The 10 most important cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin - Moneyweb

What Is Cryptocurrency ?

A cryptocurrency, crypto-currency, or crypto is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange wherein individual coin ownership records are stored in a ledger existing in a form of a computerized database using strong cryptography to secure transaction records, to control the creation of additional coins, and to verify the transfer of coin ownership.


How Cryptocurrency Regulate 
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  • The system keeps an overview of cryptocurrency units and their ownership.
  • The system does not require a central authority; its state is maintained through distributed consensus.
  • The system defines whether new cryptocurrency units can be created. If new cryptocurrency units can be created, the system defines the circumstances of their origin and how to determine the ownership of these new units.
  • Ownership of cryptocurrency units can be proved exclusively cryptographically.
  • The system allows transactions to be performed in which ownership of the cryptographic units is changed. A transaction statement can only be issued by an entity proving the current ownership of these units.
  • If two different instructions for changing the ownership of the same cryptographic units are simultaneously entered, the system performs at most one of them.

Is Cryptocurrency safe?

The answer to the question is tricky as it is still an emerging asset class and has not yet gained widespread acceptance like equities, commodities and mutual funds.
To be honest, Cryptocurrency also presents some risks that are not as prevalent in traditional markets as those for bonds and stocks.  For instance, crypto exchanges have been quite vulnerable to hacks and other criminal activities. Of course, these security violations have led to significant losses for several investors who have had their digital currencies stolen.


How to Invest in Cryptocurrency

1. Choose a Crypto Exchange
2. Decide on a Payment Option
3. Place an Order
4. Select a Safe Storage Option



Types of Cryptocurrency Wallets


There are several different types of digital wallets:

  • Desktop wallets are installed on your personal computer. Since storage is on your own computer, the information is safer than with online wallets.
  • Online wallets are on the cloud and can be accessed from any computer. They're more convenient to use, but your private key is stored online and controlled by a third party. This makes them less secure.
  • Mobile wallets. As the name implies, this type of wallet is an app on your smart device. They have the advantage of being able to be used to make purchases where various cryptocurrencies are accepted.
  • Hardware wallets. These stores your private key on a hardware device, such as a USB device. They're more secure because the private key isn't stored online, where it could be accessed by unauthorized parties. They also let you access your cryptocurrency from multiple devices.