You're absolutely right, #[0] Bitcoin was the first and original cryptocurrency to make use of cryptography as a means of securing transactions and providing a decentralized and transparent ledger.

Many other cryptocurrencies, including popular altcoins such as Ethereum and Litecoin, have followed in Bitcoin's footsteps by utilizing cryptographic techniques to keep financial transactions safe from fraudsters or third-party interference.

So there's no doubt that Bitcoin holds a special place in the history of cryptocurrency development. Without its groundbreaking innovations, we might not have seen the explosion of interest in blockchain technology that has taken place over the last several years.