What Is a Crypto Coin?
Crypto Coin
The digital money Bitcoin and a host of other cryptocurrencies have quickly grown from digital novelties to trillion-dollar technologies with the potential to transform global commerce and finance. But there’s a lot to learn about this volatile market, and how best to invest in crypto depends on your investment style and risk tolerance.
A cryptocurrency is a medium of exchange that uses encryption to secure transactions and prevent fraud. It is not backed by any government or central bank, and its value is determined by supply and demand. Cryptocurrency prices are volatile, and may drop as much as 50% in a single day. Investors can buy cryptocurrencies directly through a broker or exchange, or indirectly by buying stocks or ETFs that track crypto companies or the technology behind them.
In contrast, traditional currency is issued by the government and backed by monetary authorities. The US dollar, for example, is backed by the Federal Reserve. Investors can also purchase cryptocurrencies through banks, which typically charge higher fees and require more documentation than a brokerage account. Unlike credit cards, however, there are no consumer protections for lost or stolen Bitcoins.
The term “crypto” refers to cryptographic technology, which was first developed in the 1980s. American cryptographer David Chaum pioneered the concept in his Digicash system, which used software that encrypted and decrypted digital cash and then verified that the receiver had the correct key to claim it.
Modern cryptocurrencies are built on top of blockchain networks, which provide cryptographical proof that a transaction took place and who was the owner of the tokens involved. There are many different types of cryptocurrencies, and they differ in the way that they’re mined, earned, and traded. Some, such as Bitcoin, are designed to be a unit of exchange; others are stores of value; still others can be used to participate in specific software programs. Some are even used as currencies on the darknet, where criminals buy and sell illicit goods and services, including drugs.
A crypto coin is a form of digital currency that’s native to a blockchain, often earning value through Proof of Work or Proof of Stake mining processes. Some of the most popular coins include Bitcoin, Ether and XRP. A crypto token is a programmable asset that can execute smart contracts on a blockchain, and offer platform-specific features to holders. Examples of popular tokens include adToken, which represents advertising on the Ethereum network, and Cardano, which is a competitor to Ethereum led by one of its co-founders.
Lastly, stablecoins are a category of cryptocurrencies that aim to maintain a fixed price relative to real-world assets such as the dollar. The values of most cryptocurrencies are determined by their own supply and demand, but some are pegged to traditional currencies in an attempt to stabilize their value. Examples of stablecoins include Tether and USDC.