BTC is the abbreviated form of Bitcoin, which is a decentralized, digital currency that uses cryptography to secure financial transactions. Bitcoin was created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. It is the first and most widely-used cryptocurrency, and it operates without a central bank or single administrator. Transactions on the Bitcoin network are recorded on a public, distributed ledger called the blockchain, which allows users to verify the authenticity of transactions without the need for a third party. Bitcoin can be bought and sold on online exchanges, and it can be used to buy goods and services from merchants who accept it.