Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security and decentralization. Unlike traditional currencies, it is not regulated by banks or governments. Cryptocurrencies operate on blockchain technology—a decentralized network where information about each transaction is stored in a chain of blocks. Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency, created in 2009, and since then, thousands of others have emerged, like Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple, each with unique features and specific use cases.