The world of cryptocurrency has been sent into a frenzy following the news of a surprising discovery: a copy of Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin whitepaper allegedly hidden in just about every Apple Mac computer running MacOS since 2018.
Tech-savvy Andy Baio claimed that he accidentally stumbled upon the document while trying to fix his printer. After allegedly asking over a dozen friends to replicate his discovery, it was confirmed that the whitepaper was already included on every MacOS computer since 2018.
This supports an old tweet made by a former Apple product designer who goes by the name “Josh D.” in 2020. However, the said post on Twitter failed to gain traction back then.
The discoverer said the file could be accessed using a set of specific commands in a Terminal, which consists of the following:
open /System/Library/Image\
Capture/Devices/VirtualScanner.app/Contents/Resources/simpledoc.pdf
Andy Baio via Waxy.org
What is the Bitcoin Whitepaper?
The white paper known as “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” was created by an anonymous person or group who used the name Satoshi Nakamoto. The same was released in October 2008.
The paper puts forward the idea of a decentralized electronic cash system that allows direct online payments between individuals without the need for intermediaries such as financial institutions. It is considered a seminal piece in the history of Bitcoin and has played a significant role in the cryptocurrency’s rise to become the world’s largest digital asset by market value.
What Could the Discovery Mean for Bitcoin?
The inclusion of the white paper in Apple’s operating system could have several implications for the future of Bitcoin. For one, it could increase awareness of the cryptocurrency, particularly among Mac users who may have never heard of or are still unfamiliar with the concept of Bitcoin before. Additionally, it could encourage more people to read and understand the technical details of Bitcoin, potentially leading to increased interest in the crypto, which could enhance its adoption and investment portfolio.
It’s also possible that the inclusion of the white paper was simply a convenient way to test a multipage PDF, as Baio suggests. However, given the significance of the document and its impact on the development of cryptocurrency, it seems unlikely that its inclusion was purely coincidental.
As of Friday, Bitcoin’s value has risen to around $27,946, having rallied over 68% so far in 2023. Nearly 24% of those gains came in March amid broader banking turmoil and uncertainty. The discovery of the whitepaper on Apple Macs could further contribute to the cryptocurrency’s growing value and importance.
Final Thoughts
The discovery of the Bitcoin whitepaper of Satoshi Nakamoto on Apple Macs is an exciting development for cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Whether it was included for testing purposes or as a deliberate decision, the document’s presence on millions of computers alone could have significant implications for the future of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
As more people become aware of the technical details and potential of these digital currencies, we could see increased adoption, investment, and innovation in the years to come. The cryptocurrency world is evolving, and the discovery of the whitepaper on Apple Macs is just one indication of the growing interest and importance of these digital currencies by large companies.
Giancarlo is an economist by profession with a career spanning nearly two decades. His professional journey has seen him assume vital roles in various government and private organizations such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Megaworld Corporation, and the China Banking Corporation in the Republic of the Philippines.
In addition to his civic and corporate pursuits, his forward-thinking approach has led him to manage several prominent websites in the banking and finance sector, notably the Australia-based RateChoice, where he immersed himself in the world of emerging financial technologies and where he found particular interest in Bitcoin all the way back to 2013.
Prior to his addition to Blockzeit’s dynamic team, he held an essential role as Project Manager for initiatives encompassing blockchain, stablecoin, mining, special economic zone development, and iGaming. This noteworthy chapter in his career unfolded under the auspices of InPlan Consultancy Services, Inc., the think-tank of IMPERO Consortium Management Corporation headquartered in Manila, Philippines, and Tokyo, Japan. InPlan, led by a distinguished retired Cabinet member of the Philippines, collaborates directly with IMPERO’s core management team, contributing to strategic planning and business development endeavors.