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BitcoinThe oldest and most popular cryptocurrency, bitcoin is a digital cash alternative introduced in 2009. It has rapidly grown in popularity and now boasts a global user base. Enthusiasts point to bitcoin's decentralized nature—meaning it is not created or controlled by any central government—lending it several potential advantages.
The currency has gone through several boom cycles but has steadily gained wider adoption as online exchanges (such as Coinbase or Crypto.com) became more common, opening bitcoin up to millions of retail investors.
As of this writing, the currency was valued at roughly $70K per single bitcoin with a total market value of more than $2T.Explore Bitcoin
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Silk Road, the dark web's first widely used market, proved the real-world utility of bitcoinNamed after the ancient intercontinental trade network between China and the Roman Empire, the anonymous market was active from early 2011 to October 2013. Before it was shut down, approximately 10,000 products—70% of which were illegal and controlled prescription drugs—were bought and sold using the cryptocurrency. Stuff You Should KnowThe story of a bitcoin loophole that gave one man millionsJames Parker discovered a glitch in an Australian cryptocurrency exchange that would allow him to cash in credits worth over $20M and make big gifts to his friends. Like most loopholes, the authorities found out, but not before his life was transformed. The first in a six-part series. GlobalThe role stories play in mass economic trends like bitcoin, crashesEconomics is dominated by numbers, but stories play a huge role in the emotional shifts seen within macroeconomic trends. For example, bitcoin is not just a cost-benefit winner, but a compelling tale of decentralization and independence. This is a 20-minute summary of Nobel prize-winning economist Robert Shiller's "Narrative Economics." 20 Minute BooksThe SEC recently approved bitcoin ETFs in landmark investing decisionIn January 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission made history when it decided to allow fund issuers to launch bitcoin ETFs. This new class of exchange-traded fund tracks spot bitcoin prices, essentially allowing investors to hold bitcoin without actually having to buy the crypto. CoinDeskThere's a bitcoin mine in remote ZambiaIn Zambia, a small hydropower plant draws water to power a town of 15,000 people—and a bitcoin mine. A shipping container containing 120 computers mining bitcoin—solving complex calculations to win the reward of several bitcoin—was set up near the plant to use its cheap electricity, and share its revenue. BBCBitcoin and Ethereum are decentralized cryptocurrencies with different functionsBitcoin, launched in 2009, is primarily a digital currency and store of value with a fixed supply. Ethereum, introduced in 2015, enables smart contracts and decentralized apps, offering more flexibility. 1440Jimmy Zhong pulled off one of the biggest bitcoin heists in historyJimmy Zhong performed a bitcoin heist—stealing more than 51,000 BTC from Silk Road in 2012. For years, he stayed under the radar, using crypto mixers to hide his tracks. But one small mistake in 2019 led investigators straight to him. 1440The similarities and differences between bitcoin and ethereumEthereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap behind Bitcoin. Usually, that comparison just scratches the surface of the overall market cap. Instead, a visual pits the tokens up against each other on a per-token basis and shows how and why the Ethereum/bitcoin ratio has fluctuated over time. Visual CapitalistHow much money you'd have now if you bought bitcoin years agoDo you ever wonder how much money you'd have now if you bought bitcoin in 2019? 2018? 2017? This calculator provides the answer. Plug in the amount of bitcoin you would have purchased, plus the year and the currency. BitboMany bitcoin enthusiasts have compared the cryptocurrency to digital goldGold is valued for its stability and reliability, serving as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. Bitcoin shares both of these characteristics, but also provides near-instant liquidity and isn’t subject to government regulation. MoneyBitcoin's founder has always remained anonymousA pseudonym used by the person or group of people who created bitcoin—the first decentralized cryptocurrency—the real identity of Satoshi Nakamoto has baffled millions of enthusiasts for years. 1440Bitcoin started as a .PDFHave you ever wondered how bitcoin became, well, bitcoin? In this podcast episode, journalist PJ Vogt dives into what drove the bitcoin hype machine, explaining how it became the phenomenon it is today. SpotifyBitcoin is the oldest and most popular cryptocurrencyBitcoin is a digital cash alternative introduced in 2009 that rapidly grew in popularity and now boasts a global user base. Enthusiasts point to bitcoin’s decentralized nature—meaning it is not created or controlled by any central government—lending it several potential advantages. 1440Princeton University offers a free online bitcoin courseWant to understand bitcoin and cryptocurrencies? A free online course from Princeton University unpacks the details of bitcoin, from how it works to what distinguishes it from other currencies, to the security and anonymity associated with its use. Explore explainer videos, or take the course as a series of lessons. Princeton UniversityIn 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto began working on the underlying bitcoin code and blockchainWidely credited as inventing the currency, Nakamoto abruptly disappeared from the digital world—no one has confirmed his identity, or whether he was even a single individual. Bitcoin MagazineWho accepts bitcoin payments in 2025?Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are used primarily as stores of value or speculative assets, and less likely to be used to purchase goods and services. Advocates for the currency say as an increasing number of retailers accept bitcoin, average holders will begin to treat the currency more like traditional money. Crypto.comSince its introduction, the price of bitcoin has experienced significant volatilityDriven in large part by speculation and intense social media attention during the pandemic, along with the availability of capital during near-zero interest rate periods, the price has seen at least three major crashes despite steadily increasing over the long run since 2014. InvestopediaBitcoin explained and made simpleBitcoin, the most popular and well-known example of a cryptocurrency, came on the scene around 2010, with its evangelists proclaiming it would eventually displace government-backed traditional cash. While the concept of a digital currency may seem straightforward, the details can be deceptively simple. This quick video overview provides the foundation for a deeper dive into the world of decentralized currency. The GuardianCheck the real-time price of bitcoinBitcoin has gone through several boom and bust cycles. Those peaks and valleys sit on top of a steadily rising value, growing as the currency gains wider adoption. As of 2024, bitcoin’s total market value was over $1.3T, with more than 19.6 million coins in circulation. Still, the value fluctuates. TradingViewA look at nodes and miners in managing bitcoin transactionsEach time a transaction involving bitcoin is carried out, the information must be relayed and recorded onto the currency’s blockchain. Multiple steps are involved, including the passage of the transaction to various nodes and miners who comprise multiple layers of verification and validation. See an illustrated guide to how these two crucial features of bitcoin processing work here. BraiinsA visual of how a bitcoin transaction worksA bitcoin transaction is a transfer of value between two bitcoin addresses, with transactions recorded in a public ledger called the blockchain. The blockchain is a distributed ledger, meaning it is replicated on every node in the network, making it difficult to tamper with and the transaction information nearly irreversible. IEEE SpectrumThe Chain Reaction podcast: The latest in bitcoin and blockchain developmentsThere are constantly new tokens, DeFi projects, NFT collections, and DAOs being launched, but how can you make sense of everything going on in the crypto space? TechCrunch senior crypto reporter Jacquelyn Melinek explores the impact of crypto on finance, art, web3, and society as a whole. One the best resources to keep up with actual—meaning, beyond the hype—developments in the world of bitcoin and blockchain. TechCrunchThe mystery of who invented bitcoinSince its invention in 2010, bitcoin has been at the forefront of the emergence of cryptocurrency into public consciousness. But its alleged inventor remains unknown—the person (or persons) who penned the first white paper and created the first implementation used a pseudonym, never revealing themselves. Known as Satoshi Nakamoto, a number of people have attempted to identify the creator. Theories range from a California engineer to an Australian computer scientist. This article lays out the history, potential suspects, and lasting legacy of the yet-unknown inventor. Business InsiderOnly 21 million bitcoin will ever be created—what happens then?Bitcoin is a popular cryptocurrency with a finite supply, and the issuance of new bitcoins is currently offered as a reward for verifying the transactions on the blockchain. Experts say the currency won’t reach its limit until the year 2140, and miners may ultimately rely on transaction fees. InvestopediaBrowse over 300 issues of influential music magazine The New Musical ExpressThe British publication was responsible for some of the best coverage of spunky punk and rock. This treasure trove collects issues from 1969 - 1983, offering you a fascinating window into how legendary acts like the Clash and Talking Heads were being discussed before they were considered legends. Internet ArchiveThe 'Seinfeld' characters would likely be financially successful todayEven though Kramer probably doesn't have a 401(k) plan, he also probably struck gold as an investor with many side hustles. GOBankingRatesKey moments in fintech history include the transatlantic cable’s invention and E-Trade’s foundingFounded in 1982, E-Trade was the first-ever online brokerage, pioneering a method of investing that is common today. Its story is part of a timeline that the New York Times put together of key moments in early fintech history. The New York TimesThe first ATM—dubbed a 'cash dispenser'—was installed in 1967 in LondonSpecifically, the first ATM (which stands for “automatic teller machine”) made its debut at a Barclays bank in London. A timeline of ATM history can help illustrate and visualize other key events in ATM history. American BankerThe number of active art NFT traders peaked above 529,000 in 2021The market for art non-fungible tokens has collapsed since its 2021 peak. In 2024, it had just 76,000 active traders. DappRadarExplore a podcast devoted to uncovering different conspiracy theoriesHear stories of controversial events from all around the world and come to your own conclusions about why they happened—and if someone shaped the narrative around them. From art fraud to the death of a Roman emperor, this Spotify podcast covers it all. Conspiracy TheoriesCrypto ETFs are driving cryptocurrency adoptionIn 2024, the SEC approved ETFs that track the price of bitcoin called spot bitcoin ETFs. These funds have since significantly increased investment inflows into cryptocurrency markets. CoinMarketCapSee the top 100 ETFs by trading volumeThis list grabs the top 100 by trading volume, or the average number of shares that have traded hands over a 3-month period. Top of the list is a semiconductor-focused fund from Direxion, followed by other tech-centric offerings. VettaFiThere are more than 300 different thematic ETFs Exchange-traded funds seem to offer something for everyone. As tracked by ETF.com, there are 338 thematic ETFs, offering exposure to “baskets” of stocks covering global infrastructure, genomics, cannabis, and more. ETF.comeCash paved the way for today’s popular crypto investmentsBitcoin is typically cited as the first decentralized cryptocurrency. But some argue that back in the 1990s, eCash was technically the first cryptocurrency, although it wasn't decentralized. InvestopediaBlockchain can be explained in five layers of difficultyBlockchain, the key technology behind bitcoin, is a new network that helps decentralize trade and allows for more peer-to-peer transactions. Wired challenged political scientist and blockchain researcher Bettina Warburg to explain blockchain technology to five different people: a child, a teen, a college student, a grad student, and an expert. WIREDCryptocurrency acts as a store of valueTraditional money, dating back to its first known uses in ancient Babylonia, has many uses—it reduces friction in transactions by providing a common denominator of value (unit of account), acts as a single item accepted by many vendors (medium of exchange), and holds wealth as a store of value. Bitcoin MagazineCryptocurrency's roots stretch back five decadesIn 1976, a pair of computer scientists released a protocol for cryptographic communications, sparking the nascent field of sending secure information over the future internet. More than a decade later, the first attempt at an anonymous, digital cash alternative was made. Trust MachinesTwo Papa John’s pizzas were the first real-world transaction involving cryptocurrencyIn 2010, a programmer Laszlo Hanyecz made the first real-world transaction involving cryptocurrency—purchasing two Papa John’s pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins. While the transaction was lauded as a milestone for cryptocurrency, it has also become a tongue-in-cheek cautionary tale—the value of the purchase price exceeded $620M at bitcoin’s all-time high. 60 MinutesAn up-to-date, complete ranking of coins by market cap and their current valueAs of this writing, the top three cryptocurrencies ranked by market cap are Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP, in that order. Dogecoin, the first-ever “memecoin,” was created as a joke in 2013, and it’s now the ninth-most valuable form of cryptocurrency in the world. CoinMarketCapSee how the concept of verification and addition to the blockchain works in real time. Every transaction made via bitcoin is recorded on its blockchain—the decentralized, distributed ledger that provides a permanent and transparent record of the currency's entire history. While that may sound abstract, the technology allows anyone to monitor and confirm each of the transactions. Blockchain.comRead the original white paper from Satoshi NakamotoSatoshi Nakamoto's original introductory paper "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System," is required reading for anyone who wishes to understand the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin.org provides assorted translations. While Nakamoto's identity remains a mystery, his ideas are neatly laid out here, along with supporting documentation. Nakamoto Institute
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