Established in 1930, Tooting Market in South London stands as an iconic indoor market and the UK's pioneering food market. Recognized with accolades like the Best Small Indoor Market at the 2017 Great British Market Awards, Tooting has also earned a spot among Lonely Planet’s 'Favorite Lesser-Known Neighborhoods In The World's Greatest Cities.'
The Introduction of Bitcoin Payments
Recently, local Bitcoin enthusiasts, spearheaded by Hashley Giles, a pseudonymous figure in the Bitcoin community, successfully introduced bitcoin payments at Tooting Market. With support from Bridge 2 Bitcoin, a UK-based Bitcoin circular economy builder, eight merchants, ranging from restaurants to bars and a vinyl record store, commenced accepting Bitcoin on June 18, 2024. The event witnessed the participation of notable Bitcoin community members and organizations such as CommerceBlock, Mercury Layer, CoinShares, Civkit, Bitcoin Core developers, Pleb Underground, and Lightning Network developers.
Impact and Future Outlook
This initiative holds the potential to be a turning point for Bitcoin adoption in the UK. Local traders appreciate the simplicity and permissionless nature of Lightning payments, offering a solution to banking challenges encountered by cash-based businesses. Nicholas Gregory, the lead at Mercury Layer & Civkit, emphasized the significance of such initiatives. He stated, "Local initiatives like this are key for Bitcoin. The more traders accept Bitcoin, the more we can push the state to recognize it as a legitimate form of payment, making it easier to use from a tax efficiency perspective."
UK's Bitcoin Beach Moment
This development could mark the UK's very own Bitcoin Beach moment, mirroring the success witnessed in El Zonte, El Salvador. Bitcoin Beach transformed El Zonte into a Bitcoin adoption hub, ultimately leading to Bitcoin being acknowledged as legal tender in El Salvador. Tooting Market has the potential to emerge as a focal point for Bitcoin adoption in the UK, propelling wider acceptance and utilization of Bitcoin throughout the country.
Tooting Market, with its blend of tradition and modern innovation, showcases how local communities can steer the adoption of new technologies like Bitcoin. This amalgamation of historical charm and cutting-edge finance could establish a benchmark for markets in various regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you withdraw from an IRA that holds precious metals?
First, decide if it is possible to withdraw funds from an IRA. After that, you need to decide if you want to withdraw funds from an IRA account. Next, make sure you have enough money in order for you pay any fees or penalties.
If you are willing to pay a penalty for early withdrawal, you should consider opening a taxable brokerage account instead of an IRA. If you choose this option, you'll also need to consider taxes owed on the amount withdrawn.
Next, you'll need to figure out how much money you will take out of your IRA. This calculation depends on several factors, including the age when you withdraw the money, how long you've owned the account, and whether you intend to continue contributing to your retirement plan.
Once you have determined the percentage of your total savings that you would like to convert to cash, you can then decide which type of IRA to use. Traditional IRAs allow you to withdraw funds tax-free when you turn 59 1/2 while Roth IRAs charge income taxes upfront but let you access those earnings later without paying additional taxes.
Once these calculations have been completed you will need to open an account with a brokerage. Most brokers offer free signup bonuses and other promotions to entice people to open accounts. You can save money by opening an account with a debit card instead of a credit card to avoid paying unnecessary fees.
You will need a safe place to store your coins when you are ready to withdraw from your precious metal IRA. Some storage facilities will accept bullion bars, others require you to buy individual coins. Either way, you'll need to weigh the pros and cons of each before choosing one.
Bullion bars are easier to store than individual coins. But, each coin must be counted separately. However, keeping individual coins in a separate place allows you to easily track their values.
Some people like to keep their coins in vaults. Others prefer to store them in a safe deposit box. You can still enjoy the benefits of bullion for many years, regardless of which method you choose.
What is the tax on gold in Roth IRAs?
An investment account's tax is calculated based on the current value of the account, and not on what you paid originally. So if you invest $1,000 in a mutual fund or stock and then sell it later, any gains are subject to taxes.
If you place the money in a traditional IRA, 401(k), or other retirement plan, there is no tax when you take it out. Taxes are only charged on capital gains or dividends earned, which only apply to investments longer than one calendar year.
These accounts are subject to different rules depending on where you live. For example, in Maryland, you must take withdrawals within 60 days after reaching age 59 1/2 . Massachusetts allows you to delay withdrawals until April 1. New York offers a waiting period of up to 70 1/2 years. To avoid penalties, plan ahead so you can take distributions at the right time.
Is physical gold allowed in an IRA.
Gold is money, not just paper currency or coinage. Gold is an asset people have used for thousands years as a place to store value and protect their wealth from economic uncertainty and inflation. Investors use gold today as part of their diversified portfolio, because it tends to perform better in times of financial turmoil.
Many Americans now invest in precious metals. Even though owning gold is not a guarantee of making money, there are many reasons why you might want to add gold to your retirement savings portfolio.
Another reason is that gold has historically outperformed other assets in financial panic periods. Between August 2011 to early 2013, gold prices rose close to 100 percent while the S&P 500 fell 21 per cent. During those turbulent market conditions, gold was among the few assets that outperformed stocks.
Another advantage of investing in gold is that it's one of the few assets with virtually zero counterparty risk. Even if your stock portfolio is down, your shares are still yours. But if you own gold, its value will increase even if the company you invested in defaults on its debt.
Finally, gold provides liquidity. This means that you can sell gold anytime, regardless of whether or not another buyer is available. You can buy gold in small amounts because it is so liquid. This allows you take advantage of the short-term fluctuations that occur in the gold markets.
How to Open a Precious Metal IRA
The first step in opening an Individual Retirement Account, (IRA), is to decide if it's something you want. Once you have decided to open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you will need to complete Form 806. Then you must fill out Form 5204 to determine what type of IRA you are eligible for. This form should not be completed more than 60 days after the account is opened. Once you have completed this form, it is possible to begin investing. You might also be able to contribute directly from the paycheck through payroll deduction.
Complete Form 8903 if your Roth IRA option is chosen. Otherwise, the process will look identical to an existing IRA.
To qualify for a precious-metals IRA, you'll need to meet some requirements. The IRS states that you must be at least 18 and have earned income. Your annual earnings cannot exceed $110,000 ($220,000 if you are married and file jointly) for any tax year. Contributions must be made regularly. These rules will apply regardless of whether your contributions are made through an employer or directly out of your paychecks.
You can use a precious metals IRA to invest in gold, silver, palladium, platinum, rhodium, or even platinum. You can only purchase bullion in physical form. This means you won't be allowed to trade shares of stock or bonds.
You can also use your precious metallics IRA to invest in companies that deal with precious metals. This option is offered by some IRA providers.
However, there are two significant drawbacks to investing in precious metals via an IRA. First, they don't have the same liquidity as stocks or bonds. This makes it harder to sell them when needed. They don't yield dividends like bonds and stocks. You'll lose your money over time, rather than making it.
How much of your portfolio should be in precious metals?
To answer this question we need to first define precious metals. Precious elements are those elements which have a high price relative to other commodities. This makes them valuable in investment and trading. The most traded precious metal is gold.
There are many other precious metals, such as silver and platinum. The price of gold tends to fluctuate but generally stays at a reasonably stable level during periods of economic turmoil. It is also relatively unaffected both by inflation and deflation.
In general, prices for precious metals tend increase with the overall marketplace. That said, they do not always move in lockstep with each other. When the economy is in trouble, for example, gold prices tend to rise while other precious metals fall. Investors expect lower interest rates which makes bonds less appealing investments.
When the economy is healthy, however, the opposite effect occurs. Investors choose safe assets such Treasury Bonds over precious metals. They become less expensive and have a lower value because they are limited.
You must therefore diversify your investments in precious metals to reap the maximum profits. You should also diversify because precious metal prices can fluctuate and it is better to invest in multiple types of precious metals than in one.
Is gold a good choice for an investment IRA?
Anyone who is looking to save money can make gold an excellent investment. You can also diversify your portfolio by investing in gold. There's more to gold that meets the eye.
It has been used as a currency throughout history and is still a popular method of payment. It is sometimes called the “oldest currency in the world”.
Gold is not created by governments, but it is extracted from the earth. That makes it very valuable because it's rare and hard to create.
The price of gold fluctuates based on supply and demand. The strength of the economy means people spend more, and so, there is less demand for gold. This results in gold prices rising.
On the other hand, people will save cash when the economy slows and not spend it. This leads to more gold being produced which decreases its value.
This is why it makes sense to invest in gold for individuals and companies. You'll reap the benefits of investing in gold when the economy grows.
Your investments will also generate interest, which can help you increase your wealth. In addition, you won’t lose any money if gold falls in value.
Who holds the gold in a gold IRA?
The IRS considers gold owned by an individual to be “a type of money” and is subject taxation.
To take advantage of this tax-free status, you must own at least $10,000 worth of gold and have been storing it for at least five years.
The purchase of gold can protect you from inflation and price volatility. But it's not smart to hold it if your only intention is to use it.
If you are planning to sell your gold someday, it is necessary that you report its value. This can affect the capital gains taxes that you owe when cashing in on investments.
A financial planner or accountant should be consulted to discuss your options.
Statistics
- Gold is considered a collectible, and profits from a sale are taxed at a maximum rate of 28 percent. (aarp.org)
- Indeed, several financial advisers interviewed for this article suggest you invest 5 to 15 percent of your portfolio in gold, just in case. (aarp.org)
- If you take distributions before hitting 59.5, you'll owe a 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn. (lendedu.com)
- Contribution limits$6,000 (49 and under) $7,000 (50 and up)$6,000 (49 and under) $7,000 (50 and up)$58,000 or 25% of your annual compensation (whichever is smaller) (lendedu.com)
- This is a 15% margin that has shown no stable direction of growth but fluctuates seemingly at random. (smartasset.com)
External Links
irs.gov
bbb.org
law.cornell.edu
- 7 U.S. Code SS7 – Designation board of trade as contract marketplaces
- 26 U.S. Code SS 408 – Individual retirement accounts
cftc.gov
How To
Investing In Gold vs. Investing In Stocks
Gold investing as an investment vehicle can seem extremely risky these days. This is because many people believe that gold investment is no longer profitable. This belief arises because most people believe that the global economy is driving down gold prices. They fear that investing in gold will result in a loss of money. In reality, however, there are still significant benefits that you can get when investing in gold. Here are some examples.
The oldest form of currency known to mankind is gold. It has been used for thousands of years. People around the world have used it as a store of value. It's still used by countries like South Africa as a method of payment.
It is important to determine the price per Gram that you will pay for gold when making a decision about whether or not to invest. The first thing you should do when considering buying gold bullion is to decide how much you will spend per gram. You can always ask a local jeweler what the current market rate is if you don't have it.
It is important to remember that even though gold prices have dropped in recent times, the cost of making gold has risen. So while the price of gold has declined, production costs haven't changed.
The amount of gold that you are planning to purchase is another important consideration when deciding whether or not gold should be bought. It makes sense to save any gold you don't need to purchase if your goal is to use it for wedding rings. This is not a wise decision if you're looking to invest in long-term assets. If you sell your gold for more than you paid, you can make a profit.
We hope this article helped you to gain a better appreciation of gold as a tool for investment. We strongly recommend that you research all available options before making any decisions. Only after doing so can you make an informed decision.
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By: Nicholas Gregory
Title: Bitcoin Integration at Tooting Market: A Game-Changer for UK Merchants
Sourced From: bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-now-accepted-at-south-londons-tooting-market
Published Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:48:00 GMT
