Running Bitcoin with Fran Finney - WBD754

Fran Finney is the widow of the legendary Hal Finney, who
received the first Bitcoin transaction. In this interview, we
discuss her husband's impact, their life together, and his battle
with ALS. We also talk about the importance of Bitcoin, the
challenges Hal and her faced due to harassment, and the concept
of cryopreservation. The conversation also touches on the
significance of fundraising for ALS research and how the Bitcoin
community can contribute to this cause.


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Hal Finney was not only the first person to receive a Bitcoin
transaction (Satoshi sent him 10 Bitcoins in January 2009 as a
test), he was also the first person after Satoshi to download and
run Bitcoin software. Hal came across the Bitcoin whitepaper
through a Cypherpunks mailing list. As a champion of personal
privacy, he saw the potential for Bitcoin to provide for
censorship-resistant transactions.


Driven by his concerns about government overreach in the digital
age, Hal became a pioneer in the world of cryptography, gaining
recognition for his part in the development of PGP. He was also
part of a band of cypherpunks trying to develop a new form of
money providing personal sovereignty. Hal co-authored the first
paper detailing the concept of reusable cryptographic proofs of
work, which would later be adapted in Bitcoin.


Hal famously walked away from Bitcoin for a full year. During
that time he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS). Despite the debilitating nature of the disease, Finney
continued to work tirelessly on Bitcoin's development until his
passing on August 28, 2014. His untimely death left behind a
legacy of innovation and a lasting impact on the foundation of
the digital currency landscape.


Despite his personal struggles, Hal Finney's intellect and
relentless pursuit of knowledge cemented his place as a legendary
figure in the world of cryptography and Bitcoin. In this podcast,
I talk to Fran Finney, who is tirelessly committed to honouring
his memory by raising funds for ALS victims and advocating for
increased understanding of the disease.


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ALS Golden West Running Bitcoin Challenge


Join the WBD Team - ALS Golden West Running Bitcoin
Challenge


Show notes:
https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/running-bitcoin-with-fran-finney


This episode’s sponsors:
Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably
Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here
Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet
Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default
Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence
OrangePillApp - Stack Friends Who Stack Sats
SwanBitcoin - Invest in Bitcoin with Swan