Why Everyone From Square to Facebook Is Now Hosting the Bitcoin White Paper

The uploads come in response to legal threats by Craig Wright.

AccessTimeIconJan 21, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 14, 2021 at 10:59 a.m. UTC
Alex Thorn
Head of Firmwide Research
Galaxy
Hear Alex Thorn share his take on "Bitcoin and Inflation: It’s Complicated” at Consensus 2023.
Alex Thorn
Head of Firmwide Research
Galaxy
Consensus 2023 Logo
Hear Alex Thorn share his take on "Bitcoin and Inflation: It’s Complicated” at Consensus 2023.
Alex Thorn
Head of Firmwide Research
Galaxy
Hear Alex Thorn share his take on "Bitcoin and Inflation: It’s Complicated” at Consensus 2023.
Alex Thorn
Head of Firmwide Research
Galaxy
Consensus 2023 Logo
Hear Alex Thorn share his take on "Bitcoin and Inflation: It’s Complicated” at Consensus 2023.

Some of the Bitcoin community's most prominent voices (and also Facebook subsidiary Novi) are now hosting the Bitcoin white paper.

The move follows legal threats from nChain Chief Scientist Craig Wright levied against the nonprofit that has long hosted crypto's foundational document.

"Yesterday, both Bitcoin.org and Bitcoincore.org received allegations of copyright infringement of the Bitcoin white paper by lawyers representing Craig Steven Wright," the nonprofit wrote Thursday morning.

Bitcoin was created by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, who has yet to be conclusively identified. Wright has repeatedly made claims that he is Satoshi.

Seemingly in response to the takedown notice, a wave of crypto firms have published the white paper on their websites. As of press time they include:

Others are likely to join in.

The document has been uploaded to Arweave, a distributed platform for "permanent" file storage. It is also being stored on the "uncensorable web" via the InterPlanetary File System (IFPS) and the Ethereum Name Service (ENS).

Bitcoincore.org appears to have taken down its copy of the Bitcoin white paper. The PDF is still live, however, on Bitcoin.org.

DISCLOSURE

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.


Learn more about Consensus 2023, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.