Coin vs Token
A coin is a blockchain's native asset; a token is built on top of someone else's chain — a distinction with real security implications.
A coin is the native asset of its own blockchain — BTC on Bitcoin, ETH on Ethereum, SOL on Solana — used to pay the network’s fees and often to secure it. A token is an asset created by a smart contract on an existing chain, like the thousands of ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum.
The distinction matters practically: a token inherits its host chain’s security but adds contract risk (bugs, malicious mint functions, admin keys). Launching a token takes minutes; launching a credible coin takes a network. When researching, always identify which chain an asset actually lives on — it defines both its risks and its fee currency.