In just over a decade, cryptocurrencies have grown from a niche technological experiment into one of the most widely discussed financial innovations of the modern era. What began with Bitcoin in 2009 has expanded into thousands of digital assets used for investment, payments, gaming, decentralized finance, cross-border transactions, and an entirely new class of digital ownership. People no longer see digital currency as a futuristic theory; it has become a real financial force used by millions around the world. Despite this rapid rise, many newcomers still wonder what cryptocurrencies actually are. How do they work? Why are they valuable? And…