Cryptocurrency is a form of digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography to secure its transactions and to control the creation of new units. Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, meaning they are not subject to government or financial institution control. Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was created in 2009.
Cryptocurrencies are often traded on decentralized exchanges and can also be used to purchase goods and services. Bitcoin, for example, can be used to purchase items from Overstock.com, Tesla, and other retailers.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency and a payment system, first proposed by an anonymous person or group of people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. Bitcoin is unique in that there are a finite number of them: 21 million. As of 2019, 16.7 million bitcoins had been mined.
Bitcoins are created through a process called mining, in which computers solve complex mathematical problems in exchange for new bitcoins. Bitcoin can also be purchased on decentralized exchanges.
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts: applications that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of fraud or third party interference. Ethereum was proposed in late 2013 by Vitalik Buterin, a cryptocurrency researcher and programmer.
Ethereum uses a different mining algorithm than Bitcoin, called Ethash, which reduces the efficiency of mining hardware and limits the number of miners that can participate in the network. As of 2019, Ethereum had a market capitalization of $22.5 billion.
What is a Cryptocurrency Exchange?
A cryptocurrency exchange is a platform where cryptocurrencies can be bought, sold, or traded. These exchanges are often decentralized, meaning they are not subject to government or financial institution control. Examples of decentralized exchanges include EtherDelta, IDEX, and Bancor.
centralized exchanges, such as Coinbase and Kraken, are subject to government regulation and are often used to buy or sell cryptocurrencies for traditional currencies, such as the U.S. dollar or the Euro.
What is a Cryptocurrency Wallet?
A cryptocurrency wallet is a digital or physical wallet that stores cryptocurrencies. Wallets can be desktop, mobile, or web-based. Desktop wallets are installed on a computer and provide more security than mobile or web-based wallets. Mobile wallets are installed on a mobile device and are less secure than desktop wallets. Web-based wallets are hosted by a third party and are the least secure option.
What is Mining?
Mining is a process used to create new bitcoins and to verify the transactions on the Bitcoin network. Miners are rewarded with new bitcoins for verifying transactions. Mining is done with specialized hardware and software.
What is Blockchain?
Blockchain is a technology that allows for the creation of decentralized, transparent, and tamper-proof digital ledgers. Blockchain technology is used to create cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
What is a Decentralized Exchange?
A decentralized exchange is an exchange that is not subject to government or financial institution control. These exchanges are often built on blockchain technology and use cryptocurrencies as their native currencies. Examples of decentralized exchanges include EtherDelta, IDEX, and Bancor.
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