Satoshi's Bitcoin Whitepaper Turns 17: From Cypherpunk Rebellion to Wall Street Staple

Seventeen years after its publication, Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin whitepaper has transformed Bitcoin from a digital experiment into a $2 trillion asset accepted by mainstream institutions and government leaders. The whitepaper, released on October 31, 2008, aimed to create a decentralized financial system without reliance on intermediaries. Despite its success, Bitcoin faces challenges including declining transaction fees and internal disputes over network governance. The financialization of Bitcoin through ETFs has drawn comparisons to past asset price booms, but some early Bitcoin proponents argue this evolution has strayed from its foundational ethos of decentralization. Key crypto figures, including former President Trump and Larry Fink, have shifted from skepticism to advocacy, reflecting Bitcoin's widespread acceptance. However, ongoing concerns about network sustainability and the impact of quantum computing on security pose significant questions for Bitcoin's future as a medium of exchange.

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