*WHY ADAM BACK IS A #BITCOIN LEGEND*
Trafficked illegal code that won the Crypto War
Cited in Satoshi's white paper
A thread ๐ฅ
Trafficked illegal code that won the Crypto War
Cited in Satoshi's white paper
A thread ๐ฅ
1/ A PhD student in the U.K., Adam Back was 25 when he started experimenting with cryptography.
He wanted to shift the balance of power
He saw it as a way to undermine oppressive states โ
He wanted to shift the balance of power
He saw it as a way to undermine oppressive states โ
2/ Adam quickly joined the Cypherpunk Mailing List
The forum was a cultural force.
The cypherpunks were fighting for privacy and digital rights ๐
The forum was a cultural force.
The cypherpunks were fighting for privacy and digital rights ๐
3/ Soon, Adam was no novice when it came to crypto.
In fact, his first act on the list was to claim a bounty issued by none other than Hal Finney.
The challenge? Hack SSL's weak state-approved crypto ๐
In fact, his first act on the list was to claim a bounty issued by none other than Hal Finney.
The challenge? Hack SSL's weak state-approved crypto ๐
4/ But the 1990s was a dangerous time for cryptographers.
The US government wanted to ban it under weapons exporting laws.
Adam strategized with the cypherpunks on how to retaliate ๐
The US government wanted to ban it under weapons exporting laws.
Adam strategized with the cypherpunks on how to retaliate ๐
5/ Adam fought back with his code.
He distributed โillegalโ cryptography.
Here's his website where users could download PGP โ
He distributed โillegalโ cryptography.
Here's his website where users could download PGP โ
6/ Adam did his best to disrupt internet surveillance.
Hereโs a tool he used that added flagged words like "terrorist" and "assassination" to his email signature.
The goal was to increase privacy and anonymity ๐
Hereโs a tool he used that added flagged words like "terrorist" and "assassination" to his email signature.
The goal was to increase privacy and anonymity ๐
7/ Adamโs next contribution was the โMunitions T-Shirt.โ
A symbol of civil disobedience, it contained 3 lines of code โ the very cryptography the US was trying to ban
This SHIRT violated weapons exporting laws โ
A symbol of civil disobedience, it contained 3 lines of code โ the very cryptography the US was trying to ban
This SHIRT violated weapons exporting laws โ
8/ Announced in 1997, Hashcash was Adam's biggest invention yet
A digital cash could now be backed with computing resources...
It would revive the hope a digital cash could be created ๐
A digital cash could now be backed with computing resources...
It would revive the hope a digital cash could be created ๐
9/ Finally, in 2008, Adam received a mysterious email.
From the unknown Satoshi Nakamoto, it heralded a new approach to a decentralized money: #Bitcoin.
Adam read the email, but didn't think it would work...
From the unknown Satoshi Nakamoto, it heralded a new approach to a decentralized money: #Bitcoin.
Adam read the email, but didn't think it would work...
๐ CUSTODY CHECK ๐
Do you have control of your private keys?
Do you have an inheritance plan?
Head on over to to upgrade Casa.io/history
Do you have control of your private keys?
Do you have an inheritance plan?
Head on over to to upgrade Casa.io/history
10/ Then in 2012, Adam re-discovered #Bitcoin
He saw that it was becoming valuable โย and that the $BTC price had surged to over $100
He re-dedicated himself to the industry โ
He saw that it was becoming valuable โย and that the $BTC price had surged to over $100
He re-dedicated himself to the industry โ
11/ In 2014, Adam's vision finally became clear
He wanted to supercharge the #Bitcoin network for scaling
He raised $21 million for his own company ๐
He wanted to supercharge the #Bitcoin network for scaling
He raised $21 million for his own company ๐
12/ Blockstream attracted top #Bitcoin talent
Founders included some of the network's most prolific coders
This included Greg Maxwell, Matt Corallo, and Pieter Wuille โย core developers with thousands of commits ๐
Founders included some of the network's most prolific coders
This included Greg Maxwell, Matt Corallo, and Pieter Wuille โย core developers with thousands of commits ๐
13/ Adam put the brightest minds in #Bitcoin to work
Here they are in 2017, sending the first transaction relayed by satellite from outer space ๐คฏ
Here they are in 2017, sending the first transaction relayed by satellite from outer space ๐คฏ
14/ Today, Adam sees #Bitcoin as one of the most important innovations in history
Here he is in 2020 when the price was $9,500
He called it a "new wonder of the world." ๐
Here he is in 2020 when the price was $9,500
He called it a "new wonder of the world." ๐
15/ Adam believes Bitcoin will soon pass the market cap for gold
That means institutions and governments buying...
... and a price of $700,000 per $BTC โ
That means institutions and governments buying...
... and a price of $700,000 per $BTC โ
16/ Today, Adam is one of the few cypherpunks dedicating his life to #Bitcoin.
He believes $BTC will be worth over $1 million
โจ
He believes $BTC will be worth over $1 million
โจ
โข โข โข
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