Bitcoin and me (Hal Finney)

[herzmeister]

thank you for everything Hal!

[thefiniteidea]

When Satoshi announced Bitcoin on the cryptography mailing list, he got a skeptical reception at best. Cryptographers have seen too many grand schemes by clueless noobs. They tend to have a knee jerk reaction.
...
I was more positive. I've had the good fortune to know many brilliant people over the course of my life, so I recognize the signs.

Thank you immensely, Hal! Thank you for being there at the beginning with that intuition! And with that open-minded attitude! None of this would have happened without it!

You rock, man  

[Cryptoman]

The single most beautiful post ever made on this board, Hal.

You don't know me but I lurked the cypherpunk list way back when. You made more of an impact on my life, and that of many others, than you can probably comprehend. PGP changed everything and you helped. Bitcoin has changed everything and you helped. You even have a Bitcoin attack named after you.

Thanks for sharing what you know, Hal. You're showing us how to do it.

+1

Hal, I'm also one of your admirers from the old list.  Thanks for all your work on remailers (I always posted to the cypherpunks list through a remailer) and also for your early work on PGP and Bitcoin.  I too was diagnosed with a "fatal" condition...in 1996.  I was given 3 years to live, but as you can see, I'm still around.  I'm not done tormenting our overlords yet.  So anything's possible, Hal.  Your example of making the best of things and continuing to contribute to the things you love will inspire many.  Godspeed. 

[conv3rsion]

Hal I really appreciated reading your story. Thank you very much for sharing it with us.

[AlexWaters]

Your story is inspiring, thank you.

"The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away"

[Melbustus]

When Satoshi announced Bitcoin on the cryptography mailing list, he got a skeptical reception at best. Cryptographers have seen too many grand schemes by clueless noobs. They tend to have a knee jerk reaction.

I was more positive.

Fascinating how one's attitude can potentially make a difference of great historical significance. I, like many here, think bitcoin can be a wonderful benefit to humanity, and your early help was important if not critical.

As was your prior work. There aren't many who truly make a significant impact. Thanks for sharing your story now, and both your brainpower and good manner over your whole life. 

[LightRider]

Thank you for all of your work and for sharing your story.

I hope medical science and technology improves so that it may cure your disease and keep you in the business of generating brilliance that serves all of humanity for a long time to come.

[thoughtfan]

Everything I thought of writing in response whilst reading has already been said but I will add my thanks nevertheless.

[Dusty]

Hello Hal, and thanks for sharing your story.

Please keep up, I'm sure you will do other amazing things!

[amincd]

I'm very sorry to hear about your condition. I hope you try some experimental treatments for ALS.

[glub0x]

wow breathtaking

[grau]

Your remarkable contribution to the foundation of our future economy should let you feel proud and safe to be remembered by all of us.

Thank you Hal.

[n0rupp]

I'm speechless. Thank you!

[Mike Hearn]

Hal,

I already knew your story (and I remember RPOW too), but it's wonderful that you're sharing it with a wider audience. I'm unspeakably happy that you're still able to enjoy programming and have been able to combine your interests in TC and Bitcoin together. And I'm blown away by the fact that even now in the advanced stages of ALS you are finding unique ways to contribute that I am 100% sure will be in wide usage, even decades from now.

Back in 2011 I wrote this:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3441.msg48897#msg48897

If a miner is found to be repeatedly performing what for lack of a better name I'll call the Finney attack, other honest nodes blacklist that public key.

... and it seems the name has stuck. So whilst nobody knows what will become of Bitcoin, if it does continue to grow and take off, it's plausible people will be speaking the name of Hal Finney long after we're all dead. Even if the odds of Bitcoin succeeding to this degree are slim, are they really 100 million to one against?

[VeeMiner]

Thank you for sharing the story Hal,

you are an inspiration to everyone here. Also you are a very strong person to have dealt with your sickness in such a manner. Thank you for your contribution to make the world a better place!

[Nubarius]

Hal, thank you for sharing your story and for your great contributions to Bitcoin.

And it's so encouraging that you can keep up the great work in the face of adversity. All the best.

[toorik]

Thank You for sharing. Travel with god!


all the best,

m.

[qwk]

Forgive my ego, i just had to make it onto
http://blockexplorer.com/address/xxx
and chipped you a bit-dime.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

(later edited for his privacy)

[Amitabh S]

Thanks for the post and for sharing a bit of bitcoin history. We are grateful for your contribution to PGP and bitcoin.

[Jaagu]

Hal, I remember your posts from 2010.
I was recently thinking of you.
And you answered.
When does satoshi answer?