As I awoke to the morning sunlight, I lingered momentarily between the realms of the everyday and the virtual. My double life, oscillating between being Luke, a professor behind a mask of anonymity, and the creator of a digital currency shrouded in secrecy, mirrored the two sides of a coin.
Rising from my bed and facing the pale reflection in the bathroom mirror, my body felt like a bridge connecting these two worlds. The email from last night, followed by the phone call, echoed in my mind like a warning from an anonymous voice.
The stream of water from the shower seemed to wash away some of the anxiety. Yet, as I returned to reality, the unease pressed down on me again. Drying off, I looked once more at my reflection. There stood Luke, a adjunct professor in Computer Science at Arizona State University, and behind that facade, the creator now seemingly hunted by the world.
Breakfast was simple. Toast with a slice of cheese, accompanied by a cup of coffee. Sitting quietly at the table, I pondered how the anonymous warners had discovered my existence and what means they might employ to unravel my identity. Finishing my meal and setting the coffee cup in the sink, I sighed, stepping out of my deep contemplation.
The drive to the university was short, but my mind remained heavy. Upon arrival, I headed straight to my office. Even as I prepared for my lecture, yesterday's warning weighed on my mind.
Entering the 'Network Security' classroom, the students looked at me with eager eyes, but I saw the shadow of the anonymous caller slowly materializing before me. The irony of discussing the importance of security protocols and encryption, now a shield I must wield to protect myself, was not lost on me.
I cleared my throat and began, "Network security is not just about keeping systems safe; it's about protecting the privacy and freedom of everyone within it..."
My words flowed slowly, and the air in the classroom was thick with seriousness.
After class, as the students dispersed amidst a cacophony of voices, I stood at the back of the classroom, bidding them farewell behind the mask of Luke. I felt the immense wave of Bitcoin, my creation, increasingly unsettling my life.
As most students left, Haruka, a meticulous and gentle student from Japan, approached me. Her small gestures were always polite, and her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Professor?" she asked tentatively.
"Today's lecture was great. But you seem a bit tired. Is everything alright?"
Her words caught me off guard, but I smiled and shook my head, "No, I'm fine. Did I seem off?"
Haruka tilted her head, "You just seemed different today. Usually, you're more energetic in your lectures."
I appreciated Haruka's sensitivity, but it also stirred my anxiety. Could I not hide my inner turmoil, the anxiety, and the internal conflict brought on by Bitcoin?
"I'm really fine, Haruka. Thanks for your concern."
She gave me one more worried look before smiling and walking away, "Okay, just don't overdo it."
***
I hurried home from campus. As soon as I arrived, I sat down at my computer.
Pressing the power button and listening to the machine come to life, I enjoyed a moment of peace. But as the screen lit up, anxiety returned. Checking my emails, I monitored the movements on the Bitcoin network.
Contrary to my expectations, there were no new messages, warnings, or threats. Just ordinary transaction details and questions on the Bitcoin forum.
I answered each question on the forum.
------------------------------
Question: Why is Bitcoin limited to 21 million units?
Satoshi Nakamoto: It's to impart scarcity to Bitcoin. The limited supply creates a reliable scarcity, allowing Bitcoin to function as a store of value. This aligns with the principle of 'scarcity value' in economics. A currency that can be issued unlimitedly risks devaluation, like inflation reducing the value of money. Bitcoin, with its capped supply, does not face inflation over time. Theoretically, its value should increase as it becomes scarcer.
Question: What if I lose my Bitcoin wallet password and seed phrase?
Satoshi Nakamoto: Unfortunately, they cannot be recovered. The total cap of 21 million Bitcoins means lost Bitcoins increase the scarcity of the remaining ones, effectively contributing to the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Question: Is Bitcoin like a stock?
Satoshi Nakamoto: Bitcoin differs from stocks. Stocks represent ownership in a company and are valued based on the company's profits, losses, and asset values. Bitcoin, a digital currency, is not tied to any corporation or institution and is supported by a decentralized network. It doesn't yield dividends. It's more akin to a commodity or collectible.
----------------------------
After responding, I stared at the monitor for a while, sighing. Sunlight streamed through the large window, lighting up my room, but my heart remained shadowed. The freedom and innovation I desired in a decentralized currency seemed to be turning into shackles binding my everyday life. If my identity were revealed, it wouldn't just be my problem. It could endanger Bitcoin's security and even my family.
The computer's cooling fan whirred faster, breaking the silence. My thoughts raced along with it. What decision should I make? This double life was clearly unsustainable. Yet, I couldn't reveal my identity. My chosen path was to protect my secret while continuing the Bitcoin project.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, sinking into deep meditation to calm my mind. The answers to who I am and what I should do were surely within me. My way of life, my values, the principles behind Bitcoin I created – all converged within me, guiding my path.
After hours of contemplation, I decided not to rush any decisions. For now, my role was to propagate the philosophy of Bitcoin while concealing my existence. Even if someone suspected or sought me out, I was ready. No matter the warnings, I would protect this revolutionary project I had started. I would simply move forward in my own way.
The pale moonlight streaming through the window at dawn was the only light in my studio. Each keystroke on the computer keyboard seemed to breathe life into the Bitcoin network, my secret creation.
I reviewed each line of code, watching the digital organism grow. The blockchain was a simple idea at its core: storing transaction records in blocks and linking them in chronological order. But behind this simplicity lay mechanisms that encouraged competition while preventing foul play. These psychological and political devices would keep the Bitcoin network from collapsing.
Watching new nodes join my server, I paused my typing. People from around the world, unknown to me, were voluntarily expanding the network by embracing my protocol. Each node verified transactions and performed complex calculations to add new blocks to the chain, all without centralized control or surveillance. A decentralized structure of trust – that was the world I had dreamed of.
As time passed, the volume of transactions grew. Like small streams forming a mighty river, the intensity of transactions increased. Within this system, every transaction was transparently recorded and irreversibly stored. Even without a central authority, the network was self-regulating and secure.
The chain that began with a single block had grown into a long chain made up of many blocks. I still don't know what results this will all yield, what meaning it will hold. But one thing was clear: this chain was not merely a collection of codes, but a promise of new economic freedom.
Watching the program's log steadily record new transactions, I smiled. What I had created was growing, alive with its own vitality. A network like the dawn in the shadows, still unknown to all. But soon, it would reveal its presence to the whole world.
In that moment, I realized I was no longer just a professor teaching students in a classroom, but an innovator capable of changing the world. Although my name would remain hidden, the seeds I had sown were sprouting. This was my true achievement, and Bitcoin would be my immortal echo in the world.
I raised my hands above my head and took a deep breath. In this studio, where the only companion was the sound of the computer's cooling fan, I focused on every minute ripple of the Bitcoin network. The addition of new blocks to the blockchain felt like the heartbeat of a digital world. Each transaction was transmitted through the network in an instant, creating new transfers of value. All of it seemed mystical and sacred, and I could only watch in awe.
"Ding-dong"
The sound of my email notification filled the quiet room. I looked at the top right of the screen. My heart seemed to drop at the unexpected sender's name: "People's Bank of China."
I hesitated for a moment. What could this email be about?
Clicking the mouse, I opened the email. It was written in a polite and formal tone. The People's Bank of China was inviting me to an international conference.
—————————————————————————
Subject: Invitation to the Global Finance and Digital Currency Conference
Dear Professor Luke,
Greetings,
The People's Bank of China cordially invites you to the Global Finance and Digital Currency Conference, to be held in Beijing from March 1st to 3rd, 2009.
We have learned much from your pioneering research and papers on distributed networks and security. In particular, your insights on decentralized networks have been greatly instructive to us. We would be honored to host you in China to share and learn from your profound expertise.
The conference aims to bring together leading researchers from around the world, including yourself, to discuss the future of global finance and digital currencies and explore the possibilities of the digital economy.
The attached file includes a preliminary schedule and discussion topics. Should you accept this invitation, we will provide additional information regarding travel and accommodation.
We eagerly hope to have you join us in this significant conversation to advance the future of finance.
Thank you.
Zhang Wei
Deputy Director, International Finance Department, People's Bank of China
—————————————————————————
I sank deeply into my chair, catching my breath.
'Why me?'
That single question circled in my mind.
Such emails are common in academic invitations, but this was different. I knew almost nothing about China, had never interacted with the People's Bank of China, and I had never even been to China...