Table of Contents
What Is a Cryptocurrency Exchanges?
Cryptocurrency exchanges are like the stock market. But for cryptocurrencies. Buyers and sellers offer a platform to exchange different assets valued based on current market prices.
Exchanges typically offer classic fiat-to- cryptocurrency transactions but also cross- cryptocurrency transactions. For example, on the South African currency exchange Coindirect, a client can buy bitcoin with South African rand or euros or exchange their bitcoin for Ripple’s XRP.
What are The Types of Cryptocurrency Exchanges?
There are three types of cryptocurrency exchanges:
Trading Platforms: Platforms that connect buyers with sellers.
Brokers: Platforms that sell cryptocurrencies at a price set by the broker. These are similar to the service providers that offer Forex.
Direct Trading: Platforms that offer direct peer-to-peer or peer-to-peer trading. And also, this allows users to exchange currencies around the world, and the seller and buyer decide the price.
History of Cryptocurrency Exchanges
- In 2004 three Australian-based numerical currency exchange businesses voluntarily closed down following an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
- The ASIC viewed the facilities offered as legally needful an Australian Financial Services License, which the companies lacked.
- In 2006, U.S.-based numerical currency exchange commercial Gold Age Inc., a New York state business, was shut down by the U.S. Secret Service after operating since 2002.
- Business operators Arthur Budovsky and Vladimir Kats indict “on charges of operating an illegal digital currency exchange and money transmittal business” from their apartments, transmitting more than $30 million to digital currency accounts.
- And also, customers provided limited identity certification and could transfer funds to anyone worldwide, with fees sometimes exceeding $100,000.
- Budovsky and Kats sentence in 2007 to five years in prison “for engaging in the business of transmitting money without a license, a felony violation of state banking law”, ultimately receiving sentences of five years’ probation.
- And also, a few weeks later, E-Gold confronted four indictments.
- In July 2008, E-gold’s three directors accepted a bargain with the prosecutors and pleaded guilty to one count of “conspiracy to engage in money laundering” and one count of the “operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business”.E-gold ceased operations in 2009.
- Following the launch of a devolved cryptocurrency bitcoin in 2008 and the subsequent introduction of other cryptocurrencies, many virtual platforms create to exchange decentralized cryptocurrencies. Their regulation differs from country to country.
- In February 2014, Mt. Gox, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, suspended trading, closed its website and exchange service, and filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan from creditors.
- And also, in April 2014, the company commenced liquidation proceedings.
- This resulted from a large theft of bitcoins that stole straight out of the Mt. Gox hot wallet over time, beginning in late 2011.
Advantages of Cryptocurrency Exchanges
1. Centralized
User-friendly
- Centralized exchanges offer novice investors a familiar, friendly way of trading and investment in cryptocurrencies.
- And also, as opposed to using crypto wallets and peer-to-peer transactions, which can be multifaceted, users of central exchanges can log into their accounts, view their account balances.
- And also make transactions through applications and websites.
Reliable
- Centralized exchanges offer an additional layer of security and reliability when it comes to transactions and trading.
- And also, by facilitating the deal through a developed, centralized platform, centralized exchanges offer higher comfort levels.
2. Decentralized
Mitigating hacking risk
- Users of decentralized exchanges do not essential to transmission their assets to a third party. Therefore, there is no risk of a corporation or organization being hacked and assures greater safety from hacking and theft.
Preventing market manipulation
- Due to their countryside of allowing for the peer-to-peer exchange of cryptocurrencies, devolved deals prevent market manipulation, protecting users from fake trading and wash trading.
Anonymity
- Decentralized exchanges do not need customers to fill out know-your-customer (KYC) forms, offering privacy and anonymity to users.
Disadvantages of Cryptocurrency Exchanges
1. Centralized
Hacking risk
- Centralized exchanges operate by companies that are responsible for the holdings of their customers. Large deals usually hold billions of dollars worth of bitcoin, making them aboard for hackers and theft.
- An example of such an event is Mt.Gox, which was once the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange company before it described the theft of 850,000 bitcoins, leading to its suspension.
Transaction fees
- Unlike peer-to-peer transactions, centralized exchanges often charge high transaction dues for their services and convenience, which can be especially high when trading in large amounts.
2. Decentralized
Complexity
- Users of decentralized exchanges must remember the keys and passwords to their crypto wallets, or their assets are lost forever and cannot recover.
- They require the user to learn and get familiar with the platform and the process, unlike centralized exchanges, which offer a more convenient and user-friendly operation.
Lack of fiat payments
- Decentralized exchanges do not allow for the trading of fiat currencies for digital ones, making them less convenient for users that do not already hold cryptocurrencies.
Liquidity struggles
- Some 99% of crypto transactions facilitate centralized exchanges, suggesting that they are accountable for the trading volume.
- And also, due to the lack of book, decentralized exchanges often lack liquidity, and it can be difficult to find buyers and sellers when trading volumes are low.
Conclusion
Cryptocurrency exchanges facilitate the trading of cryptocurrencies for other assets, including digital and fiat currencies.
In effect, cryptocurrency exchanges act as intermediaries between a buyer and a seller and make money through commissions and transaction fees.
Also Read: What is Petroleum Geology? – Analysis, Important, and More