A cryptocurrency is a type of digital currency that utilizes cryptography for security, making it more secure and difficult to counterfeit than traditional currencies. It is decentralized and not managed by any one central authority or institution, which makes it largely immune from government interference and manipulation. Digital currency, meanwhile, is just another form of electronic money that can be used for purchases and payments, like fiat currency. Digital currency does not use cryptography for security, and is not decentralized like a cryptocurrency.