Bitcoin is the first and largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Created in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, it operates on a decentralized blockchain with a fixed supply cap of 21 million coins.

Why It Matters

Bitcoin has evolved from a niche digital experiment to a trillion-dollar asset class. The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. (January 2024) marked its mainstream institutional acceptance. It is increasingly viewed as "digital gold"—a hedge against currency debasement and monetary expansion.

Key Price Drivers

Market Impact

Bitcoin increasingly correlates with NASDAQ/tech stocks during risk-on environments and diverges during crypto-specific catalysts. Its 24/7 trading makes it a weekend/holiday sentiment proxy for traditional markets.