Saturday, September 15, 2018

What is a 'Cryptocurrency'?

A digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. A cryptocurrency is difficult to counterfeit because of this security feature.
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Cryptocurrency
A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. A cryptocurrency is difficult to counterfeit because of this security feature. A defining feature of a cryptocurrency, and arguably its most endearing allure, is its organic nature; it is not issued by any central authority, rendering it theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation.
Breaking it Down:
The first cryptocurrency to capture the public imagination was Bitcoin, which was launched in 2009 by an... Read More
Related to "Cryptocurrency"
A Crypto Primer: Currencies, Commodities, Tokens
Here's a brief primer on the differences between cryptocommodities, cryptocurrencies, and crypto tokens. Read More
What are the Legal Risks to Cryptocurrency Investors?
Cryptocurrencies may be new, but lawmakers won't let you use that as an excuse for a free-for-all. Read More
Explaining the Crypto in Cryptocurrency
Ever wondered about the cryptography involved in cryptocurrencies? Read More
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Related Definitions
Satoshi Nakamoto
The name used by the unknown creator of the protocol used in the bitcoin cryptocurrency. Satoshi Nakamoto is closely-associated with blockchain technology. Read More
Hash
A hash is a function that converts an input of letters and numbers into an encrypted output of a fixed length. Read More
Nonce
Nonce is a number added to a hashed block, that, when rehashed, meets the difficulty level restrictions. Read More
51% Attack
51% attack refers to an attack on a blockchain - usually bitcoin's, for which such an attack is still hypothetical – by a group of miners controlling more than 50% of the network's mining hashrate, or computing power. Read More
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