Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, often referred to as cryptocurrency. It operates on a technology called blockchain, which is a distributed ledger that records all transactions across a network of computers. Bitcoin transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded on the blockchain. It was created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin has gained significant attention and adoption as a store of value and a means of exchange, though its price can be highly volatile.