Cryptocurrency refers to digital or virtual currencies that use cryptography for security, making them difficult to counterfeit or double-spend. They are typically decentralized and operate on a technology called blockchain, which is a distributed ledger enforced by a network of computers, known as nodes.
The most well-known cryptocurrency is **Bitcoin**, created in 2009, but there are thousands of others, including **Ethereum**, **Ripple (XRP)**, **Litecoin**, and **Cardano**. Cryptocurrencies can be used for a variety of purposes, from peer-to-peer transactions and online purchases to decent