You’ve probably heard terms such as cryptocurrencies , tokens, coins, altcoins or digital / virtual currencies. But what do all these terms actually mean? They are often used incorrectly instead of each other. But there is a fine difference between them. In the present paper, we will discuss the differences between coin and token.
Crypto currencies are digital or virtual currency units that are encrypted with cryptographic algorithms to enable and verify transactions. These processes work in a public book called Blockchain , which records and verifies them chronologically. Even if most crypto coins are not used as a currency or exchange tool, all coins or tokens are considered to be crypto currencies.
The term crypto currency is a misleading term. Because it technically refers to a unit of account, a value store, and a means of change. All of these features reflect Bitcoin‘s characteristics. Since the crypto currency field is created when bitcoin occurs, all other crypto coins developed after Bitcoin are normally seen as a crypto currency. However, most crypto currencies do not actually have the characteristics of a currency.
Alternate currencies or altcoins, also called coins, are a type of crypto and work independently from another platform. Each has its own natural Blockchains, where money is found. Most of the existing altcoins are Bitcoin (a fork) version, created using some of the modifications developed in the base code using the original protocol of Bitcoin. Thus new coins with different characteristics emerged. Examples of forked altcoins: Litecoin , Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash and etc.
There are also altcoins not created with bitcoin forks. Altcoins, such as Ethereum , Monero, and Ripple , use codes designed to support their own currency chains and their in-house currency. This crypto category is quite confusing. However, there are some cryptocurrencies which, in addition to their use as coins, have other functions.
The tokens are much more easily removed from the coins, since the source code in the original protocol does not need to be modified and the block is formed. Most tokens are hosted in Ethereum‘s Blockchain, and Ether is the primary currency used in the distributed book. Thus, basically, tokens are an instrument of an access or presence of a particular application built on a Blockchain system which also has a market but still technically does not have a currency.
Another difference is that the cones can exist independently, but the token requires other existing and active Blockchain platforms.
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