$BTC BTC: The Foundation of the Crypto Ecosystem*BTC (Bitcoin) is the original cryptocurrency, launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous creator *Satoshi Nakamoto*. Designed as a decentralized digital currency, Bitcoin operates without central banks, enabling secure, peer-to-peer transactions across the globe. With a fixed supply of *21 million coins*, $BTC is often viewed as *digital gold*, prized for its scarcity and role as a hedge against inflation. It uses a *proof-of-work* consensus mechanism, ensuring network security through mining. Bitcoin’s adoption by institutions, its integration into traditional finance via ETFs, and its influence on other digital assets solidify its status as the leading force in the blockchain revolution.