The technique of spending money changes with the changing times. The world around us is developing to be a computerized economy where only a small proportion of global money is portrayed as physical forms of currencies whilst the residual proportion of cash is bartered in the electronic form using online payment apps or either by Master cards.
This gives rise to the motion that Cryptographic money (digital currency) is emerging as a worldwide spectacle and might even take over fiat currency (a traditional paper form of currency) in the mere future. However, although modern society is approaching an advanced economy, only a limited number of individuals have a clear idea about whether or not cryptocurrencies are different from fiat currencies.
Fiat Currency vs Cryptocurrency
The main difference between fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies is that the issuer and receiver of the fiat currency transactions can easily be tracked and identified whereas in cryptocurrency, transactions are computerized, enciphered and the identification of the issuer and receiver of cash remains obscured.
Fiat currencies are officially sanctioned currencies, printed in customary paper form which plays an essential role in socio-economy by acting as a legal tender and is not backed by a solid item/object, like gold, but instead by the government that sanctioned it and is administered by a centralized authority (eg: Federal Reserve banks or central banks). Fiat money like Pounds, US Dollar, Euro, Yen, and other major worldwide currencies attain their monetary value from the forces of market demand and supply.
On the other hand, a digital or virtual form of currency like cryptocurrency is an alternative for the conventional methods of payment like money, master cards, and bank checks. Cryptocurrency is not backed by the government, not regulated by any centralized authority, operates as a circulating medium, and is established on cryptanalysis mechanization to help undertake stable, assured and, certified dealings/proceedings.
Comparison Table Between Fiat Currency and Cryptocurrency (in Tabular Form)
| Parameter of Comparison | Fiat currency | Cryptocurrency |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Refers to the form of currency which is often supervised by the government and bank. | Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that works as a medium of exchange wherein customers can gain digital coins based on their choice. |
| Legality | Regulated by the government and banks. The government has the power to control the supply of fiat currencies. | Not regulated by the banks. Hence, no central authority can influence the price. |
| Tangibility | Tangible as they are in the form of coins or money. | Cryptocurrencies are intangible as they are mostly virtual or electronic. |
| Storage | Can be stored in various forms like for instance PayPal allows customers to store money. | Cryptocurrencies can only be stored digitally in your cryptocurrency wallets. |
| Exchange aspect | Fiat money can allow payment or transfer of funds both digitally or physically. | Cryptocurrency can transfer funds only digitally. |
| Supply | The supply of fiat currencies is unlimited. | The supply of cryptocurrencies is limited. |
What is Fiat Currency?
Fiat currencies first came about in China in 1000 AD. Fiat currency is a type of currency often supplied by the government and directed by a central jurisdiction. Pounds, Euros, and US dollars are some of the fiat currencies which are affected by the market supply and demand. Although this form of currency may always be at risk, it has its own set of benefits.
Fiat currencies are given by the government and central authority and hence they are stable when compared to other currencies like cryptocurrencies. Since fiat currencies are stable, they help in facilitating exchange. Security and assistance is additionally provided by the government and central authority for the fiat currency. Fiat currencies are also centralized and the change in the demand for money is also flexible.
However, this conventional form of currency also has its disadvantages. Even though Fiat currency is considered stable, economic recessions have consistently had an impact on fiat currencies. Fiat currencies may not be an efficient storage of value due to inflation as well. Sometimes a fiat currency may be worthless on account of hyperinflation. The central bank is the only one who can control the finances, this form of currency doesn’t have any power to do so. And sometimes banks are ought to make mistakes.
What is Cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrencies was invented by Satoshi Nakamoto. A cryptocurrency is a type of currency that is digital and can be used to stabilize, process, or confirm the exchange of funds. Cryptographic forms of money are not supervised by the centralized authority but instead, they are entries in a database that cannot be changed or manipulated with.
Cryptographic money has its own set of benefits. They are efficiently accessible globally at the click of a button. Anyone can possess a digital coin of their choice by making an online transfer. Cryptocurrencies can make instant settlements, unlike other digital or virtual monetary forms. Cryptocurrencies have a low transaction fee when they want to send money globally and this makes it easier for common people to transfer funds globally or domestically. A cryptocurrency uses encryption techniques which cannot be manipulated. Inflation has no impact on the cryptocurrency. One does not need to go to a bank to send money or to complete transactions as they can control their finances.
The drawbacks cryptocurrencies may face are: Cryptocurrencies face a risk of volatility since there are high fluctuations in the cryptographic money which may draw in and benefit the traders but it poses as a threat to the investors since it may result in fluctuations of their funds. Cryptocurrencies are risky because if a programmer attempts to hack into the network/network he can steal all your funds and it’s highly unlikely that there would be a way of getting your funds back.
Since cryptocurrencies are not operated by the bank they will not be providing any sort of assistance and you’re on your own. Although cryptocurrencies may sound like getting easy money quick kinds of methods, this in turn decreases the credit rating/credibility in the market.
Conclusion
In the modern world where transactions are automated and traditional solid forms of currencies are used less than they were before, an individual may be confused at the dissimilarities between fiat money and cryptocurrency.
Both these forms of currency, however, do come with some similar characteristics like being legal tenders that have trade value, helping consumers buy various types of goods & services, having their monetary value determined by the forces of demand and supply and other fiscal/commercial factors, can be transacted on exchanges and so on. However, this article talks about how these currencies are dissimilar to one another for each of them has their differences which help the audience easily discriminate between the two currencies.
Furthermore, the above piecework highlights how cryptographic forms of currency are a worldwide phenomenon, about how fiat currencies are known around the globe as a traditional medium of exchange, and also the benefits and downsides each form of currency has. However, even though digital currencies have a more noteworthy preference in modern society than fiat money does, it seems that cryptographic forms of currencies are not fully-fledged enough to assume control over the present conventional methods of payment.
References
- https://arxiv.org/pdf/1406.6496
- https://www.net.in.tum.de/fileadmin/TUM/NET/NET-2015-03-1/NET-2015-03-1_13.pdf
- https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/19829/1/