The anonymous creator of Bitcoin may have been wrong about the cryptocurrency’s fate, according to early Bitcoin developer Gavin Andresen.
Andresen, who first discovered Bitcoin in 2010 and eventually became BTC’s lead developer, says Satoshi Nakamoto’s prediction that Bitcoin will either have high transaction volume or zero volume by 2030 could prove to be way off base.
The computer scientist says the prediction ignores the possibility of a middle ground where Bitcoin is still used but remains a niche store of value that’s neither forgotten and abandoned nor fully mainstream.
Andresen began working with Satoshi Nakamoto in December of 2010.
Satoshi’s last confirmed email correspondence was sent to Andresen on April 26th of 2011, revealing a discomfort with the way the press described the unknown developer.
“I wish you wouldn’t keep talking about me as a mysterious shadowy figure, the press just turns that into a pirate currency angle. Maybe instead make it about the open source project and give more credit to your dev contributors; it helps motivate them.”
A day later, Andresen publicly announced his plan to give a speech on Bitcoin at the headquarters of the CIA in June of that year – an event that may have played a role in Satoshi’s disappearance.
In recent years, Andresen has emerged as a supporter of Ethereum, and recently talked about his favorite crypto projects of 2018 and 2019.
“I found CryptoKitties the most interesting cryptocurrency-related project of 2018. PoolTogether the most interesting of 2019. I dunno what I will find interesting in 2020, but it will probably be built on Ethereum.”
Featured Image: Shutterstock/Tithi Luadthong