A new HBO documentary has fired up fresh speculation with evidence to suggest that Canadian developer Peter Todd is the elusive Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym behind the creator of Bitcoin. The documentary claims it has identified Todd as the man behind the world’s first cryptocurrency by piecing together old and new clues.
Todd Regularly Claims He Is Satoshi
Near the documentary’s conclusion, director Cullen Hoback confronts Todd, who responds to the filmmaker’s questions by casually admitting, “Well, yeah, I’m Satoshi Nakamoto.” However, this remark is far from conclusive, as Todd, a well-known figure in the cryptocurrency space, has used “I am Satoshi” many times to defend the creator’s quest for privacy.
A former Bitcoin Core developer, Todd has been known to communicate directly with Satoshi before the mysterious figure vanished from crypto forums in 2010. Despite his commanding position in the cryptocurrency community, Todd has rarely, if ever, been touted as a notable Satoshi suspect. Speaking for CNN, he denied he was Bitcoin’s creator.
For the record, I’m not Satoshi. Cullen is grasping for straws here. He is playing up a few coincidences into something much more. That’s a hallmark of conspiracy thinking.
Peter Todd
Should the documentary’s claim prove true, it would end over a decade of speculation about who created Bitcoin. Satoshi Nakamoto’s innovative work paved the way for the rise of cryptocurrencies, which changed finance but also facilitated fraud, illegal gambling, and other criminal activity. The mystery around Nakamoto’s true identity has fascinated crypto insiders and the general public, spawning endless theories and debates.
Crypto Insiders Remain Unconvinced
Filmmaker Cullen Hoback noted that while digital forensics provided some direction for his investigation, the most compelling evidence came from offline sources. He commented on his findings for POLITICO, lauding Todd’s mastery of game theory. Hoback closely monitored social media shortly before the documentary’s release and was amazed that Todd’s name never came up in discussions even though the developer was in the official trailer.
Despite Hoback’s sensational claim, many industry insiders doubt his findings. Jameson Lopp, the co-founder of Bitcoin company Casa, dismissed the claim, as did Nic Carter, founding partner at Castle Island Ventures. Carter acknowledged Todd’s talents but noted the developer lacked the deep expertise in cryptography and digital cash systems required to create Bitcoin.
The fact that Satoshi successfully pulled this off — it really is magical. I personally hope we never find out who Satoshi is.
Nic Carter, founding partner at Castle Island Ventures
The HBO documentary did not significantly impact the price of Bitcoin. 1 BTC currently trades for $63,126, with the price remaining relatively stable since its rally in March 2024. As for the identity of Bitcoin’s founder, the latest revelation does more to stir questions than provide answers in the dynamic world of cryptocurrency.
