Is crypto the same as bitcoin?

Despite its decentralized nature, transactions on most cryptocurrency networks are very secure — as long as crypto users take precautions . The underlying blockchain technology is inherently secure.

A cryptocurrency is an encrypted data string that denotes a unit of currency . It is monitored and organized by a peer-to-peer network called a blockchain, which also serves as a secure ledger of transactions, e.g., buying, selling, and transferring.

Both fiat money and cryptocurrency deliver this utility, but are different in a number of key ways. Fiat money is legal tender whose value is tied to a government-issued currency, like the U.S. dollar, while cryptocurrency is a digital asset that derives its value from its native blockchain .

crypto- a combining form meaning “hidden,” “secret,” used in the formation of compound words: cryptograph.

Cryptocurrency, sometimes called crypto-currency or crypto, is any form of currency that exists digitally or virtually and uses cryptography to secure transactions . Cryptocurrencies don’t have a central issuing or regulating authority, instead using a decentralized system to record transactions and issue new units.

Bitcoin is the name of the best-known cryptocurrency , the one for which blockchain technology was invented. A cryptocurrency is a medium of exchange, such as the US dollar, but is digital and uses encryption techniques to control the creation of monetary units and to verify the transfer of funds.

Investing in crypto assets is risky but also potentially extremely profitable. Cryptocurrency is a good investment if you want to gain direct exposure to the demand for digital currency . A safer but potentially less lucrative alternative is buying the stocks of companies with exposure to cryptocurrency.