In plain English
What Coin means
Coins are the base assets of their own networks. They often help pay transaction fees, reward validators or miners, and transfer value on-chain. Bitcoin is the best-known example, but many blockchains have their own native coin.
Why it matters
Whether an asset is a coin or a token affects how it is created, how fees are paid, and what network it depends on. That distinction also matters for custody and for understanding whether the asset is tied to a particular blockchain’s health.
Example
If a user sends ETH on Ethereum, ETH is the network’s native coin and is used to pay gas fees. By contrast, a token created on Ethereum uses the same blockchain but is not the chain’s native coin.
Quick answers
Common questions
Is Bitcoin a coin or a token?+
Bitcoin is generally treated as a coin because it has its own blockchain.
Can a coin also be a stablecoin?+
Yes. Some stablecoins are native to their own networks, but many stablecoins are issued as tokens on existing blockchains.
Sources