“crypt banking” is a brand new term that defines how individuals engage with cryptocurrency. Between cryptocurrency investments and traditional banking options, there’s an intersection point where banks can interact and exchange fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies.
What is Crypto Banking?
The term “crypto banking” means the management of digital currency in any financial service or bank. It is becoming increasingly popular since any person with an internet connection can buy cryptocurrency, trade, and sell it. Some examples of crypto banks are Wirex, Ally Bank, Barclays, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs (to just a handful). They all permit the managing of digital currencies and accept cryptocurrencies.
Crypto banking manages digital currency within the financial technology company or financial services company. These services may include holding an account, paying using a crypto debit card, or earning interest in several cryptocurrencies. In addition, at least one bank has incorporated cryptocurrency into its offerings.
How can I start with crypto-banking?
To manage your cryptocurrency, you’ll first purchase it. You will require an electronic wallet called a crypto wallet to do this. It is proof of your cryptocurrency. Numerous companies that allow you to purchase crypto will also keep it on behalf of the buyer through their crypto wallets for free.
Suppose you use a crypto exchange like Coinbase or a financial tech company like PayPal to buy crypto. In that case, the process can be easy: You need to spend using U.S. dollars and receive the equivalent amount in the cryptocurrency you select. After that, you can see your balance like savings or bank account balance. It is possible to receive and send crypto from other companies based on the business.
Make sure you choose where to buy crypto cautiously. Certain companies, such as PayPal and SoFi, do not allow you to withdraw crypto on their platforms. You have to sell your crypto to access those funds elsewhere. Crypto owners who intend to use different services or ATMs for bitcoin to conduct in-person transactions should use crypto wallets with storage using software that the user hosts on their laptop or computer device. They allow you to complete transactions without requiring a business to validate them.
Fintech companies that allow you to purchase crypto
Peer-to-peer payment firms Square and PayPal allow customers to buy or sell cryptocurrencies and keep them along with any balances held with U.S. dollars. The bank’s technology companies Revolut and SoFi have similar services.
PayPal allows you to pay for online purchases using cryptocurrency balances; you can sell the money back to PayPal when you pay.
As the companies that have been operating for a while now are establishing themselves with mainstream banks, They could be good to begin exploring cryptocurrency. Be aware of transaction costs and restrictions. The Square Cash App, for example, allows bitcoin purchases only, but PayPal and others provide three or more currencies.
One of the banks that provides bitcoin rewards
Few banks provide tips and checking options, and if they do, they usually offer interest or cashback. In contrast to most U.S. banks, Quontic Bank gives customers access to bitcoin. In December of 2020, the bank introduced an account for bitcoin rewards.
At Quontic, when you pay with a debit card, 1.5% of the transaction’s value to U.S. dollars gets converted into bitcoin and is controlled by a third-party firm. There is no limit to how much you can earn. There are no monthly charges, and the FDIC ensures your earnings in dollars.
“The positive thing about bitcoin rewards check is that you’re not putting at risk your cash. If bitcoin drops, you’ve not lost any money,” says Steven Schnall, the director of Quontic Bank.
What is the crypto account for interest?
More than a dozen crypto-based firms like BlockFi and Abra offer their versions of savings accounts, commonly referred to as crypto interest accounts. These companies perform a similar function to traditional banks but use cryptocurrency instead of dollars. They borrow funds in your savings account to lend to other customers and then offer you interest on the loan.
Although the average national rate for traditional bank savings accounts is barely over zero, the rates for statements based on crypto can be as high as 8%, or 12percent annual percentage yield. If this seems too appealing to be accurate, consider cryptocurrency’s potential risks and complexities.
Comparing APYs can be complicated like traditional savings accounts, where all reports use identical currencies. If a cryptocurrency’s value decreases, you can lose more than you earn in interest. Rates may fluctuate with market conditions. Also, think about charges and the time it will take to withdraw funds and convert them back to U.S. dollars, especially as you’re lending money in your cryptocurrency interest account.
“If you’re lending out your crypto … you have to be dedicated to educating yourself,” says Leah Jonas, head of global partnerships at Celsius. This cryptocurrency marketplace provides credit and interest-paying accounts.
Are crypto-banking transactions safe?
Since it’s an innovative and unstable cryptocurrency, it’s not without inherent risks associated with managing your cryptocurrency.
Suppose the business you purchased fails to meet. In that case, the crypto you buy isn’t insured by your insurance company, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or Securities Investor Protection Corporation. For bank accounts that the FDIC ensures guarantees up to $250,000, and for brokerage accounts, the SIPC can cover the amount of $500,000. (SIPC insurance does not cover losses due to falling values of stocks and other assets. )
The value of cryptocurrency is subject to rapid change. “You don’t want to put anything into crypto you can’t afford to lose,” says Ryan Cole, certified financial planner and the founder of the investment advisory firm Citrine Capital in San Francisco.
How will the world change shortly for cryptocurrency banking?
Many banks will allow customers to purchase and sell cryptocurrency quickly, particularly in alliances with third-party businesses. In February of 2021, the Oklahoma-based Vast Bank announced a new service that allows customers to purchase and store digital assets. The Black-owned neobank First Boulevard partnered with Visa to test a similar service. The financial technology company Kasasa plans to introduce Bitcoin wallets to its existing network that includes more than 90 credit unions and community banks.
Crypto platforms that are already in use in the meantime hope that crypto will revolutionize how we bank.
“This initial generation of crypto-based services like Abra will need to fill in the gaps that continue to dictate the necessity of traditional banking. According to Bill Barhydt, founder, and CEO of the crypto payment application Abra, I’m still required to pay my bills and conveniently purchase through the web” using dollars.
