The use cases for crypto span from more efficient payment methods and other traditional finance functions to crypto-native functions that are completely new. Here are nine ways cryptocurrency is being used for personal and professional finance — but make sure you understand the risks inherent in this emerging asset class.
First, the big crypto caveat
As we explore the numerous potential use cases for crypto, bear in mind that we’re still operating within an “ideal scenario” setting. These crypto applications could revolutionize the financial system, but they require one crucial element to truly take off: widespread adoption.
With adoption comes “use value” (aka utility), market value, and eventually (or hopefully), a stable form of monetary value. If and when this occurs, we can expect cryptocurrencies to influence a shift in the global financial paradigm.
As you consider these intriguing use cases, keep in mind that they depend on a future where cryptocurrencies aren’t just speculative assets, but have become integral components of our financial lives.
1. Send money across borders efficiently
Cryptocurrency can generally be held and used by anyone, making it a popular option for those supporting family members in other countries. Cryptocurrency transactions use blockchain technology to make cross-border payments more efficient — simpler, faster, and even cheaper.
Companies like Circle and other P2P payments technology companies support blockchain-based remittances by developing applications that enable people everywhere to receive cryptocurrency and convert that crypto into local money. Immediate conversion is one way to minimize your exposure to the volatile price fluctuations that affect most cryptocurrencies.
2. Tip your favorite creators directly
Have you ever wanted to pay tribute to great work that you find online? Cryptocurrency can be used to make micropayments to your favorite creators. Many blockchains have extremely low transaction processing fees, making direct tipping possible without incurring excessive fees. For example, Brave is a blockchain-based browser that allows creators to be compensated directly by their audiences. Gitcoin is a platform that lets developers earn tips for contributing to open source projects. Thus, cryptocurrency is helping digital tipping to become a more robust income source for creators.
3. Go shopping
Cryptocurrency can generally be used for e-commerce, often through the use of digital wallets. Merchants may choose to accept cryptocurrency either directly or indirectly through a service provider. Companies that accept crypto payments can make their products and services available to a global customer base and bring down transaction costs. Companies can also use cryptocurrency to pay rewards, which are usually designed to boost customer loyalty.
An impressive array of companies already accept one or more cryptocurrencies, including:
Microsoft (MSFT)
PayPal (PYPL)
Starbucks (SBUX)
Overstock (OSTK)
AT&T (T)
4. Transact directly with peers
A major use case for cryptocurrency is decentralizing the legacy financial system. Blockchain technology enables decentralized finance (DeFi) by supporting peer-to-peer financial transactions of varying complexity. Using cryptocurrency to transact with, borrow from, and lend to peers directly — with no centralized intermediary — is a major innovation to the existing financial system. Transacting in this way also carries unique, and sometimes unforeseen, risks that are generally not associated with investing in traditional regulated securities.
The most optimistic cryptocurrency users believe that peer-to-peer transactions are a powerful way to democratize modern money systems. Detractors point out the problems of misconduct, fraud, and platform insolvency. DeFi initiatives are frequently structured as DAOs — decentralized autonomous organizations — that use consensus to make decisions, as opposed to traditional money systems, which rely on central banks and government policy makers for monetary stability.
5. Spend and earn digital currency
Cryptocurrency can be earned and used to natively transact in a blockchain ecosystem. Every autonomous blockchain has a native cryptocurrency, and many blockchain projects — those built atop other blockchains like Ethereum — support their own cryptocurrencies. Decentraland is a blockchain platform with its own cryptocurrency — MANA — that enables the purchase of virtual land, goods, and services. Gamers can earn and use cryptocurrency in many of their favorite games, with their crypto assets often being portable across gaming environments.
Other blockchains that enable users to natively spend and earn cryptocurrency include:
6. Support a blockchain network
Cryptocurrency holders have many ways to participate in a blockchain network that extend beyond just making transactions. Crypto users can fully participate in governance of a blockchain, help to secure the network, and validate blockchain transactions. The capacity of a cryptocurrency holder to participate in a blockchain ecosystem is often directly correlated with the number of crypto tokens in the holder’s possession.
Another popular way to participate in a blockchain network is to stake — meaning, agree not to trade or sell — your crypto holdings in exchange for the opportunity to earn interest (in the form of crypto). Staking can generate attractive yields, but this use case for crypto is still risky. Investors need to be comfortable with cryptocurrency price fluctuations and staking platform liquidity.
7. Keep transactions private
Many blockchains are known for increasing the transparency of financial transactions, but cryptocurrency can also be used to boost transaction privacy. Maximizing the privacy of financial transactions can reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft, protect activists and journalists, and ensure operational confidentiality for businesses. Dash, Monero, and Zcash are examples of cryptocurrencies that prioritize user privacy.
But there’s a flip side: Enhanced privacy can make it more difficult to root out illicit transactions.
8. Maximize your earnings with yield farming
Have you heard about yield farming? Also known as liquidity mining, this high-risk decentralized finance strategy enables users to maximize interest income from their cryptocurrency holdings. Yield farmers use smart contracts — blockchain-based contracts that can execute automatically — to continuously move their crypto assets to the blockchain networks paying the highest interest rates.
Yield farming is considered risky. Smart contracts can work improperly, and yield farmers are exposed to liquidity risks, interest rate fluctuations, and cryptocurrency price volatility. Yield farming is possible on multiple blockchain platforms, including:
9. Pay your team
Another way to use cryptocurrency is to pay wages to employees and contractors. Companies with global teams or that hold large amounts of cryptocurrency may view this payment method as an attractive option. Employees can use the cryptocurrency or convert digital payments into their local currency. Note: Employees who receive cryptocurrency as wages may need to seek guidance on the tax consequences.
Paying wages in cryptocurrency is generally more common among companies that are native to the blockchain sector. BitPay is an example of a payroll services provider that can enable companies in all sectors to pay with crypto.
The bottom line
The first wave of crypto use cases focused on supplanting and/or facilitating financial transactions and other traditional banking functions. The applications for crypto seem to be expanding. But although efficiency and empowerment — particularly at the individual level — are worthwhile goals, any wide-scale disruption of the status quo will be met with resistance from those who derive their power from that status quo. Still, technological innovation has historically been a tremendous driver of global growth.
