What Are Cryptocoins?
How cryptocurrency works, where to buy it, and which ones to consider
by Brad Stephenson
Updated on August 25, 2019
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Cryptocoins, also called cryptocurrency or crypto, is a form of digital currency powered by blockchain technology. Cryptocoins do not have a physical, real-world equivalent. No physical coins represent cryptocurrency value, although some replicas have been made for promotional purposes or as a visualization tool. Cryptocoins are purely digital.
Bitcoin is the most popular example of a cryptocurrency but there are many more such as Litecoin and Ethereum that are made to rival it or be used in competing markets.
How Many Crypto Currencies Are There?
Hundreds of cryptocurrencies have been created since the debut of Bitcoin in 2009. Some of these have spun-off of the Bitcoin blockchain such as Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin Gold. Others use the same technology as Bitcoin such as Litecoin, and many more are based on Ethereum or use their own unique programming language.
Like traditional fiat currencies (currency not backed by a physical commodity), some cryptocurrencies are more valuable and practical than others and most have a very limited use case. Given that anyone can create a cryptocurrency, it's likely that most will remain niche while only a few popular cryptocoins will achieve mass adoption through mining or investments and go mainstream.
What's The Most Popular Cryptocoin?
The No. 1 cryptocurrency by ownership, price, and usability is undoubtedly Bitcoin. Bitcoin's popularity is mostly a result of it being the first cryptocoin on the market and its unmistakable brand identity. Everyone's heard of Bitcoin and very few people can name another cryptocurrency. Many online and offline stores accept Bitcoin and it's also accessible via the growing number of Bitcoin ATMs popping up in major cities around the globe.
Major rivals to Bitcoin include coins such as Litecoin, Ethereum, Monero, and Dash while smaller cryptocurrencies like Ripple and OmiseGo also have the potential for larger adoption in the future due to their backing by major financial institutions.
Bitcoin spin-off currencies such as Bitcoin Cash (BCash) and Bitcoin Gold can get a lot of buzz online and their prices can appear impressive but it's unclear if they will have any true lasting power due to the growing perception of these coins as cheap imitations of the main Bitcoin blockchain.
Despite using the Bitcoin name, these coins are very much separate currencies from the main one even though they use similar technology. New investors are often tricked into buying BCash, thinking it's the same as Bitcoin when it's not.
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Bitcoin mining is the process by which bitcoins are released into circulation. Generally, mining requires the solving of computationally difficult puzzles in order to discover a new block, which is added to the blockchain. In contributing to the blockchain, mining adds and verifies transaction records across the network. For adding blocks to the blockchain, miners receive a reward in the form of a few bitcoins; the reward is halved every 210,000 blocks. The block reward was 50 new bitcoins in 2009 and is currently 12.5. On May 11th, 2020 the third halving occurred, bringing the reward for each block discovery down to 6.25 bitcoins.5 A variety of hardware can be used to mine bitcoin but some yield higher rewards than others. Certain computer chips called Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and more advanced processing units like Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) can achieve more rewards. These elaborate mining processors are known as 'mining rigs.'bitcoin qiwi Investing in cryptocurrencies and other Initial Coin Offerings ('ICOs') is highly risky and speculative, and this article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies or other ICOs. Since each individual's situation is unique, a qualified professional should always be consulted before making any financial decisions. Investopedia makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein. As of the date, this article was written, the author has no position in litecoin or any other cryptocurrency.bitcoin nodes bitcoin котировки
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