Bitcoin

Bitcoin is a new electronic payment system that removes the need for third party financial institutions. It speeds up transactions while reducing costs and minimizing the potential for fraud. The name “cryptocurrency” points to how it uses “cryptographic proof” to work, AKA a blockchain.

Bitcoin’s concept was first introduced in 2008 when a person going by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto shared a white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.” In January 2009, the Bitcoin blockchain was launched. 

A new electronic payment system called Bitcoin removes the need for third-party financial institutions. It speeds up transactions while reducing costs and fraud-risk. The name “cryptocurrency” points to how it uses “cryptographic proof” to work, AKA a blockchain.   

Bitcoin has a finite supply of 21 million, which is expected to be reached by the year 2140. Currently, 18.8 million are circulating in the market. Note that Bitcoin represents the concept of the network, while bitcoin (lower-case ‘b’) represents the currency.

Bitcoin is one of the most well-known cryptos as it was the first decentralized currency. 

Currently, BTC’s dominance is above 40%. Bitcoin Dominance is a measure of how much of the total market cap of crypto is made up of Bitcoin. Bitcoin’s influence in the crypto ecosystem could be vulnerable to competition as alternative coins grow in popularity and utility.

Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) is facing renewed scrutiny after Peter Schiff questioned why the company keeps buying Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) even as its shares trade below the value of its crypto holdings. Peter Schiff Questions Shareholder Math Schiff said in a post on X that Strategy's aggressive Bitcoin purchases no longer make sense when the company trades at a discount to its net Bitcoin holdings.

Peter Schiff Tells Michael Saylor That Buying Bitcoin While MSTR Trades Below NAV Makes No Sense

Tether leads strategic funding round for Speed, supporting Lightning Network and stablecoin-powered global payment infrastructure. Tether announced on December 16, 2025, a strategic $8 million investment in Speed1, Inc., a payments infrastructure company leveraging the Lightning Network and stablecoins.

Tether Invests $8 Million in Speed to Advance Lightning Network Payments

One analyst isn't quite ready to call a bottom, but says bitcoin is surely in an oversold condition.

Traders mull the bottom as bitcoin returns to week's lows below $86,000

Bitcoin Magazine BitGo Enables Lightning Network Payments Directly from Custody BitGo will now offer Bitcoin Lightning Network access directly from its qualified custody platform. The move makes it one of the first companies to provide Lightning payments for institutional custody. BitGo Enables Lightning Network Payments Directly from Custody Micah Zimmerman.

BitGo Enables Lightning Network Payments Directly from Custody

Ethereum

The following article is adapted from The Block's newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.

The Daily: US senators introduce crypto fraud bill, K33 flags easing bitcoin sell pressure, BitMine adds $140M in ETH, and more

Bitcoin Magazine Bitcoin Price Pumps Above $90,000 Then Dumps to $85,000 in 4 Hours The bitcoin price briefly spiked above $90,000 on Wednesday before plunging back below $86,000 within hours. Bitcoin Price Pumps Above $90,000 Then Dumps to $85,000 in 4 Hours Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Price Pumps Above $90,000 Then Dumps to $85,000 in 4 Hours

Bitcoin Magazine Bitcoin's Lightning Network Capacity Hits New-All Time High Bitcoin's Lightning Network has hit a record 5,637 BTC in capacity, driven by increased capital from institutions. Bitcoin's Lightning Network Capacity Hits New-All Time High Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin's Lightning Network Capacity Hits New-All Time High

A popular crypto analyst just issued a major Bitcoin price warning. In a new strategy session, Benjamin Cowen tells his 969,000 YouTube subscribers that the BTC bull market is likely over. “It's one of those times where apathy really starts to set in.

Analyst Benjamin Cowen Predicts Incoming Bitcoin and Crypto Crash, Reveals New BTC Price Target

The decline was accompanied by sharp volatility in bitcoin and weakness in U.S. tech stocks, suggesting a return of risk-off sentiment.

BNB drops nearly 3% to as bitcoin whipsaw and tech selloff hit crypto market

Bitcoin Magazine Jeff Booth, Oliver Velez, and Bitcoin Beach Founder Mike Peterson to Speak at Bitcoin Medellín 2026 Bitcoin Medellín 2026 brings global Bitcoin experts to Colombia for two days of bilingual talks on mining, self-custody, and investment strategy in the heart of Medellín. Jeff Booth, Oliver Velez, and Bitcoin Beach Founder Mike Peterson to Speak at Bitcoin Medellín 2026 Juan Galt.

Jeff Booth, Oliver Velez, and Bitcoin Beach Founder Mike Peterson to Speak at Bitcoin Medellín 2026

XRP's price action now faces resistance at the former support levels, with $1.90 as the immediate line of defense.

XRP falls 5% as bitcoin's sudden pump and dump rattles crypto markets

Fund manager and activist investor Eric Jackson is reportedly planning to head up a new Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) firm despite the crypto market's recent lull. Jackson intends to take on the role of founder, chairman and CEO of EMJX, which will invest in Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and several altcoins, reports Reuters.

Activist Investor Eric Jackson Launching New Firm To Invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoins: Report

Crypto-linked stocks pulled back, with miners like MARA Holdings (MARA) down 4.8% and Core Scientific (CORZ) down 6%.

Crypto stocks pare gains as bitcoin retreats from $90,000 rally

It was a blink and you missed it rally as continued deflation in the AI trade sent the Nasdaq sharply lower, dragging crypto along with it.

Bitcoin tumbles back below $88,000 as gains evaporate as quickly as they formed

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) hasn't evolved in a straight line from experiment to asset class as a recap of its history shows. What Happened: In a detailed post on X dubbed “love letter to Bitcoin”, analytics firm Santiment traced Bitcoin's origins to 2009, when Satoshi Nakamoto mined the Genesis Block and launched an idea with no market value and no clear future.

'Love Letter' Details Bitcoin's Journey From Pizza Purchase To Global Asset Class

Publicly traded Bitcoin miner Hut 8 inked a $7 billion data center deal with Google's financial backing, sending shares soaring Wednesday.

Bitcoin Miner Hut 8's Stock Soars After Inking $7 Billion Google-Backed AI Deal

Bitcoin Magazine Norway's Sovereign Wealth Fund Backs Metaplanet's Bitcoin Strategy Norway just voted in favor of all five management proposals for Metaplanet's upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Dec. 22, endorsing the firm's bitcoin treasury strategy. Norway's Sovereign Wealth Fund Backs Metaplanet's Bitcoin Strategy Micah Zimmerman.

Norway's Sovereign Wealth Fund Backs Metaplanet's Bitcoin Strategy

Bitcoin surged from an intraday low near $86,200 to reclaim $90,000, driven by aggressive spot buying and a wave of short liquidations.

Bitcoin shorts scramble for the exits as BTC climbs

Mining stocks, trading platforms, and cryptocurrency infrastructure firms saw significant gains, including Hut 8, Riot Platforms, and Coinbase.

Hut 8 and Coinbase outperform as Crypto stocks jump on bitcoin's sudden rally

Bitcoin hovered between $87,477 to $90,317 on Dec. 17, 2025, as derivatives data shows futures traders holding their nerve while options markets quietly leaned defensive. Bitcoin Derivatives Data Signals Tactical Pullback Risk According to coinglass.com stats on Wednesday, bitcoin futures open interest (OI) remains elevated, with total OI sitting near $58.

‘Cautious in the Short Term'— Options Markets Temper Bitcoin Optimism Despite Heavy Futures Exposure

Surging metals prices and dovish comments from leading Fed chair contender Chris Waller were among the news items possibly boosting crypto prices.

Bitcoin re-takes $90,000 as price spikes early in U.S. session

Bitcoin Magazine Bhutan Pledges Up to 10,000 Bitcoin to Build New Mega-City Bhutan is pledging up to 10,000 bitcoin for its Gelephu Mindfulness City, that's nearly $1 billion at current prices. Bhutan Pledges Up to 10,000 Bitcoin to Build New Mega-City Micah Zimmerman.

Bhutan Pledges Up to 10,000 Bitcoin to Build New Mega-City

The Bank of Japan's expected rate hike to a 30-year high could unwind the yen carry trade, draining liquidity from risk assets like Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Traders Brace for Bank of Japan Rate Hike Amid Crypto Sell-Off

Bitcoin Magazine Bitcoin Miner Hut 8 Secures Google-Backed Deal to Build Up to 2.3 GW of AI Capacity Hut 8 secured a Google-backed partnership with Anthropic and Fluidstack to build up to 2.3 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in the U.S., sending its shares sharply higher. Bitcoin Miner Hut 8 Secures Google-Backed Deal to Build Up to 2.3 GW of AI Capacity Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Miner Hut 8 Secures Google-Backed Deal to Build Up to 2.3 GW of AI Capacity

The company signed a 15-year lease with Fluidstack at its River Bend campus in Louisiana, with Google providing a financial backstop.

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