Want to jump straight to the answer? You can buy Hedera Hashgraph on Binance and Bittrex.
Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR) proudly claims they are the 3rd generation of public ledger and many of the biggest tech companies like Google, IBM, Boeing Co. and T-Mobile seem to agree. Instead of using a blockchain like most other cryptocurrencies, Hedera Hashgraph runs on its own consensus algorithm called a Hashgraph. This algorithm uses nodes that communicate with one another to form an agreement on whether a transaction is valid or not.
Hedera Hashgraph has gotten a lot of negative press from allegations of security weaknesses and being a relatively centralized system. But, if it’s good enough for Google and IBM these claims may not be justified. Learn more about Hedera Hashgraph’s technology and how to buy it today.
What is Hedera Hashgraph?
Blockchains are the backbone of most cryptocurrencies.. A blockchain is a chain of blocks that house the transaction created, its hash string and the hash of the most recent block. The hash string acts as a unique identifier for the block, like a fingerprint. Connecting new blocks to the most recent block creates a linear chain. This chain can easily be verified because if there were any false transactions, that block wouldn’t have the correct data to continue the linear chain.
The creators of Hedera Hashgraph see blockchains as an old, inefficient system and use a nonlinear chain to ensure fast and efficient transactions. To improve the old ways of a blockchain, the Hedera Hashgraph team created its own Hashgraph consensus algorithm. This method of consensus uses a gossip protocol to create a nonlinear chain. The nodes send transaction information to one another and then the receiving nodes pass that information on, again and again to reach a consensus between the nodes to verify a transaction.
The transaction information includes the transaction created, a digital signature from the wallet and, unlike a blockchain, includes the timestamp of the transaction, a hash string identifying the last message the node received and the message that node is sending out. This is what replaces the linear nature of traditional blockchains. Connecting these messages by including the hash of the message before allows the nodes to know the history of transactions.
This verification method is what allows the Hedera Hashgraph network to run an estimated 10,000 transactions a second. Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) can only run around 3 and 12 transactions per second, respectively. These cryptocurrencies are Hedera Hashgraph’s largest competitors which sacrifice transaction throughput for security and decentralization.
This significant difference in network power also comes with much cheaper transaction fees at an average of $0.001 per transaction and less energy consumed at about 0.0017 kilowatt-hours per transaction. This efficiency is probably the most enticing part of Hedera Hashgraph, as big tech companies need high transaction throughput at a low cost. Hedera Hashgraph’s ledger technology is already being used for things like tracking the COVID-19 vaccine’s temperature-controlled supply chain.
Brief History of Hedera Hashgraph
The Hedera Hashgraph network was initially funded in 2018 through its initial coin offering (ICO) and developed by the company Hedera in Dallas, Texas. Cofounders Leemon Baird and Mance Harmon are both experienced technology developers and entrepreneurs, and the Hashgraph technology is licensed to Hedera through Baird’s company Swirlds.
Hedera Hashgraph publicly launched its mainnet in September 2019, where its native token HBAR was priced at $0.08. From there, the project has struggled to gain attention in the crypto community mainly because of its relatively centralized and private approach to building its network.
The project is controlled by Hedera and large institutions and isn’t open source. On top of not incorporating some of the biggest concepts that make cryptocurrencies so reliable, the network is susceptible to a ⅓ market takeover. The majority of other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are susceptible to a 51% takeover, so this ⅓ takeover is a really big hurdle the Hashgraph network may not overcome.
However, in recent months, HBAR has been making some major price jumps that have gained the platform a lot of traction. After the release of the COVID-19 vaccines, the National Health Service worked with Everyware, the digital asset-tracking service built on the Hedera Hashgraph network. This service was only implemented in select facilities in South Warwickshire, England, but gained Hedera Hashgraph international recognition.
How To Buy Hedera Hashgraph
- Open an online account.
Hedera Hashgraph is slowly growing in popularity within exchanges, and with that, more exchanges are offering it on their platforms as this project continues to develop. Currently, the most reliable exchange to buy HBAR is Binance. Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and insures its platform through its Secure Asset Fund for Users. Its popularity allows it to host a wide range of cryptocurrencies and trading options.
To get started on this platform, you will need to register for a Binance account. Click the Register button in the top right of the Binance web page and set up your account with an email and password. Binance will automatically check the location of your IP address, so if you’re in a restricted area, you may have to use one of its alternative platforms like Binance.us. Once you have set up an account, you can now onboard money from a bank deposit or a debit or credit card. If you already have crypto in another wallet, you can send it directly to your new Binance wallet. Check to make sure the currency is accepted, and you are sending it to an address for that specific cryptocurrency.
- Buy a wallet (optional).
Wallets are places to store your cryptocurrency keys. These keys are a set of 256 1s and 0s that gives you access to your cryptocurrencies. Keeping this information private is essential to protecting your cryptocurrency. The 2 main methods for storing private keys in a wallet offer different security and accessibility options.
- Make your purchase.
Once you’ve funded your Binance account, you will be able to convert your funds to HBAR in the convert section of the trading drop-down menu. On the conversion page, find the currency you are converting from and set the currency you are converting to as HBAR. Then input the conversion amount and HBAR will be in your Binance wallet within seconds. You can also trade either tether (USDT), BinanceCoin (BNB) or Bitcoin (BTC) for HBAR on the Binance exchange if you are looking to buy and sell more often. The exchange platform allows you to find the best HBAR prices that other traders are offering.
Best Cryptocurrency Wallets For HBAR
Best Hardware Wallet: Ledger
Ledger is one of the most popular and trusted hardware wallet companies available. The Ledger Nano X hardware wallet offers optimal security for your private keys while also being easy to use. Many crypto traders use a software wallet because they are integrated in many trading platforms and are easy to manage and access from any computer or phone.
The Ledger Nano X can connect to devices with Bluetooth to access the Ledger app, where you can transfer funds through your device to the Ledger wallet. Like any hardware wallet, it is important to physically protect the Ledger Nano X device from random occurrences like flooding or fires that could destroy the device and erase your private keys.
Best Software Wallet: Binance
As talked about in step 1, Binance offers a top-of-the-line trading platform and digital wallet service to protect your crypto. Your individual wallet is insured against potential problems with Binance but isn’t insured against personal issues with the wallet.
It is important to read the directions and manage your wallet passwords and security correctly. Keeping your Binance wallet protected is easy and already done correctly by millions of current users. The largest benefit of this wallet is its accessibility from anywhere with Wi-Fi. Plus, it’s directly integrated in the Binance exchange platform, making it extremely easy to use.
Something To Think About:
If the Hedera Hashgraph network is being used for something new like tracking a big company’s supply chain, this usually brings on a new wave of interest from large investors.
Trade, Sell or Convert your HBAR
Binance offers a wide range of finance functions to give its users full access to the financial power of crypto. With this, there are a lot of different ways to acquire HBAR. Using Binance’s conversion platform is a hassle-free way to convert your currency for another.
The price of these currencies changes every second, so the conversion price is an overestimation to reliably convert the currency and pay Binance for the service. The trading platform allows you to purchase the currencies directly at the price it’s being sold for, but Binance takes a percentage fee.
Selling your HBAR is the same process of buying it but in reverse. For any investor looking to hold or trade HBAR it is always smart to limit the amount of transactions needed so you can avoid unnecessary fees.
Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world by trading volume. In fact, it tops the ranks of cryptocurrency exchanges maintained by CoinMarketCap, which are ranked based on 24-hour trading volumes, exchange score and average liquidity. Binance triumphs over exchanges like Huobi Global and Coinbase, which follow closely in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.
Previously based in Malta, the Binance Group is now based in the Cayman Islands. Binance has several locations and entities registered across the globe. In the United States, it’s known as Binance.US. The exchange in the U.S. uses the same cutting-edge technology and trading services as its global counterparts with the difference being U.S. regulatory compliance. It is operated by San Francisco-based BAM Trading Services.
Binance.US ranks 9th on CoinMarketCap’s list of the top 10 exchanges based on metrics like 24-hour trading volume, exchange score and average liquidity. Binance could be a good platform for you to invest in cryptocurrencies if you are a U.S.-based trader who trades frequently, doesn’t intend to pay high trading fees and needs access to a large number of cryptocurrencies.
Best For
- US Citizens
- Frequent day traders
- Users interested in Binance Smart Chain (BSC) and Binance Coin (BNB)
- Low trading fees
- Easy-to-use platform
- Wide selection of altcoins — it offers 51 cryptocurrencies apart from Bitcoin (BTC)
- Good customer service
- High liquidity because of large trading volumes
- Only residents of 43 states in the U.S. can trade on Binance.US. You cannot trade on this platform in New York, Connecticut, Hawaii, Texas, Vermont, Idaho and Louisiana
- Despite the wide selection of altcoins, the number of tokens offered on the U.S. platform is not comparable to the hundreds of choices available on the Binance global platform
- There is no option for telephonic customer support
Current Crypto Prices
HBAR has had a very profitable year and continues to hold above its early prices. During the beginning of 2021, it jumped 1,250% in 3 months but has struggled with the downturn of the recent altcoin market. However, it’s a fairly small coin with a lot of potential, so extreme price fluctuations should be expected.
Is Hedera Hashgraph a Good Investment?
Hedera Hashgraph doesn’t have a strong following with the crypto community because it’s not nearly as decentralized as many of its competitors, and without the support of big organizations, it wouldn’t nearly be as successful as it’s been. But, it does have the support of big companies and has a strong development team that can bring this network to wide-scale implementation.
On top of having the technical potential, it’s still a relatively small project with only a $1.5 billion market cap. This amount of money might seem like a lot. But in the crypto world, the crypto parody coin Dogecoin (DOGE) has a market cap of $25.8 billion and the parody coin of that parody coin Shiba Inu (SHIB) has a market cap of $2.8 billion. So, there is still a lot of room for Hedera Hashgraph to grow, especially if it continues to help with big projects like COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Benzinga crafted a specific methodology to rank cryptocurrency exchanges and tools. We prioritized platforms based on offerings, pricing and promotions, customer service, mobile app, user experience and benefits, and security. To see a comprehensive breakdown of our methodology, please visit see our Cryptocurrency Methodology page.
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