Preface: The Root Cause of Noun Confusion
In the early days of cryptocurrency development, the main circulating native currencies were Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and others. As the blockchain ecosystem evolved, especially with the rise of Ethereum, the concept of tokens gradually entered investors' view. However, due to the unified Chinese translation as "代幣" or "cryptocurrency," many participants still find it confusing to distinguish between the two. This article will systematically explore the essence of tokens, their classifications, and their differences from traditional currencies.
Definition and Operating Principles of Tokens
Tokens are essentially digital assets issued on existing blockchains, representing specific rights, certificates, or value carriers. They can be traded, transferred, and exchanged on their respective blockchain networks.
Unlike independently operated currencies, tokens do not have their own dedicated public chain. The ERC-20 standard introduced by Ethereum in 2015 marked a watershed moment for token issuance, enabling any developer to