It's been 17 years since the first Bitcoin website launched.
Exactly 17 years ago, Bitcoin.org launched online—the first official resource introducing the Bitcoin (BTC) cryptocurrency project to the world. It marked the beginning of the decentralized digital currency, which forever changed the way we think about money and trust online. Its pages published a document titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,” which became the manifesto for a new financial era.
At the time, the project was experimental, and its creator used the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The first versions of the client, installation instructions, and a description of the network's operating principles were posted on Bitcoin.org. The system offered a revolutionary solution to the double-spending problem using proof-of-work (PoW) technology and a distributed ledger.
The website also published information about the block reward and the supply cap of 21 million BTC. Early users were able to generate coins directly on their computers, and transactions were conducted between enthusiasts, testing the network's reliability. The client interface was minimalist: a window with a balance, a list of transfers, and the ability to send funds to an IP address or Bitcoin address.
Since then, Bitcoin has come a long way: from a small group of developers to a global financial phenomenon with a market capitalization in the trillions of dollars. However, the fundamental principles laid out on the first website remain unchanged: decentralization, open source code, and freedom of transactions without intermediaries.
Bitcoin.org retains its archival value, and its original pages have become part of digital history. For the community, this site is more than just a resource; it symbolizes the dawn of a new era of financial independence. According to archival materials, the first version of Bitcoin, v0.1, was released on January 8, 2009, two months after the whitepaper was published. This release marked the beginning of the blockchain, mining, and the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Source: cryptonews.net
