What cryptocurrency looks like on a screen
Cryptocurrency looks like digital entries in a wallet, not physical coins or paper money. You see token names, amounts, logos and addresses on a screen.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 5, 20263 min readFact-checked
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Crypto is data that software reads and displays. The records live on blockchains.
What does a wallet show?
A wallet shows your crypto as a list of token names, amounts and logos. You also see a receiving address, which you can copy or share as a QR code.
Why do crypto logos look like coins?
Each cryptocurrency usually has its own logo, ticker symbol and brand colors. Bitcoin's logo is a gold circle with a B. The coin shape is branding, not a physical object.
What do crypto transactions look like?
When you pay, a request often appears as a QR code. The code holds the receiving address and sometimes the network and amount. A recovery phrase appears as a list of words.
A recovery phrase is not a password you type into a website. Keep it offline and do not share it with anyone who asks.
How is crypto different from bank money?
A bank app reads a private database that the bank controls. A crypto wallet reads public blockchains. Your balance is an entry on a public ledger, not a number in a bank's private system.
- A bank balance is in a private database. A crypto balance is on a blockchain.
- A bank account uses a name and number. A crypto wallet uses an address.
- A bank can usually reverse a transfer. A crypto transaction is usually irreversible.
Frequently asked questions
Usually no. The cryptocurrency itself is digital code, not a physical coin or bill. A hardware wallet stores keys, not the asset.
No. Most have different names, ticker symbols, logos and colors. Some wallets group tokens by network.
It is a string of letters and numbers. It can appear as a QR code. An address is not a private key, and sharing it is normal.
A token can arrive at your address as an airdrop or as spam. Seeing a token does not prove it has value or is legitimate.
