什么是比特币以及如何投资加密货币

无论您是加密货币专家还是新手，您都有可能听说过比特币。作为第一个加密货币，它席卷了世界

Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency, was conceived in 2008 by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto. It quickly gained popularity, and by 2009, early miners had minted the first coin.

比特币是世界上第一个加密货币，由神秘的中本聪于 2008 年提出。它很快就流行起来，到 2009 年，早期矿工铸造了第一枚硬币。

Users can buy, sell, or trade BTC directly without involving banks or other financial institutions. Every transaction gets recorded on the blockchain, a public ledger that ensures transparency and reduces the likelihood of fraudulent activity.

用户可以直接购买、出售或交易BTC，无需涉及银行或其他金融机构。每笔交易都记录在区块链上，这是一个公共分类账，可确保透明度并减少欺诈活动的可能性。

Although Nakamoto designed Bitcoin for daily transactions, many people use it to protect themselves from inflation and even generate wealth in the process.

尽管中本聪为日常交易设计了比特币，但许多人用它来保护自己免受通货膨胀的影响，甚至在此过程中创造财富。

As the sole cryptocurrency for a time, many people were understandably uncertain about BTC’s prospects. For its entire first year of use, its value remained at mere pennies.

作为一度唯一的加密货币，许多人对 BTC 的前景感到不确定，这是可以理解的。在它使用的第一年里，它的价值仍然只有几美分。

It wouldn’t take long for the Bitcoin trend to catch on, igniting a spark that sent Bitcoin’s price above the $1,000 mark in 2013. The subsequent fall renewed fears that cryptocurrencies were no more than a fad, but these sentiments didn’t last long.

没过多久，比特币的趋势就流行起来，点燃了比特币价格的火花，使比特币的价格在 2013 年突破了 1,000 美元大关。随后的下跌再次让人们担心加密货币只不过是一种时尚，但这种情绪并没有持续多久。

The coin’s next rise sent values soaring to $20,000 and beyond. Another significant dip gave investors an inroad before another colossal surge to nearly $70,000 in 2021.

硬币的下一次上涨使价值飙升至 20,000 美元甚至更高。在 2021 年再次大幅飙升至近 70,000 美元之前，另一次大幅下跌为投资者带来了机会。

All these ups and downs provided countless investment opportunities for folks keeping a close eye on BTC’s value. Today, BTC to USD conversion sites remain the most accurate way to determine a coin’s current value relative to fiat currency.

所有这些起起落落为密切关注比特币价值的人们提供了无数的投资机会。如今，比特币到美元兑换网站仍然是确定代币相对于法定货币当前价值的最准确方法。

Of its numerous peaks and valleys, BTC reached its highest valuation to date in March of this year at just north of $73,000.

在经历了无数的高峰和低谷之后，BTC 在今年 3 月达到了迄今为​​止的最高估值，略高于 73,000 美元。

The Bitcoin mining process, the term given to adding new coins to the blockchain, is a grueling one. Miners must employ computing technology designed to solve the complex mathematical problems linked to Bitcoin’s code.

比特币挖掘过程（向区块链添加新硬币的术语）是一个艰苦的过程。矿工必须采用旨在解决与比特币代码相关的复杂数学问题的计算技术。

In Bitcoin’s early days, using even the most rudimentary personal computers could have been enough to crack these problems. The process gets more convoluted with each new transaction, requiring bigger rigs or multiple devices chained together to achieve the same result. At present, miners can generate one new Bitcoin block about every 10 minutes.

在比特币的早期，即使使用最基本的个人电脑也足以解决这些问题。每笔新交易的过程都会变得更加复杂，需要更大的设备或将多个设备链接在一起才能实现相同的结果。目前，矿工大约每 10 分钟就可以生成一个新的比特币区块。

As dictated by Nakamoto in 2008, there will only ever be 21 million bitcoins in circulation. That means there’s a finite number of coins to mine, which experts estimate will run dry around 2040. Once we reach that point, it will only be possible to obtain new Bitcoin through trade or purchase.

正如中本聪在 2008 年所说，流通中的比特币数量将永远只有 2100 万个。这意味着可供开采的比特币数量是有限的，专家估计这些比特币将在 2040 年左右枯竭。一旦达到这一点，就只能通过交易或购买来获得新的比特币。

To slow the acquisition process, the amount of bitcoin mined halves every 210,000 blocks. Early miners received 50 bitcoins per block pulled from digital soil.

为了减缓获取过程，每 210,000 个区块开采的比特币数量就会减半。早期矿工从数字土壤中每区块获得 50 个比特币。

Bitcoin has halved four times since then, most recently on April 20, 2024. Currently, it’s only possible to extract 3.125 coins from a single block.

此后，比特币已减半四次，最近一次是在 2024 年 4 月 20 日。目前，单个区块只能提取 3.125 个比特币。

Most individuals turn to crypto exchanges to purchase Bitcoin. These sites allow buyers to exchange fiat currency for digital coins at a predetermined cost; usually the value listed on conversion sites for the given day. Although Bitcoin’s high price makes it difficult to purchase a whole coin, you can simply buy portions instead.

大多数人转向加密货币交易所购买比特币。这些网站允许买家以预定的成本将法定货币兑换成数字货币；通常是转化网站上列出的给定日期的价值。尽管比特币的高价格使得购买整枚比特币变得困难，但您可以简单地购买部分比特币。

Crypto exchanges vary greatly in terms of fees and scope. Some focus exclusively on Bitcoin, while others offer multiple digital currencies to choose from. In either case, you’ll need to fund transactions with a bank account, debit card, or credit card. After obtaining your digital currency, you’ll need a wallet to keep it safe.

加密货币交易所在费用和范围方面差异很大。有些只专注于比特币，而另一些则提供多种数字货币可供选择。无论哪种情况，您都需要使用银行账户、借记卡或信用卡为交易提供资金。获得数字货币后，您需要一个钱包来保证其安全。

Crypto wallets don’t actually store coins but rather hold a public and private key that allows you to access your currency on the blockchain. Should these keys fall into the wrong hands, that person can do the same. Generally speaking, there are two main types of cryptocurrency wallets: hot and cold.

加密钱包实际上并不存储硬币，而是保存公钥和私钥，使您可以在区块链上访问您的货币。如果这些钥匙落入坏人之手，那个人也可以做同样的事情。一般来说，加密货币钱包主要有两种类型：热钱包和冷钱包。

Hot wallets are always connected to the internet and often exist via websites or some form of software. While this means you can get to your coins faster, it also gives hackers an easier path to your digital finances.

热钱包始终连接到互联网，并且通常通过网站或某种形式的软件存在。虽然这意味着您可以更快地获取您的代币，但它也为黑客提供了更轻松的途径来获取您的数字财务。

Cold wallets are completely off the grid and not connected to the internet in any way. As a result, they tend to be much more secure. Some users turn to a USB or Bluetooth device for cold data storage, while others simply record information on a piece of paper.

冷钱包完全脱离电网，不以任何方式连接到互联网。因此，它们往往更加安全。一些用户使用 USB 或蓝牙设备进行冷数据存储，而其他用户则只是将信息记录在一张纸上。

There are pros and cons to each approach, and many Bitcoin owners choose to hold multiple wallets at any given time.

每种方法都有优点和缺点，许多比特币所有者选择在任何特定时间持有多个钱包。

No one can accurately predict Bitcoin’s future, although some patterns have emerged that could point to more growth on the horizon.

没有人能够准确预测比特币的未来，尽管已经出现了一些可能预示着比特币即将出现更多增长的模式。

Historically, Bitcoin rises within a year on either side of a halving, like the one we saw back in April. Should trends continue, we could see BTC kissing the six digits before the end of 2024.

从历史上看，比特币在减半前后的一年内都会上涨，就像我们四月份看到的那样。如果趋势继续下去，我们可能会看到 BTC 在 2024 年底前突破六位数。

Similarly, we’re seeing a slowdown in the number of coins minted. The reduction in supply may lead to a higher price point as demand increases.

同样，我们也看到代币铸造数量放缓。随着需求的增加，供应的减少可能会导致价格上涨。

Some experts agree with this

一些专家也同意这一点