$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates on a decentralized blockchain network, allowing peer-to-peer transactions without the need for intermediaries like banks. Bitcoin has a fixed supply of 21 million coins, making it scarce and often compared to digital gold. It is secured by miners through a proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Bitcoin is used as a store of value, medium of exchange, and investment asset. Its price is highly volatile and influenced by market demand, regulation, macroeconomics, and adoption by individuals, institutions, and even countries like El Salvador.