Digital Assets Capable of Shaking up the Financial Industry

Crypto Currencies- As an investor and founder of a real estate company, I firmly believe that real estate is the most solid investment.

However, this past decade has seen cryptocurrencies rise from relatively unknown fringe currencies to headline-hitting digital assets. They are capable of shaking up the financial industry. It is speculative but extremely exciting. This is its appeal.

These currencies have recently become one of the most valuable assets on the planet. Experts predict that coming years could continue to see their usage surge.

But while this is great news for investors, the rise of cryptocurrency isn’t completely without its downsides. 

One of the key problems of cryptocurrencies lies in the environmental impact that digital transactions have. The process of mining for bitcoin is particularly energy-intensive. This is due to the complex mathematical calculations that must be completed to create each and every new bitcoin.

Consider this on a global scale, and you might be surprised to hear that the amount of power needed to deal in cryptocurrencies is similar to that of a small country.

With concern over the environmental impact of cryptocurrencies growing, increasing numbers of investors are looking for new ways to enjoy the benefits of digital currencies in more eco-friendly ways.

Of course, no two cryptocurrencies are the same. This extends to the environmental impact of the currencies too.

Here we have looked at the most environmentally-friendly cryptocurrencies available today. We are focusing on what experts are doing to limit the ecological damage that they might cause.

What is Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency refers to forms of digital or virtual currencies which are based in the art of cryptography. Cryptography uses highly complex encryption algorithms. They are designed to be incredibly secure, with virtually no chance of counterfeiting. These digital assets are resistant to inflation and easily portable.

Bitcoin is perhaps the most famous form of cryptocurrency. It is the first decentralized cryptocurrency, Bitcoin was launched in 2009. The developer behind it is known as Satoshi Nakamoto, but this is a pseudonym.

In fact, the real identity of its creator remains somewhat of a mystery. Several high profile scientists claim that they were behind the world-famous digital currency.


The Difference Between Cryptocurrency and Blockchain

Terms like cryptocurrency and blockchain are often used interchangeably.

They actually have quite different meanings. Blockchain is the very technology that cryptocurrencies rely on. It forms the basis of some of the best-known digital currencies in the world, such as Bitcoin.

Bitcoin isn’t the only currency that uses blockchain technology, of course. Many virtual assets rely on this digital ledger. Using cryptography, blockchain links a huge list of records, which have since become known as blocks.

The information in each block can never be altered, because every block is linked through the data held within it. It’s this incredibly robust level of security which has led to blockchain-based currencies becoming so popular.

The Growing Popularity of Cryptocurrencies

As cryptocurrencies have become more widely known, they have begun to be recognized by more organizations across the world. This recognition has led to spiraling interest in the digital currencies, and a rapid rise in their value.

Tesla CEO and Chairman Elon Musk recently announced that the company’s electric cars could be bought using Bitcoin.

This Bitcoin would then be held by the company, rather than being immediately converted into a traditional currency. The announcement caused a huge surge in interest, and a significant rise in the value of the currency itself.

Interest in cryptocurrencies remains high. Experts are predicting a steady rise for many of the best-known currencies over the coming months and years.

But the real question is, will cryptocurrencies transform the entire financial system in the future? These digital assets have been positioned to do exactly that, and many feel that such a feat is entirely possible.


Why are Cryptocurrencies Typically Bad for the Environment? 

At first glance, digital currencies may not appear to pose much of a threat to the environment. But the real impact of dealing in cryptocurrencies is now emerging, and it paints a stark picture.

Digital assets such as Bitcoin have a considerable environmental footprint, due to the amount of energy required to power the algorithms behind them.

While this could theoretically be done using renewable energy, in reality it usually isn’t. China is a leading player in mining for Bitcoin, and 60% of the energy it uses to do so is powered by coal.

Think about the enormous scale of cryptocurrencies, and the growing demand for Bitcoin mining, and you can see the problem.

Currently, blockchain-based currencies are using as much energy as many small countries, yet their popularity continues to grow. And as demand increases, so too will the energy requirements of this industry.


The Most Environmentally-Friendly Cryptocurrencies

While cryptocurrencies on the whole tend to be fairly damaging to the environment, some types of digital currency are known for having less of an impact than others. Research compiled by TRG Datacenters, based in Houston, Texas has highlighted the most eco-friendly options, ranking them by the amount of energy required to power each transaction:

Currency Kilowatt hour (KWh) consumed per transaction
XRP 0.0079
Dogecoin 0.12
Cardano 0.5479
Litecoin 18.522
Bitcoin Cash 18.957
Ethereum 62.56
Bitcoin 707


New Eco-Friendly Cryptocurrencies on the Horizon

New cryptocurrencies continue to emerge, but there’s one trend that’s starting to cause a shift in the creation of digital assets: sustainability.

With concern growing over the ecological impact of blockchain-based currencies, developers are turning their attention to new ways of offering all the benefits of digital currencies. This will be accomplished without the hefty carbon footprint.

Look out for a new wave of eco-friendly cryptocurrencies which use sustainable energy sources to limit the impact of transactions. A prime example of this new focus on sustainability is Nano, a digital currency network which shuns traditional mining practices in favor of a more eco-friendly solution.

Nano seeks to eliminate the waste that’s usually associated with cryptocurrency transactions, using a more lightweight consensus protocol. Known as Open Representative Voting (ORV), the protocol promises minimal energy consumption and maximum efficiency.

As awareness of the power-hungry nature of many of the world’s best known cryptocurrencies improves, we can expect to see some big changes in both the practices of existing currency providers, and the development and creation of new blockchain-based currencies. Keep an eye out for more eco-friendly digital currencies on the horizon – created with sustainability in mind.