16 Cryptocurrency Facts You Should Know

Historically, no asset has been a greater creator of long-term wealth than the stock market. Over time, stocks have generated a 7% annualized return, inclusive of dividend reinvestment and adjusted for inflation. This suggests an investor could double their money about once every decade, which is pretty impressive.

However, cryptocurrencies -- digital currencies that utilize encryption to generate money and verify transactions -- have left the stock market in the dust since the year began. Virtual currency investors have, in many instances, seen a lifetime's worth of gains over the course of 11 months.

But before you consider diving into the cryptocurrency craze, here are 16 facts you should know.