Bitcoin is a digital or virtual currency that uses peer-to-peer technology to facilitate instant payments. Bitcoin is decentralized, meaning it is not subject to government or financial institution control. The network is peer-to-peer and transactions take place between users directly, without an intermediary.
These transactions are verified by network nodes through the use of cryptography and recorded in a public dispersed ledger called a blockchain. Bitcoin was invented by an anonymous person or group of people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009.
Bitcoins are created as a reward for a process known as mining. They can be exchanged for other currencies, products, and services. As of February 2015, over 100,000 merchants and vendors accepted bitcoin as payment.
Bitcoin can be purchased through a digital exchange or broker. They can also be obtained through mining.
Mining is a process of verifying and adding transaction records to a public ledger called the blockchain. Miners are rewarded with bitcoins for their work.
This process requires a lot of computing power and energy, so it is often done by large organizations with specialized equipment.
Bitcoins can be used to purchase goods and services online, or they can be held as an investment. Some people speculate that the price of bitcoin will continue to rise as more people adopt it and use it for everyday transactions.
Bitcoin is still in its early stages of development and adoption, so its price is highly volatile. Investing in bitcoin may be risky, but it could also be very profitable if the price continues to rise.