Cryptocurrency

A digital asset designed to function as money or a medium of exchange, using cryptography and usually a distributed ledger to record transactions.

Blockchain: A distributed ledger that groups records into cryptographically linked blocks. Many cryptocurrencies use blockchains to order transactions and make ledger changes detectable.
Distributed ledger: A database replicated across multiple participants who coordinate updates under shared rules. A distributed ledger is the broader recordkeeping design used by many cryptocurrency systems.
Bitcoin: A decentralized cryptocurrency introduced in 2009 with a capped issuance schedule and proof-of-work consensus. Bitcoin is the best-known cryptocurrency designed as peer-to-peer electronic cash.
Fiat money: Money issued by a government and accepted as legal tender within its jurisdiction. Cryptocurrencies generally lack the sovereign issuer and legal-tender status of fiat money.
Cryptocurrency exchange: A platform that facilitates buying, selling, or exchanging cryptocurrencies. Exchanges connect cryptocurrency markets to conventional money and concentrate custody risks.
Public-key cryptography: A cryptographic system using linked public and private keys for encryption or digital signatures. A private key lets its holder authorize cryptocurrency transfers without revealing the key.
Cryptography: The study and practice of securing information through mathematical techniques. Cryptocurrency relies on cryptography for key control, signatures, and ledger integrity.
Stablecoin: A cryptocurrency designed to maintain a relatively stable value against an asset or reference measure. Stablecoins aim to make cryptocurrency transfers less exposed to price volatility.
Central bank digital currency: A digital form of a country's official currency issued as a liability of its central bank. A central bank digital currency is centrally issued, unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrency mining: The process of proposing and validating blocks through proof of work in networks that use mining. Mining secures proof-of-work cryptocurrencies but can consume substantial electricity.

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