Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that allows for secure and borderless transactions without the need for intermediaries such as banks or financial institutions. It was created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin operates on a decentralized network, where all transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain. The process of creating new bitcoins is called mining, which involves solving complex mathematical problems using specialized software and hardware. Bitcoin has a limited supply, with only 21 million bitcoins that will ever exist, making it a deflationary currency. Bitcoin transactions are pseudonymous, meaning that they are not tied to real-world identities but are associated with unique addresses generated by users' wallets. Bitcoin has gained widespread adoption as a legitimate form of payment and investment, although it is not without its challenges, such as scalability and lack of centralized regulation.