Bitcoin is the world’s first cryptocurrency, launched in 2008 under the name Satoshi Nakamoto — though no one knows if that’s a person or a group. It runs on a blockchain, which is a digital public ledger. Every transaction is recorded on this ledger, making it transparent and nearly impossible to lose track of.
New Bitcoins are created through a process called mining, which uses powerful computers to solve complex math problems. This process takes time, electricity, and computing power, but it keeps the system secure.
One big reason Bitcoin stands out is that it is independent of central banks. This freedom has made it both popular with investors and controversial among institutions. Today, Bitcoin is widely recognised, used by some countries for payments, and has become a favourite for institutional investors and ETFs.
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At present, Bitcoin’s market capitalisation stands at around $2.5 trillion, with prices hitting new all-time highs this year. It has surged almost 80% over the past 12–16 months, and many analysts believe there could be more growth ahead.
The second-largest cryptocurrency is Ethereum, which also attracts heavy investor inflows. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum is more than just digital money — it is a programmable blockchain. This means developers can write smart contracts (programs that run automatically when certain conditions are met).
Ethereum has powered many innovations, including NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and DeFi (decentralised finance) applications. It allows secure, transparent, and cost-efficient transactions without the need for middlemen like banks.
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Its native token, Ether (ETH), is used to run applications and contracts on the network. Developers often use programming languages like Solidity to build on Ethereum. Because of its versatility, Ethereum is now the backbone of many digital projects and financial services worldwide. ETFs based on Ethereum have also been launched in countries like the US and Canada.
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