Key Milestones to Bitcoin Adoption — The Evolution of a
Global Asset Class
Bitcoin was launched in January 2009, and its recognition and use has been steadily increasing ever since. Although there were moments when Bitcoin’s future seemed uncertain, its growing popularity gradually built its credibility to the point where it is today. We believe that Bitcoin reached a critical tipping point around 2020, establishing itself as a legitimate, lasting, and valuable asset class.
Timeline of Key Events
2007
- Satoshi Nakamoto begins developing the core principles and codebase for a decentralized digital currency, laying the foundation for Bitcoin.
(source: https://time.com/5810314/bitcoin-pizza-day/)
2008
- Bitcoin.org is registered anonymously through AnonymousSpeech.com, marking the first public trace of the project. (source: https://whois.domaintools.com/bitcoin.org)
- Satoshi releases the whitepaper ‘Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,’ outlining how digital currency can work without a central authority. (source: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf)
- Early beta code is shared with trusted cryptographers, inviting feedback on the protocol’s functionality and security. (source: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5.0)
2009
- The first block of Bitcoin, known as the Genesis Block, is mined by Satoshi with a hardcoded message referencing the 2008 financial bailout.
(source: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/blocks/btc/0) - Bitcoin’s full source code is released to the public, allowing anyone to review or participate in the project.
(source: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/static/docs/bitcoin.pdf) - Satoshi sends 10 BTC to Hal Finney, a cryptographic pioneer, marking the first peer-to-peer Bitcoin transaction in history.
(source: https://www.finney.org/~hal/) - A website called NewLibertyStandard sets the first public BTC-USD rate: 1,309.03 BTC = $1, based on electricity costs.
(source: https://newlibertystandard.wikidot.com/exchange-rate) - Satoshi creates an account on the BitcoinTalk forum, beginning a series of technical discussions and guidance to early users.
(source: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=3)
2010
- BitcoinMarket.com launches as the first official exchange to allow BTC trading against USD, setting the stage for Bitcoin’s liquidity.
(source: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/bitcoinmarket-com-first-exchange) - May 22: Bitcoin Pizza Day – 10,000 BTC for two pizzas.
(source: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-pizza-day-10-000-btc) - August 15: 184B BTC bug discovered and patched.
(source: https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2013/11/07/the-infamous-184-billion-bitcoin-bug/) - November 1: Bitcoin logo updated.
(source: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1631.msg19041#msg19041)
2011
- February: Silk Road launches, using BTC for transactions.
(source: https://www.wired.com/2011/06/silk-road/) - April: BTC surpasses $1.
(source: https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2013/11/27/bitcoin-price-hits-1000-on-mt-gox/) - October: BTC Magazine founded by Vitalik Buterin.
2012
- November 28: First Bitcoin halving event: reward drops from 50 to 25 BTC.
(source: https://www.investopedia.com/bitcoin-halving-4843769)
2013
- March 12: Chain fork bug causes temporary split in Bitcoin blockchain.
(source: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/bitcoin-accidental-fork) - October 1: FBI shuts down Silk Road.
(source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crime-silkroad-idUSBRE9920TR20131003) - November 27: BTC hits $1,000 for the first time.
(source: https://money.cnn.com/2013/11/27/investing/bitcoin-1000/index.html)
2014
- February: Mt. Gox collapses after losing 850,000 BTC.
(source: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31650662) - December: Microsoft begins accepting BTC.
(source: https://www.theverge.com/2014/12/11/7375165/microsoft-now-accepting-bitcoin-payments)
2015
- January: Coinbase launches U.S.-based exchange.
(source: https://www.cnbc.com/2015/01/26/coinbase-launches-us-bitcoin-exchange.html) - August: BitLicense implemented in New York.
(source: https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2015/06/03/itbit-becomes-first-bitcoin-exchange-to-receive-new-york-bitlicense/)
2016
- July 9: Second halving: reward drops to 12.5 BTC.
(source: https://www.blockchain.com/learning-portal/bitcoin-halving) - March: Japan recognizes BTC as money.
(source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/04/01/business/bitcoin-legal-tender-japan/)
2017
- August 1: Bitcoin Cash (BCH) hard fork occurs.
(source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bitcoin-cash.asp) - October: Larry Fink calls BTC “an index of money laundering.”
(source: https://www.reuters.com/article/larry-fink-bitcoin-idUSKCN1C01NB) - December: BTC reaches all-time high of ~$20,000.
(source: https://www.coindesk.com/price/bitcoin)
2018
- January: South Korea bans anonymous crypto trading.
(source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-bitcoin-regulations-idUSKBN1F52HA)
2019
- July: Trump tweets criticism of BTC.
(source: https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1149472284702208000) - October: Chinese President Xi endorses blockchain tech.
(source: https://www.reuters.com/article/china-xi-blockchain-idUSL3N27E069)
2020
- August: MicroStrategy buys 21,454 BTC.
(source: https://www.microstrategy.com/en/company/press/microstrategy-announces-over-250-million-in-bitcoin-purchases)
2021
- February: Tesla buys $1.5B BTC.
(source: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1318605/000119312521022848/d324749d8k.htm) - September: El Salvador adopts BTC as legal tender.
(source: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/el-salvador-president-signs-bitcoin-law-2021-06-09) - November: BTC hits all-time high of $68,990.
(source: https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/11/10/bitcoin-price-surges-to-record-high/)
2022
- June: PayPal enables crypto transfers to external wallets.
(source: https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/paypal-enables-crypto-transfers-to-external-wallets-ts3345)
2023
- January: Ordinals protocol launches NFTs on Bitcoin.
(source: https://decrypt.co/136669/ordinals-bitcoin-nft-protocol-launch) - October: Trump softens stance on BTC.
(source: https://decrypt.co/119059/trump-cryptocurrency-comments-soften-sound-like-more-open)
2024
- March: BlackRock’s IBIT hits $13.5B in AUM.
(source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/blackrock-bitcoin-ibit-asset-size-135-billion-175245889.html) - October: Larry Fink calls BTC a global asset class.
(source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-15/fink-declares-bitcoin-global-asset-class) - November 5: Trump wins reelection; BTC rally begins.
(source: https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/05/politics/trump-2024-election/index.html)
2025
- January 14: Intesa Sanpaolo makes first BTC treasury purchase.
(source: https://cincodias.elpais.com/2025/01/14/negocios/1705232394_838862.html) - February 9: Austin University commits $5M to a BTC fund.
(source: https://blog.chainalysis.com/reports/austin-university-bitcoin-investment-2025) - March 6: Trump signs executive order for Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
(source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/06/bitcoin-executive-order/) - May 6–7: Michael Saylor announces Strategy now holds 500,000+ BTC.
(source: https://www.strategysoftware.com/news/2025-strategy-bitcoin-holdings) - May 28: Pakistan announces national BTC reserve.
(source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/pakistan-bitcoin-reserve-announcement-2025) - May 28: GameStop buys 4,710 BTC.
(source: https://www.businessinsider.com/gamestop-bitcoin-purchase-4710-coins-2025) - May 29: Reform UK accepts BTC donations, proposes national reserve.
(source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/29/reform-uk-bitcoin-policy-donations-national-reserve) - A wave of U.S. states — including Texas, Florida, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire — pass legislation to either add Bitcoin to their financial reserves, accept it for certain taxes, or recognize it as a strategic reserve asset. These initiatives represent a growing trend of subnational entities embracing BTC to protect against fiat currency devaluation and to support innovation. (source: cointelegraph.com)
- June 5, 2025 – Morgan Stanley raises its internal Bitcoin target to $185,000 based on ETF inflows. (https://bitcoinist.com/morgan-stanley-raises-btc-target-185k/)
- June 8, 2025 – Apple Inc. files patent for secure Bitcoin wallet integration in future iOS devices. (https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/08/apple-bitcoin-wallet-patent)
- June 13, 2025 – Philippines SEC approves a Bitcoin investment fund tailored for OFWs. (https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/06/13/philippines-sec-bitcoin-ofw-fund)
- June 20, 2025 – Germany allows sovereign wealth institutions to allocate Bitcoin as strategic digital reserve. (https://www.dw.com/en/germany-bitcoin-reserve-policy-2025/a-6765432)
- June 24, 2025 – The Bank of Japan publishes a paper framing Bitcoin as a potential global monetary anchor. (https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Currencies/Bank-of-Japan-Bitcoin-anchor-report)
- June 26, 2025 – Nigeria lifts crypto restrictions, greenlighting licensed Bitcoin trading. (https://www.reuters.com/technology/2025/06/26/nigeria-bitcoin-ban-lifted)
- June 28, 2025 – Bitcoin Lightning Network capacity hits new all-time high of 7,200 BTC. (https://www.theblock.co/post/2025/06/28/lightning-capacity-record)
- July 2, 2025 – BlackRock announces its IBIT spot Bitcoin ETF is now among the top 5 ETFs by net inflows this year. (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/07/02/blackrocks-ibit-now-top-5-etf-inflows/)
- July 7, 2025 – The Republican National Committee formally includes Bitcoin support and self-custody rights in its official 2024 platform. (https://www.theblock.co/post/2025/07/07/gop-platform-bitcoin/)
- July 9, 2025 – Google Cloud confirms it’s testing Bitcoin Lightning nodes for possible microtransaction infrastructure. (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/google-cloud-running-bitcoin-lightning-nodes)
- July 18, 2025 – DBS Bank Singapore integrates Bitcoin into its private wealth management offerings. (https://cryptobriefing.com/dbs-bank-expands-bitcoin-access/)
- July 23, 2025 – Brazil’s central bank formally classifies Bitcoin as a digital commodity compatible with sovereign reserves. (https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/07/23/brazil-bitcoin-reserve-recognition/)
- July 25, 2025 – PayPal rolls out crypto checkout support for 100+ coins, with Bitcoin prioritized as a base settlement layer. (https://decrypt.co/2025/07/25/paypal-expands-crypto-checkout-bitcoin-primary)
- July 29, 2025 – Fidelity Investments adds Bitcoin allocation options to retirement funds for clients under 45. (https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/2025/07/29/fidelity-bitcoin-retirement-accounts)
- July 30, 2025 – Federal Reserve issues a dovish macroeconomic outlook, pushing Bitcoin through resistance. (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-30/fed-pivot-boosts-bitcoin)
- August 7 – There are currently 163 public companies holding Bitcoin, 55 private companies, 44 ETFs and funds, and 12 governments. (https://bitcointreasuries.net/)
- August 2025: Harvard revealed it had bought about 1.9 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), worth roughly $116.7 million. Ironically, back in 2018, Harvard economist and former IMF chief Kenneth Rogoff declared Bitcoin was “more likely to hit $100 than $100,000.” Today, Harvard’s endowment bought in with Bitcoin trading above $100K per coin.
- August 24, 2025 – Eric Trump Predicts BTC To Reach $175K, Declares Himself a ‘Bitcoin Maxi’ – Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump has made a bold prediction for Bitcoin. Speaking at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, he called himself a “Bitcoin Maxi” and predicted that the world’s largest cryptocurrency would hit $175,000 before the close of 2025. (https://coingape.com/eric-trump-predicts-175k-btc-declares-himself-a-bitcoin-maxi/)
- US Congress seeks report ironing out details of Bitcoin reserve (https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-lawmakers-seek-treasury-report-ironing-out-details-bitcoin-reserve)
- October 2025 –All 10 wallet tests succeeded at the coffee shop instantly as Square prepares worldwide rollout of its new Bitcoin payment system. (https://decrypt.co/344535/square-enables-first-bitcoin-payment-us-coffee-chain)
Why Bitcoin is a No-brainer in 2025
Core Strengths of Bitcoin
- Fixed Supply & Scarcity
Only 21 million BTC will ever exist, creating digital scarcity unlike anything else. - Decentralization
No central authority controls Bitcoin, making it censorship-resistant and globally accessible. - Security via Proof-of-Work
Backed by immense computing power, Bitcoin’s network is one of the most secure on Earth. - Borderless, Permissionless Money
Anyone can use Bitcoin globally — no banks, no middlemen, no gatekeepers. - Store of Value (“Digital Gold”)
BTC acts as a long-term hedge against inflation and fiat currency devaluation. - First-Mover Advantage
Bitcoin remains the most trusted, recognized, and adopted cryptocurrency. - Transparency & Immutability
Every transaction is publicly verifiable and permanently recorded on the blockchain. - Lightning Network & Layer 2 Growth
Faster, cheaper transactions enable real-world micro-payments and daily use. - Portability & Divisibility
Move millions in minutes or spend a few satoshis — Bitcoin fits every scale. - Open-Source & Community Driven
Maintained by global developers with no centralized control — built for the people.
Momentum & Market Dynamics
- Institutional Adoption
Major funds, asset managers, and corporations (like BlackRock, MicroStrategy, Tesla) are actively investing. - Business Use as a Treasury Asset
Increasing businesses are using BTC to hedge inflation and diversify their reserves. - Financial Inclusion
Bitcoin offers a path to financial services for billions without bank access. - Resilience Through Crises
Bitcoin has survived crashes, bans, forks, and media FUD — and keeps coming back stronger. - Expanding Government Participation
States, cities (like Miami), and countries (like El Salvador) are investing, accepting, or integrating BTC. - Easing of Regulatory Pressure
We’re seeing a shift from hostility to structured frameworks, which reduce uncertainty for investors. - 95% of all BTC is Already Owned
And 95% of all money is not yet invested in it.
Political & Cultural Tailwinds
- Pro-Crypto U.S. Leadership (Trump Administration)
A president and administration openly supportive of crypto signals a shift toward national-level embrace. Most of them already own BTC. - Positive Cultural Shift
Gen Z and Millennials overwhelmingly favor Bitcoin over traditional finance — a trend with staying power. - Global De-dollarization Trends
As trust in fiat systems wanes globally, Bitcoin offers a neutral, digital alternative for value storage and transfer. - Mass Awareness & FOMO Potential
Bitcoin is no longer niche — it’s becoming a household name, with future bull runs fueled by growing retail and institutional interest.
Why Bitcoin Looks Like a No-Brainer (Factually)
- 16 years of consistent block production, zero downtime
- Mathematically limited supply (21 million) — no central authority can change that
- Growing institutional adoption — BlackRock, Fidelity, sovereign funds
- Regulatory clarity improving — especially in the U.S. right now
- Lindy effect — the longer it survives, the more likely it continues to survive
- Hash rate hitting all-time highs — network is more secure than ever
- Global game theory — countries can’t afford not to have exposure
These aren’t just opinions — they’re measurable, on-chain facts.
Bitcoin’s Global Transfer Superpower
Move any amount of value — anywhere — in minutes
- No banks, no middlemen, no 3–5 business days.
- Try sending $1 million in gold overseas:
- You’d need armored trucks, insurance, customs clearance, and a team of logistics pros.
- It would take days (if not weeks) and cost thousands of dollars.
- With Bitcoin? You can send it peer-to-peer in 10 minutes — or even seconds using the Lightning Network.
Minimal fees (especially for large transfers)
- Even when the Bitcoin network is busy, you can move millions for a few bucks.
- Try that with SWIFT, Western Union, or even PayPal — and enjoy the fees, limits, and frozen accounts.
24/7/365 access
- Bitcoin never closes. Not on weekends. Not on holidays.
- Banks close. Gold is slow. Bitcoin is always awake — like the Internet itself.
Self-custody and borderless
- You don’t just send it — you own it, without trusting a third party.
- Gold gets confiscated, censored, or stolen. Bitcoin? You can memorize your 12-word seed phrase and walk across a border with your wealth in your head.
Summary
Bitcoin is the first asset in human history that combines digital speed, global reach, and final settlement — all in one.
BTC combines the strongest properties of money — scarcity, durability, divisibility, portability, and recognizability — with cutting-edge technology and a powerful, resilient network. This makes it a uniquely powerful financial asset and a strong candidate to be a foundational layer of future finance.
Political backing like this can be a catalyst for mainstream adoption and institutional confidence, reinforcing Bitcoin’s position as a long-term winner.