Satoshi's Bitcoin Whitepaper Turns 17: From Cypherpunk Rebellion to Wall Street Staple

Core Insights - The Bitcoin whitepaper, published on October 31, 2008, laid the foundation for the world's first cryptocurrency, emerging during the global financial crisis [1][2] - Bitcoin has seen significant mainstream acceptance, with U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs experiencing over $62 billion in net inflows and total net assets exceeding $150 billion in less than two years [3] - The financialization of Bitcoin through ETFs and corporate treasury adoption is drawing comparisons to the mortgage securitization boom of the 1970s, indicating a potential rise in asset prices [8] Industry Developments - Bitcoin's influence has expanded beyond its initial cypherpunk roots to reach high levels of government, including the current U.S. administration [4] - Former critics of Bitcoin, such as Donald Trump and Larry Fink, have shifted to become advocates, with Trump urging supporters to hold Bitcoin and Fink promoting it as a hedge against sovereign debt instability [5][6] - Michael Saylor, initially skeptical, has become a prominent advocate for Bitcoin, continuing to accumulate BTC through various financial mechanisms [7]