$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) is the pioneering decentralized digital currency, created in 2009 by an anonymous entity known as Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates on a peer-to-peer network using blockchain technology, a distributed ledger that records all transactions transparently and securely without the need for intermediaries like banks.

With a maximum supply of 21 million coins, Bitcoin's scarcity is a key aspect of its tokenomics, often likened to digital gold. New bitcoins are introduced into circulation through a process called mining, where participants solve complex computational puzzles to validate transactions and add new blocks to the blockchain, receiving bitcoin as a reward. This reward halves approximately every four years, further controlling the supply.

Initially conceived as a medium of exchange, Bitcoin has increasingly become viewed as a store of value. Its decentralized nature, limited supply, and growing adoption have contributed to its significance as the first and most well-known cryptocurrency.