Blockstream CEO Adam Back talks Bitcoin over a game of Jenga
Ever since his childhood years, Adam Back, now CEO of Blockstream, would spend his time fidgeting with programming code to look for encryption keys embedded in the software. Born in 1970, the London native completed his A-levels in mathematics, physics, and economics before focusing on computing science and earning a Ph.D. from the University of Exeter. Having devoted his career to applied cryptography, Back invented HashCash in 1997, a proof-of-work system used to limit email spam and denial-of-service attacks that later became more renowned for its use in Bitcoin. In fact, Back was one of the few people to be cited in the original Bitcoin whitepaper.
Nowadays, Back manages his digital asset custody firm Blockstream based in Victoria, Canada, which raised $210 million in a Series B round last August. During an interview with Cointelegraph reporter Joe Hall, Back explained what fascinated him so much about Bitcoin at first was its fertile ground for a lot of applied research and development. "It covers lots of interlayer topics or people, like mathematics, computer science, and programming," he said.
When asked what advice he could give to the new generation of Gen Zs and Boomers approaching Bitcoin alike, Back suggested first getting to know the people in the industry. "I think the good way to get involved is to sort of try to contribute to something as a volunteer, as you learn things when you get to interact with people. You know there could be many different things to come across, like user interface, documentation, or educational materials."
The 52-year-old cryptographer is also exploring new physical boundaries for the use of Bitcoin, literally. For a few years now, Back has been operating the Blockstream Satellite
Read more on cointelegraph.com
