There is difference between bitcoin and credit card transactions. Most people have a credit card that they can use to pay for items that they would rather pay in full later. However, some people have access to Bitcoin as well. Which one should you use if you have both, and when should you use them to get the most bang for your buck?
Transactions in Bitcoin
Bitcoin was designed for peer-to-peer transactions, which eliminates all parties except the two parties involved in the financial transaction. Bitcoins are held and controlled by you in a digital wallet. You are not required to rely on a financial institution to keep your money for you.
Payments are similar to wire transfers or cash transactions in that they are “pushed” from one party to another without passing through another financial institution. Payment processing is carried out via a private network of computers, and each transaction is recorded in a public blockchain.
It is not necessary to provide personal identification, such as your name and address, when making a Bitcoin transaction. This means that no one monitors your financial activities or sets limits on what you can and cannot do.
Transactions with Credit Cards
In a credit card transaction, on the other hand, you authorise a merchant to “pull” a payment from your account, passing through financial intermediaries in the process. A typical Visa transaction, for example, includes five parties: the credit card network, the merchant, the acquirer (the financial institution that facilitates payments to the merchant), the issuer (the cardholder’s bank), and the individual cardholder. There is occasionally a sixth party—the payment processor, though many are also the acquiring bank.
Each party in the process charges fees to the others, which are then passed on to the cardholder, effectively raising prices. Credit cards must be physically stored and kept secure as well. Although technology is improving, card numbers are still easy for hackers to steal, especially if merchants are allowed to store them for future use. Even if you don’t, hackers can gain access to merchant records and steal credit card information.
Difference Between Bitcoin and Credit Card Transactions
Bitcoin transactions are carried out with the help of a public key (an anonymous alphanumeric address that changes with each transaction) and a private key. You can also pay on mobile devices by scanning QR codes linked to your wallet. Credit cards can be used on mobile devices as well, but the payments must pass through several entities before being processed and approved.
One key distinction between Bitcoin and Credit Card Transactions is that you frequently hand your card to another person or swipe it in a point-of-sale terminal. These machines are vulnerable to hacking, and simulated terminals can send your credit card information to hackers. A dishonest cashier may keep your credit card information, sell it online, or use it themselves. Bitcoin is sent directly from your digital wallet to the party you’re paying, with no way for the information to be intercepted.
Bitcoin transactions are irreversible and can only be refunded by the recipient, as opposed to credit card transactions, which can be cancelled. This means that when merchants accept Bitcoin payment, there are no charge-backs. A charge-back is a demand made by a credit-card company on a retailer to cover the loss on a disputed or fraudulent transaction.
Merchants who accept Bitcoin save money on credit card fees, which can range from 0.5% to 5% plus a $.20 to $.30 flat fee per transaction. Bitcoin payments can be sent and received at very low or no cost because Bitcoin fees are calculated based on the amount of data sent or the wallet used.
The benefits of accepting Bitcoin are obvious for merchants. Payments made with digital currency save a significant amount of money on processing fees and eliminate the risk of charge-backs.
The benefits of paying with Bitcoin for shoppers include greater transaction simplicity; users are anonymous, there are no interruptions from intermediaries, and transaction fees are low.
Other benefits of credit cards include the ability to borrow money and earn reward points. They are also accepted by a greater number of merchants and vendors. Using credit cards, on the other hand, carries the risk of incurring late fees, interest charges, foreign transaction fees, or negatively impacting your credit score.
Which option you select is determined by your preferences for fraud protection, ease of use, anonymity, and personal beliefs about cryptocurrency and existing financial infrastructure.
What Exactly Is a Crypto Reward Credit Card?
A crypto rewards credit card is a credit card that rewards users with cryptocurrency in exchange for using it to buy goods and services.
Is Bitcoin more secure than credit cards?
Bitcoin is extremely difficult to hack; however, public and private keys can be lost or deleted inadvertently. Credit cards and numbers can be stolen or lost, but the issuer is generally protected against fraudulent activity. Both are concerned about their safety.
Is it possible to buy Bitcoin with a credit card?
Yes, if your card issuer allows you to use it for this purpose. If you use a credit card to buy cryptocurrency, you accept significant volatility risk—the risk of Bitcoin prices falling and causing large losses. Buying cryptocurrency on credit is akin to taking out a loan to gamble—you’re likely to lose more than you win.
Summery
- Bitcoin transactions function more like cash: they are exchanged between individuals without the use of a financial intermediary.
- Although credit card companies are widely accepted, there are numerous intermediaries between merchants and customers who charge fees for “necessary” services.
- Credit card companies typically provide fraud protection, whereas Bitcoin does not.
- Merchants are increasingly accepting Bitcoin.
FAQ
Are Bitcoin transactions faster than credit card transactions?
How much less do Bitcoin fees cost than credit card fees?
What distinguishes a cryptocurrency payment from other digital transactions?
What are the differences between a Bitcoin transaction and a debit card transaction?
Why is the fee for my Bitcoin transaction so high?
What is the distinction between Bitcoin and traditional money?
Reference
Bitcoin vs. Credit Card Transactions: What’s the Difference?
Disclaimer: Investing in cryptocurrencies and other Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) is extremely dangerous and speculative, and this article is not a recommendation by shonali18.com or the author to do so. Because every person’s circumstance is different, a knowledgeable specialist should always be consulted before making any financial decisions. shonali18.com makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy or timeliness of the material provided on this website.