Complete 2026 Bitcoin Guide: Technology, Market Trends and Global Regulation

Since launching in 2009, Bitcoin has used proof of work and a decentralized ledger to secure transactions, with its supply capped at 21 million coins. Following its fourth halving on April 20, 2024, the block reward fell to 3.125 BTC. Its scarcity has led the market to regard it as “digital gold.”

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved 11 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds on January 10, 2024, allowing institutional and retail investors to gain market exposure through brokerage accounts. In 2026, Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission is advancing registration and anti-money-laundering rules for virtual asset service providers. Trading profits must still be declared and taxed according to their income classification.