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A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO BITCOIN

What Bitcoin is, how it works and why supply is capped.

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WHAT IS BITCOIN AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Last updated October 8, 2026 · Crypto and Stocks News

Bitcoin is a digital currency that runs on an open network no single company or government controls.

It was released in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. Transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain, which anyone can inspect and no one can quietly rewrite.

Only 21 million bitcoin will ever exist, and the rate at which new coins are issued halves roughly every four years. That fixed schedule is why Bitcoin is often described as digital scarcity.

You do not need a bank or permission to hold or send it. You do need to look after your keys — the credentials that control your coins — which is why wallets and custody matter so much.

Miners compete to add new blocks by spending energy on proof-of-work. That cost makes rewriting history expensive and is central to how the network stays honest without a central operator.

For investors, Bitcoin is often framed as a macro asset — sensitive to liquidity, rates and risk appetite — as well as a technology story. Our Markets and Bitcoin news sections follow both angles daily.

Key points

  • Capped at 21 million coins
  • Issued on a fixed, halving schedule
  • Secured by miners who spend real energy
  • Settles globally in about ten minutes per block

Educational content from Crypto and Stocks News — not financial, legal or tax advice.