$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) is a decentralized digital currency that was invented in 2008 by an anonymous individual or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. It was introduced as an open-source software in 2009 and operates without a central authority, such as a bank or government. Bitcoin uses peer-to-peer technology to facilitate instant payments, and transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain.
BTC is created through a process called mining, where powerful computers solve complex mathematical problems. This not only generates new coins but also secures the network. Bitcoin has a fixed supply of 21 million coins, making it a deflationary asset, unlike traditional fiat currencies which can be printed indefinitely.
