Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of the world's first decentralized cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, had a vision that went far beyond just creating a new digital currency. His vision was to create a financial system that was truly decentralized, secure, and independent of any central authority.
Bitcoin was created as a response to the 2008 financial crisis, which exposed the flaws of the traditional banking system. Satoshi saw that the centralized nature of the banking system made it vulnerable to manipulation, corruption, and systemic risk. He realized that the traditional financial system was in need of a radical change, and that's when he came up with the idea of creating a decentralized digital currency.
Satoshi's vision for Bitcoin was to create a financial system that was completely transparent, secure, and tamper-proof. He envisioned a world where transactions would be conducted directly between two parties, without the need for intermediaries like banks or payment processors. He wanted to create a currency that was truly independent, one that couldn't be manipulated by any government, central authority, or corporation.
Satoshi also wanted to create a more level playing field for everyone. In the traditional financial system, access to financial services and products is often limited to those with a high net worth or good credit. This seemed unfair to Satoshi, and he wanted to create a financial system that was accessible to everyone, regardless of their wealth or credit history.
In addition to creating a decentralized financial system, Satoshi also had a vision for the technology behind Bitcoin. He realized that the blockchain /DLT (distributed ledger technology) that powers Bitcoin could be used for much more than just creating a new currency.
Satoshi's decentralized ethos has inspired countless people to get involved not only in the Bitcoin project but the space in its entirety. Today, the Bitcoin network has grown to become one of the largest and most secure networks in the world, with millions of users and billions of dollars in value. On average, Bitcoin settles 600k transactions per day. Bitcoin's all-time high for daily settlement was $11.6 Billion dollars.
Satoshi Nakamoto has been AWOL since 2010 but his vision continues to be realized and built upon daily. The first few "shadowy super coders" indeed created a financial system that was truly decentralized, secure, and accessible to everyone.
His vision has inspired the growth of a whole new industry and has given rise to a whole new way of thinking about money and finance. His vision for Bitcoin continues to be a source of inspiration for those who believe in the potential of decentralized technology to create a better world. New applications are being built as I type this, which will make onboarding to decentralized applications much simpler.