The concept of cryptocurrency first gained popularity during the 1990s technological boom. Many global enterprises sought to establish a parallel financial system that would not be subject to any central authority. Unfortunately, this idea was not well-developed then and was filled with scams and tricks to earn quick money. In 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced the first-ever cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, to the world.
Though the global adoption rate of cryptocurrency is 9.9% in 2025, many of us are still unsure about its definition, types, and many other associated terms. To answer all your cryptocurrency questions, I have written this article, taking into account the most commonly asked ones.
So if you are new to the world of this digital currency and looking to navigate its waters, or invest in it yourself, follow this blog to gain some valuable knowledge.
1. What is Cryptocurrency?
The most common cryptocurrency FAQ is ‘what is cryptocurrency?’ In layman’s terms, cryptocurrency is a virtual currency that runs on cryptography. It works as a decentralized medium of exchange. And cryptography is used to verify and conduct all the transactions.
This exchange functions using blockchain technology (more on it in the next question), which provides cryptocurrencies with their decentralized nature. It is a shared public ledger that stores all the transactions, conducted previously and will be conducted within a network.
You can use cryptocurrency to buy/ sell products, etc., without the need for any physical currency. All cryptocurrency transactions are done online, so there’s no physical bill.
Check out the table below to understand the types of cryptocurrencies along with their examples.
| Cryptocurrency Type | Example/s |
|---|---|
| Utility | Ethereum and XRP |
| Transactional | Bitcoin |
| Governance | Uniswap |
| Platform | Solana |
| Security Tokens | MS Token |
2. What is Blockchain and How is it Related to Crypto?
Blockchain is the most vital aspect of cryptocurrency; it records and verifies crypto transactions, like a digital ledger. All related transactions about digital assets, like buying, exchanging, or selling, are collected and stored in the blockchain. It is placed in the blockchain in the exact way it was received to maintain its authenticity and security.
All users get access to view the end-to-end of all information, which offers them transparency and trust. This transparency of the blockchain ledger omits the need for any central authority to handle cryptocurrency transactions and keeps its market thriving.
Related: How To Store Crypto Anonymously: Best Anonymous Crypto Wallets
3. What are the Top 10 Cryptocurrencies?
There are thousands of cryptocurrencies floating in the market. But, as a beginner, you must trust only the names that have been trusted for years. Some of the most popular cryptocurrencies in 2025 are:
| Cryptocurrency Name | *Current Price (in $) |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 107.98K |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 3.88K |
| Tether (USDT) | 1.00 |
| BNB (BNB) | 1.15K |
| XRP (XRP) | 1.15K |
| Solana (SOL) | 183.42 |
| USDC (USDC) | 1.00 |
| Lido Staked Ether(STETH) | 3.88K |
| TRON (TRX) | 0.31 |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | 0.19 |
*All the prices are from 18 October 2025, and are subject to regular changes. For accurate price information, please visit their official website or crypto market trackers.
4. Is Crypto a Good Investment?
The market of cryptocurrency is around $3.91 trillion. Still, many think twice before investing in crypto. Why? Even today, cryptocurrency is considered an unstable investment due to various associated risks, high investor losses, fraud, scams, and market volatility. Even though the virtual currency’s underlying technologies, blockchain and cryptography, are transparent and secure, the process of using and storing them can be highly complicated for investors, especially newcomers.
Alongside market risks, you should also be aware of other related risks, such as:
- User risk: There’s no way of canceling or reversing an already sent cryptocurrency transaction.
- Regulatory risk: The regulatory status of this virtual currency is still in doubt in certain areas and with some governance. In some cases, crypto is regulated as securities or currencies, or both. In case of quick regulatory changes, selling your cryptocurrencies can become hard, and there might also be a market meltdown.
- Management risk: As there are no organized regulations, there are fewer rules against irresponsible/ unethical management.
- Counterparty risk: Most of the time, investors and dealers rely on third-party exchanges to store cryptocurrencies. These exchanges can possess risks of theft or loss of your entire investment.
- Market manipulation: Another prominent cryptocurrency risk, where influential organizations, people, or exchanges promote their favored tokens.
- Programming risk: Many investment and lending platforms use smart contracts. They use it to control the flow of users’ deposits. In case of a bug or exploit in these smart contracts, it can risk your entire investment.
5. What’s the Best Crypto to Buy Now?
The sheer number of cryptocurrencies available in the market right now can be overwhelming for seasoned investors, let alone beginners. As per the popular cryptocurrency market watch website, CoinMarketCap, here are some of the most trending cryptocurrencies of today, as well as the highest gainers as of 18 October 2025.
Today’s Trending Cryptocurrencies
| Name | Price | 24h Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Boundless (ZKC) | $0.2942 | ↑60.64% |
| StrikeBit AI(STRIKE) | $0.01659 | ↑25.23% |
| EVAA Protocol (EVAA) | $3.89 | ↑20.12% |
| LAB (LAB) | $0.212 | ↑16.19% |
| ZORA (ZORA) | $0.09637 | ↑5.88% |
| PAX Gold (PAXG) | $4,395.67 | ↑3.41% |
| Quq (QUQ) | $0.0028 | ↓0.05% |
| Ark of Panda (AOP) | $0.0821 | ↓1.26% |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | $106,247.28 | ↓4.31% |
| Aster (ASTER) | $1.12 | ↓15.04% |
Today’s Highest Gainers
| Name | Price | 24h Volume |
|---|---|---|
| PAX Gold (PAXG) | $4,411.57 | ↑3.79% |
| Tether Gold (XAUt) | $4,369.21 | ↑2.95% |
6. What are the Latest Cryptocurrency Rates?
In the last 24 hours (18 Oct 2025), Bitcoin, the oldest and most popular crypto, changed by -1.84%. As per Coinbase’s website, Bitcoin’s price is at $106,820.75. BTC’s volume increased overnight by 33% but also experienced a significant dip below key technical levels.
Tether (USDT), an Ethereum token, is at $1.00, with a +0.02% increase. The market cap is currently at $181.72B.
Ethereum’s current price is $3867.11, changed by -0.82%. Its market cap is at $466.91B.
Bittensor’s native token TAO is at $398.44, an increase of 7.73%. The market cap is at $4.00B.
To check out the live status of cryptocurrencies, you can visit trading platforms like Coinbase, CoinMarketCap, etc.
7. Are Cryptocurrencies Legal and Regulated?
As of yet, the legality of cryptocurrencies varies widely among countries and governments. Since these virtual currencies have no clear laws, their legality depends on the laws specific to a country or government.
For instance:
In the US, there is no single complete federal infrastructure. The existing laws are applied to cryptocurrencies in a sector-wise manner. Like, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) considers certain crypto miners to be money transmitters, subject to certain laws.
Crypto is illegal in many countries worldwide, like Egypt, Morocco, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, and others.
Crypto is legal in Canada, the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, and many other countries.
Besides being legal and illegal, some countries have placed a banking ban on cryptocurrencies, like Cambodia, Taiwan, Iran, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Related: What Are The Potential Risks Associated With A Cryptocurrency Hot Wallet?
8. What are Private and Public Keys in Crypto?
Two of the most vital aspects of cryptocurrency are public and private keys. Think of the public key as your bank account number. It is shared with others to receive funds.
On the other hand, a private key is like your account’s PIN, secret and used to spend or access the funds.
To get a better idea, check out the table below:
| Aspect | Public Key | Private Key |
|---|---|---|
| Function | To receive crypto | Prove fund ownership, sign transactions, transfer funds |
| Analogy | It’s like your bank account number, safe to share with others | Like your bank’s password/ PIN, it needs to be secret for security |
| Generation | Generated from a private key using an unilateral mathematical function | Random generation, usually from a long string of numbers and letters |
| Use | To receive cryptocurrency from others, easy retrieval in case of losing it | To access your crypto fund, one lost, you will lose access to your funds |
9. Is Bitcoin Traceable or Anonymous?
As all Bitcoin transactions are recorded permanently on the blockchain, it is traceable. What does it mean? Every transaction, deposit and withdrawal, is visible to the public. Bitcoin movement between different addresses can be tracked. If the real identity behind the linked address is traced, all of its transactions can be traced back to the person.
This can be quite uncomfortable for some people who want to protect their privacy.
You can try the following 3 ways to protect your privacy in the Bitcoin network:
- You can make tracking complicated by using a new address for every new transaction.
- Using CoinJoin services or Bitcoin mixers can blend coins from multiple users, making the process of tracing the connection between incoming and outgoing transactions difficult.
- By using a Tor network or VPN, you can hide your IP address and get additional privacy.
10. Where and How Can Investors Buy Cryptocurrencies Today?
You can use the following three ways to invest in cryptocurrency safely:
- Traditional Brokers: Many online stock brokers are offering crypto trading besides traditional stocks. E.g., Robinhood and Interactive Brokers.
- Cryptocurrency Exchanges: Online platforms for trading crypto; these exchanges offer a variety of features and digital assets. E.g., Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken.
- Financial Apps: Apps like PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App are rapidly adding crypto trading options.
Related: 10 Major Cryptocurrency Hacks in History: Biggest Crypto Hacks
