A new HBO documentary is set to reveal the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of the world’s largest and most widely used cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC).
According to a Politico report, the documentary will air next Wednesday, October 9, and is the latest work from Emmy-nominated filmmaker Cullen Hoback, known for his previous series “Q: Into the Storm,” which exposed the origins of the QAnon conspiracy theory.
The Hunt For Satoshi Nakamoto
Satoshi Nakamoto is believed to control approximately 1.1 million BTC, a fortune that could make him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. However, it remains unclear if he still has access to the private keys necessary to unlock this wealth. At current valuations, Satoshi’s holdings would be worth around $66 billion.
Interestingly, as the documentary’s release approaches, some dormant Bitcoin wallets from the “Satoshi era” have become active for the first time since Bitcoin’s inception.
The Politico report indicates that approximately 250 Bitcoin, valued at around $15 million, have been moved from these “long-silent wallets.” While these wallets are not officially linked to Satoshi Nakamoto, their activation raises eyebrows and fuels speculation about the identity of Bitcoin’s creator.
The true identity of Satoshi has long been one of the internet’s biggest mysteries. After publishing the Bitcoin white paper on October 31, 2008, Satoshi communicated primarily through message boards and email with a select group of cryptographers and coding experts.
However, Satoshi then disappeared from public view in 2010, leaving the cryptocurrency community to speculate about his identity ever since. His last known communication involved a warning to WikiLeaks against using the cryptocurrency.
A History With Failed Bitcoin Creators Claims
Per the report, various high-profile attempts to unmask Satoshi have been made over the years. In 2014, journalist Leah McGrath Goodman suggested that Dorian Nakamoto, a Japanese-American man, was the creator. However, he denied the allegations, and many in the community remained skeptical.
In 2016, Australian cryptographer Craig Wright claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto but failed to provide convincing proof, leading to widespread doubt about his assertions. A British High Court ruling earlier this year further discredited Wright’s claims.
The speculation surrounding Satoshi’s identity has produced a range of potential candidates, including the late software engineer Hal Finney, systems engineer Dorian Nakamoto, computer scientist Nick Szabo, and Hashcash inventor Adam Back.
Yet, many in the Bitcoin community argue against efforts to identify Satoshi Nakamoto, emphasizing the importance of his right to privacy. They assert that without concrete proof—such as the transfer of coins from Satoshi’s known wallets—these claims remain speculative.
Peter McCormack, a Bitcoin podcaster who has faced legal challenges for questioning Wright’s claims, stated, “Until someone signs the private keys linked to Satoshi’s addresses, all of this remains mere conjecture.”
McCormack further emphasized the need to respect Satoshi’s anonymity, pointing out that attempts to unmask him could be “irresponsible and potentially dangerous.”
At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $60,800, recording losses of 6.8% and 4% over the seven and fourteen day periods respectively.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com