Bitcoin (BTC) was invented by a pseudonymous individual or group named Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 and is the world’s first enduring cryptocurrency that succeeded where decades of digital cash experiments failed.

Bitcoin’s monetary policy is enforced through a unique blend of software, cryptography and financial incentives rather than the whim of trusted third parties. The Bitcoin network is powered by a cryptographically secure, verifiable database called the blockchain — itself a technological phenomenon.

The Bitcoin ecosystem consists of a global network of stakeholders, including the miners that secure the network and drive the issuance of the Bitcoin currency, the traders who speculate on this radically market-driven asset, and the builders working to onboard people to the cryptocurrency paradigm.

At Cointelegraph, we are chronicling the ongoing story of Bitcoin and the rise of a borderless, permissionless financial system. What has changed since Satoshi wrote the Bitcoin white paper? How is Bitcoin trading developing over the years, what are the best ways of investing in Bitcoin, and how do Bitcoin futures influence blockchain adoption? How will industry stakeholders work to make Bitcoin a mainstay in people’s lives, and will incumbent and legacy systems accept or fight this change?

Stay tuned.

Ethereum launched in summer 2015 with the aim of expanding the use cases of blockchain and cryptocurrency to encompass all manner of decentralized applications beyond Bitcoin’s initial scope, from permissionless financial services and crowdfunding to new organizational structures.

Ethereum was envisioned as a “global computer” that would allow developers to publish and execute apps powered by smart contracts — programmable scripts that facilitate the flow of digital assets.

Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), not only provides an incentive structure similar to Bitcoin (BTC) in securing and maintaining the network but is also used as “gas” to run transactions through smart contracts. This functions as a security measure to protect the network from inefficient code and attacks by malicious actors.

At Cointelegraph, we are chronicling the progress of the Ethereum space. Will it become essential infrastructure for a more open, freer internet? Or will it be surpassed by other smart contract (or traditional) platforms vying for mind and market share?

Stay tuned.

The term “altcoin” refers to any cryptocurrency that has launched since Bitcoin (BTC). In the early days of Bitcoin, developers forked the open-source code to create new currencies. Over time, these Bitcoin alternatives began to diverge further from their progenitor with different supply schedules and privacy features. These include Litecoin (LTC) and Zcash (ZEC), among others.

Along with altcoins came a plethora of Bitcoin–altcoin trading pairs that produced a surge in market activity, with traders leveraging the volatility of these crypto assets for high-risk rewards.

The rise of altcoins and their respective blockchain networks marks an era of experimentation and maturation within the crypto industry, as a wider range of use cases of the technology have become possible.