• On January 12, 2009, the first transaction was conducted on the Bitcoin network.
• Satoshi Nakamoto then sent 10 BTC to Hal Finney, which at the time had no market value.
• In October 2025, the price of the first cryptocurrency exceeded $125,000.

January 12, 2026, marks 17 years since the first transaction on the Bitcoin network—an event that later became a symbolic starting point for the entire crypto industry. 

It was on this day in 2009 that the creator of the first cryptocurrency, pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, sent 10 BTC to developer Hal Finney. At the time, the coin had virtually no market value.

In total, 50 BTC were transferred in the block, and the miner's reward was also 50 BTC without fees. 

The day before, on January 11, 2009, Finney posted a short message on Twitter (now X) titled "Running Bitcoin." This post later gained cult status and became one of the most famous symbols of the early history of the first cryptocurrency.

The Bitcoin mainnet was launched slightly earlier, on January 3, 2009. Then, Satoshi Nakamoto mined the genesis block with a reward of 50 BTC. Its hash contained the headline of an article in the British newspaper The Times—"Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks," which many perceived as a criticism of the traditional financial system.

Over the years, Bitcoin has evolved from experimental code to a global financial asset. Fifteen years after Finney's post, the industry reached another important milestone: the US Securities and Exchange Commission approved spot Bitcoin ETFs .

Additionally, on October 5, 2025, the asset's price exceeded $125,000, setting a new all-time high . 

Finney's identity has long been a subject of debate in the crypto community. One theory suggested he could be Satoshi Nakamoto. However, this theory was refuted by cryptographer Jameson Lopp, who stated that Finney "has nothing in common with the person of Satoshi Nakamoto." 

In 2024, Finney's contribution to the development of Bitcoin was officially recognized. On April 19, the Human Rights Foundation established the Finney Freedom Prize , which recognizes individuals for their greatest contributions to the development of Bitcoin and financial freedom. Hal Finney was the first recipient.