Glossary

Bitcoin Core

2 min read

Bitcoin Core is the reference implementation for the Bitcoin source code, meaning all other implementations look to Bitcoin Core for guidance on maintaining consensus and upgrading. This is where most users go to download the source code.

Bitcoin Core provides software for both a node and a wallet, although most users prefer to use Bitcoin Core for its node and use third party software for their wallet. There are alternatives to Bitcoin Core’s node software, but Core is the dominant implementation. Anyone wishing to download Bitcoin’s software and run a node can access Bitcoin Core via their website or their GitHub page.

Bitcoin Core was created by Satoshi Nakamoto, and although ownership has been passed down and many upgrades have been added to the project, the latest version and Satoshi’s original version are still compatible.

Bitcoin Core is an open source project. This means that anyone can copy the source code and edit it as they see fit. If a developer wants to improve Bitcoin, they can publish the changes they have made and propose that their changes be included in Bitcoin Core. Many developers choose to contribute to Bitcoin Core through code, review, and discussion. However, there is no authoritative entity that pays developers to work for Bitcoin Core. Instead, Bitcoin companies and individuals partially fund these developers through donations and grants.

Related Terms
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the world’s first decentralized digital currency that operates without a central authority and has a scarce supply. Bitcoin uses a peer-to-peer network, meaning no permission or middle man is required to send, store, or receive bitcoin.
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Consensus
Consensus is the ideal and the method of coordination between individuals in a decentralized system. Consensus is achieved at the development level with regards to changes to the Bitcoin protocol, and it is also achieved with regards to agreement on the state of the blockchain.
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Open Source
Open-source describes a project whose source code is publicly available and licensed such that individuals can use and alter the source code freely.
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Bitcoin Node
A node is a discrete member of a network which interacts with other nodes to form the network. Bitcoin nodes store and validate the blockchain and exchange blocks and transactions with one another in order to maintain consensus.
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Wallet
A wallet is a piece of software which generates and stores public and private keys, allowing users to send, receive, and store bitcoin.
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