Bitcoin

How Bitcoin is Promoting Financial Inclusion in Africa

Published

5 years ago

January 4, 2018

Global interest in bitcoin is rising steadily with both institutional and private investors keen to generate a high return on investment from the rally that the digital currency has been witnessing since the beginning of the year. However, there is also a substantial amount of interest coming from the developing world where people are looking to acquire bitcoin to provide them with access to the global financial system.

Though bitcoin is giving investors the opportunity to make large amounts of profits, it has a unique set of characteristics that make it well suited to meet the needs of people in counties where there are barriers to financial services.

Banking the Un(der)Banked

People in developing regions such as Africa may be unable to access services from established financial institutions. This is because financial institutions, such as banks, are required to operate under strict guidelines when it comes to the information they need from their customers. However, in many African countries, most people are unable to meet the customer onboarding requirements that banks have.

In countries experiencing political turmoil, it may be difficult for people to have access to their official documents due to a number of reasons. Displacement caused by political violence leads to loss of official identification. In addition, it is difficult to get a replacement because government services generally undergo a slump or a total stop during unstable times. This is a challenge as these are usually the same papers that banks and other financial institutions need in order to set up bank accounts.

Africa’s unbanked and underbanked are using bitcoin to mitigate this challenge. Bitcoin and other decentralised digital currencies are helping to give Africans access to financial services without the need to go through established financial institutions. This is because access to bitcoin is very simple in comparison to banks and other financial institutions. All that is required is a simple smartphone and access to the Internet and anyone can become their own bank.

In some counties, such as Nigeria, people are able to use bitcoin to purchase things online that would otherwise be unavailable to them. The country has laws regarding limits placed on foreign purchases. Currently, Nigerians can only make foreign transaction up to $100 per month using bank cards. Using bitcoin, on the other hand, people are able to overcome this obstacle since there are a number of retailers who now accept the cryptocurrency. All they need to do is buy bitcoin through an exchange and use their bitcoin wallet to gain access to the global market.

An Alternative Store of Value

In addition to facilitating access to purchasing things on a global scale, bitcoin is also giving people control over their finances. Many Africans do not have bank accounts because they lack faith in financial institutions. There is a belief that bank accounts are not trustworthy. Bitcoin is allowing people to store their money in such a way that they have complete control over it. Since the blockchain is decentralised, there is no central authority that controls the money. This removes a substantial amount of fear that is associated with storing money.

Bitcoin is also helping to provide a viable currency alternative in countries where there is financial turmoil. Zimbabwe, which is facing high levels of hyperinflation, has experienced a surge in people looking to acquire, as well as use, the cryptocurrency. This is because bitcoin can be used to facilitate international trade when there is cash shortage, which is exactly what has been happening in Zimbabwe over the past twelve months.

Moreover, Zimbabweans are using bitcoin to hedge themselves against the ever-soaring levels of inflation. They can purchase whatever amount of bitcoin that they can afford to and hold it thus ensuring the value of their money stays the same as opposed to keeping it in the country’s new legal tender, the Zimbabwean bond notes, which has been losing value since its introduction in late 2016. In addition, since the value of the cryptocurrency has been growing, people are also able to turn a profit on their bitcoin holdings.

Bitcoin is allowing people to have access to the global financial system when they are unable or unwilling to use the traditional financial services that are around them. This is giving many people the chance to participate on a global level as well as grow their net worth.

This article was published in cooperation with Paxful.

Bitcoin

How Often Is Crypto Really Used In Illegal Activity?

Published

3 years ago

March 4, 2020

Guest Contributor

Statistics, examples, and ways to legally use cryptocurrency

October 1, 2013, was a turbulent day for San Francisco Public Library. A dozen FBI agents pretending to be usual visitors surrounded a man sitting at one of the tables, took his laptop and put a pair of handcuffs on his hands. That man was Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road – the largest darknet marketplace for drug dealers, killers, and other criminals. The seizure of Ulbricht was supposed to tackle the illegal online trade, but, as the news site DeepDotWeb wrote, the bust was “the best advertising the darknet markets could have hoped for”. The reputation of cryptocurrency also suffers from associations with terrorists, who sometimes use it for their needs. How big is the real scale of the problem? And how many legal ways to use crypto exist? ChangeNOW has dived into the topic – and suggests you an overview of the current state of the problem.

Highlights:

The drugs trade volume using cryptocurrency is relatively large
Crypto was a significant reason why a part of drug sales migrated to the web, though stays yet not viable and anonymous enough for dealers (same as for terrorists)
As efficient use of blockchain technology requires good infrastructure, crypto remains not suitable enough for many terrorist groups
However, some terrorists are trying to adjust to anonymity threats and hold fundraising in crypto
Legal ways to use cryptocurrency include dozens and vary from IT services to car rentals

Crypto & Drugs & Rock’n’Roll

The total volume of the online drug market using cryptocurrency is around $1 billion. It is located in the darknet, which provides an attractive, profitable, and mostly secure environment for drug dealers. Cryptocurrency, in turn, allows making payments that are hard to be tracked by authorities. This is how blockchain technology has helped to bring a big part of drug sales online from the streets. And it’s not only about drugs themselves – many legal opioid drugs are illegally sold here, too.

However, cryptocurrency is not always as secure and anonymous as it is thought to be. The information about any transaction ever made stays forever in the blockchain, which makes the system way more transparent than cash payments. This is a significant limitation for using crypto in illegal purposes.

According to the University of Technology Sydney, about 46% of criminal activity of each year is connected to Bitcoin. As for the drug sale itself, trade volumes in crypto keep rising, but the percent of Bitcoin drug transactions out of all transactions goes down. This means Bitcoin is more frequently used for legitimate purposes.

What cryptocurrency is used for drug sales most often? Surprisingly, privacy coins such as Monero are used only for 4% of transactions. Due to its pioneer position, Bitcoin is used in 76% of all deals despite all its anonymity risks.

The main problem for drug dealers using crypto is to turn their income into cash. This move remains complicated and insecure. Most cryptocurrency exchanges have instruments to define whether a transaction is coming from a suspicious source like the darknet. The rise of Monero use in the online drug market will hinder such tracking. However, for the reasons listed above, crypto is unlikely to completely replace regular cash in drug sales in the foreseeable future.

Cryptoterrorism

The views on how much cryptocurrency is used and will be used by terrorists vary widely. While some claim that terrorists have no infrastructure to use it and the methods are not secure enough, others argue that they are learning fast and adjust to crypto rapidly. Let’s see what both sides say.

Not actively using, unclear future

Lack of appropriate infrastructure, inability to use crypto. Most terrorist groups settle in the Middle East region, especially on its remote and war-torn territories. The vast majority of roads and technological infrastructure have been destroyed. In such circumstances, cash remains the most common and convenient way to pay and fundraise. Imagine a gun seller in a Syrian village – does it look like he has a tool to accept Monero?

Anonymity threats. Given the relative transparency of blockchain mentioned above, crypto might remain too unsafe for terrorists. Miners can see any potential terrorist money exchange while checking transactions, and it’s not too hard to see who sends them money. It can change with the rising use rate of privacy coins, but the ability to spend such money remains questionable.

Increased attention to crypto by the authorities. As the number of transactions keeps rising, more regulatory bodies’ attention gets focused on cryptocurrency, which apparently makes terrorists nervous and cautious.

Problems of specific currencies. While top cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin receive much regulatory attention, others remain marginal and unreliable because of a lack of support. Conflicts and uncertainty lower the trust to such cryptocurrencies – yes, even terrorists’ trust.

Using actively now, increasingly in the future

Terrorists seem to be rapidly learning to escape from tracking in blockchain. Several years ago it was easy to find any address or transaction made for a terrorists’ fundraiser. Today they use well organized and finely designed websites, where detailed video tutorials show how to donate money anonymously. Unique Bitcoin addresses and other crypto tricks are used to preserve security. Analysts from intelligence services claim there’s only going to be more such cases. And, of course, privacy coins are a “great opportunity” for terrorists too.

Shift to cryptocurrency is a reaction to economic sanctions. ISIS has lost most of its territory and resources, Hamas has been sanctioned by the West. Having been cut off from all main financial institutes, terrorist groups had to find other pathways for their financial activities – and cryptocurrency appeared to be the best substitute.

There might be difficulties and inconveniences, and the number of terrorists using crypto is yet unknown – but as we can see, digital money in terrorism is reality. Same as in drugs. And this is what cryptocurrency is notorious for, lacking trust among millions of people. The reputation of some of the exchange services only adds to this mistrust – ChangeNOW has carried out a special investigation on how such platforms may cheat their clients. But can you buy anything besides heroin and firearms with your crypto? What about pizza or a concert ticket?

Only Antarctica left

Cryptwerk, a platform monitoring actual use cases of different cryptocurrencies, says there are about 3500 ways to spend Bitcoin and more than 800 for Monero today. They range from music services to car rentals, from buying clothes to hotel booking services, and from sports bets to virtual tours.

Organizations accepting cryptocurrency are located on all continents besides Antarctica (what could be a better place for crypto than a continent without governments and countries though?). Mostly, in the USA and Central Europe. Bitcoin as the largest cryptocurrency is relatively widespread in India and Southeast Asia.

As this is a whole another topic, ChangeNOW will issue a post dedicated to use cases of cryptocurrencies. As it will be more detailed, who knows – maybe you’ll find a pizza right by that you could pay for from your crypto wallet!

This article was contributed by Jeremy from ChangeNow.

Bitcoin

Buroka Review: How to Buy Bitcoin on Nigeria’s Newest Bitcoin Exchange

Published

3 years ago

February 27, 2020

Olanrewaju Joshua

Buroka is a new breed of cryptocurrency exchange for Africa! Currently operating in Nigeria, Buroka was designed to fulfill the needs of modern Africans. Buroka allows customers to buy and sell Bitcoin with Naira via Local Transfers and cash deposits at the bank. In this Buroka review, you will learn more about the exchange and how you can use it to buy bitcoin in Nigeria.

How to Buy Bitcoin on Buroka

Step 1: Account Creation

To create an account, visit Buroka.com and hit the “Register” button. This will lead you to a page where you will be asked to fill in your personal information, including your name, email address, and password. Like any other serious exchange, Boruka will ask you for your ID, Proof of Address, and to take a selfie with your ID to eliminate fraud.

Step 2: Fund Your Account

Funding your account on the platform is straightforward. You can deposit either via bank transfer or at any bank branch. Make sure to use a unique reference code given to you by Buroka deposit system.

Step 3: Buying and Selling BTC

Once your deposit has been credited to your account you can immediately buy your Bitcoin. The buying and selling tab is located on the top right corner of the dashboard. There you can input the amount of bitcoin you want to buy. Once you do that, you then click on the “BUY BTC” button.

Step 4: Storing Your BTC

After buying BTC, Buroka provides users with the option of either storing bitcoin on the platform in a BitGo wallet or any other wallet of their choice.

Currently, Buroka only supports bitcoin (BTC). However, the exchange plans to include other cryptocurrencies going forward.

Security

Buroka exchange makes use of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). 2FA provides an extra layer of protection for users. With the 2FA in place, an extra piece of information is needed before login into the platform or making any withdrawals.

In addition, Buroka’s platform is also protected using the latest security technology, including web-socket and API protocols that allow for a fast and secure order processing. Buroka also makes use of a well-updated SSL certificate, which makes it easy to detect a phishing attempt.

To further ensure that clients’ funds are secure, Buroka operates segregated accounts. These accounts are held with trusted banks so that clients can enjoy an extra layer of security provided by the banking system.

Conclusion

Buroka is a relatively new Bitcoin exchange with a well-designed, user-friendly interface. The Bitcoin trading platform provides several deposit options, which is attractive for Nigerian Bitcoin traders, as well as competitive market rates for both buyers and sellers.

If you are looking to buy or sell bitcoin in Nigeria, you can give Buroka a try.

Bitcoin

3 Reasons to Use a Bitcoin Mixer in 2020

Published

3 years ago

February 14, 2020

Elisha Owusu Akyaw

Bitcoin is not as anonymous as people think. Bitcoin transactions are viewable on the network’s public blockchain, which also means that transactions can be linked to real-world identities. As a result, bitcoin is not (yet) fungible and does not protect individuals’ financial sovereignty as much as it should. Fortunately, there is something called a bitcoin mixer that enables bitcoin users to increase their financial privacy.

In this guide, you will learn what bitcoin mixers are and why you should consider using them.

How Anonymous Are Regular Bitcoin Transactions?

Regular bitcoin transactions are not anonymous. Bitcoin addresses are pseudonymous. They do not reveal your identity as a user but can be linked to your identity.

For instance, most exchanges require you to verify your identity with legal identification (ID) documents. In a situation where you withdraw funds from an exchange into your wallet, your identity can be linked to that wallet, and all your linked transactions could be tracked.

Blockchain analysis companies can use information from your linkable transactions to track how many bitcoins you own, what you spend your coins on, and who you transact with. If you are conscious about your privacy, you might need a bitcoin mixer.

What is a Bitcoin Mixer?

A bitcoin mixer allows you to mix your coins with other users. This obscures the ties between your personal identity and bitcoin transactions.

The end goal of a bitcoin mixing service is to create a misleading trail of transactions that makes it difficult to track your transactions. This is achieved by breaking down your bitcoin into smaller parts and then mixing them with coins from other transactions.

Most bitcoin mixers are non-custodial, run on the Tor network, and do not keep records of users after a couple of hours.

Why Do People Use Bitcoin Mixers?

The primary reason for using a bitcoin mixer is to increase transactional privacy. You may not want “the whole world” to be able to see what you are doing with your bitcoin. Through the use of a mixing service, you can achieve that despite Bitcoin’s public blockchain.

Moreover, there are a number of other reasons why you should consider using a bitcoin mixer. They include:

Your Transactions Reveal Personal Finance Information

Every time you send bitcoin to or receive bitcoin from an individual, the other party gains some information about your bitcoin holdings.

For example, if you have ten bitcoin in your wallet and you send two to another person. The individual who received the bitcoin now has access to your bitcoin address, which allows them to check your balance on the blockchain.

In some cases, by analyzing your inputs and outputs, they can predict other addresses you own, giving them more information about your finances and transactions you have done in the past. Mixers can prevent this. The mixer breaks the connection between addresses in your wallet by creating transactions that make it difficult for blockchain analysts to track.

Based on the example above, if you use a coin mixing service to send out the coins, the receiver can still check the blockchain to verify the transaction but will be unable to track your old transactions and find your bitcoin address.

Blockchain Analysis Companies Are Watching

Over the years, blockchain analysis companies have been established to track transactions and monitor the Bitcoin blockchain. These groups have resources to probe deeper into transactions, with some going as far as connecting IP addresses to bitcoin transactions.

Further, cryptocurrency exchange verification is required by regulators to keep an eye on how individuals use their bitcoin. This means that exchanges can still trace your transactions after you have purchased bitcoin.

Bitcoin mixers allow you to detach connections between your initial receiving address and other transactions you make. This can prevent companies from gathering data about you, which it would otherwise share with (or sell to) third parties.

To Prevent Censorship

Money has become a tool used to fund political groups and operations. In authoritarian regimes, where the financial system is highly monitored by the ruling government, critics or opposition groups may opt for bitcoin.

To ensure complete privacy while using bitcoin, such groups will require bitcoin mixing platforms. Without increased transaction privacy, these groups risk losing support in situations where the state begins to target individuals funding them by tracking their transactions on the blockchain.

This allows bitcoin to be used as a tool for freedom of speech and expression.

If you want to mix your coins to protect your financial sovereignty as a bitcoin user, check out Bitcoin Mixer.