Bitcoin for beginners: everything you need to know
The mysterious inventor(s)
Bitcoin was invented in 2009 and was the first cryptocurrency. It was created by an unknown cryptographer or group of cryptographers who use the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Their true identity remains unknown to this day.
Storing Bitcoin
You keep your bitcoins in a digital wallet, which can be accessed through your phone or computer. There is no central bank or organization behind Bitcoin. The currency is used on a peer-to-peer basis without control by any government, company, or financial institution.
Bitcoin value
The value of a single Bitcoin has experienced dramatic swings, rising from less than US$1 in 2011 to over $68,000 at its peak in 2021. As of 2025, a single Bitcoin is worth approximately $97,092, and many of its users remain hopeful that it will eventually stabilize and develop a more consistent value, like gold, as it matures in the global financial landscape.
