Start Here · Beginner lesson · about 3 minutes
What is crypto?
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency. That means digital money kept on a shared record that many computers look after together. Not everything called crypto works like that. Some are tokens, which are made on top of someone else's network. A stablecoin is a token meant to keep a steady price, usually one US dollar. And if a company holds your coins for you, you are trusting that company.
The short answer
Bitcoin and similar public networks keep a shared list of who sent what to whom. Many tokens, stablecoins, and accounts held by companies are not that.
In plain English
When you use a bank, the bank keeps the official record of your balance and payments. Bitcoin and similar public networks work differently: many computers keep and check the same shared record. That shared record is often called a blockchain, or a ledger: a list of who sent what to whom. Many tokens, stablecoins, and custodial products are not that.
People use “crypto” as a casual label for three different things: the technology, the network, and the coins being moved. Bitcoin is one network; BTC is the unit people send on that network. A wallet is the app or device that holds your access. An exchange is a company that helps people buy and sell. Those are related, but they are not the same thing.
What can go wrong
Read this before you act.
A price chart can make a coin look simple. It does not tell you who controls the network, what the coin does, how it can be lost, or whether it is suitable for you.
Check your understanding
A few questions. Not a test.
Pick an answer to see why it's right or wrong. There's no score to unlock.
Sources and corrections
This lesson is a starting point. The two sites below are good general places to learn more. Please tell us if something needs fixing.