Who Is Andreas M. Antonopoulos

One of the most important Bitcoin educators today, he has written books on blockchain, Bitcoin and Ethereum. We are talking about Andreas M. Antonopoulos.

Andreas M. Antonopoulos was born in 1972 in London but grew up in Greece, which is why he holds dual Greek-British citizenship. From a very young age he showed interest and talent in computing and new technologies. He graduated in Computer Science, Data Communications and Distributed Computing from University College London. After graduating, he worked at open-source software and open networking companies in the 1990s.

His Beginnings in Bitcoin

It was in 2012 that he discovered Bitcoin and devoted himself entirely to studying and promoting it. He left his job to become an independent consultant on Bitcoin and blockchain technology. He later served as Chair of the Anti-Poverty Committee of the Bitcoin Foundation until 2014, resigning over the foundation’s lack of transparency. In January 2014 he joined Blockchain.info as Chief Security Officer. In September 2014 he would leave the position to become an advisor to the board of Blockchain.info.

Andreas M. Antonopoulos logo

Bitcoin Education

The role for which he is best known is as a Bitcoin educator. He is one of the most highly regarded and prestigious speakers today. He has written several books on blockchain and cryptocurrencies. He has a highly reputed YouTube channel and also hosts the podcast “The Let’s Talk Bitcoin”.

Andreas Antonopoulos – Internet of Money Tour

In the words of Andreas Antonopoulos’s own YouTube channel, this video “discusses the recent (unacknowledged) history of the 2008 financial crisis, the corrupt revolving door with regulators, how kleptocracy is destroying democracy, and why Bitcoin matters as an exit when voice is no longer an option”

This talk took place on November 10, 2018, as part of the ‘Internet of Money’ tour at the Edmonds Center of the Arts, near Seattle, Washington.

Three Highlights of His Career

  • In April 2013 he warned of the risk of holding bitcoins on Mt. Gox: “a systemic risk to Bitcoin, a death trap for users and a business run by ignorant people”.
  • In April 2014 Newsweek published an article pointing to Dorian Nakamoto as the real identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. Antonopoulos came to his aid and organized a fundraiser. He managed to raise a total of 50 bitcoins to help Dorian.
  • On October 8, 2014, Antonopoulos answered questions from the Canadian Senate Committee on Banking and Commerce. He was asked about aspects of Bitcoin regulation in the country. He warned the senators about the possible effects of premature Bitcoin regulation: “wait until the technology is better understood by all of us; there are many applications based on this model, and regulating it right now would stifle the technology in its infancy”.

Books Published by Antonopoulos

If you are truly interested in Bitcoin and Blockchain technology, Andreas M. Antonopoulos’s books are probably the best you can find on both a technical and educational level.
At Bit2Me Academy we strongly recommend these readings: