January 3, 2009.
Seventeen years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto mined the first block in Bitcoin’s blockchain — the Genesis Block.
This marked the transition
from a theoretical proposal
to a live, functioning monetary system.
Embedded in the Genesis Block is the following message:
“The Times 03/Jan/2009
Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks”
The Genesis Block reflects the conditions that made Bitcoin necessary.
The Genesis Block is structurally unique.
– It has no predecessor
– Its block reward cannot be spent
– It was not issued by any institution or authority
It exists as an immutable starting point —
the foundation of the entire Bitcoin system.
Bitcoin began with a public record of monetary failure
and responded with an alternative based on:
– Transparency
– Rules, not discretion
– Decentralization by design
