$BTC When Bitcoin was launched in 2009, it was embraced by a small group of technology and cryptography enthusiasts. Initially, there was no specific market value for Bitcoin, and its use was primarily experimental.

The majority of the financial world and the public were unaware of Bitcoin's existence, or if they were, they often regarded it as a quirky "digital currency" idea with no practical value. It was perceived more as an experimental project than a potential asset.

It wasn't until 2010 that Bitcoin had its first actual transaction (10,000 BTC exchanged for 2 pizzas) and began to have a small value on primitive exchanges. However, widespread acceptance was still a long way off, and many were skeptical about its legitimacy and sustainability.