Bitcoin shares some conceptual similarities with bartering—such as being a peer-to-peer, decentralized exchange without intermediaries—but it functions more like a digital, global, and highly divisible form of commodity money. While bartering requires a "double coincidence of wants" (direct swap), Bitcoin acts as a universal medium of exchange, similar to digital gold, rather than a direct good-for-good trade.
Unlike barter, modern and otherwise, Cryptocurrencies have only been around since the 2000's. The most prominently known cryptocurrency is Bitcoin. The concept of Bitcoin was proposed in 2008 by a software developer under the pseudonym of Satoshi Nakamoto, as an electronic payment system based on a mathematical proof.
Taking a buy-and-hold position in Bitcoin five years ago would have delivered massive returns for investors. As of this writing, Bitcoin is up 962.3% over the period. That means that a $1,000 investment in the token made half a decade ago would now be worth more than $10,620.
His primary objection? “Cryptocurrencies basically have no value and they don't produce anything,” he lamented to CNBC in 2020. “In terms of value: zero.”
“True,” Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “That is why Bitcoin is based on energy: you can issue fake fiat currency, and every government in history has done so, but it is impossible to fake energy.”
HMRC treats crypto as property for tax purposes. Profits from disposing of crypto (over the £3,000 tax-free allowance) are taxed as capital gains at 18% or 24%. Income from crypto (like mining rewards) is taxed at 0% to 45%. You must report crypto in your self-assessment tax return by January 31.
Bill Gates has made it clear—he's not a fan of cryptocurrency. And he's not just skeptical; he flat-out thinks it has no value. "None," he told The New York Times in a January interview. That's a pretty bold stance coming from one of the most successful tech minds in history.
And that's why the Oracle of Omaha doesn't own the asset. “If you told me you own all of the bitcoin in the world and you offered it to me for $25, I wouldn't take it because what would I do with it?” he asks. “I'd have to sell it back to you one way or another. It isn't going to do anything.”
Buying crypto isn't taxable, but selling, exchanging for goods/services, or trading for other crypto are taxable events. Crypto transactions may trigger forms like 1099-DA, 1099-B, 1099-K, 1099-NEC, and W-2. Taxpayers often need Form 8949 and Schedule D for capital gains/losses, and Form 1040 for income reporting.
Should cryptocurrencies be viewed as a gambling tool or a risky investment instrument? While their unpredictable returns resemble gambling, recent studies show their prices having a time-varying correlation with traditional risky assets like the S&P 500.
"That is why Bitcoin is based on energy: you can issue fake fiat currency, and every government in history has done so, but it is impossible to fake energy," Musk wrote on X.
When Bitcoin was just $900 per coin, Didi Taihuttu sold his 2,500 square-foot house, 3 cars, and all of his belongings and invested everything he had into Bitcoin. Today alongside his wife, 2 kids & full time nanny all travel the world together and live in exotic destinations.
“In terms of cryptocurrencies, generally, I can say with almost certainty that they will come to a bad ending,” he told CNBC. “If I could buy a five-year put on every one of the cryptocurrencies, I'd be glad to do it, but I would never short a dime's worth.”
In the UK, the 30-day rule (or "bed and breakfasting" rule) prevents tax avoidance by stopping you from selling a cryptocurrency and claiming a capital loss, only to buy the same crypto back within 30 days; if you do, HMRC matches the sale to the new purchase, effectively cancelling the claimed loss and applying the gain/loss to the new cost basis instead, requiring detailed records for Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
Yes, if you sell your crypto and make a capital gain, there is a 30% tax on that gain, whether you're selling for currencies like INR, USD, or trading one crypto for another.
In 2021, Musk publicly confirmed that he owned BTC, ETH, and DOGE. While there are other cryptocurrencies that use Musk's name and likeness, they are not associated with him in any way.
Taking a buy-and-hold position in Bitcoin five years ago would have delivered massive returns for investors. As of this writing, Bitcoin is up 962.3% over the period. That means that a $1,000 investment in the token made half a decade ago would now be worth more than $10,620.
What happened to the guy who tossed a hard drive with 7500 bitcoins?
James Howells, from Newport, who claimed his ex-girlfriend mistakenly threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins in 2013, has given up on retrieving the wallet, currently worth £695m, but has been hit with a £117,000 legal bill from his fight.
