Digital Currency

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21 Aug, 2024

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Digital Currency is a currency found only in an electronic form as it is used for trading over the internet. They are famous for allowing transparent and secured digital payments. Although their popularity is constantly growing, their adoption as a reliable alternative to physical money is nowhere close. Some of the popular digital currencies are Ethereum, Bitcoin and Litecoin.

Digital currencies are a form of currency that exists only in a virtual format and is not tangible. Also known as electronic currency, they are of two types, centralized, and decentralized. They are famous for allowing transparent and secured digital payments.
Centralized electronic currencies are strictly regulated just like a traditional currency is backed by the government while decentralized is unregulated.
There are many different kinds of electronic currency, and most of them are tied to speculative exchanges where one can purchase, sell and exchange them.
At this time, crypto is the most profitable and volatile asset in the digital space. Some of the popular electronic currencies are Ethereum, Bitcoin and Litecoin.

What is Digital Currency?

How Does Digital Currency Work?

Also known as electronic currency, digital currencies are of various kinds, including virtual and cryptocurrencies as one of their types. The biggest category of electronic currency includes virtual, crypto-assets and digital money. Based on their purpose and functionality, electronic currencies work in different ways.

From a legal standpoint, there are mainly two types of digital currency, centralized, and decentralized. The centralized one usually is strictly regulated with government backing. It is subjected to all movements the physical version of the currency has and works just like real money would.

With the growing popularity of digital currencies in countries like the U.S., India and Japan, nations have started working towards regulating these currencies. In 2015, New York made headlines for being the first state in the U.S. to regulate virtual currency companies. Many countries have plans to launch their own cryptocurrencies.

Decentralized currencies are unregulated. Financial institutions, like banks and exchanges, do not control it. We have virtual currencies that are speculative. These are based on solid projects that bring value or solve problems in the webspace, like Ethereum or Bitcoins.
Ethereum or Bitcoins are cryptocurrencies based on blockchain technology, a structure that records transactional data of the public in different databases of a connected network. Cryptocurrency is embedded with encryption facilities that allow for verification of the transactions.
Cryptocurrencies work like a stock market. If new features, new buyers, or an influx of money come up in price. If problems are discovered, or holders are selling they go down in price.

Digital currencies vs Virtual Currencies vs cryptocurrencies - Explained in Video

List of Digital Currencies

The list of digital currencies in the market is vast. We will list out the most popular ones below as they have a higher trade volume or are backed by established institutions.

#1 - Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the most famous and most valued cryptocurrency currently in existence, and it was created in 2008 by a group of people going by the alias Satoshi Nakamoto.

It's decentralized and uses peer-to-peer transactions to connect users worldwide without the need to pass through the bank system. It is the trendsetter for the crypto world, and its price fluctuates with the depreciation of fiat money.

#2 - Ethereum

Ethereum is a smart contract platform that allows to leverage of blockchain technology to create numerous different digital portfolios. It can create more cryptocurrencies to operate on the blockchain. It can also be sent, received, or held as digital money.

It's the second-biggest cryptocurrency and is the most used one since its applications are many and it keeps adding new useful features.

#3 - Cardano

It's the first proof-of-stake blockchain platform based upon peer to peer-reviewed research. It combines new forms of technology to guarantee it's users the most secure decentralized applications. Like many cryptocurrencies, the principal use of Cardano is to shift back power from institutions and banks to the actual people making the transactions.

#4 - Renmimbi

One of the first fiat-based electronic currencies globally, this yuan alternative is the first step for China towards the digitalization of their cashflow. It's centralized, meaning it has an institution behind it and is used as an alternative to real cash. It has currently entered the testing phase in Shanghai and is seeing positive feedback for its ease of use and security.

#5 - Polkadot

Polkadot allows for cross-blockchain transfers of assets of any kind facilitating a platform to connect with a wide web of networks. It's one of the most recent cryptocurrencies, and it tries to solve a few common problems in the space, like the need for specialized exchanges to trade between users.

How Do I Buy a Digital Currency?

To buy, sell, or trade electronic currencies, you should rely on proven and tested exchanges. Cryptocurrency exchanges are online platforms that bridge the gap between the seller and the buyer. One can purchase, sell and exchange cryptocurrencies in return of other electronic currency in most platforms.
They are even available with the facility to convert the currencies into traditional money. For example, a Bitcoin Debit Card can be recharged using any digital payment methods, and it can be used to convert the electronic currency into cash or traditional money.
The process is fairly simple, sign up on an exchange of your choice and they will allow you to store the money in a digital wallet.
Usually, the ones endowed with strong security features and owning private keys are considered the best. A private key is a confidential number that allows real ownership of the purchased currencies; otherwise, they will not be under your name.
A standard trading platform like Robinhood seldom allows possessing your own keys. As such, you should do extensive research to find the appropriate digital asset suited to your need and locate its platform.
For beginners, Coinbase, Gemini, and Binance are all great trading platforms backed by some of the industry's biggest names.