Bitcoin has come a long way since its inception in 2009. Some of the most influential figures in the cryptocurrency’s history had a unique vision of a decentralized, secure digital currency. From building the Bitcoin network to creating powerful companies that are driving innovation to making governments recognize the need for regulation and transparency in the sector, these nine people have helped make Bitcoin what it is today. In this article, we feature the pioneers who shaped the world of cryptocurrency from 2009 to 2017.
I. Overview of Bitcoin Pioneers: 2009-2017
The rise of Bitcoin and its technology over the past decade has been nothing short of astounding. Beginning back in 2009, Bitcoin’s journey of becoming the world’s premier digital currency has gone from the hands of a few innovators to gaining mass acceptance from the general public.
Here are some of the major players that got Bitcoin off the ground in its early days (roughly 2009-2017):
- Satoshi Nakomoto: The real identity of the individual(s) behind the ‘invention’ of Bitcoin and its underlying technology, the blockchain, is still unknown. What is known is that they used the pseudonym ‘Satoshi Nakomoto’, who is credited with building the foundations of the Bitcoin protocol.
- Gavin Andresen: After the fall of Nakomoto, the project was headed up by developer Gavin Andresen. He is responsible for numerous key technological advancements, such as multi-sign transaction, blocksize expansion and bitcoin script.
- Wladimir J. van der Laan: Andresen stepped down in 2014 as Bitcoin Core lead maintainer, with software engineer Wladimir J. van der Laan taking the mantle. He has overseen the roll out of Bitcoin Core and ongoing development of the blockchain protocol, such as optimizing and streamlining numerous features.
- Jeff Garzik: An open source software developer who started off developing code for bitcoin mining, Garzik was involved in the development of several significant Bitcoin Core enhancements, such as the payment protocol, full support for multisig transactions and DDoS protection.
- Andreas M. Antonopoulos: The world-renowned Bitcoin advocate, Andreas M. Antonopoulos has consulted with numerous businesses and organizations on blockchain technology and has given countless talks on Bitcoin around the world.
These technologists and thought leaders have been instrumental in driving the advancement of Bitcoin technology since its inception, and their contributions will have a lasting impact on the digital currency landscape.
II. Satoshi Nakamoto: The Creator of Bitcoin
The Enigmatic and Incomprehensible Identity of Satoshi
The creator of Bitcoin and its underlying technology, the blockchain, is to this day a mysterious figure. Operating under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, this person or persons is responsible for the revolutionary technology that underpins the cryptocurrency boom and has radically altered the fate of traditional methods of conducting financial transactions. Despite extensive research, Nakamoto’s true identity has never been established, and a subsequent years-long search has led to a certain degree of frustration among market analysts.
Nakamoto’s impact on the cryptocurrency arena is unrivaled. His Bitcoin whitepaper, published in May 2008, outlined the foundational principles by which cryptocurrencies operate and detailed the basic infrastructure of the new system. On January 3rd 2009, the first Bitcoin block was mined and the network went live. Following an extensive testing period, Bitcoin was made available to the public in early 2009 with Nakamoto amassing an estimated fortune of nearly one million Bitcoin. Since then, Bitcoin has grown exponentially, recently hitting an all-time-high of over $60,000.
- Satoshi Nakamoto is the pseudonym used by the creator of Bitcoin
- Nakamoto is responsible for the revolutionary technology that underpins the cryptocurrency boom
- The true identity of Nakamoto has never been established
- Nakamoto published a Bitcoin whitepaper in May 2008 outlining the foundational principles of cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin went live in January 2009 and has grown exponentially since
III. Roger Ver: The Bitcoin Investor & Advocate
Roger Ver: The Bitcoin Investor & Advocate
Roger Ver is known as one of the earliest and most vocal advocates of Bitcoin. Known as “Bitcoin Jesus” due to his passionate evangelism of cryptocurrency, Ver has spent the past decade promoting Bitcoin and its potential applications in finance and worldwide commerce.
Ver was instrumental in introducing the decentralized currency to mainstream conversations. Early on, he saw Bitcoin’s potential as a tool for financial freedom, and he actively shared his enthusiasm with the world. He grew his own investments in the asset, becoming a major early benefactor, and he used his newfound wealth to further Bitcoin’s adoption. In 2011, he launched MemoryDealers.com, one of the earliest businesses to accept Bitcoin as payment. His investments in the cryptocurrency space also include his successful launch of Bitcoin.com, an information hub offering a suite of tools and services dedicated to Bitcoin users, and Bitcoin advocate and investor website, Invest in Blockchain.
Ver has a vision to bring the world’s unbanked population into the digital economy, and to give them the freedom to transact and build wealth using blockchain technology. He is a leader in the cryptocurrency space and continues to push for broad adoption of Bitcoin and other digital currencies. He also founded Bitcoin.com and the Bitcoin Foundation, his two biggest projects which have created countless opportunities in the industry.
IV. Erik Voorhees: The Bitcoin Entrepreneur
Erik Voorhees is one of the most vocal advocates of Bitcoin and has been working in the cryptocurrency space since 2011. He is the co-founder of Coinapult and the founder of Coinprism.com, a colored coins wallet. Voorhees is an active spokesperson for Bitcoin, often seen talking Bitcoin on various television shows and at Bitcoin events around the world.
Voorhees first gained notoriety when he courageously argued his case against the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2014. The SEC was charging him with “willfully” selling unregistered securities. He was eventually able to settle that case and was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. This event prompted many Bitcoiners to launch a crowdfunding campaign to repay the fine.
Currently, Voorhees is the CEO of ShapeShift.io, a company that provides a secure and convenient way for customers to swap between digital assets. Voorhees is also sitting on the board of advisor for the Bitcoin Foundation, a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving, researching, and supporting the development of Bitcoin and its ecosystem.
- Coinapult – co-founder
- Coinprism.com – founder
- ShapeShift.io – CEO
- Bitcoin Foundation – board of advisors
From Satoshi Nakamoto to Vitalik Buterin, these nine bitcoin pioneers have been essential to shaping the cryptocurrency from its start to where it is today. Their individual contributions have played a huge part in shaping the evolving blockchain technology. What will be next for the cryptocurrency and blockchain sphere remains to be seen, but as of now, these nine pioneers have heavily marked the path of progress within the cryptocurrency industry.