The cryptocurrency paradigm was heralded by the launch of Bitcoin (BTC) in 2008, inspiring a new technological and social movement. The goal of cryptocurrencies is to provide a medium for global, peer-to-peer transaction settlement that preserves privacy and financial security.
A cryptocurrency monetary policy is enforced through a unique blend of software, cryptography and financial incentives rather than the whim of trusted third parties such as central banks, corporations or governments. Cryptocurrencies are powered by cryptographically secure, verifiable transaction databases called blockchains, which provide their security and transparency.
A cryptocurrency network consists of a global community of stakeholders, including the validators that secure the network while adding transactions to the blockchain, the traders who speculate on these radically market-driven assets, and the builders working to onboard people to this new financial paradigm.
At Cointelegraph, we are chronicling the ongoing story of cryptocurrency and the rise of a borderless, permissionless financial system. How will industry stakeholders work to make crypto a mainstay in people’s lives? How will crypto investments change the paradigm of the current financial system? And will incumbent and legacy systems accept or fight this change?
Stay tuned: Cryptocurrencies are going to play a big role heading into the future.