10 Pillars/Features of Cryptocurrencies Flashcards
What is decentralization in cryptocurrency?
Decentralization refers to the absence of a central authority or governing body, with the network maintained by distributed nodes or participants.
Why is decentralization important in cryptocurrency?
It increases security, reduces censorship risk, and makes the system more transparent.
Which cryptocurrency prioritizes decentralization as a core pillar?
Bitcoin (BTC) is a leading example of a decentralized cryptocurrency.
What is scalability in the context of cryptocurrency?
Scalability refers to the ability of a cryptocurrency network to handle more transactions efficiently without slowing down.
Why is scalability important for cryptocurrencies?
It allows the network to process more transactions quickly as usage increases, preventing delays and high fees.
Which cryptocurrency focuses on fast global transactions with low fees?
Ripple (XRP) is designed for fast, low-cost international payments.
What is the primary goal of cryptocurrencies like Solana (SOL) and Polygon (MATIC)?
These cryptocurrencies aim to improve scalability by offering fast transaction speeds and low fees.
What does ‘Proof of Work’ (PoW) mean?
Proof of Work is a consensus mechanism where miners solve complex puzzles to validate transactions and secure the network.
Which consensus mechanism consumes significant energy but provides strong security?
Proof of Work (PoW) used by Bitcoin and Ethereum (before Ethereum 2.0).
What is ‘Proof of Stake’ (PoS)?
Proof of Stake is a consensus mechanism where validators are chosen based on the amount of cryptocurrency they stake, reducing energy consumption.
Which consensus mechanism did Ethereum transition to with Ethereum 2.0?
Ethereum moved to Proof of Stake (PoS) for improved security and energy efficiency.
What is the importance of security in cryptocurrencies?
Security ensures the integrity of transactions, prevents fraud, and protects user assets from attacks.
Which cryptocurrency is known for its strong security through the Proof of Work mechanism?
Bitcoin (BTC) is known for its robust security due to its PoW consensus.
What is the focus of privacy-oriented cryptocurrencies?
Privacy coins focus on anonymizing transactions and protecting user identities from public scrutiny.
Which cryptocurrency is known for providing untraceable transactions?
Monero (XMR) is known for untraceable transactions using privacy-enhancing technology.