HBO is releasing a documentary called Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, claiming to reveal Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Directed by Cullen Hoback, the film follows his previous work uncovering QAnon leader Ron Watkins in 2021. If Hoback successfully identifies Satoshi, one of Bitcoin’s oldest mysteries will be ended.
Past attempts to reveal Satoshi’s identity have failed. In 2014, journalist Leah McGrath Goodman suggested that Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto, a Californian, was Bitcoin’s creator. Dorian denied this, and other journalists debunked the story. In 2015, an Australian computer scientist, Craig Wright claimed to be Satoshi. However, Wright’s story fell apart quickly, and it was proven that he fabricated his claim.
Wright sued bitcoin developers and even family members to access Satoshi’s 1.1 million bitcoins. He also filed lawsuits against anyone who called him a fraud, including podcaster Peter McCormack and teacher Magnus Granath. Earlier this year, a UK court ruled Wright is not Satoshi. He was ordered to admit this on his website and social media publicly. Wright plans to appeal, though his credibility has collapsed.
The media has since hesitated to name another Satoshi candidate. Meanwhile, the crypto community has decided Satoshi’s identity should remain a mystery. Coinbase even listed it as a potential business risk in their S-1 prospectus. However, public curiosity about Satoshi’s identity remains strong.
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The Hunt Continues
Some believe early cypherpunks like Hal Finney, Nick Szabo, Adam Back, or Wei Dai could be Satoshi. Each has denied being the creator. Others suggest Paul Le Roux, a cartel leader, or even the CIA. Another theory claims Satoshi wasn’t an individual but a group of coders.
Len Sassaman, a programmer and cypherpunk, is another candidate. He died in 2011, shortly after Satoshi stopped posting. According to Alex Thorn of Galaxy Digital, if the HBO documentary names Sassaman as Satoshi, it would have a neutral to positive effect on Bitcoin, since Sassaman is no longer alive. The real proof of Satoshi’s identity, however, would be moving Satoshi’s bitcoins, something no one has done. If Satoshi is dead or unwilling to step forward, this mystery may never be solved.
