$BTC Bitcoin was born in 2009, after the global financial crisis, as a decentralized alternative to the traditional banking system. Its creator, under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, published a white paper in 2008 proposing a system of digital money without intermediaries. The first block, known as the "genesis block", contained a message: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks”, a direct criticism of the financial system. In its early days, Bitcoin was worth less than a cent and was mainly used by enthusiasts. Today, it has transformed from an internet curiosity into a global asset with economic and social impact.