Topic 5

Tokens and coins

Introduction

People often confuse the difference between tokens and coins, so we thought a brief guide on the two would be useful.

In this short blog, we’ll look at the definitions, and provide specific examples of each.

Watch Bec explain more

What is a coin?

Coins are cryptocurrencies that have their own standalone blockchain — like Bitcoin, or Ethereum. They are developed with a specific goal in mind. Bitcoin, for example, was developed for the following purpose:

 

  • “To be a censorship-resistant (can’t be stopped) store of value and medium of exchange, that has a secure and fixed monetary policy” – Ledger Academy.

 

Note: When we talk about ‘Monetary Policy’, we mean in the traditional economic sense.

 

“Monetary policy is the control of the quantity of money available in an economy and the channels by which new money is supplied” – Investopedia.

Coins can be mined

Another key characteristic of a coin is that it can be mined in a process known as  ‘Proof of Work’ (PoW) – a detailed piece on PoW is coming soon.

 

Bitcoin mining is the process of creating new bitcoins, and it occurs when miners solve extremely complicated math problems to verify transactions on the blockchain. Upon successfully solving the problem, the miner receives a predetermined amount of bitcoin (a reward).

Coin Summary

Coins can be defined by 3 key features.

Standalone Blockchain

They operate on their own standalone blockchain.

Mining

They can be mined; a process known as Proof of Work (PoW)

Specific Goals

They are created with a specific goal in mind, typically, to act as money.

What is a token?

The term ‘token’ is typically used to describe every cryptocurrency asset in the market, but if we want to get specific, tokens have the following characteristics:

 

  1. They operate on another cryptocurrency’s blockchain.
  2. They provide utility within an application’s ecosystem. 
  3. They are used to incentivize users and/or holders of the token. 
  4. They rely on smart contracts to operate.
  5. They can represent assets or deeds. 

Types of Tokens

There are different types of tokens, giving users access to a range of functions.

The Bottom Line

In summary, tokens are application-specific, operating on another cryptocurrency’s blockchain, with the goal of providing users with incentives and functions. Coins are basically a method of payment, whilst tokens can also represent a share in a company or ownership of a home. 

 

As the cryptocurrency space matures, we are seeing an evolution in how tokens offer utility, further advancing the industry, and pushing it deeper into uncharted territory.

Clutch

Clutch is a social-DeFi crypto wallet that has been built with a mission of bringing more women into crypto. We are immersing ourselves in the crypto space to continue bringing our community the most up-to-date information and instruction on how they can safely and confidently invest.