If you are new to cryptocurrency, you might have used token and coin word interchangeably to refer digital coins. But do you know that there's a massive <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/difference-between-coins-and-tokens">difference between coins and tokens</a>? In this article about crypto tokens vs coins, we are going to clear all your confusion regarding Tokens and Coins in cryptocurrency. We will provide you with a proper definition of <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/difference-between-coins-and-tokens">what is a coin in cryptocurrency</a> and what is token in cryptocurrency with relevant examples. Keep reading to know why there's so much confusion about the same and how they are different from each other. Now, let's start without wasting another moment.
<h2>What Is A Coin In Cryptocurrency</h2>
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To know the difference between coins and tokens, we must understand both of them separately first. In simple words, coins are nothing else but digital currencies such as Bitcoin and altcoins. If you <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/how-to-invest-in-bitcoin/">know about Bitcoin</a>, you must understand that it increases in value with time. You can also say that Digital currencies are the new form of money.

Bitcoin is the first and most valuable coin in cryptocurrency that is based on blockchain technology. Blockchain is the underlying technology of these coins, which gives them transparency while reducing the risk of frauds.

After Bitcoin, many other coins came into existence, some based on Bitcoin's original protocol and some build on their own blockchain. Litecoin and Namecoin are two examples of such coin which was built on Bitcoin's protocol, whereas altcoins such as Ripple and Monero operate on their own blockchain.
<h2>What are the characteristics of Digital coins?</h2>
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The reason why coins are compared to money and said to take its place is its similar characteristics. Just like money, coins are mutually interchangeable, enduring, portable, and limited.

Characteristics of digital coins:
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<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165267" src="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/crypto/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Characteristics-of-digital-coins.png" alt="characteristics of digital coins" width="800" height="492" />
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<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">The way these coins are created, there's no need to depend on someone else or trust anybody. Whenever someone processes a transaction, it is verified by each node present in the blockchain, which eliminates any chances of fraud. And if each node doesn't confirm the transaction, it will be discarded beforehand. So, the first characteristic of the coin is that they are trustless, which is because of its underlying decentralized ledger, i.e. blockchain.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">The second characteristic of the digital coin, which makes it best in the sense of security is that it is immutable. Once processed, transactions cannot be reversed or undone. No one except the owner of the coin can process transactions and once send to anyone else; he would have no control to those coins.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Coins are decentralized.</li>
</ul>
Coins are only meant to work as money, and there's no role of them beyond that.
<h2>What Is A Token In Cryptocurrency</h2>
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Tokens, unlike coins, do not have their own blockchain; instead, they are built on the existing blockchain of the coins. For example, the tokens built on Ethereum blockchain are named ERC-20. These tokens are used for various purposes such as raising funds in a crowd sale or Initial Public Offerings. Once purchased through an ICO, the tokens represent your share in the company and give you certain rights in decision making for the company. This is why many of the people out there also called crypto tokens, digital assets or equity.
<h2>What's The Functionality Of Crypto Token?</h2>
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To understand the difference between coins and tokens, one must know how tokens works and their uses. Despite, that tokens are not built on their unique blockchain and use the blockchain of a particular cryptocurrency, their functionality is beyond coins. Coins that are simply functioned to work as money cannot be considered similar crypto tokens. So, if a token is built on Bitcoin blockchain, it would be called Bitcoin token, and if built on Ethereum, it would be called Etheruem token, and this goes for all cryptocurrencies.

Now that you know <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/difference-between-coins-and-tokens">what is a cryptocurrency token</a>, let’s know its functionality. In order to create a token on a specific blockchain, let's say Bitcoin, one would need to spend some Bitcoins to get the token validated by the miners. Some tokens are also created to allow users to access premium features of the application they were built for. One such token is Musicoin which when purchased gives the owner accessibility to various features of the Musicoin platform.

If we take the example of Binance, which has its own token BNB, it allows the users to get a 50% discount on the trading of cryptocurrencies. BNB token which is now referred to as Binance coin was initially built on <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/list-of-the-best-ethereum-dapps/">Ethereum blockchain</a> and hence was an ERC-20 token. Although, now it has its own Binance blockchain. Binance coin is considered as a utility token. Here again, triggers the confusion between cryptocurrency token vs coin. To clear all the doubts, let's learn about the various types of tokens.
<h2>Various Types Of Crypto Tokens</h2>
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<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165268" src="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/crypto/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tokens.png" alt="tokens" width="800" height="492" />
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Token are classified into four categories, i.e. currency token, utility token and investment token. Let's know about each token in details.
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Currency Token - if the token is merely created to work as a means of payment for purchasing possibly anything outside the chain or its own platform, then it is called currency token. According to SEC, both Bitcoin and Ethereum are currency token or say currencies as they can be used to buy good and services.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Utility Token - These types of tokens are functioned to offer specific benefits to the users within the platfrom, but they can't be used as a means of payment directly. For example, many crypto exchanges like Binance have developed their own token to provide users with a discount on trading fees. So if anyone uses Binance coin to trade on the Binance platfrom, they would get a discount on the trading charges.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Investment Tokens or Asset Tokens - Tokens that promise positive returns on investment are called investment tokens which excludes the earning made from rising market prices. Usually, the returns are distributed by the company itself who created the token. DAO is one such example of investment tokens.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Difference between coins and tokens: Bottomline</h2>
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In short, the difference between coins and tokens is that Crypto coins are just a means of payment that can be used to buy things, such as goods and services, while the crypto tokens are operated to perform many other functions. They might represent your share in the company or provide you with accessibility to a particular application. One can purchase a token with a coin but not vice versa.

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Know the Difference Between Coins and Tokens

The above article will help you find out the difference between coins and tokens which is often used interchangeably in cryptocurrency.

Javeria is into the crypto world ever since she heard about it and is pursuing her interest through cryptoknowmics. She is a sensational poet, technical writer and content strategist. Not to mention that she can go crazy when it comes to vampires and Wonder woman.

Know the Difference Between Coins and Tokens

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