What You Need To Know About Bitcoin Facts And Figures
3 min read
Bitcoin is the first digital currency to gain widespread popularity and success. It is a peer-to-peer payment system and has spawned many other cryptocurrencies in its wake.
The blockchain technology underpinning bitcoin works by encrypting transaction data into a 256-bit hexadecimal number that is used to validate blocks of transactions. Miners in the network attempt to verify each block’s validity using mining software and hardware.
- It is a digital currency
Bitcoin is a digital currency, which means it’s not backed by any government or institution. Instead, it relies on peer-to-peer software and cryptocurrency guides to make transactions secure.
In addition, it’s the first completely open payment network that anyone with an internet connection can participate in. This is important because, unlike traditional money, it doesn’t depend on banks or private companies to process transactions.
Transactions are recorded on a public ledger, which is distributed among nodes across the network. This is called the ‘blockchain’ and it’s a record of every bitcoin transaction ever made.
- It is a peer-to-peer network
Unlike credit cards and traditional online payment systems, bitcoin can be sent across the globe without any fees. It’s also irreversible, meaning that a transaction cannot be reversed by the sender.
The blockchain, which is like a bank’s ledger but is decentralized, records all transactions using peer-to-peer software and cryptography. It’s stored on servers all over the world, and no single party controls it.
The blockchain is a key feature of the network, and its accuracy is ensured through a process called mining, which involves computers competing to solve complex math puzzles. The blockchain is continually growing, as new transactions are recorded on it and new blocks are added to the chain.
- It is a decentralized network
Bitcoin is a decentralized network that uses peer-to-peer technology to operate without the need for a central bank or government. Instead, the network relies on a blockchain that records all transactions.
This ledger is created through a process called mining that involves using specialized software and computer processing power to solve complex mathematical problems. Miners who successfully complete a mined block are paid for their work.
This allows users to buy and sell bitcoins using their computer, smartphone, or tablet, without the need for a third party. However, there are also some risks to this process. These include theft, money laundering, and fraud.
- It is a payment system
Unlike most payment systems, which rely on a central intermediary to process the transaction from one party to the other, Bitcoin allows you to send money from person to person without having to revert to paper bills or credit cards.
The best part is that you can do it securely and conveniently using a wide range of mobile and web apps. This is all thanks to the clever use of a public key cryptography scheme. Basically, a secure digital key is used to authenticate the monetary transfer between two parties. The cryptokey can be a password, a fingerprint or a series of complex encryption algorithms. The resulting data can be stored in an off-line secure server to ensure your privacy. The most exciting part is that you can do this anywhere in the world with minimal fees and maximum control over your personal information.
- It is a store of value
A store of value is an asset that maintains its value over time. Gold is one of the most popular examples, but other assets like government bonds, real estate, and stocks can also serve this purpose.
A good store of value should be fungible, which means that it can be divided into smaller units and exchanged without being counterfeited. This property of fungibility is important because it allows for more precise value transfers.
Another important feature of a store of value is its scarcity. For example, gold has been a store of value for centuries but it is finite in supply and is mined at a fixed rate.
Bitcoin’s scarcity is also coded into its architecture and only 21 million coins are ever made available for circulation. This limited supply and controlled inflation make it a more reliable store of value than other digital assets.
