Once you have defined your goals, you can determine your Bitcoin investment timetable.
Bitcoin kick-started the world of modern cryptocurrencies in 2009 when it was introduced as a modern, internet-based replacement for government-issued currencies. Bitcoin enthusiasts then and now look forward to a day when Bitcoin can be used as widely and easily as conventional euros, dollars, and francs. The crypto community even has a shorthand phrase to describe that digital future: “buying a cup of coffee with Bitcoin.”
It’s not practical to buy a cup of coffee with Bitcoin today. But the cryptocurrency has found another compelling use: as an investment. The limited supply and high demand for Bitcoins has resulted in rising prices. You could buy a Bitcoin for 1 euro in 2011. Ten years later, the price topped 59,000 euros. Historically, Bitcoin’s value has risen at a faster rate than the price of gold, stock market indices, and other investments. That’s one reason so many people are eager to learn how to invest in Bitcoin.
Prices of commodities and stocks rise and fall. So does Bitcoin’s. The cryptocurrency market is notoriously volatile, which means it is subject to sudden price swings. But overall, Bitcoin has delivered historic returns, especially to investors who purchase it and hold it for months or years. Is Bitcoin a good investment? Like any investment, the value can rise or fall. But millions of Bitcoin owners have reaped the benefits of this unique currency’s remarkable long-term price gains.
It’s no wonder Europeans are rushing to invest in Bitcoin.
Define your goals
The first step in cryptocurrency investing is to define your goals. Maybe you’re looking to purchase a home in a few years or maintain your lifestyle during retirement. Maybe you’re investing so you can set aside some money to cover unanticipated expenses or emergencies. It’s possible you have multiple goals. Defining them is an essential first step in making any investment.
Once you have defined your goals, you can determine your Bitcoin investment timetable. If you’re investing to pay your children’s college expenses or fund your post-retirement golden years, you can take a long-term view. If you’re looking for your investment to cover short-term goals, then you’ll pursue a different strategy.
The third step is to define your investment budget. You may have a lump sum to invest all at once, or you may want to fund your investment portfolio with a schedule of small purchases over time. Both approaches have advantages. Because investing always implies an element of risk, experts advise investing only as much as you can afford to lose if the market takes a downward turn.
Where and how to invest in Bitcoin
The next step is to choose an investment platform. Hundreds of cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms exist on the internet. Each is designed to cater to a particular kind of investor.
Many of the largest crypto exchanges are geared to the needs of investors who are immersed in the crypto world: knowledgeable about blockchain technology, able to set up public-key cryptography with third-party wallets, and comfortable dealing directly with the distributed database that records Bitcoin transactions.
These exchanges are great for tech-savvy full-time investors who prefer to control all aspects of their Bitcoin transactions. But experts say many people are better off with a custodial platform that handles all the complexity of blockchain transactions on the investor’s behalf. Kriptomat is specifically designed to support investors who don’t have the time or interest to become experts in blockchain technology and public key encryption. At Kriptomat, you can create an account and begin investing in minutes. The website and mobile apps combine ease of use with great support and simple access to advanced investing tools, the kinds of tools that are available only to the largest clients of conventional investment bankers.
Kriptomat is the only Estonian cryptocurrency platform that allows buying and selling Bitcoin in over 20 languages.
Building a portfolio
Many investors stick with Bitcoin or combine their Bitcoin investments with other assets such as pension funds or stock-market investments. Experts have long recommended diversity to protect investors from downturns that affect one stock or industry. Investing in cryptocurrency is no different.
Kriptomat offers hundreds of cryptocurrencies so you can diversify and balance your crypto investment portfolio. You might want to supplement your Bitcoin holdings with cryptocurrencies associated with financial applications, for example, or the world of metaverse-style gaming. Maybe you’ll invest in cryptocurrencies that support the fast-growing world of collectible non-fungible tokens.
When you evaluate a cryptocurrency as a potential investment, look at its price history and do some simple analysis. The two most widely used analysis methods are technical analysis and fundamental analysis. With technical analysis, you look for trends and repeating cycles in the coin’s price history and use them to make predictions about future performance. Fundamental analysis is based on factors that influence the price of a commodity: economic indicators, government regulations, unemployment rates, world events, and forecasts of demand for particular services that are associated with different cryptocurrencies.
It sounds complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Many investors find this research both interesting and educational.
Once you have identified the cryptocurrencies you wish to add to your investment portfolio, it’s time to make a purchase.
How to buy bitcoin
Registering at a reputable exchange is not quite as simple as defining a username and password. Kriptomat observes Estonian law and EU regulations that require you to verify your identity by providing a copy of your government-issued ID and perhaps other documents. These Know Your Customer regulations are legally required by crypto platforms that comply with the anti-money laundering provisions of international e-commerce law.
At some platforms, identity verification is a complicated process that can take days or even weeks. At Kriptomat, it’s a simple process that you can complete in minutes.
The website or mobile app will prompt you to provide your identification data and upload a high-resolution photograph of your passport. Prompts guide you through creating and uploading a selfie – a photograph that matches the photo on your government ID. Your identity will be verified within a few minutes.
The next step is to fund your account so you can buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Common options include credit and debit cards, bank wire transfers, and cash-transfer services like Neteller and Skrill. Credit and debit cards are generally the fastest and easiest, but Kriptomat offers multiple options for your convenience.
When you’re away from home
Bitcoin can be a lifesaver when you’re traveling. Let’s say you are on holiday when you discover that you don’t have your wallet.
Lost? Stolen? It doesn’t matter. What matters is finding a way to pay for your hotel and other costs while you straighten things out with your credit card companies.
Worse, your wallet is likely to contain credit cards, debit cards, personal documents, money, even your photo ID. Without it, you’re in trouble – even if you’re at an exclusive hotel.
That’s where a Bitcoin ATM comes in handy. Visit Coin ATM Radar and locate a nearby Bitcoin ATM.
Now you can sell some of your Bitcoin, convert it to the local currency, and withdraw it from the ATM.
Simply select Sell Bitcoin at the ATM and specify the amount you want to withdraw.
If you lost your government-issued ID with your wallet, you may need to settle for withdrawing cash in several small transactions, as many crypto ATMs require identity verification for larger withdrawals.
The crypto ATM will print a ticket with a Bitcoin wallet address – in both text form and as a QR code. It will tell you how to send Bitcoin from your Kriptomat account or third-party wallet to this address.
Once the transfer is complete – it could take 20 or 30 minutes – you’ll be able to make a cash withdrawal at the Bitcoin ATM. Just take the ticket issued by the ATM back to the ATM and redeem the ticket by scanning it. The ATM will dispense your cash.
Your holiday is saved – by Bitcoin.
Investing Tools and Options
Advanced tools can help you get the most out of your Bitcoin investment.
For example, Kriptomat allows you to set price alerts. If the price of Bitcoin rises or falls by a percentage that you specify, you’ll receive an email or notification.
You can even set up automated trading with parameters that you define. For example, you might want to sell 2,000 euros worth of Bitcoin when the price rises to your target price. When you set up an automated trading rule, Kriptomat will monitor prices around the clock and execute the transaction you desire when the trigger conditions are met – any time of the day or night.
A recurring buy feature lets you practice a powerful technique that investment advisors call cost averaging. The idea is that you make purchases according to a regular schedule. For example, you might purchase 25 euros worth of Bitcoin every Monday or 300 euros on the 10th day of every month. These recurring purchases let you add to your portfolio using small amounts of money you might otherwise have spent thoughtlessly. Over time, your portfolio will painlessly and automatically grow.
It starts with a single step
At Kriptomat, you can begin investing quickly and easily. Kriptomat is fully licensed and regulated, and it provides plenty of accessible information and a world-class, highly responsive support team. Advanced investing tools like automated trading and recurring purchases are accessible with a click.
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have the potential to deliver financial freedom and self-determination to billions of people around the world. You can join the crypto revolution and reap the benefits of this exciting new investment opportunity today. Create a free account at Kriptomat and check out the options. It’s faster and easier than you think.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
