Bitcoin (BTC)

  • Official Website: bitcoin.org
  • Definition: Bitcoin is the first decentralized cryptocurrency, created by an anonymous person or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009.
  • Category: Blockchain, Layer 1 chain, Cryptocurrency.
  • What It Is: A peer-to-peer digital currency that operates without a central authority, using blockchain technology to record transactions.
  • Function: Enables secure, transparent, and decentralized financial transactions.
  • Analogy: Think of Bitcoin as digital gold. Just like gold, it’s scarce (only 21 million will ever exist), valuable, and used as a store of value.
  • Pros: Decentralized, secure, widely adopted, limited supply.
  • Cons: High energy consumption, slow transaction speeds, price volatility.
  • Controversies: Environmental impact, use in illegal activities, scalability issues.

This page was last updated on January 27, 2025.