What is it?

Cryptocurrency is legal decentralized digital money, using an online ledger with strong cryptography to secure online transactions based on blockchain technology. (it’s biggest advantages include bringing transparency to the global financial sector, and fighting corruption)
Bitcoin and Ethereum are the most popular, but there are more than 8,000 different cryptocurrencies in circulation, according to coinmarketcap. (A leading Crypto-tracking site)

You can use crypto to buy regular goods and services, Lots of people treat them like traditional assets, like stocks or precious metals.

Block-chain?

Blockchain is an open, distributed ledger that records transactions in code. It’s decentralized technology spread across many computers that manages and records transactions.
In practice, it’s a little like a seeing your bank account activity. But on public record through the blockchain network.
Unlike the U.S. Dollar or the Euro, there is no central authority that manages and maintains the value of a cryptocurrency.
Instead, these tasks are broadly distributed among a cryptocurrency’s users via the internet.

How to spend it & buy stuff?

Truthfully, there’s no great way to buy things you’d need for daily life.

1. Most retailers don’t currently accept it.
2. If you tried, you’d practically double your spending for anything due to high network fees.
   (though those fees have constantly been falling due to an increasing adoption rate)

These two issues cause a loop of trouble for crypto’s adoption. (how many people use it) Most people have trouble with crypto’s lack of current use, stopping them from adopting.
But retailers won’t accept it until adoption increases. (Forcing them to hedge against, or ‘accept’ $dollar alternatives)  Bringing network fees down significantly.

Companies accepting it; Visa, Paypal, Wikipedia, Microsoft, AT&T, Burger King, KFC, Overstock, Subway, Twitch, Pizza Hut, Virgin Galactic, Norwegian Air, Cheap Air, Gyft, Newegg, Pirate Bay, 4chan, Pornhub, ExpressVPN.
(Crypto debit cards are being tested around the globe, but fee’s remain the issue.)

Multiple governments are already considering using bitcoin for; retirement funds, paying workers, accepting taxes, and more always coming to news.

How to Invest & Adopt for the future

While Paypal, Cash App, and Robinhood sell crypto. The biggest entry point into this space is no doubt coinbase.
Regardless of where you get it, unless you’re planning on actively trading your investment, It’s time to make the final step to decentralizing!

1. If the coins (crypto) are on a trading platform, they’re; a security risk, not truly owned by you.
2. Gives you access to dive deeper into the crypto-ecosystem, should you want.

This is where you go from an exchange, to a ‘wallet.’ Your public (but secure) address on the blockchain network!

I personally like; Metamask (browser and mobile) & Coinwallet (Mobile wallet for Coinbase exchange)

There are a few types of wallets;

1. Hot and Cold Wallets (connected / not connected to a powered network)
2. Hardware wallets (Devices)
3. Desktop wallets (computer wallets)
4. Web Wallets (browser wallets)
5. Mobile Wallets (Phone wallets)
6. Paper Wallets (exactly what is sounds like, risky and complicated, I’d not. )

Legality

This is not investment advice, I am not a financial advisor. You should always research investments, especially the more obscure projects.