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Bitcoin

About Bitcoin

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What is Bitcoin

A type of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is a digital currency created in January 2009 following the housing market crash. Bitcoin offers the promise of lower transaction fees than traditional online payment mechanisms and is operated by a decentralised authority, unlike government-issued currencies. There are no physical bitcoins, only balances kept on a public ledger that everyone has transparent access to, that – along with all Bitcoin transactions – is verified by a massive amount of computing power. Balances of Bitcoin tokens are kept using public and private "keys," which are long strings of numbers and letters linked through the mathematical encryption algorithm that was used to create them.
 
The public key (comparable to a bank account number) serves as the address which is published to the world and to which others may send bitcoins. The private key (comparable to an ATM PIN) is meant to be a guarded secret and only used to authorize Bitcoin transmissions.
 
Who created bitcoin
 
The identity of the person or persons who created the technology is still a mystery.
 
How does Bitcoin work
 
Each Bitcoin is basically a computer file which is stored in a 'digital wallet' app on a smartphone or computer. People can send Bitcoins (or part of one) to your digital wallet, and you can send Bitcoins to other people. Every single transaction is recorded in a public list called the blockchain. This makes it possible to trace the history of Bitcoins to stop people from spending coins they do not own, making copies or undo-ing transactions.
 
How to get Bitcoin
 
There are three main ways people get Bitcoins.
 
  • You can buy Bitcoins using 'real' money.
  • You can sell things and let people pay you with Bitcoins.
  • Or they can be created using a computer.
 
Is bitcoin safe?
 
Every transaction is recorded publicly so it's very difficult to copy Bitcoins, make fake ones or spend ones you don't own.
 
It is possible to lose your Bitcoin wallet or delete your Bitcoins and lose them forever. There have also been thefts from websites that let you store your Bitcoins remotely.
 
The value of Bitcoins has gone up and down over the years since it was created in 2009 and some people don't think it's safe to turn your 'real' money into Bitcoins.
 

Latest Updates on Bitcoin

The largest cryptocurrency by market value rose as much as 3.1% to $28,442 on Tuesday, its first session higher in three

Updated On: 01 Mar 2024 | 2:10 PM IST

Earlier this week, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a lawsuit against Binance for trading against customers and misusing internal trading channels

Updated On: 01 Mar 2024 | 2:09 PM IST

Another major development in the crypto world during the week was the US Securities and Exchange Commission's 'Wells notice' to crypto exchange Coinbase

Updated On: 24 Mar 2023 | 4:45 PM IST

Some analysts argue the token is being viewed as a hedge against the woes in the US and European banking sectors and benefiting from expectations of looser monetary policy

Updated On: 22 Mar 2023 | 11:00 AM IST

The collapse of several banks in the last two weeks has spread fears of contagion in global markets, but crypto markets saw a bull run, with Bitcoin climbing to its nine-month high on Monday

Updated On: 21 Mar 2023 | 10:51 AM IST

Cryptocurrency news: According to some experts, however, despite the bull run, the investors must remain cautious

Updated On: 17 Mar 2023 | 4:39 PM IST

Bitcoin jumped as much as 9.6% to $26,533, its highest since June 2022, in its fourth straight days of gains

Updated On: 14 Mar 2023 | 8:37 PM IST

SVB crisis: After the SVB was shut down by US regulators on Friday, the crypto market plunged deep into the red, but they had largely recovered by Tuesday

Updated On: 16 Mar 2023 | 9:16 AM IST

Silvergate has been a go-to bank for the biggest crypto players but has come under fire since the collapse of FTX late last year

Updated On: 03 Mar 2023 | 4:25 PM IST

The minutes, released on Wednesday, said that the members believe "ongoing" rate hikes will be necessary

Updated On: 24 Feb 2023 | 3:58 PM IST

The US inflation, according to data released on Wednesday, continued to fall for the seventh straight month in January to 6.4%

Updated On: 17 Feb 2023 | 4:55 PM IST

Following the SEC order, the crypto industry saw massive sellout, with Bitcoin falling nearly 4 per cent and Ethereum declining over 5 per cent in the last 24 hours

Updated On: 10 Feb 2023 | 5:26 PM IST

Volume of bitcoin options traded on Deribit, an exchange for crypto-focused derivatives products, jumped 82% in Jan versus Dec, as per crypto market maker OrBit Markets while Ether options swelled 38%

Updated On: 07 Feb 2023 | 7:54 PM IST

Elon Musk-owned Tesla has revealed that the company recorded a $204 million impairment loss in 2022 on its Bitcoin investments

Updated On: 01 Feb 2023 | 3:15 PM IST

Survey said events such as collapse of crypto exchange FTX have put vulnerabilities of the sector in focus

Updated On: 31 Jan 2023 | 6:48 PM IST

Bitcoin is set for its best January since 2013 on bets that monetary tightening and the crypto-sector crisis are both ebbing

Updated On: 30 Jan 2023 | 7:08 PM IST

US Fed will hold its meeting on January 31 and February 1 and announce the policy on February 2

Updated On: 27 Jan 2023 | 4:59 PM IST

Bitcoin is on the charge in 2023, dragging the crypto market off the floor and electrifying bonk, a new meme coin. The No.1 cryptocurrency has clocked a 26% gain in January

Updated On: 17 Jan 2023 | 12:47 PM IST

The US inflation cooled down to 6.5% in December as compared to a year ago

Updated On: 13 Jan 2023 | 7:33 PM IST

In a significant concern for many in the cryptocurrency community amid the deepening crypto winter, the total amount of inactive Bitcoin (BTC) for at least six months has grown to over 15 million

Updated On: 11 Jan 2023 | 7:55 PM IST