Back when Bitcoin (BTC) was the only cryptocurrency, there was no need to distinguish digital assets. However, when Ethereum (ETH) launched in 2015, it introduced a new class of cryptocurrencies known as digital tokens. Unlike "coins" built on their native blockchains, tokens exist on top of a pre-existing smart contract blockchain. 

While the differences between coin, token, and cryptocurrency may seem pedantic, they can help explain the diversity of projects in crypto. Knowing how to differentiate these forms of cryptocurrency will help you better understand digital assets. 

Cryptocurrencies, coins, and tokens are digital assets, but all have unique properties. Learn the key distinctions between a token and cryptocurrency.

Token vs. Cryptocurrency: Primary Uses and Differences

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) exploded across cryptocurrency during the 2021 bull market. As the frenzy for digital collectibles increased, NFT creators sought ways to better organize their token releases. Instead of minting their NFTs on the public market, many NFT projects decided to "whitelist" select wallets for a smooth release day.  

NFT whitelists allow NFT artists to create a more equitable and scam-free environment when minting their virtual tokens. Some say they create unfair dynamics by rewarding insiders. So what are NFT whitelists, and how do they impact NFT minting?

NFT whitelists provide privileged access to non-fungible tokens on their release day. Learn what NFT whitelists are and how they function.

Minting Privilege: What Is an NFT Whitelist?

Social media opens new avenues for artists and celebrities to connect with fans. Thanks to the growing power of the Internet, it's easier than ever for influencers to build a global community and establish a brand identity.

However, many content creators struggle to capitalize on this engagement. Big Tech companies still control the most valuable social media sites. They don’t make it easy for creators to monetize their content—at least, not without the platform taking a significant cut. Most influencers rely on a patchwork of traditional avenues such as affiliate marketing, advertisements, and sponsored content to make a living. 

Web3 developers are challenging Big Tech's revenue model through NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and "social tokens." Supporters of social token cryptocurrencies believe they can drive online engagement and help content creators earn passive income. Discover what social tokens are and how they could revolutionize digital communities.

Social tokens aim to help content creators monetize their work. Find out what social tokens are and how they're transforming digital engagement.

What Are Social Tokens, and Why Are Influencers Using Them?

Capital must constantly flow through financial markets, including crypto, to allow buyers to make timely trades. To ensure traders can readily buy and sell their assets, exchanges place the highest importance on liquidity. 

For most of finance’s modern-day history, high net-worth market makers have been responsible for facilitating trades. However, thanks to the development of crypto liquidity pools, people have begun rethinking how market liquidity works. Instead of relying on centralized firms, crypto liquidity pools allow everyone to contribute to the constant current of capital.

Crypto liquidity pools allow anyone to earn money being a market maker on decentralized exchanges. Learn how liquidity pools have become a cornerstone of DeFi.

A Guide to Crypto Liquidity Pools

Cryptocurrencies, or digital currencies, have most often than not been synonymous with monetary transactions. But coloring coins (not literally) was the first experiment to associate cryptocurrencies with non-monetary use cases. Although colored coins aren't widespread nowadays, many crypto enthusiasts believe they paved the way for innovations like smart contracts and NFTs (non-fungible tokens). 

Colored coins have inspired many high-profile crypto projects and technologies, and some developers are still exploring the potential benefits of colored coins across the Web3 ecosystem. If you’re interested in digging into the history of cryptocurrency, knowing all about what colored coins are is a must.

"Coloring" crypto means adding data to digital coins to create novel use cases. Find out what colored coins are and how they influence NFTs.

What Are Colored Coins? Expanding Crypto’s Applications

If you heard that a website was giving away bitcoins, you'd probably be a bit skeptical. Although many of these sites are scams, it doesn't mean they're all fake. In fact, websites called "cryptocurrency faucets" played an integral role in spreading information on blockchain tech by giving away free bitcoins. 

Crypto faucets can be a legitimate way to earn free cryptocurrency, but you have to be careful about which sites you use. Let's review what a crypto faucet is and share a few tips to ensure you're on a secure faucet portal. 

Since Bitcoin’s early days, users have been earning rewards via crypto faucets in exchange for completing tasks. But what is a crypto faucet, and how does it work?

What Is a Crypto Faucet?

Is there a way to remove centralized corporate interests from web-based applications? That’s the question early Web3 developers hoped to address using blockchain technology. Thanks to innovations on blockchains like Ethereum (ETH), it’s now possible for developers to create dApps (decentralized apps) that are fully transparent and enable a new business model. The term decentralized means that there’s no involvement of a central authority or any intermediaries.

Although blockchain dApps aren’t as mainstream as Web2 apps, they have begun carving out a space in fields such as finance, gaming, and social media. So what are dApps, and could they soon dominate the internet?

dApps are challenging people’s preconceptions of how the internet functions. Learn about what dApps are and how they differ from today’s centralized apps.

What Are dApps? Decentralized Applications Explained

What Is the Ethereum Virtual Machine? A 101 Guide

Ethereum (ETH) is one of the most revolutionary blockchains. For the first time in crypto’s history, developers launched dApps (decentralized applications) through new software called the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Without the EVM, Ethereum couldn't support smart contracts, and without smart contracts, Ethereum wouldn't have differed from prior cryptocurrencies. 

So what is the Ethereum Virtual Machine, and why is it so significant in Ethereum's ecosystem?

Ethereum uses a special software, "Virtual Machine," to process smart contracts. Learn what the Ethereum Virtual Machine is to understand how Web3 works.

Environmentalists and regulators have often criticized cryptocurrencies for their energy use. However, not every crypto project uses energy-intensive processes to run their blockchains. Thanks to the new proof-of-stake (PoS) validation system, there are many green cryptocurrencies that have a minimal impact on the environment. There are also many proposals and innovations that could make Bitcoin mining more eco-friendly.

We could consider almost all the most digital currencies, besides Bitcoin, eco-friendly cryptocurrencies. They’re becoming more common across Web3. As blockchain developers explore eco-friendly options, they could reduce the environmental impact of cryptocurrency.

Crypto faces a lot of criticism for its environmental impact. But most cryptocurrencies are eco-friendly, and many use similar energy than a google query.

Did You Know About These Eco-Friendly Cryptocurrencies?

Many applications are built such that they fall apart if bad actors create more profiles than they should. This includes social media platforms, many of which are flooded with bots, or voting tools whose results can be corrupted. 

Although Sybil attacks aren't unique to cryptocurrencies, they can hack all peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. So, if you’re interested in the crypto ecosystem, knowing what Sybil attacks are and how to avoid them is key. 

In a Sybil attack, a person or a bot spoofs a peer-to-peer network with many fake accounts. Learn what a Sybil attack is and how it applies to blockchain technology.

What Is a Sybil Attack? A 101 Guide

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