Early Bitcoin Developer Jeff Garzik Says Working Code, Not White Paper, Drove Its Rise 

Bitcoin Core developer Jeff Garzik said Bitcoin’s early growth was driven by its working source code and increased public exposure, rather than the cryptocurrency’s white paper alone.

Speaking on the Bitcoin Treasuries podcast, Garzik cited a July 2010 Slashdot post as a key moment that brought Bitcoin to a broader audience.

Garzik said Bitcoin could have remained another ecash or Hashcash-style white paper without a practical implementation. In his account, the release of operational, testable source code allowed people to use Bitcoin and establish that the system worked. 

Users subsequently turned to the white paper after testing Bitcoin in practice, Garzik said, leading them to recognize the significance of its design.

Source: Bitcoin Treasuries Podcast