1/ Born in 1955, Chaum is credited with the invention of several crypto technologies foundational to #Bitcoin.

In fact, he wrote one of the first papers introducing the concept of a blockchain…

All the way back in 1982… 🤯

2/ Chaum’s most famous contribution to #Bitcoin was his paper on Blind Signatures.

It laid the groundwork for all e-cash in the 1990s.

He just had a different view than the cypherpunks, preferring his invention to be centralized and commercialized 😔

Read 14 tweets

The Bitcoin Historian

@pete_rizzo_

Aug 18

The Bitcoin miner who vanished without a trace.

A thread 🧵

1. In 2014, Jiang “Friedcat” Xinyu, left his home. The 28-year-old was said to be suicidal, in debt, and owed millions. His mother and wife never saw him again

But that's just the beginning of this unsolved mystery…

2. Born in 1986, Friedcat was a child prodigy.

He was admitted to the University of Science and Technology of China at 14.

At 15, he was a PhD in computer science 🤯

3. In 2012, Friedcat founded a #Bitcoin startup

He raised $100,000 to build one of the first ASIC miners by selling shares of his company for 0.1 $BTC

His ASIC would be the most powerful Bitcoin miner EVER created ✊

Read 18 tweets

The Bitcoin Historian

@pete_rizzo_

Aug 13

Why Jack Mallers Is A #Bitcoin Legend

One of the 1st Lightning pioneers
Orange pilled El Salvador
Willing to die on this hill

A thread 🧵

1/ Before Jack was championing #Bitcoin, his dad and mom were true believers.

The Mallers family began buying $BTC when it was under $100

They saw it as a financial revolution 🔥

2/ Here’s Jack and his siblings on Christmas day in 2013.

These are gift cards his parents purchased him with #Bitcoin.

The price was $1,200

Read 17 tweets

The Bitcoin Historian

@pete_rizzo_

Aug 8

Why Saifedean Ammous Is A #Bitcoin Legend

Sold over 1 million copies of “The Bitcoin Standard”
Convinced Michael Saylor to buy 200,000 BTC

A thread

1/ Saifedean learned early of the horrors of fiat government

Born in Palestine, his grandparents had their land stolen by Israel

They had to flee abroad with their savings

2/ Unsurprisingly, Saifedean grew interested in politics and economics

In essays for his college newspaper, he defended Palestine, arguing U.S. taxpayers were responsible for Israel’s aggression

He wrote tirelessly to end his country's occupation ✊

Read 19 tweets

The Bitcoin Historian

@pete_rizzo_

Aug 4

This is Andrey.

In 2010, he sold stick figures for $3 million in #Bitcoin.

The price was $0.50.

The Untold Story of 'Shazow': the unknown artist who kickstarted the $2.2 trillion crypto economy 🔥

1/ In 2010, Andrey sold drawings for #Bitcoin

It all started when someone on the forums offered to pay for an image of “a stick figure sending bitcoins.”

He made this sketch under the handle 'Shazow' and earned 1 $BTC

2/ Back then, #Bitcoin users WANTED to spend their coins

Over the coming weeks, Shazow made OVER 55 BTC –– worth over $3 million today...

But that’s not the best part of this story…

Read 16 tweets

The Bitcoin Historian

@pete_rizzo_

Jul 31

Why Andreas Antonopoulos Is A #Bitcoin legend

Evangelized to empty rooms when $BTC was $80
Orange pilled millions with books and videos

A thread.

1/ A security consultant, Andreas discovered #Bitcoin in 2011, but he dismissed it at first as "nerd money."

The next time he fell down the rabbit hole.

He spent 4 months studying 18 hours a day. He lost 26 pounds.