Bitcoin: the full story
What is Bitcoin? Bitcoin is the currency unit of an alternative financial system which works using computer code and cryptography, without a central authority; it is open to everyone at all times, transparent and censorship-proof.
Initially created as an alternative payment network, it is now mainly used as an investment asset and store of value.
Contents
THE FULL STORY: A Bitcoin video
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1. A revolutionary concept: the blockchain
Bitcoin operates on a protocol: the blockchain. This is a digitised account book in which all transactions are listed. Bitcoins are traded on this network; they are therefore exclusively digital.
This network has two fundamental characteristics: it is immutable and distributed. Consequently, no data recorded on the blockchain can be edited or deleted.
There is no central body which controls it: the data is replicated on tens of thousands of computers around the world and anyone can participate in the network and suggest changes. These attributes have led to confidence in the use of Bitcoin.
2. Bitcoin, a creation in response
to the financial crisis of 2008?
Some experts say that Bitcoin was created as a reaction to the 2008 financial crisis, as a way to get away from banks and governments. But the few writings of Satoshi Nakamoto, which go back to the origin of the cryptocurrency, do not confirm this theory.
as intermediaries to guarantee our transactions.
Bitcoin can operate without its original creator, who has not been active in the project since 2012.
Satoshi Nakamoto thus proposes an alternative system of value exchange.
He is the first person to have found a solution that combines security and decentralization, i.e. a system that functions entirely without intermediaries or central management bodies.
3. A bit of history on Bitcoin
The Bitcoin blockchain went live on January 3, 2009. At first, only a few computer enthusiasts were interested in it, but soon exchange platforms were set up, making it possible to exchange bitcoins for dollars, and thus to set a price according to supply and demand.
On October 12, 2009, 5050 bitcoins were traded for $5.02, or about $0.001 per unit, marking the beginning of the use of cryptocurrencies as an investment medium.
Less than two years later, on February 9, 2011, Bitcoin reached parity: on that day, 1 bitcoin = 1 dollar.
4. Bitcoin was originally a fast way to pay
Because of the sharp movements in its price, the asset is not widely used as a means of payment to buy goods or services. It is seen more as an investment tool, or even as a safe haven, but we’ll explore this in more detail later.
5. Bitcoin is rare but highly divisible
One figure: 21 million.
21 million units for 7 billion people may not seem like enough if Bitcoin wants to establish itself as a medium of exchange that everyone can use every day, but this is a false problem.
Bitcoin’s units are currently divisible up to eight decimal places, and it is possible to go even further if needed. In honor of its creator, the smallest unit in the system is called the satoshi.
One bitcoin is therefore equal to 100,000,000 satoshis, and it is entirely possible to buy or trade one thousandth or even one millionth of a bitcoin.
6. How is the Bitcoin price set?
The price of Bitcoin is set, as with commodities or precious metals, solely through supply and demand. There are exchange platforms on which a large number of transactions are made every day, allowing a price to be set. More generally, the price is influenced by a myriad of factors on a daily basis: news, good or bad, the global economic context, or internal market dynamics.
7. Understand the concept of Bitcoin mining
For this reason, the analogy is sometimes made with gold: miners “discover” a new block of the Bitcoin blockchain each time an equation is solved. Just as the gold digger has put in the effort in a mine, the Bitcoin miner receives a reward for committing computing power and allowing the network to function. The difference is that with Bitcoin, everything is digital and the total number of units is determined in advance.
Miners are also paid by transaction fees, which vary from a few cents to several dozen euros, depending on the use of the network.
Today, bitcoin mining has been industrialized. We speak of “mining farms”: they designate a place, usually large, in which thousands of computers are grouped together for mining activities. These farms are often owned by companies because this is an activity that requires investment: to be competitive, you need a lot of equipment. Equipment that consumes a lot of energy and gives off heat, which requires air conditioning.
Some countries in the world are favored for this activity because of their cold winters and the low cost of electricity. Mining is still a technical subject, we will discuss it in more detail in this article.
8. Bitcoin, investment opportunity and store of value?
But beware, if buying Bitcoins for investment purposes can be a wise choice, one should not neglect its high volatility: its value can rise or fall sharply in the space of a few days only. Since it is not subject to any regulation, Bitcoin is regularly the subject of speculation.
Observing the price movements on the marketplaces shows that phenomenal rises and sharp falls follow one another. At the end of 2017, the price of Bitcoin rose from 8,500 euros to over 16,000 euros. But then the price dropped by almost 80% during 2018 to fall back below 3,000 euros. In March 2021, the price reached 50,000 euros!
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9. Advantages and disadvantages of bitcoin
– Transfers are almost instantaneous (less than 10 minutes);
– Transfer fees are zero. The payment fees are lower than other more traditional solutions (PayPal, bank cards…);
– There is no limit to the amounts that can be transferred;
– Exchanges are made on a global level, without intermediaries for storage and transfer;
– Anyone can exchange bitcoins;
– It is a decentralized system, not depending on any institution;
– The total transparency of exchanges is guaranteed: each transaction is recorded in the blockchain, a public database;
– It is an attractive investment opportunity. Gains can be rapid.
Bitcoin also has several drawbacks. It is essential to know about them before investing or mining this cryptomania:
– The system is still unknown. Almost everyone has heard of bitcoin, but it is still not widely understood by the general public;
– The transactions are irreversible. It is not possible to cancel a payment in bitcoin once made, even in case of 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. Users must take special precautions to protect their investment. It is essential to secure their computer and their online wallet. In case of hacking or loss of access, the user has no recourse. The user must also be very careful in choosing the wallet provider.
– Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile and can be significantly impacted by all sorts of events. However, this should evolve into greater stability as more individuals and businesses use this cryptocurrency.
To go further
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Why Bitcoin?
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