Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, runs on a decentralized blockchain, enabling peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries. Introduced by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, it uses Proof-of-Work mining to secure its ledger, with a 21-million-coin cap driving its value as digital gold. Wallets store private and public keys, while SegWit, Taproot, and the Lightning Network boost scalability and privacy. […]