$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous developer Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates on a decentralized, peer-to-peer network using blockchain technology, which records all transactions publicly and immutably. Bitcoin’s key innovation is its ability to enable secure, trustless financial transactions without the need for banks or central authorities.

Bitcoin has a fixed supply of 21 million coins, making it deflationary by design. This scarcity has driven demand and contributed to its status as "digital gold"—a store of value in the digital age. New bitcoins are introduced through a process called mining, where powerful computers solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions and earn rewards.

BTC can be used for various purposes: online payments, remittances, investment, and as a hedge against inflation in some economies. Over time, major companies and institutions have adopted Bitcoin for both transactional and reserve purposes, further legitimizing its role in global finance.

Despite its benefits, Bitcoin faces challenges such as price volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and energy consumption concerns. However, it remains the most valuable and widely held cryptocurrency, with a massive global user base and a continuously evolving ecosystem of wallets, exchanges, and layer-2 scaling solutions like the Lightning Network.