Bitcoin turns 18: Has the original rebel grown up?
In typical Bitcoin style, the number one cryptocurrency turns 18 today, amid AI-driven security threats, quantum fears and the biggest exchange hack in crypto history.
Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency, turned 18 years old today, amid a backdrop of AI-driven security threats, quantum computing fears, and the largest exchange hack in crypto history. Created in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin was born out of a desire to bypass traditional financial institutions and provide trustless financial transactions.
The whitepaper, "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System," was posted to a cryptography mailing list on October 31, 2008. In 2010, the first recorded Bitcoin transaction occurred when developer Laszlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 BTC, a moment now known as Bitcoin Pizza Day. The value of those early coins would be worth approximately $780 million at today's prices.
Despite its tumultuous history, Bitcoin continues to face challenges, such as the fallout from the $6.3 billion Binance hack and concerns over quantum computing and AI-related cyber threats. Its future remains uncertain as it navigates the complexities of adulthood in the ever-evolving world of finance and technology.
Written by urgent.news from Cointelegraph's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
