What exactly is Bitcoin Core?

[rnchavez19]

Hi Everyone,

Straight to the point as the subject says "What exactly is Bitcoin Core?". Newbie here. Exploring the wonders of cryptocurrency.
I could have just "googled" it but i need more answers. in English (for noobies, beginners, dummies) please.


Thanks. Appreciate your help.

[mrdeposit]

Bitcoin Core helps you keep Bitcoin decentralized. Check links below :
https://bitcoin.org/en/bitcoin-core/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin_Core
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5027455.msg45606141#msg45606141

[o_e_l_e_o]

Bitcoin Core is the software which allows bitcoin to function. Very simply, you can imagine that Bitcoin Core is to bitcoin as Internet Explorer is to the internet.

Bitcoin Core functions as a full node, which means it will store the entire history of all bitcoin transactions ever made (known as the blockchain), and will verify any new transactions made. It will also function as a bitcoin wallet.

The top two links in the previous reply are good places to go for more info.

[logfiles]

To add on o_e_l_e_o's point, Bitcoin core also acts as a bitcoin wallet that fully verifies transactions. It therefore has better privacy and security attributes never seen in ordinary lite wallets.

Originally it was also called Bitcoin just like the network but the name would later be changed to Bitcoin Core. It is also known as the Satoshi client, perhaps in tribute to the original publisher of the software Satoshi Nakamoto.

[nc50lc]

Straight to the point as the subject says "What exactly is Bitcoin Core?".
-snip-

So you've explored google, you should have seen Bitcoin Core fork of Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash propaganda's naming scheme to Bitcoin (as Bitcoin Core).
As you can see from the replies, it is (one of the) first Bitcoin client and a full node of Bitcoin; thus I wont explain further.

As for the "other" google results:

• 1. Bitcoin Core [BTCC] Fork - is a fork of Bitcoin which has its own network protocol and chain; it is not related to bitcoin's blockchain, community or development in any ways.
  
• 2. Bitcoin Cash usually name Bitcoin as "Bitcoin Core" in many clients and websites that they own/partnered with to misdirect newbies into buying Bitcoin Cash instead of Bitcoins. Also, they are claiming that Bitcoin was classic and "old" version of Bitcoin.
  But now the issues has been ceasing~ish.
  

[joniboini]

I could have just "googled" it but i need more answers. in English (for noobies, beginners, dummies) please.

Google will give you at least 5 pages full of description & links about Bitcoin Core. I think that's more than enough even though you're a newbie. See links in the #2 post? It will show up on Google.

Maybe you can improve your Googling skills too.

[jademaxsuy]

You also need to know what is full nodes and you can learn in this site https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#what-is-a-full-node which will help you learn and what is the purpose of running a full node (there are volunteers who run a full node). Bitcoin core will synchronize the information of transactions to validate each transactions and blocks.

[bitmover]

Just to add something to the discussion:

Bitcoin core's first version was made by Satoshi nakamoto  However it's not "the official" wallet, as there is no such thing in bitcoin.

[UserU]

Some sites identify BTC as Bitcoin Core to distinguish it from its forks. I guess that's true?

[o_e_l_e_o]

Some sites identify BTC as Bitcoin Core to distinguish it from its forks. I guess that's true?

The only site I know of which does this is bitcoin.com, which is well known as a shilling site for Bitcoin Cash (BCH), owned by the scammer Roger Ver. It does this purposefully to confuse newbies who don't understand the distinction, and tries to lure them in to buying the scam coin that is Bitcoin Cash (BCH) thinking they are buying real bitcoin (BTC). The actual website you want to visit is www.bitcoin.org.

Are there other sites perpetuating this nonsense?

[socks435]

He is not clear if what Bitcoin core his talking about.

There is a bitcoin core which is altcoin or fork of bitcoin if he is talking about an altcoin then there are some video can explain what is Bitcoin Core is.

This video may explain what is Bitcoin core is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF9zTCol8b4

But if he is talking about the bitcoin core client or a wallet for bitcoin then  the 2nd post of this thread is the right sources where you can find what is Bitcoin core exactly.

[Velkro]

Hi Everyone,

Straight to the point as the subject says "What exactly is Bitcoin Core?". Newbie here. Exploring the wonders of cryptocurrency.
I could have just "googled" it but i need more answers. in English (for noobies, beginners, dummies) please.


Thanks. Appreciate your help.

Bitcoin core is just first software that has wallet capabilities in bitcoin history. Developers around the world joined this project as developing bitcoin itself.
So its just original Bitcoin software. Bitcoin core is same as Bitcoin.
People trying say otherwise trying to promote altcoins that imitating bitcoin.

[figmentofmyass]

Bitcoin Core is the software which allows bitcoin to function.

to be fair, it's the reference implementation, but it doesn't allow bitcoin to function. libbitcoin and other full node implementations have existed since 2011. at this point, the bitcoin network is already functioning and core is merely compatible with it. in theory, all bitcoin core nodes could shut down today and the bitcoin network would still be functioning because of all compatible alternative implementations.

in my view, bitcoin core carries authority because it's so widely adopted. but it's important to note that "the bitcoin network" is much more robust and rationally self-serving than merely following whatever bitcoin core does.

[UserU]

The only site I know of which does this is bitcoin.com, which is well known as a shilling site for Bitcoin Cash (BCH), owned by the scammer Roger Ver. It does this purposefully to confuse newbies who don't understand the distinction, and tries to lure them in to buying the scam coin that is Bitcoin Cash (BCH) thinking they are buying real bitcoin (BTC). The actual website you want to visit is www.bitcoin.org.

Are there other sites perpetuating this nonsense?

Well, here's one example from Coinpot (faucet).

[o_e_l_e_o]

Merchants who support Bitcoin Cash sometimes also state Bitcoin as "Bitcoin Core" or "Bitcoin (Legacy)"

I think that's even worse. Legacy implies it is no longer supported or being developed. What a con.

-snip-

You are correct, of course, but given that OP said he had Googled for answers and was still confused, and the Wikipedia page for Bitcoin Core talks about reference implementations in its first line, I figured it was safe to assume OP didn't really understand what that meant. Also, give that Bitcoin Core currently makes up >96% of all nodes, I thought I would just try to keep things simple.