U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a statement on the 17th anniversary of the publication of the Bitcoin White Paper, sending a message to the crypto community and addressing Senate Democrats.
As the government shutdown continues, Bessent shared a message on social media platform
“Seventeen years after the White Paper was published, the Bitcoin network is still up and running and more resilient than ever. Bitcoin will never shut down.”
October 31st has a special meaning in the world of cryptocurrencies. The nine-page Bitcoin white paper, published in 2008 by someone using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, laid the foundation for a decentralized digital currency system. This document ushered in a new era of the digital economy by demonstrating the potential for peer-to-peer transactions without the need for financial intermediaries. Since then, the Bitcoin network has been operating without interruption since its launch in January 2009.
Bessent’s statement is being taken not only as an anniversary but also as a policy signal. Following President Donald Trump’s signing of the GENIUS Act in July, Bessent described stablecoins as a “digital financial revolution” and argued that an internet-based dollar system could strengthen the United States’ reserve currency status and expand global payment access. This statement was seen as an indication of Treasury’s proactive approach to digital financial infrastructure.
*This is not investment advice.
