Gain knowledge about most popular coins and be prepared to start investing!

Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency. Digital money that allows quick and cheap money transfers directly between users with the use of Blockchain technology. Currently carries a name of 'digital gold' with decentralized authority.

Ethereum is a first open-source, blockchain-based, decentralized software platform with its own cryptocurrency - Ether, that enables developers to create smart contracts and build a dapps. It has its own programming language called 'Solidity'.

Ripple is more technology than the cryptocurrency. It is a digital payment network that aims to provide its users with seamless and smooth peer-to-peer money transferring platform without the interference of third-party services.

Litecoin is an open-source, peer-to-peer, global payment platform based on Bitcoin blockchain. It enables its users to transfer money between each other with the lowest possible fees and highest security using the internal currency.

Chainlink is a technology that provides a solution for a serious problem. It enables making inputs of external data to implement them into blockchain and particular smart contracts. This cryptocurrency has a bright future and is more and more popular.

Cardano, which started the third generation of blockchain, can be used to build your own application. It provides its blockchain to let people build new projects on its technology. Very similar to Ethereum.

Uniswap is a decentralized exchange protocol that enables its users to quickly and rapidly swap tokens. It was built on an Ethereum technology and accepts the Ethereum tokens only. It has a bright future and it is worth it to keep an eye on Uniswap.

EOS is an interesting and innovative technology. It enables users to host and implementation of decentralized applications. What is worth mentioning it lately announced a collaboration with Google Cloud as a block producer candidate.

Tron has huge potential. It has a noble aim to build a decentralized technology of cost-effective sharing entertainment digital content. The great thing is you can be also compensated as a content creator, which is exactly the opposite system to Facebook's one.

Tezos provides a platform to create decentralized applications and blockchain projects that cannot be censored by third parties. It is known for the additional tools and facilities that make new smart contracts highly secure.

Stellar is an open-source payment protocol that allows a liquid and quick transactions between peers with any pair of cryptocurrencies. It has its own cryptocurrency XLM which enables such transactions. Genuinely interesting technology.

Neo is a decentralized technology operating on its own blockchain. It allows the development of digital assets and smart contracts with the final aim to build a smart economy. Amazing purpose with huge growth potential.

THORChain, according to the information provided on its website is an independent crypto network that aims to enable the exchange of assets across disparate blockchain networks in a non-custodial manner. It has its token called RUNE which enables network participation.

Chiliz distributes so-called Fan Coin which powers the world's first fan engagement and rewards app. People can trade mentioned Fan Coins as well as vote in internal surveys and polls. Fan Coins/Tokens are digital assets that represent your voting right and enables to earn club-specific rewards.

Siacoin is an interesting blockchain project, which provides a decentralized cloud storage solution. It will be way cheaper and more efficient than current cloud storage services. It excludes third-party companies. All the data are stored by trustful diffused network. To access the cloud storage you need to acquire Siacoin.

Cosmos is a decentralized network that enables data exchanges between different blockchains. Its goal is to create an “internet of blockchains” that resolves the scalability and interoperability issues in blockchains. In other words, Cosmos makes a bridge between different blockchains.

Polkadot is a peculiar multi-chain-network. It aims to connect different blokchians into one seamless unified network. Polkadot's protocol greately simplify the cross-chain communications and interoperability. It was founded in 2016 by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood.

Tether was one of the core stablecoins. The company Tether Limited (based in Hong Kong) has created a digital asset with stable price, so that it could potentially be used as an equivalent of the U.S. dollar. The company claims Tether USDT is fully backed by cash equivalents.

Binance Coin launched in 2017, primarily as an ERC-20 token. Later transeferred to BEP-2 token standard. Generally, used to charge fees for Binance exchange services. Now, expanded to the independent network of Bianance Smart Chain for building another blockchain projects.

Compound is a leading DeFi (Decentralized Finance) protocol that allows users to earn interest on their cryptocurrencies by depositing them into one of several pools supported by the platform. Namely, you can land and borrow crypto with other users of the network.

Plater Network is an innovative blockhain project. It aims to build a decentralized technology for confidential information flow. It works on Plater Information Flow System for decentralized data-transferring. Currently it works on launching its IDO and token sale.

Guide to cryptocurrencies

In this place, we would like to quickly guide you through the necessary information about cryptocurrencies. All the basics you need to know are here. Let's don't waste the time and jump straight to the topic!

What is cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is a digital asset used to make quick, secure and cheap Internet-based money transfers by its owner.

Cryptocurrencies are protected by cryptography, therefore it's almost impossible to forge or hack them. A lot of cryptocurrencies are networks based on Blockchain, so the decentralized distributed ledger enforced by a separate network of computers. In other words, there are no individual party that is responsible for the processing but everything takes place individually. It is great because allows complete transparency and privacy at the same time.

Types of cryptocurrencies

The first cryptocurrency is Bitcoin. It was founded in 2009 by unidentified programmer or group of programmers under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. It was a huge innovation at the time. It remains the most popular and valuable coin on the market.

Currently, there are tons of cryptocurrencies in different types and for different purposes. However, not all of the coins are good projects, similarly as on the stock market. Not all of shares and bonds are valuable it's about the company and the goal behind it.

Altcoins

Altcoins are cryptocurrencies that were released after the Bitcoin but operate on their own Blockchain network. The good examples of the most popular altcoins are Ethereum and Litecoin.

Tokens

Tokes are the coins built with the use of already existing Blockchain. It is a pretty interesting technology. The best example of token building system is Ethereum. It has its programming language called Solidity (currently updated version to Solidity 2.0) which enables other smaller companies to build their tokens using open-source Ethereum platform.

How to use cryptocurrencies

There is not only one field to choose for cryptocurrencies. Blockchain finds use in many industries and can improve them significantly. The most obvious purpose of cryptocurrencies is payment methods and money transfer services. It can be used as an investment, information processing service or security solution as well. This is why it has such a big potential to disrupt the current ecosystem we operate in.

How to own a cryptocurrency

Buying cryptocurrencies

There are a few ways to own a cryptocurrency. The easiest is to buy one through the cryptocurrency exchange. Simply create an account, get verified, deposit funds on your accounts and you can start accumulating your crypto equity.

If you hesitate which exchange is the best, you can always use our comparison here and find your best! Remember to gain the proper knowledge before your first transaction!

Mining cryptocurrencies

Another pretty interesting way to collect crypto is to mine it. However, to start mining crypto you need extremely cheap electricity source and proper technical skills.

How to store your cryptocurrencies

To store your coins you'll need a wallet. It's a device or software with high security that enables you to receive, store and send your cryptocurrencies. It provides you with your unique and individual crypto address (something similar to bank account address) to process all of the transactions you make with crypto assets.

There are many types of crypto wallets with different features and functions which we covered for you in Wallets Section. Make sure to check it out to gain knowledge and find the best wallet for you!

Conclusion

The topic of cryptocurrencies is very wide and it's hard to explain it only one article. However, we hope you get useful knowledge, and at least brought you closer to the world of cryptocurrencies through this short guide. If you're interested in getting more in-depth information about Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies we recommend our other guides and References Section where we placed the reliable sources of knowledge that we use as well!