<p>The first block is known as the "<a href="http://blockchain.info/block-index/1/000000000019d6689c085ae165831e934ff763ae46a2a6c172b3f1b60a8ce26f">genesis block</a>" or "block 0".  It was mined using the same hashing algorithm as any other block, but at difficulty 1.  It contains only one transaction, the coinbase, which gives 50 BTC to address <a href="http://blockchain.info/address/1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa">1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa</a>.</p>

<p>Once the block had been successfully mined its hash was hardcoded into the Bitcoin client's source code so that it and it alone would be accepted as the official genesis block.</p>

<p>src/main.cpp contains this line:</p>

<pre><code>uint256 hashGenesisBlock("0x000000000019d6689c085ae165831e934ff763ae46a2a6c172b3f1b60a8ce26f");
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-22T05:33:15.370Z
I just noticed you asked for "plain English" and I used expressions like "hashing algorithm", "coinbase" and "source code".  I hope you understood despite my inability to speak like a regular person...
Chris Moore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-22T00:04:10.363Z
2012-02-22T00:04:10.363Z
Chris Moore
<p>Exactly like all of the other mined bitcoins.</p>

<p>There are some quirks about it, though. For example, the previous block hash is all zeros, because no block came before it. Also, those bitcoins can't be spent, because of a quirk in the code.</p>

<p>Of course, if there's only one node in the network, it's not really a decentralized payment processing system.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-25T05:49:11.467Z
What kind of "quirk" are you referring to? Will the second block be spendable?
Pacerier
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-04T00:16:58.957Z
2013-06-04T00:16:58.957Z
Nick ODell
<p>How was the Bitcoin system initialized? Can one start the system with only a single node (computer)? Please explain it in plain English. Thanks, guys.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-21T23:39:02.207Z
possible duplicate of [When and how did Bitcoin start?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/659/when-and-how-did-bitcoin-start)
Highly Irregular
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-21T23:42:40.937Z
You might need to explain what you mean by "start the system" - do you mean the bitcoin network as a whole? That might be better asked as a separate question, and if that's what you mean, then it seems to really apply to other cryptocurrencies that might start in the future, since bitcoin has obviously already started. In that case, it should definitely be a separate question.
Highly Irregular
<genesis-block>
How did the first 50 Bitcoins come into being?
Ning
# How did the first 50 Bitcoins come into being?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-21)

How was the Bitcoin system initialized? Can one start the system with only a single node (computer)? Please explain it in plain English. Thanks, guys.

**Tags:** genesis-block

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: possible duplicate of [When and how did Bitcoin start?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/659/when-and-how-did-bitcoin-start)  
> **username_1**: You might need to explain what you mean by "start the system" - do you mean the bitcoin network as a whole? That might be better asked as a separate question, and if that's what you mean, then it seems to really apply to other cryptocurrencies that might start in the future, since bitcoin has obviously already started. In that case, it should definitely be a separate question.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-02-22. Score: 10

The first block is known as the "genesis block" or "block 0".  It was mined using the same hashing algorithm as any other block, but at difficulty 1.  It contains only one transaction, the coinbase, which gives 50 BTC to address 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa.
Once the block had been successfully mined its hash was hardcoded into the Bitcoin client's source code so that it and it alone would be accepted as the official genesis block.
src/main.cpp contains this line:
uint256 hashGenesisBlock("0x000000000019d6689c085ae165831e934ff763ae46a2a6c172b3f1b60a8ce26f");

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I just noticed you asked for "plain English" and I used expressions like "hashing algorithm", "coinbase" and "source code".  I hope you understood despite my inability to speak like a regular person...  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-06-04. Score: 4

Exactly like all of the other mined bitcoins.

There are some quirks about it, though. For example, the previous block hash is all zeros, because no block came before it. Also, those bitcoins can't be spent, because of a quirk in the code.

Of course, if there's only one node in the network, it's not really a decentralized payment processing system.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: What kind of "quirk" are you referring to? Will the second block be spendable?  

---

