This article is a follow-up to “How Does Fiat Currency Become Cryptocurrency?“

Crypto’s original goal: self-sovereign, independent finance. Some see it as the dream; others impossible. Reality: separate system, yet as a practical matter, is often coupled to TradFi.

It’s a key nuance from the discussion of the on-ramping processes, liquidity provision, and reserve management. Crypto intertwines with fiat for access, valuation, and compliance, but this isn’t essential. Cryptocurrencies were designed as standalone assets, valuing from scarcity, decentralization, and network effects, not fiat backing. In practice, fiat bridges to tokenized economies for adoption/integration. It’s useful to further unpack this distinction, drawing on foundational principles of blockchain technology, economic theory, and legal frameworks.

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A common disconnect I’ve heard about is how dollars seem to “magically” become crypto. If you already know financial rails, skip this article. The focus is more for retail investors or digital product managers who find themselves working more with crypto interfaces.

Spoiler Alert: There’s no magic. A fiat-to-crypto on-ramp swaps your cash for crypto; value “appears” when the crypto hits your wallet. It’s sort of like trading dollars for euros at an airport, except there’s no government backing or guaranteed redemption/liquidity. That’s it. All done. Deep dive below for a lot more!

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