What is bitcoin & how does it work?

Unlike fiat currency, Bitcoin is created, distributed, traded, and stored using a decentralized ledger system known as a blockchain. Bitcoin and its ledger are secured by proof-of-work (PoW) consensus, which is also the "mining" process that introduces new bitcoins into the system. Bitcoin can be purchased via various cryptocurrency exchanges.

Who can use Bitcoin?

Permissionless: Anyone can use Bitcoin, there are no gatekeepers, and there is no need to create a 'Bitcoin account.' Any and all transactions that follow the rules of the protocol will be confirmed by the network along the defined consensus mechanisms. Pseudo-anonymous.

What is Bitcoin (BTC)?

Sponsored by What's this? What Is Bitcoin? Bitcoin (BTC) is a cryptocurrency, a virtual currency designed to act as money and a form of payment outside the control of any one person, group, or entity, thus removing the need for third-party involvement in financial transactions.

How does bitcoin encrypt data?

Bitcoin uses the SHA-256 hashing algorithm to encrypt the data stored in the blocks on the blockchain. Simply put, transaction data stored in a block is encrypted into a 256-bit hexadecimal number. That number contains all of the transaction data and information linked to the blocks before that block.