Cryptocurrency History – Learn About Bitcoin, Bit Gold, eCash, and Mt Gox

If you’re curious about cryptocurrency history, you’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll learn about Bitcoin, Bit Gold, eCash, and Mt. Gox. While you’re learning about the evolution of these currencies, you’ll also discover the story behind the two companies that created them.

Bitcoin

In the early days of Bitcoin, very few businesses accepted it for payment. However, its anonymity and decentralization made it highly sought after in the criminal underworld. It became one of the most notorious black markets of the modern age, with sites such as Silk Road allowing illegal drugs to be sold with impunity. In October 2014, the United States Marshals Service auctioned off nearly 30,000 Bitcoins. This sale was a turning point for the cryptocurrency, giving credence to its base legality. It also provided a platform for P2P trade in an open market.

Bit Gold

Bit Gold is a cryptocurrency that uses blockchain technology to create a decentralized system for storing and transferring value. Its design mimics the security of gold by not relying on a centralized authority. As such, it is a more secure form of currency than fiat money.

eCash

eCash was first conceptualized in 1983 by Dr. David Chaum, a pioneer of the digital age who advocated for privacy online. It was later used by one US bank as a micropayment system between 1995 and 1998. In 1990, Dr. Chaum decided to create his own company and market the eCash cryptocurrency.

Mt. Gox

In April 2014, the Mt. Gox website went under a massive hack, resulting in the loss of almost 750,000 Bitcoins. This was equivalent to nearly three billion dollars at the time of the hack, and represented approximately seven percent of all bitcoins. As a result, the company lost $27 million in bank deposits. Of these funds, 200,000 bitcoins were eventually recovered, but the remaining 650,000 were never returned.

Chaum’s “blinding formula”

Chaum’s blinding formula was created as a means to secure e-cash, a form of electronic money. This method allows users to send money to and from multiple individuals while modifying the traceability of each transfer. Unlike traditional currencies, which are difficult to trace, blinded cash is completely anonymous.

SHA-256 cryptography

SHA-256 cryptography is a deterministic one-way function, which makes it very difficult for bad actors to reverse engineer it. It is also extremely efficient and can be executed on ordinary computers hundreds of times per second. It is used to secure transactions in the Bitcoin network, the first blockchain in the history of cryptocurrency. Currently, Bitcoin is the largest virtual currency by market capitalization.

Merkle trees

Merkle trees are cryptographically authenticated data structures. They can hold all types of key-value bindings and are fully deterministic, which ensures that the data in every block is the same. Furthermore, Merkle trees provide O(n) efficiency on inserts, and they are easier to code and understand than comparison-based alternatives.

Bitcoin’s first exchanges

History of Bitcoin’s first exchanges includes exchanges that allowed investors to purchase and sell cryptocurrency. These early exchanges were created by passionate individuals who were already active in the Bitcoin community. Many of these individuals knew each other and shared a strong belief in the future of money. Many are still major players in the cryptocurrency industry.