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What is crypto?
What is crypto?
Adrian avatar
Written by Adrian
Updated this week

Crypto is a new form of money that's changing the way people think about finance, especially with apps and platforms like IN1, which make it easy to buy, sell, and spend crypto.

What is it?

Cryptocurrency, or "crypto," is a digital form of money that relies on encryption for security. Bitcoin, created in 2009, was the first cryptocurrency and is still the most famous. Since then, many others have been created, such as Ethereum, USDT, Solana, Litecoin, etc.

How is it different from "traditional" money?

Crypto is produced through a process known as mining, where computer power is used to solve complex mathematical problems to generate new coins.

Unlike traditional currencies issued by governments (e.g., the US dollar or Euro), cryptocurrencies are usually decentralized, meaning no single entity, such as a bank or government, controls them.

How does it work?

Cryptocurrencies run on a technology called blockchain, which is a public record of all transactions. This makes them secure and transparent since once data is added, it's nearly impossible to change.

How to use it?

People store crypto in digital wallets that are secured with private and public keys. Transactions are verified across a network, making it a peer-to-peer system.

Cryptocurrencies can be used for buying things, trading, or even investing.

They're also known for being volatile, meaning their value can go up or down quickly depending on market demand, news, or technological advancements.

However, there are cryptocurrencies that aren't characterized by high volatility – stablecoins such as USDT and USDC. Stablecoins are tied to fiat currencies and aim to provide price stability.

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