#BitcoinPolicyShift Bitcoin (BTC) is a cryptocurrency created in 2009 by an individual or group of individuals under the pseudonym "Satoshi Nakamoto." It operates on a peer-to-peer network, allowing individuals to send money directly to one another without the need for intermediaries like banks.

Bitcoin features several characteristics, including:

- *Decentralization*: There is no central authority controlling Bitcoin.

- *Encryption*: Bitcoin has a high level of security due to the strong encryption it uses.

- *Digital Currency*: Bitcoin is a digital currency, meaning it does not exist in physical form.

Bitcoin can be used to purchase goods and services from merchants who accept it as a means of payment. It can also be traded on financial markets like stocks and bonds.