Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that lets people send value over the internet without a bank or central authority.
Key points:
- Launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto after a 2008 whitepaper.
- Runs on a public, append-only ledger called a blockchain, maintained by a network of nodes.
- Transactions are validated by miners using proof-of-work; a new block is added roughly every 10 minutes.
- Supply is capped at 21 million BTC, with new issuance declining over time via “halvings.”
- Ownership is controlled by c*****graphic keys; transactions are irreversible once confirmed.
- Divisible down to 1 satoshi (0.00000001 BTC).
- Pseudonymous: addresses aren’t tied to real names, but all transactions are publicly visible.
- Used for peer-to-peer payments and as a store of value; price can be highly volatile.
- Can be acquired via exchanges, peer-to-peer trades, ATMs, or mining; stored in wallets (custodial or self-custody).
- Risks include market volatility, key loss/theft, scams, regulatory changes, and energy consumption from mining.
Feb 13 2026, 15:31Bot