What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin (BTC) is a digital currency launched in January 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, a mysterious person or group of persons whose identities have not been verified. Bitcoin’s increasing popularity over the years has led to the launch of hundreds of other digital currencies commonly known as Altcoins.
Bitcoin functions outside any supervision of central authorities and offers lower transaction fees than other traditional online payment methods.
Governments issue regular currencies (fiat money) such as the USD or the GBP. A central authority - usually banks - attributes them a value. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are digital assets working as mediums of exchange. You can send cryptos to anyone and anywhere, without any intermediaries. People can obtain them through mining.
Bitcoins are stored on a public ledger – the blockchain. Here, all confirmed transactions are included. Only a total of 21 million coins can ever be mined, according to Bitcoin protocol.

History of Bitcoin
Beginning
Satoshi Nakamoto starts working on the Bitcoin concept
May 22
First real-world Bitcoin transaction: 10.000 bitcoins for a pizza
August
The digital coin splits into Bitcoin and Bitcoin cash
October
Bitcoin under scrutiny by SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)
January 12
The first transaction of 10 bitcoins takes place between Satoshi and Hal Finney
November 6
Bitcoin's market capitalization exceeds $1 million
December
Bitcoin spikes up to $20,000
May
Third halving for Bitcoin scheduled
Factors impacting Bitcoin price
Regulation
Any future regulation change can impact cryptos both in a positive or negative way.
Supply
Bitcoin's availability is in line with the rate of mining it.
Bitcoin news
Public perception and media coverage affect Bitcoin price.
Adoption
The more Bitcoin is adopted as an alternative method of payment, the better for its valuation
Past performance is not a guarantee or prediction of future performance.
Bitcoin’s effect on the financial markets
As crypto-mining systems started flooding the world, chipmakers like Nvidia or AMD have seen their profits soar in late 2017 and early 2018, due to the high demand of video cards that power-up mining rigs.
PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel recently announced he will fund his first Bitcoin mining facility in West Texas – 30 acres, tens of millions of dollars invested.
Giants like Microsoft supported the industry as well by creating open-source programs based on crypto technology.



Bitcoin’s effect on the financial markets
As crypto-mining systems started flooding the world, chipmakers like Nvidia or AMD have seen their profits soar in late 2017 and early 2018, due to the high demand of video cards that power-up mining rigs.

PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel recently announced he will fund his first Bitcoin mining facility in West Texas – 30 acres, tens of millions of dollars invested.

Giants like Microsoft supported the industry as well by creating open-source programs based on crypto technology.

How to trade Bitcoin
There are a couple of ways to trade Bitcoin: you can use an exchange, or you can trade BTC via CFDs (contracts for difference).
Trading Bitcoin CFDs
Trading CFDs on any instrument and not just Bitcoin requires you to use a trading platform, where you either chose a long position (if you think prices will rise) or a short position (if you think prices will go down). This is an advantage, since you don't have the option to go short on Bitcoin if you pick exchanges.
By trading Bitcoin CFDs you can use the power of leverage. With leverage, you don't have to pay the full value of your trade, as your provider can cover some of it. Leverage increases both the exposure and potential profits, but also the risk of losses. *
*Using leverage involves risks of loss, since you can also increase your risks, and not just your profits.
Trading Bitcoin on exchanges
If you plan to trade Bitcoin on an exchange you can only buy coins and store them on a digital wallet.
On exchanges, BTC is quoted against the USD and all you do is sell American dollars to buy digital coins. If Bitcoin increases in value, you will get a profit; if it decreases, you will lose.

Why trade Bitcoin CFDs with CAPEX.com
Go long or short
Trade on both rising and falling Bitcoin prices with access to third-party award-winning tools, charts, and market analysis
No need for a wallet or an exchange account
Trading Bitcoin via CFDs doesn’t require an exchange account or a wallet, so no security concerns or withdrawal fees for you to worry about.
Complete support & guidance
Since cryptos are still new in the financial markets, CAPEX.com offers in-depth resources to support your trading
Trade with a secure broker
CAPEX.com is licensed by CySec and registered with major financial authorities in Europe