Is There A Need For Cryptocurrencies To Be Insured?
There are over a thousand cryptocurrencies in the market, and with that brought about numerous and various software and platforms for crypto exchange and trading, such as Coinpunk, web application that lets crypto users to handle own Bitcoin wallet service that is self-hosted and accessible on their own browser. A new crypto could be made at any time. At the moment, in terms of market cap, Bitcoin is the leading digital currency, which is also the first ever crypto and most widely utilized around the globe, followed by Ethereum, Ripple and Tether.
As the market of cryptocurrency ripens, it draws in majority players in various trades and industries, one of the is the insurance industry.
As per a report by Bloomberg, cryptocurrency insurance is prepared to turn into a “big opportunity”. A spokesperson from one of the largest insurers, Allianz, mentioned to the news publication that the insurance company was looking into options for product and coverage in the cryptocurrency space since digital currencies were turning out to be more prevalent, important, as well as relevant on the actual economy.
Why Is There A Need For Insurance In The Cryptocurrency Space?
Presently, the business on cryptocurrency, wherein it largely composes of startups as well as exchanges, isn’t huge enough to furnish ample incomes and returns for the insurance industry. Based on information that is publicly available, Coinbase, the biggest cryptocurrency exchange of North America bears merely 2% of its coins covered with the insurance company Lloyd’s of London, where the coins are kept in hot storage whereas the remaining are cut off from the internet and for the status of their insurance, not enough is known.
When the volatility or the instability of the cryptocurrency space is to be considered, cryptocurrencies being insured becomes of significance. The value of Bitcoin as well as other digital currencies which shoots up has brought about cases of online thefts of digital wallets and exchanges. In January 2019, for instance, Coincheck, a Japanese crypto exchange, was hacked and stolen from, wherein they lost 500 million US dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency. A vulnerability of the crypto space is the increasing outcome of these hacks wherein the mainstream ecosystem of finance either pay less to no attention to or snubs to take as a serious matter.
For insurers or insurance companies, cryptocurrencies exhibit distinctive challenges. Usually, historical data are the basis of insurance premiums, and cryptocurrencies lack such data. Volatility or the instability of the valuations of crytpocurrencies, wherein it isn’t unusual to have value swings of three-figures, could moreover affect insurance premiums since it lessens the overall quantity of coins being covered. Ambiguity in regulations as well as the lack of management and control at crypto exchanges could make matters worse for insurers who are interested in offering insurance services and options to the crypto industry.
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