A cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency that uses encryption techniques to control the generation of units and to verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank. It was first invented in 2009, and since then it has gained significant popularity.
Cryptocurrencies are traded across a peer-to-peer network known as a blockchain, which is secured through cryptography. This means that electronic coins are created at a rate that depends on how many computers agree to perform an algorithm in exchange for rewards (or “coins”). These coins are usually identified by an alphanumeric code called a hash function and can be sent from one user to another without going through a financial institution.
Crypto’s popularity has been growing rapidly over the past few years. This makes it difficult to understand how they work and what they mean, which is why it’s important to learn some basic terms before delving into this world of digital currencies.
But let’s make it simple today by clarifying everything cryptocurrencies for you.
What Is A Cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that uses cryptography to secure its transactions, to control the creation of additional units and to verify the transfer of assets. Cryptocurrency is decentralized and not issued by any central authority. It’s created and held electronically.
How Do Cryptocurrencies Work?
Cryptocurrencies use cryptography to secure their transactions and control the creation of new units. They can be created through a process called mining, which requires powerful computers solving increasingly complex mathematical problems. The first few units are often given to miners as a reward for contributing resources to secure them.
Cryptocurrency Terms For New Learners
Crypto is one of the most popular topics in the world today. It is a decentralized virtual currency that can be used to buy goods and services online. Cryptocurrencies are a hot topic. But for everyday people, it can be hard to understand the lingo.
Fortunately, there are several terms that you need to know when you get started in cryptocurrency. Here they are:
- Bitcoin:
Bitcoin was created by Satoshi Nakamoto as an open-source software program in 2009. It is currently the most famous cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin is both a payment system and an asset that can be used for transactions between parties anywhere in the world without having to go through traditional financial institutions such as banks or credit card companies.
- Ethereum
Ethereum is a decentralized platform for applications that run exactly as programmed without any chance of fraud, censorship or third-party interference. It uses blockchain technology to record transactions between parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way.
- Decentralization
The principle of dispersing power away from a central location. Blockchains are usually decentralised because they run and alter with the majority permission of all users, rather than a single authority.
- Decentralized Finance(DeFi)
Financial transactions made without the assistance of a middleman, such as a bank, the government, or another financial organisation.
- Decentralized Application (DApps)
Applications created by developers and installed on a blockchain are used to execute operations without the use of middlemen. Decentralized applications are frequently used to carry out decentralised finance tasks. The primary network facilitating decentralised financial operations is Ethereum.
6, Digital Gold
Due to the manner that certain cryptocurrencies may preserve value and appreciate in value, experts have compared them to actual gold on occasion. Digital gold is a typical term used to describe bitcoin.
- Hash Rate
This one is the most important term and refers to how much power your computer can mine in a given time. The higher the hash rate, the better chance you have of winning a block reward.
- Hash
The hash function is basically a mathematical formula that converts data into an irreversible string of letters and numbers that serves as proof of data authenticity.
- Proof of Work (PoW)
This is how miners verify transactions on the blockchain network by creating new blocks that contain valid transactions with their own unique hash functions produced from the parent block.
- Proof of Stake (PoS)
This type of consensus mechanism requires users who hold coins in their wallets to validate transactions through staking them instead of mining them like Bitcoin does today with its Proof-of-Work(PoW) algorithm.
- Blockchain
A blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger which can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way. The ledger itself is maintained by a network of computers which are monitored over time to ensure accurate recording
- Exchange
The act of exchanging one cryptocurrency for another. For example, if you have Bitcoin and want to trade it for Ethereum, you’d go to an exchange platform like Coinbase and trade BTC for ETH.
- Fiat
The money that we use daily in our everyday lives, like USD or Euros.
- Fork
A split in blockchain data (or currency) where two chains emerge from the original blockchain. For example, Bitcoin Cash was created when Bitcoin’s blockchain forked into two separate chains.
- FOMO
Fear Of Missing Out, a term used to describe people who are afraid they will miss out on an opportunity if they don’t act quickly enough. FOMO can often motivate people to take risks they might not otherwise take, especially when there is significant financial reward at stake!
- Hash Power
Hash power is a measurement of how much computing power is needed to confirm transactions on the blockchain network. Blockchain networks require miners (people with computers) who run programs that solve algorithms connected with mining in order to add blocks of data onto
- Wallet
A wallet is a software program that stores your private keys and allows you to send and receive cryptocurrencies. You need a wallet in order to hold or store your cryptocurrencies.
- Altcoin
Any cryptocurrency that is not Bitcoin. Altcoins use similar technology as Bitcoin but often have different economic models or purposes. Some popular altcoins include Ethereum, Litecoin, and Monero.
- Satoshi Nakamoto
The inventor of the first and most well-known cryptocurrency that uses blockchain technology. Bitcoin was created in 2009 by an anonymous person or group of people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto.
- Initial Coin Offering (ICO)
An ICO is when a company offers digital tokens in exchange for investments. This is similar to an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the stock market.
- Total Market Capitalization
This is the total value of all cryptocurrencies in circulation. It’s usually represented in US dollars.
- Total Volume
This is the total number of cryptocurrency transactions that have been made over a period of time. It’s usually represented in US dollars.
- IDO
An IDO stands for “initial decentralized exchange offering.” This is when a company raises funds by selling tokens on a decentralized exchange.
- Cold Wallet
A cold wallet is a type of cryptocurrency wallet that is not connected to the internet. This means that your coins are safe from hacks and other online threats. Cold wallets can be hardware devices like pendrives and hard disks.
It is a type of cryptocurrency storage that keeps your private keys offline and away from any potential hacking threats. The most popular way to store your cold wallet is on a USB drive or another offline computer.
- Hot Wallet
A hot wallet is the opposite of a cold wallet in that it stores your private keys online where they are more susceptible to hacking threats. However, hot wallets are generally more convenient to use than cold wallets since they can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Smart Contracts
Smart contracts are self-executing agreements that are written in code on a blockchain. These contracts can be used for everything from transferring money to exchanging data.
- Stablecoins
A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency that is designed to minimize price volatility. Stablecoins are often pegged to a fiat currency, such as the US dollar, or a commodity, such as gold.
Cryptocurrencies have been plagued by volatility since their inception. This has made them difficult to use as a means of payment or store of value. Stablecoins aim to address this issue by providing a more stable price point.
There are several different types of stablecoins, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Fiat-backed stablecoins are backed by a government-issued currency, such as the US dollar. Asset-backed stablecoins are backed by assets such as commodities or real estate. And finally, there are algorithmic stablecoins, which use algorithms to stabilize their price.
- Mining
Mining is how new Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are created. Miners are rewarded with cryptocurrency for verifying and committing transactions to the blockchain. Ethereum miners are rewarded based on their share of work done, rather than their share of the total number of blocks mined.
Conclusion
After reading through this guide, you should be able to understand the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency. We hope you enjoyed it!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them in the comments section below. We are always looking to improve our guides and make them as informative as possible!
