Cryptocurrencies are decentralized digital currencies that use blockchain to secure transactions.
🔸 Blockchain: Distributed ledger technology that records all transactions transparently and immutably.
🔸 Bitcoin (BTC): First cryptocurrency created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, often considered a store of value ("digital gold").
🔸 Ethereum (ETH): Platform enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps).
🔸 Altcoins: Other cryptocurrencies than Bitcoin (e.g., Litecoin, Ripple, Cardano), each with specific use cases.
🔸 Volatility: Crypto prices can vary extremely quickly, offering both opportunities and high risks.
🔸 Wallet: Digital tool for storing cryptocurrencies (hot wallet online, cold wallet offline).
🔸 Regulation: Laws vary by country (some ban them, others strictly regulate them).
🔸 Uses: Peer-to-peer transactions, investment, DeFi (decentralized finance), NFTs, etc.
🔸 Security: Importance of protecting one's private keys and verifying exchange platforms (risks of hacking and scams).
In 2024, cryptocurrencies continue to evolve with the arrival of new regulations and technologies like Web3.
