The Difference Between Coins and Tokens

By Kirsty Moreland

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3 min

Beginner

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:— Coins are any cryptocurrency that has a standalone independent blockchain (Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP…)

— Altcoins are considered as coins that are not Bitcoin.

— Tokens are cryptocurrencies that do not have their own blockchain but live on another blockchain. As they live on another blockchain, they benefit from its technology. (ERC-20 tokens…)

The word “crypto” is used to cover a multitude of currencies.n fact, there’s a difference between coins vs tokens. Let’s look closer.

Entering the cryptocurrency market can be a complicated and daunting task. You may have heard of Bitcoin, but what about the other thousands of coins and blockchain projects out there?

To obtain a better grasp of the crypto markets, it’s easiest to classify cryptocurrencies into two distinct categories: coins vs tokens.

Coins

Coins refer to any cryptocurrency that has a standalone, independent blockchain — like Bitcoin. 

These cryptocurrencies are bootstrapped from scratch, and the broader network is designed explicitly to achieve a certain goal. For example, Bitcoin exists as a censorship-resistant store of value and medium of exchange that has a secure, fixed monetary policy. The native token of Bitcoin, BTC (i.e., bitcoins), is the most liquid cryptocurrency in the market. It has both the highest market cap and realized market cap in the cryptocurrency sector. 

Coin projects typically draw inspiration from past technologies or other cryptocurrencies. Fusing them into an innovative network catering to a specific purpose. 

Another example of a coin, Ethereum’s Ether (ETH) is the native coin of a smart contracts platform for creating general-purpose computer programs that run on a decentralized blockchain. Rather than focusing on financial data, Ethereum focuses on arbitrary program data that can cover anything from games to social media. Ether is used for sending/receiving, managing assets, paying gas fees, and interacting with decentralized applications (dApps) on the network.

You might also have heard about Altcoins. Basically, Altcoins any coins that are an alternative to Bitcoin.

Tokens

Tokens are a unique outlay of broader smart contracts platforms like Ethereum. Enabling users to create, issue, and manage tokens that are derivatives of the primary blockchain. 

For example, the ICO craze of 2017 was fueled by Ethereum’s ERC-20 token standard. Which is basically a protocol for creating tokens (besides ETH) on the Ethereum blockchain that can be exchanged with each other. Projects would announce or build an application on Ethereum using smart contracts. Issuing a native token for use in that application, raising funds directly from investors in ETH in the process. 

Tokens occupy a unique corner of the cryptocurrency market where they function as “utility” tokens within an application’s ecosystem for incentivizing certain behavior or paying fees. For example, the popular ERC-20 token Dai is part of the MakerDAO dApp on Ethereum. MakerDAO is a way for users to access credit instruments like lending/borrowing using Dai, which is designed to be stable. ERC-20 tokens like Dai can be exchanged for any other ERC-20 token or other Ethereum-based standards (i.e., ERC-721), including the ETH coin and stablecoins. 

As a result, tokens exist as application-specific tokens within a coin’s broader cryptocurrency/blockchain network, like Dai existing within Ethereum’s ecosystem. 

Other tokens besides Dai include Maker (MKR), 0x, Augur (REP), Komodo (KMD), and Golem (GNT). 

Coins vs Tokens

Coins need to be exchanged with each other through cryptocurrency exchanges because they are built on different, non-standardized code protocols. Conversely, tokens on Ethereum (e.g., ERC-20) can be exchanged through internal applications amongst each other with minimal friction. This is because they are built on standardized code protocols.

Approaching cryptocurrency markets is a challenging task. Understanding the basic distinction between the various types of cryptocurrencies can help you manage risk and make better decisions in a volatile ecosystem. 

Keep learning! If you enjoy getting to grips with crypto and blockchain. Check out our School of Block video Alt Coins or Different Coins on the Block.