Bitcoin is a digital currency that allows you to send and receive value over the internet — without needing a bank, payment provider, or government in the middle. It was introduced in 2009 and is considered the first truly decentralized form of money.
Key Characteristics of Bitcoin:
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Decentralized: No single company or country controls Bitcoin. It is maintained by a global network of users and computers.
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Limited Supply: Only 21 million Bitcoins will ever exist. This scarcity is part of its value.
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Borderless: You can send Bitcoin to anyone, anywhere in the world, 24/7.
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Open and Transparent: Every transaction is recorded publicly on a blockchain and can be verified by anyone.
Bitcoin is often called “digital gold” because, like gold, it is scarce and doesn’t rely on trust in an institution. It’s also used as a store of value, a hedge against inflation, and, for some, as a financial escape from centralized systems.
