Bitcoin (BTC)
Everything you need to know about Bitcoin
The original cryptocurrency that started everything. It was created by 'Satoshi Nakamoto' and released as open-source software in 2009. Its dominance still accounts for over 40% of the entire market. Every balanced portfolio should hold some Bitcoin due to its dominance; it's, without a doubt, the leading asset in the industry. It is available to purchase on every crypto exchange you could ask for.
Under the hood, BTC is a proof-of-work consensus algorithm hence we need miners to validate and secure the peer-to-peer network. Miners are rewarded in BTC. Currently, rewards are 12.5 BTC to the lucky miner but this reward will reduce over time (known as the Bitcoin Halving).
The smallest units of bitcoin are referred to as Satoshis (or Sats). These represent 100 million in an individual bitcoin making it divisible up to eight decimal places. So you can buy fractions of a bitcoin. For example, if BTC was priced at $20,000 - To buy $100 worth you'd receive 0.005 BTC
- Frequently asked questions
-
Is Bitcoin anonymous?No. Bitcoin, like most blockchains, is not strictly anonymous as all transactions leave extensive public records on the blockchain that can be traced to the wallet. A wallet can be viewed and all past transactions and holdings can be viewed easily by anyone. However, a wallet doesn't necessarily give away an individual's identity just their transactions which could lead to identity revealing.Was this helpful?
-
When is the next Bitcoin halving?The next Bitcoin halving is due in early May 2024 - For more information about the Bitcoin halving read our Bitcoin halving cycles guideWas this helpful?
-
Can I stake Bitcoin?No, not natively. Bitcoin uses a proof-of-work mechanism rather than a proof-of-stake. However, some platforms and exchanges allow you to earn by locking up Bitcoin for yield however the risk to reward is often not something I would advise. Recently platforms such as Celcuis which offered such services have filed for bankruptcy leaving those who locked their assets locked out and possibly losing some or all of their coins.Was this helpful?
- Links & Socials
- Website
- @bitcoin
- White paper