Bitcoin (BTC), launched in January 2009, is the first and largest cryptocurrency by market cap, operating on the Bitcoin blockchain, a decentralized, open-source Layer 1 blockchain. Created by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin enables peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries, serving as a digital store of value and medium of exchange. BTC powers transaction fees, mining rewards, and ecosystem growth.

Key Features

  • Decentralized Ledger: A distributed blockchain records all transactions, maintained by nodes globally.
  • Proof-of-Work (PoW): Miners solve complex puzzles to validate transactions, ensuring security.
  • Finite Supply: Capped at 21 million coins, with ~19.8 million in circulation as of June 2025.
  • Ecosystem: Supports sidechains (e.g., Stacks), wrapped tokens (WBTC), and institutional adoption via ETFs.

BTC Token

  • Purpose: Used for transaction fees, mining rewards, and as a store of value or investment asset.
  • Supply: Circulating supply of ~19.8 million BTC, with a max supply of 21 million.
  • Contract Address: Native to Bitcoin; CoinGecko CMC. Add to wallets like Electrum or hardware devices (e.g., Ledger).

Who Are the Founders of Bitcoin?

Bitcoin was created by Satoshi Nakamoto, an anonymous individual or group, via a 2008 whitepaper. Nakamoto mined the genesis block in 2009 and disappeared in 2011, leaving development to a global community. The Bitcoin Core team and contributors maintain the protocol, with no central authority.

What Makes Bitcoin Unique?

Bitcoin stands out as the original cryptocurrency:

  • Store of Value: Often called “digital gold” due to its scarcity and inflation resistance.
  • Decentralization: No central authority, with over 15,000 nodes ensuring resilience.
  • Institutional Adoption: Held by MicroStrategy (252,220 BTC), spot BTC ETFs ($1.9B weekly inflows), and nations like El Salvador as legal tender.
  • Security: Secured by the SHA-256 algorithm and the largest mining network, with a hash rate of ~700 EH/s.

BTC Network Upgrades (2025)

  • Taproot Expansion (Q1 2025): Enhanced privacy and smart contract capabilities, boosting DeFi on sidechains.
  • Lightning Network Growth (March 2025): Processed 10M+ transactions monthly, enabling sub-second payments at ~$0.01 fees.
  • Firedancer Integration (June 2025): Improved node efficiency, supporting Bitcoin’s interoperability with Solana-based BTCfi.

How Is BTC Secured?

Bitcoin and BTC are secured through:

  • PoW Consensus: Miners use computational power to solve puzzles, with rewards of ~3.125 BTC per block post-2024 halving.
  • Decentralized Nodes: Over 15,000 nodes validate transactions, preventing single points of failure.
  • SHA-256 Algorithm: Cryptographic security protects against tampering and double-spending.
  • Hardware Wallets: Devices like Trezor and Ledger secure private keys offline, mitigating malware risks.

Conclusion

Bitcoin (BTC) is the pioneering cryptocurrency, powering a secure, decentralized blockchain that redefined digital finance. With its finite supply, institutional adoption, and upgrades like Taproot and Lightning Network, Bitcoin remains the dominant store of value in the $3.5T crypto market. Its resilience and global impact cement its role as a foundation for Web3 and beyond.