Digital Gold

One of the most common, and best, ways to think about bitcoin is as "digital gold". Like gold, bitcoin doesn't rely on a central issuer, can't have its supply manipulated by any authority, and has fundamental properties long considered important for a monetary good and store of value.

A Breakthrough in Computer Science

Pure digital cash was a goal in cryptography circles since the 1980s, but no one fully solved the problems necessary to make it possible until Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin whitepaper, and corresponding code, in late 2008.

Censorship Resistant

A key feature of bitcoin is that you, as the owner of BTC, are in full control. You can take control of the private keys (similar to a password) yourself, and not rely on anyone else in order to transact with your bitcoin. This is different than every other form of digital payment/money.

An Asymmetric Investment

Bitcoin is a gold-like (see "digital gold") monetary asset. Is is a burgeoning asset class, rapidly maturing. With a market capitalization in the low $100B range, it is still very small from a global monetary perspective. As such, the return profile is extremely asymmetric.

The Currency of the Internet

Bitcoin is unique vs all other digital money. It is natively digital, and not routed through central authorities. It is a digital bearer asset. When you send bitcoin, you "push" your payment to the recipient instead of giving the recipient the password to your account (eg, a credit card).

A Peaceful Revolution

Bitcoin proponants have called bitcoin a revolution since it's earliest moments. Many view bitcoin as not simply a technology, investment, or economic experiment, but more a movement and expression of freedom.