Bitcoin history
Milestones from the 2008 white paper to today. Each one links to its primary source: the document, the block or the transaction itself.
2008
The white paper
Satoshi Nakamoto shares “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” on a cryptography mailing list.
bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf2009
Genesis block
The first block of the chain is mined. Its 50 BTC reward can never be spent.
Block 02009
First transaction between two people
Satoshi Nakamoto sends 10 BTC to Hal Finney, confirmed in block 170.
Block 170
Transaction f4184f…9e162010
Two pizzas for 10,000 BTC
Laszlo Hanyecz reports the first known purchase of physical goods with bitcoin.
BitcoinTalk, topic 1372014
Bitcoin-Qt becomes Bitcoin Core
Version 0.9.0 ships under the name the reference software carries today.
Release notes 0.9.02017
Segregated Witness activates
The soft fork that moves signature data out of the transaction ID takes effect at block 481,824.
Block 481,824
BIP 1412021
Taproot activates
Schnorr signatures and Taproot outputs become valid at block 709,632.
Block 709,632
BIP 3412026
Bitcoin Core 31.0
A new major version of the reference implementation is announced on its own site.
bitcoincore.org
