Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. It allows for peer-to-peer transactions without the need for a central authority or intermediaries, such as banks. Bitcoin transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain. This technology ensures transparency and security, making it difficult to alter transaction history. Bitcoin operates on a limited supply model, with a maximum of 21 million coins to be mined, which is intended to create scarcity and value over time. As the first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin has paved the way for the development of thousands of alternative digital currencies and is often referred to as digital gold due to its investment characteristics.