01 June 2022
2 min read
Token Classes Explained: Coin vs Utility Token vs Security Token

Thousands of initiatives are vying for broad cryptocurrency acceptance, with blockchain technology used for different business and consumer demands. The market valuation of the cryptocurrency business has increased dramatically in the preceding year.

However, many individuals are still confused between coins and tokens. So, let’s clear things up and explain what the distinctions are.

Utility Tokens

These are assets developed for a particular function that is utilized. These tokens can be swapped for a digital product, benefit, or service, facilitating interaction and use of decentralized applications (dApps) as well as access to decentralized finance services (DeFi), such as Ethereum (ETH).

Ethereum is one of the most popular blockchain networks today because it is much more than simply crypto. It’s a decentralized, open-source public service that uses blockchain technology to provide smart contracts and safe cryptocurrency trading without the use of middlemen. It’s also essential for DeFi and, more recently, non-fungible tokens (NFT).

In practice, however, the application of these terms is rarely as precise. As the blockchain market is still in its inception, the terms “coin” and “token” are frequently interchanged. On the other hand, most industry insiders agree that a coin is money and a token is virtually anything else.

Security Tokens

A security token is a digital asset that symbolizes ownership or other rights and is used to transfer value from one asset to another. Security tokens are the digital equivalents of traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, and other assets. For example, instead of issuing shares, a corporation that wishes to generate cash for an expansionary project could issue fractionalized ownership of their company via a digital token. It might then sell this token on an exchange that accepts digital security tokens to investors.

When you buy a tokenized form of a stock, you get the same profit shares and voting rights as if you sold the shares via a conventional stockbroker. The only variation is that a token is electronic.

Security tokens differ from utility tokens as they are considered investments. As a result, they are susceptible to the same legal oversight as other investment products.

Coins

A digital coin’s function is to serve as a payment option. It acts similarly to money as a measure of value, a store of value, and a medium of exchange. A crypto coin is similar to the original coins we carry in our pockets; the difference is that it is digital and not governed by a central bank.

Both crypto coins and tokens are comparable on the surface, but they are distinct entities: all coins are tokens, but not all tokens are coins.

Surprisingly, many people are clueless if they are purchasing crypto tokens or crypto coins. At its most basic level, the main distinction between them is their functionality.

Defining each type of coin and token is a crucial step toward gaining a better grasp of how blockchain technology is being used by companies. They assist individuals and businesses to avail advantages of digital money while avoiding unpredictability.

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