Bitcoin is an absolute mainstream asset in the cryptocurrency field, and its market dominance, technological stability and global acceptance are unmatched. It is not only the first choice for investors, but also the core value storage tool in the Web3 economy. Although it is slightly inferior to platforms such as Ethereum in terms of functional diversity and transaction efficiency, Bitcoin's "first" status and brand effects make it still ahead of the foreseeable future.

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What cryptocurrency is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin (BTC) is the world's first decentralized digital currency. It is based on blockchain technology and aims to realize a peer-to-peer electronic cash system without intermediaries. It records transactions through a distributed ledger, ensuring transparency and security, allowing users to transfer value globally without relying on centralized institutions such as banks or governments.

Core features

• Decentralization : The Bitcoin network is jointly maintained by global nodes, without a single controller, and transaction records are stored on the public blockchain to ensure that they are not tampered with.
• Fixed supply : The total amount of Bitcoin is capped at 21 million, and scarcity is the source of its title of "digital gold".
• Purpose : It is mainly used as a store of value (similar to gold), payment means and investment assets. Some merchants and countries (such as El Salvador) accept Bitcoin as a legal payment method.
• Technical basis : Bitcoin uses the Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism to verify transactions and maintain network security, and relies on cryptography to ensure the anonymity and integrity of transactions.

Bitcoin is not only the pioneer of cryptocurrency, but also an important part of the decentralized economy in the Web3 era. It is widely used in cross-border payments, portfolio diversification and inflation hedging.

Who proposed it?

Bitcoin was proposed by a person or a group of people who used the pseudonym "Satoshi Nakamoto". In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto published a white paper titled "Bitcoin: A peer-to-peer electronic cash system", which elaborated on the design concept and technical framework of Bitcoin. In 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto released the open source software for Bitcoin and officially launched the network. Satoshi Nakamoto's true identity is still unknown. He gradually withdrew from the Bitcoin community in 2010, leaving behind a completely decentralized system.

Satoshi Nakamoto's contribution lies in the first application of blockchain technology to the monetary system, solving the problem of "double spending" (i.e. preventing the same digital currency from being reused), laying the foundation for decentralized finance. Its anonymity also adds mystery to Bitcoin and attracts global attention.

Is Bitcoin the mainstream?

Bitcoin is undoubtedly the mainstream asset in the cryptocurrency market, and its position is indisputable at both the technical and market levels. The following analyzes its mainstreamness from multiple dimensions:

Market position

• Leading market value : As of June 2025, Bitcoin accounted for more than 50% of the total market value of cryptocurrencies (data refer to platforms such as CoinMarketCap), far exceeding other assets such as Ethereum (ETH).
• Global Recognition : Bitcoin is widely accepted by institutional investors (such as MicroStrategy, Grayscale), businesses and governments. In 2021, El Salvador became the first country to use Bitcoin as its fiat currency.
• Trading volume : Bitcoin's trading volume on global exchanges is firmly at the forefront, with high liquidity and strong market depth.

Technology and Ecology

• Stability : The Bitcoin network has been operating for more than 15 years and has not experienced any major security accidents. Its degree of decentralization and censorship resistance are benchmarks for other cryptocurrencies.
• Infrastructure support : Bitcoin is integrated by numerous payment platforms (such as PayPal, Square) and financial instruments (such as Bitcoin ETFs), driving its mainstreaming.
• Role in Web3 : In the decentralized economy, Bitcoin is a store of value asset, similar to "digital gold", providing a foundation of stability and trust for the Web3 ecosystem.

Social and cultural influences

• Brand effect : Bitcoin is synonymous with cryptocurrencies, and its name and logo (such as ?) are well known and often appear in mainstream media and social platforms (such as X).
• Community Support : Bitcoin has a global community, and developers continue to optimize their protocols (such as Taproot upgrades) to enhance privacy and scalability.

Limitations
Despite the mainstream, Bitcoin also faces challenges:

• Single function : Compared with Ethereum's smart contracts, Bitcoin mainly focuses on payments and store of value, limiting its participation in complex Web3 applications (such as DeFi and NFT).
• Transaction efficiency : Bitcoin processes about 7 transactions per second, with speed and cost less than emerging public chains (such as Solana).
• Volatility : Price fluctuates greatly, which may affect its popularity as a daily payment tool.

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