Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have gained immense popularity thanks to their decentralized, secure, and nearly anonymous nature. These characteristics support their peer-to-peer architectures and make it possible to transfer funds and other digital assets between two different individuals without a central authority.
How does this automated and pseudonymous system of cryptocurrency ensure that all transactions are processed with due diligence and authenticity without any intervention? Enter the underlying concept and tools of cryptography, which form the backbone of cryptocurrency blockchains.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Bitcoin and other blockchain-based cryptocurrencies rely on cryptographic methods to maintain security and fidelity—putting the "crypto" in the name.
Cryptography is the mathematical and computational practice of encoding and decoding data.
Cryptocurrency generally uses two different cryptographic methods—one dedicated to generating its public-private key pairs and another for the purpose of validating transactions.