Meet the 22 Most Important People Behind Bitcoin

It's likely that you've heard about bitcoin and its legendary rise by now. A pseudonymous Japanese hacker laid out the blueprint for the peer-to-peer digital currency shortly before vanishing into thin air. Primarily the province of Internet hackers, web savvy drug launderers and libertarian techies, bitcoin went mainstream in 2013. After an intense March and early April, the currency saw a unit of the virtual money climb from $15 USD to an astounding $200 on April 9. Of course, this peak was accompanied by a sharp correction, which saw bitcoin lose about half its value. The digital dough has held its ground as a vehicle for speculation, and more importantly as a hedge against financial instability, particularly among the eurozone's more decimated economies. This is in the wake of mass scrutiny following the crash, which the currency's detractors deemed its end. As of this writing, bitcoins are trading at $113. While the tale of creator Satoshi Nakamoto has been spun far and wide, what's less known is the supporting cast of characters who seized the reigns following Nakamoto's disappearance and built the bitcoin ecosystem into the vibrant and growing economy it is today, with a worth of over $1 billion. Benzinga's slideshow will introduce you to the individuals responsible for bitcoin's rise. The handles provided for some of the names are their message board identities or Internet alter egos.