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Bitcoin was invented by an unknown person or group of people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto [11] and released as open-source software in Bitcoins are created as a reward for a process known as mining. They can be exchanged for other currencies, [13] products, and services. As of Februaryovermerchants and vendors accepted bitcoin as payment.

The word bitcoin first occurred and was defined in the white paper [5] that was published on 31 October There is no uniform convention for bitcoin capitalization. Some sources use Bitcoincapitalized, to refer to the technology and network and bitcoinlowercase, to refer to the unit of account.

The unit of account of the bitcoin system is a bitcoin. Named in homage to bitcoin's creator, a satoshi is the smallest amount within bitcoin representing 0. As with most new symbols, font support is very limited.

Typefaces supporting bitcoin exchange uk papers include Horta. On 18 Augustthe domain name "bitcoin. In Januarythe bitcoin network came into existence after Satoshi Nakamoto mined the first ever block on the chain, known as the genesis block. This note has been interpreted as both a timestamp of the genesis bitcoin exchange uk papers and a derisive comment on the instability caused by fractional-reserve banking.

The receiver of the first bitcoin transaction was cypherpunk Hal Finneywho created the first reusable proof-of-work system RPOW in In the early days, Nakamoto is estimated to have mined 1 million bitcoins. So, if I get hit by a bus, it would be clear that the project would go on.

Over the history of Bitcoin there have been several spins offs and deliberate hard forks that have lived on as separate blockchains. These have come to be known as "altcoins", short for alternative coins, since Bitcoin was the first blockchain and these are derivative of it. These spin offs occur so that new ideas can be tested, bitcoin exchange uk papers the scope of that idea is outside that bitcoin exchange uk papers Bitcoin, or when the community is split about merging such changes.

Since then there have been numerous forks of Bitcoin. See list of bitcoin forks. The blockchain is a public ledger that records bitcoin transactions. A novel solution accomplishes this without any trusted central authority: The blockchain is a distributed database — to achieve independent verification of the chain of ownership of any and every bitcoin amount, each network node stores its own copy of the blockchain.

This allows bitcoin software to determine when a particular bitcoin amount has been spent, which is necessary in order to prevent double-spending in an environment without central oversight. Whereas a conventional ledger records the transfers of actual bills or promissory notes that exist apart from it, the blockchain is the only place that bitcoins can be said to exist in the form of unspent outputs of transactions.

Transactions are defined using a Forth -like scripting language. When a user sends bitcoins, the user designates each address and the amount of bitcoin being sent to that address in an output.

To prevent double spending, each input must refer to a previous unspent output in the blockchain. Since transactions can have multiple outputs, users can send bitcoins to multiple recipients in one transaction. As in a cash transaction, the sum of inputs bitcoin exchange uk papers used to pay can exceed the intended sum of payments. In such a case, an additional output is used, returning the change back to the payer.

Paying a transaction fee is optional. Because the size of mined blocks is capped by the network, miners choose transactions based on the bitcoin exchange uk papers paid relative to their storage size, not bitcoin exchange uk papers absolute amount of money paid as a fee.

The size of transactions is dependent on the number of inputs used to create the transaction, and bitcoin exchange uk papers number of outputs. In the blockchain, bitcoins are registered to bitcoin addresses.

Creating a bitcoin address is nothing more than picking a random valid private key and computing the corresponding bitcoin address. This computation can be done in a split second. But the reverse computing the private key of a given bitcoin address is mathematically unfeasible and so users can tell others and make public a bitcoin address without compromising its corresponding private key. Moreover, the number of valid private keys is so vast that it is extremely unlikely someone will compute a key-pair that is already in use and has funds.

The vast number of valid private keys makes it unfeasible that brute force could be used for that. To be able to spend the bitcoins, bitcoin exchange uk papers owner must know the corresponding private key and digitally sign the transaction. The network verifies bitcoin exchange uk papers signature using the public key. If the private key is lost, the bitcoin network will not recognize any other evidence of ownership; [9] the coins are then unusable, and effectively lost.

Mining is a record-keeping service done through the use of computer processing power. To be accepted by the rest of the network, a new block must contain a so-called proof-of-work PoW. Every 2, blocks approximately 14 days at roughly 10 min per blockthe difficulty target is adjusted based on the network's recent performance, with the aim of keeping the average time between new blocks at bitcoin exchange uk papers minutes.

In this way the system automatically adapts to the total amount of mining power on the network. The proof-of-work system, alongside the chaining of blocks, makes modifications of the blockchain extremely hard, as an attacker must modify all subsequent blocks in order for the modifications of one block to be accepted.

Bitcoin exchange uk papers power is often bundled together or "pooled" to reduce variance in miner income. Individual mining rigs often have to wait for long periods to confirm a block of transactions and receive payment. In a pool, all participating miners get paid every time a participating server solves a block. This payment depends on the amount of work an individual miner contributed to help find that block. The successful miner finding the new block is rewarded with newly created bitcoins and transaction fees.

To claim the reward, a special transaction called a coinbase is included with the processed payments. The bitcoin protocol specifies that the reward for adding a block will be halved everyblocks approximately every four years. Eventually, the reward will decrease to zero, and the limit of 21 million bitcoins [f] will be reached c. Their numbers are being released roughly every ten minutes and the rate bitcoin exchange uk papers which they are generated would drop by half every four years until all were in circulation.

A wallet stores the information necessary to transact bitcoins. While wallets are often described as a place to hold [60] or bitcoin exchange uk papers bitcoins, [61] due to the nature of the system, bitcoins are inseparable from the blockchain transaction ledger.

A better way to describe a wallet is something that "stores the digital credentials for your bitcoin holdings" [61] and allows one to access and spend them. Bitcoin uses public-key cryptographyin which two cryptographic keys, one public and one private, are generated.

There are three modes which wallets can operate in. They have an inverse relationship with regards to trustlessness and computational requirements. Third-party internet services called online wallets offer similar functionality but may be easier to use.

In this bitcoin exchange uk papers, credentials to access funds are stored with the online wallet provider rather than on the user's hardware. A malicious provider or a breach in server security may cause entrusted bitcoins to be stolen.

An example of such a security breach occurred with Mt. Physical wallets store offline the credentials necessary to spend bitcoins. Another type of wallet called a hardware wallet keeps credentials offline bitcoin exchange uk papers facilitating transactions. The first wallet program — simply named "Bitcoin" — was released in by Satoshi Nakamoto as open-source bitcoin exchange uk papers. While a decentralized system cannot have an "official" implementation, Bitcoin Core is considered by some to be bitcoin's bitcoin exchange uk papers implementation.

Bitcoin was designed not to need a central authority [5] and the bitcoin network bitcoin exchange uk papers considered to be decentralized. In mining bitcoin exchange uk papers Ghash. The pool has voluntarily capped their hashing power at Bitcoin is pseudonymousmeaning that funds are not tied to real-world entities but rather bitcoin addresses.

Owners of bitcoin addresses are not explicitly identified, but all transactions on the blockchain are public. In addition, transactions can be linked to individuals and companies through "idioms of use" e. To heighten financial privacy, a new bitcoin address can be generated for each transaction. Wallets and similar software technically handle all bitcoins as equivalent, establishing the basic level of fungibility. Researchers have bitcoin exchange uk papers out bitcoin exchange uk papers the history of each bitcoin is registered and bitcoin exchange uk papers available in the blockchain ledger, and that some users may refuse to accept bitcoins coming from controversial transactions, which would harm bitcoin's fungibility.

The blocks in the blockchain were originally limited to 32 megabyte in size. The block size limit of one megabyte was introduced by Satoshi Nakamoto inas an anti-spam measure. On 24 August at block, Segregated Witness SegWit went live, introducing a new transaction format where signature data is separated and known as the witness. The upgrade replaced the block size limit with a limit on a new measure called block weightwhich counts non-witness data four times as much as witness data, and allows a maximum weight of 4 megabytes.

Bitcoin is a digital asset designed by its inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto, to work as a currency. The question whether bitcoin is a currency or not is still disputed. According to research produced by Cambridge Universitythere were between 2. The number of users has grown significantly sincewhen there wereto 1.

Inthe number of merchants accepting bitcoin exceededReasons for this fall include high transaction fees due to bitcoin's bitcoin exchange uk papers issues, long transaction times and a rise in value making consumers unwilling to spend it. Merchants accepting bitcoin ordinarily use the services of bitcoin payment service providers such as BitPay or Coinbase.

When a customer pays in bitcoin, the payment service provider accepts the bitcoin on behalf of the merchant, converts it to the local currency, and sends the obtained amount to merchant's bank account, charging a fee for the service. Bitcoins can be bought on digital currency exchanges. According to Tony Gallippia co-founder of BitPay"banks are scared to deal with bitcoin companies, even if they really want to".

In a report, Bank of America Merrill Lynch stated that "we believe bitcoin can become a major means of payment for e-commerce and may emerge as a serious competitor to traditional money-transfer providers. Plans were announced to include a bitcoin futures option on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in Some Argentinians have bought bitcoins to protect their savings against high inflation or the possibility that governments could confiscate savings bitcoin exchange uk papers.

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This publication is available at https: Anyone making charges or otherwise receiving income, in whatever form, from activities involving Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies , including:. The advent of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin is a new and evolving area and determining their legal and regulatory status is ongoing. Cryptocurrencies have a unique identity and cannot therefore be directly compared to any other form of investment activity or payment mechanism.

HMRC understands that Bitcoin operates via a peer to peer network, independent of any central authority or bank. All functions such as issue, transaction processing and verification are managed collectively by this network. New Bitcoin is produced when a new block is attached to the chain. A new block can only be added to the chain when the answer to a complex cryptographic algorithm is solved.

As well as mining, activities include the buying and selling of Bitcoin and providing exchange facilities for parties to trade Bitcoin with recognised currencies. Bitcoin may be held as an investment or used to pay for goods or services at merchants where it is accepted. In the UK, there are already a number of outlets, including pubs, restaurants and internet retailers, that accept payment by Bitcoin.

Any changes will not apply retrospectively. For VAT purposes Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies will be treated as follows below, this in no way reflects on how they are treated for regulatory or other purposes:. However, in all instances, VAT will be due in the normal way from suppliers of any goods or services sold in exchange for Bitcoin or other similar cryptocurrency.

The value of the supply of goods or services on which VAT is due will be the sterling value of the cryptocurrency at the point the transaction takes place. As with any other activity, whether the treatment of income received from, and charges made in connection with, activities involving Bitcoin and other similar cryptocurrencies will be subject to CT , IT or CGT depends on the activities and the parties involved. Whether any profit or gain is chargeable or any loss is allowable will be looked at on a case-by-case basis taking into account the specific facts.

Each case will be considered on the basis of its own individual facts and circumstances. The relevant legislation and case law will be applied to determine the correct tax treatment. Therefore, depending on the facts, a transaction may be so highly speculative that it is not taxable or any losses relievable.. For example gambling or betting wins are not taxable and gambling losses cannot be offset against other taxable profits. For businesses which accept payment for goods or services in Bitcoin there is no change to when revenue is recognised or how taxable profits are calculated.

The tax treatments outlined in this brief are for tax purposes only. They in no way reflect on the treatment of cryptocurrencies for regulatory or other purposes. Given the evolutionary nature of these cryptocurrencies, HMRC will issue further guidance as appropriate.

To help us improve GOV. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Skip to main content. Home Revenue and Customs Brief 9 Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Readership Anyone making charges or otherwise receiving income, in whatever form, from activities involving Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies , including: For VAT purposes Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies will be treated as follows below, this in no way reflects on how they are treated for regulatory or other purposes: The value of the supply of goods or services on which VAT is due will be the sterling value of the cryptocurrency at the point the transaction takes place CT , IT and CGT treatment of Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies As with any other activity, whether the treatment of income received from, and charges made in connection with, activities involving Bitcoin and other similar cryptocurrencies will be subject to CT , IT or CGT depends on the activities and the parties involved.

CT - the profits or losses on exchange movements between currencies are taxable. For the tax treatment of virtual currencies, the general rules on foreign exchange and loan relationships apply. We have not at this stage identified any need to consider bespoke rules. If there is an exchange rate between Bitcoin and the functional currency then this analysis applies. Therefore no special tax rules for Bitcoin transactions are required.

The profits and losses of a company entering into transactions involving Bitcoin would be reflected in accounts and taxable under normal CT rules IT - the profits and losses of a non-incorporated business on Bitcoin transactions must be reflected in their accounts and will be taxable on normal IT rules Chargeable gains: CT and CGT - if a profit or loss on a currency contract is not within trading profits or otherwise within the loan relationship rules, it would normally be taxable as a chargeable gain or allowable as a loss for CT or CGT purposes.

Gains and losses incurred on Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies are chargeable or allowable for CGT if they accrue to an individual or, for CT on chargeable gains if they accrue to a company.

Future implications The tax treatments outlined in this brief are for tax purposes only. Issued 3 March Is this page useful? Yes this page is useful No this page is not useful Is there anything wrong with this page? Thank you for your feedback. What were you doing?