Bitcoin pioneer gave away over US$100m in virtual coins, Business News & Top Stories

Mr Jeff Garzik started writing software code for bitcoin after reading a blog post about the digital currency in July 2010. At the time, he was working remotely for open-source powerhouse Red Hat from a vehicle parked in an empty lot in Raleigh, North Carolina.

He soon became the third-biggest contributor to bitcoin’s code after the cryptocurrency’s anonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto and developer Gavin Andresen, and remained so through 2014. Looking back 10 years after its creation, Mr Garzik said he is proud, even though bitcoin is not what he envisioned it would become.

“As a father, I enjoy watching my kids grow up, even as they make mistakes or grow in ways that I wouldn’t expect,” said Mr Garzik, who has given away bitcoin valued at more than US$100 million based on current prices.

During the initial period, Mr Garzik, 44, worked directly with Nakamoto, corresponding via private e-mail and the Bitcointalk forum, until the token’s creator abruptly disappeared in 2011.

Since…