Bitcoin is the first major cryptocurrency — a scarce digital asset with a public ledger and no single company in charge.
This page covers a plain-English history with a three-year ups-and-downs lens (roughly 2023–2026). Day-to-day coverage lives in Bitcoin News.
Origin in one minute
Bitcoin (BTC) earned a lasting seat among liquid majors. Exact launch lore differs by asset — what matters for traders is how liquidity, narrative, and structure evolved across the last cycle.
Recorded ups and downs (last ~3 years)
Prices depend on venue and timestamp. The table shows the shape of each phase — not investment advice.
| Period | What happened | Ups & downs (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Recovery year after 2022 leverage crash; spot ETF narrative builds toward 2024 | ~$16k–$44k band across the year |
| 2024 | US spot ETF launch era + halving; new cycle highs then digestion | Fresh ATHs then range-heavy trade |
| 2025–2026 | ETF flow tape remains the macro hook; ranges and liquidity matter more than slogans | Cycle digestion and two-sided flow |
How it trades today
BTC remains among the names where serious size can usually find a bid or offer relative to the long tail of alts. Still check depth before you trust a headline.
Related: crypto glossary, how to read a market snapshot, and all coin histories.
Follow the news
Ongoing coverage: Bitcoin News.
