What Is Digital Currency?
Digital currency is a form of currency that is available only in digital or electronic form, and not in physical form. It is also called digital money, electronic money, electronic currency, or cyber cash.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Digital currencies are currencies that are only accessible with computers or mobile phones, as they only exist in electronic form.
Since digital currencies require no intermediary, they are often the cheapest method to trade currencies.
All cryptocurrencies are digital currencies, but not all digital currencies are crypto.
Digital currencies are stable and are traded with the markets, whereas cryptocurrencies are traded via consumer sentiment and psychological triggers in price movement.
Understanding Digital Currency
Digital currencies are intangible and can only be owned and transacted in by using computers or electronic wallets connected to the Internet or the designated networks. In contrast, physical currencies, like banknotes and minted coins, are tangible and transactions are possible only by their holders who have their physical ownership.
Like any standard fiat currency, digital currencies can be used to purchase goods as well as to pay for services, though they can also find restricted use among certain online communities, like gaming sites, gambling portals, or social networks.
Digital currencies have all intrinsic properties like physical currency, and they allow for instantaneous transactions that can be seamlessly executed for making payments across borders when connected to supported devices and networks.
For instance, it is possible for an American to make payments in digital currency to a distant counterparty residing in Singapore, provided that they both are connected to the same network required for transacting in the digital currency.
Digital currencies offer numerous advantages. As payments in digital currencies are made directly between the transacting parties without the need of any intermediaries, the transactions are usually instantaneous and low-cost. This fares better compared to traditional payment methods that involve banks or clearing houses. Digital currency-based electronic transactions also bring in the necessary record keeping and transparency in dealings.
Difference between Digital, Virtual, and Crypto Currencies
Since they exist in a lot of variants, digital currencies can be considered a superset of virtual currencies and cryptocurrencies.
If issued by a central bank of a country in a regulated form, it is called the “Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).” While the CBDC only exists in conceptual form, England, Sweden, and Uruguay are a few of the nations that have considered plans to launch a digital version of their native fiat currencies.12
Along with the regulated CBDC, a digital currency can also exist in an unregulated form. In the latter case, it qualifies for being called a virtual currency and may be under the control of the currency developer(s), the founding organization, or the defined network protocol, instead of being controlled by a centralized regulator. Examples of such virtual currencies include cryptocurrencies, and coupon- or rewards-linked monetary systems.
Since cryptocurrencies are unregulated, they are also considered to be virtual currencies.
A cryptocurrency is another form of digital currency which uses cryptography to secure and verify transactions and to manage and control the creation of new currency units. Bitcoin and ethereum are the most popular cryptocurrencies.
Essentially, both virtual currencies and cryptocurrencies are considered forms of digital currencies.
Digital Currencies Virtual Currencies Cryptocurrencies
Regulated or unregulated currency that is available only in a digital or electronic form. An unregulated digital currency that is controlled by its developer(s), the founding organization, or the defined network protocol. A virtual currency that uses cryptography to secure and verify transactions as well as to manage and control the creation of new currency units.
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Related Terms
What is Convertible Virtual Currency?
Convertible virtual currency is an unregulated digital currency that can be used as a substitute for real and legally recognized currency. more
Virtual Currency
Virtual currency is a form of digital currency that represents monetary value in electronic form and mostly remains outside of regulatory purview. more
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a digital or virtual currency created in 2009 that uses peer-to-peer technology to facilitate instant payments. It follows the ideas set out in a whitepaper by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto, whose true identity has yet to be verified. more
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is the digital form of a country's fiat currency of that is regulated by the central bank more
How Closed Virtual Currency Works
A closed virtual currency is an unregulated digital currency that is used as payment only within certain virtual communities. more
Cryptocurrency
A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography and is difficult to counterfeit because of this security feature. more
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