What is the GHOST Archive?

The GHOST Archive is an independent historical and technical research archive covering John McAfee's GHOST privacy cryptocurrency, including its whitepapers, technology, ecosystem, controversy, and post-2020 development. It is not the official GHOST project and is not affiliated with John McAfee's estate or any related project.

Is the GHOST Archive investment advice?

No. The GHOST Archive is an independent research project and does not provide investment advice. All market and status indicators require current verification.

When did John McAfee's GHOST coin launch?

GHOST was announced in April 2020, distributed via the ESH snapshot on May 25, 2020, and reached mainnet genesis on June 22, 2020.

What is The GHOST Archive?

John McAfee GHOST Coin : The definitive independent research , whitepapers, and legacy of John McAfee's GHOST privacy cryptocurrency.

RESEARCH ARTICLE

GHOST History

From the April 2020 announcement to the present.

Editorial metadata · E-E-A-T

Author

The GHOST Archive Editorial Team

Editor

The GHOST Archive Editorial Team

Published

2024-01-01

Updated

2026-10-08

Last verified

2026-10-08

Direct answer

GHOST's history spans an announcement, a plagiarism controversy, an airdrop, a mainnet launch, a founder's departure and return, his death, years of community development, and a community split.

Eras at a glance

›Era 1 — The original proposal (April–May 2020).
›Era 2 — The revised blockchain (June 2020 onward).
›Era 3 — Post-McAfee community development (2021–present).
›Separate branch — GhostChain / GHOST ecosystem.

Key history pages

›Mainnet launch.
›ESH / Switch airdrop.
›Particl and GHOST.
›PIVX whitepaper controversy.
›McAfee leaves GHOST.
›McAfee returns to GHOST.
›After John McAfee.
›GHOST in 2025.
›GhostChain branch.

Sources

S-01Original GHOST Whitepaper (May 2020)PRIMARY
2020-05 · whitepaper · supports: Original architecture, ESH distribution, supply proposal
https://web.archive.org/web/2020/https://ghostbymcafee.com/
S-02Revised GHOST Whitepaper (June 2020)PRIMARY
2020-06 · whitepaper · supports: Particl-derived architecture, RingCT, stealth addresses, Bulletproofs, Dandelion++
https://github.com/ghost-coin
S-09Cointelegraph coverageSECONDARY
2020–2021 · news coverage · supports: Launch, controversies, McAfee departure/return
https://cointelegraph.com/