A cryptocurrency is defined as a digital asset that is used as a medium of exchange. This simply means that they are an alternative form of currencies other than the commonly fiat/paper money. To secure transactions, cryptography is used, which is a system of nodes, codes or messages that make it possible to run digital currencies.
What makes cryptocurrency different from other forms?
One of the main aspects of cryptocurrency is that it is decentralized. The production of the currency is created and controlled in a decentralized form through block chain ledger. The ledger is maintained by a community of parties called miners who authorize transactions. This is the sole purpose of miners who ensure transactions are legitimate and spread them across the network. Miners earn tokens of cryptocurrency, e.g. bitcoins for the work they do. This ensures the system is safe and has high integrity level since no one party can influence it. Furthermore, there is no central server that keeps all the records about individual balances. So how does the system ensure individual transactions are recorded for future reference? A decentralized network works in such a manner that is similar to the peer-to-peer system. Different entities within a network have a list of transactions that they check to ensure future transactions are valid therefore eliminating the possibility of double spending. Easy right? This solved one of the major problematic aspects of a centralized system whereby one individual had authority. In a decentralized system, the consensus is built by peers in a network who do not even know each other therefore making it hard to influence the system. Therefore cryptocurrency success boils down to the ability of entries in a database to be executed only when certain specific conditions are met. This is different from a centralized system that is controlled by governments, Federal Reserve System, central banks through the printing of fiat money. Therefore in the world of cryptocurrencies, governments, firms or corporations cannot produce new units.
Why is this important? In using an online ledger, cryptocurrencies can meet and serve the needs of any form of existing currency like, say the dollar. However, it goes further and enables more people to have access, eliminates the powerful corporations and governments that control it while giving more convenience to individuals.
Other features
Cryptocurrencies are designed to decrease production with time and therefore a cap on the total amount that can be in circulation.
Also, they are not held as cash on hand like other currencies, but they are held in digital form.
Benefits and drawbacks
Benefits
One of the main benefits is that cryptocurrencies make it easier to transact between two parties. The transactions are facilitated through public and private keys to ensure security. An individual does not have to ask for permission or go to third parties to execute a transaction.
The transactions take place over a network and can be executed globally as long as anyone has access to the internet. This increases access beyond the limitations of the current banking system.
The transaction fee is lower than other forms of transactions through banks and wire transfers.
The blockchain technology that is used as ledger is less susceptible to hacking and it can be copied across different computers in a single transaction.
Drawbacks
-Prices of cryptocurrencies are based on demand and supply, and therefore the rate of exchange with another currency
can fluctuate widely.
-In extreme cases, in cases of wide computer crash can wipe out some digital currency if the backup holding is missing.
