In a world of financial chaos and personal tragedy, a group of friends challenge the status quo and powers that be, risking everything to create a revolutionary currency that could cost them their very existence.
Why this story?
The story of Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin, is one of the most compelling narratives of our time. Bitcoin’s emergence has disrupted global financial systems, introduced the world to the revolutionary concept of decentralized digital currency, and amassed a market value in the billions. Yet, behind this groundbreaking innovation lies an even more fascinating tale: the story of a person, or perhaps a group, who managed to remain completely anonymous while leaving a legacy that continues to shape the world.
Synopsis
In the bustling Liberdade neighborhood of São Paulo during the 1990s, young Alex Nakamoto’s world is turned upside down by Brazil’s economic turmoil. Born in 1982, Alex grows up amidst hyperinflation and government savings confiscation. His father, a hardworking man, faces the brunt of these hardships and ultimately takes his own life, leaving Alex to support his mother. Developing a keen mathematical mind through Kumon, Alex feels the weight of responsibility and dreams of escaping their grim reality. Motivated by his mother’s wise words, he applies for an exchange program and moves to London at sixteen, seeking a fresh start and better opportunities.
In London, Alex has an unusual encounter with Emma and Chris. These seemingly random connections evolve into a close-knit group, united by their shared passion for technology and desire to challenge the status quo. They navigate both the structured world of academia and the unknown, thrilling underground of the internet and cypherpunk communities.At university, they encounter renowned cryptographers like Hal Finney and Wei Dai, who become mentors, introducing them to the world of cryptography and decentralized systems. Hal’s teachings about trustless systems and cryptographic proof ignite Alex’s transformation into a dedicated cypherpunk. The friends dive into online forums, discussing and debating cryptographic solutions.Driven by their newfound knowledge and passion, they attempt to create a form of digital money as part of their official education projects. Alex needs to pass the paper to secure his scholarship and send money to his mother overseas. However, their initial efforts fail, mirroring the shortcomings of previous digital currency attempts like e-cash. These setbacks are felt deeply by Alex and noticed by other students, some more than others, but they continue working in secrecy, determined to find a solution.
Parallel to their academic pursuits, Alex, Emma, and Chris explore the underground hacking scene. In their secret lab, they refine their concept, addressing issues like the Byzantine Generals’ Problem and grounding Bitcoin in reality with proof of work. Bitcoin begins to take shape as a secure, decentralized currency. They test Bitcoin among themselves, ensuring its security and functionality, and encounter additional technical challenges, imagining scenarios where Bitcoin has been widely adopted.Their online communications attract the attention of government security agencies. The CIA and other agencies start monitoring their activities, sensing a revolutionary project. The trio realizes the danger and works tirelessly to stay ahead. The CIA tries to link the students to the underground hackers, leading to raids on their properties in an attempt to prove their involvement. A final thrilling chase ensues, with authorities attempting to capture them. Alex, Emma, and Chris narrowly evade capture, losing contact with each other in the process. Believing their escape means they will never reunite, they also lose the split Bitcoin keywords they had distributed among themselves, thinking their project is lost forever.
The 2008 financial crisis highlights the flaws of the existing financial system and underscores the need for an alternative. By chance, Alex, Emma, and Chris reconnect, some more devastated by the crisis than others. Realizing the significance of their earlier work, they reunite their efforts and the split Bitcoin keywords. Alex, Emma, and Chris finalize and publish the Bitcoin whitepaper, proposing a decentralized financial future. Alex buys a newspaper with the headline “Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks,” inscribing it in the first Bitcoin block mined. Bitcoin launches, gradually gaining traction as a decentralized currency.Realizing the importance of maintaining Bitcoin’s trustless nature, Alex, Emma, and Chris decide to disappear from everyone’s lives, including each other’s. They understand that Bitcoin’s success depends on their anonymity. Emma and Chris choose hard, dramatic paths to ensure their anonymity. Alex, taking an even more extreme path, decides to end his life, believing it is the only way to truly protect Bitcoin’s legacy. Before his death, Alex destroys the single record of the keywords to access Satoshi’s wallet, ensuring that Bitcoin lives forever as a trustless system.