Bitcoin
In short
Bitcoin is the first decentralized digital currency: a global payment network without banks, where thousands of computers jointly confirm transactions and store them on the blockchain. Supply is capped at 21 million.
Bitcoin launched in 2009, created under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Its price is set purely by supply and demand; the fixed 21-million cap is why many call it digital scarcity.
Can I buy less than one whole bitcoin?
Yes. One bitcoin divides into 100 million satoshis — you can buy 10 euros' worth.
Related terms
Information, not investment advice. More of this? The newsletter.