Wednesday, October 7, 2026
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Bitcoin

The first cryptocurrency: where it came from, how it is made and why people value it.

12 guides, in reading order

  1. What is bitcoin and how does it work?Bitcoin is a digital currency with no central bank. A public ledger kept by thousands of computers records every payment, and supply is capped.2 min read
  2. Who created bitcoin?Bitcoin was created by Satoshi Nakamoto, a pseudonym for an unknown person or group who published the design in 2008 and vanished in 2011.2 min read
  3. How does bitcoin mining work?Bitcoin miners race to solve a puzzle with specialized computers. The winner adds a block of transactions and earns new bitcoin plus fees.2 min read
  4. What is the bitcoin halving?The bitcoin halving cuts the reward paid to miners in half every 210,000 blocks, about every four years, slowing the creation of new coins.2 min read
  5. Why are there only 21 million bitcoin?Bitcoin's code releases new coins on a shrinking schedule that adds up to 21 million. The last one is expected to be mined around 2140.2 min read
  6. Why does bitcoin have value?Bitcoin has value because people will pay for something scarce, secure and widely traded. Critics say an asset with no income rests on belief alone.2 min read
  7. What is a satoshi?A satoshi is the smallest unit of bitcoin. There are 100 million satoshis in one bitcoin, which lets people buy and send fractions of a coin.2 min read
  8. What is the Lightning Network?The Lightning Network is a payment layer built on bitcoin. It moves small payments off the main blockchain so they settle in seconds for low fees.2 min read
  9. Bitcoin vs Ethereum: what is the difference?Bitcoin is designed as scarce digital money. Ethereum is a platform for running programs, with its own coin, ether, used to pay for them.2 min read
  10. Bitcoin vs Bitcoin CashBitcoin Cash split from bitcoin on August 1, 2017, in a dispute over block size. It uses larger blocks to fit more payments on its main chain.2 min read
  11. What is a spot bitcoin ETF?A spot bitcoin ETF is a fund that holds actual bitcoin and trades on a stock exchange, giving investors price exposure without holding coins.2 min read
  12. How do bitcoin ATMs work?A bitcoin ATM is a kiosk that turns cash into crypto sent to a digital wallet. Fees are high, and US agencies say scammers rely on the machines.2 min read