Tokens vs. Coins: Key Differences and How They Work

Cryptocurrency coins and tokens may seem similar, but they have distinct roles in the blockchain ecosystem. Let's break it down

Blockchain Coins run on their own blockchain (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) Tokens are built on existing blockchains (e.g., ERC-20 on Ethereum).

Purpose Coins act as digital currencies for transactions and value storage. Tokens represent assets, grant access, or serve governance roles.

Creation Coins are created through mining or staking. Tokens are generated via smart contracts on blockchains.

Examples Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) are coins. Uniswap (UNI), Tether (USDT) are tokens.

Use Cases Coins are used for payments and store of value. Tokens power dApps, governance, and asset representation.

Interoperability Coins work only on their native blockchain. Tokens can interact across platforms within the same blockchain.

Conclusion Coins function as standalone digital currencies, tokens serve specific roles on existing blockchains. Knowing their differences helps in making informed investment & usage decisions in the crypto space.