Crypto Wallets?: Explained

crypto tax article graphic

A crypto wallet is a digital wallet that allows you to store, send, and receive cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others. These wallets use complex algorithms and codes to ensure the safety and security of your digital assets.

Australians have a multitude of options when it comes to securing their crypto wallet. Mobile and web-based wallets are two of the most convenient methods, with applications such as Mycelium and Trust Wallet just one click away from your app store or provider’s website. If you would prefer a more user-friendly experience and quick access to digital assets, consider opting for services like Coinbase, Blockchain.com or Binance.com – all trusted sites that can be accessed online!

In Australia, another way to secure a cryptocurrency wallet is via hardware wallets. By having your private keys stored offline on physical devices such as USB sticks and hard-drives, this makes for one of the most reliable ways of safeguarding your digital assets.

After you have acquired a crypto wallet, it is critical to take precautions for its security. Keep your private keys and seed phrases secure at all times and never share them with anyone. Make sure that malware isn’t present on the device, use an impenetrable password that is long and complex, then enable two-factor authentication as additional protection. These steps are essential in keeping your crypto assets safe!

If a blockchain fork occurs, will I be eligible for new coins?

Blockchain forks are occurrences in which a blockchain network divides into two distinct chains. This can occur due to various factors, like disagreements among the participants of the system on how to enhance it or viruses in the software. Hard forking is a permanent segregation of that blockchain and this generates an entirely different cryptocurrency; Bitcoin cash is one example as it resulted from hard-forking off from the Bitcoin chain. While soft forking produces a temporary rift within that same blockchain, but remains compatible with any older version of its computer program.

While launching a new coin on hosted wallets through forks can be helpful, it’s important to keep in mind that support for these coins can take some time and may even not receive any backing at all.

When a fork occurs, developers responsible for hosted wallets will thoroughly review the new chain to detect any pre-mining or suspicious activities. If no malicious behaviour is detected, these hosted wallets are likely to support the fork and customers with existing coins will be credited their newly created asset.

To summarise, investing in cryptocurrencies entails having a crypto wallet – an electronic account that authorises you to make transactions involving digital currencies. Australians can secure these wallets on their phones or computers, as well as purchase hardware-based ones for improved security and privacy. To protect your coins from hacking attempts, it is essential to keep the keys confidential via complicated passwords and two-factor authentication processes. It is also important to be aware of a blockchain fork event; this occurs when the original blockchain separates into two distinct chains (hard/soft).