All cryptocurrencies are just computer programs that build chains made of blocks. when a computer that runs the program builds a block for the overall chain, it's called mining. That computer gets a certificate that they added that block to the chain. The certificate is what we call a coin. It's all a metaphor. The coins can be traded like stocks/commodities, and depending on how much people are willing to pay for them, they may rise and fall in value. You can also transfer them to other people, who may hold them or sell them on a cryptocurrency exchange like Binance and redeem the cash value (this is how you pay people using cryptocurrency).
The certificate/coin that you own refers back to the very block it came from so you can't counterfeit the coin.
The coin is not regulated by any party, you increase the supply by mining more, rather than printing more at will.
There is an extinction algorithm that reduces the size of the block/portion of a block generated through running the program over time when a certain length of the blockchain is reached (generally takes a few years and then the size generated is automatically reduces by 1/2) - reduces supply and increases price, reduces profitability of mining.
There is an upper limit to the total length as well which guards against inflation.
Some people think this will replace fiat currency one day, who knows...
I'm bullish on BTC.X and cryptocurrency in general, but I don't think today's rise means we're going to the moon. It means we're going to have a pullback. When it dumps, that means we're going to the moon. Something that really irks me are the cryptotubers who have huge clickbait titles and thumbnails that are excited when crypto goes up and fearful when crypto goes down. Those are normal human emotions, they also cause epic losses. I know because I trusted my instincts when I first started and just lost money. It's really irresponsible because these channels are responsible for fomo during a climb and fud during a dip, it's completely wrong, you need to do exactly the opposite. Sell in increments when it goes up, buy in increments when it goes down - it's called DCA, and if you can't buy, then hodl. So now I just buy when the cryptotubers talk about a drop in price, and make money...
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