12 Biggest Issues Facing Bitcoin Today?
Many people believe that Bitcoin is destined for mainstream adoption, but the truth may be quite different. W e cannot deny that one day a cryptocurrency will soar to unprecedented heights of popularity that it will topple the current financial system and become the new reigning currency. A digital currency ungoverned by central banks would benefit society much, but it will not materialize instantly.
Prior to becoming the world’s dominant currency, Bitcoin must identify and overcome the issues that hold it back from doing so. In order to give the best possible Bitcoin experience, the current issues must be addressed.
See also: Is Bitcoin A Haven From Inflation?
How does Bitcoin work?
People use Bitcoin to buy and sell goods and services because it is widely accepted as a medium of exchange.
Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency since its 2009 launch by Satoshi Nakamoto, who decided to do so after witnessing the devastation monetary policy caused during the recent subprime crisis. To avoid relying on a centralized organization, such as a bank, bitcoin employs encryption to provide security and so does not require a centralized authority.
This is all possible because of the blockchain, a ledger that keeps a record of all transactions. Thus, fraudulent activities such as attempting to double spend are prevented.
Bitcoin and fiat currencies differ in that, a state can continue to manufacture banknotes to pay its debts despite the fact that doing so has a detrimental impact on the economy. When it comes to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, there is only a total supply of 21 million.
Even so, we haven’t reached that cap yet, and a process known as mining creates new coins every day. Complex mathematical algorithms are solved by powerful computers as part of the mining process. Miners are compensated in Bitcoin for their efforts.
See also: 8 Reasons Why You Need To Trade With Bitxmi Exchange.
The more people who participate, the more difficult it becomes to solve the computational equations. All the way to the moment where the 21 million coins run out.
This shows how the system is resistant to inflation, economic crises, and other limitations associated with intervened economies because no entities can directly impact or influence it.
In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto proposed a solution to the double-spending issue in digital currency with the launch of Bitcoin.
BITCOIN’S UNIQUE PROBLEM
- Scalability:
Because of the difficulty of scaling bitcoin, it cannot store a huge amount of transaction data on its network. With a block size limit of one megabyte, the bitcoin network can only process three transactions per second. The more transactions you make in bitcoin, the longer it will take, even if you get it from the most convenient source. The rate at which the transaction is completed is unchanged.
“Blockchain Scalability?” What is scalability, exactly?
Scalability is a phrase that varies widely among enthusiasts. Scalability is defined as the capacity to provide an excellent user experience regardless of how many people are using the system at any given time. System scalability is the ability of a system to grow in the most fundamental sense. A network or server, for example, can be scaled to handle rising demand in a variety of ways in computers. A blockchain’s ability to accept additional users is known as scalability. It’s inevitable that with more users, the blockchain will see more “competitive” activities and transactions.
In order to compete with traditional payment processing techniques, blockchain networks must be highly scalable. Examples of blockchains that can handle several transactions per second are Bitcoin and Ethereum (TPS). For comparison, Visa has a VisaNet network that is capable of processing 24,000 TPS. The scalability of these blockchain networks is being worked on by a variety of developers.
Scalability is the most significant issue that prevents blockchains from taking on popular legacy services. In order for blockchain networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum to take off, they must be able to process transactions quickly.
2. Has No Intrinsic Value
One of the most serious problems with cryptocurrency today is that it has no inherent value. This is a popular word among investors for estimating a company’s worth based on its assets and liabilities. This transforms Bitcoin into a commodity because its price is determined completely by demand and how much money purchasers are willing to pay for each unit.
This is a challenging issue. Because it has no intrinsic worth by definition, its price will always be determined by supply and demand, making price prediction extremely difficult.
3. Convenience of usage
Even if buying, selling, and using bitcoin has become substantially simpler in recent years, it isn’t yet user-friendly enough to encourage widespread use. Once an account is set up with a bitcoin exchange like Coinbase, the user is required to link a debit or credit card (which typically comes with an additional cost) and wait for the transaction to clear for many days.
Third party organizations like Square (SQ -2.21 percent ) and other similar corporations might solve this problem by entering the bitcoin industry. To put it another way, many more individuals who aren’t tech-savvy could come into the digital currency realm if they could buy bitcoin using an app like Square Cash, which millions of people already use.
4. A high degree of unpredictability (Volatility)
As a result of Bitcoin’s reputation for unbridled volatility, many new investors are reluctant to become involved. The greater the market’s volatility, the greater the associated risk and reward.
Investors will not lose or make a lot of money if there is little volatility. For investors, these times of extreme volatility give an excellent opportunity to profit from the sale of assets at a greater price than when they initially purchased them.
However, Bitcoin’s tremendous volatility has resulted in people losing millions of dollars in a matter of hours, but many have also become multi-billionaires as a result. Volatility in Bitcoin is a two-edged sword that may either help you make a lot of money or make you more vulnerable to losing it all. It is prudent to exercise caution when investing in a volatile asset such as Bitcoin and conduct extensive due diligence before making any decisions.
5. Uncomfortable For Low-Tech Users
For many of us, all we need to do is read some tips, download some software, and begin trading Bitcoins. However, many people, especially those from prior generations, have difficulty using this new technology. As a result, they feel a sense of rejection for something that is not supported by the banks or governments that have been part of their life.
Many people are unable to use it because of the complex set of prerequisites required to do so. And, regrettably, they’re shut out of the future. As a result, the community must endeavor to improve sector education and facilitate the usage of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
6. Transactions Take a Long Time
The transactions contained in a Bitcoin block are confirmed after ten minutes or more. So, the fact that we must wait for the confirmation of our money transfer before receiving a product that we need immediately is a major setback. The lack of instantaneous exchangeability of Bitcoin makes it less liquid than other financial products.
However, there are a number of ways to address this issue. There are payment processors who perform transactions outside the chain first, ensuring an immediate payment with high levels of security and privacy protection.
SegWit and Lightning Network, on the other hand, for instance are attempting to achieve the same goal.
7. Taxes and Law Enforcement Issues
With Bitcoin, there is no legal framework for taxation or regulation of it. Because cryptocurrency is so new, governments have a hard time figuring out what they should do with it. Many countries throughout the world have taken action as pioneers in the field, each with their own distinctive approach to this issue.
To get individuals to start utilizing cryptocurrencies, there must be a set of clear and minimal rules for how they can do so. This means that the possible issues are well-documented, along with possible remedies. But to get there, you have to go through a complicated process in an entirely new industry.
These technologies are still available in nations such as the United States (including the US), Japan , Canada , and Israel. Countries like Bolivia, Ecuador, China, and Morocco, on the other hand, have resisted this new method of conducting business.
To sum it all up, governments must figure out how to tax digital currency. For people who aren’t sure how to proceed, this is a critical issue. Laws governing the forfeiture of cryptocurrencies will change in lockstep with the growth and development of the cryptocurrency economy. The taxes of bitcoin has not been properly regulated. Because of this, it may be easier for certain persons to avoid paying their taxes. If you earn more money from the sale of bitcoin than you spent on it, you must include the difference in your taxable income. You’ll have to disclose the difference between the purchase price and the amount it costs you to buy a bitcoin every time you execute a transaction, which can be time-consuming.
8. There Is No Methodology For Retrieving Stolen Bitcoins.
If you have a problem with your credit card or bank account, the organizations that support these services can assist you. However, in the case of Bitcoin, the stolen currency is irretrievably lost.
Unfortunately, there is no way to get your bitcoins back, which is terrible news for anyone who makes a small error.
Owners of this and other cryptocurrencies need not despair, though, because there are sound storage techniques that can help them avoid these issues. Hardware wallets are a convenient and secure way to keep your money safe.
When it comes to keeping cryptocurrencies safe, there are a number of companies that offer vault services. In the event of a wallet’s loss, backups can be used to restore access. The cautious investor always welcomes any action that we can take.
9. Retail Sales Are Impossible With It.
This issue derives from two factors discussed previously: sluggish transactions and high commissions. Which makes it extremely difficult for us to sit in a restaurant and order a few dollars or euros worth of pizza, as the commissions would eat up a large portion of the bill. Additionally, we will have to wait ten minutes for confirmation of our transaction, which renders many economic activity impracticable.
People have had to wait for days and even weeks to get their Bitcoins in their wallets, so these 10 minutes are the best-case situation. Because of this, there are third-party service processors that serve as mediators in this process.
10. Changing Rates
Bitcoin is likewise confronted with the issue of price fluctuation. Individuals never know what to anticipate. The increase in the value of bitcoins may benefit investors. However, if bitcoin is to achieve widespread adoption, it must be stable. Stability is necessary for it to develop into a dependable source of value. Rapid changes in the value of the currency will reduce its prospects of being extensively adopted.
11. The Increasing Energy Needs of Bitcoin
Over the last few years, the amount of electricity required to mine Bitcoin has become a hotly debated subject. By design, Bitcoin is an incredibly energy-intensive process due to the sheer volume of hash calculations necessary to fulfill its primary function of facilitating financial transactions without the involvement of a third party (peer-to-peer). Electricity is the principal source of energy for all of these computations. In comparison to countries like Ireland (3.1 gigawatts) and Austria, the Bitcoin network consumes an estimated 2.55 gigawatts of electricity presently and a possible 7.67 gigawatts in the future (8.2 gigawatts). According to economic studies, Bitcoin’s electricity consumption is expected to rise near this figure.
Because Bitcoin is designed to function without the use of middlemen (peer-to-peer transactions), it is a process that consumes a large amount of energy by design. Electricity is the principal source of energy for all of these computations.
12. Regulation by The State
In response to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, governments around the world have reacted in a variety of ways. As a case in point, some governments appear to be uninterested in Bitcoin, while others are outright hostile. As a result, traders and investors pay close attention to developments around the world.
The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, recently stated that international regulation of digital currencies is inevitable.
Despite the fact that South Korea has prohibited Bitcoin trading, the country has stated that it would not be hindering the exchange of cryptocurrencies. For tax purposes, virtual currencies like Bitcoin are classified as intangible property by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Capital gains tax is imposed on Bitcoin owners, as a result.
Conclusion
As you’ll see, Bitcoin is far from ideal and has a slew of flaws that you should be aware of. Considerably so, he has accomplished a great deal and has the potential to do even more in the future. With a wide range of applications that can have a profound impact on our lives.
It is our hope that this guide has provided you with the information you need to make more informed decisions in the future.
Follow Bitxmi news every day to stay up to date on the newest cryptocurrency news.
Join Bitxmi Exchange and trade over 144 assets at very minimal fees.
Disclaimer: Bitxmi Blog is a news platform that does not offer financial advice. Bitxmi’s role is to keep the cryptocurrency and blockchain communities up to date on what’s going on in the industry. Please conduct your own research before making any investment. Bitxmi News will not be held liable for any financial losses.
Join Coinmonks Telegram Channel and Youtube Channel learn about crypto trading and investing
