Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin was created in 2008 by an anonymous entity under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, who published a white paper describing a decentralized digital currency system using the blockchain.
The Bitcoin network was launched on January 3, 2009 with the mining of the first block, marking the beginning of the world’s first cryptocurrency.
Nakamoto left the project in 2010, leaving its development to the open-source community.
Since then, Bitcoin has become a pillar of digital finance.
Bitcoin has no central team, but relies on a community of open-source developers.
Core developers, such as Gavin Andresen, Pieter Wuille and Wladimir van der Laan, play a key role in maintaining the Bitcoin Core software.
Governance and enhancements are made by consensus within this decentralized community, with no central controlling authority. Live Bitcoin prices.

Bitcoin’s operation is based on a protocol: the blockchain.

This is a digitized account book in which all transactions are recorded.

Bitcoins circulate on this network, and are therefore exclusively digital.
This network has 2 fundamental characteristics:

• it is immutable and distributed.
• no data stored on the blockchain can be modified or deleted.

There is no central body controlling its operation: data is replicated on tens of thousands of computers worldwide, and anyone can participate in the network and propose modifications. These characteristics give rise to confidence in its use. To diversify your crypto-currency investments, also consider buying stablecoins like USDT. Find out how to buy USDT safely on Coinhouse.” In addition to Bitcoin, stablecoins like USDT offer a stable option for your transactions and investments. Learn more about USDT.

Bitcoin tokens (BTC) are primarily used as a form of decentralized, secure digital currency, enabling peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries such as banks.
Thanks to blockchain technology, every transaction is transparent, immutable and verifiable, offering a reliable alternative to traditional financial systems.
BTC is used for a variety of purposes, from fast and inexpensive international payments to access to decentralized financial services (DeFi), extending its usefulness in the modern digital economy.

• Limited supply: One of Bitcoin’s key features is its limited total supply of 21 million BTC, which creates digital scarcity.
  This cap is encoded in the Bitcoin protocol and cannot be changed without a global network consensus, making it resistant to inflation.
• Halving (Reward reduction): New Bitcoins are created through a process called mining, where miners validate transactions and secure the network by solving cryptographic problems.
  As a reward, they receive new Bitcoins.
  Every four years or so, this reward is halved in an event known as“halving“, which reduces the rate of creation of new Bitcoins and contributes to the gradual decrease in inflation.
  The last halving took place in April 2024.
• Decentralized distribution: Bitcoin is distributed via mining, a process accessible to anyone with the necessary hardware and an Internet connection.
  This favors decentralized distribution of tokens, compared with traditional financial systems where central institutions control money creation.
• Deflation and scarcity: Unlike fiat currencies, which can be printed in large quantities, Bitcoin is designed to be deflationary due to its fixed supply and periodic halving.
  This potential deflation makes it an attractive store of value for investors seeking protection against the inflation of traditional currencies.
• Utility as a medium of exchange and store of value: Although Bitcoin is used primarily as a store of value, its tokenomics also make it viable for peer-to-peer transactions, international payments, and in some cases, DeFi applications and smart contracts on compatible networks.

Projects around Bitcoin focus primarily on improving its network and its usefulness as a digital currency and store of value.
Among notable initiatives, the development of the Lightning Network aims to solve scalability issues by enabling fast, low-cost off-chain transactions.
Other projects focus on privacy and security, such as Taproot, which improves transaction efficiency and user privacy.
In addition, efforts are being made to make Bitcoin more accessible and user-friendly, including wallet solutions, Bitcoin-integrated DeFi apps, and platforms that facilitate payments and BTC exchanges in the global economy.
In 2024, Bitcoin is back on top.
The most popular crypto reached a new record high on November 11, 2024, with a price exceeding $89 467.
What’s more, institutional investor interest in Bitcoin ETFs reached a new peak, with an inflow of $417 million (source: Tradingview.com), while traditional funds such as GBTC are experiencing a retreat.
This trend highlights the growing preference for Spot Bitcoin ETFs, offering direct exposure to the cryptocurrency, over more expensive and less flexible options.

• Create an account: Go to the Coinhouse website and register by creating an account. You’ll need to provide your personal details and verify your identity by uploading required documents, such as ID and proof of address.
• Make a deposit: Once your account has been verified, log in and deposit euro funds into your Coinhouse account.
  You can make a deposit by bank transfer or use a credit card.
• Buy Bitcoin: After depositing funds, access the purchase section on the platform.
  Select Bitcoin (BTC) from the list of available cryptocurrencies, enter the amount you wish to purchase and confirm your purchase.
  You can buy BTC with USDT or USDC.
• BTC storage: Your purchased Bitcoins will be stored in your Coinhouse crypto wallet. You can also transfer your BTC to an external wallet for added security.

bh.

The benefits:

Bitcoin’s first advantage is that it can be used as an anonymous means of payment.
But this cryptocurrency has many other advantages:
– Transfers are virtually instantaneous (less than 10 minutes); – Transfer fees are zero.
Payment fees are lower than other, more traditional solutions (PayPal, bank cards, etc.); – There is no limit to the amounts that can be transferred; – Exchanges take place on a global level, with no intermediaries for storage and transfer; – Anyone can exchange bitcoins; – It’s a decentralized system, not dependent on any institution; – Total transparency of exchanges is guaranteed: every transaction is recorded in the blockchain, a public database; – It’s an attractive investment opportunity.
Gains can be rapid.

Disadvantages:

Bitcoin also comes with a number of drawbacks.
It’s essential to be aware of them before investing in or mining this cryptomania: – The system is still relatively unknown.
Almost everyone has heard of bitcoin, but the concept remains little understood by the general public; – Transactions are irreversible.
It is not possible to cancel a bitcoin payment once made, even in the event of an error; – Its independence from institutions and the absence of intermediaries is not without consequence: bitcoin is not regulated or guaranteed by a central authority; – Users must take special precautions to protect their investment.
It is essential to secure your computer and your online wallet.
In the event of hacking or loss of access, the user has no recourse.
Users must also be extremely vigilant in their choice of wallet provider.
– The bitcoin price is highly volatile, and can be significantly impacted by all kinds of events.
However, this should evolve towards greater stability as more individuals and companies use this cryptocurrency.