Cryptocurrencies emerged as a response to distrust in traditional financial systems, especially after the global economic crisis of 2008. The first and most well-known is Bitcoin, created in 2009 by a person (or group) under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.
Satoshi proposed a decentralized digital money system, without the need for banks or intermediaries. The technology that made it possible is called blockchain, a kind of digital ledger that securely and publicly records all transactions.
Bitcoin was just the beginning. Later, many other cryptocurrencies emerged, such as Ethereum, which in addition to functioning as digital money, allows for the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications.
Today, cryptos are used for investing, sending money across borders, and as a foundation for new financial technologies, although they remain controversial due to their volatility and uncertain regulation.
