$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) is a decentralized digital currency, the first of its kind, created in 2009 by an anonymous entity known as Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates on a technology called blockchain, a public, distributed ledger that securely records all transactions. This eliminates the need for central authorities like banks or governments. Bitcoin can be used for peer-to-peer transactions or as an investment, often dubbed "digital gold" due to its limited supply of 21 million coins. Its value is highly volatile, but it has paved the way for thousands of other cryptocurrencies.