Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency ever created, introduced in January 2009 by an anonymous developer or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. It marked the beginning of the modern cryptocurrency era by solving the “double-spend” problem through blockchain technology — a decentralized, tamper-resistant ledger maintained by a global network of computers. Unlike previous attempts at digital money, Bitcoin required no central authority and enabled trustless peer-to-peer transactions. Its launch introduced the concept of mining, digital scarcity, and cryptographic security in a new and practical way. Over time, Bitcoin gained global recognition not only as a revolutionary form of money but also as an asset class, often referred to as “digital gold.” It laid the foundation for all future cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance applications. Bitcoin remains the most valuable and well-known cryptocurrency, and its historical significance and technical breakthroughs make it the correct answer to this question.