The Milestones: Bitcoin's Biggest Turning Points

PayPal
The PayPal Moment: When Bitcoin Met Mainstream Payments
PayPal accepting bitcoin? The story behind the headlines that made the mainstream public take notice of the upstart digital currency.
PayPal

silk road, desert
Silk Road Goes Dark: Bitcoin Survives Its Biggest Market's Demise
In CoinDesk's "Bitcoin Milestones" series, attorney Marco Santori recalls the heyday of Silk Road, its sudden downfall and its legacy for bitcoin.
silk road, desert

senate, 2013
Bitcoin's DC Debut: All Eyes Watch the US Government's Response
Bitcoin regulatory expert Jerry Brito recounts the tech's early days in Washington, DC, and the work that went into its successful regulatory debut.
senate, 2013

MIT, bitcoin
That Time We Gave $500,000 in Bitcoin to College Kids...
A thriving bitcoin community emerged at MIT after two students put together a $500,000 bitcoin distribution project.
MIT, bitcoin

BTC miami
Miami 2014: The Last Days of Bitcoin's Wild West
'Bitcoin Milestones' continues with a look back at TNABC Miami 2014 – the conference where Bruce Fenton says the industry grew up.
BTC miami

overstock, ecommerce
'Into the War Room': Overstock Looks Back on Bitcoin Embrace
Overstock looks back at its groundbreaking decision to accept bitcoin in 2014 – a notable early boost for digital currency.
overstock, ecommerce

Draper auction
Should I Do It? 30,000 Bitcoins and One Big Auction
Investor Adam Draper recounts the day the US government sold 30,000 bitcoins at auction – and his father won.
Draper auction

bitcoin, miners
Here Comes the Pickaxe Race: Bitcoin Mining Jumps to GPU
Early bitcoin entrepreneur Alex Waters looks back at what was lost as the network's mining 'arms race' escalated.
bitcoin, miners

Credit: Shutterstock
The Gold Rush Begins: The Day Bitcoin Topped the US Dollar
Launching our new 'Milestones' series, investor Roger Ver recalls his discovery of bitcoin and his thrill when its price first topped the US dollar.
Credit: Shutterstock