This document provides an introduction to cryptocurrencies. It defines cryptocurrency as a decentralized, peer-to-peer digital cash system. The document explains that Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency, introduced via a 2008 paper by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. It describes key concepts such as wallets to hold cryptocurrency, addresses to identify parties in transactions, public and private keys for authentication and security, coin mining to process transactions, and blockchain as the secure global ledger of all transactions recorded in blocks. Popular cryptocurrencies discussed include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, and Dash. The document aims to help readers understand what cryptocurrencies are and how they work at a high level.

1. Introduction to
Cryptocurrencies
Ashwin Chandrasekaran
Sep 2017

2. This led to...

4. At the end of this presentation,
you’ll be able to...
Describe what is a Cryptocurrency
Explain how it works?
Identify popular Cryptocurrencies
Make sense of terms - Blockchain, ICO, Bitcoin mining

5. What is a Cryptocurrency?
Decentralized
Peer-to-Peer
Digital Cash System

6. Natoshi Sakomoto
Fictional
character
used by
bitcoin
creators
Where it all began?
Concept of Bitcoin was first
introduced in this paper back in 2008
https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
It defines an effective, fool proof way for peer-to-
peer digital transactions

8. Few key concepts...
Wallet
Holds the Bitcoins. Private to an user.
Stored locally or in private cloud
Address
Identifies a party in transaction. Like a Bank
Account number. An user can have multiple
address
Private/Public Key
Public Key is like a Lock while Private Key is
like the Lock Key.
Public Key used to verify authenticity of
originator while Private Key is used to open
account
Coin Mining
Provision resources and spend
time/effort to process bitcoin
transactions
Initial Coin Offering (ICO)
Like an IPO where a company goes public
via shares, ICO is when a new cryptocurrency
is opened to public for trading
Blockchain
Growing list of transaction records - called
blocks - linked and encrypted. Think of it like
a secure global ledger of accounts

9. Source: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/
5 Popular Cryptocurrencies

10. Future of Mobile Payments

11. Future of Cryptocurrencies?

12. Useful resources
● https://blockgeeks.com/guides/what-is-cryptocurrency/
● https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
● http://thumbnails.visually.netdna-cdn.com/bitcoin-infographic_5029189c9cbaf.jpg
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoshi_Nakamoto

13. Thank you!
Ashwin Chandrasekaran
http://meetashwin.net