O que é btc? is digital money that allows people to securely send it to each other over the internet without a central authority. It has all the properties of paper money – acceptability, divisibility, durability, fungibility (interchangeability), and portability. It also has scarcity, because the total amount of bitcoins that will ever be created is limited by its design to 21 million.
Bitcoin Governance: Decentralization and Community Consensus
Bitcoin’s value is determined by the market, as it is not controlled by any government or company. Bitcoin can be used to buy goods and services from online retailers, or exchanged for other currencies at cryptocurrency exchanges. Some people hold it as a long-term investment, hoping that it will increase in value. Others trade it, taking advantage of intra-day price movements.
Unlike credit card networks and payment processors like PayPal, the Bitcoin network is open to anyone with an internet connection. Transactions are verified by the network through cryptography and recorded in a public ledger called a blockchain. The blockchain ensures that each Bitcoin is spent once and only once, stopping people from stealing or undoing transactions. The blockchain is maintained by a volunteer network of computer users, called miners, who compete to solve complex math problems with their computers. They are rewarded with bitcoins for their work.
Bitcoin is a global currency, meaning that it can be sent from one person to another across the world instantly and without any fees. This is particularly useful for businesses that operate across borders, as it removes the need to pay expensive intermediaries and reduces delays in international payments.