, there are crypto-friendly policies that support the shift from a fiat to a digital system.
Bitcoin is the primary focus as a reserve currency, closely followed by . There are different assumptions about the forecast – especially since the beginning of the NFT craze.
Whom one has understood how the general monetary system works, who manipulates it and profits from it, is at an advantage. Then one will also understand why politics, banks, etc. are not interested in more and more companies and people using unregulated currencies.
Because decentralized markets cannot be regulated and manipulated. Users are therefore free to use the funds and taxation by the state is made more difficult.
The rates are thereby determined by supply and demand and not by central fiscal policy. Governments will likely continue to regulate cryptocurrencies. However, there are now countries such as El Salvador where Bitcoin is recognized as an official means of payment.
So, the answer as to whether cryptocurrencies are likely to become the official world currency remains to be seen. We can see that some have already started the process, but there is still development and many stories to be told – but who knows? Maybe cryptocurrencies will take over the world.
