Bitcoin: The digital revolution of money
Bitcoin (BTC), launched in 2009 by an anonymous developer known as Satoshi Nakamoto, marked the beginning of a new financial era, where transactions are made without intermediaries and in a decentralized manner thanks to blockchain technology. This system allows for the recording of all transactions in a distributed, transparent, and practically immutable ledger, secured through cryptography.
Key features of Bitcoin
Decentralization: Unlike traditional currencies, Bitcoin does not rely on a central bank or governments. It operates through a peer-to-peer network, where nodes verify and confirm transactions.
Limited supply: Only 21 million bitcoins will be issued, making BTC a deflationary asset. This limit is crucial for preserving its long-term value, similar to gold.
Transparency and security: Anyone can consult the transactions made on the Bitcoin network. Security is guaranteed through advanced cryptography and network consensus.
Divisibility: One bitcoin can be divided into up to 100 million smaller units, called satoshis, making it easy to use even for small transactions.
Adoption and use
Bitcoin has gained acceptance in multiple sectors as a means of payment and store of value. Major companies like Tesla and PayPal have shown interest, and some countries like El Salvador have adopted it as legal tender. Additionally, it is widely used in remittances, investments, and as a hedge against inflation in unstable economies.
Challenges and evolution
Although Bitcoin has revolutionized the financial system, it faces challenges related to its scalability and the energy consumption of its consensus mechanism (proof of work). Over the years, solutions such as Lightning Network have been developed to improve its transaction processing capacity.#CryptoMarketDip