#MetaplanetBTCPurchase Cryptocurrency is digital money that uses cryptography for security and operates on a decentralized network called a **blockchain**. Instead of being controlled by banks or governments, transactions are verified by a network of computers and recorded on a public, immutable ledger. Bitcoin was the first, and many others (altcoins) now exist, often with different purposes. While offering benefits like faster, cheaper transactions and greater user control, they also come with risks like high volatility and regulatory uncertainty.