Bitcoin
The first and most well-known cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by an anonymous author (or group) under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. It works without a central bank or intermediaries — every transaction is recorded on a public blockchain.
See also
Blockchain
A distributed database made up of a chain of blocks containing transaction data. Each new block references the previous one, which makes altering past records nearly impossible without the agreement of the entire network.
Hash
A unique, fixed-length string produced from any input data using a mathematical function. The smallest change to the input completely changes the hash, which is why it is used to verify the integrity of blocks and transactions.
Transaction
A record of a cryptocurrency transfer from one address to another. Once confirmed by the network, a transaction becomes part of the blockchain and can no longer be reversed or altered.