### **1. Birth of Bitcoin (2009)** Bitcoin was introduced by an anonymous figure (or group) under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 with the release of its whitepaper, "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System." In January 2009, Nakamoto mined the first block, known as the "genesis block," marking the beginning of the cryptocurrency era. Bitcoin was designed as a decentralized digital currency, offering a way to transfer value without relying on central authorities like banks.