Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency. Bitcoin is a software that can run on millions of computers to form a network called blockchain network.
Bitcoin is a software code written by an anonymous author and published on the internet in 2009. The author is anonymous till date under pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. It could be an individual or group of authors under the pseudonym.
You may learn more about Satoshi Nakamoto on Wikipedia.
The first Bitcoin software was released in 2009, and the first block of the Bitcoin blockchain, known as the Genesis Block, was mined on January 3rd of that year. Since then, Bitcoin has become a popular and widely used form of digital currency.
Bitcoin has also inspired the creation of numerous other cryptocurrencies, which are digital currencies that use similar decentralized, blockchain-based technologies. Ethereum, LiteCoin, Stellar, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Binance Coin, Ripple are a few examples.
Bitcoin is considered to be the mother of all cryptocurrencies. Thus all other cryptocurrencies are called as altcoins (alternative coins).
Bitcoin is developed based on a whitepaper that resolved double spending problem. The underlying technology concept of Bitcoin and other such cryptocurrencies is called blockchain.
Whitepaper is a guide that can concisely explains a complex issue and presents the author’s philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. You can download Bitcoin whitepaper here.
Blockchain is a concept or a solution initially theorized to solve a problem called double spending. Double spending problem is the main reason of having centralized authority to govern monetary system. You can learn about double spending here.
Blockchain as a technology, is a distributed ledger software that stores a copy of ledger entries on multiple computers over a peer-to-peer network. Blockchain is the underlying technology of all cryptocurrencies. You may read more about Blockchain here.
Peer-to-Peer network connects the user computers over a virtual network created by a software. It does not rely on any centralized organization. Such Peer-To-Peer (P2P) software are usually open sourced.