Peter Todd, a software developer, has firmly denied being Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, in a recent conversation with Bloomberg. His comments were prompted by the HBO documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” which implies that Todd could have ties to Nakamoto based on circumstantial evidence.
Todd Addresses Documentary Allegations
In an email sent to Bloomberg on Wednesday, Todd stated unequivocally, “I am not Satoshi,” countering the film’s insinuations. Directed by Cullen Hoback, the documentary claims that Nakamoto may have used Todd’s old Internet message board account to chat anonymously after starting discussions under the Nakamoto name.
Todd quickly dismissed this notion, clarifying that his account at that time was “retep” and that discussions in Bitcoin forums were generally conducted under pseudonyms.
He added that had he indeed continued Satoshi’s conversation using the “retep” account, he could have simply established a new account with his real name. Eventually, Todd changed the “retep” name to align with his true identity, remarking, “If Cullen had genuinely wanted to uncover Satoshi, he could have simply checked the facts,” indicating that the film might prioritize publicity over genuine investigation.
Moreover, Todd criticized Hoback’s methodology as a weak, coincidence-driven narrative for identifying Nakamoto.
Concerns for Todd’s Safety
According to Bloomberg, the claims made by the documentary have sparked worries for Todd’s safety, especially since the wallets connected to the actual Satoshi Nakamoto are said to possess around 1 million Bitcoin, worth roughly $62 billion. Todd voiced his concerns, remarking:
“Accusing someone wrongly of possessing billions puts them in danger of robbery and kidnapping. He’s jeopardizing my life to market his film.”
The enigma surrounding Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity has persisted since Bitcoin launched in January 2009, with numerous individuals suggested as possible candidates over the years. In 2014, a Newsweek article identified physicist Dorian Nakamoto as the creator, a claim he denied. Similarly, the New York Times speculated in 2015 that computer scientist Nick Szabo could be Nakamoto. Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright has also asserted that he is Satoshi, although a UK court concluded he is not responsible for Bitcoin’s creation.
As of this writing, Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, is trading at $61,000, having decreased by over 2% in the past day due to a wider market pullback that has seen significant liquidity leave.
The overall cryptocurrency market is currently valued at $2.088 trillion, reflecting more than $200 million in outflow over the last fortnight, following a near two-month peak of $2.29 trillion at the end of September.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart provided by TradingView.com
