Does bitcoin use a currency?

As a practitioner in the field of cryptocurrency and finance, I often find myself questioning the fundamental underpinnings of various digital assets. With Bitcoin, a particular topic of interest is whether it truly utilizes a traditional currency. After all, Bitcoin is often referred to as a digital currency, but does it actually operate on the same principles as fiat currencies like the dollar or euro? Does it have a central bank issuing new coins? Are there physical representations of Bitcoin, or is it purely digital? And most importantly, does Bitcoin maintain a stable value or is it subject to the volatile fluctuations we've come to associate with cryptocurrencies? These are just some of the questions I pose when considering whether Bitcoin truly uses a currency.