What you need to know to make your own cryptocurrency
ByAllie Grace Garnett Full BioAllie is a financial writer and editor with over five years of experience. An investment banker turned journalist, she has previously reported on cryptocurrency for MT Newswires and edited cryptocurrency content for The Motley Fool.Learn about our editorial policiesPublished January 14, 2022Fact checked bySkylar Clarine Fact checked bySkylar ClarineFull BioSkylar Clarine is a fact-checker and expert in personal finance with a range of experience including veterinary technology and film studies.
Learn about our editorial policiesHow Are Cryptocurrencies Made?
If you want to create a cryptocurrency, you have a few different options. From most to least difficult, you can:
The majority of these options require at least some technical computer knowledge, in addition to financial and human resources. The most technical alternatives afford the highest degree of customization, which for some cryptocurrency developers is worth the expense.
Keep reading to dig into each possible way to make a cryptocurrency.
Key Takeaways
Option 1: Create your own blockchain and native cryptocurrency
You can write your own code to create a new blockchain that supports a native cryptocurrency. Pursuing this option usually requires extensive technical training to develop coding skills and a fundamental understanding of blockchain technology—but it also affords the greatest amount of design freedom. If you want to create a cryptocurrency that is truly new or innovative in some way, then building your own blockchain to support that coin is probably your best option.
You can design your native coin in any way that you like. Native coins, which by definition have their own blockchains, are considered as superior to tokens, which are digital currencies that operate on other blockchain networks.
If you decide that building a new blockchain is your next step, then here’s what you need to do:
And then, finally, you are ready to mint your new cryptocurrency. How many coins you decide to issue initially is up to you. You can decide to mint the complete supply of coins in a single batch, or gradually increase the coin supply over time as new blocks are added to the blockchain.
Option 2: Modify the code of an existing blockchain
You can decide to use the source code of another blockchain to create a new blockchain and native cryptocurrency. Pursuing this option still likely requires technical knowledge, as you may choose to modify the source code to satisfy your design objectives.
The code for most blockchains is open source, meaning that anyone can view and download it. You can find the source codes of most blockchains on the GitHub platform.
After you download and modify the source code of an existing blockchain, you still need to work with a blockchain auditor and obtain professional legal advice. After that, you are ready to mint your new cryptocurrency.
Option 3: Establish a new cryptocurrency on an existing blockchain
You can make a new cryptocurrency without first creating or modifying any blockchain. Platforms like the Ethereum blockchain are designed to host the cryptocurrencies of many different developers. The resulting new currency would be classified as a token, which is any digital money that is not native to the blockchain on which it operates.
Creating a token that uses an existing blockchain can require some technical expertise, but anyone with moderate computer knowledge can probably create their own token without too much difficulty. Let’s run through the basic steps to create a new token on an existing blockchain platform:
Tokens are generally less customized than coins, but making a token is usually the fastest and cheapest way to make a cryptocurrency. Your token can benefit from the security provisions of an established blockchain platform, and the blockchain platform may offer other innovative features for token creators. Being associated with a well-established blockchain platform can help to enhance your token’s value and credibility.
Option 4: Hire a blockchain developer to create a cryptocurrency for you
You can create a new coin or token with any degree of customization by hiring a blockchain development company. Many enterprises, known as blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) companies, exist to create and maintain new blockchain networks and cryptocurrencies.
Some BaaS companies develop customized blockchains, while others use their own existing blockchain infrastructure. You can also work with a BaaS company to launch a highly customized token on an existing blockchain platform. Some of the most prominent BaaS companies include Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, ChainZilla, and Blockstream.
Pros and Cons of Making a Cryptocurrency
ProsConsWhat to Know Before Making a Cryptocurrency
Anyone can create a cryptocurrency, even just for fun. But launching a cryptocurrency that is successful and gains value generally requires commitments of time, money, and other resources, in addition to advanced technical knowledge. Making a cryptocurrency is the easy part. Maintaining and growing it over time is usually much more challenging.
If you are simply curious about crypto, then there’s likely no harm in creating your own token. Just make sure to avoid any activities that might be considered as an initial coin offering (ICO) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as you don’t want to accidentally violate any federal securities laws. With so many coins and tokens being released, you won’t be the only person or organization experimenting with making your own cryptocurrency.
Can I make my own cryptocurrency?
You can make your own cryptocurrency. Usually creating a new coin or token requires some computer coding expertise, but you also can choose to hire a blockchain developer to create a digital currency for you. Launching a token on an existing blockchain platform like Ethereum can be accomplished with relatively little technical expertise.
How much does it cost to make a cryptocurrency?
The cost of creating a cryptocurrency varies widely based on how much you choose to customize the coin or token. Highly customized coins established on native blockchains are the most expensive to create, while launching a standardized token on the Ethereum platform can be free through apps like WalletBuilders.
Is creating a cryptocurrency legal?
Creating a cryptocurrency is generally legal, although some countries and jurisdictions have partially or fully banned cryptocurrency. In China, for example, raising money through virtual currencies has been illegal since 2017, and all cryptocurrency transactions have since been banned. Even where cryptocurrency is legal, it’s possible to run afoul of existing securities regulations when launching and promoting a new cryptocurrency.
