Mobile Uses of Cryptocurrency: The Rise of Bitcoin

Cryptocurrency’s rise has really gone hand in hand with the rise of mobile use. The first iPhones were only released a couple of years before Bitcoin was introduced. Crypto wasn’t necessarily created with a lot of mobile uses to start with as smartphones didn’t have the power they do now. As the chips we all carry in our pockets have evolved though there have been more opportunities for linkups in crypto and mobile.

Cryptocurrency and Gaming

Cryptocurrency is now used a lot more in the world of gaming, especially in casino games. Some estimates say that the highest percentage of Bitcoin transactions take place within the gambling industry.

People who use gambling sites might choose to use cryptocurrency for the convenience factor. When people play online casino games they are often looking to move funds quickly and if there is a bank involved it can cause a potential delay. The autonomy provided by the blockchain system means that funds are usually moved very quickly and people may deposit into their accounts and play without having to wait for any approvals.

For casino gamers, there are a lot of different games out there now and different varieties and variations of these games. Games can be found in a lot of different genres and themes, and all have their own unique features. It isn’t like crypto users are cutting down on choice as there are a lot of games that have made their way into crypto casinos and a full range of options.

Anonymity is another reason why some people choose to use cryptocurrencies to put money into their gambling accounts. It is possible to move the funds around while providing fewer personal details and in an age where people care more about their identity being protected, this is a potential plus point.

Specific crypto games and apps have also been launched in the gaming field and some of these allow users to earn NFTs or tokens while they are playing.

The Emergence of Mobile Wallets

One of the significant developments in the mobile crypto space is the rise of mobile wallets which are needed to store and send crypto. Mobile wallets have become increasingly popular due to their convenience and ease of use. Instead of relying on a desktop or even a hardware wallet, users can now manage their digital assets on the go. This is the most obvious of the ways that the mobile and crypto industries overlap.

Several types of mobile wallets are available and some are classified as custodial, meaning that a third party holds the private keys to the wallet. This option is generally easier to use but comes with the trade-off of trusting another entity with access to the funds. Non-custodial wallets give users full control over their private keys with potentially greater security but more responsibility.

Beyond basic transactions, mobile wallets also offer additional features like staking which is a relatively new concept where users can earn rewards for holding certain cryptocurrencies – it isn’t offered by every crypto. The wallets may be linked with integrated exchanges that allow for quick trading between different digital currencies.

Mobile wallets are so widespread that the networks are even understanding how important they are and considering integrating them with SIM cards in an attempt to streamline the whole process.

Crypto Mining on Mobile

Blockchain and cryptocurrency users rely on miners to create scarcity and as part of the central mechanism of what a cryptocurrency is. Miners are then potentially rewarded by earning or “finding” crypto.

Historically it has required a lot of computer power but there are now crypto mining apps for Android devices that can do a version of mining from the device.

Mining some crypto options requires a significant amount of computational power and energy so there are often specific hardware options built for mining. The specialized hardware used by professional miners is designed to handle these demands efficiently. In contrast, smartphones are not built for such intensive tasks. As a result, the amount of Bitcoin or other crypto that can be mined on a mobile device is not necessarily a lot and can take a lot of battery life with it. People are more likely to do this if they are at home and connected to power.

It is likely that the mining world is developing too and different methods might be introduced in the future.

Conclusion

Mobile technology has been vital to crypto. People who pay in person for an item using cryptocurrency will probably do so using their mobile wallet in the same way people use Apple Pay, for example.

As mobile hardware gets even more impressive it is possible that it will have even more use for mining and similar applications, plus there is already a range of crypto games some people choose to play on their mobile devices. The two technologies are interlinked.