Written in stone
April 06, 2025
S. Nakamoto the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, intentionally left an imprint on the genesis block (Block 0) of the blockchain by inserting the headline from the British newspaper The Times from January 3, 2009: "Israel prepares to send troops and tanks to Gaza." This message was recorded in the Coinbase transaction, which is the first transaction of each mined block, responsible for generating new coins. The choice of this headline was not random; it reflects the context of the global crisis.
In addition to serving as a kind of timestamp (proof that Bitcoin did not exist before that date), the inclusion of the headline symbolizes the philosophical motivation behind the cryptocurrency: decentralization, resistance to censorship, and independence from corrupt or inefficient financial institutions. Satoshi never publicly explained his decision, but many interpret this action as a direct criticism of the banking system and a justification for the creation of a currency that did not depend on intermediaries.
The Times 03/Jan/2009 in genesis of bitcoin block