17 Years Later, Bitcoin Still Runs — Unstoppable Since Day One

Bitcoin reached a milestone this week as the nine-page whitepaper that launched it passed its 17th anniversary. The document titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” was first posted on October 31, 2008.

Bitcoin Hits Its 17th Year

The network itself went live when the genesis block was mined on January 3, 2009. That first block carried a headline embedded in its code that referenced a major banking bailout story, a move that many say set the tone for the crypto’s original message.

The market has changed a lot since then. Based on reports, BTC’s market value is now being measured in the trillions, with some outlets citing a roughly $2 trillion market cap as part of the broader picture of adoption by institutions and governments.

Today marks the 17th anniversary of the Bitcoin Whitepaper.

Read it today: https://t.co/w5GI7OilDH pic.twitter.com/fahFRbSMmY

— Blockchain Association (@BlockchainAssn) October 31, 2025

Traders and investors watched prices closely on the anniversary. According to market snapshots, Bitcoin traded around $110,500 on the day, reflecting both recent gains and ongoing volatility.

Why The Date Matters

Analysts say anniversaries like this are both symbolic and practical. They give a moment to check how the technology and the money around it have changed. Supporters point to Bitcoin’s continuous operation since the genesis block as proof of its durability.

Political figures also used the date to weigh in: US Treasury officials and other public voices highlighted that the network has stayed “always on,” and some compared that to government operations.

According to reports, adoption was slow initially before picking up as products were developed, new exchanges opened and investment funds became available. Now, some countries and companies have begun holding Bitcoin directly.

Others are establishing rules and limits. So, in total, a mixed status. Policy decisions will continue to have an impact on the level of adoption with Bitcoin.

Traders are tracking support levels near $105,000 and watching for fresh momentum that could push prices higher or trigger pullbacks. Markets have seen large swings this year, and experts say those swings will likely remain.

Reports have disclosed mixed forecasts for price and policy in the months ahead, but many industry voices agree on one point: Bitcoin’s first 17 years have moved it from a technical experiment into a broad public debate about money, policy and investment.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView