$BTC is the ticker symbol for Bitcoin, the world’s first and most widely recognized cryptocurrency. Launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin operates on a decentralized, peer-to-peer blockchain network. It allows users to send and receive value without intermediaries like banks. Limited to 21 million coins, Bitcoin is often referred to as “digital gold” due to its scarcity and store-of-value properties. It is traded on global exchanges and widely used for investment, payments, and as a hedge against inflation. BTC has become a symbol of financial innovation, freedom, and the growing adoption of decentralized digital assets.