Introduced in 2009 by an individual or group under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin was the first of its kind, offering a novel method for peer-to-peer financial exchanges without the need for traditional banking institutions.

Bitcoin’s unique value is partly due to its limited supply of 21 million coins, governed by a proof-of-work consensus mechanism called Bitcoin mining. This process secures the network and verifies transactions, ensuring the integrity and scarcity of the digital currency.