The Crypto Timeline: From Genesis to Today
Walk through every major moment in cryptocurrency history from cypherpunk origins through May 2026. Specific dates, prices, names, and events — the full arc of the most consequential financial technology of our era.
7 lessons · 2 hr 14 min · beginner
- 1The Origins (1980s–2010): From Cypherpunks to GenesisThe 30-year cryptographic and political history that made Bitcoin possible, plus its first 18 months of existence — including the famous pizza purchase and the launch of the first exchanges.18 min
- 2The Awakening (2011–2016): Bitcoin Becomes RealFrom $1 to $1,000, the rise and fall of Mt. Gox, the launch of Ethereum, and the DAO hack that split a blockchain.15 min
- 3The Mainstream Crash (2017–2020): ICO Mania, Winter, DeFi SummerThe first true mainstream bubble, the brutal 2018 crash, two years of building during winter, and the surprise resurgence triggered by COVID and DeFi.13 min
- 4The Boom and Bust (2021–2023): NFTs, El Salvador, FTX, Banking CrisisThe most spectacular bull market in crypto history, the catastrophic 2022 collapses, and the recovery that set the stage for the institutional era.13 min
- 5The Institutional Era (2024–2026): Spot ETFs, Halving, and BeyondThe era of regulated mainstream access. Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, the 4th halving, the Trump administration's pro-crypto pivot, and the largest hack in history.13 min
- 6What Comes Next: 2026–2030 OutlookA grounded look at the next four years of crypto. The 5th Bitcoin halving, Ethereum's post-Fusaka roadmap, regulatory milestones (DAC8, GENIUS, MiCA), the institutional ETF floor, account abstraction, the quantum threat timeline, and the honest answer about what nobody knows.33 min
- 7What We Got Wrong: Predictions That FailedA retrospective on the most confident crypto predictions that did not pan out — stock-to-flow, "ETH killers," NFT permanence, the metaverse pivot, "blockchain not Bitcoin," and dozens of failed obituaries. The pattern: confidence in crypto forecasts is usually misplaced; humility is the right posture; learning to spot recycled predictions is a survival skill.29 min
Educational only — not financial advice.