Bitcoin (BTC) is the world's first decentralized cryptocurrency, introduced in 2008 by an anonymous person or group using the pseudonym **Satoshi Nakamoto**. It was launched as open-source software in **2009** and operates on a peer-to-peer network without the need for intermediaries like banks.
### **Key Features of Bitcoin:**
1. **Decentralization** – No central authority controls Bitcoin; transactions are verified by a distributed network of nodes.
2. **Blockchain Technology** – Transactions are recorded on a public ledger (blockchain) secured by cryptography.
3. **Limited Supply** – Only **21 million BTC** will ever exist, making it a deflationary asset.
4. **Proof-of-Work (PoW)** – Miners solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions and secure the network (though this may change with future upgrades).
5. **Pseudonymity** – Users transact with wallet addresses, not real-world identities (though transactions are traceable).