Bitcoin
The first and largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, created in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto.
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that operates without a central bank or single administrator. Transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded on a public distributed ledger called the blockchain. Bitcoin was invented in 2008 by an unknown person or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto and launched in 2009. Its key innovation is solving the double-spending problem without requiring a trusted third party. Bitcoin has a capped supply of 21 million coins, making it provably scarce. New bitcoins are created through mining — a process where computers solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions and secure the network. As of 2026, Bitcoin has evolved from a retail speculation asset to an institutional-grade store of value, with spot ETFs holding over $120 billion in assets and multiple nation-states accumulating it as a strategic reserve asset. It is often referred to as digital gold due to its properties as a store of value and hedge against currency debasement.