- 11 years ago, the Bitcoin logo as we know it was released on a Bitcoin forum for free.
- The logo is an improvement of the one used by the community for the greater part of 2010.
- The Bitcoin logo is now one of the most recognizable symbols in the world as adoption for the asset continues to increase.
11 years ago, the Bitcoin community was handed a gift on a platter of gold. Well, not gold but on an orange platter and was happily embraced by the small community in unison.
Ditch The Gold, Orange Is The Way
After introducing the Bitcoin network to the world, the next obvious task for Satoshi Nakamoto was the design of a logo that would be the face of his new creation. His earliest attempt at a Bitcoin logo was the engraving of the initials BC on a gold coin. One year later, suggestions were made on the bitcointalk forum to modify the logo to resemble the Thai Baht currency symbol ( ฿ ). This was met with some criticisms as Bitcoin had to share a symbol with an already existing currency.
Modeling the logo to the Thai Baht, a new symbol was created but certain users felt that it was too dull and hoped that something better would come along. “We should just let it evolve organically, like a word in a natural language, and not worry too much about it at this early stage, said one user.
So the community was stuck with that logo until an account with the moniker Bitboy came along in November 2010. He said, “Hi guys, just drop by to say hi and to share with you some of the graphics I have done, feel free to download.”
His design involved the B symbol designed by Satoshi but was made white against a bright orange circle. The B was tilted to the right and once it was posted to the forum, it became an instant hit. “Cool! Best Bitcoin logos I’ve seen so far,” said one user while another said, “Wow, this is amazing, good job mate.” Bitboy’s logo has since gone viral, becoming one of the most instantly recognizable logos in the world.
The Logic Behind It
The switch away from a gold background to an orange one is quite revealing. If Bitcoin as digital gold stuck to the gold background, it could be akin to playing second fiddle to gold. To carve its path, orange was chosen and the new color offered aesthetic and practical value.
Orange stood out and could easily be distinguished in both print and on websites. True to its name, the orange patch was rounded to mimic a coin and the B was tilted at an angle that could be taken to mean the advancement of the technology. According to Phil Wilson, an early participant in the network, “The angle represents the blockchain progressing into the future forever.”
Wilson also claims that the 525% scale of the orange circle is a reference to the book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.
