A remark by Satoshi Nakamoto aimed at bitcoin sceptics has reached its 16th anniversary.

Blockchain outlet U.Today reported on July 29 local time that the remark was made on July 29, 2010 on the bitcoin forum BitcoinTalk. It was left after a debate over bitcoin’s scalability and payment speed.

The discussion at the time focused on scalability and transaction speed. One user pointed out that bitcoin was too slow to be used for real-world payments. The user said transfers took 10 minutes to be confirmed, while ordinary bank cards could be used for instant payment at stores.

Satoshi explained in response that the network could handle fast payments if it integrated third-party processors. He countered that payments could be made in as little as 10 seconds. The answer reflected the view that the issue should be considered not only in terms of bitcoin’s basic structure but also in terms of payment processing methods that would operate on top of the ecosystem.

The argument did not end there. As the other party continued to view bitcoin from the perspective of the existing banking system, Satoshi said, "If you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have time to try to convince you, sorry." The short sentence later became one of the best-known remarks among bitcoin supporters.

The reason the remark is drawing attention again lies in bitcoin’s change in status. In 2010 bitcoin was priced at about $0.07, and the network was in an early stage supported by hundreds of backers. It was a time when the creator of the first cryptocurrency had to defend his code and structure directly in forum comments.

But as of 2026 bitcoin has risen to a completely different position. It has become a traded asset in the form of exchange-traded products (ETPs) recognised by governments and major financial institutions, and large financial firms such as BlackRock and Morgan Stanley are also dealing with bitcoin within the framework of regulated finance. An asset once treated as a technical experiment has gone through a process of integration into the mainstream, changing the nature of the market itself.

The market’s size has also changed sharply. The total value of the cryptocurrency market has now grown to the trillions of dollars, and bitcoin is trading around $64,000 after hitting an all-time high above $126,000 last year. Over time, the 2010 debate has effectively been settled.

Against this backdrop, Satoshi’s remark from that time is being brought back as a line symbolising bitcoin’s growth story. Early doubts over whether the technology could work, arguments over payment speed and scalability, the possibility of improvement through third-party processors and the subsequent move into the mainstream are all compressed into this brief exchange.

In the end, Satoshi’s remark has remained as a sentence symbolising the 16 years bitcoin has travelled, beyond being just one scene in a war of words. Back then the creator had to explain the technical possibility directly, but now market size and mainstream participation are proving that possibility instead. The centre of debate over bitcoin has also shifted from whether it can function to what kind of asset it will become.