$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) is the world's first decentralized digital currency. Created in 2008 by an anonymous entity named Satoshi Nakamoto, it operates without central bank or government control. Transactions are recorded on a public, immutable ledger called the blockchain, secured by cryptography. Users can send and receive BTC directly, peer-to-peer. New bitcoins are generated through "mining," a process where powerful computers solve complex problems. Bitcoin is widely considered a significant innovation in finance and a popular investment asset.