Although digital currency is not very well accepted for transactions globally, an amplifying number of small or large businesses are accepting cryptocurrency platforms for making certain payments. Now, the question arises whether your small business should follow the herd, or keep low and go with the usual flow. The answer is dependent on your business objectives and what you intend to do with your digital profits.

Let us be transparent with the definition: What is cryptocurrency ecosystem all about? Cryptocurrency is one type of digital entity, which is a decentralized, digital currency that can be used to purchase goods and services but can also lose or gain value, similar to stocks. During the pandemic, many businesses have turned to cryptocurrency to store their cash reserves, seeing currencies like Bitcoin as a safe bet in the face of economic uncertainty. Bitcoin and most other cryptocurrencies are thought to be immune to inflation because they have a fixed supply and the government cannot manipulate their value. However, its value is extremely volatile, so relying on it carries some risk.

Bitcoin is considered to be one of the most acceptable and trustworthy cryptocurrencies for any sort of business transaction, however, Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, is gaining an edge too. For businesses with customers around the world, adopting Bitcoin has become a way to avoid bank transaction fees and long processing times, as well as the added chore of converting to a different currency. 

To get started, you will first need a bitcoin wallet, which allows you to buy, hold, and sell cryptocurrency. Bitcoin wallets have such private keys or a secret number that allows the holder to access their cryptocurrency anytime they want. However to avoid storing your precious keys online, keep the keys or the code on a hardware wallet which you need to jot down in a hard drive. Crypto exchanges like Lumi, or Coinbase wallet can also be inscribed by the companies to store the keys with an unbiased observer. Bitcoin.org has a useful tool that can help you select the most suitable wallet for your business. 

If you're an online merchant and accept payments through cryptocurrency platforms then go for Etsy and Shopify who have collaborations with payment processors like Coinbase Commerce and Bitpay, which allow e-commerce stores to accept Bitcoin. Business owners can also register directly with Coinbase Commerce and other payment processors. These payment mainframes are free to set up and permit merchants to directly receive payments through the cryptocurrency platforms from customers on a global level. 

Bitcoin transactions are also irreversible, which means the customer and the merchant must trust each other. Transactions can only be refunded by the party receiving the funds. Companies that welcome Bitcoin for payments must be prepared for the purchaser to request refunds and keep track of how much each customer paid. 

Another major issue with accepting Bitcoin concerns the tax implications. In 2014, the IRS made a key virtual currency decision to essentially treat Bitcoin as property for tax purposes. So, the company that invested extravagantly in cryptocurrencies had to report it as gross income based on its fair market value at the time it was received. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen believed that the misuse of cryptocurrency is a growing issue that requires further regulation. If you're ready to accept it as payment, you'll need to keep up to date with the rules. 

Finally, the incredible volatility of Bitcoin dissuades many people who hold it back from touching it. If you bought Bitcoin for $ 100 in 2014, it would be worth over $ 12,000 today. That is why consumers tend to avoid spending their Bitcoins on small purchases, and why you might struggle to find enough customers to justify setting up cryptocurrency payments, to begin with. And if you do decide to do so, remember that volatility is like a two-faced coin: Unless you accept your Bitcoin payments immediately, there is always the possibility that the value of the currency will collapse and harm your profits.

TO CONCLUDE

As cryptocurrency platforms are in their prime and are evolving, and at the same time political hindrances, due attention, taxes, and scamming challenges will carry on. The cryptocurrency innovation will keep on getting delayed in the absence of clear guidance from the managers. Although, up to the minute financial products are gaining recognition in the marketplace and conventional industry is being embraced by the business world.