Bitcoin has unquestionably changed the way people think about money. But how did this virtual currency become a large sum of money? Bitcoin had its humble beginnings in 2008 all the way to its peak in 2021. This digital currency has taken the world, and especially investors, into a rat race. In just over a decade, Bitcoin has crashed, soared, fallen, and rallied many times, at one point reaching an all-time high of over $65,000.
This caught the attention of many people eager to know more about this decentralized peer-to-peer digital exchange system. Simply put, individuals can transfer value or funds directly without an intermediary or bank. Satoshi Nakamoto, a person or a group, created Bitcoin to prevent individuals dependent on financial institutions or governments from carrying out financial transactions. This virtual currency allows users to transfer and receive funds on the blockchain, which depends on a proof-of-work method to verify and track transactions. So, if you are interested in Bitcoin trading, you may consider
Bitcoin is currently a popular form of digital currency. Many people buy it on cryptocurrency exchanges using fiat money. After that, they can use it to transact locally and online. They can also keep their tokens in cryptocurrency wallets as a long-term investment while they wait for their value to increase.
As bitcoin has grown in popularity and value, some believe it will eventually replace fiat currency. Although not perfect, some investors believe that Bitcoin is going far, especially after analyzing the challenges it has overcome so far.
The starting point
Bitcoin was born in the turmoil of the Great Recession of 2008. Satoshi Nakamoto and many others believed that governments and financial institutions had a role to play in this crisis. The mistrust of the masses towards the financial system and the banks had grown over the years. That’s why Satoshi published a white paper discussing centralized control of fiat money and the trust financial institutions needed to handle public money.
Conventional financial systems allow third parties to interfere with or reverse transactions. Additionally, these institutions may charge high fees or delay transactions. This is why Satoshi introduced a cashless payment method, Bitcoin, which uses cryptography to maintain network integrity on behalf of financial institutions or third parties.
On January 3, 2009, Satoshi launched the Bitcoin blockchain by mining the first block. A week later, Satoshi made the first trade. Initially, miners could quickly validate the Bitcoin blockchain, and this cryptocurrency had no real monetary value.
Over a year later, a man in Florida bought two pizzas worth $25, paying 10,000BTC. This transaction established that Bitcoin had real-world utility by confirming its value. Today, this amount of BTC could be worth more when considering the current price of this cryptocurrency.
The Growth of Bitcoin
Bitcoin’s underlying technology is partly responsible for its growth as a big currency. The blockchain eliminates intermediaries which increases the time and cost of transactions. Therefore, more and more people are turning to Bitcoin to minimize costs and time, especially for cross-border transactions. Bitcoin transactions are faster and more affordable than traditional payment methods.
Another reason for Bitcoin’s growth as a big money is the endorsement by influential people. For example, when Elon Musk announced his support for Bitcoin, its price rose significantly. Its popularity and value also increased when big companies like MicroStrategy and PayPal started allowing their customers to use Bitcoin on their platforms.
The move by countries like El Salvador to make Bitcoin legal tender has also catapulted Bitcoin higher. Today, more merchants are accepting bitcoin payments in their local and online stores. All of these factors have contributed to making Bitcoin an important currency.
Final Thoughts
Bitcoin is, to date, the largest cryptocurrency. While no one can probably say what Bitcoin has in store, this digital currency is doing quite well. It is an investment vehicle and payment method with a growing user base.
