The Bitcoin community is commemorating the 17th anniversary of a foundational moment in cryptocurrency history: cypherpunk and Bitcoin pioneer Hal Finney's January 10, 2009, post announcing "Running Bitcoin." This simple declaration marked the first publicly known instance of the Bitcoin node software operating beyond its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Finney was not only an early adopter but also the recipient of the first-ever Bitcoin transaction, receiving 10 BTC from Satoshi Nakamoto as a test of the network's functionality. At current prices, that transfer is valued at over $900,500, though its historical significance far outweighs its monetary value.
Born May 4, 1956, Hal Finney had a distinguished career in computer science and cryptography. He was among the first to respond to Satoshi Nakamoto's publication of the Bitcoin whitepaper in late 2008 and became a key early collaborator. His deep involvement and correspondence with Satoshi have fueled persistent speculation that Finney himself might have been Bitcoin's anonymous creator.
This speculation was reignited in 2024 with the HBO documentary series Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, which claimed to uncover Nakamoto's identity. Proponents of the "Finney is Satoshi" theory point to his cryptographic expertise, early involvement, and status as the first BTC recipient.
However, compelling counter-evidence exists. Bitcoin developer Laszlo Hanyecz, famous for the first commercial Bitcoin transaction (10,000 BTC for two pizzas), noted that Satoshi appeared unfamiliar with Apple's Mac OS. Finney and his wife were known Mac users. Furthermore, Jameson Lopp, co-founder of Casa, presented evidence in 2023 based on an email exchange between Satoshi and another developer that occurred while Finney was running a marathon. The final email was sent just minutes before Finney crossed the finish line, a timeline Lopp argues is decisive proof that Finney was not Satoshi.
Hal Finney passed away in 2014 at age 58 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His 2009 post remains a cornerstone of Bitcoin lore, symbolizing the moment the decentralized peer-to-peer network began its journey into the world.
