Hal Finney, a central figure in the cypherpunk movement, was the first to run Bitcoin and receive its inaugural transaction. He played a crucial role in transforming Bitcoin from a whitepaper concept into a functioning reality. Finney's contributions to cryptography, including PGP, anonymous remailers, and RPOW, underscored his commitment to privacy and personal freedom. In 2009, Finney collaborated with Satoshi Nakamoto to refine the Bitcoin system, recognizing its long-term potential early on. Even after being diagnosed with ALS, which led to physical paralysis, Finney continued to contribute to the technology until his passing.