Does Bitcoin Harm the Environment?

Published on: 21 August 2021 Last Updated on: 21 February 2023

One of the biggest concerns surrounding cryptocurrency, in general, is the impact that they have on the environment. In a world that is already struggling to catch up with the expectations that previous generations set, how much of an impact does Bitcoin make in the long term?

Bitcoin Mining and Energy

Bitcoin mining involves using a high-powered computer to solve a huge amount of cryptographic puzzles and problems, awarding bitcoins to the miner who operates that computer. This is a core part of how Bitcoin works and is also used to keep the blockchain behind it functioning.

However, since computers need to become stronger and stronger to satisfy these requirements, they also need more power. Dedicated ‘rigs’ have been built that are focused on nothing but mining bitcoin, which consumes even more power at a faster rate.

Over the last two years, Bitcoin mining caused an extreme spike in emissions, producing more than some countries would in the same length of time. While this is not an acceptable level, it also is not impossible to fix, and many people are already working on solutions.

Renewable Energy

Bitcoin mining has already begun to switch to renewable energy, with around 40% already having changed over. This does not sound like much, but it means that 40% of Bitcoin miners are using energy that is not going to pump CO2 into the atmosphere.

This switch has helped a lot, but there is still more progress to be made. Until a massive proportion of Bitcoin mining is done with renewable energy, it will keep contributing to pollution and climate change.

Elon Musk and Bitcoin

While many people associated Elon Musk with Bitcoin, part of his reason for distancing Tesla from the currency was the Bitcoin environmental impact. Bitcoin had begun to create so much pollution that Musk actively suspended purchases using it, moving on to other cryptocurrencies instead.

Considering that this came only a few weeks after he had announced buying almost $2 billion of Bitcoin, it was a surprising change, but one that made sense. However, Tesla has been open about the fact that they will return to using Bitcoin once it is more sustainable.

The Future of Bitcoin

Many people who are new to crypto often assume that Bitcoin means ‘cryptocurrency,’ even though there are plenty of other crypto options out there. This has led a lot of people to assume that every kind of crypto is just as risky, even though some are purpose-made to use sustainable options.

This even includes Bitcoin itself, in some cases. The president of El Salvador tweeted about the state-owned geothermal power company using volcanos to create clean mining energy shortly after accepting it as a legal tender. This is meant to help keep Bitcoin circulating without those downsides.

Bitcoin is not going away any time soon, but it will not return to the same level of popularity until it is cleaned up a bit. However, this also means that the price is lower now – people who are adopting sustainable mining options ahead of time will have plenty of Bitcoin before the next big spike.

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Embedded Finance In Online Businesses: The Role Of Account Top-Ups And Currency Exchange

Ever wondered how you can instantly top-up your business account or exchange currency without leaving your favorite online platform? No, it's not magic—it's embedded finance. This revolutionary approach is changing the way online businesses operate, making financial transactions smoother, quicker, and more integrated than ever before. Let's dive into what embedded finance is and explore its role in account top-ups and currency exchange. What Is Embedded Finance? Embedded finance is the seamless integration of financial services directly within a non-financial platform or application. Imagine being able to perform all your banking needs—like topping up your account or exchanging currency—right within the app or website you're already using for your business. No need to juggle multiple tabs or apps; it's all there, integrated into your existing workflow. Why Is It Important? In today's fast-paced world, efficiency is key. Businesses are always looking for ways to streamline operations and improve the customer experience. Embedded finance does just that by eliminating the need to switch between different platforms for financial transactions. This not only saves time but also reduces the chances of errors, making life easier for both businesses and their customers. Functioning Of The Embedded Finance In this section, we try to understand about the emergence of embedded finance. So let's get started with the discussion. In order to develop an idea of the functioning of embedded finance, an individual has to understand the key shifts which are driving it. Shift To E-Commerce The digitization of commodes has opened the pathway for embedded finance. This is because the business integrates these financial services within their digital platforms as a section of customer experience. Various E-commerce businesses like branded credit cards, NPL financing tets, and rewards programs help increase sales. The on-demand platforms provide digital wallet payments to woo the attention of consumers. The Advances In Integrating Technology The fast development of integrating financial services into non-monetary platforms helped it become workable or scalable. The digital onboarding real-time data connections have enabled authenticated transactions. The API has enabled the Software as a service and subscription services to add the required flexibility in payment options. The APIs have also incorporated in-app invoicing, lines of credit, and business users. Consumer Expectation Consumers are the king in a perfectly competitive market. They are more comfortable with the nontraditional providers for the financial services. It is driven by the streamlined experience and the search for convenience. The systems within their limits are trying to become the streamlined experience. The ubiquity of smartphones, commerce, digital banking, and e-commerce has enabled changes in digital banking. It has helped bring about the change in the entire system of services. The Last Shift Is Reaching The Unreserved. Some argue that embedding finance into daily transactions can ease the acces to financial products. Some others opine that integrating embedded technology could bring about huge changes in services, such as ride-sharing transactions. It makes the services easier. The Convenience Of Account Top-Ups The Old Way Vs. The New Way Remember the days when topping up your business account meant logging into a separate banking portal, filling out tedious forms, and waiting for confirmation? Those days are long gone, thanks to embedded finance. Now, you can top-up your account with just a few clicks, right within the platform you're already using for your business operations. Real-world Use Cases - Uber: Drivers can top-up their accounts within the app, allowing for immediate cash-outs and a smoother financial experience. - Airbnb: Hosts can easily top-up their accounts for quicker payouts, all without leaving the platform. Benefits Of Embedded Account Top-Ups - Speed and Efficiency: No more waiting for bank confirmations. Top-ups are instant, letting you focus on what matters—your business. - Reduced Friction: By integrating financial services into existing platforms, embedded finance eliminates the need to navigate multiple apps or websites. - Enhanced Customer Loyalty: When you make life easier for your customers or users, they're more likely to stick around. The Flexibility of Currency Exchange Traditional Currency Exchange Woes Gone are the days when exchanging currency meant a trip to the bank, standing in long queues, and dealing with complex fee structures. Traditional methods often come with hidden charges and are time-consuming, making it a hassle for businesses that operate internationally. Real-world Use Cases - Shopify: Sellers can easily exchange currencies right within their dashboard, making it simpler to manage international transactions. - Revolut: Offers in-app currency exchange at competitive rates, allowing users to switch between currencies without leaving the app. Advantages of Embedded Currency Exchange - Cost-Effectiveness: Say goodbye to exorbitant fees. Embedded finance often offers more competitive rates, saving you money in the long run. - Real-Time Exchange Rates: No more refreshing your browser to get the latest rates. Embedded finance solutions provide real-time information, so you always get the best deal. - Simplified International Business Operations: Managing a business that operates in multiple countries? Embedded currency exchange makes it easier to handle transactions in different currencies, all within a single platform. Regulatory And Compliance Aspects While the convenience and efficiency of embedded finance are undeniable, it's essential to note that these services also come with built-in compliance features. This means you don't have to worry about navigating the complex landscape of financial regulations—most of it is taken care of within the platform itself. Future Trends As technology continues to evolve, so will the capabilities of embedded finance. Shortly, we can expect even more streamlined services, particularly in the areas of account top-ups and currency exchange. Whether it's instant cross-border payments or even more competitive exchange rates, the sky's the limit for how embedded finance will continue to revolutionize the online business landscape. Conclusion Embedded finance is not just a convenience; it's a game-changer for online businesses. From the ease of account top-ups to the flexibility of currency exchange, this integrated approach to financial services is making business operations smoother and more efficient than ever before. If you're in the online business space, now's the time to consider how embedded finance could benefit you. By understanding and leveraging the power of embedded finance, you're not just staying ahead of the curve—you're shaping the future of online business. Read Also: Things You Need To Know About Online Statistics Studies What To Think About When Making A Name For Your Business How You Can Grow Your Small Business By Taking Help From Crypto

Features To Ensure Success Of Your Money Saving Service

We all have plans and dreams. Nonetheless, to implement them we need financial resources. Todays’ advanced technologies offer a solution to collect the sum we need. So, we shall discuss how to design a great saving application to help people build their dreams into reality, and how you as an owner can succeed as well. Interested? Let’s get down to business. Functionalities a money-saving platform should provide Let’s explore what parameters are critical for users. # Profiles It’s pretty obvious that, first of all, a person downloads an app and sets up a personal profile. Try to keep those processes simple and straightforward. People shall fill in a certain form to specify some information, including the financial one. It’s okay if the account activation takes some time since all customers’ details must be processed and verified carefully. We’re dealing with money issues, thus, everything shall be checked adequately. # Bank account involvement A budget framework shall allow the audience to connect their bank accounts. Here the trick is for app owners to cooperate with multiple financial facilities to make such a feature available for every individual. Moreover, it would be amazing if you also find some solutions for those persons who have no bank accounts and who choose other ways to manage their finances. That approach will enlarge your target audience. # Possibility to set several goals Setting goals is a pretty fascinating aspect of an online money resource. Let’s assume that a person starts applying an online system to save some funds and enforce ceratin plans that demand specific monetary investments. It could be anything, say, university fees or vacations. Thus, a user takes advantage of a financial program and sets a goal to implement a particular plan he/she has. If you want to create a successful app, you shall allow your people to name that plan, put deadlines if it’s required, provide a brief description, etc. That’s how a saving procedure starts. In most cases, customers have the following goal variants: travel; vacations; gifts purchasing; nest egg for a rainy day; others. Clients will appreciate not being limited to implement only one plan at a time, so individuals shall be free to set multiple goals to realize their desires. Speaking about allocating funds to specific goals, you could provide a few options here. The thing is that some users would prefer to take the total withdrawing sum and divide it equally between all current plans, while others would rather specify how much money specifically shall be sent to each goal. Just remember to keep your money-saving application customizable. And after a person manages to save the sum he/she put as a target, budget software shall stop allocating funds to that particular goal, however, the money shall still get sent to other ongoing plans, if any. # Withdrawal options Every decent money manager platform shall ensure that its customers can withdraw cash from their accounts when they need to. Moreover, no-fee and no-commission policy will be highly appreciated. Additionally, it would be a brilliant idea to give your people several options to withdraw money. Let’s say, chatbots could be one of the tools. Still, the audience needs to be patient, since the processing of such transactions is time-consuming, meaning, individuals will have to wait for the funds to get returned to their main accounts at their requests. However, you could offer specific options for those who can’t wait: say, you might impose a $1 charge to make transfers instant. It’s your call. # Overdraft-proof Your clients shall not worry about possible overdrafts, thus, think carefully about how you could protect their accounts. You could ask users to determine the amount of money that must remain on their accounts at any time. In such a way, an online financial service won’t be able to take the money, in case that indicated mark is already reached. Nevertheless, if some technical issues occur and a money-saving framework withdraws too much, a specific algorithm shall be launched to refund the difference and reimburse all overdraft fees. Make sure you discuss those options with the development team you hire. # Unique features Nowadays, you can find a great variety of diverse financial resources, thus, your objective is to come up with one-of-a-kind parameters to differ from others. Here’s an idea for you. The reality is that many people have to pay off their debts. Of course, they can simply borrow the amount they need, but it’s better to have several options to deal with those issues. Besides bank loans, people can also resource to online money-saving systems. Your program can help people deal with their debts. Clients can set specific debt settlement goals, attaching their credit cards to your platform. The process could be completely automated, and a specified amount will be allocated to pay creditors. If you impose special conditions, you can help your customers repay debts faster. Think about it. Of course, you can brainstorm more to generate other great unique features to bring a wider audience. # Smart notifications Individuals will enjoy the possibility to communicate with an application they use, and text messages will do the magic. Clients need to know their accounts’ statuses, moreover, the messaging notification system can update users on any important news. The audience might want to set the service to receive requests to write off funds, and more. Additionally, people could use particular code words to launch certain activities. Just be creative, don’t limit yourself, and you’ll find multiple ways to assist your customers making them happy. There’s one more aspect we’d like to discover this time. Benefits a saving app shall provide Every app shall serve to resolve certain problems people have. The below-mentioned ideas are for you to keep the audience pleased with your online solution: Special bonuses. Why not offer your active users certain bonuses, say, a 2% annual bonus? That would be a nice touch of yours. Chatbot assistance. A person might need some financial advice, so think about how chatbots could help with that. Setting numerous goals. As we’ve mentioned earlier, that would be a great idea, since it’ll improve customers’ online experience. Automatized processes. It’s in your hands to help clients enjoy the saving process: let them stipulate the amount to put aside and make your framework to take care of the rest. Regular updates. Don’t allow your audience to feel lost, not knowing what’s happening with their accounts. Update them constantly. Referral bonuses. You could be grateful to people who bring new users to your program by giving them, say, $10 or so. Keep it simple. Individuals will really enjoy your application if it is user-oriented and appealing. Web interface. Some people would rather prefer web resources, so consider developing it as well. We believe our hints and tips will help you consider key aspects of money-saving system development to build a successful and credible service. Read Also: How to Become Financially Stable Before Age 30 How to use IT to Save Your Business Money The Importance Of Saving: The Bedrock of a Bright Financial Future

Bankruptcy Means Test: Why It Matters?

Bankruptcy means a test is done to determine who can file for chapter 7 bankruptcy. The means test considers everything while determining your current position to pay your debt to the creditors. It goes through your income, expenditure, assets, and family members. The means test was designed to reduce the number of debtors willing to get their debts erased. It has been seen that most of the debtors who have applied for the means test have passed. Those people who cannot qualify for chapter 7 or want to keep their assets to themselves can apply for chapter 13 bankruptcy. How Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Works? Applying for chapter 7 can be an expensive and lengthy process. The means test helps the government clarify who is eligible for chapter 7. The Means Test has two parts. Both parts are designed to see through your income and assets and determine the current financial standing. You have to apply for the Means Test only for the primary consumer debts like medical debt or credit card debts. You do not have to apply for this test if your debt is related to business loans. First Part The part of the Means Test determines whether your house income is below the state's median income. The means test starts gathering information about your income, expenses, and assets. These data are mostly collected from the past six months. However, there have been cases where this six months time duration can be changed. After all the reports, if it is being found out that your income is below the median income, you will qualify the Means Test. In a report made by the US government in 2013, more than 12% of the debtors were able to qualify the Means test in the first stage. Second Part The second part consists of going through all your expenses. These expenses consist of everything you pay for, starting from paying your utility bills, grocery bills to the travel expenses and education expenses. Out of all the expenses, only the allowable expenses are considered to be used by you. Other expenses that are not necessary are used to pay off your debts. While you document the list of expenses, be thorough about the things you add to the list. Remember, those expenses will decide whether your petition will be accepted or not. Allowable expenses are based on the local and national standards used by the IRS. The national list covers items like food and clothing, and local items cover housing expenses and car payments. You need to work carefully to ensure that all your expenses are thoroughly documented. What's Next After You Qualify for the Means Test? Passing the means test means you have the green light to apply a petition for chapter 7 bankruptcy. Once your petition is accepted, most of the unsecured debts will be forgiven. That does not mean that this will be the best route for you. There are also chapter 13 bankruptcy that might give more advantage over chapter 7 in many cases. Chapter 13 will help you put a hold on all your debts, mortgages, overdue loans, and bank taxes. What Will Happen After You Fail The Test? Once you fail the Means Test, there are no more appeals for a certain period. You can apply for the chapter, or you can wait for the cooldown time to apply again for the means test. We have already mentioned that the Means Test goes through all your financial income and expenditure in the last six months. That means, after a failed attempt at the Means Test, you can apply again after six months. However, if you do not intend to apply for the Means Test again in the future, you will be restricted to chapter 13 and will have to pay off your debt based on the chapter 13 provision. The Bottom Line Is it really hard to apply for a loan after bankruptcy? Well, you can say more than hard; it is more complex. You first need to qualify the Means Test, and then only you can apply for chapter 7. It is better to have an attorney while you are managing legal documentation. Read Also: 8 Simple Tips To Pay Off Your Loans Faster 5 Must-Have Long-Term Goals for A Secure Future What are the types of debt that can be discharged in bankruptcy? Using Short-Term Loans to Help Rebuild Your Credit Score

Does Bitcoin Harm the Environment?

Bitcoin Mining and Energy

Renewable Energy

Elon Musk and Bitcoin

The Future of Bitcoin

HOW TO EXCHANGE BITCOINS AND OTHER COINS ON BINARYX?

Private Money Lenders – Here Is Why This Is A Great Alternative For Your New Business

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Embedded Finance In Online Businesses: The Role Of Account Top-Ups And Currency Exchange

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Does Bitcoin Harm the Environment?

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HOW TO EXCHANGE BITCOINS AND OTHER COINS ON BINARYX?

Private Money Lenders – Here Is Why This Is A Great Alternative For Your New Business

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related