What is a 'cryptocurrency'?

What is a 'Cryptocurrency'. A defining feature of a cryptocurrency, and arguably its biggest allure, is its organic nature; it is not issued by any central authority, rendering it theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation.

How many Americans own cryptocurrency?

14% of American adults -- roughly 21 million people -- own cryptocurrency, according to a report from Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange. New research from The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, found that over 20% of American adults that have never owned cryptocurrency -- over 50 million Americans -- are likely to buy crypto in the next year.

Should banks be looped into the cryptocurrency world?

While looping financial institutions into the cryptocurrency world would go against what many people think is a big advantage of crypto, there's a lot of interest in it. We could see banks trying to cater to this market in the future.

What was the first cryptocurrency?

Bitcoin was the first, but thousands more have come. In the past few years, thousands of new cryptocurrencies have appeared, all claiming to offer something a little different. Bitcoin was the first, and its value famously rose to around $20,000 in late 2017, then crashed more than 60% in early 2018.