PeerCoin

Peercoin (PPC), also known as Peer-to-Peer Coin or PP Coin, is a digital currency that was introduced in 2012. It's notable for being one of the first cryptocurrencies to use both Proof-of-Stake (PoS) and Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanisms. This unique approach combines the energy-intensive PoW system, similar to that of Bitcoin, with the PoS system, which requires significantly less energy and involves users validating transactions and securing the network based on their coin holdings.

Peercoin's hybrid system offers several benefits:

Energy Efficiency: The PoS system is less energy-intensive compared to the PoW mechanism. This was a significant advancement at the time of Peercoin's inception, showcasing that cryptocurrencies could operate without relying heavily on energy consumption.

Decentralization and Security: Peercoin’s PoS mechanism allows every network participant to act as a miner or owner, promoting decentralization. It also adds an additional layer of security to the network.

Steady Inflation: Peercoin has an inflation rate of approximately 1% per year. This controlled inflation rate is designed to encourage users to hold the currency, contributing to its stability.

Reduced Transaction Costs: Peercoin's transaction fees are significantly lower compared to Bitcoin. Users are required to pay only 0.01 PPC for sending coins, and receiving coins is free.

Checkpointing: This feature was introduced to protect the network against attacks, especially in its early stages. It acts as a safety mechanism, similar to a system restore point.

Minting and Mining: Peercoin uses the SHA-256 algorithm for mining, similar to Bitcoin. However, it also introduced the concept of minting, based on PoS, where users can earn new coins based on the number of Peercoins they hold.