Investing in Bitcoin with a Bitcoin IRA allows you to put a piece of the original cryptocurrency into your retirement portfolio with tax-saving benefits and 24/7 trading. By understanding more about Bitcoin, investors are better armed with the knowledge to make choices and trade within their crypto IRAs.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin (BTC) is the grandfather of all cryptocurrencies. It was created by someone that mysteriously called themselves Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009—almost 20 years after blockchain timestamping was first presented as a research project. BTC is the first decentralized currency in which the need for trusted third-party verification has been removed.
There is a famous story about a BTC miner that used 10,000 BTC to buy $30 worth of pizza in 2010. Which, even at the discounted price today, would be worth about $200 million. All in all, BTC is the most trusted and well-known cryptocurrency available on the market today.
Key Concepts of Bitcoin
Decentralization – To transact in Bitcoin, the transaction is sent out to the BTC network, which means everyone in the network. If the majority decides it is a valid transaction, the transaction will be approved and recorded on the blockchain. The critical piece here is that rather than a single bank or other entity, the transaction’s validity is approved by numerous parties, reducing the risk of centralized manipulation. Most cryptocurrencies have been designed to operate in this manner.
Scarcity – A limited amount of BTC will ever be created. Thinking about fiat like the US Dollar, fiat is produced through debt. Every time someone borrows money, new dollars are created, which can happen endlessly. One problem with this model is that it is in constant devaluation—meaning that there is no end to inflation, and the currency could eventually fail. Because there is a limited amount of BTC, its value will always depend on supply and demand, not the amount of money you can manage to loan people. This system can be more robust and could prevent systemic economic collapses and the end of currency systems.
Immutable Ledger – Every transaction is recorded in a block on the blockchain. Once a transaction is approved and recorded, it cannot be changed without altering the entire blockchain. This makes all transactions and records very transparent; in other words, you can’t cook the books on blockchain transactions to hide money laundering, theft, and other white-collar financial crimes.
Minable – People supporting the BTC network have the opportunity to make money in different ways. Two common ways to generate income with Bitcoin include mining or transacting the coin. First, you can mine for new Bitcoin; projections show that this will be a viable task until all of the BTC is mined sometime around 2140. Second, you can make BTC by facilitating transactions and collecting their associated fees.
Bitcoin vs. Ethereum
Despite Ethereum’s (ETH) utility, BTC has remained more popular and retained a higher market cap or value than ETH. Ethereum is also a blockchain-based cryptocurrency, though the primary difference is that the blockchain is constructed a bit differently.
The ETH blockchain can support smart contracts and uses staking protocols that generally require less electricity to mine and transact. Its ability to support smart contracts allows developers to build projects off the back of the ETH blockchain, which has led to the proliferation of decentralized finance (DeFi). ETH is trusted similarly to BTC, but its exposure to the wild west of DeFi could put the cryptocurrency at risk. Therefore, tracking BTC fundamentals, sentiment, and price fluctuations can be much easier than ETH.
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Bitcoin IRA provides secure1 access to BTC, letting you buy, sell, and swap bitcoin in a cryptocurrency IRA. You can also purchase BTC through several other exchanges. Because BTC is the most well-known cryptocurrency on the market, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for scams.
Always use trusted exchanges and wallet providers like Bitcoin IRA when investing. To use Bitcoin IRA to buy BTC, simply create an account, fund it, and trade.
Bitcoin Crypto IRA and Taxes
Cryptocurrency can be held or traded in a self-directed IRA. You can open a Roth or traditional self-directed IRA. With a self-directed Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars into the IRA account and then aren’t required to pay taxes when you reach retirement age.2 With a traditional self-directed IRA, income tax is paid after you reach retirement age and when the money is withdrawn.
Both types of IRAs offer tax-deferred growth. However, as with any IRA account, if you choose to withdraw before reaching retirement age, you could face paying a penalty and any taxes you owe. This situation is the same for all types of investments held in IRA accounts.
Why Should I Invest in Bitcoin with Bitcoin IRA?
Once you understand more about Bitcoin, you see how many may view it as a great investment opportunity because of its unique position of being the first widely-adopted cryptocurrency in the world.
The vast investment in BTC also makes it a trendy way to keep a finger on the pulse of the general cryptocurrency markets. Buying BTC in small tranches after pullbacks using Bitcoin IRA’s simplified buying and selling processes is one strategy that some investors choose. Bitcoin IRA’s intuitive platform and easy account creation make a long-term Bitcoin investment easily accessible.
Bitcoin IRA also offers more than 60 different cryptocurrencies to choose from, allowing you to diversify your holdings as you add money to the account. In addition, Bitcoin IRA provides investors with education about each coin and is constantly searching for new opportunities to add to their coin selection.
How to Create a Bitcoin IRA with Bitcoin
A Bitcoin IRA account can be opened online or through the convenient mobile app (on the App Store or Google Play). After opening an account, you will be asked if you want to roll an existing IRA or fund your new IRA from scratch. Once the account is funded, you can start trading BTC.
1Security may vary based on asset chosen and custody solution available.
2Some taxes may apply. We recommend you consult your tax, legal, and investment advisor.
Alternative IRA Services, LLC dba Bitcoin IRA is a platform that connects consumers to qualified custodians, digital wallets, and cryptocurrency exchanges. The company is not a custodian, is not a digital wallet and is not an exchange. Self-directed purchases processed through Bitcoin IRA have not been endorsed by the IRS or any government or regulatory agency. Bitcoin IRA is not an adviser. Information contained on this website is for educational purposes only. We encourage you to consult an adviser or professional to determine whether Bitcoin IRA makes sense for you. Cryptocurrencies are very speculative and involve a high degree of risk. By using the website, you understand the information being presented is provided for informational purposes only and agree to comply with our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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