Crypto is a shortened version of the word cryptocurrency which is a digital payment system that does not rely on banks to verify transactions and that is not backed by physical money – it only exists in the digital realm as entries in a blockchain that describes the transactions that have been made with it. The term cryptocurrency refers to the fact that it uses encryption to verify transactions and to make them secure.
A crypto investment can refer to buying a cryptocurrency in the hope that its value will rise over time. Currency investments are always risky but cryptocurrencies tend to be more volatile and risky investment options out there. This is because their value tends to fluctuate wildly based on market sentiment. Nonetheless it is one of the hottest commodities to invest in at present and some analysts estimate that the value of all cryptocurrencies exceeds $1 trillion.
