Bitcoin (BTC) is the world's first and most well-known cryptocurrency. Launched in 2009 by an anonymous person or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin introduced a new form of decentralized digital currency that operates without a central authority, like a bank or government.
How It Works
Bitcoin runs on blockchain technology—a public ledger that records all transactions in a secure and transparent way. Every Bitcoin transaction is verified by a network of computers (nodes) and grouped into blocks, which are added to the chain. This process is maintained through a mechanism called mining, where participants solve complex mathematical puzzles in exchange for newly minted bitcoins.