Early Bitcoin Pioneer Remembered as Speculation Around Satoshi Nakamoto Continues1
Bitcoin supporters around the world are commemorating the 17th anniversary of Hal Finney’s historic Bitcoin post, a moment widely regarded as one of the earliest public milestones in the network’s history. Finney’s brief message in January 2009 signaled that Bitcoin was no longer just a whitepaper, but a functioning peer-to-peer system.
On January 10, 2009, Hal Finney shared a now-famous update stating that he was running the Bitcoin node software. This message confirmed that Bitcoin’s code was live and operational just days after the network’s launch. Finney also became the recipient of the first-ever Bitcoin transaction, receiving 10 BTC directly from Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
“Running Bitcoin,” Finney said on X;
At today’s prices, that initial transaction would be worth over $900,000, underscoring how foundational Finney’s role was in Bitcoin’s early development. A respected cryptographer and long-time cypherpunk, Finney was among the first to engage directly with Nakamoto after the release of the Bitcoin whitepaper.
Because of this close interaction, Finney has long been the subject of speculation surrounding the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. Supporters of the theory point to his cryptographic expertise, early involvement, and proximity to Bitcoin’s creation. However, counterevidence has steadily challenged that narrative.
Technical details from developer correspondence, operating system usage, and timestamped emails suggest that Finney and Satoshi were separate individuals. Additional analysis has shown Finney was engaged in unrelated activities during periods when Nakamoto was actively communicating online.
Finney passed away in 2014 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but his legacy remains central to Bitcoin’s origin story. His 2009 post continues to symbolize the moment Bitcoin transitioned from theory into a decentralized, living network.
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