Cryptocurrency – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

digital medium of exchange

A cryptocurrency is a medium of exchange, that is designed to work like a currency. Usually, cryptocurrencies use features found in strong cryptography, such as digital signatures to secure financial transactions, control the creation of additional units, and verify the transfer of assets.[1][2][3] The first of them were created to be independent of a government-issued currency.

Cryptocurrencies use decentralized control[4] as opposed to centralized electronic money and central banking systems.[5] The decentralized control of each cryptocurrency works through distributed ledger technology, typically a blockchain [6], that serves as a public financial transaction database.[7][8]Bitcoin, first released as open-source software in 2009, is generally considered the first decentralized cryptocurrency.[9] Since then, over 4,000 altcoin (alternative coin) variants of bitcoin have been created.

In many cases, cryptocurrencies cannot be converted to real currencies; it is only possible to convert them to other cryptocurrencies, or to use them to buy things. Some cryptocurrencies can be converted to real currrencies: They usually have a high volatility, and using them carries a high risk.[10] They are also a target for so-called Pump-and-Dump-Attacks.[11] They act like a big distributed economic system: As they are not issued or controlled by central banks, their value is difficult to influence: For this reason, they cannot really take the place of a stable currency.[12]

Cryptocurrencies are prone to speculation, which makes buliding a system of more or less stable exchange rates very difficult.[13] Another problem is the inequality of distribution: Many cryptocurrencires are held by only few people. As an example: about 1.000 people hold half of the total amount of bitcoins in the world. This means that if any of these persons starts using their cryptocurrency, this has an effect on the exchange rate. It also means that these people have a great influence on the value of the currency, and are able to change its value easily.[14] The currency itself only documents ownership changes. Exchange rates of cryptocurrencies are established outside the system. Exchange rates are issued by brokers and traders; their indication is no guarantee that the currency is traded at the value proposed. In itself, the unit of cryptocurrency has no value.

In contrast to cyptocurrencies, real currencies are issued and controlled by central banks. Certain econnomic phenomena such as inflation or deflation may change the value (and exchange rate) of a currency. The people who own units of the currency have no direct influence on its value.

According to Jan Lansky, a cryptocurrency is a system that meets six conditions:[15]

In March 2018, the word "cryptocurrency" was added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.[16]

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Cryptocurrency - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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