Forks are updates to a cryptocurrency network. They are similar to how a regular update to an app on your smartphone allows developers to improve the features, security, or user experience of the software you use. Just as downloading an update is essential to get…
Decentralized Finance, “DeFi,” is a technological movement towards cheaper and open access to financial services (such as borrowing and lending) by eliminating or reducing the costs and risks that comes with centralized intermediaries such as banks. In line with the decentralization ethos of cryptocurrency, DeFi…
An NFT, or “non-fungible token,” is a token that represents a unique, digital item that exists on the blockchain. If that sentence sounds like a bunch of cryptocurrency industry jargon to you, don’t fret– we’ll unpack every component below. Token. To understand NFTs, you should…
In October 2021, the first tokenized lawsuit fund went live on Republic. Termed an “Initial Litigation Offering,” the tokenized effort is aiming to fund a case against a California county. Tokenholders of the lawsuit token will receive a stake in the resulting recovery, if any.…
Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization rate, and as such, it is often the second blockchain-based project lawyers research after Bitcoin. The Ethereum project is often an exciting revelation of blockchain technology’s applications, especially after becoming familiarized with the basics of what Bitcoin…
A smart contract is a preprogrammed contract that automatically executes if certain predefined conditions are (or are not) met. The Ethereum project defines a smart contract as a collection of code (its functions) and data (its state), all of which reside at a specific account…
In just ten years, the flagship cryptocurrency Bitcoin has garnered a wide range of prominent and notorious monikers: Bitcoin is…the future of money, Internet drug money, the future of the financial industry, a speculative bubble, a global currency, a direct threat to the U.S. Dollar,…
One of the strong selling points of cryptocurrency is the degree of anonymity it provides. However, many crypto enthusiasts feel that many popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin lack true privacy. Privacy coins are specifically designed to add a layer of privacy to the benefits and functionality…
Stablecoins offer a combination of the traits of cryptocurrencies and a fixed real-world asset, often fiat. The most popular use for stablecoins is to provide users the advantages of cryptocurrency and the blockchain, such as decentralization and quick, low-cost transactions, but with the stability of…
A cryptocurrency exchange is a platform that enables users to trade various currency and cryptocurrency types. A crypto exchange has a similar interface to a bank or investment firm, but it differs in some notable ways. The exchange acts as a central platform that connects…