Bitcoin (BTC) is the world’s first cryptocurrency and a digital form of money that runs on a decentralized peer-to-peer network. Launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin introduced a financial system without intermediaries like banks or governments.

At its core, Bitcoin is secured by cryptography and powered by blockchain technology a public, tamper-proof ledger that records all confirmed BTC transactions transparently. This system makes Bitcoin highly resistant to fraud and censorship.

The term “Bitcoin” can refer to multiple things:

• The digital currency (BTC) used for borderless transactions.

• The blockchain ledger that records transactions.

• The protocol/software (Bitcoin Core) that maintains and updates the system.

Bitcoin’s genesis block was mined on January 3, 2009, marking the birth of the crypto era. Since then, it has grown into the largest and most influential digital asset, shaping the global cryptocurrency ecosystem.