Cryptocurrencies have been available to the general public for about a decade, but their widespread adoption is a recent phenomenon. Various people have begun to invest in one of the many digital coins that are now accessible. Mining, the act of making these coins, is restricted to computer geeks who use powerful computers to solve difficult mathematical equations in order to create virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, the oldest and most popular of them all. The blockchain technology that underpins these coins, which is based on the concept of decentralisation, is critical to their long-term viability and security.

How does cryptocurrency work and how is its value determined?

To get this, we must first understand how a cryptocurrency differs from a fiat currency (Indian Rupee, US Dollar, etc.). The most significant distinction is that fiat currency is supported by governments and declared legal tender. Its worth is derived from the fact that two parties in a transaction place their faith in it. Most countries use a fiat currency system, in which central banks and monetary reserves regulate money supply and, as a result, indirectly regulate inflation.

Governments do not regulate cryptocurrency; it is decentralized. They are yet to be accepted as legal tender in the majority of countries. Cryptocurrencies will also often have a fixed supply, making inflationary devaluation improbable.

Aside from that, they share a lot of similarities. Both may be used to buy goods and services, and they both have a relative store of worth.

Cryptocurrency public ledger

Every bitcoin transaction is automatically recorded in a decentralized ledger that is not controlled or influenced by a single party. Cryptography secures all transactions, which may be viewed by anybody at any time from any location.

Count of cryptocurrency nodes

The number of active wallets on the network is measured by the node count. It is a reliable indicator of a cryptocurrency's worth. To determine whether a currency's price is fair or overbought, look up the node count and total m-cap (market cap) of the cryptocurrency, then compare the two indicators to other cryptocurrencies. The number of nodes also indicates the strength of a bitcoin community; more nodes indicate stronger communities.

Exchanges for cryptocurrencies

In India, a person can learn about cryptocurrencies by visiting an online exchange such as WazirX or Binance. There you may get all the information you need about a cryptocurrency, including its market capitalization, performance over the last few weeks and months, total money in circulation, and current and historical worth. Various cryptocurrency coins can also be traded for a fee on these exchanges, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Dogecoin.

Calculating the value of a cryptocurrency

The demand for a cryptocurrency coin is the most effective approach to determine its price. The value of a digital coin will rise due to high demand from buyers. In contrast, if a cryptocurrency has a large token supply but little demand, its value will plummet. The level of token utility — that is, how valuable the token is — is another element that influences the price of a crypto coin. A complicated mining method would make increasing the coin's supply more difficult, putting upward pressure on the price when demand is high.

Adoption in large numbers

The value of a crypto coin can skyrocket if more individuals invest in it. These virtual currencies are still a long way from being widely adopted. Why? Because they are related with real-world issues. One, they cannot be exchanged as extensively as fiat currency for goods and services. For these digital currency to obtain widespread adoption, their utility must rise, and the transaction must appear to be profitable to the buyer.

Volatility in prices

The bitcoin market is still very young, and many people are unfamiliar with it. The characteristics of new marketplaces make them inherently unpredictable. Then there are the whale accounts, which store a high amount of bitcoin currencies and manipulate markets in order to profit.