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.
In the early days of bitcoin, an electronic cigarette company, a biotech firm and an iced-tea company refocused around the cryptocurrency.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
Last summer, firms were able to raise tens of billions of dollars if they rebranded themselves as crypto-treasury companies to purchase bitcoin and more obscure cryptocurrencies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
“The risk-reward of buying/adding bitcoin here is improving considerably,” Richey told MarketWatch on Tuesday.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
The contrast between bitcoin and software stocks was on vivid display Friday.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
Among other queasy-induced crashes, bitcoin lost 35% of its value in less than four weeks between mid-January and early February, falling from $96,929 on Jan. 13 to $62,702 on Feb. 4.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 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.
