#CryptoSecurity101 Cryptocurrency 101: Bitcoin, blockchain, and basic concepts

This is the first in a series of articles exploring Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies and their fundamental technologies, and how you might find these technologies useful and use them safely.

You’ve likely heard about Bitcoin, which is a type of cryptocurrency or digital currency, and perhaps you’ve wondered what all the fuss is about. What exactly are Bitcoins and cryptocurrency, and how does such a system work?

You can think of Bitcoin as being a bit like the Apple II of cryptocurrency; just as Apple’s first mass-market computer was a revelation for personal computing, so Bitcoin is the first well-known application of an underlying technology called blockchain. The tech behind blockchain has been around since the 1990s, but wasn’t popularized until Bitcoin came along.

Before diving too deep into explaining other aspects of digital currency systems, it’s helpful to first have a foundational understanding of what a blockchain is. Later, we’ll explore more fundamental concepts and key terminology. After you’ve finished reading this series, you’ll be able to better determine whether you might want to participate in the bleeding-edge world of electronic currency.