How to Use Bitcoin: Everything to Know

By  Beluga Research October 17, 2023

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Summary

  • Discover how to use bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, for secure and decentralized peer-to-peer transactions and digital asset storage
  • Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that operates on blockchain technology.
  • It has a limited supply of 21 million coins and has gained value over time due to increasing demand
  • Bitcoin can be obtained through purchasing it on an exchange, receiving it as payment, or mining, and it offers advantages such as security, privacy and global accessibility

Overview

Bitcoin is the leading cryptocurrency, used to leverage secure and decentralized peer-to-peer transactions and digital asset storage. Each Bitcoin transaction is recorded on the blockchain, which is a public ledger, to ensure the network's integrity and prevent double-spending. Bitcoin's increasing value is attributed to the fact that it has a limited supply of 21 million coins, which created digital scarcity that prompted the rise in its demand.

A Brief History

Bitcoin was introduced in 2009 by an anonymous person or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto and their whitepaper outlined its fundamental concepts. Initially, bitcoin was used by a small group of tech enthusiasts and cryptography experts. However, it gradually gained wider attention and traction.

The first bitcoin exchange - Mt. Gox - was originally created in 2010, which was a significant event that simplified the trading of bitcoin for traditional currencies. Bitcoin faced several challenges such as price volatility, regulatory scrutiny and security breaches. However, it also witnessed growth and adoption, with more businesses accepting it as payment and individuals using it for investments and remittances.

How to Use Bitcoin: Everything to Know

A digital wallet is necessary in order to use bitcoin as users need to store holdings securely. In this context, wallets can be software, hardware or online wallets provided by exchanges.

Bitcoin may be purchased on a cryptocurrency exchange or received as payment. Another method to obtain it is via mining, where you contribute computational power to the network in exchange for bitcoin.

Any bitcoin that users receive is stored in a wallet and associated with a unique address, which enables others to transfer bitcoin to that address.

Similarly, users need the address of the recipient in order to send bitcoin. Once users obtain this information, they need to merely specify the address and the amount of bitcoin to send on the wallet software. The transaction is validated by the network's nodes and typically takes a few minutes.

Cryptographic techniques are employed to secure bitcoin transactions and each such transaction is digitally signed by the owner and broadcasted to the network for verification.

Once a transaction is confirmed and added to the blockchain, it becomes permanent and cannot be altered. This immutability ensures transaction integrity and prevents fraud.

Getting Started

A Bitcoin wallet, which is a software application used for securely storing, sending and receiving bitcoin, is necessary to get started. There are different types of wallets available, including desktop, mobile, web and hardware wallets. There are unique security, accessibility and convenience considerations associated with each wallet.

Once a bitcoin wallet is set up, the next step is to acquire the cryptocurrency. Users can purchase it from a cryptocurrency exchange using traditional fiat currency or accept it as payment for goods or services rendered. Another option is Bitcoin mining, where specialized hardware is used to solve complex problems and earn new bitcoins.

Bitcoin can be used in various contexts. It is commonly used as a medium of exchange, with many merchants and online platforms accepting it as payment. If users wish to make a payment, specify the Bitcoin address of the recipient along with the amount to transfer from a wallet. Bitcoin transactions are typically fast and charge lower fees compared to traditional methods.

Unique Aspects

Bitcoin has several unique aspects that differentiate it from traditional currencies and other digital payment systems. Firstly, it is decentralized and operates on the blockchain, a distributed ledger that records all bitcoin transactions transparently and immutably. Thus, Bitcoin is fairly resistant to censorship and manipulation.

Secondly, Bitcoin has a limited supply. In other words, there will only ever be 21 million bitcoins. To sustain this scarcity, halving is employed, which reduces the number of new bitcoins generated through mining approximately once in every four years. Due to this scarcity, Bitcoin's value has skyrocketed and is perceived similar to gold.

Bitcoin also provides a high degree of privacy and security. Despite recording every single transaction on the blockchain, it ensures that the parties' identities are not directly linked to the transactions. Instead, Bitcoin addresses are used to provide pseudonymity. However, it's important to note that transactions can still be tracked and analyzed to a certain degree.

In terms of security, Bitcoin uses cryptographic techniques to ensure transaction integrity and security. Each transaction is digitally signed using the sender's private key, ensuring only the rightful owner can initiate a transaction. Finally, the decentralized nature of the blockchain makes it difficult for malicious actors to tamper with the transaction records or manipulate the network.

Advantages

  • Security: The use of cryptographic techniques makes Bitcoin transactions highly secure, while also ensuring that transactions cannot be tampered with or reversed, providing a high level of security. Moreover, each transaction is recorded on the blockchain, a transparent and immutable public ledger.
  • Privacy: Bitcoin offers a certain level of privacy and anonymity for its users. Each transaction recorded on the blockchain is associated with a randomly generated Bitcoin address that represents the user, and thus, the identities of the individuals involved are not directly linked to the transactions.
  • Global Accessibility : Bitcoin can be accessed and used by anyone with an internet connection, regardless of location. This global accessibility makes it a convenient option for individuals who want to engage in cross-border transactions or remittances. Additionally, Bitcoin operates 24/7, allowing users to initiate transactions at any time, which does not hold true with traditional banking institutions.
  • Lower Transaction Fees: Compared to traditional financial systems, bitcoin transactions often charge lower fees. This is particularly beneficial for international transactions, as traditional methods sometimes also impose additional charges for currency conversion. Bitcoin transactions typically have a fixed or variable fee that is usually lower than what is charged by traditional financial institutions.
  • Financial Inclusion: Bitcoin has the potential to provide financial services to individuals who may not have access to traditional banking systems. In many parts of the world, significant populations still lack access to basic financial services. Bitcoin can serve as an alternative financial system, allowing individuals to store, send and receive funds without relying on traditional banks.

Disadvantages

  • Volatility: Bitcoin is known for its price volatility, which could make it a risky investment. Bitcoin's value tends to fluctuate significantly within short periods of time and the volatility may be exacerbated by a host of parameters such as market demand, regulatory developments and macroeconomic conditions. Individuals who hold bitcoin may experience substantial gains or losses in the value of their holdings.
  • Scalability: As Bitcoin's popularity has increased substantially, scalability has become a challenge. The Bitcoin network has limited capacity to process transactions, resulting in delays and higher transaction fees during periods of high demand. While scaling solutions such as the Lightning Network have been proposed to address this issue, there is still an ongoing effort to facilitate widespread adoption and implementation.
  • Irreversibility of Transactions: Once a bitcoin transaction is confirmed and recorded on the blockchain, it is generally irreversible. This means that if a user sends bitcoin to the wrong address or becomes a victim of fraud, recovering the funds can be challenging. While this feature enhances the security of bitcoin transactions, users need to exercise caution and double-check the details before transferring funds.
  • Regulatory Uncertainty: The regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, is still evolving in many jurisdictions. Different countries have undertaken different approaches to regulate or restrict the use of cryptocurrencies. This regulatory uncertainty can create challenges for individuals and businesses interested in using bitcoin, as they may fear legal and compliance issues.
  • Environmental Impact: Bitcoin mining, which entails validating transactions and adding them to the blockchain, requires significant computational power and energy. As a result, Bitcoin mining has been criticized for its environmental impact, particularly due to the high energy consumption associated with mining operations. Efforts are underway to develop more energy-efficient mining methods and promote the use of renewable energy sources in the Bitcoin network.