$BTC

Bitcoin (BTC) is the world's first and largest cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. Operating on a decentralized blockchain network, Bitcoin functions as digital money without requiring banks or governments for transactions. Its revolutionary peer-to-peer system allows users to send value directly to each other globally, with transactions verified by network participants called miners who solve complex mathematical problems.

Bitcoin's supply is capped at 21 million coins, making it deflationary by design and often called "digital gold." The network's security comes from its proof-of-work consensus mechanism, where miners compete to validate transactions and earn newly minted bitcoins. Since its inception, Bitcoin has evolved from an experimental technology to a legitimate asset class, adopted by corporations, institutional investors, and even governments as a store of value and hedge against inflation. Its price volatility and growing acceptance continue to shape the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem and financial markets worldwide.