$BTC In 2011, the Silk Road marketplace launched, using Bitcoin for anonymous transactions. This controversial platform, operating on the dark web, showcased Bitcoin’s ability to enable private, borderless payments. While Silk Road’s illegal activities drew scrutiny, it highlighted Bitcoin’s unique value: censorship-resistant money. The site’s use of Bitcoin brought early attention to the cryptocurrency, attracting users who valued privacy and decentralization. Though Silk Road was shut down in 2013, its impact on Bitcoin’s early adoption was undeniable, proving the currency’s real-world utility. This chapter in Bitcoin’s origin story, though contentious, underscored its potential to disrupt traditional financial systems and sparked debates about its role in society.