Chapter · Master Bitcoin
The origin story
In October 2008, someone using the name Satoshi Nakamoto published a short paper titled 'Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System'. It described money that people could send directly to each other without a bank in the middle. In January 2009 the software launched and the very first block was mined. To this day no one knows for sure who Satoshi really is, and they stepped away from public view around 2011.
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What you get asked
Who published the Bitcoin whitepaper in 2008?
The name attached to the whitepaper is Satoshi Nakamoto. Whether that is one person or a group has never been confirmed.
Put these early Bitcoin milestones in order
Bitcoin went from idea to running network in a few months, then grew on its own as its creator quietly stepped back.
The very first Bitcoin block ever mined is known as the ___ block.
Block zero is called the genesis block. It even carried a hidden news headline about bank bailouts, a nod to why Bitcoin was created.
Why did the timing of Bitcoin's launch feel meaningful?
Bitcoin launched amid the 2008 financial crisis. The genesis block even embedded a newspaper headline about bank bailouts, hinting at the motivation.
What is true about Satoshi Nakamoto's identity today?
Despite many guesses and claims, Satoshi's real identity has never been proven. Bitcoin now runs without any founder in charge.
The rest of this chapter
Learn what Bitcoin is, how it works, and how ordinary people buy, hold, and secure it safely.