human
I have been hearing a lot about bitcoins lately. What is a bitcoin?
assistant
A bitcoin is a digital currency that is decentralized, meaning it does not have any central authority or bank backing it. It is created and managed through a peer-to-peer network of computers, called miners, which are rewarded with new bitcoins for verifying and adding transactions to the public ledger. Bitcoins can be used to purchase goods and services, as well as invest in other currencies.