What justifies the value of bitcoin? 

Origins of Bitcoin

To understand the value of Bitcoin, it is essential to go back to its origins. This section explores the historical background to its creation and the enigma surrounding its mysterious founder, SatoshiFrom the name of Bitcoin’s creator. Smallest fraction of a Bitcoin, representing one hundred millionth of
one Bitcoin. Nakamoto.

Historical background to the creation of Bitcoin 

The advent of Bitcoin in 2009 was not without reason. It is essential to look back at the financial and technological climate of the time to understand its emergence.

In 2008, a global financial crisis shook the economy, undermining confidence in traditional financial systems. It was against this backdrop that Satoshi Nakamoto published the famous white paperDefines technological basis of a project, explains its consensus mechanism (algorithm, rewards) and eventually presents its business model or business plan if the crypto asset is a token. It is introducing the concept of Bitcoin. As the world faced economic uncertainty, Bitcoin emerged as a response to the need to create a decentralised and resilient financial system.

Nakamoto’s white paper, “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System”, laid the foundations for Bitcoin by explaining how it could be used as a peer-to-peer electronic payment system. This network would enable transactions without intermediaries, offering enhanced security and transparency. This publication marked the start of a financial and technological revolution, where innovation was synonymous with trust and decentralisation.

The enigma of Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto

One of the most fascinating features of Bitcoin is the mystery surrounding its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. 

Nakamoto is the pseudonym used by the person, or perhaps group of people, who published the white paper and helped create the first versions of the Bitcoin software. However, despite years of speculation and investigation, the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains unknown to this day.

Nakamoto’s choice of anonymity has fuelled many theories and conjectures. Some believe that he was a single individual wishing to protect his privacy, while others believe that it was a group of talented developers working together. Whatever Nakamoto’s identity, his legacy is undeniable. The Bitcoin system he created is reshaping the global economy, sparking widespread interest in blockchain technology and digital assets.

This anonymity further strengthens confidence in Bitcoin. No one, under duress, is in a position to stop the blockchain; there is no entity to turn to in order to put an end to Bitcoin. No one has the keys.

The underlying technology behind Bitcoin’s value 

Much of Bitcoin’s value lies in the fundamental technology behind it. This section delves into the blockchain, the cornerstone of Bitcoin, and examines the consensus mechanisms, highlighting the essential role of proof of work (PoW).

The blockchain technology behind Bitcoin 

Blockchain is the fundamental technology that gives Bitcoin its value and relevance. At the heart of this innovation is a decentralised digital ledger, a transparent and immutable record of all Bitcoin transactions. Unlike traditional financial systems that rely on intermediaries such as banks, the blockchain allows users to deal directly with each other, eliminating the need for trusted third parties.

The blockchain, as its name suggests, is made up of blocks of data that are cryptographically linked together, forming an unalterable sequence. Each Bitcoin transaction is recorded on a block, then added to the existing chain after verification by the network. This decentralised structure guarantees the security of transactions, reduces the risk of fraud and ensures total transparency.

Another key aspect of blockchain is the global distribution of network nodes. Thousands of nodes are located all over the world, participating in the transaction verification process. In this way, the network is resistant to attacks and attempts at manipulation. In this way, blockchain technology creates an ecosystem of trust, in which security and transparency are intrinsic elements.

Bitcoin’s value lies in its ability to harness this revolutionary technology to deliver a financial system that is decentralised, transparent and censorship-resistant. This underlying infrastructure is essential to maintaining user confidence and ensuring Bitcoin’s long-term value.

Consensus mechanisms, in particular proof of work (PoW) 

Beyond blockchain technology, consensus mechanisms are essential to guarantee the security and reliability of the Bitcoin network. One of the most emblematic consensus mechanisms used by Bitcoin is proof of work (PoW).

Proof of work requires miners (the Bitcoin network participants who verify transactions) to solve complex mathematical problems to add a new block to the blockchain. This task, known as ‘mining’, requires considerable computing power, making data tampering extremely expensive and difficult. In addition, the competition to add the next block creates a security environment where no individual player can control the network.

PoW ensures that each block added to the blockchain is the result of significant effort, which reinforces confidence in the validity of transactions. However, this process requires a considerable amount of energy, which raises environmental concerns related to Bitcoin miningProcess allowing to solve a mathematical or computing challenge imposed by a blockchain’s Proof of Workconsensus. Mining activity requires a variable calculation power depending on the blockchain’s algorithm alongwith difficulty.

These consensus mechanisms ensure that the blockchain remains intact, immutable and decentralised, contributing to investor confidence and the value of Bitcoin as a digital asset.

Scarcity and Halving, repercussions on the value of Bitcoin

Scarcity is one of the fundamental pillars that give value to Bitcoin. This section explores the 21 million supply limit and the concept of halving, demonstrating how these elements help shape Bitcoin’s intrinsic value as a crypto-assetDigital asset based on cryptography principles. Peer to peer traded, on a decentralized network, thanks to Distributed Ledger Technologies such as blockchain. The user is integrated into storage and transaction.

Supply limited to 21 million units

One of the distinctive features of Bitcoin is its rigid supply limit. Unlike traditional currencies, which are issued by central authorities with unlimited capacity to create money, Bitcoin is programmed to be limited to a maximum supply of 21 million units.

This artificial scarcity is at the heart of Bitcoin’s value. The limit on supply creates a unique economic dynamic. As demand for Bitcoin increases, due to growing interest from investors and users, supply remains constant or even decreases due to the periodic halving mechanism. This relative scarcity can lead to an increase in the value of Bitcoin due to increasing pressure on limited supply.

Economists often refer to supply and demand to explain price variations. In the case of Bitcoin, the strict limitation on supply helps to create a dynamic where increasing demand can lead to an increase in value. In this way, Bitcoin is similar to rare assets such as gold, where intrinsic scarcity is a key factor.

The concept of halving and its impact on Bitcoin supply

Halving is a scheduled event that occurs approximately every four years on the Bitcoin network. During each halving, the reward miners receive for securing the network is halved. As a result, the amount of new Bitcoins issued for each block mined is halved, from 50 to 25, then from 25 to 12.5, and so on. 

The impact of halving on the supply of Bitcoin is significant. It creates upward pressure on the value of Bitcoin as it reduces its supply. This reduction in supply is designed to occur regularly, every 210,000 blocks, and will continue until the total number of Bitcoins reaches 21 million.

Halvings are closely watched events by the crypto community and investors, as they have historically had a clear impact on the price of Bitcoin.

By reducing the supply of new units, halving can lead to an increase in demand, which in turn can drive prices higher. The concept of halving is an example of how scheduling and scarcity help shape the value of Bitcoin as a crypto-asset. It reinforces investors’ belief in Bitcoin’s long-term upside potential due to increasing scarcity.

Volatility, understanding Bitcoin as an investment 

Volatility is a prominent feature of Bitcoin, influencing the perception of this crypto-asset as an investment. What are the underlying reasons for the volatility of Bitcoin’s value? Let’s also take a look at its historical behaviour and how its price has changed over time.

Why Bitcoin’s value is volatile

Bitcoin’s volatility, with its spectacular price fluctuations, is a subject of constant interest to investors and financial market observers. There are several reasons for this significant volatility:

• Youth of the market: Compared with traditional financial markets, the Bitcoin market is relatively young. This makes it more vulnerable to extreme price fluctuations, as it is less liquid and less stable.
• Speculation: Bitcoin attracts many investors because of its potential for rapid growth. However, this speculation can create excessive price movements, as investors often react to news and rumours. 
• Information sensitivity: The Bitcoin market is strongly influenced by news and events. Positive or negative announcements can cause major price fluctuations in a short space of time.
• Lack of regulation: In the absence of government regulation, the Bitcoin market is more vulnerable to price manipulation, fraudulent activity and scams.
• Scarcity and limited supply: Bitcoin’s scarcity, due to its limit of 21 million units, can lead to high volatility when demand increases. 
• Correlation with other assets: Correlation with other financial assets, such as equities or gold, can influence Bitcoin’s volatility. Sometimes it is considered a hedge asset by investors.

Historical tracking of the Bitcoin price 

To fully understand Bitcoin’s volatility, it is instructive to take a look at its history. Since its inception in 2009, Bitcoin has been on a price rollercoaster, going through several boom and bust cycles. Here’s a look at some of the key moments in its history:

• 2009-2010: The early days – In its early days, Bitcoin was worth just a few cents. It was mainly used by cryptography enthusiasts.
• 2011: The first bubble – Bitcoin broke the $1 barrier for the first time in February 2011. It peaked at $31 in June, before undergoing a significant correction.
• 2013 : The second bubble – Bitcoin broke the $200 barrier in April 2013, then peaked at more than $1,000 in December of the same year. This period saw growing adoption and the opening of the first major exchangeExchange platform for crypto assets (Binance, Kraken…) platforms 
• 2017-2018 : The spectacular bubble – Bitcoin soared, reaching an all-time high near $20,000 in December 2017. However, this bubble was followed by a major correction, with the price falling sharply in 2018.
• 2020-2021: Further rise – Bitcoin regains momentum in 2020, reaching new highs above $60,000 in 2021, driven in part by growing interest from institutional investors.
• 2021-2022 : The fall – After reaching record highs, Bitcoin experienced another correction in 2021-2022. Partly due to regulatory concerns, changing government policies in various countries, but also riots in Kazakhstan, one of the major players in mining.
• 2023-2024: The pre-halving bull-run – Bitcoin rebounds and explodes in early 2024, reaching a new record high of $68,000 on 8 March

This volatile trajectory of the Bitcoin price highlights the cyclical nature of the crypto-asset market. Investors should take these fluctuations into account when considering Bitcoin as an investment asset. Bearing in mind that its history shows both significant growth opportunities and considerable risks.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the value of Bitcoin as a crypto-asset is influenced by a multitude of factors. Its creation in the context of the global financial crisis and the enigma surrounding its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, add a layer of mystery to its history.

The blockchain, with consensus mechanisms such as proof of work (PoW), is essential for its reliability and decentralisation. Scarcity, by limiting supply to 21 million units, is a major factor contributing to the value of Bitcoin, as is the concept of halving, which reduces the supply of new units.

However, this scarcity is accompanied by notorious volatility. Volatility is the result of a number of factors, including the youth of the market, speculation, sensitivity to information and, of course, scarcity and limited supply.

Historical tracking of the Bitcoin price illustrates the cyclical nature of this asset, with periods of strong growth followed by significant corrections. Investors considering Bitcoin as part of their investment portfolio need to be aware of these cycles and the associated risks.