The meaning crypto – short for cryptocurrency – is a digital currency designed to function as a store of value and a medium of exchange. It uses cryptography to secure and verify transactions, as well as to control the creation of new units of a particular digital currency.
Cryptocurrencies are distinguished from fiat currencies like the United States dollar or the British pound because no central authority issues them, making them potentially impervious to government intervention or manipulation. This article will discuss the core concept of a cryptocurrency to help facilitate your understanding of the novel financial innovation.
Meaning Crypto
A cryptocurrency (or crypto) is a digital or virtual currency that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on blockchain technology – a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers. A defining feature of cryptocurrencies is that they are generally not issued by any central authority, rendering them theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation.
What makes Crypto Unique?
Cryptocurrency is unique for many reasons. Its primary function, though, is to serve as an electronic cash system that isn’t owned by any one party. A good cryptocurrency will be decentralized where there isn’t a central bank or subset of users that can change the rules without reaching consensus.
Cryptocurrencies run on a distributed public ledger called blockchain, a record of all transactions updated and held by network participants (nodes). Nodes run software that connects them to other participants so that they can share information between themselves. They also keep a copy of the blockchain database, effectively acting as their own server. Thus, even if individual nodes go offline, their peers will still be able to get information off of other nodes.
Cryptocurrencies are therefore functional 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They allow for the transfer of value anywhere around the globe without the intervention of intermediaries. This is why we often refer to them as permissionless: anyone with an Internet connection can transmit funds.
Why Is It Called Cryptocurrency?
The term “cryptocurrency” is a portmanteau of cryptography and currency. This is simply because cryptocurrency makes extensive use of cryptographic techniques to secure transactions between users.
Who Invented Cryptocurrency?
There have been a handful of attempts at digital cash schemes over the years, but the first of the cryptocurrencies was Bitcoin, which was released in 2009. It was created by a person or group of people using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. To this day, their true identity remains unknown.
Bitcoin spawned a huge number of subsequent cryptocurrencies – some aiming to compete, and others seeking to integrate features not available in Bitcoin. Nowadays, many blockchains do not just allow users to send and receive funds, but to run decentralized applications using smart contracts. ETHereum is perhaps the most popular example of such a blockchain.
How Is Crypto Stored?
Upon purchasing cryptocurrencies, you need to store it safely to protect it from hacks or theft. Usually, cryptocurrency is stored in crypto wallets, which are physical devices or online software used to store the private keys to your cryptocurrencies securely. Some exchanges provide wallet services, making it easy for you to store directly through the platform. However, not all exchanges or brokers automatically provide wallet services for you.
There are different wallet providers to choose from. The terms “hot wallet” and “cold wallet” are used:
Hot wallet storage: "Hot wallets" refer to crypto storage that uses online software to protect the private keys to your assets.
Cold wallet storage: Unlike hot wallets, cold wallets (also known as hardware wallets) rely on offline electronic devices to securely store your private keys.
Typically, cold wallets tend to charge fees, while hot wallets don't.
Is Cryptocurrency Safe?
The blockchain technology backing cryptocurrency is inherently secure, thanks to the decentralized and public nature of distributed ledger technology and the encryption process every transaction undergoes.
But that doesn’t mean it’s completely secure in the same way most people consider the U.S. dollar or other established currencies to be secure. Since cryptocurrency isn’t backed by any governmental authority, it doesn’t have the same protections as many standard currencies throughout the world.
Closing Thoughts
The meaning crypto and its uses have come a long way over the last decade, advancing at a lightspeed pace. Value can be stored, transferred and spent in different ways through various assets and solutions, while DeFi has pioneered the way for new borrowing and lending avenues.
Some mainstream companies also view blockchain technology itself with interest, evaluating various uses such as supply chain. The future of cryptocurrency and its associated technology appears bright, judging by the growth and adoption that has been seen since 2008 when Nakamoto published the framework for a little asset called Bitcoin.
