We need to have this in mind for the sake of our financial privacy and autonomy: electronic money isn’t the same as cryptocurrencies. Instead, we can say that cryptos are barely a type of electronic money, which is more of a category than a single thing. Electronic money or e-money refers to digital forms of currency used for online transactions and stored in electronic devices or systems, such as bank accounts, computers, or digital wallets. The category encompasses various forms, including cryptocurrencies, transfers with digital fiat (national) currencies, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), and e-money services, each with different underlying technologies, issuers, regulations, and use cases.