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