1. The mysterious creator of Bitcoin: Satoshi Nakamoto
Bitcoin was born in 2008 with the publication of a whitepaper titled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System" by someone (or something) known as Satoshi Nakamoto. This pseudonym has sparked one of the greatest intrigues of the digital age. Here are the juiciest details:
The whitepaper that changed everything: On October 31, 2008, Satoshi published the foundational document of Bitcoin on a cryptography mailing list. In just nine pages, he described a decentralized system for transactions without intermediaries, something revolutionary at the time. The whitepaper remains a must-read for any crypto enthusiast.
Satoshi's activity: Between 2008 and 2011, Satoshi was active in forums like Bitcointalk, collaborating with other developers to refine the Bitcoin protocol. He sent emails, shared ideas, and even mined the first blocks (including the genesis block, the first of the blockchain). However, in April 2011, Satoshi disappeared after an email stating that he was "moving on to other things" and that Bitcoin was in good hands.
Theories about his identity: No one knows who Satoshi is. Some theories point to:
Individuals: Names like Hal Finney (the first recipient of a Bitcoin transaction), Nick Szabo (creator of the smart contracts concept), or Dorian Nakamoto (a Japanese-American engineer) have been speculated, but all have denied it.
Groups: Some believe that Satoshi is a team, possibly linked to government agencies or tech companies, given the level of sophistication of Bitcoin's code.
2. The first purchase with Bitcoin: Bitcoin Pizza Day
On May 22, 2010, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz made history by completing the first commercial transaction with Bitcoin, buying two pizzas from Papa John’s for 10,000 BTC. This event, known as "Bitcoin Pizza Day," is an iconic milestone in the history of cryptocurrencies. Here is the full story:
The context: In 2010, Bitcoin was a nerd experiment with no real value. There were no exchanges or established prices; the first users mined BTC with their personal computers. Laszlo, an enthusiast from Florida, wanted to prove that Bitcoin could be used as real money. On May 18, he posted on the Bitcointalk forum: “I will pay 10,000 BTC for a couple of pizzas… like 2 large so I have leftovers.”
The transaction: Jeremy Sturdivant, known as “Jercos” on the forum, accepted the deal. Laszlo transferred 10,000 BTC, and Jeremy ordered two pizzas from Papa John’s for delivery. The pizzas cost about $25 USD at that time. Imagine paying $25 for something that today would be worth over $600 million (at $60,000 per BTC)!
The impact: This transaction was the first proof that Bitcoin could be used to purchase real goods, laying the groundwork for its adoption. Although Laszlo spent a fortune in retrospect, his action helped legitimize Bitcoin and inspire others to use it.
Interesting facts:
Laszlo was not sad about his “loss.” In interviews, he has said that he is proud to have contributed to the history of Bitcoin and that the pizzas were delicious.
It was not a direct purchase: Laszlo sent the BTC to Jeremy, who paid for the pizzas with his credit card.
The pizzas were probably pepperoni, according to speculation on forums.
Bitcoin Pizza Day is celebrated every May 22 with events, discounts at pizzerias, and memes in the crypto community.
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