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| BITCOIN |
Editor: Sajjad Khan
Publication Date: August 6, 2026
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In 2020, when the world was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic and traditional economies were struggling, I first stepped into the world of cryptocurrencies. At that time, Bitcoin was trading somewhere between $7,000 and $10,000. Its decentralized nature, limited supply, and future potential immediately caught my attention. Since then, I have deeply studied its history, technology, and market volatility. Today, as Bitcoin trades near $64,000, I present its complete story to you.
The Beginning: The Dream of an Unknown Creator (2008–2009)
Bitcoin’s story begins in August 2008 when the domain bitcoin.org was registered. On October 31, 2008, a person or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto published a white paper titled *Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System* on a cryptography mailing list. It described a peer-to-peer payment system that required no banks or central authority.
On January 3, 2009, the Genesis Block was mined. Embedded in it was the headline from the British newspaper *The Times*: “Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks” — widely seen as a sarcastic comment on the traditional banking system. A few days later, the first transaction took place when Satoshi sent 10 bitcoins to Hal Finney. Satoshi is estimated to have mined around one million bitcoins, which remain unmoved to this day, before disappearing around 2010.
Early Days and the First Real Purchase (2010–2012)
On May 22, 2010, history was made. A programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins. At the time, those coins were worth only about $41. Today, this day is celebrated as “Bitcoin Pizza Day.” In 2011, the price crossed $1 for the first time and later reached $30. In November 2012, the first halving occurred, reducing the block reward from 50 to 25 bitcoins.
Rise, Fall, and Lessons (2013–2018)
In 2013, Bitcoin crossed the $1,000 mark for the first time. The same year, Silk Road was shut down, and in 2014 the Mt. Gox exchange collapsed, with hundreds of thousands of bitcoins disappearing. The year 2017 proved particularly memorable as the price soared from around $1,000 to nearly $20,000. A sharp correction followed, and by 2018 the price had fallen close to $3,000.
The Institutional Era and New Heights (2020–2024)
2020 was the year my interest began. That same year, companies like MicroStrategy started adopting Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset. In 2021, the price reached a new high of $69,000. El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender. In 2022, following the collapses of Terra and FTX, the price dropped near $16,000.
In January 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved spot Bitcoin ETFs, opening the doors to large-scale institutional investment. In April 2024, the fourth halving reduced the block reward to 3.125 bitcoins. In December 2024, Bitcoin crossed $100,000 for the first time.
Recent Period (2025–2026)
In October 2025, Bitcoin reached its all-time high of approximately $126,198. A market correction followed, and by August 2026 the price had stabilized around $64,000. The total supply remains capped at 21 million coins, with the next halving expected around 2028.
Conclusion
Bitcoin is no longer just a currency — it has become a symbol of freedom, innovation, and long-term thinking. From 2020 to today, I have watched it survive extreme volatility and emerge stronger each time. Those who approached it with patience and understanding have come to appreciate its true value.
This article is for those who wish to enter this world for the first time, as well as for those who are already part of it. Bitcoin’s story is far from over.
— Sajjad Khan
