Skip to main content

What is Bitcoin?

By July 8, 2020March 28th, 20224 minute read

Bitcoin has been a great topic of discussion amongst investors, finance professionals, media outlets, investment commentators, bloggers, etc. The cryptocurrency has been called by a lot of names.

Some of them are ‘the next financial revolution’, internet currency, decentralized money, digital gold, gold 2.0. But what is it exactly?

Bitcoin primarily consists of two things. The token and the protocol that powers the token. In 2009, anonymous creator(s) Satoshi Nakamoto mentioned both, as a ‘Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System’ in the white paper.

Represented by the symbol BTC, bitcoin is a medium-of-exchange. By design, there is a cap on the total supply of bitcoin. Only 21 million bitcoins will ever be available.

bitcoin controlled supply timeline estimation
Bitcoin: Controlled supply timeline estimation, Source: Bitcoin wiki

No individual or centralized authority controls bitcoin’s creation and circulation. BTC leverages cryptography for supply, issuance, and transaction verification. That’s why Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency https://wazirx.com/blog/what-is-cryptocurrency/

On a protocol level, Bitcoin is a distributed network of computers that maintains a record/ledger of all BTC transactions. This network is called the Bitcoin blockchain.

Get WazirX News First

Every network participant has a copy of the ledger, which makes it difficult for hackers and infiltrators to gain access and alter the network data. To understand how this all happens visually, check out the video below:

Why Bitcoin Came into Being?

In the year 2008, The United States housing market crashed. It was a reality check for people putting their complete faith and ‘trust’ in legacy financial systems.

The Great Recession was a result of the failure of trust-based systems. Trust is not bad but it creates inefficiencies and fissures in operational models. It also significantly increases the cost to operate such operational models.

2008’s economic slowdown illustrated the need to democratize finance, to give users the control of their money, to let people be their own banks.

Bitcoin’s idea took shape when Satoshi intended to minimize trust, through the use of cryptographic proof, decentralized network design, and open-source software.

He/She/They designed the protocol in such a way so that bitcoin transactions

  • Could happen without permissions and beyond borders
  • Are trustless, pseudonymous
  • Can happen without anyone blocking or freezing a transaction of any amount
  • Takes place faster than usual banking transactions and without being reversed 
  • Keep happening 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

When Bitcoin was finally revealed to the public, erstwhile developer and one of Satoshi’s closest associates, Hal Finney posted this tweet:

How Does Bitcoin Work?

Bitcoin leverages a public-key cryptography system, peer-to-peer networking, and mining to process and verify payments.

Network participants or miners engage in a competition to verify transactions using advanced computing hardware designed to solve complex mathematical problems.

The miner who solves the problem verifies the transaction and adds it to a block. This goes on for a while until the block is full. The block then gets added to the longest chain. Miners win an appropriate number of bitcoins generated by the protocol, for quickly adding blocks to the chain. The reward system is called ‘proof-of-work’.

This is how new BTC is created, and subsequently becomes a part of the Bitcoin economy as miners sell these newly minted bitcoins to cover their operational costs.

The addition of transaction information to the blockchain eliminates a ‘double spending’ scenario.

How to Buy Bitcoin, and From Where?

Cryptocurrency exchanges can serve as the most appropriate place to buy Bitcoin. At WazirX, we offer the safest and fastest platform for you to start your Bitcoin journey.

What is the Future of Bitcoin?

Bitcoin has come a long way, since its inception in 2009. It is now supported by a multi-billion dollar BTC mining industry and billions of dollars worth of spot and futures trades that have ballooned Bitcoin’s value over the years. With a market cap of around $170 billion, it is no longer a DIY project for hobbyists.

Just recently, famed billionaire hedge fund investment heavyweight Paul Tudor Jones favored Bitcoin and said that he would give a section of his portfolio to BTC. According to his market outlook, ‘The Great Monetary Inflation’ Mr. Jones drew similarities between bitcoin and the 1970’s gold market.

Comparing Gold and Bitcoin markets
Comparing Gold and Bitcoin markets, Source – Bloomberg

He said that the first cryptocurrency, just like gold stands to gain a lot on the investment front.

Apart from investment, tremendous progress is happening on the development front. Developers are working tooth and nail to speed up bitcoin transactions. Bitcoin development firm, Blockstream, and off-chain scaling solution Lightning Network deserve notable mentions in this regard.

Bitcoin also stands to become a great smart contract development platform. As per a CoinDesk report published last year, prominent Bitcoin programmer Pieter Wuille, unveiled a new language called ‘Miniscript’ that could find a use for programming Bitcoin-based smart contracts and decentralized applications.

Further Reading:

How to sell bitcoin in India?

How to buy Bitcoin in India?

What is the difference between a token and a Bitcoin?

Are Tether and Bitcoin related? How Tether affects Bitcoin?

6 Things to Consider Before Investing in Bitcoin

What are the Differences Between Bitcoin and Ripple?

6 Bitcoin Myths That You Should Stop Believing

What is Bitcoin Mining?

Bitcoin Wallets: The Definitive Guide

What is Litecoin (LTC)? Hows is it Different from Bitcoin?

Why do Bitcoins Have Value?

What are the Differences Between Peer-to-Peer and Regular Bitcoin Exchanges?

Why are Bitcoins More Popular?

6 Tips to Keep Your Bitcoin Wallet Safe

5 Ways to Keep Bitcoin Transactions Private

What Will Happen when all Bitcoins are Mined?

Bitcoins in India: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Does Bitcoin have a volatile nature? Why?

Can Bitcoin Replace Credit Cards?

Is Bitcoin Digital Gold?

Why Start-ups Should Consider Using Bitcoins?

What is Bitcoin halving? Why is it important for cryptocurrency investors?

Can you buy shares in Bitcoin?

What is the difference between a token and a Bitcoin?

Are Tether and Bitcoin related? How Tether affects Bitcoin?

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does Bitcoin Work?

The blockchain, a distributed digital ledger, is what Bitcoin is based on. As the name suggests, blockchain is a linked database made up of blocks that store information about each transaction, such as the date and time, total amount, buyer and seller, and a unique identifier for each exchange. Entries are linked in chronological order to form a digital blockchain. Entries are linked in chronological order to form a digital blockchain. Blockchain is decentralized, which means any central authority does not control it.

What Is Bitcoin Used For?

Bitcoin was created as a means of sending money over the internet. The digital currency was designed to be a non-centralized alternative payment system that could be used in the same way as traditional currencies. Bitcoin is being used by an increasing number of businesses and individuals. This includes establishments such as restaurants, apartments, and law firms.

How To Invest In Bitcoin?

Bitcoin may be invested in two ways: through mining or exchanges. Bitcoin mining is carried out by high-powered computers that solve challenging computational arithmetic problems that are too difficult to complete by hand and complex enough to tax even the most powerful computers. WazirX, a Bitcoin exchange, is another alternative.

How Can I Get Bitcoin?

To begin, go to the WazirX website and register. After that, you will receive a verification email. The link received by verification mail will only be available for a few seconds, so make sure you click it as quickly as possible. This will successfully verify your email address. The following step is to set up security, so choose the best solution for you. After you've set up the security, you'll be given the option of continuing with or without completing the KYC process. Following that, you'll be sent to the Funds & Transfers section, where you can begin depositing Bitcoins into your wallet. You may also use INR to fund your WazirX Bitcoin wallet and then use it to purchase Bitcoin.

Is Bitcoin Safe And Legal In India?

In 2020, the Supreme Court of India lifted the RBI’s restrictions on cryptocurrencies. According to the Supreme Court, the existence of Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency is unregulated but not unlawful. The verdict has greatly aided the world of digital money in the country. To put it another way, investing in Bitcoin is perfectly legal, and you may do so through various apps and traders.

Can Bitcoin Be Converted To Real Money?

Crypto exchanges, Bitcoin ATMs, Bitcoin Debit Cards, and Peer Peer Transactions are all options for converting Bitcoin to cash. This can be accomplished by using Bitcoin exchanges such as WazirX. A Bitcoin ATM is a real place where you may purchase and sell Bitcoins with cash, unlike standard ATMs that allow you to withdraw money from your bank account. Many websites provide the option of purchasing Bitcoin in return for a prepaid debit card that works similarly to a standard debit card. Through a peer-to-peer marketplace, you may sell Bitcoin for cash faster and more privately.

How Many Bitcoins Will Ever Be Created?

The source code of Bitcoin stipulates that it must have a restricted and finite quantity. As a result, only 21 million Bitcoins will ever be generated. These Bitcoins are added to the Bitcoin supply at a predetermined rate of one block every ten minutes on average. The supply of Bitcoins will be depleted once miners have unlocked this number of Bitcoins. It's possible, however, that the protocol for Bitcoin will be altered to allow for a higher supply.

Is Bitcoin Mining Free?

Bitcoin mining isn't free, but it can be tried on a budget. Bitcoin mining is an essential part of the blockchain ledger's upkeep and development and the act of issuing new Bitcoins. It is accomplished by the use of cutting-edge computers that tackle complicated computational arithmetic problems. The effort of auditor miners is rewarded. They're in charge of ensuring that Bitcoin transactions go off without a fuss and that they're legal.

Who Created Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is the first application of the concept of "cryptocurrency," first articulated in 1998 on the cypherpunks mailing list by Wei Dai, who proposed a new form of money that relies on cryptography rather than a central authority to manage its creation and transactions. Satoshi Nakamoto published the initial Bitcoin specification and proof of concept on the cryptography mailing list in 2009. Satoshi exited the project in late 2010, with little information about himself available. Since then, the community has evolved, with numerous people working on Bitcoin. Satoshi's anonymity has sparked unfounded fears, many of which may be traced back to a misunderstanding of Bitcoin's open-source nature.

What Is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that may be purchased, traded, and traded without intermediary like a bank. Bitcoin is built on the blockchain, which is a distributed digital ledger. Wei Dai suggested a new kind of money that relies on cryptography rather than a central authority to oversee its production and transactions on the cypherpunks mailing list in 1998. Bitcoin was the first application of that notion. In 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto sent out the first Bitcoin specification and proof of concept to a cryptography mailing group.

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency is not a legal tender and is currently unregulated. Kindly ensure that you undertake sufficient risk assessment when trading cryptocurrencies as they are often subject to high price volatility. The information provided in this section doesn't represent any investment advice or WazirX's official position. WazirX reserves the right in its sole discretion to amend or change this blog post at any time and for any reasons without prior notice.
Participate in the Indian Crypto Movement. Share:

3 Comments

Leave a Reply

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.