However, with the introduction of smart contracts, non-fungible tokens, stablecoins, and other innovations, additional uses and capabilities for cryptocurrency are rapidly evolving.
Cryptocurrency is a virtual currency secured through one-way cryptography. It appears on a distributed ledger called a blockchain that's transparent and shared among all users in a permanent and verifiable way that's nearly impossible to fake or hack into. The original intent of cryptocurrency was to allow online payments to be made directly from one party to another without the need for a central third-party intermediary like a bank. However, with the introduction of smart contracts, non-fungible tokens, stablecoins, and other innovations, additional uses and capabilities for cryptocurrency are rapidly evolving. Cryptocurrencies are not FDIC insured and are not protected by SIPC or CFTC regulations.