ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the various definitions of digital-, virtual-, and cryptocurrencies and tokens by exploring how global regulatory bodies and organizations approach, define, categorize, and distinguish these definitions based on their differences. The chapter also describes how cryptocurrency transactions and digital wallets work by providing simple examples of digital transactions. It also explores the main features of cryptocurrencies (decentralization, safety, transparency, irreversibility, anonymity, etc.), introduces altcoins, and explores crypto market shares and trends during the last five years. The chapter ends by making a detailed reference to stablecoins (definition and types) as one of the most promising type of cryptocurrencies in the market.
