Fourteen years ago, the enigmatic mastermind Satoshi Nakamoto made history by unveiling Bitcoin 0.1, the first version of the software that is now known as Bitcoin Core.
Although it wasn’t widely accepted at first, this small code has imprinted a permanent mark on tech and finance.
On Jan. 8, 2009, the yet-unknown Nakamoto published a paper on a cryptography mailing list outlining Bitcoin’s characteristics. He described it as an electronic payment system based on cryptographic proof instead of trust or centralized authorities.
The ensuing years were marked by immense difficulty in the adoption and understanding of this innovation. However, against all odds, Bitcoin and other altcoins prevailed.
Since its inception 14 years ago, both established businesses and tech startups have adopted this pioneering protocol worldwide, launching products utilizing tokenization, smart contracts, or other applications built upon blockchain, the technology that underpins Bitcoin.
What started as an obscure piece of software was eventually embraced by major corporations and even governments around the world who suddenly saw its potential for organizations and individuals alike.
As with any new invention, it may take some time for us to fully grasp the ramifications for society and culture. Nonetheless, Satoshi’s creation continues to have a transformative impact in its own right.
