Full answer
Bitcoin was created in 2009 by an anonymous person (or group) under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. It was the first cryptocurrency — digital money that operates without a central authority like a bank or government. Instead, transactions are verified by a network of computers worldwide and recorded permanently on the blockchain.
The blockchain is a public ledger that anyone can view. Every Bitcoin transaction ever made is recorded there. "Mining" is the process by which new transactions get added — computers compete to solve complex math problems, and the winner gets newly created Bitcoin as a reward.
Bitcoin's supply is permanently capped at 21 million coins — about 19.7 million have been mined as of early 2026. This scarcity is intentional and is a key reason many see it as "digital gold." Bitcoin's price is highly volatile. This is general information only — consult a financial advisor before investing.
Bitcoin follows a halving cycle approximately every four years (every 210,000 blocks). Each halving cuts the mining reward in half, reducing the rate of new supply. The most recent halving occurred in April 2024.
Bitcoin differs fundamentally from other major cryptocurrencies. Ethereum's core feature is smart contracts — programmable agreements that run automatically. XRP was designed for fast bank-to-bank settlement. Bitcoin's position is unique: it has the oldest network, the most mining security, and the only truly fixed, immutable supply cap.