# What Is Cryptocurrency?

By [JWDR](https://paragraph.com/@jwdr) · 2022-05-07

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A cryptocurrency is a digital or [virtual currency](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/virtual-currency.asp) that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on [blockchain](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blockchain.asp) technology—a [distributed ledger](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/distributed-ledgers.asp) enforced by a disparate network of computers. A defining feature of cryptocurrencies is that they are generally not issued by any central authority, rendering them theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation.

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*Originally published on [JWDR](https://paragraph.com/@jwdr/what-is-cryptocurrency)*