from bitcoin to facebook's libra, you may have heard a lot about cryptocurrencies but still struggle to understand them.

從比特幣到facebook的libra（天秤幣）, 你可能聽說過很多關(guān)于加密貨幣的信息，卻仍然覺得很難理解。

beginning with bitcoin, which was invented in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the idea was to create a digital currency independent of any central authority that could be electronically transferred with minimal transaction fees.

從2008年金融危機(jī)之后誕生的比特幣開始，人們的想法是創(chuàng)建一種獨(dú)立于任何中心機(jī)構(gòu)、可以通過電子方式轉(zhuǎn)讓，且交易費(fèi)用最低的數(shù)字貨幣。

first of all, like normal currencies, a cryptocurrency is also designed to work as a medium of exchange, in the form of a widely accepted token that can be exchanged for goods and services.

首先，像普通的法定貨幣一樣，加密貨幣也被設(shè)定為一種流通手段，即作為一種被人廣泛接受的代幣，可以用來兌換商品和服務(wù)。

but what's significantly different is that it also works as a peer-to-peer digital payment system, which means it allows people to make payments directly to each other without the need for intermediaries such as banks or financial service providers like paypal.

但是它最與眾不同的地方在于，它還是一個點(diǎn)對點(diǎn)的數(shù)字支付系統(tǒng)。這意味著它可以讓人們直接相互支付，而無需通過銀行或paypal這樣的金融服務(wù)提供商作為中間機(jī)構(gòu)。

for cryptocurrencies to function, they use cryptographic technology such as blockchain, with "unbreakable" encryption mechanisms securing financial transactions and verifying the transfer of assets.

加密貨幣的運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)需要用到區(qū)塊鏈等加密技術(shù)，通過“牢不可破”的加密機(jī)制來保護(hù)金融交易的安全性，并核驗(yàn)資產(chǎn)的轉(zhuǎn)移。

so what are the benefits of adopting cryptocurrencies for payment?

那么采用加密貨幣進(jìn)行支付有什么好處呢？

consider the current payment systems we are using. when we buy or sell things or transfer money to others, the payment is usually processed by a bank or a credit card company.

考慮一下我們現(xiàn)在使用的支付系統(tǒng)。當(dāng)我們買賣東西或轉(zhuǎn)賬給他人時，付款通常由銀行或信用卡公司進(jìn)行處理。

that comes with some problems. banks and other traditional financial institutions usually charge transaction fees, and most international payments take a long time and are expensive.

這帶來一些問題：銀行和其他傳統(tǒng)的金融機(jī)構(gòu)通常要收取手續(xù)費(fèi)，而且大多數(shù)的國際支付需要很長時間并且手續(xù)費(fèi)很高。

you also need a bank account – something that 1.7 billion people around the world still don't have access to, according to the world bank.

你還需要一個銀行賬戶 - 根據(jù)世界銀行的數(shù)據(jù)，全世界目前仍有17億人都沒有。

with cryptocurrencies, the cost of making payments is lower thanks to the removal of intermediaries, and cross-border transactions are almost instant, requiring only an internet connection.

使用加密貨幣，由于中間人被移除，付款的手續(xù)費(fèi)會降低，而且跨境交易幾乎是即時的，只需要聯(lián)入互聯(lián)網(wǎng)。

take facebook's proposed libra as an example. it aims to take on traditional national currencies by providing greater convenience to facebook's 2.6 billion users across the globe, by giving them easier and more efficient payment services.

以facebook提出的libra為例，它的目標(biāo)是對標(biāo)傳統(tǒng)的國家貨幣，通過給全球26億用戶提供更簡單、高效的支付服務(wù)，為他們帶來便利。

but there are risks as well.

但是加密貨幣也有風(fēng)險。

transactions in most cryptocurrencies are anonymous and untraceable. this has made them a useful tool for criminals involved in money laundering and other financial crime. and as technology-based currencies, they are susceptible to cyberattacks.

大多數(shù)加密貨幣的交易都是匿名且無法追蹤的，這使其成為參與洗錢和其他金融犯罪的有用工具。 而且作為基于一種技術(shù)的貨幣，它們很容易受到網(wǎng)絡(luò)攻擊。

besides, most cryptocurrencies, like bitcoin, have no intrinsic value. they are simply worth what people are willing to pay for them in the market. so their prices are extremely volatile.

此外，大多數(shù)加密貨幣，如比特幣，都沒有內(nèi)在價值。它們的價格僅僅取決于市場上人們愿意出價多少，所以價格波動很大。

these intrinsic risks mean cryptocurrencies are still not regarded as a widely accepted form of currency.

這些內(nèi)在風(fēng)險意味著加密貨幣仍然不被視為一種被廣泛接受的貨幣。

in a word, the crypto sector is still in its infancy, and as an experiment in monetary systems for the digital age, it could well be the next step in the evolution of money.

加密行業(yè)仍處于起步階段，作為數(shù)字時代對貨幣體系的一種嘗試，它很可能是貨幣發(fā)展的下一步。