Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the pioneer of blockchains and cryptocurrencies, introduced in a white paper released in 2008 by an apparently pseudonymous person or group of people known as Satoshi Nakamoto. The document described a peer-to-peer method of transferring money without the use of financial institutions. The cryptocurrency known as bitcoin or BTC debuted in 2009. Transactions are recorded on a public ledger (a blockchain) by entities known as miners who engage in process called proof-of-work. Miners are rewarded for doing that by getting newly minted bitcoin. Some proponents view BTC as an alternative to fiat currencies and a hedge against inflation. Bitcoin has inspired the creation of numerous other cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects.

DISCLOSURE: This text was written with the assistance of AI, then reviewed by a person



Markets

The Fed Wants You to Lose Money in Stocks and Probably Crypto, Too

Monetary policy works through financial conditions, including equities and consequently crypto, which has been highly correlated with the equity market.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will speak at a press conference after this week's FOMC meeting. (Federal Reserve via Wikimedia Commons)

Videos

How Will Ethereum's Shift to PoS Affect Bitcoin?

"Ethereum aims to be a global settlement layer, that being everything can settle on Ethereum, even bitcoin included in the far future," says core developer Preston Van Loon. He breaks down how the Merge will potentially impact Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus mechanism.

Recent Videos

Markets

First Mover Americas: Ether Outshines Bitcoin as Ethereum Merge Nears

The latest price moves in crypto markets in context for Sept. 6, 2022.

ETH was up 7% over the last 24 hours, outperforming BTC. (Chris Gorman/Getty Images)

Markets

First Mover Asia: Ethereum's Merge Starts to Hit Gaming Chip Prices

Prices for graphics processing units for personal computers are tumbling ahead of the Ethereum blockchain's upcoming shift, which is already reducing demand for chips from cryptocurrency miners.

GPU prices have taken a toll, and it's hitting Nvidia's bottom line. (FritzchensFritz/Creative Commons, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

First Mover Americas: Bitcoin Languishes Below $20K as Energy Crisis in Europe Worsens

The latest price moves in crypto markets in context for Sept. 5, 2022.

Bitcoin's future direction looks cloudy. (David Lucas via Metropolitan Museum of Art, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

Parabolic Bitcoin Bull Run Likely After Dormant Coin Supply Peaks, Past Data Suggests

Dormant supply peaks are springboards for upwards price action, one observer said.

Bitcoin: Percentage of supply inactive for at least a year (Glassnode)

Markets

Bitcoin in Accumulation Phase Despite Macro Headwinds, On-Chain Data Indicate

The data suggest the long-term growth outlook for the oldest cryptocurrency remains bullish, analysts said.

Zipmex is to release tokens to users' wallets in the next week after blocking customers from direct custody of their coins last month. (Jose Miguel/Pixabay)

Finance

It Was Cruel Summer for the Bitcoin Market

Will an uncharacteristically weak summer lead to even more pain for bitcoin’s price in September, a month when it typically drops?

(Marstourist/Pixabay)

Videos

Future of Nigeria’s Booming Crypto Scene

Nigeria showed more interest in crypto than any other country since the markets began to decline in April, according to a study by price tracker CoinGecko. WomenInDeFi Brand Strategist Umeh Chinonye discusses her outlook on the state of crypto in Nigeria.

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