Lesson 10 – Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?

Ever since its dramatic rise, Bitcoin, the most renowned cryptocurrency, has captivated public interest. This phenomenon traces back to Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s mysterious founder. If this name doesn‘t conjure an immediate image, there’s a good reason: Satoshi Nakamoto is merely the pseudonym for the visionary behind Bitcoin, sparking endless speculations about the creator’s true identity.

Who is behind Satoshi Nakamoto?

Speculations range from a solitary individual to various groups of people. Satoshi Nakamoto’s journey began in 2008 with the release of the Bitcoin whitepaper, outlining the initial concepts of a digital, decentralized currency. Based on these initial theories, the Bitcoin network and the initial version of this currency emerged in 2009.

The ongoing mystery behind this innovation continues to intrigue the world, with countless attempts failing to attach a real identity to the pseudonym. However, some theories persist due to their foundational reasoning.

Hal Finney

One popular theory involves Hal Finney, the software developer instrumental in Bitcoin’s implementation. As the first recipient of a Bitcoin transaction, he naturally became a target for speculation, even though he explicitly denied his alleged identity as Satoshi Nakamoto before his death in 2014.

Nick Szabo

Nick Szabo, another potential candidate, is also frequently mentioned within the cryptocurrency community. This association stems from his creation of “Bit Gold”, a precursor to the Bitcoin currency that was not implemented, and his contribution to the development of “smart contracts,”, the digital contracts of blockchain technology.

Dorian Nakamoto

The American news magazine “Newsweek”, on the other hand, once suggested Dorian Nakamoto as the possible founder –– a somewhat straightforward connection given the shared surname. Despite Dorian Nakamoto‘s denial, his background as a physicist and engineer, coupled with ambiguous statements, was deemed sufficient by “Newsweek” to publish an article suggesting his involvement, leading to a defamation lawsuit.

Craig Steven Wright

Additionally, Craig Steven Wright, an Australian computer scientist, has claimed to be Satoshi Nakomoto. However, this statement is met with significant skepticism, as the evidence he presented was considered inconclusive by many experts.

Unless Satoshi Nakamoto decides to voluntarily reveal their identity, the question of who truly created Bitcoin will remain a fascinating mystery.