In 2008, an enigmatic person or group named Satoshi Nakamoto introduced the concept of bitcoin, a digital currency, in a research paper. Bitcoin resolved the double-spending problem and eliminated the need for a central clearinghouse by using a public ledger called the "block chain." Early adopters embraced bitcoin, and it gained popularity outside the cryptography community. However, Nakamoto's true identity remains a mystery, and he disappeared after the currency's initial launch, leaving the project to grow independently. Bitcoin's decentralized nature made it immune to government and banking oversight, appealing to those seeking a secure and independent form of currency.
This article by Benjamin Wallace on Wired takes a pretty deep dive into the story of Bitcoin, its origin, timeline and how it works.
