Bitcoin.org celebrates 16 years: what to know

Bitcoin.org, the website that introduced the world to decentralized digital currency, turned 16 today. In the year Launched on August 18, 2008 by Bitcoin Puzzle creator Satoshi Nakamoto and early contributor Marty Malmi, the site is a key resource for anyone interested in learning about the origins and evolution of Bitcoin.

An in-depth look at Bitcoin.org's heritage, its role in the community, and some of the controversies surrounding it.

The birthplace of the financial revolution

The creation of Bitcoin.org marked the beginning of a movement that would redefine money. In the year The website, registered anonymously on August 18, 2008, became the first public place where the concept of Bitcoin was shared.

In its early days, the site hosted Bitcoin software and a brief description of how peer-to-peer electronic money could operate without a central authority — a radical idea at the time. As the official gateway to Bitcoin, Bitcoin.org sets the tone for the decentralized financial movement, encouraging early adoption and growth of the network.

Read more: What is Bitcoin? The ultimate guide to Cryptocurrency

The iconic Bitcoin white paper

One of the most valuable resources hosted on Bitcoin.org is the Bitcoin white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System”. Published on October 31, 2008, it outlines the basic concept behind the Bitcoin network. Titled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Money System, the document is surprisingly short at just nine pages.

In it, Nakamoto outlines a decentralized digital currency designed to facilitate low-cost transactions without relying on financial institutions or intermediaries. Rather than using a centralized server, Bitcoin works through a peer-to-peer (P2P) network of connected nodes.

The paper explains how a “proof-of-work” method makes it impossible to falsify transaction data. For those who are interested, the original document can be read at

Freedom and social control

In the year In 2011, Satoshi Nakamoto handed over control of Bitcoin.org to trusted members of the Bitcoin community, a decision that ensured the site would remain free from corporate or government influence. Today, the site is run by volunteers, reflecting Bitcoin's decentralized ethos. One of the site's administrators goes by the online alias Cøbra.

This transfer of control to anonymous community members maintains the platform's neutrality and prevents Bitcoin.org from becoming a marketing tool for specific companies or agendas, unlike other crypto projects.

Read more: Satoshi Nakamoto – Who is the founder of Bitcoin?

Internal conflicts and divisive arguments

Bitcoin.org has been at the center of some of Bitcoin's most heated disputes. One of the biggest controversies revolved around the block size debate, which led to the famous Bitcoin Scale Wars in 2017.

The conflict has divided the community into factions, with some arguing for larger blocks to speed up transactions, while others, including Bitcoin.org administrators, remain committed to preserving Bitcoin's original structure.

The debate eventually led to a hard fork when proponents of blockchain split the Bitcoin blockchain on August 1, 2017. This fork created Bitcoin Cash, which supporters believe more closely matches Satoshi Nakamoto's original vision.

Ownership disputes and security breaches

Despite being a critical resource, Bitcoin.org has not been immune to ownership conflicts and security issues. In the year In 2021, the site was hacked by a massive scam that tricked visitors into giving away gifts.

This incident has raised questions about the website's security and decentralization risks.

Additionally, Cøbra, the site's long-time administrator, is a person who often clashes with other prominent Bitcoin developers. Anonymity and controversial statements have fueled debate over whether the domain should still be controlled, highlighting the trust challenges of a decentralized system.

Read more: Who will have the most Bitcoins in 2024?

Ongoing legal battles

Bitcoin.org has faced legal challenges. In the year In 2021, self-proclaimed Bitcoin inventor Craig Wright sued the website for hosting a Bitcoin white paper I wrote as Satoshi Nakamoto. Australian computer scientist Wright has long been a controversial figure in the crypto community for claiming to be the inventor of Bitcoin – a claim that has not been accepted by many experts and Bitcoin enthusiasts.

A UK court recently ruled that Craig Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, dealing a major blow to the long-running claims. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) to stop Wright from asserting ownership of Bitcoin's intellectual property. The court found substantial evidence against Wright's claim, with Judge James Mellor concluding that Wright did not invent Bitcoin, nor did he write the white paper or work under the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

“Some of the clarifications I'm happy with are important and necessary to make it fair between the parties. First, that Dr. Wright is not the author of the Bitcoin white paper. Second, Dr. Wright adopted the name Satoshi Nakamoto between 2008 and 2011, or “He is not the person who created the Bitcoin system. And, fourth, he is not the author of the first versions of the Bitcoin software,” Judge Mellor said.

As Bitcoin.org turns 16, it stands as more than just a historical relic. Bitcoin's origins are a testament to the community-driven spirit brought to life. For better or worse, the controversies and challenges that have marked Bitcoin.org's journey are a reflection of Bitcoin itself — the technology's quest for open dialogue, resilience, and freedom.