Roger Ver and Steve Patterson’s polemical book was published in 2024. This overview draws on the complete introduction in a public PDF copy and author and bibliographic material; we have not read the whole book.
Hijacking Bitcoin: The Hidden History of BTC is a 2024 book by Roger Ver and Steve Patterson. Patterson explicitly confirms their collaboration in his announcement. The bibliographic record lists publication on 5 April 2024; the announcement date is not the publication date. [2] [3]
The official website presents the book as a critique of Bitcoin’s departure from its original design and attributes this development to interventions by powerful actors and censorship. This is the authors’ thesis and how they offer the book to readers. The synopsis alone does not independently substantiate these accusations. [1]
In his announcement of 30 March 2024, Patterson writes about disappointment with the project’s development and their shared motivation for writing the book. This text helps explain the authors’ stance. It is neither an external review nor an assessment by an uninvolved reader. [2]
In the introduction we read, Ver puts everyday payments first and criticizes the emphasis on storing value. He portrays the dispute as a change in the project’s purpose. Readers immediately see the criterion by which he judges developments; this is not a neutral technical definition of Bitcoin. [4]
The introduction describes three parts: the original design and its changes, the author’s account of the project’s takeover, and a proposed way forward. This structure shows the intended progression of the argument. Reading the introduction alone, however, is insufficient to assess the evidence in later chapters. [4]
In the introduction, Ver draws on his own participation in the industry but also says he does not intend a memoir. He seeks to persuade readers of his account and future direction. It is therefore useful to distinguish personal testimony, judgments about events and proposals drawn from them. [4]
The electronic edition’s record lists 304 pages and ISBN 9798989492428. The public PDF copy has different pagination; we do not treat it as a verified reproduction of a particular printed edition. Bibliographic data identify the book, not the accuracy of its historical account. [3] [4]
We read the entire introduction in the public PDF copy on Biknotes, both of its pages, Patterson’s complete announcement and the official book presentation. We added the bibliographic record. We have not read the whole book or all the cited evidence; this overview is neither a complete review nor confirmation of the authors’ accusations. [1] [2] [3] [4]
For the clearest picture, read this entry together with The Blocksize War, Blocksize War, Roger Ver, SegWit.
01Does this overview confirm that Bitcoin was hijacked?+
No. It presents the authors’ thesis and starting position. The authors’ own presentation of the book is not independent evidence for its accusations.
02Have you read the whole book and checked all its evidence?+
No. We read the complete introduction in a public PDF copy and supporting author material. We did not verify the copy against a particular printed edition or all the evidence in later chapters.