Cryptocurrency has grown increasingly popular over the past decade. Although Bitcoin remains one of the best-known examples, there are hundreds of other virtual currencies out there being held as investments or used to purchase goods and services. Yet despite this rising tide of popularity for cryptocurrency, many remain confused as to what exactly these digital assets are and how they work.

Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies created and managed without interference from central banks or third parties, such as insurance providers. Their value is set by market supply and demand rather than government fiat currency policies or inflation concerns; transaction costs tend to be low (if not free), making international payments faster than wire transfers.

Some experts are optimistic that cryptocurrencies could one day replace traditional currencies and payment systems, while other experts remain more wary and warn that cryptocurrencies may serve as vehicles for fraud and other forms of illegal activity, and may collapse due to hacking and security threats.

Due to these risks, it is crucial that investors research new crypto investments carefully before making decisions about them. This means researching their history, technical specifications and team. In addition, investors should ask reputable crypto projects whether this information can be made publicly available. Furthermore, investors should evaluate how widely the coin is being used – this can help stabilize its price over time.

While cryptocurrencies have made many people overnight millionaires, this form of investing is highly risky. Cryptocurrency prices tend to fluctuate rapidly and quickly lose value – making long-term planning difficult as well as leading to significant financial losses for investors.

As it should be borne in mind, cryptocurrency does not correspond with physical assets and therefore lack the same regulatory oversight as government-backed fiat currencies; therefore, they are susceptible to market manipulation and fraud, along with cybersecurity threats like malware attacks on exchanges or digital wallets.

Diversifying a cryptocurrency portfolio is the best way to reduce risks, and increase chances of making profitable investments. By diversifying, your overall risk decreases while your potential returns increase significantly.