<human>: I have been hearing a lot about bitcoins lately. What is a bitcoin?
<bot>: A bitcoin is a digital currency that was created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. It is the first decentralized cryptocurrency, meaning it is not controlled by any central authority or government. The system works by users downloading software onto their computers that allows them to create and transfer bitcoins. Bitcoins are stored in a digital wallet, which is similar to a bank account.