Bitcoin is a digital form of money. But unlike the fiat currencies you're used to, there's no central bank controlling them. Instead, Bitcoin's financial system is run by thousands of computers distributed around the world. Anyone can participate in the ecosystem by downloading open source software.

Bitcoin was the first digital currency, announced in 2008 (and launched in 2009). It provides users with the ability to send and receive digital money (Bitcoin is written with a lowercase letter b or so BTC). What makes it even more attractive is that it cannot be monitored, money cannot be spent more than once, and transactions can be made at any time and from anywhere.