Bitcoin Price USD today, BTC to USD live price, Cryptocurrency and chart

Bitcoin (BTC) is the first cryptocurrency built on blockchain technology, also known as a decentralized digital currency that is based on cryptography. Unlike government-issued or fiat currencies such as US Dollars or Euro which are controlled by central banks, Bitcoin can operate without the need of a central authority like a central bank or a company. The decentralized nature allows it to operate on a peer-to-peer network whereby users are able to send funds to each other without going through intermediaries.

Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. It operates independently of central banks and governments. While Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency, top cryptocurrencies by market cap include Ethereum, BNB, Litecoin, XRP, Dogecoin, among others.

The value of a cryptocurrency is determined by the interplay of supply and demand on leading digital currency exchanges. Several elements influence cryptocurrency’s prices, such as prevailing market sentiment, impactful news events, noteworthy announcements, and shifts in regulatory stances. Given these factors, the value of a cryptocurrency can fluctuate within brief timeframes, making it a highly volatile investment.

What Is Bitcoin (BTC)?

Bitcoin is a decentralized cryptocurrency originally described in a 2008 whitepaper by a person, or group of people, using the alias Satoshi Nakamoto. It was launched soon after, in January 2009.

Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer online currency, meaning that all transactions happen directly between equal, independent network participants, without the need for any intermediary to permit or facilitate them. Bitcoin was created, according to Nakamoto’s own words, to allow “online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.”

Some concepts for a similar type of a decentralized electronic currency precede BTC, but Bitcoin holds the distinction of being the first-ever cryptocurrency to come into actual use.

Who Are the Founders of Bitcoin?

Bitcoin’s original inventor is known under a pseudonym, Satoshi Nakamoto. As of 2021, the true identity of the person — or organization — that is behind the alias remains unknown.

On October 31, 2008, Nakamoto published Bitcoin’s whitepaper, which described in detail how a peer-to-peer, online currency could be implemented. They proposed to use a decentralized ledger of transactions packaged in batches (called “blocks”) and secured by cryptographic algorithms — the whole system would later be dubbed “blockchain.”

Just two months later, on January 3, 2009, Nakamoto mined the first block on the Bitcoin network, known as the genesis block, thus launching the world’s first cryptocurrency. Bitcoin price was $0 when first introduced, and most Bitcoins were obtained via mining, which only required moderately powerful devices (e.g. PCs) and mining software. The first known Bitcoin commercial transaction occurred on May 22, 2010, when programmer Laszlo Hanyecz traded 10,000 Bitcoins for two pizzas. At Bitcoin price today in mid-September 2021, those pizzas would be worth an astonishing $478 million. This event is now known as “Bitcoin Pizza Day.” In July 2010, Bitcoin first started trading, with the Bitcoin price ranging from $0.0008 to $0.08 at that time.

However, while Nakamoto was the original inventor of Bitcoin, as well as the author of its very first implementation, he handed the network alert key and control of the code repository to Gavin Andresen, who later became lead developer at the Bitcoin Foundation. Over the years a large number of people have contributed to improving the cryptocurrency’s software by patching vulnerabilities and adding new features.

Bitcoin’s source code repository on GitHub lists more than 750 contributors, with some of the key ones being Wladimir J. van der Laan, Marco Falke, Pieter Wuille, Gavin Andresen, Jonas Schnelli and others.

What Makes Bitcoin Unique?

Bitcoin’s most unique advantage comes from the fact that it was the very first cryptocurrency to appear on the market.

It has managed to create a global community and give birth to an entirely new industry of millions of enthusiasts who create, invest in, trade and use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in their everyday lives. The emergence of the first cryptocurrency has created a conceptual and technological basis that subsequently inspired the development of thousands of competing projects.

The entire cryptocurrency market — now worth more than $2 trillion — is based on the idea realized by Bitcoin: money that can be sent and received by anyone, anywhere in the world without reliance on trusted intermediaries, such as banks and financial services companies.

Thanks to its pioneering nature, BTC remains at the top of this energetic market after over a decade of existence. Even after Bitcoin has lost its undisputed dominance, it remains the largest cryptocurrency, with a market capitalization that surpassed the $1 trillion mark in 2021, after Bitcoin price hit an all-time high of $64,863.10 on April 14, 2021. This is owing in large part to growing institutional interest in Bitcoin, and the ubiquitousness of platforms that provide use-cases for BTC: wallets, exchanges, payment services, online games and more.

How Much Bitcoin Is in Circulation?

Bitcoin’s total supply is limited by its software and will never exceed 21,000,000 coins. New coins are created during the process known as “mining”: as transactions are relayed across the network, they get picked up by miners and packaged into blocks, which are in turn protected by complex cryptographic calculations.

As compensation for spending their computational resources, the miners receive rewards for every block that they successfully add to the blockchain. At the moment of Bitcoin’s launch, the reward was 50 bitcoins per block: this number gets halved with every 210,000 new blocks mined — which takes the network roughly four years. As of 2020, the block reward has been halved three times and comprises 6.25 bitcoins.

Bitcoin has not been premined, meaning that no coins have been mined and/or distributed between the founders before it became available to the public. However, during the first few years of BTC’s existence, the competition between miners was relatively low, allowing the earliest network participants to accumulate significant amounts of coins via regular mining: Satoshi Nakamoto alone is believed to own over a million Bitcoin.

Mining Bitcoins can be very profitable for miners, depending on the current hash rate and the price of Bitcoin. While the process of mining Bitcoins is complex, we discuss how long it takes to mine one Bitcoin on PublicExplore Alexandria — as we wrote above, mining Bitcoin is best understood as how long it takes to mine one block, as opposed to one Bitcoin. As of mid-September 2021, the Bitcoin mining reward is capped to 6.25 BTC after the 2020 halving, which is roughly $299,200 in Bitcoin price today.

How Is the Bitcoin Network Secured?

Bitcoin is secured with the SHA-256 algorithm, which belongs to the SHA-2 family of hashing algorithms, which is also used by its fork Bitcoin Cash (BCH), as well as several other cryptocurrencies.

What Is Bitcoin’s Role as a Store of Value?

Bitcoin is the first decentralized, peer-to-peer digital currency. One of its most important functions is that it is used as a decentralized store of value. In other words, it provides for ownership rights as a physical asset or as a unit of account. However, the latter store-of-value function has been debated. Many crypto enthusiasts and economists believe that high-scale adoption of the top currency will lead us to a new modern financial world where transaction amounts will be denominated in smaller units.

The smallest units of Bitcoin, 0.00000001 BTC, are called Satoshis (or Sats in short), in a nod to the pseudonymous creator. At Bitcoin price now, 1 Satoshi is equivalent to roughly $0.00048.

The top crypto is considered a store of value, like gold, for many — rather than a currency. This idea of the first cryptocurrency as a store of value, instead of a payment method, means that many people buy the crypto and hold onto it long-term (or HODL) rather than spending it on items like you would typically spend a dollar — treating it as digital gold.

How Is Bitcoin’s Technology Upgraded?

A hard fork is a radical change to the protocol that makes previously invalid blocks/transactions valid, and therefore requires all users to upgrade. For example, if users A and B are disagreeing on whether an incoming transaction is valid, a hard fork could make the transaction valid to users A and B, but not to user C.

A hard fork is a protocol upgrade that is not backward compatible. This means every node (computer connected to the Bitcoin network using a client that performs the task of validating and relaying transactions) needs to upgrade before the new blockchain with the hard fork activates and rejects any blocks or transactions from the old blockchain. The old blockchain will continue to exist and will continue to accept transactions, although it may be incompatible with other newer Bitcoin clients.

A soft fork is a change to the Bitcoin protocol wherein only previously valid blocks/transactions are made invalid. Since old nodes will recognise the new blocks as valid, a soft fork is backward-compatible. This kind of fork requires only a majority of the miners upgrading to enforce the new rules.

Some examples of prominent cryptocurrencies that have undergone hard forks are the following: Bitcoin’s hard fork that resulted in Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum’s hard fork that resulted in Ethereum Classic.

Bitcoin Cash has been hard forked since its original forking, with the creation of Bitcoin SV. Read more about the difference between Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin SV here.

What Is Taproot?

Taproot is a soft fork that bundles together BIP 340, 341 and 342 and aims to improve the scalability, efficiency, and privacy of the blockchain by introducing several new features.

The two major changes are the introduction of the Merkelized Abstract Syntax Tree (MAST) and Schnorr Signature. MAST introduces a condition allowing the sender and recipient of a transaction to sign off on its settlement together. Schnorr Signature allows users to aggregate several signatures into one for a single transaction. This results in multi-signature transactions looking the same as regular transactions or more complex ones. By introducing this new address type, users can also save on transaction fees, as even complex transactions look like simple, single-signature ones.

Although HODLers will probably not notice a big impact, Taproot could become a key milestone to equipping the network with smart contract functionality. In particular, Schnorr Signatures would lay the foundation for more complex applications to be built on top of the existing blockchain, as users start switching to Taproot addresses primarily. If adopted by users, Taproot could, in the long run, result in the network developing its own DeFi ecosystem that rivals those on alternative blockchains like Ethereum.

What affects cryptocurrency prices?

• Supply and demand: The basic economics principle of supply and demand plays a major role in determining cryptocurrency prices. If the demand for a particular cryptocurrency is high and its supply is limited, the price will likely increase.
• Market sentiment: The overall sentiment of the market can also affect cryptocurrency prices. If investors are bullish, prices tend to rise. Conversely, if investors are bearish, prices tend to fall.
• Regulation: Government regulations and laws can also influence cryptocurrency prices. If a government announces a crackdown on cryptocurrency trading, prices may drop. On the other hand, if a government announces plans to regulate or legitimize cryptocurrencies, prices may rise.
• Media coverage: The media can also have a significant impact on cryptocurrency prices. Positive news coverage can boost prices, while negative coverage can lead to price declines.
• Volatility: Cryptocurrency prices can be highly volatile, meaning they can fluctuate dramatically in a short period of time. A variety of factors can bring about such volatility, including market sentiment, regulations, and investor sentiment.
• Adoption: The more businesses, merchants, and individuals start accepting and using cryptocurrencies for trade, the more their values and prices are likely to increase.

Frequently asked questions about Bitcoin

Where can you buy Bitcoin?

BTC tokens can be traded on centralized crypto exchanges. The most popular exchange to buy and trade Bitcoin is Bybit, where the most active trading pair BTC/USDT has a trading volume of $1,758,890,426 in the last 24 hours. Other popular options include Binance and BVOX.

What is the daily trading volume of Bitcoin (BTC)?

The trading volume of Bitcoin (BTC) is $38,805,711,732 in the last 24 hours, representing a -10.20% decrease from one day ago and signalling a recent fall in market activity.

What is the all-time high for Bitcoin (BTC)?

The highest price paid for Bitcoin (BTC) is $108,135, which was recorded on Dec 17, 2024 (11 days). Comparatively, the current price is 12.64% lower than the all-time high price.

What is the all-time low for Bitcoin (BTC)?

The lowest price paid for Bitcoin (BTC) is $67.81, which was recorded on Jul 06, 2013 (over 11 years). Comparatively, the current price is 139,212.99% higher than the all-time low price.

What is the market cap of Bitcoin (BTC)?

Market capitalization of Bitcoin (BTC) is $1,870,884,862,285 and is ranked #1 on CoinGecko today. Market cap is measured by multiplying token price with the circulating supply of BTC tokens (20 Million tokens are tradable on the market today).

What is the fully diluted valuation of Bitcoin (BTC)?

The fully diluted valuation (FDV) of Bitcoin (BTC) is $1,984,043,859,000. This is a statistical representation of the maximum market cap, assuming the maximum number of 21 Million BTC tokens are in circulation today. Depending on how the emission schedule of BTC tokens are designed, it might take multiple years before FDV is realized.

How does the price performance of Bitcoin compare against its peers?

With a price decline of -3.70% in the last 7 days, Bitcoin (BTC) is underperforming the global cryptocurrency market which is down -1.00%.

What is Bitcoin (BTC)?

Bitcoin is one of the most popular cryptocurrencies in the market. First introduced in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin continues to the top cryptocurrency according to market capitalization. Bitcoin paved the way for many existing altcoins in the market and marked a pivotal moment for digital payment solutions. 
  
As the world’s first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin has come a long way in terms of its value. It achieved an all-time high crossing $90,000 in November, 2024.

There is no physical BTC token so Bitcoin operates as a digital currency. Bitcoin transactions are fully transparent and can’t be censored, providing a global, censorship-resistant medium for financial exchange. It’s a financial system backed by decentralized network of computers, known as ‘nodes’, instead of  centralized banking or governmental entity, thereby promoting ‘decentralization’.

Why Is the Bitcoin Price So Volatile?

The price of Bitcoin has been highly volatile since it started because of several factors. Firstly, the crypto market is smaller and not heavily traded like traditional markets, so big trades can make the price swing substantially. Secondly, Bitcoin’s value depends on public sentiment and speculation, leading to short-term price changes. Media coverage, influential opinions, and regulatory developments create uncertainty, affecting demand and supply dynamics and contributing to price fluctuations.

Another key factor is Bitcoin’s fixed supply. With only 21 million bitcoins ever to be minted, its scarcity can lead to dramatic price changes as demand varies. This is exacerbated by “whales” or large holders of Bitcoin, whose sizable transactions can sway the market considerably.

When Was Bitcoin Created?

Bitcoin was created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The digital asset is based on a decentralized, peer-to-peer network and blockchain technology, allowing users to securely and anonymously send and receive transactions without intermediaries. Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin whitepaper in 2008, outlining the design and principles of the cryptocurrency. The first Bitcoin transaction, which involved sending 10 bitcoins to a developer, took place on January 12, 2009. Since then, Bitcoin has gained traction as an alternative store of value and payment system, transforming the financial industry.

How Does Bitcoin Work?

Bitcoin runs on a decentralized, peer-to-peer network, making it possible for individuals to conduct transactions without intermediaries. Transactions are transparent and secure thanks to the underlying blockchain technology, which stores and verifies recorded transaction data. Miners validate transactions by solving complex mathematical problems with computational power. The first miner to find the solution receives a cryptocurrency reward, thus creating new bitcoins. Upon validation, the data is added to the existing blockchain, and it becomes a permanent record. Bitcoin provides an alternative way to transact that’s transparent and secure, redefining traditional finance.

When Is the Next Bitcoin Halving? 

The fourth Bitcoin halving was completed on April 2024. It is difficult to predict the exact date of the next halving as it depends on the block height. Since halving happens every 210,000 blocks, the next Bitcoin halving is expected to occur in 2028.

Bitcoin halving occurs approximately every four years, where the rewards given to Bitcoin miners for mining blocks are cut in half. Following the halving in April 2024, the reward was cut down to 3.125 BTC per block. Halving was built into the Bitcoin protocol to maintain its value as a deflationary currency.

Does Bitcoin Halving Affect BTC’s Price?

The price movement following the fourth Bitcoin Halving hasn’t been dramatic so far. Analysts believe that the cryptocurrency market is much more mature today than in previous halvings. The current economic conditions could also be a reason for no volatile price movements. 

Other factors such as market sentiment, regulatory developments, and global events can also impact the price of Bitcoin. Follow our Bitcoin Halving Countdown to know how Bitcoin halving works. 
  
 Bitcoin can be purchased on Binance. Bitcoin’s price today is updated and available in real time on Binance.

How can I predict cryptocurrency prices?

There is no definitive way to predict cryptocurrency prices as they are highly volatile and influenced by a wide range of factors. Some methods analysts use to predict prices include analyzing market trends and sentiment, studying technical charts and indicators, and following news and developments in the cryptocurrency industry. Additionally, Binance machine learning algorithms are helpful when making predictions about future crypto prices. However, remember that while these methods may offer estimates on future crypto prices and help you make informed decisions, they are in no way definitive.

How much is a cryptocurrency worth?

The value of a cryptocurrency is determined by supply and demand. The supply of a cryptocurrency is limited by the number of coins that will ever be created. The demand for a cryptocurrency is driven by a variety of factors, including its perceived value, its utility, and the overall health of the cryptocurrency market. The most valuable cryptocurrency is Bitcoin (BTC), followed by Ethereum (ETH), the second most popular cryptocurrency by market cap. Other popular cryptocurrencies include Solana (SOL), BNB (BNB), XRP (XRP), among others.

What are the top crypto coins right now?

At the time of writing, the leading cryptocurrencies by market capitalization include:

1. Bitcoin (BTC)
2. Ethereum (ETH)
3. BNB (BNB)
4. Solana (SOL)
5. XRP (XRP)
6. Dogecoin (DOGE)
7. Toncoin (TON)
8. Cardano (ADA)

How to read cryptocurrency price charts?

Reading cryptocurrency price charts begins with understanding its key elements: price and volume. The vertical (Y) axis shows the price, while the horizontal (X) axis denotes time. ‘Candlestick’ patterns show price movements over specific periods, with the color denoting increase (usually green) or decrease (usually red). Volume bars beneath indicate trading activity intensity. Key indicators, like Moving Averages and Relative Strength Index (RSI), can help interpret market trends and potential reversals.

Why is crypto so volatile?

The volatility of cryptocurrencies is primarily influenced by factors such as 24/7 trading accessibility, liquidity challenges, speculation, and market sentiment. Unlike traditional markets, crypto trading operates round-the-clock, leading to more frequent price fluctuations. News-driven speculation and regulatory changes can trigger immediate reactive trading. Limited coin supply, like Bitcoin, also spurs demand-induced volatility.

How much is Bitcoin today?

Bitcoin’s price is constantly changing because the crypto market is active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can track Bitcoin’s price in real-time and its price history on Crypto.com/Price.

How much is Bitcoin worth?

Bitcoin is the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency. It was created by an anonymous programmer, or group of programmers, under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The value of Bitcoin has risen steadily since it was first introduced, and it has grown in popularity as well. Its actual value constantly fluctuates because Bitcoin trading is active 24/7.

What can you buy with Bitcoin?

You can buy almost anything with Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency has been around for a long time, and it’s only getting more popular as time goes on. You can purchase items online and in-store, and even use your Bitcoin to purchase an investment property. One of the biggest advantages of using Bitcoin as an online payment method is its anonymity. You can make purchases without having your identity tied to the transaction at all times.

How do I convert Bitcoin to cash?

You will need a Bitcoin wallet and some BTC. The easiest way to get Bitcoins is to buy them on trustworthy platforms like the Crypto.com App. After setting up your wallet, you’ll likely want to connect it to your bank account or credit card so that you can buy and sell BTC. You’ll also need to do this if you want to convert BTC into dollars or other currencies.

How many Bitcoins are there?

Bitcoin’s total supply is capped at 21 million coins. This hard limit was set in the original Bitcoin code created by its pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. The number of Bitcoin in circulation is increasing over time as more miners join the network and more new coins are created.

What wallet can I store BTC in?

There’s a wide range of cryptocurrency wallets that you can securely store your BTC in. These include software wallets like the Crypto.com DeFi Wallet and hardware wallets that resemble USB flash drives.