$BTC

Bitcoin is the world's first decentralized digital currency, created in 2008 by an anonymous entity known as Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates on a technology called blockchain, a distributed public ledger where all transactions are recorded.

Key characteristics of Bitcoin include:

Decentralization: It is not controlled by any central authority, such as a government or financial institution.

Limited Supply: There will only ever be 21 million Bitcoins minted, making it a scarce asset.

Halving Events: The reward for mining new blocks (which adds new Bitcoin to circulation) is periodically cut in half, a process known as halving, which occurs roughly every four years. The first Bitcoin halving was on November 28, 2012.

Volatility: Its price can fluctuate significantly, leading to both large gains and losses.

Use Cases: It can be used as a medium of exchange, a store of value (often referred to as "digital gold"), and as the base currency for many other cryptocurrencies.