Crypto-assets, often referred to as ‘cryptocurrencies’, are digital tokens that exist only in the virtual world. Examples include Bitcoin and Ethereum. They can be used for speculative investment or to make purchases on certain websites or with specific merchants. However, these tokens do not meet the criteria for legal tender, such as the euro or F CPF. Real currencies are universal units of account, accepted by all merchants as their value is guaranteed by a central authority. In France, the euro is the only legal tender. By contrast, the value of crypto-assets such as Bitcoin fluctuates constantly, is not backed by any institution, and no one is legally required to accept them as a means of payment.
