BTC / ZAR

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that enables peer‑to‑peer transactions without the need for a central authority or intermediary. Launched in 2009 by an individual or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, it introduced the concept of a public, permission‑less ledger known as the blockchain, where each transaction is recorded in a chain of cryptographically secured blocks.

The network operates globally, with participants (miners, nodes, and users) distributed across virtually every country. Transactions are settled in the smallest unit called a satoshi (0.00000001 BTC), and the native symbol ₿ is widely recognized. Bitcoin’s supply is capped at 21 million coins, a design choice intended to create scarcity and act as a hedge against inflation.

A quirky piece of Bitcoin lore is that the first block (the “genesis block”) contains the text "The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks," embedding a timestamp and a subtle commentary on the traditional financial system.