$BTC

Bitcoin is the world’s first cryptocurrency designed to operate decentralized over a blockchain. Unlike traditional currencies, it can be used as a store of value and for making digital payments without a central authority like a bank or a financial institution. The symbol BTC in the market represents Bitcoin. 

While digital payments have existed for several years, Bitcoin stands apart due to its decentralization features. Instead of depending on the traditional financial infrastructure, transactions of Bitcoin take place on the blockchain on a peer-to-peer basis without the need for an intermediary authority. 

When you invest in Bitcoin, you're buying a piece of this digital asset. Its value can change rapidly, offering both risks and opportunities. You can store Bitcoin in a digital wallet, and it’s secured through cryptography, making it safe from counterfeiting. Many see Bitcoin as a hedge against traditional financial systems and a way to diversify their investment portfolios.

What sets Bitcoin apart from several other assets is its limited supply. There will only ever be 21 million bitcoins created, which gives it scarcity similar to precious metals like gold. Bitcoins are created through mining, where individuals or organizations use powerful computers to solve complex mathematical problems and validate transactions on the network. Miners receive newly minted Bitcoins as rewards for their contributions to the network's security and transaction processing.