Bitcoin may not be an ideal investment for retirement because of its volatile price fluctuations. Nevertheless, a growing number of financial services companies now offer the option to invest through self-directed IRA accounts in the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin IRA, one of the early providers in this area, claimed in an interview earlier this year that it had signed up for its service to 4,500 people.
Growing Value
Cryptocurrency is a digital currency backed by non-government. Its value relies on the free market. Although some companies have issued their own tokens representing digital currency, little support exists other than the word of the issuing company, much like casino tokens.
Since digital currency does not have insurance or government endorsements such as FDIC or SIPC protection, and national or international banking rate checks, some in the banking industry consider it to be a fraud. However, many others see cryptocurrency as the future currency where the free market is fuelled by anonymous purchases. There is also a perception that private businesses that broker cryptocurrency trades can do a better job than the current system to protect investments. The idea is that without governmental interference, cryptocurrencies will return the economy to an equal playing field. Nonetheless, many countries take this uncontrolled frontier seriously as a need for legislation, and the US has begun to taxing cryptocurrency gains as property.
IRAs and other Cryptocurrencies IRAs
A cryptocurrency IRA is a self-directed IRA that holds cryptocurrency investments rather than cash or precious metal, stock, or bond investments. IRS rules do not authorize cryptocurrency in an IRA directly.The Internal Revenue Code, however, does not dictate what Self-Directed projects can invest in, but only assets and transactions that are not allowed. Crypto-monetary brokers and custodians view crypto-monetary IRAs as capital assets because they are not disallowed by the IRS.
Although cryptocurrency was often bought directly from a cryptocurrency company when it first appeared on the markets, this form of transaction is no longer common due to the computational complexity behind the currencies. Today, a private exchange is the most popular way to buy cryptocurrencies.
A cryptocurrency exchange is a virtual stock market where cryptocurrency from several companies is the only investment offered. Matching orders are put together between bidders and sellers by a cryptocurrency broker. Because exchanges are privately held and not regulated, prices can vary significantly between exchanges and brokers. Some cryptocurrency IRA facilitators run a private peer-to-peer cryptocurrency system and require customers to use that system while others shop between multiple open exchanges. Read more on how to buy bitcoin.
IRA Facilitators
Many IRA facilitators of cryptocurrencies run a private peer-to-peer cryptocurrency network. Consumers use their mandate on the platform while others shop between multiple open exchanges. Read more about buying bitcoin.
There are several benefits to using cryptocurrency IRAs. Digital currency held in a cryptocurrency IRA can grow in value without being taxed. Users of cryptocurrency IRAs can benefit from the extra layers of security that blockchain technology offers. With this type of IRA, one can diversify their investments, allowing for better risk management with respect to their investments. Cryptocurrencies can rise in value at a higher rate than inflation, allowing for better returns on investment than other mediums.
Challenges
It has historically been difficult to hold cryptocurrencies in a retirement account. The Internal Revenue Code bans “personal investments” when you have assets in an IRA (or Roth IRA). Instead, all retirement funds must be kept by a custodian, who must be an IRS-approved bank or “nonbank custodian” under Treas. Ag. Reg. Reg. 1.408-2(e).
The first barrier most investors encounter is that in retirement accounts, many custodians will not permit cryptocurrency. There are a few “Bitcoin IRA” custodians out there that will allow Bitcoin to invest, but they usually hold the private keys and charge large fees to do so. These custodians often operate a multi-sig wallet for the funds, which means that they do not have full control.
Cryptocurrency can be held directly to eliminate nearly all of these middleman fees. You can even be in control of your private keys.
Another form of pension plan is an “IRA checkbook.” With an IRA checkbook, the IRA’s custodian retains only one asset: an IRA-owned LLC.The IRA is the 100% shareholder of this LLC. As manager, you are concerned with the LLC’s day-to-day business and investment. When fiat currency is invested into the IRA, the IRA immediately turns around and contributes it to its wholly owned LLC. As manager, you track how these funds are being spent. Custodian approval is required, as the LLC legally holds the investment, not the IRA. The IRS issues certain “prohibited rules on transactions.”. These rules outright prohibit investment in certain assets by IRAs (and LLCs owned by IRAs).
Edel is an Editor with a decade of print and digital media experience – specializing in Science, Technology, Finance, Entertainment, and Advertising. He is also a stock and cryptocurrency investor. When Edel is not editing or analyzing charts, you can find him with his DIY lightbox taking timelapses of plants.