Tag: Import

The Cryptocurrency debate: Is legitimacy necessary?

Cryptocurrency, or “decentralized electronic currency,” is gaining popularity around the world these days. Last January, Nepal’s neighbor India published a “National Strategy on Blockchain” to regulate the technology. However, such currencies and transactions are absolutely prohibited in Nepal.

On the Internet recently, there has been a lot of discussion and information concerning cryptocurrencies. However, in Nepal, a correct understanding of this has yet to be created. Many people have heard of Bitcoin and have a basic knowledge of it. People, on the other hand, seemed to comprehend that ‘cryptocurrency’ means ‘bitcoin,’ and that ‘bitcoin,’ in turn, means ‘cryptocurrency.’ Not only the general people, but also the Nepal Rastra Bank, appears to believe this.

On the 13th of August 2017, the NRB issued a statement claiming that ‘Bitcoin transactions are unlawful in Nepal.’ This, however, has no bearing on other cryptocurrency coins.

Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin

According to CoinMarketCap, there are already over 10,000 cryptocurrencies in circulation around the world. Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, is the most valued and widely used. A Japanese programmer invented Bitcoin in 2009.

Thousands of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are now available around the world. Ethereum, Polkadot, Ripple, and Dogecoin are examples of cryptocurrencies. In Nepal, however, the belief that Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency is widespread.

Is it due to a lack of awareness or carelessness?

All economic transactions in Nepal are regulated by the Nepal Rastra Bank. The bank’s policy capacity is called into doubt by its statement on Bitcoin, which is also the guardian of banks, financial institutions, and digital service providers in the country.

Foreign exchange transactions can only be carried out with a license from the Rastra Bank, according to Nepalese legislation. Money must be remitted abroad to trade and invest in bitcoin. The NRB’s declaration on Bitcoin, which came after it was proclaimed that moving money overseas without permission is prohibited, appears to have caused even greater confusion among the people. Is it allowed to invest in other coins? This is an intriguing question that occurs.

Investing possibilities

The worldwide media has recently reported on persons who have made millions of dollars by investing in cryptocurrency.

Two weeks ago, it was reported that a high-ranking Gold Sachs employee had resigned after earning tens of millions of dollars using DogeCoin. Similarly, word circulated quickly that a 25-year-old American had become a millionaire at such a young age by investing in Bitcoin. While its investment and business are growing in Europe and the United States, as well as in India, it is outlawed in Nepal.

At first look, Bitcoin does not appear to be a viable investment option in Nepal, where it is prohibited to transmit money overseas without the approval of the central bank. However, based on posts and statuses on social media and in groups, it appears that a significant quantity of money is being traded surreptitiously from Nepal.

Nepalis are investing in several ways, such as through the creation of websites, peer-to-peer transactions, or through friends and relatives residing abroad. People that invest in cryptocurrencies join groups on social media sites such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Viber to trade it. Transactions, on the other hand, are not readily apparent because it is against the law.

Limitation of the declaration of illegality to paper

Many business operations that have been declared illegal by Nepalese law have not been stopped by the government. It doesn’t matter if it’s betting, Hundi, or e-commerce.

The indifference of stakeholders, despite the fact that the government’s policies and judgments are limited to paper, and the knowledge that comes out in pieces about these transactions that are done invisibly, is astounding.

Khalti, a digital service provider, alerted the Rastra Bank in April, requesting an investigation into the transaction statements of roughly a thousand users on suspicion of betting. However, the NRB has yet to take any action or make any statements in this regard.

Similarly, despite the fact that the Hundi business of transporting money from Nepal to foreign countries is unlawful, it appears that no action has been taken. Similarly, the Nepal Rastra Bank and the government appear to be on the same page when it comes to Bitcoin.

Is it important to have legitimacy?

This can be viewed from two angles. The world’s most powerful economies have endorsed cryptocurrencies, proclaiming it to be the currency of the future. Cryptocurrencies are being used to pay for restaurant bills, Netflix subscriptions, Tesla cars, and even sports tickets in some regions.

Its instantaneous legitimacy is unthinkable in Nepal, where moving money overseas is a crime. However, if Nepalese policymakers can interpret cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin differently in the near future, it may obtain legitimacy.

Trading in cryptocurrencies, which resembles stock market transactions, is less expensive than trading in fiat money (rupee, dollar, euro, pound, etc.) since cryptocurrency transfers do not require the use of a third party (bank). Without the need of a third party, money can be sent from anywhere in Nepal to anywhere in the world.

Cryptocurrency transactions are made feasible via blockchain technology. As a result, there is no need for a third party to complete the transaction. As a result, transactions are simple, secure, and rapid.

How do the transactions take place?

By opening a TMS account, you can purchase and sell cryptocurrency in the same manner you can buy and sell stocks (on the stock market). Buying and selling takes place on a variety of platforms. It can be traded on sites such as Binance, Crypto.com, Robinhood, Etoro, and Coinbase, for example.

To store this, you’ll need a crypto wallet. The use of blockchain technology is thought to be safe and dependable. To put it another way, transactions on the platforms can be compared to money kept in eSewa, and using a crypto wallet to make bank account deposits.

January 3, 2023
Stock Trading in Nepal – An Introduction

A share is essentially a fraction of a company’s ownership. Purchasing or selling shares entails acquiring or disposing of a portion of the company’s ownership. The stock market, also known as the share market, is a place where you can buy and sell stocks. In order to raise money, public corporations usually sell shares to the public, but the stock market often trades other instruments such as debentures, bonds, and mutual funds.

Dividends are a way for you to get a piece of those companies’ earnings as a shareholder. While share trading is an exciting way to earn money both actively and passively, it is also risky since investors can have to bear the loss if the company fails. As a result, as a novice, it is important that you gain a thorough understanding of the market before investing your money in stocks.

Here is a brief introduction of how you can participate in the game of stock trading.

1. GET STARTED: OPEN A DEMAT ACCOUNT

Opening a dematerialized (DEMAT) account at one of the Depositary Participant (DP) licensed by the Central Depository System and Clearing Limited (CDSC) is a prerequisite to participate in both primary and secondary market. Most commercial banks, merchant bankers and stockbrokers provide such services. If you already own some stocks in your name, then you can give your DP to dematerialize your physical share certificates into dematerialized shares. The DEMAT account is similar to a bank account which debits and credits the shares you sell or purchase. Most DP’s also provide clients with facilities to check their DEMAT account status online as well.

2. KNOW THE MARKET

To get started in the stock market, it is essential to first understand how the market functions. Securities Board of Nepal (www.sebon.gov.np); the sole regulator of the capital market is a useful source for primary information. Its website provides information on various securities laws, investor education, and upcoming public issues amongst others. Similarly, the Nepal Stock Exchange (www.nepalstock.com) the sole secondary market; and its mobile-based application is a great source to get hands-on information. There are many other popular websites that provide constant updates about the capital market such as; Share Sansar and Mero Lagani. Furthermore daily national newspapers, websites of merchant bankers and credit rating agency – icranepal.com – also provide good information.

3. PARTICIPATE IN THE PRIMARY MARKET – APPLY IN PRIMARY OFFERINGS

One of the best opportunities to participate in the capital market is to apply for primary offers in the primary market such as; Initial Public Offering (IPO) or Further Public Offering (FPO). Most companies offer primary issues to the general public at face value of NPR 100 per stock, or at a premium based on their valuations. The risk is lower when you purchase in the primary market as you get an opportunity to buy shares at a lower cost as compared to purchasing those shares in the secondary market once they are listed. Also, look out for opportunities to participate in the primary offering of mutual fund schemes which can be a beginning point.

News about primary issues generally comes out in national newspapers and are widely announced on other media platforms. Once you know the primary issues are out, you can read their prospectus to see their detail information such as; past and projected performance, & management amongst others. You can also look at their credit rating provided by a licensed credit rating agency before making the decision to invest.

4. PARTICIPATE IN THE SECONDARY MARKET– OPEN A TRADING ACCOUNT AT A STOCKBROKER OFFICE

All the stocks offered via the primary market are listed in the secondary market i.e. Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE); currently, there are 231 companies listed in the stock exchange. The secondary market provides the platform to sell the shares you hold or purchase new shares from the market. The share price of these listed companies and the value of NEPSE Index changes every day based on total demand and supply of shares in the market.

If you wish to get involved in the secondary market, you will need to open a transaction account at a stock broker’s office. There are currently 50 stockbrokers licensed by NEPSE while there are a few stock broker offices outside Kathmandu. Once you open an account with a stockbroker, they will provide you with a unique ID code via which all the transactions in your name will be executed.

To make a purchase or sale order you will simply have to call your stock brokers or visit their office to place an order, make sure you have the shares in your DMAT account before you place a sell order to your stockbroker. The stockbroker charges some commission as a brokerage fee for each transaction while you have also have to pay a capital gain tax of 5% if applicable while making sales.

5. STILL CONFUSED- SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP

If you are still confused and less confident about entering the market or you do not have time, energy and resources, do not worry as there are a number of professional licensed Portfolio Management Companies providing you with a full range of products and services under Portfolio Management Services (PMS). Based on your investment goals and expectations, these portfolio managers develop portfolios matching your risk appetite and invests in the capital markets on your behalf. The portfolio manager charges minimal annual and performance fees while these services offer you the opportunity to grasp the benefits of the capital markets. Moreover, you can also handover your existing portfolio to these portfolio managers for restructuring and further management.

All in all, as the stock market is constantly evolving and getting technical, retail investors are highly advised to seek professional advice and avoid making investments on herd mentality – invest wisely!

January 3, 2023
What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?

You’ve already heard of smart devices, autonomous robots, and self-driving cars in some form or another. They are undoubtedly innovative, but they aren’t as clever as they seem. The biggest drawback of these smart devices is their limited ability to communicate with the outside world. A car can drive itself and avoid external obstacles, but it can’t decide when to pick you up or what kind of music you want to listen to based on how your day went at work.

Consider how useful it would be if your wearable fitness devices could monitor your heart rate and the number of steps you’ve taken during the day, and then use the data to recommend workout plans that are specific to you. A system that uses an app to monitor statistics for future training and recommends diet plans. Isn’t that awesome? That, then, is the real-world application of IoT. Continue reading to learn more about IoT.

What is IoT?

In the internet of things, all devices are linked by a unique identifier known as an IP address. These smart devices are also equipped with sensors. They use their own sensors to collect data from the environment, and they work closely with other devices to do so. After that, the data is sent to central servers. The servers then store, evaluate, and process the data before sending instructions to the system to perform a particular task under certain conditions.

Implications of IoT

IoT can be applied to almost every aspect of human life. They can be used in healthcare, where data from IoT devices can help doctors determine the best treatment plan for their patients. It can also be used to avoid the disease by tracking it continuously. In the same way, it can be used in industries to power manufacturing devices and various types of equipment. In addition, IOT can be used in education to enable students to collect learning materials. They also allow teachers to monitor their students’ progress in real time. In this way, the Internet of Things plays an important part in our daily lives.

January 3, 2023