Is crypto a good investment?

There is no denying that there has been a lot of buzz about cryptocurrency. The price swings are dramatic, the market cap is at an all-time high, and people are starting to wonder if they should invest in it. The reality is that it’s still precarious to invest in cryptocurrency but investing in it might be worth it.

What influences an investor’s decision?

An investor must consider several factors when making his decision, including what he needs from the investment, how soon he needs access to the money invested, how long he can leave the money invested, and what he understands about investing.

An investor’s ability to withstand a loss is also part of choosing an investment. Investors who can’t afford a loss should not invest in cryptocurrencies because they are still very volatile despite their increasing value. However, if an investor has a long-term outlook and wants to diversify his assets, the volatility might be a good thing for him. He will need to research cryptocurrency before investing, though, as it is undoubtedly different from buying shares of stock or investing in mutual funds, which have been around for hundreds of years now.

Is Cryptocurrency Safe?

As cryptocurrencies become increasingly attractive to more people, the number of hacked accounts is also increasing. Instances of cryptocurrency thefts are on the rise, with Monero (XMR) being among the most sought-after cryptos in this regard. According to a recent report by security firm Carbon Black, $1.1 billion worth MXRof was stolen by hackers last year alone, making it the preferred choice for cybercriminals who hack crypto exchanges and online wallets (more than 70% of all attacks).

Is crypto trading safe? Unfortunately, this question has no answer as far as Australia is concerned because there isn’t enough data available yet to give any conclusive response. On the one hand, an increasing number of Australians are finding crypto trading lucrative. Still, at the same time, there are reports of the country’s citizens losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in crypto trading scams. However, financial regulators have come up with some safety guidelines that investors should adhere to if they don’t want to lose money in this volatile market.

Is it possible to hack a cryptocurrency exchange?

Yes! Hackers recently succeeded in hacking the Australian Cryptocurrency Exchange (ACX) and stealing $250,000 worth of BTC from its users’ accounts. ACX was one of the first exchanges set up in Australia. However, despite receiving multiple hacks on its servers since 2013, it still hasn’t upgraded its network security system alerting many traders about the dangers associated with crypto exchanges. Only last year did ACX finally hire an IT firm -Dimension Data – to improve their cyber security system, and it remains a mystery why the firm wasn’t hired earlier. Does this beg the question: how many crypto exchanges around Australia have taken adequate precautions to fend off hackers?

Cryptocurrency theft is on the rise globally, not just in Australia, so if you plan to trade cryptos or use any of the shared network wallets such as Coinbase, Blockchain etc., you should consider taking some safety measures from your side. Use two-factor authentication whenever possible and only keep the bare minimum of funds needed for trading on an exchange. Don’t forget to transfer all profits made daily into your offline wallet (preferably hardware).

One thing worth noting here is that even with advanced cybersecurity systems in place, such as ACX, hackers can still slip through and steal funds from an exchange. This is why it is always recommended to use a reliable hardware wallet such as Ledger Nano S or Trezor for storing cryptos because these wallets offer third party protection against hacks.

Another critical aspect of cyber security that beginner traders should consider is the kind of emails they regularly receive. Crypto trading firms have been targeted by phishing scams recently. Hackers have successfully stolen thousands of dollars from newbie investors by tricking them into clicking on shady links related to this industry.

Finally

If you’re new to trading, it’s always advisable to use a trusted online platform and broker, like the tools offered by Saxo Markets. They offer a free demo account where you can practice the trade without any real-money risks.