$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by an anonymous person or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates on a decentralized peer-to-peer network using blockchain technology, allowing users to send and receive digital payments without a central authority like a bank. Bitcoin transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain. It has a fixed supply of 21 million coins, making it deflationary by design. Bitcoin is widely used for investment, trading, and as a digital store of value, often referred to as "digital gold."