when did bitcoin come out

Bitcoin “came out” in early 2009, when its network went live and the first block of the blockchain was created.

Key dates

• The bitcoin.org domain was registered on 18 August 2008, laying the groundwork for the project.

• On 31 October 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto published the Bitcoin white paper titled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.

• Bitcoin effectively launched on 3 January 2009, when Satoshi mined the genesis block (block 0), starting the Bitcoin network.

• Use of Bitcoin as a currency began in 2009 with the release of the open‑source implementation to the public.

Simple takeaway

If someone asks “when did Bitcoin come out,” the most common answer is that Bitcoin was launched on 3 January 2009, when the network started with the genesis block.