Cryptocurrency is a form of digital money that uses cryptography and decentralized blockchain networks to enable secure, peer-to-peer transactions without relying on banks or governments; Bitcoin, created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, is the first and most widely known cryptocurrency, primarily used as a store of value and a digital alternative to traditional currency, while Ethereum, launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, goes beyond simple payments by enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications, with its native currency Ether (ETH) used to power transactions on its network.
