Bitcoin is not only the name of a digital currency but also an open payment system. With Bitcoin, you can send money - bitcoins - to anyone on the internet with no middle man. Bitcoin transactions are secured by military-grade cryptography and processed within minutes on a public network that doesn't discriminate against participants or transaction size. For further details visit https://bitql.org/.
BTC as Internet Cash
Bitcoin is often called "Internet Cash" because it's similar to paying someone with cash over the internet. Bitcoin works anywhere all the time.
Bitcoins are digital coins you can send through your computer or smartphone without needing to trust any third party for security. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible once broadcast onto the blockchain, so sellers don't need to worry about receiving fake BTC payment confirmations.
You're probably wondering how Bitcoin works under the hood. Bitcoin is different from what you know and uses every day. Before diving into Bitcoin, it helps to first understand some basic background information. Bitcoin is like the Internet of money - a network of devices (computers, smartphones) connected to the Bitcoin network that exchange bitcoins with each other.
This is how Bitcoin works: Bitcoin wallets store private keys, secret codes that allow you to spend your bitcoins on their own or give them away! Many people have more than one Bitcoin wallet because they sometimes need to send money between their wallets rather than sending an entire payment through each time.
When someone wants to spend his/her bitcoins, he/she uses a private key to sign a transaction and broadcast it onto the network. This transaction states how bitcoins are being spent, the number of bitcoins being sent to another Bitcoin address, and where they are coming from. These transactions are signed with a hash function which prevents alteration by anyone once it's been broadcasted. That means these transactions can be trusted as valid since it's impossible for someone to replace what you're sending with something else without knowing your private key!
The Bitcoin network is made up of devices running the Bitcoin client that all follow the same protocol to validate Bitcoin transactions. The Bitcoin client has more than one core component; each of which provides different capabilities to the system.
First, there is bitcoin, also called Bitcoin Core, which maintains a full copy of the transaction ledger (the blockchain), provides wallet functionality, and allows users/applications to interact with the Bitcoin network. Bitcoin Core uses a database called LevelDB which is optimized for fast key-value operations and parallelized data access across multiple CPU cores. Bitcoin nodes also need port 8333 open so they can accept incoming connections from other Bitcoin nodes communicating over the peer-to-peer bitcoin network.
The second core component, bitcoin, helps manage shared settings and provides command-line utilities that allow you to send Bitcoin protocol messages over a secure connection to another network device. For example, if you use Bitcoin Core as your wallet program, it will communicate with remote Bitcoin nodes using TCP port 8332 only when configured to connect through Tor.
Bitcoin transactions are validated by something similar to Proof-of-Work in commodity hardware. Bitcoin is based on a secure memory hierarchy and parallel transaction validation, which makes it difficult and expensive to produce an alternative chain with more total work. (See the Bitcoin whitepaper.)
Conclusion
Although Bitcoin has been around since 2009, very few people use Bitcoin for everyday transactions. Bitcoin ATMs aren't found on every corner like traditional ATMs - yet! Bitcoin can be used by almost anyone in any country because Bitcoin is an open payment system that requires no permission from anyone (such as a bank or government) to participate. The Bitcoin network consists of thousands of computers run by normal people all over the world that are voluntarily running 'mining' programs solving math problems in exchange for bitcoins.
Bitcoin mining was designed so there would only ever be 21 million Bitcoin created. Bitcoin mining is necessary because Bitcoin transactions are irreversible and Bitcoin is designed to be a scarce system resource - only 21 million Bitcoin will ever exist, so Bitcoin mining helps with the distribution of new bitcoins as well as processing Bitcoin transactions by setting up 'blocks' on the blockchain.
Each block contains all transactions processed during that time frame; once each block has been solved (reached its maximum size limit), it can then be appended to the end of the chain of previous blocks which creates an unchangeable record for everyone who uses Bitcoin (the blockchain). One of Bitcoin's most innovative features is that this ledger containing every transaction ever conducted using Bitcoin is stored on every single device participating in the network!
Read the rest here:
Bitcoin Payment System
- The Worlds First Bitcoin Debit Card Is Almost Here [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Google removes malware Android apps used to secretly mine bitcoin [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin runner-up Litecoin emerges as low-price challenger [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- How does Bitcoin work? - Bitcoin - Open source P2P money [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- POLICE STATE USA - COP Goes CRAZY at INNOCENT Black Guys Filming a Wal-Mart in Houston - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- START MINING LITECOIN with Home Built LITECOIN MINING RIG (FORGET BITCOIN) ----- THE FUTUR - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin going to $10,000 - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin going over $1,000 - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Trading Robot - The First Automated Bitcoin Robot - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin or Gold? Squawk Walk Taipei- Squawkonomics - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Miner AntMiner S1 180 - 200 GH/s Nu in de Aanbieding! - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- New Bitcoin Documentary: Boom or Bust - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Revolution Is Just Beginning (Full Interview) - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Market Extra: Bitcoin venture capital money hasnt kept up with buzz [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Exchange BTC China Cuts Ties With China Merchants Bank [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin price slips as China steps up regulation [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin price slips on China regulation [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Win .33 Bitcoin ($150 or so, Depending on BTC value) - Meme game for May 1st - Take My Bitcoins - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin May v0.9.1 GitHub Source Code Development Visualization - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Jaromil on Russia TV about Bitcoin - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Atomic-Trade Bitcoin Exchange. AML, BSA, FinCEN compliant - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Breaks Down Bitcoin - global economic crisis - max Keiser - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Group #27 - China Bans Bitcoin Again - Politics - Dark Market - Bitcoin VC - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Edan Yago - Free Market Bitcoin regulation and Honduras free trade zones.mp4 - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- btc.sx Bitcoin derivatives platform George Samman clip - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- China Bans Bitcoin Again -- Bitcoin the Movie -- Startup for Startups Raises 2,000 BTC - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Video: Roundup of This Week's Bitcoin News 25th April 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin and the Internet of Money - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, why he's decided to accept Bitcoin for space travel? - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin for Dummies - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Live Butterfly Labs Mining Cam- Take My BitCoins- win free Bitcoin - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Market Extra: Bitcoin is like the early Internet, minus the VC money [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- 'The Rise And Rise Of Bitcoin' Filmmaker: 'There Is No Answer Yet' [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin the movie: It just had to happen [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Expo 2014: Fireside Chat with Dr Gavin Wood - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- reXBT.com Andreas M. Antonopoulos L.A. Bitcoin Meetup The Network Effect Part 2 of 8 - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin: what happens when the miners pack up their gear? [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- New Bitcoin student club at MIT will promote the virtual currency [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Dark Wallet Is About to Make Bitcoin Money Laundering Easier Than Ever [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Vies with New Cryptocurrencies as Coin of the Cyber Realm [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- 4/29/14 - MIT Bitcoin Project, Mt Gox revival plan, Mastercard lobbyists & Team Rubicon - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Mini Bitcoin Mining Rig with 11 USB Block Erupter from ASICminer - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Is Bitcoin Over? Mt. Gox Pauses Withdrawals - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- BitCoin Dentist GoCoin Fox News Interview - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Blockchain Bitcoin BitMe iNjector Instant wallet funds adder - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Generator Feb 2014 NO SURVEY - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Free Bitcoin Generator 2013 1 0v Download Miner Tool 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- MAX KEISER - BITCOIN Is The FUTURE - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Meetup - BitcoinMKE Hosts Jeffrey Tucker - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- MIT Bitcoin Expo 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin, gold and competitive currencies - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Foundation Election Hiccups -- Pathetic Ohio Bans Bitcoins -- Dogecon SF 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Keiser Report: Gold, Silver, Bitcoin FTW! (E527) - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Talk Show #7 -- Skype BitcoinTalkShow to Call in Live! 🙂 - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin Turbo Miner | Fast Bitcoin Generator | NEW [Updated April 2014] Direct Download! No waiting! - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Basic Bitcoin Bitches - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Gold standard vs Fiat vs Bitcoin - Truthloader - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin Exchange - Bitcoin Predictions & Live Market Action! - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Revolution is Just Beginning (Preview) - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- How to Defund the System: Bitcoin vs. the Central Banksters - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin, Anarchy and Freedom with Roger Ver - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- bitcoin dogecoin donations and i ramble a ton - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Techcrunch - Is Bitcoin or Litecoin The New Euro-Disrupt Europe 2013 (Part1) - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- MIT Goes Bitcoin-Wild [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Bitcoin Weekly 2014 April 30: Bloomberg adds Bitcoin to their market index, MIT to produce campus-wide bitcoin ... [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- 'Dark Wallet' wants to make Bitcoin even harder to trace [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Better than Bitcoin! Creating Multiple Sources of Income, Growing Tomatoes - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- What is Bitcoin? - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- James Altucher Discusses the Future of Twitter and the Bitcoin - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Bitcoin made simple (video animation) - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Jon Matonis: Bitcoin - The future of commerce? - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- $100 in Bitcoin Going to Every MIT Undergrad - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Should I Invest in Bitcoin? Stock Market Investment Advice Mining, Price, Exchange, Value - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- The Rise of Digital Currency (documentary) - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Bitcoin: How We Got Here and Where We Are Going [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- CIA Bitcoin CONSPIRACY, SILVER TO BREAK THE ECONOMY - Andy Hoffman & Chris Duane - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- 5/1/14 - Larry Summers warns critics, Paym system & Bitcoin Center NYC roundtable - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- On est Connect S2 #07 1/2 : BitCoin et Musique sur Internet - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]