Apple has removed the digital copy of Satoshi Nakamoto‘s Bitcoin whitepaper from the latest beta version of its operating system. The whitepaper was embedded within a test scanner app called Virtual Scanner II, which was discovered earlier this month by an American technologist named Andy Baio.
Baio stumbled upon the Bitcoin whitepaper while trying to fix his wireless printer and revealed the discovery in a blog post on April 5th. He speculated that the whitepaper’s PDF copy could have been added to the system with macOS Mojave launched in 2018. The story gained significant traction, leading to several conspiracy theories about the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto.
The Easter egg was bundled up with other elements within the Virtual Scanner II app, but with the removal of the app from the beta, the Bitcoin whitepaper is no longer accessible. According to a report, the document will not be available once users update to the MacOS Ventura 13.4 beta 3 that was rolled out to developers on Tuesday. However, users who haven’t updated their Mac to the latest beta can still find the file by running a command.
Apple’s move to remove the Bitcoin whitepaper has stirred up controversy, with some accusing the company of violating copyright laws. Craig Wright, a controversial computer scientist who claims to be the “creator of Bitcoin,” was quick to point out the copyright infringement, which he believes gives him the right to sue Apple.
However, others argue that the Bitcoin whitepaper is a public document that anyone can freely distribute and use. The paper was originally released in 2008 by an unknown person or group using Satoshi Nakamoto’s pseudonym. It outlines the principles and concepts behind creating the world’s first decentralized digital currency, Bitcoin.
The Easter Egg Discovery
The discovery of the Bitcoin whitepaper as an Easter egg in a test scanner app on macOS by Andy Baio sparked excitement in the cryptocurrency community. The whitepaper, which outlines the principles and concepts behind the creation of Bitcoin, was seen as a valuable addition to the digital library of enthusiasts.
Apple’s decision to remove the Bitcoin whitepaper from the latest beta version of its operating system has generated controversy. While some argue that the document is a public record that can be freely distributed, others believe Apple’s action violates copyright laws.
The Significance of the Bitcoin Whitepaper
The Bitcoin whitepaper is considered a landmark document in the history of cryptocurrency. It outlines the revolutionary concept of a decentralized digital currency that any government or financial institution does not control. The document has inspired the creation of hundreds of other cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based applications.