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The groundwork for Bitcoin was laid when Satoshi Nakamoto published the white paper on October 31, 2008. The first block, or Genesis block, was mined on January 3, 2009. The early versions of Bitcoin did not impose a block size limit, a limitation that would emerge later, ostensibly as a measure against spam transactions. Satoshi engaged with developers and made clear that growth should be gradual, arguing that public attention could hinder development at such a nascent stage.
However, the allure of anonymity attracted early adopters for illicit activities, prompting Satoshi to distance himself from Bitcoin and warning against its use for moral light. These early transgressions set a precedent that would ultimately affect Bitcoin's trajectory.