user134226: There are different accounts as to who created the secp256k1 standard, for example:
Mastering Bitcoin, p.61:

Bitcoin uses a specific elliptic curve and set of mathematical constants, as defined in a standard called secp256k1, established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

theymos in this thread on r/crypto:

secp256k1 isn't a NIST curve. It was created purely by SECG. SECG also publishes some NIST curves in their standards (such as secp256r1, aka P-256), but secp256k1 isn't one of them.

So who created it?
Is there a 'canonical' publication of it somewhere?

user208: It can be found in https://www.secg.org/sec2-v2.pdf:

SEC 2: Recommended Elliptic Curve Domain Parameters
Certicom Research
Contact: Daniel R. L. Brown (dbrown@certicom.com)
January 27, 2010
Version 2.0
c©2010 Certicom Corp.

In section 2.4.1, "Recommended Parameters secp256k1".

134226: <p>There are different accounts as to who created the secp256k1 standard, for example:</p>
<p><strong>Mastering Bitcoin, p.61</strong>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Bitcoin uses a specific elliptic curve and set of mathematical constants, as defined in a standard called secp256k1, established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>theymos in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/crypto/comments/2fe4lr/secp256k1_vs_nist_curves_which_one_to_use/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this thread on r/crypto</a></strong>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>secp256k1 isn't a NIST curve. It was created purely by SECG. SECG also publishes some NIST curves in their standards (such as secp256r1, aka P-256), but secp256k1 isn't one of them.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So who created it?
Is there a 'canonical' publication of it somewhere?</p>
 208: <p>It can be found in <a href="https://www.secg.org/sec2-v2.pdf" rel="noreferrer">https://www.secg.org/sec2-v2.pdf</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>SEC 2: Recommended Elliptic Curve Domain Parameters</p>
<p>Certicom Research</p>
<p>Contact: Daniel R. L. Brown (dbrown@certicom.com)</p>
<p>January 27, 2010</p>
<p>Version 2.0</p>
<p>c©2010 Certicom Corp.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In section 2.4.1, &quot;Recommended Parameters secp256k1&quot;.</p>
