$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, created in 2008 by an anonymous person or group under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Launched in 2009, Bitcoin operates on a decentralized peer-to-peer network without a central authority, using blockchain technology to enable secure and transparent transactions. The blockchain is a distributed ledger that records all Bitcoin transactions, ensuring immutability and preventing fraud.

Bitcoin’s primary use case is as a store of value and a digital currency, offering an alternative to traditional financial systems. Its fixed supply of 21 million coins and deflationary nature, due to its halving events, has led many to view Bitcoin as "digital gold." Over the years, Bitcoin has gained increasing institutional and retail adoption, with major companies accepting it as a payment method, while others hold it as part of their reserves.

Despite its success, Bitcoin remains volatile, with significant price fluctuations driven by factors like market sentiment, regulatory changes, and macroeconomic events. It has also faced scalability challenges, though solutions like the Lightning Network are being developed to address these issues. Overall, Bitcoin continues to lead the cryptocurrency market, with its influence extending beyond finance into fields such as technology, law, and economics.