Cryptocurrency is an alternative to traditional currencies that operates outside of central banks and other financial institutions. It is based on a technology called blockchain, which records and verifies transactions in a secure, encrypted manner. There are different types of cryptocurrency, but Bitcoin is the best-known.

It is often used to purchase goods and services online. People also hold it as an investment, with the hope that its value will increase over time. Because of its volatility, it is important to consider how much of your portfolio to allocate to crypto. A common guideline is to keep it in a low percentage of your overall investments, such as no more than 10%.

Some people like to spend or gift their crypto, which can give them a sense of pride and satisfaction in supporting an exciting new financial system. Others prefer to store it, using digital wallets to hold their holdings. This can be convenient, cutting out the middlemen and reducing fees. There are also decentralized exchanges that allow you to trade directly with other users, for those more advanced investors.

While there are a growing number of crypto products, their development is largely unregulated and their success depends on the community’s enthusiasm and participation. This can create risks for investors, including price volatility and the risk of theft. It can also be difficult to verify the identity of developers, traders and investors.

There are many use cases for cryptocurrencies, ranging from enabling new forms of payment to providing a form of money that can be moved quickly and inexpensively. In some countries, this could mean allowing residents to bypass government controls on their financial lives. In others, it may help tackle rampant inflation and empower citizens with a currency that is not tied to any particular government.

While the future of crypto is unclear, its potential for innovation and disruption is encouraging. The key is to remain patient and remember that most revolutionary technologies take time to evolve and gain acceptance.

A cryptocurrency is either a coin or a token, depending on how it’s created and used. Tokens are used to represent ownership of other assets on the blockchain, while coins can be virtual, digital or tangible.

To understand how crypto works, it helps to think about it in terms of supply and demand. The supply is the total amount of a specific cryptocurrency available to buy, while the demand is how strongly people want it. The combination of both of these factors will determine its value. For example, if more people want to buy something with Bitcoin than are available to sell it, the price will rise. If fewer people want it, the price will fall. To further understand how crypto prices move, analysts study the on-chain data of past trades. This can help predict trends and investor reaction to events such as network upgrades, coin supply halvings and regulatory actions.