This document provides an overview of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. It begins with the origins and evolution of cryptocurrency starting with Bitcoin in 2009. It then defines cryptocurrency and explains how it works through decentralized control and distributed ledger technology like blockchain. Key features of cryptocurrency are described as trustless, immutable, and decentralized. The document outlines how to invest in cryptocurrency through exchanges and storing it in digital wallets. It covers blockchain, distributed ledgers, how blockchain works, and examples of its use in business. Initial Coin Offerings are introduced as a way for startups to raise funds by selling new digital currencies or tokens.

1. Cryptocurrency
GUIDE FOR THE BEGINNER

2. Index
 How it begins
 What is cryptocurrency
 How it works
 Cryptocurrency features
 How would investing in cryptocurrency really works
 What is Blockchain
 What is ICO

3. Evolution of cryptocurrency
Although Bitcoin was the first established cryptocurrency, there had been previous attempts for
creating online currencies with ledgers secured by encryption, which were known as B-Money
and Bitgold, which were formulated but never fully developed.
Bitcoin became the world's first entirely virtual currency when it was introduced in January 2009
by Satoshi Nakamoto a pseudonymous name. Bitcoin uses p2p technology to operate with no
central authority or banks. Nobody owns or control Bitcoin and everyone take a part
As Bitcoin increases in popularity and the idea of decentralized and encrypted currencies catch
on, the first alternative crypto currencies appear. These are sometimes known as altcoin and
generally try to improve on the original Bitcoin design by offering greater speed, anonymity or
some other advantage. Among the first to emerge were Namecoin and Litecoin. Currently there
are over 1,000 crypto currencies in circulation with new ones frequently appearing

4. What is cryptocurrency
A cryptocurrency is digital asset designed to
work as a medium of exchange that uses strong
cryptography to secure financial transactions,
control the creation of additional units, and
verify the transfer of assets. Cryptocurrency is a
kind of digital currency, virtual currency or
alternative currency. Crypto currencies use
decentralized control as opposed to centralized
electronic money and central banking systems.
The decentralized control of each
cryptocurrency works through distributed ledger
technology, typically a Blockchain, that serves
as a public financial transaction database

5. How it works

6. Cryptocurrency Features
 Trustless
 Immutable
 Decentralized

7. How would “investing” in cryptocurrency even really work?
 You find an exchange system which supports trading in one currency for another
 You pick a currency you want to trade in to the exchange
 You pick a digital currency that you want to receive in return
 The currency “pair” (USD / Bitcoin) have a certain “exchange rate”
 The exchange accepts your currency and then issues you the digital currency
 You take the digital currency that you were given and store that in a digital “wallet”
Now you’ve bought the digital currency from an exchange and you are holding that currency in a
wallet.

8. Exchange
The most common place where people buy and trade cryptocurrency is on the
exchanges. Exchanges are places where you may buy and sell your crypto, using fiat
(US dollars) or trading one cryptocurrency for another.
Some Common Exchanges are:
Coinbase
Coinmama
Bitpanda
Kraken

9. Cryptocurrency Wallets
 Simplified definition: It’s software program that stores your coin.
 Technical definition: It’s a software program that stores your private and public
keys (they come in pairs), enabling you to send and receive coins through the
Blockchain, as well as monitoring your balance.
First off, digital wallets are quite different as compared to your physical wallet. Instead
of storing money, digital wallets store private and public keys. Private keys are like
your PIN number to access your bank account, while public keys are similar to your
bank account number. When you send Bitcoin, you’re sending VALUE in the form of
a transaction, transferring the ownership of your coin to the recipient. In order for the
recipient to spend the newly-transferred Bitcoin, his private keys must match the
public address that you sent the Bitcoin to.

10. Types of wallets
 Online wallet: Accessed from the web.
 Software wallet: Application downloaded to mobile, computer or tablet.
 Hardware wallet: Physical device.
 Paper wallet: Private keys can be stores on a paper network

11. Risk Factors
 Loss or destruction of the private key
 Other cyber security risks including malicious activity
 Other risks related to trading platforms and exchanges
 Regulations preventing or restricting trading of digital currencies

12. Legality of cryptocurrency

13. Blockchain
cryptographically chains blocks
in chronological order
and allows the resulting ledger to be
accessed by different servers.
A technology that permits
transactions to be gathered into
blocks and recorded

14. What is distributed Ledger
bank
A
B
C
D
A
B
CD
E
Centralized Ledger Decentralized Ledger

15. How does ledger work

16. How does Blockchain works
 Peer to Peer network
 Cryptography
 Digital Signatures
 Nodes
 Hashing
 Proof of Stake
 Proof of Work
 Consensus Protocol

17. Blockchain for business
 Smart Contract
 Governance
 Land Title registration
 Supply Chain
 File Storage
 Protection of intellectual property
 Identity management

18. Initial Coin Offering
An Initial Coin Offering (ICO) is used by start-ups to bypass the rigorous and
regulated capital-raising process required by venture capitalists or banks.

19. What exactly is an ICO
 An ICO involves selling a new digital currency or token as a part of a way for a
company to raise funds for the new project
 If the project goes well, the value of token rises then investor made the profit

20. Top Countries and ICO
Top Countries
By the number of ICO
USA 460
UK 271
Singapore 264
Russia 252
Switzerland 165
Top Countries
By the number of ICO per million people
Estonia 119.1
Singapore 45.0
Cyprus 28.8
Switzerland 19.3
Slovenia 18.8

21. Know before you invest in ICO
 Research on upcoming ICO
 Perform your due diligence
 Open an exchange account
 Opening your own wallets to participate in ICO
 Follow the ICO instructions