KEY TAKEAWAYSBitcoin is the first decentralized cryptocurrency, launched in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto.Cryptocurrencies use cryptography and blockchain to secure, verify, and record transactions.Blockchain is a transparent, immutable ledger underpinning Bitcoin and other digital currencies.Mining validates transactions, secures the network, and issues new bitcoins.Bitcoin derives value from scarcity, utility, trust, and adoption, similar to gold.Risks include volatility, regulation, security breaches, and sca ...