What is bitcoin and how does it work?

What is Bitcoin? Bitcoin is the first and most widely recognized cryptocurrency. It enables peer-to-peer exchange of value in the digital realm through the use of a decentralized protocol, cryptography, and a mechanism to achieve global consensus on the state of a periodically updated public transaction ledger called a 'blockchain.'

Why are bitcoin transactions so expensive?

Each transaction is made up of data, which is measured in bytes. More complicated transactions involve more data and so are more expensive. Generally speaking, this means higher value transactions (involving more bitcoin) consume more data, and so require higher transaction fees. However, it's not exactly that simple.

Can bitcoin be used to settle transactions?

In the early years, when network adoption was sparse, Bitcoin could be used to settle even small-value transactions, and do so competitively with payment networks like Visa and Mastercard (which, in fact, settle transactions long after point of sale).

What is Bitcoin Cash?

It arose out of a proposal aiming to solve scaling problems that had resulted in rising transaction costs and increasing transaction confirmation times. This version of Bitcoin began on August 1st, 2017. Read more: What is Bitcoin Cash? Was this helpful?