Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency enabling decentralized, secure peer-to-peer transactions on a blockchain. More
| Fully Diluted Valuation | $2.25T |
|---|---|
| 24H Trading Volume | $31.75B |
| 24H Low / High | $112.02 K / $ 114.20 K |
| Circulating Supply | 19.91 M |
| Total Supply | 19.91 M |
| Max Supply | 21.00 M |
| Categories | Layer 1 (L1) 5 more |
|---|---|
| Founder | Satoshi Nakamoto |
| Website | bitcoin.org Whitepaper |
| Socials | 3 more |
| Explorer | Tokenview 6 more |
| Name | Pair | OG Score |
|---|
Bitcoin: The Evolution of Digital Currency
Bitcoin, the world's first cryptocurrency, emerged from a 2008 whitepaper penned by the enigmatic Satoshi Nakamoto. Launched in January 2009, Bitcoin introduced a peer-to-peer, decentralized system that allowed transactions without the need for traditional financial intermediaries. This groundbreaking concept leverages blockchain technology, which consists of transactions packed into cryptographically secure blocks.
Since its inception, Bitcoin has sparked a revolutionary shift in the financial sector, paving the way for a plethora of cryptocurrencies. It operates on a consensus mechanism known as Proof of Work, requiring miners to solve complex puzzles to validate transactions and mint new bitcoins. This system not only secures the network but also gradually releases new coins into circulation, with a cap set at 21 million bitcoins, ensuring its scarcity and value.
Bitcoin's journey from a novel idea to a market leader has been marked by significant milestones, such as the first commercial transaction, famously known as "Bitcoin Pizza Day," where 10,000 bitcoins were exchanged for two pizzas. Over the years, Bitcoin has gained traction not only as a medium of exchange but also as a store of value, often likened to digital gold. This perception has been bolstered by its adoption by countries like El Salvador and the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, which signal growing institutional acceptance.
Despite challenges such as market volatility and scalability issues, developments like the Taproot upgrade and the introduction of the Lightning Network have enhanced Bitcoin's privacy, efficiency, and transaction speed, further solidifying its position at the forefront of the digital currency revolution. As Bitcoin continues to evolve, it remains at the center of discussions about the future of money and finance, embodying a shift towards a more decentralized and transparent global economy.
Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency, characterized by its decentralized nature and operation on a peer-to-peer blockchain without the need for intermediaries.
The founder of Bitcoin remains publicly unknown, but several individuals have been suspected of being the creator or part of the original team behind it including Peter Todd, Adam Back, Nick Szabo, Hal Finney, Wei Dai, Len Sassaman, Craig Wright, Dorian Nakamoto, Paul Le Roux, Ted Nelson, and Tim May, with some theories even suggesting that "Satoshi Nakamoto" may have been a group rather than a single person. According to HBO's documentary "The Satoshi Mystery", the primary possible founder is Peter Todd.
Bitcoin’s origins are somewhat unique compared to traditional assets, as it was launched without a centralized team or venture capital. Today, the largest holders and backers of Bitcoin include its anonymous creator or founding team, known as Satoshi Nakamoto, who is believed to hold approximately 1.1 million BTC, untouched since its early mining days.
In addition to this:
Michael Saylor via Strategy (prev:MicroStrategy) - Holds over 628,791 BTC, making it the largest corporate holder. (and Saylor keeps adding more each week by raising funds via Strategy)
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) - Holds around 183,949 BTC (Grayscale holdings was over 620K BTC in Q1 2024, But has been declining since then because of Institutions preper other costody services and ETFs)
BlackRock - Holds around 720,000 BTC
Binance Exchange - Holds around 588,385 BTC on behalf of institutional and retail investors.
The U.S. Government hold over 200,000 BTC, mostly seized from darknet marketplaces and criminal proceedings (e.g. Silk Road cases).
Bitcoin is maintained as an open-source project primarily on GitHub via the Bitcoin Core repository.
As of 2025, over 800 developers have contributed code to Bitcoin Core.
Around 30 - 40 active contributors regularly submit code improvements, handle bug fixes, and propose protocol upgrades.
Independent developers, researchers, and foundations like Chaincode Labs, Brink, and Blockstream play key roles in maintaining Bitcoin’s development.
Bitcoin uses a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, where miners solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions and secure the network.
You can buy Bitcoin $BTC on Binance, OKX, BitgetGate.ioBybit Cryptocurrency exchanges.
🔗 Key Layer-2 Protocols Running on Bitcoin (Updated 2025)
Lightning Network
Purpose: Enables fast, low-cost BTC transactions off-chain.
Use Case: Micro and instant payments.
Status: Widely adopted by wallets, exchanges, and payment processors.
Stacks (STX)
Purpose: Smart contracts and dApps secured by Bitcoin.
Mechanism: Uses Proof-of-Transfer (PoX) consensus, anchoring data to Bitcoin blocks.
Use Case: NFTs, DeFi, DAOs, and Web3 identity (e.g., BNS).
Status: Actively maintained, with growing adoption in 2025.
Rootstock (RSK)
Purpose: EVM-compatible smart contract platform secured by Bitcoin.
Mechanism: Merge-mined with Bitcoin.
Use Case: DeFi protocols, token issuance, and oracle integrations.
Status: Actively developed.
Liquid Network (Blockstream)
Purpose: A federated sidechain for fast, confidential transactions and tokenization.
Assets: L-BTC (pegged BTC), stablecoins, securities, tokenized assets.
Use Case: Exchange settlements, issuance of digital assets.
🪙 Bitcoin Token Standards & Inscription Protocols
Ordinals
What: A protocol for inscribing arbitrary data onto individual satoshis.
Use Case: Bitcoin-native NFTs (also called "digital artifacts").
Status: Widely used; ecosystem includes marketplaces and wallets.
BRC-20
What: An experimental token standard using Ordinals to create fungible tokens.
Limitation: No smart contract support; depends on off-chain indexers.
Use Case: Meme tokens and speculative assets on Bitcoin.
Status: Still popular, though newer standards are emerging.
SRC-20
What: Stamp-based inscription standard on Bitcoin using STAMPS protocol.
Improves: Data permanence by embedding in image format and leveraging UTXOs, avoiding pruning.
Use Case: Permanent NFTs and tokens.
Status: Growing in collectors’ communities. New products emerge.
Runes Protocol (by Casey Rodarmor, creator of Ordinals)
What: A UTXO-based fungible token standard intended to replace BRC-20.
Launch: Officially activated during Bitcoin’s 2024 halving.
Advantage: More efficient, less spammy, native to Bitcoin’s architecture.
Status: Gaining momentum in 2025 with early projects launching.
Governments and major corporations have shown growing interest in Bitcoin (BTC) due to several strategic, financial, and technological factors.
1. Digital Store of Value & Hedge Against Inflation
Bitcoin is increasingly viewed as a digital equivalent to gold a hedge against inflation and fiat currency devaluation. Its fixed supply of 21 million coins and decentralized issuance mechanism offer an alternative to traditional monetary systems that are subject to political and central bank interventions. Bitcoin has operated continuously for over 16 years, maintaining its position as the most secure and decentralized ledger on the internet. Its robust proof-of-work algorithm ensures transparency, immutability, and strong resistance to censorship, making it a trusted foundation in the digital asset space.
2. Decentralization and Financial Sovereignty
Bitcoin's decentralized nature appeals to institutions and governments interested in financial systems that operate without centralized control. This offers potential improvements in financial transparency, efficiency, and resistance to censorship.
