Bitcoin News

Bitcoin (BTC) was created by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 as the world's first successful cryptocurrency, solving the double-spending problem that had plagued previous digital cash experiments. Operating on a decentralized proof-of-work blockchain, Bitcoin enables peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries, with its monetary policy enforced through cryptographic consensus rather than central authority.

The Bitcoin network is maintained by miners who secure transactions and earn newly minted bitcoin, while a global ecosystem of traders, institutional investors, developers, and businesses continues expanding its adoption. From El Salvador's legal tender status to corporate treasury adoption by companies like MicroStrategy and Tesla, Bitcoin has evolved from a cryptographic experiment into a recognized store of value and inflation hedge.

At CoinDesk, we deliver breaking Bitcoin news and in-depth analysis covering everything from price movements and institutional adoption to technological developments and regulatory shifts. Our team tracks Bitcoin ETF launches, mining industry changes, Lightning Network growth, and the ongoing debates shaping cryptocurrency's future.

DISCLOSURE: This text was written with the assistance of AI, then reviewed by a person.

Podcasts

Bitcoin Politics: A Year of Reflection and 2022 Predictions

By Dan Ilett, Anna Baydakova, Danny Nelson, Benjamin Schiller, Danny BradburyDec 23, 2021

Markets

First Mover Asia: Bitcoin Falls After Edging Toward $50K; Altcoins Rally

Polygon and terra continued as market stars on Wednesday; ether drops slightly.

By Muyao ShenDec 22, 2021

A roller coaster. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Videos

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Trails Spot BTC by 94%

New data reveals investment vehicle Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), which allows investors to buy bitcoin without purchasing the cryptocurrency directly, has been trailing the spot price of bitcoin by roughly 94% over the last year. What does that mean for the bitcoin markets?

Dec 22, 2021

Videos

Is Bitcoin ‘Its Own Asset Class’?

Genesis Institutional Lending Associate Eugene Chang discusses institutional investment activity in digital assets, sharing insights into bitcoin’s response to macro factors like inflation and the omicron variant. Plus, his take on DeFi lending rates and what lies ahead for cryptocurrency investing in 2022.

Dec 22, 2021

Markets

Market Wrap Year-End Review: Bitcoin Peaks as Coinbase Goes Public

Tesla’s bitcoin acceptance helped to send the BTC price to an all-time high near $65,000 in April, almost unthinkable just a few months earlier. Coinbase’s direct stock listing marked the exact date of the market top.

By Damanick Dantes, Bradley KeounDec 22, 2021

The peak of the bitcoin market in April 2021 perfectly coincided with the elevated hype surrounding the Coinbase direct stock listing. (William Henry Jackson/Art Institute of Chicago, modified by CoinDesk)

Videos

Victory Capital Exec. on Web 3 Decentralization: ‘It’s Not All or Nothing’

Mannik Dhillon, president of Victory Capital, shares his take on Square CEO Jack Dorsey’s statements about venture capital’s control over Web 3 initiatives and the reality of bitcoin maximalism. Plus, Dhillon’s analysis on the current BTC market and price predictions for 2022.

Dec 22, 2021

Finance