Key Takeaways
- Daniel Larimer is a software developer and cryptocurrency expert. In 2003, he graduated from Virginia Tech with a computer science degree and started a virtual reality business.
- Larimer founded Bitcoin, was inspired by Satoshi Nakamoto, and created BitShares with the DPOS System.
- In 2013, Larimer co-founded BitShares, a decentralized exchange, and DAO for trading cryptocurrencies.
Who Is Daniel Larimer?
Daniel Larimer is an American software developer and cryptocurrency expert. He co-founded Block.one (EOS), BitShares, and Steem. He also invented the Delegated Proof of Stake (DPOS) system and Graphene technology and wrote the book More Equal Animals.
Larimer was born in Colorado and grew up in Florida and Virginia. He earned a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Virginia Tech in 2003. After college, he started a virtual reality business, beginning his journey as an entrepreneur. He is known for his work in advancing blockchain and cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrency Journey
Daniel Larimer found Bitcoin while searching online for “decentralized currency.” This led him to Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin.
Larimer started talking with Nakamoto and learning about blockchain. Inspired by their talks, he created his own blockchain platform, BitShares, which included new ideas like decentralized exchanges and the DPOS system.
Co-Founding BitShares
In 2013, Daniel co-founded BitShares with Charles Hoskinson. Originally called ProtoShares, BitShares is a Decentralized Exchange (DEX) where users can trade cryptocurrencies and BitAssets, tokens connected to real-world markets. It runs as a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO).
Larimer created BitShares to allow the trading of virtual company shares. Later, it became a decentralized platform for cryptocurrency and digital exchanges.
The Creation of Steem
In 2016, Daniel left BitShares to co-found Steem and its social network app, Steemit, which uses blockchain technology to reward users for their content. After co-founding Steemit with Ned Scott, Larimer served as the platform’s CTO until March 14, 2017.
Larimer’s move to Steem helped grow his influence in the blockchain industry. Steemit uses blockchain to reward users for their content, and as CTO, Larimer played a big role in building the platform.
Block.one
In 2016, Daniel partnered with Brendan Blumer to start Block.one, based in the Cayman Islands. The company builds decentralized applications and open-source software, like EOS.IO, which helps create decentralized apps.
EOS.IO
In June 2017, Block.one launched the EOS token sale, raising over $4 billion during its Initial Coin Offering(ICO). Daniel Larimer, the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Block.one, leads the development of the company’s blockchain products, including the EOS.IO protocol. On June 26, 2017, Larimer announced the one-year EOS.IO token sale, marking an important step in the progress of blockchain technology.
Educational Contributions
Larimer is focused on blockchain education. On November 29, 2018, he held a Virginia Tech’s College seminar, sharing his knowledge and advising on course development. This was part of Block.one’s $3 million donation to Virginia Tech’s Computer Science Department for blockchain education.
In January 2019, Larimer joined a blockchain boot camp at Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus. The event, organized by Virginia Tech and Block.one, helped students learn about the EOS.IO Blockchain technology.
Growing Ecosystem of EOS.IO
Since launching in 2017, EOS.IO has grown quickly, with thousands of decentralized apps (dApps) in areas like gaming, finance, and social media. It’s known for being fast, affordable, and able to handle many transactions, making it a popular choice for developers.
The ecosystem is supported by a community of developers, block producers, and entrepreneurs working together to create new projects. EOS token holders also help govern the network, ensuring it stays decentralized and led by the community.
Future Plans and Projects
Larimer’s vision for the future of blockchain technology focuses on the growth of decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi platforms, and secure, scalable blockchain systems. While he has moved on from some projects, he is still dedicated to improving blockchain’s role in building a decentralized future. He keeps looking for new ways to know what decentralized systems can do, especially in governance, identity, and value transfer.
Final Thoughts
Daniel Larimer is an important figure in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry. He has helped create platforms like BitShares, Steem, and EOS.IO, which have greatly improved decentralized technology. Larimer introduced ideas like the Delegated Proof of Stake (DPOS) system and helped develop decentralized apps (dApps) and decentralized finance (DeFi). He is also committed to teaching others about blockchain and helping build a decentralized future. His work continues to inspire growth in the blockchain space.
Check out these related articles.
