Bitcoin is a digital currency that was created in 2009. Users can send and receive payments by using special software on their personal computer, mobile device or with a web application. It is similar to using a system of online banking or web banking. If you are interested in this payment system, learning What is Bitcoin is very important before you begin using it.
The payment systems works by a method of public-key cryptography. This is used to confirm each bitcoin transaction that happens in the system. First, a user creates the transaction with details of their public address, the amount to be sent, and the address of the recipient. The user then signs it with a hash using their private key. Each transaction includes the signatures from previous transactions as a means to ensure continuity.
This block chain is integral to the system because it is a public database of all transactions that happen within the system. It records current ownership of the currency, as well as ownership held in the past. These records prevent double-spending from occurring. The people who maintain this block chain are normally called miners. The job of the miners is to process payments and verify transactions in the system. They receive newly created currency and transaction fees for their services.
There are currently more than twelve million of these bitcoins in circulation. It is estimated that every ten minutes, approximately twenty-five of the coins are created. However, there is a cap to the total supply of coins which can be in circulation, which is twenty-one million. The exchange price is extremely volatile, and for this reason many people do not believe that it is able to function properly as a currency.
The payment processing fees in the system are usually optional. However, any transaction that pays a fee is usually processed more quickly than those that do not. These fees tend to be lower than the ones charged by credit cards or fees for money transfers. It is estimated that by 2140 there may be more than 20 million bitcoins in existence. Once this happens, transaction processing will be incentivized by fees alone.
The system uses public key cryptography which is set up in pairs, one that is public and one that is private. This collection of cryptography keys is sometimes called a wallet. The public keys transfer currency ownership to new addresses in an alphanumeric form. The private keys act as a system safeguard by transmitting payment messages from a particular address that contains the connected public key, as well as the digital signature. This is proof that the user possesses of the related private key.
Although it is a digital currency, it is still possible to get physical bitcoins if you want them. Many vendors produce them as collectable items that hold a private key on paper, plastic or metal. They can also be bought and sold at various prices against other currencies. However, the digital currency tends to be very volatile and fluctuates greatly in the markets.
It is a good idea to contact your local bank or regulatory agency for more information on What is Bitcoin. Protect yourself from theft by only performing transactions on a computer that you alone have access to.
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