Who is Satoshi Nakamoto? Why did 'he' anonymously create Bitcoin?
TL; DR
In 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto launched the decentralized digital currency Bitcoin.
Currently, no one knows for sure the identity of Bitcoin’s founder, and it is unknown whether Satoshi Nakamoto is a man, a woman or a group of people.
Many cryptographers and analysts suspect that Satoshi Nakamoto may be any of the following: Craig Wright, Nick Szabo, Dorian Nakamoto, or Hal Finney.
Introduction
When it comes to Bitcoin, it seems that the history of blockchain and cryptocurrency is incomplete without mentioning the creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Unfortunately, no one currently knows the exact identity of this great inventor. However, crypto analysts and enthusiasts are curious about why Satoshi Nakamoto has not revealed his identity for such a long time. This article will discuss those who have been suspected to be Satoshi Nakamoto.
Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?
Satoshi Nakamoto is the pseudonym of the creator of Bitcoin, ‘he’ has communicated with the outside world through emails, forum posts, white papers, and other documents. However, so far, no one knows the exact identity of this person or group of people.
Although Satoshi Nakamoto is a Japanese name, some analysts believe that this person may have lived in another country, such as the UK or the US, because he/she was very fluent in English during the development of Bitcoin. In addition, Satoshi Nakamoto had communicated with others during working hours in Europe, which is also why others believe that he/she lived in a European country rather than Japan.
In addition, it is not yet clear whether Satoshi Nakamoto is female, male, or a group of people. However, some people believe that Satoshi Nakamoto is most likely a man, because in Japan, ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’ is a common male name. In addition, in 2011, Satoshi Nakamoto claimed to be a male born on April 5, 1975.
However, some people believe that Satoshi Nakamoto may be the name of a group of collaborative developers of Bitcoin. Some software engineers and programmers believe that, due to the complexity of the Bitcoin code, Satoshi Nakamoto could be a group name. They believe that such intricate and complex code work should not be accomplished by just one person.
It is worth noting that Satoshi Nakamoto is not the inventor of blockchain, but the first person to create decentralized currency. Meanwhile, before the launch of Bitcoin in 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin whitepaper in 2008. However, he/she ceased substantial communication with the outside world in 2011, and although he posted a message in 2014, it was also his last communication with the outside world.
Over the years, after Satoshi Nakamoto disappeared from the public eye, some experts have compiled a list of what they believe to be potential creators of Bitcoin. This list includes Craig Wright, Nick Szabo, Dorian Nakamoto, and Hal Finney.
Dorian Nakamoto
Dorian Nakamoto is suspected to be Satoshi Nakamoto. Because he shares several similarities with the creator of Bitcoin. Firstly, Dorian is a Japanese-American living in the US and can speak fluent English. Additionally, his date of birth is similar to that of Satoshi Nakamoto, so he is very likely the inventor of Bitcoin.
Dorian Nakamoto-BSCnews
Although Dorian had been involved in military projects, he had also worked as a computer engineer in the information technology (IT) and financial fields. In 2014, an article in Newsweek confirmed this possibility, quoting Dorian in a way that was similar to what Satoshi Nakamoto had said.
The last words left by Satoshi Nakamoto before he stopped communicating with the outside world were: ‘I am no longer involved in the Bitcoin project, and I cannot discuss it. The Bitcoin project has been handed over to others. They are now in charge. I will no longer be in contact with anyone.’
However, Dorian Nakamoto denied being Satoshi Nakamoto. Satoshi Nakamoto himself confirmed this, writing: “I am not Satoshi Nakamoto.” In addition, in another interview, Dorian confirmed that he had misunderstood a question from Newsweek journalist Leah McGrath Goodwin, which led to the later misunderstanding.
Craig Wright
Computer scientist and businessman Craig Wright is publicly claiming to be one of the people who is Satoshi Nakamoto. The claim originated from articles published by the magazines ‘Wired’ and ‘Gizmodo’, which stated that Craig Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto. For example, ‘Wired’ magazine provided some evidence, such as emails, blog posts, and some other clues, implying that Wright is the creator of Bitcoin.
Craig Wright- Coindesk
Later, Wright applied for the US copyright of the Bitcoin white paper and obtained it in 2019. However, commentators and analysts believe that anyone can claim to be the author of the Bitcoin white paper and may win the lawsuit. However, being granted such copyright by the government does not prove that Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto.
However, some experts believe that Wright, born in 1970, is neither the author of the Bitcoin white paper nor the creator of Bitcoin. Their basis is that Satoshi Nakamoto, for reasons unknown to others, wanted to remain completely anonymous. Therefore, Wright’s claim may be just for recognition, as he has not developed and created any new technology.
Hal Finney
Some analysts suspect that Hal Finney is Satoshi Nakamoto because he was the second person to use the Bitcoin software after Satoshi Nakamoto. In fact, Finney was the first person to receive Bitcoin from Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009. Therefore, some analysts concluded that Finney might be Satoshi, as he sent Bitcoin from one of his wallets to another.
As evidence that Finney may be Satoshi Nakamoto, former Forbes journalist Andy Greenberg compared Finney’s handwriting with that of Satoshi. In addition, Finney was also the first person to download the Bitcoin software shortly after Satoshi released the link.
Considering the communication between Satoshi Nakamoto and Finney, they were in close contact from the beginning of the Bitcoin project. They exchanged several emails, leading people to suspect that Finney might be the same person as Satoshi Nakamoto. However, Finney denied being Satoshi Nakamoto and passed away in 2014 at the age of 58 from ALS.
Nick Szabo
Another person who many believe to be Satoshi Nakamoto is Nick Szabo, a computer programmer and cryptographer. Szabo had planned to develop a decentralized currency called Bit Gold in the 1990s, which shares some similarities with Bitcoin. Unfortunately, Bit Gold did not succeed in being launched.
Nick Szabo- Brickken
Szabo published a detailed paper on Bitcoin, which led people to believe that he might be Satoshi Nakamoto. However, Szabo has strongly denied being Satoshi Nakamoto for many years.
Conclusion
In short, many people believe that Bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto developed and launched Bitcoin in 2009. However, the exact identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains a mystery. No one knows for sure his identity, whether Satoshi Nakamoto is a woman, a man, or a group of people. However, analysts suspect that the founder of Bitcoin may be any of the following: Craig Wright, Nick Szabo, Dorian Nakamoto, or Hal Finney.
Frequently Asked Questions About Satoshi Nakamoto
Who created Bitcoin?
Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin and launched it in 2009. He/She/They released the Bitcoin whitepaper in 2008 and stayed in touch with other developers until 2011. His/Her last communication with the Bitcoin community was in 2014.
Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?
The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto is still uncertain because it is unclear whether he is a woman, a man, or a group of like-minded people. However, Satoshi Nakamoto is most likely a man because in Japan, “Satoshi Nakamoto” is a common male name. Generally, many analysts believe that Satoshi Nakamoto is likely one of the following individuals: Craig Wright, Nick Szabo, Dorian Nakamoto, or Hal Finney.
How many bitcoins does Satoshi Nakamoto really own?
No one knows the exact amount of Bitcoin that Satoshi Nakamoto currently owns. However, many believe that he holds over one million Bitcoins, making him one of the largest Bitcoin whales in history. Considering that the current price of Bitcoin is around $20,000 as of January 22, 2023, Satoshi Nakamoto’s net worth exceeds $20 billion.
Why doesn’t Satoshi Nakamoto appear?
It is currently unknown why Satoshi Nakamoto does not show up. However, it is certain that the founder of Bitcoin wants to remain anonymous. Finally, some people speculate that the reason Satoshi Nakamoto wants to remain anonymous is that ‘he’ holds a large amount of Bitcoin. If some government agencies know ‘his’ true identity, ‘his’ personal safety may be threatened.
Can Satoshi Nakamoto shut down Bitcoin?
Satoshi Nakamoto is highly unlikely to shut down Bitcoin, which has been running for over 12 years. The attack on Bitcoin will only succeed if the majority of Bitcoin holders agree to make changes. With about 5% of the highest supply of Bitcoin, it is difficult for Satoshi Nakamoto to shut down Bitcoin.
