$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) is the world's first decentralized digital currency. Created in 2009 by an anonymous entity named Satoshi Nakamoto, it operates on a peer-to-peer network without central bank control. Transactions are recorded on a public, immutable ledger called the blockchain, secured by cryptography. "Mining" verifies these transactions, adding new blocks to the chain and releasing new bitcoins. With a capped supply of 21 million coins, Bitcoin is often called "digital gold" due to its scarcity. It enables secure, borderless payments and has spurred the entire cryptocurrency industry.