Satoshi Nakamoto
The pseudonymous person or group who created Bitcoin and then disappeared, leaving the project to the community.
Satoshi Nakamoto published the Bitcoin whitepaper in October 2008 and released the software in January 2009. They mined the genesis block, corresponded with early developers, then went quiet around 2011. The real identity remains unknown.
Nakamoto is believed to hold roughly 1 million bitcoin that has never moved. Many people have been named or have claimed the role; none has proven it by signing with Satoshi's keys. The anonymity is part of the point — Bitcoin has no founder to lean on or pressure.
Related terms
The smallest unit of bitcoin, equal to one hundred-millionth of a single coin.
Genesis BlockThe first block of a blockchain, hardcoded at the start with no block before it to reference.
BlockchainA shared digital ledger that records transactions in linked batches, copied across many computers and hard to alter.
HalvingThe scheduled event that cuts the reward paid to bitcoin miners in half, tightening new supply.