We've all seen the movies and read the sci-fi books about machines and robots taking over the world. But how close are we to that becoming a reality? Smart contracts are becoming more and more commonplace in our society. Will they replace lawyers, accountants, and other officials completely or is this still just a fantasy?
You’ve probably heard of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum whilst you’ve been going about your everyday life but do you really know what they are? These are two of the most popular cryptocurrencies on the market, they are basically a digital currency which utilizes encryption techniques in order to enhance security during the trading process. Cryptocurrency in Malta is sometimes referred to as virtual currency, is made up of a number of virtual coins which can be generated using a process called mining, this involves solving a series of complex mathematical algorithms. Coins can be used to pay for goods and services in a similar way to any other form of electrical payment using a blockchain platform, which is a peer-to-peer technology that ensures transparency and accountability during trades.
The well-known cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, is in the process of moving their operations to Malta. The exchange, which is said to be the most popular exchange in the world, made a quarterly profit of $200 million in Q1 2018, and turns over an estimated volume of $1.6 billion a day.
The last few years will be remembered as those which saw the introduction of Bitcoin to the general public. Although cryptocurrencies have been discussed in the media for a while, it was only recently that the terminology became commonly used and more importantly understood, by the average person on the street. Here, we will look at the way cryptocurrencies taxes are treated in Malta for the purposes of income tax and the reasons a person may invest in cryptocurrency.
