The Bitcoin white paper, entitled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,” was authored by an individual or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto and was first published on October 31st, 2008.
It was the first time the word “Bitcoin” was defined and the paper describes the design and implementation of a decentralized electronic cash system that allows for online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without the need for a financial intermediary.
The system is built on a decentralized peer-to-peer network and uses cryptography to secure and validate transactions.
The paper also describes the concept of “mining” as a way to create and add new bitcoins to the system, and it outlines a plan for the currency’s release and circulation.
If you are just starting to learn about Bitcoin, it is recommended to read the white paper for yourself. It is the first ever document published on the subject and even if you don’t understand it at first, it’s a good idea to read it as it’s a fundamental piece of literature to become Bitcoin literate.
The white paper can be found at https://bitcoinwhitepaper.co/