Bitcoin mining is a crucial process in the operation of the Bitcoin network, wherein miners use computational power to solve complex mathematical puzzles and validate transactions on the blockchain. These miners are rewarded with newly minted bitcoins and transaction fees for their efforts. The first block ever mined on the Bitcoin blockchain is known as the Genesis Block, which was created by Satoshi Nakamoto on January 3, 2009, with a reward of 50 bitcoins. Mining has evolved to become a highly competitive industry, with specialised hardware and large-scale operations dominating the space. Concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining due to its high energy consumption, particularly in regions where fossil fuels are prevalent. Additionally, the concept of mining pools has emerged, allowing individual miners to combine their resources and share rewards. Halving events, which occur approximately every four years, reduce the block reward by half, leading to a decrease in the rate of new bitcoin issuance. Despite the potential profitability of mining, it's estimated that a significant amount of mined bitcoins are lost forever due to factors such as lost private keys or inaccessible wallets, contributing to the scarcity of the cryptocurrency.