17 years since Satoshi Nakamoto released v0.1 at the moment of Bitcoin's birth

mev_me_maybe · 2026-01-21T16:13:21+00:00

The release of Bitcoin client v0.1 by Satoshi Nakamoto on January 17, 2009, marked the start of the cryptocurrency industry, enabling anyone to run independent nodes and participate in the decentralized Bitcoin network, showcasing its core principles.

mev_me_maybe

2026-01-21 16:13:21

Abstract generation in progress

On January 17, 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto, known as the founder of Bitcoin, released the alpha version of the Bitcoin client v0.1 to the world. Now, 17 years later, this historic moment is regarded as the true beginning of the cryptocurrency industry. This first release opened the way for anyone to participate in the Bitcoin network from their own computer.

The Beginning of Building the First Node

The most revolutionary feature of Bitcoin v0.1 was that anyone could operate an independent node. Through this client released by Satoshi Nakamoto, individual users could directly participate in the blockchain network. This embodied Bitcoin’s core philosophy of rejecting centralized systems and pursuing true decentralization.

Experimental Features in the Early Version

Looking at the v0.1 source code, an IRC (Internet Relay Chat) client was integrated to streamline message delivery. More interestingly, it even included a framework for creating virtual poker games. These features were designed to allow developers to build various applications on the Bitcoin platform.

Traces of Bitcoin’s Evolution

Over time, Bitcoin has continuously evolved. The virtual poker game framework included in the initial v0.1 was added in the April 16, 2008 version and was completely removed in version 0.8.2. This shows that Bitcoin has been refining itself by focusing on its core function as a currency and removing unnecessary elements. Over the 17-year journey, Bitcoin, started by Satoshi Nakamoto, has become a technology that leads a paradigm shift in the financial system, beyond just a simple cryptocurrency.

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