bitcoin
Americannoun
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Often Bitcoin the first widely established cryptocurrency, which uses state-of-the-art cryptography, can be issued in any fractional denomination, and has a decentralized distribution system.
Increasing numbers of stores and online businesses accept Bitcoin.
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a single unit of bitcoin, the first widely established cryptocurrency.
The value of a bitcoin has sometimes surpassed the value of an ounce of gold.
Usage
What's the difference between bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and digital currency? See digital currency ( def. ).
Etymology
Origin of bitcoin
First recorded in 2005–10; bit 3 ( def. ) + coin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Other major cryptocurrencies are lower as well, with bitcoin cash sinking 13.7% to $296.26 while solana falls 4.4% to $80.08 and ethereum is down 4.4% to $1,973.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
“These outflows appear to be more consistent with a broad retreat by investors from the debasement trade, potentially in anticipation of an Iran-U.S. deal, rather than with a rotation from bitcoin to gold,” he says.
From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026
Find insight on bitcoin, IBM, Snowflake and more in the latest Market Talks covering technology, media and telecom.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
JPMorgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou offers this chart showing how bitcoin and gold exchange-traded funds have seen two weeks of outflows.
From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026
The Winklevoss twins in January 2025 had reluctantly agreed to pay $5 million to settle with the CFTC, which accused Gemini of making false statements in connection with a bitcoin futures launch on another exchange.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
