Thread by @ricardo_motoo

Why does every Bitcoiner reshare Hal Finney’s “Running bitcoin” tweet on January 11th? 🧵

Let me explain why this post is iconic and why Hal is one of the most important figures in Bitcoin history. 👇

https://x.com/halfin/status/1110302988

Hal Finney was a legendary cryptographer and one of the first to truly believe in Bitcoin. On January 11, 2009, just days after Bitcoin launched, he tweeted “Running bitcoin.” This is the first-ever public acknowledgment of Bitcoin in history.

Hal wasn’t just an observer. He was the first person to run Bitcoin after Satoshi Nakamoto, and he received the first Bitcoin transaction ever: 10 BTC, sent by Satoshi himself. This cemented Hal as a key figure in Bitcoin’s origins.

Check the transaction here: mempool.space/tx/f4184fc5964…

Before Bitcoin, Hal was already a giant in the cypherpunk community. He contributed to PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), a groundbreaking encryption tool still used today. His work reflected his commitment to privacy and digital freedom.

In the early days of Bitcoin, Hal corresponded with Satoshi Nakamoto, sharing feedback and ideas. Some speculate Hal was Satoshi, but he always denied it. Instead, he supported Satoshi’s vision and worked to refine Bitcoin’s code.

Hal also collaborated with Adam Back (@adam3us), the creator of Hashcash, a proof-of-work system that inspired Bitcoin’s consensus mechanism. This connection tied him to the very foundations of Bitcoin’s design.

But Hal wasn’t just technical—he was a visionary. In a now-famous email from 2009, he predicted that if Bitcoin succeeded as a global currency, its value could skyrocket. Hal estimated a future price of $10 million per Bitcoin, based on global wealth distribution.

This email shows Hal’s incredible foresight. At the time, Bitcoin had no value, no exchanges, and no recognition. Yet Hal saw its potential to disrupt traditional finance and reshape how money works on a global scale.

In 2009, Hal was diagnosed with ALS, a debilitating condition that eventually paralyzed him. Despite this, he continued contributing to Bitcoin and sharing his optimism for its future. His resilience inspired many in the community.

Hal’s wife, Fran Finney, has been an incredible supporter of his legacy. She organizes the annual @RunningBTC21k Challenge to support ALS research, inspired by Hal’s passion for running and his fight against the disease.

@franfinney's efforts reflect the same spirit of optimism and determination that Hal embodied. The Bitcoin community has rallied around her cause, keeping both Hal’s contributions to Bitcoin and his humanity alive.

Watch this recent interview made by the great @natbrunell with Fran Finney.

She shared untold stories, never-before-seen photos of Hal, and her inspiring journey of resilience and recovery.

https://x.com/natbrunell/status/1877739161039392779

Hal passed away in 2014, but his legacy lives on. He chose cryonic preservation, hoping to witness the future Bitcoin world he helped envision. His “Running bitcoin” tweet is reshared every January 11th to honor his contribution.

Hal Finney wasn’t just a cryptographer—he was a pioneer, a visionary, and a cornerstone of Bitcoin’s history. Sharing his “Running bitcoin” tweet isn’t just a tradition; it’s a tribute to one of Bitcoin’s greatest early believers.

Now you know why Hal’s “Running bitcoin” tweet matters. If you believe in Bitcoin’s future, share its past. And if you can, support Fran Finney’s mission to fund ALS research—it’s a cause Hal would be proud of.

x.com/halfin/status/…