What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a decentralized cryptocurrency, created in 2008 by an individual or group under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The main innovation of Bitcoin is allowing financial transactions between users directly, without the need for an intermediary centralized entity, such as a bank. It uses blockchain technology, a distributed ledger that records all transactions in a public and immutable way.

The concept of cryptocurrency dates back to the 1980s, with experiments like David Chaum's ecash and Adam Back's Hashcash. The idea of independent digital currencies, not dependent on governments or banks, was refined by members of the cypherpunk community, including Wei Dai and Nick Szabo, who created systems like b-money and bit gold. These concepts were fundamental in the development of Bitcoin, but none of them achieved the success Bitcoin has since its launch in 2009. Wikipedia.

One of the main features of Bitcoin is the use of "proof of work", which involves mining blocks through complex calculations. Each transaction is verified by a consensus process among network participants, ensuring its security without the need for a central intermediary Wikipedia.

Bitcoin has gained popularity over the years, being adopted as legal tender in El Salvador in 2021. However, its volatility and use by criminals have sparked debates about its regulation and environmental impact, especially due to the energy consumption of the mining process. BBC News.

To learn more about Bitcoin and how it works, you can check sources like Wikipedia on Bitcoin and other informative articles on the cryptocurrency field BBC News.