TLDR:
- On January 12, 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto sent 10 BTC to Hal Finney as a proof of concept.
- Those 10 BTC, initially valueless, are worth over $900,000 today.
- Satoshi’s legacy is honored with a statue at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
On this day, exactly 17 years ago, the first Bitcoin transaction occurred on a peer-to-peer (P2P) basis. On that January 12th, just a few days after the network’s launch, the pseudonymous creator of the cryptocurrency, Satoshi Nakamoto, sent 10 BTC to cryptographer Hal Finney, proving that decentralized digital money was a functional reality and not just an academic theory.
The operation, permanently recorded on the blockchain under the identifier “f418…9e16,” had no market value at the time; it was a simple experiment.
However, 17 years later, those same 10 BTC represent a fortune of approximately $903,700. This growth highlights the evolution of a niche software project into a global asset with a market capitalization hovering around $1.8 trillion.
Nakamoto’s Legacy: From an Experiment to the New York Stock Exchange
The significance of the first Bitcoin transaction has transcended the technical realm to become a cultural and economic phenomenon. As proof of its institutional acceptance, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) recently installed a statue of Satoshi Nakamoto, sculpted by artist Valentina Picozzi.
This monument joins others already standing in countries such as El Salvador, Switzerland, Japan, and Vietnam, solidifying the figure of Bitcoin’s creator as an icon of modern innovation.
Beyond institutional recognition, individuals with high IQs, such as YoungHoon Kim, have hailed Nakamoto as one of the most brilliant minds in history due to the disruptive impact of his creation.
The immutability of the network allows any user today, nearly two decades later, to verify that original transfer to Hal Finney, reaffirming the principles of transparency that define the sector.
In summary, as Bitcoin continues to thrive within the traditional financial industry, the anniversary of the first Bitcoin transaction serves as a reminder that the greatest monetary revolution of the 21st century began with a simple transfer of 10 digital coins over the internet.
