From genesis block to first transaction — January 2009
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January 2009 — Key Events
3 January 2009
The Genesis Block
Satoshi Nakamoto mines block 0, launching the Bitcoin network.
Satoshi Nakamoto mined block 0, launching the Bitcoin network. Embedded message: "The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks." This critiqued the 2008 financial crisis bailouts and timestamped the creation. Reward: 50 BTC (unspendable).
Satoshi announces the first open-source Bitcoin software on the cryptography mailing list.
Satoshi announced the first open-source Bitcoin software on the cryptography mailing list. It was uploaded to SourceForge. Description: A peer-to-peer electronic cash system with no central authority, solving double-spending via proof-of-work.
11 January 2009
Early Adopter Joins
Hal Finney tweets "Running bitcoin" — one of the very first public acknowledgments.
Hal Finney (cypherpunk & PGP pioneer) tweeted "Running bitcoin" — one of the very first public acknowledgments. He began testing the software and corresponding with Satoshi.
12 January 2009
First Bitcoin Transaction
Satoshi sends 10 BTC to Hal Finney in block 170 — the first peer-to-peer transfer of value.
Satoshi sent 10 BTC to Hal Finney (block 170). This historic transfer proved Bitcoin could move value peer-to-peer. Value at the time? Effectively $0 — it was pure experimentation.
Rest of January 2009
Quiet Experimentation
Satoshi mines early blocks solo, fixes bugs, and corresponds with early testers.
Satoshi mined early blocks solo, fixed bugs, and emailed with early testers like Hal. No markets, no price, no hype — just a tiny network of cryptography enthusiasts testing a radical idea.