*WHY ADAM BACK IS A #BITCOIN LEGEND*
Trafficked illegal code that won the Crypto War
Cited in Satoshi's white paper
A thread 🔥
Trafficked illegal code that won the Crypto War
Cited in Satoshi's white paper
A thread 🔥
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 ✊
He wanted to shift the balance of power
He saw it as a way to undermine oppressive states ✊
2/ Adam quickly joined the Cypherpunk Mailing List
The forum was a cultural force.
The cypherpunks were fighting for privacy and digital rights 👏
The forum was a cultural force.
The cypherpunks were fighting for privacy and digital rights 👏
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 👏
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 👏
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 👊
The US government wanted to ban it under weapons exporting laws.
Adam strategized with the cypherpunks on how to retaliate 👊
5/ Adam fought back with his code.
He distributed “illegal” cryptography.
Here's his website where users could download PGP ✊
He distributed “illegal” cryptography.
Here's his website where users could download PGP ✊
6/ Adam did his best to disrupt internet surveillance.
Here’s a tool he used that added flagged words like "terrorist" and "assassination" to his email signature.
The goal was to increase privacy and anonymity 👏
Here’s a tool he used that added flagged words like "terrorist" and "assassination" to his email signature.
The goal was to increase privacy and anonymity 👏
7/ Adam’s next contribution was the ‘Munitions T-Shirt.’
A symbol of civil disobedience, it contained 3 lines of code – the very cryptography the US was trying to ban
This SHIRT violated weapons exporting laws ❗
A symbol of civil disobedience, it contained 3 lines of code – the very cryptography the US was trying to ban
This SHIRT violated weapons exporting laws ❗
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 🏆
A digital cash could now be backed with computing resources...
It would revive the hope a digital cash could be created 🏆
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...
🛑 CUSTODY CHECK 🛑
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 – and that the $BTC price had surged to over $100
He re-dedicated himself to the industry ✊
He saw that it was becoming valuable – and that the $BTC price had surged to over $100
He re-dedicated himself to the industry ✊
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 👏
He wanted to supercharge the #Bitcoin network for scaling
He raised $21 million for his own company 👏
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 – core developers with thousands of commits 👊
Founders included some of the network's most prolific coders
This included Greg Maxwell, Matt Corallo, and Pieter Wuille – core developers with thousands of commits 👊
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 🤯
Here they are in 2017, sending the first transaction relayed by satellite from outer space 🤯
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." 👏
Here he is in 2020 when the price was $9,500
He called it a "new wonder of the world." 👏
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 ✊
That means institutions and governments buying...
... and a price of $700,000 per $BTC ✊
16/ Today, Adam is one of the few cypherpunks dedicating his life to #Bitcoin.
He believes $BTC will be worth over $1 million
✨
He believes $BTC will be worth over $1 million
✨
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