$BTC **Bitcoin (BTC)** is the world's first decentralized digital currency. Created in 2009 by an anonymous entity known as Satoshi Nakamoto, it operates on a technology called **blockchain**. This public, distributed ledger records all transactions, making them transparent and secure without the need for a central authority like a bank or government.

A key characteristic of Bitcoin is its **limited supply** of 21 million coins, which is designed to prevent inflation. Transactions are verified by a process called **mining**, and users can send BTC directly to each other peer-to-peer. While initially envisioned as a payment system, Bitcoin has increasingly become a significant **investment asset** due to its scarcity and growing adoption.