Bitcoin (Cryptocurrency)
Bitcoin (BTC) is the first decentralized digital currency, created in 2009. It was invented by Satoshi Nakamoto based upon open source software and allows users to make peer-to-peer transactions via the Internet that are recorded in a decentralized, public ledger. Bitcoin has the largest market capitalization by far of all cryptocurrencies, 19 times larger than the runner up Ethereum. The number of units is capped at 21 million, 16 million of which are available. The cap ensures that inflation won't decrease their value.
When users allocate computer processing power towards the mining of Bitcoins, they are rewarded with transaction fees and newly created coins. Units can be bought or sold against other cryptocurrencies or against fiat currencies like the USD or the EUR at many exchanges, which operate like physical currency exchanges. Units can also be saved or obtained in exchange for goods or services. TradingView, for example, accepts Bitcoin for annual plan payments, as one of many companies that allow their online products or services to be bought with Bitcoin.
For more information on bitcoin, see Introduction to Bitcoin for Begining.
What is the blockchain?
The blockchain is a ledger that is append-only: that is to say, data can only be added to it. Once information is added, it is extremely difficult to modify or delete it. The blockchain enforces this by including a pointer to the previous block in every subsequent block.
The pointer is actually a hash of the previous block. Hashing involves passing data through a one-way function to produce a unique “fingerprint” of the input. If the input is modified even slightly, the fingerprint will look completely different. Since we chain the blocks along, there is no way for someone to edit an old entry without invalidating the blocks that follow. Such a structure is one of the components making the blockchain secure.
For more information on blockchains, see What is Blockchain Technology? The Ultimate Guide.
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