Cryptocurrencies use cryptography to secure transactions and regulate the creation of additional units. Bitcoin, the original and by far most well-known cryptocurrency, was launched in January 2009. Today there are over 1,500 cryptocurrencies available online.
Cryptocurrencies differ significantly from traditional currencies as they use blockchain technology to create a distributed ledger. Nonetheless, you can still buy and sell them like any other currency and can also trade on the price movements of various cryptocurrencies via CFDs.
Cryptocurrencies fall under the banner of digital currencies, alternative currencies and virtual currencies. They were initially designed to provide an alternative payment method for online transactions. However, cryptocurrencies are not yet widely accepted for all transactions as some consider them too volatile to be suitable as methods of payment. As a decentralised currency, it was developed to be free from government oversight or influence, and the cryptocurrency markets are instead monitored by peer-to-peer internet protocol.
Bitcoin is credited with being the first decentralised cryptocurrency. Like all cryptocurrencies, it’s controlled through a blockchain transaction database, which functions as a distributed public ledger. Bitcoin was created by Satoshi Nakamoto – whether the name refers to an individual or a group is unknown.
A feature of most cryptocurrencies is that they have been designed to slowly reduce production and some have an absolute limit on supply. Consequently, in some cases only a limited number of units of the currency will ever be in circulation. For example, the number of bitcoins is not expected to exceed 21 million. Cryptocurrencies such as ethereum, on the other hand, work slightly differently. Issuance is capped at 18 million ethereum tokens per year, which equals 25% of the initial supply. Limiting the number gives it higher value.
