2008: The birth of an idea
On October 31, 2008, a person or group under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto publishes the famous whitepaper: "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System."
Proposes a decentralized digital currency, without intermediaries, based on blockchain.
2009: The first block
On January 3, 2009, the genesis block of Bitcoin is mined, officially starting the network.
First message inscribed in the blockchain: "The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks."
2010: The first real payment
In May 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz buys two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins, valued at that time at about $41.
Today those pizzas would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
This day is celebrated as Bitcoin Pizza Day.
2011-2013: First exchanges and expansion
Bitcoin reaches parity with the dollar in 2011.
Starts to be used in places like Silk Road (improper market), which brings both notoriety and legal issues.
The first exchanges like Mt. Gox appear.
2017: The first major boom
Bitcoin first reaches $20,000 in December 2017.
It becomes a global media sensation.
Serious discussion about cryptocurrencies begins in banks, governments, and investment funds.
2020-2021: The institutionalization
Large companies like Tesla, MicroStrategy, and Square buy Bitcoin for their treasury.
The first Bitcoin ETFs are approved in the United States and Canada.
Bitcoin reaches its all-time high of nearly $69,000 in November 2021.
2022-2023: Drops and resilience
After the collapse of projects like Terra/Luna and platforms like FTX, Bitcoin suffers a significant drop.
Despite everything, the network remains secure, operating without interruptions.
2024-2025: New growth and halving
In 2024 a new halving occurs (reduction of the reward for mined block), decreasing the issuance of new Bitcoins.
Signs of new institutional interest, development in decentralized finance, and asset tokenization in Bitcoin begin to emerge.
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