Cryptocurrencies, or Cryptocurrency is an electronic money created with technology controlling its creation and protecting transactions, while hiding the identities of its users. Crypto- is short for "cryptography", and cryptography is computer technology used for security, hiding information, identities and more. Currency means "money that is currently in use". Cryptocurrencies are a digital cash designed to be quicker, cheaper, and more reliable than our regular government issued money. Instead of trusting a government to create your money and banks to store, send and receive it, users transact directly with each other and store their money themselves. Because people can send money directly without a middleman, transactions are usually very affordable and