Bitcoin is a digital token that can be sent from peer to peer through a digital payment network. Learn more about how Bitcoin works and why you should care.
11 min read
The following statements do not constitute investment advice or any other advice on financial services, financial instruments, financial products, or digital assets. They are intended to provide general information. The following statements do not constitute an offer to conclude a contract for the purchase or sale of financial instruments and financial products or an invitation to submit such an offer and to buy or sell any particular digital asset. Cryptocurrencies are subject to high fluctuations in value. A decline in value or a complete loss are possible at any time. The loss of access to data and passwords can also lead to a complete loss.
Bitcoin is a digital token that enables secure electronic transactions through a decentralized blockchain network. This approach has revolutionized the concept of currency beyond traditional banking systems.
It was introduced in 2009, following a white paper by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. The paper advocated for a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, in contrast to financial models that depend on the (perceived) trustworthiness of institutions.
Beyond its original purpose as a payment system, Bitcoin serves as a speculative asset and a potential store of value. It’s now used for various transactions and investments — despite being known for its volatility.
Bitcoin is a type of digital token that can be sent electronically through a decentralized digital payment network. Bitcoins can be sent from person to person, anywhere in the world; indeed, Bitcoin was initially intended to be used as a secure electronic cash and payment system.Bitcoin is built on blockchain technology. A blockchain is a type of digital ledger that records information (such as transactions) in a way that makes it nearly impossible to edit or alter that information. This way of recording information is inherently secure, but Bitcoin takes it a step further by specifically employing a decentralized blockchain, which depends on a peer-to-peer network to verify transactions.All of this may sound a bit complicated right now, but we’ll break it down for you in this guide. Perhaps the most important thing to know is that Bitcoin proposes an alternate approach to finance than the one offered by traditional banks and governments—and many people see it as part of the world’s financial future.With that in mind, let’s take a look at how Bitcoin started, how it works, and how it’s used in day-to-day transactions.
What is Bitcoin and How Does It Work: Explained in 26 Seconds
A short history of Bitcoin
Bitcoin started as a concept rather than a coin. In 2008, a writer going by the pseudonym of Satoshi Nakamoto published a white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.” In this paper, Nakamoto shared a vision of a “purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash” that would allow people to send money to each other without going through a third-party financial institution, like a bank.Why is it so important to avoid these financial institutions? Nakamoto saw “inherent weaknesses” in the trust-based model that has traditionally defined the financial sector. If you make a purchase online, you’re relying on the trustworthiness of a third-party financial institution to ensure that your transaction is secure and successful. This dependence on a third party comes with costs—transaction costs, sure, but also the costs of fraud and mediation for disputed transactions. What if there was a better way?Bitcoin attempts to show exactly what that better way looks like. Rather than relying on trusted third parties, Bitcoin offers “an electronic payment system based on cryptographic proof.” Using a peer-to-peer network to verify time-stamped transactions on a blockchain, Bitcoin creates an altogether new type of currency—along with an immutable record of transactions to allow truly secure online payments in that currency.Bitcoin itself debuted in early 2009, marking the start of the crypto revolution. Since those early days, the value of an individual Bitcoin has sky-rocketed, hitting its most recent all-time high of $$73,737.94 on March 14, 2024.
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We still don’t know who the true author of Bitcoin’s visionary white paper is. Satoshi Nakamoto might not even be a single person, but rather a group of people. Plenty of potential identities have been put forward for this enigmatic figure, but the mystery remains unsolved. Whoever Satoshi Nakamoto is, they have certainly left a mark on the world of finance that may continue to grow for years to come.
How does Bitcoin work?
Nakamoto defined an electronic coin (i.e., a Bitcoin) as “a chain of digital signatures.” That may sound a bit confusing, but it’s actually a good way to wrap your head around how Bitcoin works. When the owner of a Bitcoin transfers it to another owner, information about the transaction is recorded on the blockchain. This information includes the “public key” of the recipient. Public keys work in a similar way to bank account numbers—they can be shared with a third party for verification without compromising your security.This sounds relatively straightforward, but there’s another problem Bitcoin has to solve. How can the person paying for the coin be sure that the owner hasn’t already spent it? This is a problem unique to digital tokens, and it’s referred to as the “double-spending” problem.
What is the double-spending problem?
If you spend a euro at one store, you can’t go to another store and spend that same euro there. In other words, you can’t “double spend” that euro. While double-spending isn’t a problem with traditional fiat currency, like a euro or a dollar, it is a potential issue with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. With Bitcoin and these other cryptos, there needs to be some new mechanism in place to ensure that a coin isn’t “double-spent.”
How does Bitcoin solve the double-spending problem?
Bitcoin uses a decentralized network of high-speed computers to verify transactions and continually validate the accuracy of the blockchain. The members in this network don’t have to trust (or even know) each other, and each of them gets an identical copy of the same blockchain ledger. This huge amount of distributed copies—as opposed to a single “master” copy—not only eliminates the need for a trusted centralized authority, but it also protects the blockchain from hacking or double-spending. Once an initial transaction is verified by the network and added to the blockchain, it can’t be changed. If a hacker tries to alter or edit the blockchain in any way, they would only be altering their own copy. The altered copy would not match the copies stored on the network’s other computers, so there could be no majority consensus on its validity. In Bitcoin’s case, at least 51% of the computers in the network would have to validate the erroneous copy of the blockchain in order for it to be considered valid. Given the cost and computing power required to influence that many computers in a decentralized network, it’s super, super difficult to successfully introduce an error into the blockchain.
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Bitcoin mining is the process by which Bitcoin transactions are validated. It’s also the process by which new Bitcoins enter circulation. Allow us to explain.We just mentioned that Bitcoin’s consensus model requires a ton of computing power to function. This consensus model is called “proof-of-work,” and it’s integral to an understanding not only of how Bitcoin transactions are verified, but also of how new Bitcoins are created.Bitcoin’s “proof-of-work” model requires miners on the Bitcoin network to solve highly complex math problems to validate transactions. In return, these miners are rewarded with newly created Bitcoins. The fact that so many computers are spending so much power to validate transactions means that it’s essentially impossible to get at least 51% of those computers to validate an inaccurate version of the ledger.
What is Bitcoin halving?
Bitcoin halving is a key event in Bitcoin's protocol. It’s designed to control the creation of new Bitcoins (BTC), ensuring that the total supply remains capped at 21 million coins. This event occurs approximately every four years — or more precisely, every 210,000 blocks. Here's a breakdown of what happens during a Bitcoin halving and its significance:
Smaller block reward: The primary feature of a Bitcoin halving is that the reward that miners earn for adding a new block gets cut in half. For example, when Bitcoin was first launched in 2009, the block reward was 50 BTC per block. After the first halving in 2012, this reward dropped to 25 BTC, then to 12.5 BTC in 2016, then to 6.25 BTC and 3.125 in the most recent halving in 2024.
Inflation control: By decreasing the rate at which new Bitcoins are generated, the halving event helps control inflation. This deflationary mechanism is part of Satoshi Nakamoto's vision to create a scarce digital asset that mimics the scarcity and value preservation characteristics of precious metals like gold.
Impact on miners: Miners are affected directly by the halving since their rewards for validating transactions and securing the network are reduced. This can impact the profitability of mining, particularly for those with high operational costs. However, if the price of Bitcoin increases, it can offset the reduced block reward.
Market impact: Historically, halving events have led to increased market speculation, price volatility, and sometimes significant price increases in the months surrounding the halving. Investors and traders often view halving as a bullish event due to the reduced supply of new bitcoins entering the market.
Long-term supply cap: The halving process is an integral part of Bitcoin's design to ensure that no more than 21 million bitcoins will ever exist. This limited supply is what many believe gives Bitcoin its value, likening it to digital gold.
What are Bitcoins used for?
Though it was originally conceived of as a cash payment system, Bitcoin has grown into a number of different uses. Here are a few:
You can use Bitcoin to buy things. From glamorous luxury cars to everyday insurance, you can use Bitcoin to buy all kinds of things. And with Bitcoin debit cards, which are loaded with cryptocurrency but are also capable of completing day-to-day transactions in fiat currency, you can “use” Bitcoin anywhere that accepts plastic.
You can consider Bitcoin as a store of value. Though it’s a far cry from typical investments, Bitcoin is also considered by many as an appealing store of value. Its volatile, whiplash pricing means that Bitcoin is a highly risky asset, but that hasn’t stopped many speculators from piling in. The total number of Bitcoins is capped, which encourages some to see it as “digital gold.”
You can buy, sell, and trade Bitcoin. Due to their volatile and unpredictable pricing on the open market, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have become popular with day traders and investors alike. Keep in mind, though, that any investment in cryptocurrency carries with it serious risks.
How much is one Bitcoin worth?
Bitcoin’s value comes from open-market bidding. It essentially follows the rules of supply and demand: the higher the demand, the higher the value.Because of this—and because it’s still such a new thing—the value of a single Bitcoin fluctuates constantly. Unlike traditional fiat currencies, Bitcoin has seen enormous price swings in recent times, dropping $12,000 in value over the course of a single weekend in early December 2021. Its highest price to date—$73,737.94 on March 14, 2024—may prove to be durable or short-lived. At this point, it’s hard to say!
How many Bitcoins are there in the world?
The total number of Bitcoins was capped at 21 million by the coin’s founder. With that said, the number of Bitcoins currently in circulation is constantly changing. It was pegged at around 19.72 million in May 2024, but new Bitcoins are constantly being mined—adding to the growing amount of Bitcoins available.
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As we’ve seen, the price of Bitcoin can swing wildly in both directions. There are further upsides and downsides to consider, as well.
Advantages of Bitcoin
Bitcoin is by its very nature secure, with little risk of false or double-spending transactions being verified by the network.
Bitcoin is a highly transparent financial vehicle, with every transaction recorded in the blockchain for all to see.
Bitcoin offers potential for major returns thanks to its high price volatility—though this also comes with significant risk
Disadvantages of Bitcoin
Bitcoin’s volatility can also be seen as one of its chief disadvantages, especially if you plan to use it as a store of value.
Bitcoin isn’t yet ready to replace cash for day-to-day needs.
Bitcoin mining is an energy-intensive process that requires expensive equipment. This makes Bitcoin less appealing to environmentalists and those concerned about climate change.
What else should I know about cryptocurrency?
If you’re still a bit baffled by Bitcoin, don’t worry. It can take some time to wrap your head around the financial concepts that underpin cryptocurrency, and one article is really only a start. For a more comprehensive rundown, check out our beginner’s guide to cryptocurrency.The most important thing to remember is that, like everything, cryptocurrencies have both advantages and disadvantages. N26 is here to help you navigate this emerging space, so you can make informed decisions when it comes to buying and selling cryptocurrency.
Mining is definitely not the only way to get Bitcoin, or other cryptocurrencies! Besides mining, the two main ways to get coins is either buy them on an exchange (like you would with foreign currencies), or exchange goods and services for them (like running a shop with “regular” currency).
A Bitcoin miner is a high-performance computer that solves extremely complex mathematical problems to generate new Bitcoins.
Bitcoin launched the first decentralized blockchain network, and it's fair to say that Bitcoin wouldn't exist without blockchain technology. Many other popular cryptocurrencies now use blockchain technology as well.
Bitcoins are stored in a “digital wallet” or “Bitcoin wallet.” In its simplest form, this functions much like a regular wallet, but instead of physical notes and coins, it stores the cryptographic keys needed to access all the Bitcoins associated with it.
BTC is an abbreviation that stands for Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency and the largest by market cap. You may come across BTC on cryptocurrency exchanges and in other places where cryptocurrencies are bought and sold.
Altcoins is the term for all cryptocurrencies that aren't Bitcoin. They're called altcoins because they are considered "alternatives" to Bitcoin, and many altcoins aim to improve or iterate on certain aspects of Bitcoin. There are now thousands of altcoins available with different uses (and potential uses). Some popular altcoins include Ethereum (ETH) and Cardano (ADA), both of which can be purchased with N26 Crypto.
Not exactly. While all cryptocurrencies are technically tokens, people don't usually count Bitcoin as a token but rather as a coin, which means it’s native to the blockchain that it’s built on. Tokens, on the other hand, in the sense we've been talking about here, function within pre-existing blockchains. In fact, one blockchain can house many different tokens—with Ethereum’s blockchain currently home to just shy of half a million of them.
