A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual token that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on blockchain technology—a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers.
Stablecoins are digital tokens running on blockchain protocols and pegging their market value to some external reference, usually a fiat currency. The key difference between stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies is that stablecoins are meant to be non-volatile assets and are backed by assets to safeguard investors.