Cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin in particular are already part of the lives of millions of people. Many of its features are available to everyone, such as access to a platform like Immediate Avage 100 to buy and conduct market analysis. However, there is still a lot of information that is a little less known. Here you will find some interesting facts about cryptocurrencies and a special on Bockchain in the area that will surprise you.
Mysterious origin: The inventor of Bitcoin, known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, remains anonymous. Nobody knows who he really is, and his identity remains one of the biggest mysteries in the cryptocurrency world.
Bitcoin pizza: In 2010, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 Bitcoins for two pizzas, marking the first recorded Bitcoin transaction for tangible goods. Today, that amount of Bitcoins would be worth millions of dollars.
The first ICO: The first Initial Coin Launch (ICO) was carried out by Mastercoin in 2013. They collected around 5,000 Bitcoins, which was equivalent to around $500,000 at the time.
Bitcoin is limited: There will only be 21 million Bitcoins in total. This limit is intended to control supply and prevent inflation.
Extreme volatility: Cryptocurrencies are known for their volatility. The value of a cryptocurrency can change significantly in a short period of time, creating opportunities and risks for investors.
First crypto millionaire: Erik Finman became a millionaire at the age of 18 after investing $1,000 in Bitcoin in 2011. His investment was valued at over $4 million in 2017.
Ethereum and Smart Contracts: Ethereum is not only a cryptocurrency but also a platform that allows the creation of smart contracts. These contracts are executed automatically when certain conditions are met, without the need for intermediaries.
Satoshi as an entity: The smallest Bitcoin unit is called Satoshi and is named after the inventor of the cryptocurrency. One Bitcoin is divided into 100,000,000 Satoshis.
Cryptocurrencies in developing countries: Cryptocurrencies have been introduced in some developing countries to bypass government restrictions and access financial services. In Venezuela, for example, where inflation is high, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have been used as a haven of value.
Cryptocurrencies in space: the story of the startup SpaceChain
SpaceChain is a startup working to bring blockchain technology to space. In 2016, SpaceChain became the first company to send blockchain nodes into space. This allows smart contracts and secure transactions to be executed outside of Earth's atmosphere. Here is an overview of the history
Start and destinations: SpaceChain was founded in 2017 by Zee Zheng, Jeff Garzik and Xiaochen Zhang. The company's mission was to use blockchain technology to create a secure, decentralized platform in space. The main idea was to develop blockchain nodes that could operate on satellites and space stations.
First blockchain node in space: In 2016, SpaceChain reached a significant milestone by becoming the first company to successfully launch a blockchain node into space. This node was equipped with software that enabled the execution of smart contracts and secure transactions in space.
Collaboration with Nanoracks and launch on the International Space Station (ISS): In 2019, SpaceChain partnered with Nanoracks, a company specializing in commercial services on the International Space Station (ISS). They launched special hardware that enabled blockchain applications to run on the ISS. This collaboration opened up new opportunities for the development of blockchain technologies in the microgravity environment of space.
Space Blockchain Platform Development: SpaceChain continued to develop its platform and expand its capabilities. The idea behind this initiative is to leverage the inherent decentralization of blockchain technology to provide an additional layer of security for space communications and transactions.
Impact and future: The presence of blockchain technology in space has interesting implications. It can improve the security of space communications, ensure data integrity, and enable secure transactions between satellites and space stations. Additionally, it could pave the way for future decentralized applications (dApps) in this space.
Perspectives and challenges: The development of blockchain technologies in space faces technical and regulatory challenges, but also offers opportunities to improve the resilience and security of space operations.
In short, SpaceChain has been at the forefront of exploring how blockchain technology can play a critical role in the space environment, opening up new opportunities for security and efficiency in communications and transactions in space.