Cryptocurrency: To understand it, you first have to define it.

How's this for a couple of fun financial facts?  The United Nations recognizes exactly 180 currencies worldwide.    A lot, right?   From the Czech Koruna to the Danish Krone, the Botswana Pula to the Mexican Peso.     The currencies are backed by government entities for both credibility and value.  Now what if we told you there are currently more than 20,000 forms of cryptocurrency and the entities backing them aren't so crystal clear.   In fact, one of those, Bitcoin, was reportedly invented in 2008 by Satoshi Yakamoto but Satoshi's identity has never been confirmed to this day, and it's widely believed the name was a pseudonym for a company or organization.   With so many 'Financial Trends of 2025' stories out there putting cryptocurrency near or at the top of the list, Andy thought it would be a good idea to do some basic level-setting here:   First of all, what is crypto and how does it work?    That's exactly what he and Keeler & Nadler's Mark Beaver talk about in this episode.  And later in January, part II is coming to discuss whether crypto is a good investment.   First things first though, let's define it and talk about some serious unknowns and the volatility associated with digital currencies. The opinions expressed in this program are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations.It is only intended to provide education about finance, tax, retirement and related planning topics. To determine which investments or strategies may be appropriate for you, consult your financial, tax or legal advisor prior to implementing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results.Any indices referenced for comparison are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital; please seek advice from a licensed professional.Keeler & Nadler Family Wealth is a registered investment adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Keeler & Nadler Family Wealth and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Keeler & Nadler Family Wealth unless a client service agreement is in place.