A Brief History of Bitcoin
Bitcoin, the world's first decentralized cryptocurrency, was introduced in 2009 by an anonymous figure or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates on a peer-to-peer network, eliminating the need for a central authority like a bank or government.
The Origin
Bitcoin was created as a response to the global financial crisis of 2008. Satoshi Nakamoto published a whitepaper describing the underlying technology: the blockchain.
Key Milestones
- In 2010, the first commercial Bitcoin transaction occurred when 10,000 BTC were used to buy two pizzas.
- In 2011, Bitcoin reached parity with the US dollar.
- Today, Bitcoin has grown in popularity, spawning thousands of other cryptocurrencies.
Basic Facts
- Bitcoin's maximum supply is capped at 21 million coins.
- Transactions are verified by miners who add blocks to the blockchain.
- Bitcoin's price is highly volatile and influenced by market demand.