The MacBTC Connection: Apple’s MacOS Holds a Secret Copy of Bitcoin’s Whitepaper

Estimated read time 3 min read
  • The Bitcoin white paper has been discovered hidden deep inside Apple’s system files for machines running macOS Catalina or later.
  • Apple’s relationship with the crypto and blockchain industry is checkered, following the tech giant allowing NFTs to be bought and sold via applications listed on its App Store in the latter half of last year.

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The Bitcoin Whitepaper Hidden in macOS

Apple products are known for their sleek designs and innovative technology. But did you know that every modern copy of macOS holds a hidden treasure: a copy of the Bitcoin whitepaper?

The discovery of the Bitcoin whitepaper on macOS was made by Andy Baio, an American technologist, internet entrepreneur, and blogger. Baio detailed how he unearthed the hidden file in a new blog post called “The Bitcoin Whitepaper Is Hidden in Every Modern Copy of macOS.”

Baio was trying to fix his printer when he came across the file. He was trying to scan a document with his wireless printer/scanner, but the device wasn’t showing up in Image Capture after he upgraded to macOS 10.15. Instead, he saw a device called “Virtual Scanner II.”

Baio was curious about the device, so he opened a terminal window and entered the following command:

Code snippet
defaults read -g ApplePrintScannerDevice

This command returned the path to the “Virtual Scanner II” device, which was a folder in the macOS library. Baio opened the folder and found a PDF file called “simpledoc.pdf.” The file contained the Bitcoin whitepaper.

Baio’s discovery quickly spread on social media, and many people were surprised to learn that Apple had been hiding the Bitcoin whitepaper in macOS all along. There is no official explanation for why Apple included the whitepaper, but some people have speculated that it was a way to show support for the cryptocurrency.

The Bitcoin whitepaper is a seminal document that outlines the design of the world’s first decentralized cryptocurrency. It was written by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, and it has since become a crucial document for anyone trying to understand the origins and workings of the cryptocurrency world.

The fact that the Bitcoin whitepaper is hidden in macOS is a fascinating piece of trivia, and it highlights the unexpected intersections between technology giants and the world of cryptocurrency. Whether you’re an Apple fan or a Bitcoin enthusiast, the inclusion of the whitepaper in every modern copy of macOS is a reminder of the incredible innovations that can arise when seemingly disparate fields collide.

How to Access the Bitcoin Whitepaper on macOS

To access the Bitcoin whitepaper on macOS, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open a terminal window.
  2. Enter the following command:
Code snippet
defaults read -g ApplePrintScannerDevice
  1. This command will return the path to the “Virtual Scanner II” device.
  2. Open the folder and find the PDF file called “simpledoc.pdf.”
  3. The PDF file contains the Bitcoin whitepaper.

You can also access the Bitcoin whitepaper online at the Bitcoin website: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf.

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