Thirty years ago, when the earliest blockchain was born, its inventors envisioned something akin to NFTs — not digital currencies. Jason Bailey, founder of Artnome.com, sat down with blockchain pioneers Scott Stornetta and Stuart Haber to explore their original vision and how it evolved into today’s technologies.
The Genesis of Blockchain Technology
Jason Bailey: Many associate blockchain’s invention solely with Satoshi Nakamoto. How do your contributions fit into this narrative?
Stuart Haber: In 1989, Scott and I tackled a critical problem: ensuring digital records’ integrity without relying on trusted authorities. We developed a system using cryptographic hash functions — "digital fingerprints" — to link records immutably. This architecture became the foundation Satoshi later adapted for Bitcoin.
Scott Stornetta: Our work focused on proving provenance for all records, not just financial ones. Satoshi brilliantly repurposed our timestamping system for currency, but the core innovation — decentralized verification — predates Bitcoin.
Key Innovations: Hashes and the First Blockchain
- Digital Fingerprints: Cryptographic hashes create unique identifiers for files. Even minor changes yield completely different fingerprints, ensuring tamper-proof records.
- Blockchain Structure: By chaining hashes together (forming Merkle trees), we created an immutable ledger. This method, commercialized in 1995, still operates today — making it the oldest running blockchain.
👉 Discover how blockchain technology revolutionized digital trust
NFTs vs. Cryptocurrency: The Original Vision
JB: Your work aligns more with NFTs than crypto. Was this intentional?
SH: Absolutely. We imagined blockchain as a tool for authenticating any important record — art, patents, contracts. NFTs embody that vision far better than cryptocurrencies alone.
SS: Satoshi built Bitcoin atop our layer. But footnote #3 in his whitepaper references our 1991 paper hinting at NFT-like "unique non-fungible records." The potential for NFTs was there from day one.
Preserving History: The New York Times Experiment
To demonstrate tamper-proof distribution, the team published weekly blockchain snapshots in The New York Times — a "low-tech" solution ensuring global accessibility:
- Decentralized Trust: No single entity could alter records without changing every library’s newspaper copy worldwide.
- NFT Homage: Their recent NFT collection commemorates these 1990s snapshots with illustrated historical moments.
Debunking Blockchain Myths
JB: How do you view today’s crypto tribalism?
SH: We advocate for multi-chain interoperability. Different blockchains can coexist, each excelling in specific roles. Our NFTs deliberately span platforms to promote collaboration.
SS: True decentralization balances efficiency with trustlessness. While Bitcoin centralized mining power, the tech’s real potential lies in diverse, interconnected networks.
FAQ: Addressing Common Questions
Q: Did you invent Bitcoin?
A: No — we invented the underlying blockchain architecture Satoshi adapted for cryptocurrency.
Q: Why use newspapers instead of computers?
A: Physical distribution in 1990s provided unparalleled tamper-proofing. Today’s blockchains achieve this digitally.
Q: Are NFTs the "real" use case for blockchain?
A: They’re one major application fulfilling our original goal: certifying unique digital artifacts.
The Future: A Collaborative Multi-Chain Ecosystem
👉 Explore how blockchain interoperability drives innovation
The inventors emphasize cross-chain collaboration for NFTs and beyond:
- Current Project: Expanding NFT collections across multiple blockchains to celebrate shared history.
- Call to Action: "If your blockchain network values interoperability, join us in publishing the next chapter."
Final Thought: As Stornetta notes, "Blockchain isn’t about replacing systems — it’s about creating provable truth where none existed before."