Vertcoin (VTC) is a peer-to-peer digital asset that strives to maintain its mining functions in a decentralized manner. It is often referred to as 'The People's Coin' due to its objective of allowing anyone with a personal computer to participate in the Vertcoin network. Built on the foundation of Bitcoin, Vertcoin is an open-source GPU Bitcoin variant that mirrors BTC development. It is neither funded nor controlled by any entity, which underscores its decentralized nature. Vertcoin was established as a graphics card mined version of Bitcoin in January 2014 as a response to Litecoin succumbing to ASIC control.

Vertcoin operates on a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, making it resistant to ASIC. It employs its own mining algorithm, Verthash, which is similar to Ethereum's Ethash, meaning GPUs mine competitively. This method strives to ensure maximum distribution of hashrate for security. Vertcoin also features a difficulty adjustment that occurs every block, approximately every 2.5 minutes, as opposed to Bitcoin's two-week adjustment period. The Kimoto Gravity Well algorithm is used for this purpose, which is necessary for a smaller hashrate coin like Vertcoin.

Vertcoin aims to make mining more accessible to the general public. To this end, it has developed a 1-click miner, a program designed to simplify the mining process. This feature could potentially attract individuals interested in participating in the digital asset space without needing extensive technical knowledge or expensive hardware. Furthermore, Vertcoin was one of the first coins to lock in and activate SegWit, a protocol upgrade that seeks to improve the speed and efficiency of transactions.

Vertcoin was established in January 2014 as a response to Litecoin succumbing to ASIC control. The goal was to create a digital asset that could be mined by everyday people using desktop computers, thereby ensuring that the network hashrate is as decentralized as possible. In July 2014, Vertcoin released a wallet supporting Stealth Address transactions. Vertcoin was also one of the first coins to lock in and activate SegWit, which was activated on May 7, 2017. This history reflects Vertcoin's ongoing commitment to decentralization and accessibility in the digital asset space.