Bitcoin (BTC) is described in a whitepaper
November 1, 2008
A whitepaper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” is published on the cryptography mailing list at metzdowd.com. It solves the double-spending problem for digital currency using a peer-to-peer network. A mysterious Japanese figure known as Satoshi Nakamoto claims to have written the whitepaper.
Read moreGenesis block is mined
January 3, 2009
The first Bitcoin block – known as the “Genesis block” – is mined. It enables the first version of Bitcoin to be released. By the year 2140, it will have generated precisely 21 million BTC.
Read moreThe first Bitcoin transaction occurs
January 12, 2009
Hal Finney, a developer and cryptographic activist, received 10 BTC from Satoshi Nakamoto himself. It was the first transaction between two individual computers using Bitcoin.
Read moreThe first exchange rate for BTC is established
October 5, 2009
Someone under the name New Liberty Standard establishes a BTC exchange rate on the Bitcoin forum. The rate is set at 1,309.03 BTC for one US dollar, calculated using an equation that factors in the electricity costs of mining BTC on a computer.
Read moreThe first BTC to USD transaction takes place
October 12, 2009
Martti Malmi (a.k.a. Sirius), a software developer from Finland, sells 5,050 BTC for just $5.02 to NewLibertyStandard. The transaction takes place using PayPal. You can learn more about this transaction here.
Read moreThe first real-world transaction with BTC takes place
May 22, 2010
A Hungarian-born software architect from Florida, Laszlo Hanecz, spends 10,000 BTC to buy two pizzas.
Read moreBitcoin is featured on Slashdot
July 11, 2010
The release of Bitcoin version 0.3 is featured on slashdot.org, a popular news and technology website. Reaching a large audience of technophiles, the article brings many new people on board. That drives the exchange value of a single Bitcoin up nearly tenfold, from approximately $0.008 to $0.08 in just five days.
Read moreMt. Gox is established
July 17, 2010
Programmer Jed McCaleb launches an exchange market allowing people to trade BTC for regular (fiat) currencies. In the following years, this exchange would handle over 70 percent of all BTC transactions worldwide.
Read moreBitcoin market cap reaches US$1 million
November 6, 2010
By multiplying the number of BTC at that time with the price of one BTC (which now exceeds $0.50), the total market cap grows to over US$1 million for the first time.
Read moreThe Silk Road opens for business
January 1, 2011
The Silk Road is the first Bitcoin marketplace that allows people to buy and sell drugs online anonymously (and illegally) using BTC.
Read moreThe first vehicle is offered in exchange for BTC
February 14, 2011
A man from Australia offers to sell his 1984 Celica Supra for 3,000 BTC.
Read more“The Good Wife” airs “Bitcoin for Dummies” TV episode
December 19, 2011
The Good Wife – which explores the relationship between technology and the law – becomes the first major TV show to air a Bitcoin-themed episode. About 9.45 million viewers watch the episode, giving Bitcoin massive exposure. For more TV shows about Bitcoin, click here: TV Shows About Cryptocurrency
Read moreBitcoin Magazine launches
February 27, 2012
Bitcoin Magazine is launched by Mihai Alisie and Vitalik Buterin, the creator of Ethereum. It serves as the first specialized source of news, information, and expert commentary on Bitcoin, blockchain technology, and digital currencies. The first issue is published in May, 2012.
Read moreBitcoin blockchain forks
March 12, 2013
At block 225430, Bitcoin’s blockchain literally splits into two, with one half of the network adding blocks to one version of the chain, and the other half adding to the other. The split lasts for 24 blocks or 6 hours, finally resolving itself when one version of the chain conclusively pulls ahead of the other at block 225454, leaving the other chain largely abandoned.
Read moreFirst episode of Let’s Talk Bitcoin airs
March 17, 2013
Adam B. Levine joins Let’s Talk Bitcoin co-hosts Stephanie Murphy and Andreas Antonopoulos to provide current news, topical interviews, and studied analysis of the market.
Read moreMarket capitalization reaches US$1 billion
March 28, 2013
Bitcoin’s price increases 152 percent in a month, and the combined value of all BTC in circulation surpasses US$1 billion. The milestone comes as the total number of BTC nears 11 million. This represents a huge jump from the previous record value of $32, recorded just one month before.
Read moreThe first Bitcoin ATM opens
October 29, 2013
The world’s first Bitcoin ATM opens in Vancouver, Canada. The machine exchanges BTC for cash and vice-versa, using palm and ID scans for security purposes.
Read moreMt. Gox closes its website and exchange tradings
February 24, 2014
The Japanese-based Mt. Gox exchange falls victim to a massive cyber attack, leading to its bankruptcy. Mt. Gox loses about 740,000 BTC, meaning that approximately six percent of the 12.4 million Bitcoins currently in circulation are considered missing.
Read moreBitcoin reaches its all-time high price
December 18, 2017
Bitcoin’s historic price run reaches its peak on December 18, 2017, when it stops just short of US$20,000.
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