The World Crypto Index guide is a complete resource for learning about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. These articles focus on the educational dynamic of cryptos. Through our guide, we aim to break down all of the technical aspects and inner-workings of cryptocurrencies into their simplest form. From buying and selling to storing and protecting, the WCI guide articles are designed to keep you as informed as possible when dealing in cryptocurrencies. There is no doubt that cryptos can be very intimidating at the start, but we will help point you in the right direction.
Cryptocurrency Guide
- What is a Cryptocurrency?
- Are Cryptocurrencies Legal?
- How Cryptocurrency Prices Are Determined in Fiat
- Differences Between Digital Assets, Tokens and Coins
- How to Buy Cryptocurrencies if You Don’t Own Bitcoin
- Are Bitcoin, Ethereum and Other Cryptos “Currency” or Speculative Assets?
- What Are Decentralized Search Engines?
- Decentralized Prediction Markets Explained
- Differences Between Bitcoin and Ethereum
- Wisdom of the Crowds Theory Explained
- What is a Coin Mixer?
- How Can Merkelized Abstract Syntax Trees Help BTC & LTC
- What is CryptoNote Technology
- Fungibility Explained
- Hard Forks vs. Soft Forks
- How Cryptography is Used in Cryptocurrency
- Differences of NXT vs. Ardor
- Differences of Dash vs. Dashcoin
- How FOMO Affects the Cryptocurrency Market
- How FUD Affects Cryptocurrency Prices
- How “Whales” Affect Cryptocurrency Markets
- What Are DARK Coins and How Do They Work?
- What Are Mining Pools and How Do They Work?
- Cryptocurrency Creator Index
- What Are Asset-Backed Cryptocurrencies?
Storage and Security Guide
- Guide to Safe Cryptocurrency Storage
- 2-Factor Authentication
- Ten Best Bitcoin Software Wallets
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Storing Cryptocurrency on an Exchange Wallet
Bitcoin Guide
- What is a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal?
- Why Bitcoin is More Valuable Than Other Cryptocurrencies
- Lightning Network Explained
- The Bitcoin Scaling Problem Explained
- How Satashi Nakamoto and Bitcoin Solved the Double Spending Problem
- How High/Low to Set a Bitcoin Transaction Fee
- World’s Most Expensive Pizza: The First Bitcoin Transaction
- How Many Bitcoin Are REALLY in Circulation?
Crypto Exchange Guide
- Bitcoin Exchanges
- Coinbase vs. LocalBitcoins
- Coinbase vs. Gemini Exchange
- 5 Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges for U.S. Traders
- Cryptocurrency Margin Trading: What is it and How Does it Work?
- What is KYC and Why Do Exchanges Require It?
Blockchain Guide
- What is the Blockchain and How Does it Work?
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Decentralized Blockchains
- What is a Merkle Tree?
- What is an Atomic Swap?
- 5 Practical, Real World Use Cases for Blockchain Technology
- How Nodes Work on the Blockchain
- What Are Sharding-Based Blockchains
- Cryptocurrency Ledger Technology
- Proof of Stake vs Proof of Work
Ethereum and Smart Contracts Guide
- What is a Smart Contract?
- Ethereum vs. Ethereum Classic
- What Are Hash Time-Locked Contracts?
- What is a Decentralized Application (DApp)?
- Will Bitcoin and Litecoin Ever Support Smart Contracts?
- What is the Raiden Network?
- What is the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA)?
ICO Guide
- Advantages and Disadvantages of ICOs vs. IPOs
- How to Spot an ICO Scam
- Why ICO’s Are Vulnerable to Price Manipulation
- 5 Biggest ICO’s In Cryptocurrency History
- Why ICO’s Don’t Allow U.S. Investors
Gambling with Cryptocurrencies
- Cryptocurrency Casinos
- Bitcoin Casino Reviews
- Dogecoin Casino Reviews
- Ethereum Casino Reviews
- Litecoin Casino Reviews
- Bitcoin Sportsbook Reviews
- Dogecoin Sportsbooks
- Ethereum Sportsbook Reviews
- Litecoin Sportsbook Reviews
Cryptocurrencies and the Blockchain
Cryptocurrencies are built using advanced forms of mathematics and science, through a practice known as cryptography. This can make it overwhelming and confusing when you start to dip your toes into cryptos for the first time. The technology behind cryptocurrencies may be complex, but using them and understanding the basics of how they work can be quite easy if you put in the time in to do so through resources like our guide.
Decentralized blockchains are what drive most cryptocurrencies and enable them to work effectively. The blockchain is simply a public ledger that records all of the transactions ever made on a cryptocurrency’s network. On most blockchains, the specific details and information for each transaction is encrypted. This allows for pseudonymous, or in some cases, fully anonymous digital transactions. Without the blockchain, all cryptocurrencies – including Bitcoin – would not work.
Smart Contracts
Smart contracts were first conceptualized in the early 1990’s, but are still a rather new development in blockchain technology. They were not really brought to the forefront of the crypto world until the Ethereum platform was launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin. Today, smart contracts are slowly but surely making their way into the mainstream world of finance and business. There are many advantages to using smart contracts with cryptocurrencies, including the ability to autonomously execute digital transactions between two or more parties.
Ethereum is certainly the most popular cryptocurrency that supports smart contracts, and there are new tokens being built on its platform all the time. Some cryptocurrencies even have their own smart contract functionality, so understanding the inner-workings of smart contracts and how they work will do you well if you are interested in the crypto market.