Bitcoin Core Definition

Bitcoin Core is the reference software that lets people connect to and use the Bitcoin network. It is open source, reviewed in public, and maintained by a global community rather than a single company. 

Origin and naming

Satoshi Nakamoto published the original software under the name “Bitcoin,” which later took on the name Bitcoin Core to avoid confusion with the currency and the broader network. 

What the software does

When you run Bitcoin Core, your computer becomes a node that follows the protocol rules. The node checks blocks and transactions for validity and relays the ones that follow the rules to other peers. This shared rule enforcement is how the network stays in sync without a central authority. 

Running a full node and privacy

Full nodes download and verify the blockchain themselves. That approach gives users stronger privacy and integrity than lightweight wallets that ask third-party servers for balances or transaction data. With a full node, you rely on your own verification instead of trusting a server. 

Wallet inside Bitcoin Core

Bitcoin Core includes an optional wallet so you can create addresses, send transactions, and watch incoming payments while using your own node for verification. You can also connect external wallets to the node if you prefer. 

Development and governance

The codebase is open to review and contribution. Proposed changes are discussed in the community, reviewed by contributors, and merged by maintainers once there is broad agreement. This process is how improvements and bug fixes make their way into releases.

Mining and Bitcoin Core

Early versions exposed a simple CPU miner in the wallet, but that feature was removed in 2016. Today, Bitcoin Core is not used for mining. Dedicated mining software and pools handle that role.

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