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.

Bitcoin's bulls are still talking six figures while the market struggles to hold $81,000. With ten potential market movers approaching and five catalysts capable of reviving momentum, the coming week could settle some arguments. Bitcoin's price enters Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in a peculiar predicament.

Bitcoin Price Faces 10 Big Tests as 5 Catalysts Keep $100K Alive

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) could reach $1 million by 2030 and potentially $43 million by 2050 if it captures a growing share of global wealth, according to outspoken investor Mark Moss. Why BTC Could Reach $1 Million by 2030 Moss challenged veteran investor Jeremy Grantham, who famously warned about the dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis and predicted Bitcoin could eventually decline toward zero.

Bitcoin to Reach $1M by 2030? Mark Moss Says It Could Happen

Bitcoin ETFs lost a net $228.6 million this week, following a $681.1 million drain the week before and pushing October deep into the red.

Bitcoin ETFs Shed Nearly $1 Billion in Two Weeks as Uptober Stays Red

Strategy founder Michael Saylor delivered an ambitious vision for bitcoin at ParaFi Investor Day 2026, arguing that bank lending, tokenized securities, and bitcoin-backed credit could eventually support a $100 trillion financial system.

Saylor Teases ‘More Orange' After His $100 Trillion Bitcoin Vision Speech

Bitcoin has struggled through 2026 as the AI trade and infrastructure buildout sucks up both funds and attention

The AI Nightmare Is Suddenly Coming True For The Bitcoin Price

Bitwise sees a potential return above $100,000, while LO:TECH expects a narrower trading range as interest-rate uncertainty weighs on the market.

Bitcoin's $100,000 year-end hope divides analysts as inflation clouds outlook

Two bitcoin addresses dating to 2013 collectively moved approximately $34 million in bitcoin within five seconds on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, with both transactions appearing at block height 971894.

Bitcoin's Old Guard Stirs as 13-Year-Old Wallets Move Millions

Chainalysis reports that a crypto scammer lost over 60 BTC worth about $4.8 million when thieves emptied three Ledger hardware wallet addresses holding task scam proceeds. The post Scammer Loses $4,800,000 in Bitcoin as Thieves Drain Ledger Wallets Holding ‘Task Scam' Proceeds appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Scammer Loses $4,800,000 in Bitcoin as Thieves Drain Ledger Wallets Holding ‘Task Scam' Proceeds

Bitcoin traded near $81,500 on Oct. 17, 2026, with its technical indicators offering competing signals. Shorter-term moving averages favored sellers, while longer-term averages continued to support buyers. The relative strength index (RSI) stood at 46, and the broader technical rating remained neutral.

Bitcoin Price at $81,500 Leaves Bulls and Bears at a Standoff

The nine-member group, modeled on the Internet Engineering Task Force, aims to set open standards for testing quantum-resistance claims as forecasts place the first practical attack in the late 2020s.

Crypto Firms Launch Quantum Alliance as 6 Million Bitcoin Sit Exposed

Ethereum

U.S. crypto ETFs closed Friday under renewed selling pressure, with bitcoin funds losing $82.39 million and ether ETFs shedding another $69.68 million. Solana, XRP and zcash also finished lower, while NEAR once again attracted fresh capital.

Bitcoin and Ether ETFs Lose $152M as Blackrock Drives Friday Selloff

Bitmex co-founder Arthur Hayes says the artificial intelligence boom is burning cash on a government backstop, and that the bigger it gets, the higher bitcoin goes. The Arguments Put Forth by Hayes Hayes laid out the convictions on the Convergence podcast with Luke Martin, with his four key talking points being: Money is being wasted.

Arthur Hayes Says OpenAI and Anthropic Are Worthless and Bitcoin Wins

Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone has put a $10,000 target back on bitcoin, and within hours, Cryptoquant CEO Ki Young Ju replied that the onchain floor sits much closer to $30,000.

Bloomberg Sees Bitcoin Price at $10K and Cryptoquant's CEO Doesn't Agree

A new coalition of nine blockchain organizations is tackling a problem that could eventually put roughly 6.4 million bitcoin at risk, including an estimated 1.1 million BTC associated with Satoshi Nakamoto. Launched this week, the Quantum Alliance wants to establish common security standards before powerful quantum computers can crack the digital signatures protecting cryptocurrency wallets.

Nine Blockchain Groups Unite as Quantum Threat Hangs Over Bitcoin

Google says its Willow chip can prepare the special quantum states needed for advanced calculations with about 40 times fewer errors, reducing one of the hardware bottlenecks behind any future attempt to crack bitcoin wallets.

Satoshi-era bitcoin faces a bigger quantum threat after Google's new Willow breakthrough

Chainalysis has revealed that a victim of last week's Ledger theft was a scammer themself.

Poetic Justice: Scammer Lost $5M in Bitcoin After Being Targeted by Ledger Thieves

On Friday, at block height 971712, bitcoin mining grew considerably more demanding as the network's latest difficulty adjustment climbed 5.92% to 140.58 trillion, marking its highest reading since March 5. Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Hits Seven-Month High After 5.

Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Jumps 5.92% in Third-Largest Hike of 2026

Strive plans fresh funding for bitcoin purchases as TD Cowen sees warrant-related stock pressure easing.

Strive's bitcoin buying spree earns 27% price target hike from TD Cowen

CPAs, wealth advisors, and lenders gather in Denver for BFFS26, featuring Patrick Lowry on public-company Bitcoin treasury reserves and Wyoming Deputy Secretary of State Colin Crossman on regulatory outlook.

BFFS26 Denver: Joseph Kelly on Bitcoin Custody and Credit; Alan Lane on Banking Lessons

Bitcoin is still reacting to weekly data but long-term investors shouldn't be worried, according to the European asset manager.

Hot Inflation Data Puts Bitcoin Under Pressure, but ‘Difficult' Isn't ‘Bearish': CoinShares

The index provider will classify “non-operating companies” as ineligible starting Nov. 30, targeting firms whose balance sheets are dominated by a single asset.

Bitcoin Treasury Giant Strategy Faces Index Removal Under Finalized MSCI Rules

Bitcoin slipped below $81,000 on Oct. 16 amid heightened market volatility, but analysts remained cautiously optimistic, suggesting a potential local bottom. Bitcoin Dips Below $81,000 After Midweek Reversal Bitcoin lost the $82,000 threshold Friday, roughly 24 hours after reversing a downtrend that saw the cryptocurrency dip below $80,000 for the first time in weeks.

Bitcoin Price Hovers Near $81K as Analysts See Potential Market Bottom

Michael Saylor's bitcoin treasury company Strategy has announced plans to begin paying daily cash dividends on its STRC preferred shares starting Nov. 2, pending shareholder approval of changes to its dividend structure. The company also intends to maintain STRC's 12% annual dividend rate as it seeks to keep the stock trading near $100 per share.

Bitcoin Giant Strategy Plans STRC Daily Dividends Starting in November

The German lender is moving fast with its crypto custody service.

Deutsche Bank To Debut Bitcoin Custody Within Weeks: Report

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) struggles to hold $82,000, and Milk Road analysts say the bigger opportunity now sits in a handful of altcoins rather than the token itself. Why Bitcoin's Range Still Looks Bullish to Analysts Milk Road senior analyst Martin said on the show that Bitcoin likely stays range-bound between $80,000 and $85,000 until macro conditions, especially oil prices and bond yields, stabilize.

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