A cryptocurrency is an encrypted data string that denotes a unit of currency. It is monitored and organised by a peer-to-peer network called a blockchain, which also serves as a secure ledger of transactions, e.g., buying, selling, and transferring. Unlike physical money, cryptocurrencies are decentralised, which means they are not issued by governments or other financial institutions. Cryptocurrencies are created (and secured) through cryptographic algorithms that are maintained and confirmed in a process called mining, where a network of computers or specialised hardware such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) process and validate the transactions. The process incentivizes the miners who run the network with the cryptocurrency.A cryptocurrency is a form of digital asset based on a network that is distributed across a large number of computers. This decentralised structure allows them to exist outside the control of governments and central authorities. Some experts believe that blockchain and related technology will disrupt many industries, including finance and law.