At first glance, it might seem surprising, but Doyle Brunson and Satoshi Nakamoto actually had a lot in common. Just like the legendary poker player with his iconic cowboy hat, Satoshi—the mysterious creator of Bitcoin (BTC)—was a true pioneer. Both visionaries, they saw what others didn’t yet perceive.
“Texas Dolly,” who passed away exactly two years ago this May 14 2025, was one of the first professional players to transition from old-school poker to the modern game we know today. When Satoshi launched Bitcoin on January 12, 2009, he already understood that the global financial system was flawed—especially in the wake of the 2008 Subprime Crisis. It takes true greatness to step off the beaten path and start building something new.
Both men were bold risk-takers. In the 1950s and ’60s, Brunson played in underground poker games across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana—often hosted by members of organized crime. These games weren’t just illegal—they were dangerous. Brunson himself recounted witnessing violent incidents, even murders, during these games. Risk was part of his daily life.
It’s incredible that Brunson managed to deal and gamble with mobsters the likes of Tony Spilotro, and drug kingpins such as Jimmy Chagra without getting killed. The stories are all out there, especially in his autobiography The Godfather of Poker wrote Cardplayer.com.
On the other side of the spectrum, Satoshi chose total anonymity—not out of shyness, but for protection. Had he revealed his true identity, there’s little doubt he would have quickly been shut down. In fact, when Gavin Andresen, Bitcoin’s lead developer at the time, visited the CIA in June 2011 to present Bitcoin at a tech conference, Satoshi vanished without a trace.
Let’s remember: Doyle was one of the first to treat poker as a serious profession—far from the smoky saloons or seedy gambling dens. Back then, poker was seen as either a shady pastime or a game for misfits. Through his dedication and love of the game, Doyle earned real legitimacy. His book Super System proved poker was a deeply strategic game, where chance plays a role—but where skill and intellect rule.
Meanwhile, Satoshi (or the group behind the name) proved the power of a “simple” decentralized project like Bitcoin—now the world’s fifth-largest asset, ahead of Amazon. Many mocked the idea early on, dismissing Satoshi as a dreamer with an impossible goal. A digital currency to replace state-issued money, controlled by no government? No way that could work. And yet, Bitcoin’s market cap now exceeds $2 trillion, with major global investment firms like BlackRock turning to BTC. Even the new Trump administration has publicly backed Bitcoin.
Doyle Brunson inspired generations of poker players, writing the first chapters of the game’s modern history—and playing right up to the final hand of his life. Satoshi Nakamoto, whether still alive or not, gave the world an unprecedented tool for financial freedom. Bitcoin is a monetary revolution shaking the foundations of traditional finance—perhaps nothing more than a fragile house of cards… which surely makes Doyle smile, wherever he is.
Thank you, to these two incredible pioneers.
