Fifteen years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto left the Bitcointalk forum with his last public post, marking a pivotal moment in the early days of Bitcoin. At that time, Bitcoin was worth just a few cents and had an uncertain future. Today, its price is trading at around $90,070, representing a 145.6 million percent increase since inception.
The project’s decentralized nature played a crucial role in its success. Adam Back, a British cryptographer, invented Hashcash, which formed the basis of Bitcoin’s proof-of-work system. After Nakamoto’s departure, developers like Gavin Andresen took on leadership roles, coordinating code changes and network upgrades. This approach reduced the risk of any one person gaining excessive power over time.
In recent years, Bitcoin has become a widely accepted institutional asset, traded through regulated ETFs, referenced by central banks, and debated in boardrooms. Strategy’s executive chairman Michael Saylor views Bitcoin as “a fixed rule set that no one can change or manipulate,” treating it as a long-term treasury reserve to protect against currency debasement.
The creation of digital asset treasuries (DATs) has led to over 80 DATs in the market, including Tesla and BitMine Immersion Technologies. Crypto exchanges have become publicly listed companies, and custody solutions have improved. Derivatives markets have expanded, and Bitcoin trading is now integrated into traditional financial systems.
The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs has increased investor access, with cumulative net inflows reaching $57.85 billion. However, some experts argue that the four-year cycle of Bitcoin may no longer hold true due to institutional interest in the digital asset market.
Source: https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/cryptocurrency/bitcoin_looks_nothing_like_satoshi_disappeared_years_ago/cLICqbfRE8a