Bitcoin BTC

Bitcoin is an open-source, decentralized Layer-1 blockchain and peer-to-peer electronic cash network introduced by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. Its white paper, “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,” was published in October 2008, and the Bitcoin network began operating in January 2009.

BTC is the native asset of the Bitcoin network. Bitcoin uses Proof of Work (PoW), with miners performing SHA-256-based hashing to produce blocks, while independently operated nodes validate transactions and blocks according to the network’s consensus rules.

New BTC is issued through mining rewards. The block subsidy is reduced approximately every 210,000 blocks through Bitcoin’s programmed halving schedule, and total issuance is capped at 21 million BTC.

Bitcoin does not have a company, central operator or headquarters. Its network is maintained by independent users, node operators and miners, while Bitcoin Core and related open-source software are developed by contributors from around the world. Changes to Bitcoin are proposed and reviewed publicly and depend on voluntary adoption by network participants.