A cryptocurrency is a digital asset that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies use a technology called blockchain, which is a decentralized network based on distributed ledgers made up of several different computers.
Cryptocurrencies typically exhibit the following characteristics:
- Decentralized, or at least not reliant on a central issuing authority. Instead, cryptocurrencies rely on code to manage issuance and transactions.
- Built on a blockchain or other Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), which allows participants to enforce the rules of the system in an automated, trustless fashion.
- Uses cryptography to secure the cryptocurrency’s underlying structure and network system.
Token digital are units of value that blockchain-based organizations or projects develop on top of existing blockchain networks. While they often share deep compatibility with the cryptocurrencies of that network, they are a wholly different digital asset class.
Token digital can be divided into two categories;
- Initial Coin Offering (ICO) - ICO is the cryptocurrency industry's equivalent of an initial public offering (IPO). ICO is a way that crypto companies raise funds through the sales of coins or tokens.
- Utility Token - Utility token is the token that may have some utility related to the product or service the company is offering or represent a stake in the company or project
Stablecoin is a digital currency that is pegged to a “stable” reserve asset like the U.S. dollar or gold. Stablecoins are designed to reduce volatility relative to unpegged cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. For example; USD Coin (USDC) - it is one of the most popular ways to store and trade value in the crypto ecosystem.