$BTC

Bitcoin (abbreviated as BTC; symbol: ₿) is the first decentralized cryptocurrency. It can be sent from one person to another over the Bitcoin network in a peer-to-peer manner without the need for a third party. Transactions on the network are verified using cryptography and recorded in a distributed ledger called the blockchain without a central authority overseeing it. Consensus among the nodes is achieved through a resource-intensive computational process known as proof of work, which secures the Bitcoin blockchain. Mining consumes large amounts of electricity and has been criticized for the environmental impact of Bitcoin.