In this article, we will cover the basics of cryptocurrencies and blockchain: how cryptocurrencies work. We will analyze how cryptocurrencies were first introduced in 2009, the biggest developments in the field in more than a decade, and the main risks of cryptocurrency investments. Key Terms Cryptocurrency: all coins and tokens of value Crypto: stands for cryptocurrency or the crypto system as a whole (the two meanings are interchangeable) Coins or Currencies: blockchain native cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin *Coins mostly refer to Altcoins, commonly known as torrents, and refer to the successful issuance of Bitcoin Post Other Cryptocurrency Tokens or Passes (Token): cryptocurrencies that are not blockchain native Blockchain: the technology that supports the operation of cryptocurrencies Miners: people who run and manage the blockchain on computers Tip, crypto, cryptocurrencies, coins, and tokens are often confused or substituted for each other in use. Since the introduction of the world's first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, on January 3, 2009, the value of the entire crypto market has risen to $1.7 trillion, comparable to Canada's GDP. Today, the world's largest companies and asset managers are also entering the cryptocurrency market and have begun to buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies, even accepting them as a form of payment. So, what exactly are cryptocurrencies? And what are the risks associated with using cryptocurrencies? The Birth of Bitcoin and Blockchain Presumably many will remember that 2009 was the year that witnessed the worst financial crisis in history, one brought on by the world's largest banks. These banks were the beneficiaries of government emergency rescues and monetary easing programs (also known as money printing or quantitative easing measures), and fundamentally changed the financial systems of most developed markets. Interestingly, the creator of the world's first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), largely foresaw this financial transformation. He released a whitepaper on Bitcoin in 2008, outlining a new, revolutionary monetary system based on a new form of technology: the blockchain. Essentially, the blockchain is the “conveyor belt” on which cryptocurrencies operate. It's like a giant digital ledger that records and manages all the cryptocurrency transactions that take place in it. But unlike traditional ledgers, the blockchain is completely transparent and 100% tamper-proof. On the blockchain, anyone can check when a transaction took place. The transparent ledger is stored in thousands of computers and is constantly updated, making the blockchain tamper-proof; any illegal changes are instantly detected by the huge network of back-and-forth references. Miners and cryptocurrencies keep the “chain” going The security and immutability of the blockchain makes cryptocurrencies possible. No one can change the values in the blockchain without being noticed, and it is impossible to counterfeit or copy the cryptocurrencies located on the blockchain. All of this makes the blockchain an ideal environment for minting trustworthy “money”. Bitcoin (BTC) and its cryptocurrency counterparts are digital forms of money that cannot be imitated or counterfeited, unlike other things or fiat currencies in the “real world”. This makes cryptocurrencies very attractive to the kind of people who are dedicated to building their own blockchains and ecosystems - blockchain miners. Each blockchain exists with the help of a large number of miners, allowing the entire blockchain to run on thousands of computers. To ensure that the blockchain runs securely, earning cryptocurrency is what drives these miners to use their computing power and energy to verify and update the blockchain.
Into the age of ethereum, unlimited cryptocurrency Bitcoin and the bitcoin blockchain were invented at the same time, a secure system that produces a secure currency, prompting people to keep the system secure. It's a remarkable invention and the first of its kind; except that the way bitcoin is designed and coded limits the pipeline of uses for the bitcoin blockchain. The bitcoin blockchain is not programmable: it can only hold bitcoins. This limitation led to the creation of what is now the world's second largest blockchain: Ethereum. Ethereum has been dubbed the “world's computer” because it is a fully programmable blockchain, and its security and open source coding provide a platform for the development of innovative projects, as well as a chain that can be run afterwards. Like Bitcoin, Ethereum mints its own cryptocurrency: Ether (ETH), which is used as a form of payment for all transactions on the chain (also known as the “Gas Fee”, or miner's fee). In addition, projects running on Ethereum can issue their own cryptocurrency, called ERC-20 tokens. Ethereum-based projects can independently mint tokens that can then be traded throughout the Ethereum ecosystem. The next generation of blockchain will prove to be more open, more dynamic, and with more use cases. Countless inspired and creative industry talents are dreaming of the myriad possibilities of blockchain technology. New blockchains are popping up all the time, existing blockchains are up and running, and each one has its own coins, programming designs, and endless possibilities. What is the value of cryptocurrency? As a brand new digitized invention, it may be difficult for some to understand what gives value to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) or the thousands of different cryptocurrencies. We can hold banknotes such as dollars or euros in our hands or exchange them for goods and services, and cryptocurrencies are real.