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🤔 New to crypto? Ask questions with #CryptoAMA hashtag, get answers, and earn rewards! 🧠 Crypto expert? Share your expertise by answering questions in the comments and get rewarded too!
Join our 'Ask Us Anything Crypto' campaign and get up to $5,500 in USDC rewards!
Campaign Period: 2024-10-29 00:00 to 2024-11-20 23:59 (UTC)
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For Creators Posting Questions:
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Main Reward Pool: All eligible participants share a 5,000 USDC reward pool. Rewards are capped at 5 USDC per person.Top 100 Reward Pool: The top 100 answers with the highest like count will split a 500 USDC prize pool, capped at $5 USDC per answer.

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This Activity may not be available in your region. Eligible users must be logged in to their verified Binance accounts whilst completing tasks during the Activity Period. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel from the Binance Square team based on topic relevance, formatting, quality, factual sourcing, and originality. Content must also align with the Campaign Rules. Any content involving hashtag abuse will be disqualified.Rewards will be distributed in the form of token vouchers to eligible users within 21 working days after the Activity ends. Users will be able to log in and redeem their voucher rewards via Profile > Rewards Hub. Illegally bulk registered accounts or sub-accounts shall not be eligible to participate or receive any rewards. Binance reserves the right to cancel a user’s eligibility in this activity if the account is involved in any behavior that breaches the Binance Square Community Management Guidelines or Binance Square Community Platform Terms and Conditions.Binance reserves the right at any time in its sole and absolute discretion to determine and/or amend or vary these terms and conditions without prior notice, including but not limited to canceling, extending, terminating, or suspending this activity, the eligibility terms and criteria, the selection and number of winners, and the timing of any act to be done, and all participants shall be bound by these amendments.Binance reserves the right to disqualify any participants who tamper with Binance program code, or interfere with the operation of Binance program code with other software.Binance reserves the right of final interpretation of this Activity.Additional Activity terms and conditions can be accessed here.There may be discrepancies in the translated version of this original article in English. Please reference this original version for the latest or most accurate information where any discrepancies may arise.
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Key Takeaways

Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency to be ever created. It was created in 2008 and launched in 2009 by pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto.

Bitcoin runs on blockchain technology, which works like a public ledger. All Bitcoin transactions are verified by a network of nodes spread around the world.

Bitcoin is decentralized, transparent, and open source, making it a popular alternative to traditional financial systems.

What Is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is essentially digital money. It is the first cryptocurrency ever created, announced in 2008 (and launched in 2009). Bitcoin allows users to send and receive digital money called bitcoins (with a lowercase b, or BTC for short).

Unlike traditional fiat currencies issued by governments (like dollars or euros), Bitcoin is decentralized, meaning no single institution, government, or entity controls it. Transactions are conducted peer-to-peer, removing the need for banks or financial institutions to act as intermediaries.

What makes Bitcoin highly appealing is its inherent resistance to censorship, the impossibility of double-spending funds, and the ability to conduct transactions anytime and anywhere.

How Does Bitcoin Work?

Bitcoin operates on blockchain technology, a public ledger that records all transactions. This means every Bitcoin transaction is transparent, verifiable, and secure.

Imagine blockchain as a chain of blocks, where each block holds information about transactions. Every time someone uses Bitcoin, their transaction is added to the blockchain, and this record is stored across a global network of computers (called nodes).

This distributed network ensures that no single party can manipulate the data. Anyone can participate in the ecosystem by downloading Bitcoin's open-source software.

Decentralization: Bitcoin's blockchain is maintained by a distributed network of computers, ensuring no central authority controls the ledger.

Immutability: Once a transaction is added to the blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted.

Security: Transactions are encrypted using cryptography, and verifying each block requires solving complex mathematical puzzles, a process known as mining.

BTC transaction example

When Alice sends a BTC transaction to Bob, the blockchain database updates their balances (e.g., removing 1 BTC from Alice and adding 1 BTC to Bob’s balance). It's like Alice is writing on a piece of paper (that everyone can see) that she's giving Bob 1 BTC.

When Bob goes to send the same funds to Carol, the network can easily check if he has enough BTC balance. The blockchain acts like a digital ledger that tracks all Bitcoin transactions and keeps the users’ balances up-to-date.

Since the network is decentralized, all participants (nodes) have an identical copy of the database (blockchain ledger) stored on their devices. So, they have to communicate constantly to synchronize new information.

Bitcoin mining

Bitcoin mining is the process that secures the Bitcoin network and confirms transactions. When a user makes a BTC transaction, they broadcast it to the network, where it is verified by other nodes known as "miners".

In other words, mining refers to the process of verifying transactions and recording them into the blockchain database (ledger). To do so, miners compete to solve a complex math problem, which requires a lot of computing power.

The first miner to solve the puzzle gets to add a new block of transactions to the blockchain. In return, they are rewarded with new bitcoins. The high cost of mining is one of the things that keep the network secure, and the block rewards given to miners are the only source of “fresh” bitcoins. Each block mined adds a certain amount of coins to the total supply.

Proof of Work (PoW)

To maintain the security and integrity of the blockchain, Bitcoin uses a consensus mechanism known as Proof of Work (PoW). It’s an essential part of the mining process described above.

PoW is a mechanism created along with Bitcoin to prevent double-spending in digital payment systems. Besides Bitcoin, many cryptocurrencies use PoW as a method for securing their blockchain network.

When we talk about a “complex math problem” that miners have to solve, we are basically talking about PoW. It was designed to make it expensive to create a block, but cheap to verify that it's valid. Suppose someone tries to cheat with an invalid block. In that case, the network immediately rejects it and the miner is unable to recoup the cost of mining.

What Is Bitcoin Used For?

Bitcoin is primarily used as a digital currency and store of value. It can be used to make purchases online or in person, similar to traditional currencies. More and more businesses are accepting Bitcoin as a payment method. From online retailers to brick-and-mortar stores. 

You can also use Bitcoin to send money to anyone across the globe quickly and with relatively low transaction fees compared to traditional banks and remittance services.

As an investment, many people buy Bitcoin, hoping its value will continue to rise. While the price of BTC can be volatile, some investors see it as a way to diversify their portfolios and hedge against inflation in the long term.

Who Created Bitcoin?

Bitcoin was first introduced in 2008 when Satoshi Nakamoto published a whitepaper entitled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System". This paper introduced a new digital currency that would operate on a decentralized system without relying on governments or the banking system.

In January 2009, the Bitcoin protocol was released, and the first bitcoin transaction took place between Satoshi Nakamoto and a programmer named Hal Finney. The transaction involved sending ten bitcoins from Nakamoto to Finney.

After the first transaction, more people began to discover Bitcoin and join the network. The digital currency gained popularity among a small community of tech enthusiasts by demonstrating that Bitcoin could function without a central authority or intermediary.

Bitcoin Pizza is another important milestone in the history of Bitcoin, as it marked the first time bitcoins were used as a medium of exchange for a real-world transaction. On May 22, 2010, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz made history by using 10,000 bitcoins to buy two pizzas. The transaction became known as "Bitcoin Pizza Day" and is now commemorated every year on May 22.

Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto?

Satoshi Nakamoto's identity remains a mystery. Satoshi could be a person or a group of developers anywhere in the world. The name is of Japanese origin, but Satoshi's mastery of English has led many to believe that he or she is from an English-speaking country.

Did Satoshi invent blockchain technology?

Bitcoin combines a number of existing technologies that have been around for a long time, and this includes blockchain technology. The use of such immutable data structures can be traced back to the early 1990s when Stuart Haber and W. Scott Stornetta proposed a system for time-stamping documents. Much like today's blockchains, it relied on cryptographic techniques to secure data and prevent it from being tampered with. But Bitcoin was revolutionary in solving the double-spending issue that plagued other digital payment systems at the time.

How Many Bitcoins Are There?

The protocol sets the maximum supply of bitcoins at 21 million coins. As of September 2024, just over 94% of these have been mined, but it will take over a hundred years to produce the rest. This is due to periodic events known as Bitcoin halving, which reduce the mining rewards roughly every four years.

What Is Bitcoin Halving?

Bitcoin halving refers to the periodic halving events that reduce the block rewards offered to miners. The next Bitcoin halving is expected to happen in 2028, roughly four years after the last halving, which took place on April 19, 2024.

Bitcoin halving is at the core of its economic model as it ensures that coins are issued at a steady pace, getting increasingly difficult at a predictable rate. Such a controlled rate of monetary inflation is one of the key differences between Bitcoin and traditional fiat currencies, which have an essentially infinite supply.

Is Bitcoin Safe?

One of the main risks associated with Bitcoin is the potential for hacking and theft. For example, in phishing scams, hackers use social engineering techniques to trick users into revealing their login credentials or private keys. Once the hacker has access to the user's account or crypto wallet, they can transfer the victim's bitcoins to their own wallet.

Another way hackers can steal bitcoins is through malware or ransomware attacks. Hackers can infect a user's computer or mobile device with malware that allows them to access the user's Bitcoin wallet. In some cases, hackers can also use ransomware to encrypt a user's files and demand payment in bitcoins to unlock them.

Because bitcoin transactions are irreversible and not insured by any government agency, users must take precautions to protect their bitcoin holdings. This includes using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and storing bitcoins in a secure crypto wallet that is inaccessible to hackers. It's also important to only download Bitcoin-related software from trusted sources.

Another risk associated with bitcoin is price volatility. The value of bitcoin can fluctuate highly over short periods of time, making it a risky investment for those who are not prepared for the price fluctuations and potential losses.

Closing Thoughts

Bitcoin has come a long way from its humble beginnings, growing into a globally recognized cryptocurrency with numerous use cases. Whether you’re considering using Bitcoin for everyday transactions, investing for the future, or simply interested in the technology behind it, understanding how Bitcoin works is essential.

The future of Bitcoin is still being written, but it’s clear that it’s here to stay. With more companies accepting it and more people using it for investment, Bitcoin continues to revolutionize the way people think about money.

Further Reading

What Is Blockchain and How Does It Work?

What Is Proof of Work (PoW)?

What Is Cryptocurrency Mining and How Does It Work?

Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto?


Disclaimer and Risk Warning: This content is presented to you for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Please read our full disclaimer here for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use and Risk Warning.

Today in crypto, a group of pro-crypto US Senate Democrats have said they would oppose a stablecoin bill in its current form, OKX founder and CEO has responded to Justin Sun’s criticism, and Warren Buffett announces he wants to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway by the end of 2025.
Pro-crypto Democrats pull support for stablecoin bill in last minute
A group of US Senate Democrats known for supporting the crypto industry have said they would oppose a Republican-led stablecoin bill if it moves forward in its current form.
The move threatens to stall legislation that could establish the first US regulatory framework for stablecoins, according to a May 3 report from Politico.
Per the report, nine Senate Democrats said in a joint statement that the bill “still has numerous issues that must be addressed.” They warned they would not support a procedural vote to advance the legislation unless changes are made.
Among the signatories were Senators Ruben Gallego, Mark Warner, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Andy Kim — all of whom had previously backed the bill when it passed through the Senate Banking Committee in March.
The bill, introduced by Senator Bill Hagerty, is formally known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.
Cryptocurrencies, Warren Buffett, Bitcoin Regulation, Freedom, Stocks, Berkshire Hathaway, Bitcoin Reserve
OKX fires back at Tron’s Justin Sun over mysterious “freeze notice”
OKX founder and CEO Star Xu has publicly defended the crypto exchange after Tron founder Justin Sun accused it of failing to act on a law enforcement request to freeze stolen funds following a recent hack of Tron’s official X account.
“OKX also has consumers protection policy according to law, we can’t freeze a customer’s funds according to your personal X post or an oral communication. I think you should understand it as the CEO of HTX,” Xu said in an X post.
Xu said that the crypto exchange had not received any related correspondence through OKX’s official channels. “Our LE cooperation team just checked the email, including the spam box; we haven’t received any request related with this case,” Xu said.
In what is now an unavailable X post, but was screenshotted by Xu, Sun had earlier claimed that OKX has not responded to a “freeze notice” sent to its official email address from a “relevant law enforcement agency.” Sun said that he had no other way to contact OKX’s compliance department.
“These stolen funds do not belong to me; I’m acting to protect the community,” Sun said.
Berkshire Hathaway CEO and notable investor Warren Buffett to step down by the end of 2025
Warren Buffett, the CEO and founder of the Berkshire Hathaway investment firm, announced he is stepping down by the end of 2025 and letting his successor Greg Abel, the company's vice chairman of non-insurance operations, take the helm.
The decision is still subject to the approval of the company's board of directors. However, Buffett said he was confident that the board would fully back the decision to elevate Abel, who has been groomed for this position for years, to the position of CEO.
Speaking at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting on May 3, 2025, Buffett announced his decision:
"The time has arrived when Greg should become the Chief executive officer of the company at year-end, and I want to spring that on the directors effectively and give that as my recommendation."
Although investors have long anticipated the move, Buffett's announcement officially signals the end of an era at the publicly traded investment company.
Cryptocurrencies, Warren Buffett, Bitcoin Regulation, Freedom, Stocks, Berkshire Hathaway, Bitcoin Reserve
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