With the increasing popularity of Bitcoin, the investment patterns of the public are changing as they incline towards diversifying their portfolio and accumulating retirement wealth. Bitcoin IRA is becoming a popular tool for investors looking to put their money into high-risk asset classes like Bitcoin and earn handsome interest.The Bitcoin IRA, a Bitcoin-based retirement fund in the US that allows people to invest in Bitcoin, opened $2 million worth of accounts just five months after its launch in May 2016. This demonstrates the growing interest in crypto IRAs among investors.What does Bitcoin IRA mean?In general, traditional Individual Retirement Accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts that people use to invest in equities, bonds, cash, or any other assets to accumulate long-term savings. Based on the same concept, Bitcoin IRA is a self-directed IRA that lets you invest in non-traditional assets, such as cryptocurrencies, real estate, and precious metals, among others.Bitcoin IRA offers investors diversification of portfolios and the potential for higher returns compared to traditional investments. However, they also come with a higher degree of risk due to the volatile nature of cryptocurrency markets.Also Read: Bitcoin trades below $28,000: Should investors worry?Custodians who oversee these IRAs are in charge of these self-directed accounts and may not owe the investors any fiduciary duty regarding such investments. Therefore, investors should carefully consider which cryptocurrency to invest in and ensure that it aligns with their retirement objectives and risk tolerance.Moreover, Bitcoin isn’t the only cryptocurrency you can invest in, as you can opt for ETH, XRP, and other cryptocurrencies in the market for retirement purposes based on your preference.How do Bitcoin IRAs work?According to The Retirement Industry Trust Association’s estimates, around three to five percent of all IRAs are invested in assets such as cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin IRAs are offered as 401 investment choices, in which investors can fund their retirement accounts with cryptocurrencies instead of mutual fund units. If investors are already invested in a traditional IRA or 401 then they can roll over funds from there to a self-directed IRA.Here, a centralised party referred to as a custodian is responsible for complying with regular requirements as per jurisdiction. Similar to how banks ensure investors’ accounts tick off all checkboxes of regulation, custodians keep their crypto assets secure.Also Read: Surprising things you can purchase with BitcoinsIn an IRA setting, there are custodians, an exchange such as Binance or Coinbase that manages crypto trades, and a secure storage solution. All these requirements are fulfilled by self-directed IRA providers which either provide all three or any suitable variation. For instance, a Bitcoin IRA company can tie up with a crypto exchange or might allow its investors to trade using any third-party crypto exchange that it has partnered with.Pros and Cons of investing in Bitcoin IRAsTax advantages top all benefits Bitcoin IRAs have to offer. As investors owe taxes each time they execute a trade, it becomes tedious to keep track of all purchases and gains. Hence, people invest in Bitcoin IRAs while also benefiting from the compounding growth of value which otherwise is lost to taxes.Investors can also diversify their retirement portfolio and potentially reduce overall risk by investing in a Bitcoin IRA.According to the survey published in April 2022 by Investopedia, 28 percent of millennials expect to use cryptocurrency to support their retirement plans while 20 percent of GenX and 17 percent of GenZ nodded for the same.Also Read: Blockchain vs Artificial Intelligence: The new debate amongst tech expertsOn the flip side, Bitcoin IRAs charge more fees than traditional IRAs. The fees range from setup fees to trading fees, maintenance fees to account management fees. So, one must be aware of what are the costs associated with investing in cryptocurrency via IRA.Moreover, the losses from crypto investment through Bitcoin IRA cannot be offset due to the non-incurrence of taxes. Bitcoin IRA companies do not offer investment in traditional securities such as bonds and mutual funds. Additionally, service providers may impose a penalty for withdrawing your funds prematurely from your IRA.ConclusionThe crypto market is highly volatile hence investing in Bitcoin IRAs requires specialised management, expertise in trading, and greater security of sensitive data. Hence, investors must carefully evaluate their options based on factors such as fees, security, and expertise provided by the IRA provider. Ultimately, it’s important to do thorough research, understand the risks, and consult with a financial advisor before investing in a Bitcoin IRA or any other alternative investment.Also Read: Why you may want to avoid investing in crypto in these four countries
