History - Blockchain 101

Origins and Evolution

Bitcoin Creation (2008-2009):

• Satoshi Nakamoto (an anonymous person/group) releases the Bitcoin whitepaper on the Cypherpunk mailing list

• First Bitcoin software distributed, first transaction to software developer Hal Finney

• Early discussions on BitcoinTalk forum

Market Evolution Phases

• 2008-2010 (Cypherpunks): Satoshi releases whitepaper and first software

• 2011-2013 (First Trading): Bitcoin’s first “bubble” and emergence of altcoins

• 2014-2016 (“Blockchain, Not Bitcoin”): Focus on blockchain technology applications; Ethereum Blockchain launches with smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps)

• 2017 (The Big Bubble): Mainstream awareness, ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) drive startup creation, and Ethereum growth

• 2018-2019 (Infrastructure): Infrastructure gaps identified during the bubble

• 2020-2021 (The Great Bull Run): Institutional adoption, DeFi (Decentralized Finance) ecosystem achieves explosive growth, stablecoins are introduced, NFTs go mainstream

• 2022-2023 (FTX Meltdown): Market corrections, Terra Luna & FTX create contagion and “Operation Choke Point 2.0” hits industry

• 2024 (Bitcoin on the Ballot): Bitcoin (BTC) & Ethereum (ETH) ETFs are approved by SEC and there is a political embrace of crypto

• 2025 & Beyond: Bitcoin treasures hit the scene, regulatory clarity driving further adoption, stablecoins become mainstream