What is Bitcoin and why is it valuable?
Bitcoin (BTC) was launched in 2009 by a person or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. It was the first cryptocurrency and is still the largest by market value.
How Bitcoin works
Bitcoin payments are recorded on a public blockchain kept by thousands of computers. Miners bundle payments into blocks about every ten minutes and are rewarded with new bitcoin for securing the network.
The 21 million limit
Only 21 million bitcoin will ever exist. The number of new coins created per block halves roughly every four years (the "halving"), so new supply keeps shrinking. This fixed, predictable supply is a big part of why people call Bitcoin "digital gold".
Where its value comes from
- Scarcity: a hard cap that no government or company can change.
- Security: the most powerful computer network in the world protects it.
- Network effect: millions of users, wallets, exchanges and payment services.
- Portability: you can move any amount across the world in minutes.
The risks
Bitcoin's price can rise or fall 10% or more in a day. Its value depends on people continuing to want it. Treat it as a high-risk asset.
Following Bitcoin on Velxen
See the live price, chart and market data on the BTC coin page, or trade it on the BTC/USDT market.
This article is for education only and is not financial advice. Crypto prices can rise and fall sharply; only trade with money you can afford to lose.
