$BTC Bitcoin has been labeled a crypto asset. But what is it, really, and what implications does it have for real currencies?

Essentially, Bitcoin is a digital symbol that can be traded electronically. It does not exist in physical form. Bitcoin is created and monitored by a network of computers based on mathematical formulas, and not by a single authority or organization.

Bitcoin is not issued by a central public authority. You cannot benefit from the same level of trust that an official currency like the euro provides, which is supported by the central banks of the euro area. As guardians of the euro, we strive to guarantee your right to make payments in euros, as well as to maintain its value.