A cryptocurrency (cryptocurrency), in colloquial speech "crypto," is a digital asset whose existence and circulation are ensured by cryptographic methods. Unlike ordinary money issued by central banks, many cryptocurrencies function in decentralized networks, where records of transactions are stored in a distributed ledger — the blockchain. This means there is no single authority capable of unilaterally controlling issuance or reversing transfers.

Key features

• Decentralization — the data is stored on many independent nodes.
• Cryptographic protection — transactions are confirmed by digital signatures.
• Transparency — the history of operations is open for verification in the network.
• Limited or predictable issuance — the rules of issuance are set by the protocol.

New units of many cryptocurrencies appear as a result of mining — computational work to verify transactions and form new blocks, based on solving cryptographic tasks. There are also other issuance models, for example based on the Proof-of-Stake mechanism.

Cryptocurrencies can be used for settlements, transfers, storing value, and interacting with decentralized applications. At the same time, they are characterized by high volatility, and legal regulation differs across countries, so it is important to approach working with them consciously.