From Two Pizzas to $100K: 27 Key Figures Behind Bitcoin’s 16-Year Ascent

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Bitcoin has come a long way since Laszlo Hanyecz famously spent 10,000 BTC on two pizzas in 2010. What began as a niche experiment among cryptography enthusiasts has evolved into a globally recognized asset class—backed by institutions, sovereign nations, and millions of individuals. This transformation didn’t happen by accident. It was fueled by visionaries, builders, investors, and policymakers who pushed Bitcoin from obscurity to mainstream legitimacy.

As we approach the annual "Bitcoin Pizza Day," it's worth reflecting on the pivotal players who shaped its journey. Based on public information and impact across technology, market adoption, education, and policy, this article highlights 27 key contributors—rated by influence—who helped turn Bitcoin from a digital curiosity into a potential store of value rivaling gold.

The Foundational Architects

Satoshi Nakamoto – The Origin Point

Satoshi Nakamoto remains the most enigmatic and influential figure in cryptocurrency history. By publishing the Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System whitepaper in 2008 and launching the network in 2009, Satoshi laid the foundation for decentralized finance. The identity remains unknown, but the legacy is undeniable. Satoshi mined the genesis block and is estimated to hold around 1 million BTC—assets that have never moved, serving as a symbolic anchor of trust.

👉 Discover how early innovations shaped today’s digital economy

Casey Rodarmor – Unlocking Bitcoin’s Creative Potential

In 2023, Casey Rodarmor introduced the Ordinals protocol, allowing users to inscribe images, text, and even videos directly onto the Bitcoin blockchain. This sparked the BRC-20 token standard and ignited a creative renaissance within the Bitcoin ecosystem. While controversial—some argue it bloats block space—it undeniably expanded Bitcoin’s utility beyond payments and store-of-value narratives.

Luke Dashjr – Guardian of the Code

One of the most experienced developers in the Bitcoin community, Luke Dashjr has contributed to Bitcoin Core since 2011. He authored BIP 22 and 23, critical for mining protocols, and developed BFGMiner—one of the most widely used mining software tools. His rigorous stance on protocol purity reflects his role as a gatekeeper of Bitcoin’s technical integrity.

Adam Back – The Cryptographic Bridge

Adam Back’s Hashcash algorithm became the foundation for Bitcoin’s proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Later, through Blockstream, he championed sidechains (Liquid) and scalability solutions like the Lightning Network—crucial for enabling faster, cheaper transactions while preserving decentralization.

Roger Ver – The Controversial Evangelist

Once hailed as “Bitcoin Jesus” for his aggressive promotion and investments in early crypto startups, Roger Ver later became a polarizing figure by supporting the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) hard fork in 2017. His push for larger blocks aimed at scaling payments clashed with the Core development philosophy, leading to lasting community divisions.

Institutional Champions & Wall Street Pioneers

Michael Saylor – Corporate Bitcoin Strategist

Michael Saylor redefined how companies view balance sheets by advocating Bitcoin as a superior treasury reserve asset. His strategy transformed MicroStrategy into one of the largest public holders of BTC, inspiring firms like Tesla and Square to follow suit. Through relentless public commentary, he became a global ambassador for institutional Bitcoin adoption.

Larry Fink – Wall Street’s Bitcoin Gatekeeper

Once skeptical, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink reversed course and filed for a spot Bitcoin ETF in 2023. Approved in 2024, IBIT became the fastest-growing ETF in history, amassing over $63 billion in assets. This marked a watershed moment—Bitcoin was now officially part of mainstream investment portfolios.

Barry Silbert – The Bridge Before ETFs

Before ETFs existed, Barry Silbert built GBTC—the first SEC-reporting vehicle offering indirect Bitcoin exposure. For years, it served as the primary gateway for pension funds and hedge funds to gain crypto exposure. Its conversion into an ETF in 2024 cemented its role in bridging traditional finance with digital assets.

Jack Dorsey – Silicon Valley’s Crypto Voice

As CEO of Block (formerly Square), Jack Dorsey made Bitcoin central to his company’s mission. Cash App enabled millions to buy BTC easily, while initiatives like Btrust funded global developers working on Bitcoin infrastructure. A vocal proponent of decentralization, Dorsey continues pushing for non-custodial wallets and mining innovation.

Cathie Wood – The Growth Investor Advocate

Cathie Wood positioned Bitcoin as a high-growth hedge against inflation. Her firm’s ARKB ETF gained approval in 2024 and quickly attracted over $5 billion in assets. By framing BTC through the lens of innovation disruption, she attracted a new wave of tech-savvy investors unfamiliar with traditional finance narratives.

Elon Musk – The Cultural Amplifier

Elon Musk’s tweets alone can move markets. When Tesla announced its Bitcoin purchase in 2021, prices surged. Though he later paused BTC payments over environmental concerns, his influence brought crypto into boardrooms and dinner-table conversations worldwide.

Paul Tudor Jones – The Macro Investor Pioneer

Renowned macro trader Paul Tudor Jones was among the first major Wall Street figures to allocate to Bitcoin. His public endorsement helped ease skepticism in traditional finance circles, paving the way for broader institutional acceptance.

Policy Shapers & National Champions

Nayib Bukele – The Nation-State Experimenter

President Bukele made history by adopting Bitcoin as legal currency. Backed by Chivo Wallet incentives and plans for a geothermal-powered “Bitcoin City,” his bold experiment sparked global debate—and inspired other nations to explore sovereign BTC adoption.

👉 See how countries are rethinking national reserves

Donald Trump – The U.S. Pro-Crypto Campaigner

During his 2024 campaign and subsequent administration, Trump championed a pro-innovation stance on crypto. His executive order directing Treasury to study Bitcoin inclusion in U.S. strategic reserves marked a turning point—ushering in what some call the era of “sovereign Bitcoin.”

Gary Gensler – The Reluctant Enabler

Despite aggressive enforcement actions against exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, Gensler ultimately presided over the approval of 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024—a decision that accelerated mainstream adoption under regulatory scrutiny.

Cynthia Lummis – Legislative Architect

U.S. Senator Lummis has been a consistent advocate for clear crypto regulations. Her efforts helped establish Wyoming as a crypto-friendly state and laid groundwork for federal legislation supporting digital asset innovation.

Hester Peirce – The “Crypto Mom”

SEC Commissioner Peirce earned her nickname by consistently pushing for fairer rules for crypto projects. Her dissents on enforcement cases highlighted the need for tailored frameworks rather than applying outdated securities laws broadly.

Julia Leung – Asia’s Regulatory Visionary

Under Julia Leung’s leadership, Hong Kong established a robust licensing regime for virtual asset platforms and became a hub for compliant crypto innovation in Asia—balancing investor protection with technological progress.

Lorenzo Wong – Hong Kong’s Web3 Advocate

As chair of Hong Kong’s Web3 committee, Lorenzo Wong advocates policies that position the city as a global blockchain leader—bridging regulatory gaps between China and international markets.

Platform Builders & Community Educators

Brian Armstrong – Compliance Trailblazer

Armstrong built Coinbase as a regulated gateway for Americans to access crypto safely. Its integration into major financial indices signaled crypto’s arrival on Wall Street.

Jihan Wu – Mining Magnate

Wu played a crucial role in industrializing Bitcoin mining. Though his support for larger blocks caused controversy, there's no denying his impact on network security and hash rate growth.

Changpeng Zhao (CZ) – Exchange Empire Builder

CZ democratized access to crypto trading globally. Despite regulatory challenges, Binance remains central to Bitcoin liquidity and adoption across emerging markets.

Star Xu – Asian Derivatives Innovator

Xu helped shape modern crypto trading infrastructure with OKX’s advanced contract offerings—providing tools essential for institutional-grade risk management.

Educators & Cultural Stewards

Andreas M. Antonopoulos – The People’s Professor

Antonopoulos made complex concepts accessible, shaping public understanding of decentralization and digital sovereignty.

Jimmy Song & Marty Bent – Grassroots Advocates

Both dedicated years to teaching developers and hosting influential podcasts (Tales from the Crypt), reinforcing Bitcoin’s philosophical foundations beyond code.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who had the biggest impact on Bitcoin’s price rise?
A: Michael Saylor and Larry Fink were instrumental through corporate adoption and ETF approvals—two catalysts that drove massive capital inflows.

Q: Is Satoshi Nakamoto still involved?
A: No. Satoshi disappeared from public view around 2011 and has not interacted with the network since.

Q: Can governments ban Bitcoin?
A: While individual countries can restrict usage (e.g., China), banning Bitcoin globally is nearly impossible due to its decentralized nature.

Q: Why do policymakers care about Bitcoin now?
A: With rising inflation and currency debasement concerns, many see BTC as a neutral reserve asset—especially amid growing interest in "digital gold" narratives.

Q: What role do ETFs play in adoption?
A: ETFs allow traditional investors to gain exposure without managing private keys—lowering barriers significantly.

Q: Will more countries adopt Bitcoin as legal tender?
A: Several nations—including Panama and Argentina—are exploring similar moves after El Salvador’s experiment drew global attention.

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