What Can You Do With Cryptocurrency?

Crypto was intended to function as an easy way to buy things without having your information known by a bank or other centralized entity. Based upon a blockchain, a type of database that enters information through blocks, a group or an individual does not control crypto. Despite this decentralization, crypto transactions are completely secure. Some financial experts consider it the currency of the future, while others are not so certain. Although crypto is growing, it has not yet become the average person’s currency of choice.

Shopping with Crypto

Currently, you might find it difficult to go to the gas station and fill up your tank using crypto. Your grocery store or online store might not take it either. But the number of vendors who will accept crypto is growing. However, many will only take Bitcoin and not some of the lesser-known cryptocurrencies.

Companies That Accept Cryptocurrency

A recent survey shows that 36% of small and medium businesses will accept Bitcoin. Some major companies that accept Bitcoin are:

• Microsoft
• AT&T
• Overstock
• KFC Canada – only for the Bitcoin Bucket
• Miami Dolphins
• CheapAir
• Amazon (through Purse.io only)

Some companies only accept Bitcoin and some other crypto through Coinbase, a well-known cryptocurrency exchange that offers a crypto wallet. Each company’s policy toward cryptocurrency is different, so you’ll need to do a little research.

Items to Buy With Crypto

If you think your crypto purchases are limited, you might be surprised by some items you can buy. For instance, you can buy a Tesla if you have the Bitcoin funds, although the company has some strict guidelines. You must finalize your purchase within 30 minutes, and Tesla will not refund overpayments. You can also order a BMW with Bitcoin, but you’ll have to use a third-party site. Other items you can spend crypto on include:

• Furniture – Overstock and Fancy.com accept crypto, but they each have their own rules.
• Pizza – Hungry for Dominos? You can order a pizza from the chain through a third-party site.
• Socks – Bitcoin can keep your feet warm if you buy socks from MTSocks.
• Vacation – Both CheapAir and Expedia accept Bitcoin. And you can also pay for a Kessler Group hotel room using this crypto.
• Funerals – A few funeral homes will now accept bitcoins to pay for your loved one’s funeral or cremation.
• Art – Venerated auction house Christie’s now accepts Ether as payment. Many U.S. galleries accept Bitcoin for art purchases.
• Education – A few colleges and universities accept cryptocurrency for payment.

How to spend cryptocurrency is becoming less confusing as your options grow.

When considering how to spend cryptocurrency, you may decide to keep it as an investment. In fact, many people consider cryptocurrency as a hybrid currency/investment. Some people have invested in crypto because they expect it to grow in value and not because they intend to spend it.

In 2021, many types of cryptocurrency have been performing well as part of an investment portfolio. A Bitcoin, the original crypto, was worth about $500 five years ago. As of August 2021, a Bitcoin was worth over $45,000, an 8,900% growth rate that left investors in disbelief.

Other cryptocurrencies that are performing well include:

• Ethereum – The price rose from $11 to over $3,000 in five years.
• Binance Coin (BNB) – The price in 2017 was $0.10. In August 2021, it was worth $419.
• Tether (USDT) – Tether is a stable coin, meaning it’s backed by fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar and the euro. Investors like this type because it is less volatile than other cryptocurrencies.
• Dogecoin – Originally created as a joke, Dogecoin has thrived as a legitimate cryptocurrency. In 2017, its price was $0.0002 but rose to $0.31 in August 2021.

Some investors have used crypto as a vehicle to finance college or to simply increase their net worth. In the last five years, this strategy has been successful, leaving those who avoided crypto to lament their choice.

Bitcoin investments are not viewed as a threat to the environment by 84% of Americans, according to a survey by Forbes.

However, this view is misplaced. It is estimated that Bitcoin mining produces 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year, and the U.S. accounts for more than 37% of the world’s Bitcoin mining capacity. Approximately 0.85 pounds of carbon dioxide were generated by U.S. Bitcoin miners per kilowatt-hour of energy used in 2020.  

According to the survey, 65 percent of Americans wish to invest in environmentally friendly investments. As such, you should consider whether you are willing to invest in cryptocurrency due to its negative environmental impacts. 

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum have gained acceptance as lucrative investments. As more people realize how to spend cryptocurrency, it will lose its mystery and be seen as a practical and safe way to pay for everyday purchases. Remember, consumers once saw debit and credit cards as a slightly suspicious way to complete transactions. They preferred to deal with cash. Now some people rarely carry bills.

Getting Away From Big Banks

Some people embrace cryptocurrency because big banks or individuals do not control it. This egalitarian approach to finance attracts many who feel that large financial institutions have too much power and fear another 2008 global financial crisis.

Crypto appears to be here to stay. It is gaining acceptance as a way to buy common items and has performed well as an investment. When you learn how to spend cryptocurrency, you may become a supporter as well.