Bitcoin is the first and most popular cryptocurrency. It powers a peer-to-peer network for the exchange of value through the use of a decentralized protocol. The idea behind Bitcoin is to have a system where there is no middleman or central authority. Bitcoin refers to the Bitcoin software protocol as well as to the monetary unit, which goes by the ticker symbol BTC. At its most basic level, Bitcoin is useful for transacting value outside of the traditional financial system. You can buy and sell BTC for other cryptocurrencies alongside more traditional currencies at crypto exchanges like Binance, Kraken and Bitstamp.
Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by a mysterious person (or group of people) known as Satoshi Nakamoto. What sets Bitcoin apart is that it's completely decentralized, meaning no single entity controls it. Instead, it's maintained by a network of computers, known as miners, who validate transactions.
You can break a single Bitcoin down into 100 million tiny pieces called "satoshis." Owning and sending Bitcoin is fairly straightforward. You keep them in a digital wallet and can send fractions of a Bitcoin to pay for stuff. But when you dig into the technicalities, it's like peeling an onion—layer after layer of complexity.
All Bitcoin transactions happen on a blockchain. Think of it as a public digital ledger that everyone can see but no one can tamper with. Miners are the ones who validate and secure these transactions. They solve complex math problems to validate transactions and are rewarded with new bitcoins for their efforts.
Key Points to Remember
- Bitcoin was the first big player in the cryptocurrency game, and it's still the largest by market value.
- Unlike traditional money, Bitcoin exists on a decentralized network called a blockchain.
- Miners keep the network secure and are rewarded with new bitcoins for their efforts.
- Its value has had a roller-coaster ride, experiencing dramatic ups and downs over the years.
- Because of Bitcoin's success, countless other cryptocurrencies have sprung up.
- You can buy Bitcoin on several cryptocurrency exchanges.
How To Buy Bitcoin or Add it to your Strategy
The fastest, most convenient way to purchase Bitcoin is to purchase it on ICONOMI. We check Bitcoin live prices on 10+ crypto exchanges and buy it at the best market price.
You can buy Bitcoin by adding it to your private Crypto Strategy (crypto portfolio). You can also use our recurring buy feature that tends to level out cryptocurrency price volatility effects. You can find out more about how to benefit from smaller investments at regular intervals on our blog article.
We recommend you do your own research and cryptocurrency analysis. Experienced crypto trades use fundamental and technical analysis to evaluate if Bitcoin is a good buy/sell. Fundamental and technical analyses are the two most common types of analysis used in trading traditional assets (e.g. stocks and bonds).
If you are unfamiliar with analyzing cryptocurrency prices and want to buy Bitcoin, we recommend you read the next section, as copying might be a better approach.
Add Bitcoin to your portfolio by copying a Strategy
If you are not skilled at these, consider a different approach to investing in cryptocurrencies. You can learn from and copy seasoned crypto traders on ICONOMI who regularly share their insights and manage their public Crypto Strategies. Go to the strategies page and use the “ticker” filter to find out which public Crypto Strategies have Bitcoin in their structure.