cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or duplicate. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on blockchain technology (distributed ledgers enforced by a network of different computers). A distinctive feature of cryptocurrencies is that they are generally not issued by a central authority, making them theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation. Crypto itself "refers to the various encryption algorithms and cryptographic techniques that protect these entries, such as elliptic curve encryption, public-private key pairs, and hashing functions.