Gavin Andresen (born Gavin Bell ) is a software developer best known for his involvement with Bitcoin. He is based in Amherst, Massachusetts.^[1]
Illustration of Gavin Andresen (source Cointelegraph)

He is a Brave (web browser) creator.

Originally a developer of 3D graphics and virtual reality software, he became involved in developing products for the Bitcoin market in 2010, and by 2011 was designated by Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin, as the lead developer on Bitcoin Core, the reference implementation for Bitcoin client software. In 2012 he founded the Bitcoin Foundation to support and nurture the development of the Bitcoin currency, and by 2014 left his software development role to concentrate on his work with the Foundation.^[2]

Career

Andresen graduated from Princeton University in 1988. He began his career working on 3D graphics software at Silicon Graphics Computer Systems. In 1996, he co-authored the VRML 2.0 specification, and later published a reference manual for VRML 2.0.^[5][6]

Since leaving Silicon Valley in 1996, Andresen has tackled a wide variety of software-related ventures, including CTO of an early voice-over-the-Internet startup and co-founder of a company that made multiplayer online games for blind people and their sighted friends.^[7][8]

Bitcoin

Prior to 2014 Andresen was the lead developer for a part of the bitcoin digital currency project, working to create a secure, stable "cash for the Internet." Andresen discovered bitcoin in 2010, quickly recognising the brilliance of its design. Soon after he created a website named The Bitcoin Faucet which gave away bitcoin. In April 2011, Forbes quoted Andresen as saying, "Bitcoin is designed to bring us back to a decentralized currency of the people," and "this is like better gold than gold." He was soon designated by the inventor of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto to lead development of the client software for the bitcoin network which is now known as Bitcoin Core.

Andresen also created ClearCoin, an escrow-type of service, which was closed on about June 23, 2011. After several years working on the software, Andresen left the role of lead developer of bitcoin to work on the strategic development of its technology. He conceived of the Bitcoin Foundation which became reality in 2012.

In May 2016 Andresen stated that the Australian programmer and entrepreneur Craig Steven Wright was Satoshi Nakamoto, but later expressed regret getting involved in the “'who was Satoshi' game."

Andresen has not contributed to Bitcoin Core since February 2016. He had become critical of the failure of bitcoin developers to increase network capacity, and helped put together Bitcoin XT as alternative software. His commit access to Bitcoin Core on GitHub was revoked in May 2016 after stating Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto.In November 2017, Andresen expressed support for rival currency Bitcoin Cash, stating " Bitcoin Cash is what I started working on in 2010".^[3][4]

Access to Alert Key

Andresen has access to the special alert key that enables him to broadcast messages regarding the critical network and internal problems to all Bitcoin clients. He was given control of the source code repository and the alert key from Satoshi before he disappeared.^[1]

TruCoin

Trucoin was founded in May 2011. They employed Andresen before he worked at Bitcoin Foundation. Andresen stated he was creating Bitcoin related web software and services, because ‘money, like government, should be Of the People and By the People.’ He was the lead core bitcoin developer in August 2011.^[1]

Trucoin allows its users to buy bitcoins almost instantly with a Visa or MasterCard.^[1]

See also

• History of bitcoin