Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency created in 2008 by the anonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, aiming to provide a peer-to-peer electronic cash system free from central control like banks or governments. It’s the first and most prominent cryptocurrency, inspiring countless others.

The core of Bitcoin is its blockchain – a shared, distributed database secured by cryptography. This means no single entity controls the information; it’s maintained by a network of computers. Transactions are recorded in “blocks” which are chained together, creating a permanent and transparent history.

Bitcoin mining is the process of validating transactions and adding new blocks to the blockchain. Miners compete to solve complex cryptographic puzzles, and the winner receives newly created bitcoins as a reward. This reward halves approximately every four years, reducing the rate of new bitcoin creation and mimicking the scarcity of gold. Currently, miners receive 3.125 BTC per block.

One bitcoin is divisible into 100 million satoshis, allowing for transactions of any size. Bitcoin can be used for speculation, investment, and everyday purchases through various cryptocurrency exchanges. However, it’s important to be aware of the risks involved, including price volatility, potential for fraud, and the possibility of theft.

The initial vision, outlined in Nakamoto’s white paper, was a truly peer-to-peer system, and the first block – the “genesis block” – was mined on January 3, 2009, containing a message referencing the financial crisis of the time.

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