Cryptocurrencies have played a huge role in advancing social and economic activity. The emergence of Bitcoin as a viable payment method has spurred scores of cryptocurrencies to serve as payment methods.
Everything from buying a car to betting on NBA free picks can be done using cryptocurrencies. While the general public is familiar with the uses of cryptocurrencies, they may not know how they work. So, it is worth looking at how cryptocurrencies work under the hood.
Cryptocurrencies are More Than Currencies
When most people think about cryptocurrencies, they imagine an electronic alternative to cash or physical money. However, cryptocurrencies were not intended to become currencies at first.
Initially, the blockchain was known as a digital distributed ledger. In other words, the blockchain functioned as a double-entry bookkeeping system that ensured transparent transactions.
Users could rely on the blockchain to keep an accurate record of transactions within a given domain. For instance, supply chains could share the blockchain framework to share data regarding goods, shipping and destinations.
Given the blockchain’s potential uses, Bitcoin emerged as a secure and transparent payment method. Consequently, users could rely on the blockchain to keep an accurate score of transactions throughout a specified period.
It is worth noting that the blockchain promised to improve data security by removing the vulnerabilities exploited by cybercriminals. Thus far, the blockchain has proven superior due to its “proof-of-work” (POW) verification model. This model makes it virtually impossible for a third party to sequester data since backups are scattered across the Internet.
A Green Blockchain
Blockchain technology has been notorious for being a power-hungry beast. The overall energy consumption needed to power the POW system is estimated to require the electrical output of small countries.
POW uses mathematical calculations to solve unique problems. The solution is used to verify a transaction on the digital ledger. The transaction is recorded, and the blockchain moves on to authenticate the next transaction.
However, energy consumption has spiked as mathematical problems have become increasingly difficult. The POW system uses ever-increasingly difficult problems to settle transactions. This approach requires more computational power, which, in turn, consumes more electricity.
An alternative to traditional mining through POW is Proof of Stake (POS). POS is a greener option since it does not consume the vast computational power needed to run a POW system. In POS, users “stake” coins to settle transactions. When the user is chosen to settle the transaction, they earn the financial reward associated with validating the transaction. A POS system provides a green alternative to an otherwise energy-guzzling framework.
Cryptocurrencies in the Metaverse
Cryptocurrencies have been instrumental in developing the Metaverse. Given its digital nature, the Metaverse requires digital tokens to settle transactions. Without formally structured cryptocurrencies, the Metaverse would turn into the wild west. Users could be compelled to seek dubious options to settle transactions.
Keep in mind that the Metaverse is a decentralized platform. In other words, the Metaverse does not have a single “owner.” Instead, the Metaverse is a collection of individual pieces that, summed up, conform to a wonderfully complex architecture. As a result, cryptocurrencies make perfect sense within this environment.
For instance, the Metaverse has led to the creation of Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. NFTs represent unique creations within the universe that can be bought or sold. NFTs provide unique proof of ownership, much like certificates and deeds in the 3D realm.
Also, the blockchain keeps up with users’ evolution within the blockchain. Users’ appearance, preferences, and behavioral patterns change with time. Consequently, the blockchain can keep up with these changes through ID verification.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of using the blockchain in the Metaverse is digital real estate. The blockchain allows the Metaverse to keep perfect track of real estate transactions. Thus, the creation, modification, sale, or destruction of digital real estate assets are recorded through a decentralized platform.
The blockchain has enormous room for growth. The Metaverse is a small sample of the potential applications for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Ultimately, cryptocurrencies are a fraction of what the overall architecture of digital distributed ledger technology can accomplish.
