Crypto, from bank-style accounts to self-held keys
When you open a regular bank account, you hand over control of your money record to a single institution. You trust that the numbers on your statement are correct and that the bank will let you send and receive funds when you ask. With cryptocurrency, the core idea is different: a shared public ledger that nobody owns alone, updated by a network of computers.
A global ledger that anyone can inspect
On networks like Bitcoin or Ethereum, the transaction history is public. Every transfer is recorded in blocks, and those blocks are chained together in a way that makes them extremely hard to rewrite. Instead of trusting a bank’s private database, you rely on open rules and cryptography.
This transparency makes it possible for software to interact with value directly. Smart contracts on some blockchains can hold funds, split them between participants, or release them when conditions are met – all without a traditional financial institution in the middle.
Keys instead of customer profiles
In traditional finance, you are a customer with an ID in a company’s system. In crypto, you are a pair of keys. The public key is like an account number; the private key proves that you are allowed to move funds. Anyone can create a new pair of keys in seconds. There is no form to fill, no office to visit.
This is powerful, but it also creates a new kind of responsibility. If you lose your private key or seed phrase, there is no “forgot password” button. No help desk can restore access to your coins. That is why people repeat the phrase: “Not your keys, not your coins.”
Volatility and the role of stablecoins
Cryptocurrencies are famous for rapid price changes. For some, this is part of the attraction: the chance of big upside. For others, it is a reason to be cautious. A payment you receive in crypto today might be worth significantly more or less in a month.
Stablecoins try to bridge this gap. They are crypto tokens designed to track traditional currencies like the US dollar. They aim to keep the useful parts of blockchain – fast transfers, global access – while smoothing out the price swings that make budgeting difficult.
Why OTC and email can still matter
Not everyone is comfortable sending large amounts through a trading interface full of order types, charts and flashing numbers. Some people simply want to speak to a human, agree on a clear rate and then follow a simple set of steps.
That is where over-the-counter (OTC) trades come in. Instead of using a public order book, you negotiate directly with a counterparty or desk. The pace is slower, but communication is clearer. For many, that trade-off is worth it.
The icrypto.lat approach
icrypto.lat follows three core principles:
- Clarity over complexity: if a concept cannot be explained simply, we keep working on the explanation.
- Human-first contact: you reach us by email, and a real person reads your message.
- Step-by-step structure: any potential trade is broken down into small, understandable actions.
Whether you hold a small amount of crypto or plan to sell a larger position, you deserve to know what is happening at each stage. Crypto will keep evolving, but the need for clear language and honest expectations will not disappear.