Crypto technology supports a fast method of currency exchange and trading along with the foundation
for building decentralized apps. Web3 is built on Ethereum, and could lead to a completely decentralized
internet, which could in turn reduce costs for video streaming, surface more emerging websites and brands,
and accelerate time-to-value for organizations.
Whereas a bank or financial institution uses a centralized system that is regulated, stores client information on
local servers, and has the potential to be hacked or lost if the bank goes under, cryptocurrency is decentralized
and built on blockchain technology that stores and validates encrypted information across the internet.
One of the most well-known cryptocurrencies, and the first
to be conceptualized in 2009, is Bitcoin. A couple of things to
understand about Bitcoin:
1- There is a finite amount of Bitcoin in circulation, and
a good amount is lost forever due to its sharp rise
in popularity, and thus, value. Many of the original
Bitcoin investors paid pennies and lost their key or
where they stored it.
2- The original creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto,
wrote a whitepaper called “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer
Electronic Cash System” envisioning the peer-to-peer
decentralized electronic cash system. It’s considered
recommended reading for those interested in crypto.
Find Nakamoto’s whitepaper in 40+ languages here.
