Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency ever created. The system is a peer to peer system, meaning transactions take place without and intermediary. Bitcoins are created as a reward for a process known as mining, which also keeps the network up and running. This network verifies transactions the the use of network nodes. The information is then stored in a immutable, public distributed ledger called the blockchain. Bitcoin was invented in 2009 by an mysterious person or group of people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto and released as open-source software. Bitcoin can be exchanged for other currencies, products, and services.