Categories
Crypto Crypto Daily Topic

Common Misconceptions About Cryptocurrency Trading

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are increasingly becoming more and more popular as tradable assets, and cryptocurrencies will only continue to grow from here. Despite their popularity, there are still quite a few misconceptions about them, things that people do not fully understand and this bleeds over into the trading world. Below are some of the misconceptions that many people have about cryptocurrencies and trading them.

Bitcoin Is a Bubble

For many people, this is the big one and they look at Bitcoin the same as they did the dot com bubble that burst all those years ago, yet if it was similar to the dot com bubble, that would actually give it quite a lot of backing. Yes, the internet collapsed and the bubble burst, but look at it now, it is taking over the world again, and the same could be said for bitcoin. Even if bitcoin is a bubble, that may not actually be a bad thing at all, if the bubble is burst, it will help to get rid of certain people from the ecosystem and this would then allow the system to grow again, much like the dot com bubble did all those years go. Just because something bursts, does not mean that it will not recover, so while there is no evidence of bitcoin being a bubble, even if it is, that is not necessarily a bad thing.

When it comes to trading, this is one of the things holding people back, simply because they do not wish to trade it or to purchase it in order to trade if there is the idea in the back of their, minds that it is a bubble and that it will at some point burst and the value to dramatically drop. They don’t want to be holding onto trades just in case that happens, and that is a fair assumption, again though this can be countered by simply accepting that it may not be a bubble at all, or if that is not enough, simply take smaller trades and don’t hold them for extended periods of time.

It’s Too Risky/Volatile

Trading cryptocurrencies is volatile, there is no doubt about that, but that is the attraction behind it and why so many people have decided to trade it in the first place. Saying that it is too risky because of this is not right though. There are risks, as there are with trading any sort of asset, but there are also things that you can do to help mitigate the risks, your risk management does not change at all from trading forex to trading cryptocurrencies. You will still be placing stop losses, you will still be keeping a risk to reward ratio, the only main difference is that the price will most certainly jump about quite a bit more, which can make it look a lot riskier, even when it actually isn’t.

It’s Hard to Get

Some people still feel that it is quite hard to buy cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, in order to trade it you of course need it, which is not actually true. You do not need to physically have any cryptocurrencies in your wallet in order to trade, many brokers are now offering various different cryptocurrencies on their trading platforms. You can trade them right next to your favorite currencies or assets. It is as simple as depositing your money, selecting the crypto coin to trade, and then trading like normal. You can buy and sell just like a currency, so it is no harder to trade cryptocurrencies than it is to trade any other asset or currency. Even if you did want to buy it directly in order to trade, here are plenty of places that allow you to buy with PayPal or your credit/debit card.

Trading the Big Ones

Many people when they think about trading cryptocurrencies they often only think of the big ones, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. In truth, there are far more than you can trade. In fact, there are hundreds of different pairs available with various brokers or exchanges. Being able to trade far more than just the big ones gives incredible amounts of variety and opportunities to make a profit. So if there is a coin that you are thinking that you wish to trade, it is more than likely available as a tradable asset on a broker platform somewhere or even on an exchange out there. If you want to trade it, you can find it.

Troubles Selling

A few years back when cryptocurrencies weren’t quite as popular, it was far harder to sell then, you had to find someone that was interested in making the purchase and then had to deal with them directly, it was difficult to do, took time and had a lot of risks involved. These days though it is incredibly easy. If you have been trading bitcoin and have made a profit, there are more than just a few ways in which you can sell the bitcoins and convert them back to your local currency. This can often be done through bank wire transfers, credit or debit card withdrawals, and even payment processors like PayPal. It is incredibly easy and incredibly quick to withdraw your bitcoin and convert it back into a fiat currency.

So those are just some of the things that people often have misconceptions about when it comes to cryptocurrency trading, there are hundreds of coins and tokens available to trade, and it is incredibly easy to do, becoming more and more accessible with both exchanges and brokers offering them as tradable assets. It can be a little riskier, but with the right risk management techniques, it will manage those risks and make it a lot safer to trade. So if you are interested in it but have some doubts, then take the plunge, choose a broker or exchange and get involved in the world of cryptocurrency trading.

Categories
Crypto Market Analysis

What Influences the Cryptocurrency Market?

If you’re going to invest in cryptocurrency, you need to have a good understanding of the driving forces behind prices in the market. Many different things can affect the prices you’ll see, but many of these influences are different than those that affect stocks and currencies. Therefore, it is important for investors to know what to watch for to make the best trading decisions.

Announcements or Changes

Many cryptocurrency providers are constantly working to improve their products. For example, the Bitcoin halving event is set to take place in May of 2020. When cryptocurrency goes through updates or transitions, this affects the price. This can go in one of two ways: successful updates may drive the price up as more traders feel confident in the cryptocurrency, or failed projects and technical problems with updates may lead some to walk away from the product altogether.

Supply & Demand

Supply and demand is a common influence behind the price of stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies. This concept generally revolves around the fact that an abundance of something causes a decrease in value, while a shortage increases the value. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some grocers raised the price of meat or other items more than 50% because hoarding and reduced production caused a shortage of those products. While that price inflation was technically illegal in our example, this is how supply and demand affect the price of cryptocurrencies. Mining also influences supply and demand.

Bad Publicity

Bitcoin received harsh criticism when it was discovered that many consumers were using it to purchase illegal drugs or to pay for other illegal online services thanks to it being more private than traditional banking. When drama or unbecoming stories break, it can cause a decrease in the currency’s value and cause some investors to walk away. On the other hand, good publicity can have the opposite effect.

Market News

Like with any type of asset, the news is one of the main influences behind prices. In the case of cryptocurrency, news can give us insight into what is going to happen. A bad economy or decrease in the value of a major currency can push many traders to invest in cryptocurrency instead. This is something that you’ll want to keep a close eye on because of how significantly it can affect the prices.

High Profile Investors

Often referred to as ‘whale investors’, this category usually includes corporations or individuals with a lot of capital. These investors have a large influence on the market because they either invest a large sum into the market or sell a large amount. If these investors buy, it means that they believe the market will go up, while selling indicates the opposite. Many of these investors have more resources at their disposal, so it is a good idea to pay attention to their moves so that you can benefit.

Other Influences

There are a few other factors that can affect the price of cryptocurrency:

Hard Forks: This involves a blockchain being split in two, like when Bitcoin was split with Bitcoin Cash or Ethereum and Ethereum Classic. If there is any drama behind the split, then this can be a cause for concern.

Competitors: If a new cryptocurrency hits the market or an existing one improves their services it can draw some investors away from other options.

How it can be used: If a cryptocurrency has multiple uses, investors may be more likely to buy.

Security: Any cyber-attacks or hacking problems with a cryptocurrency will make traders more fearful of investment or it will cause investors to sell, which will cause the price to go down.