Satoshi Nakamoto is the pseudonymous individual or group credited with the creation of Bitcoin, the first decentralised cryptocurrency. Nakamoto’s identity remains one of the greatest mysteries in the digital world, with speculation ranging from singular developers to entire organisations. In 2008, Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin through a whitepaper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” and launched its software in January 2009, marking the start of blockchain technology. Nakamoto continued to collaborate with the Bitcoin community until 2010 before withdrawing from public involvement. Despite numerous theories and investigations, the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains unknown. Bitcoin’s origin story and its creator’s anonymity have only added to the cryptocurrency’s intrigue, ensuring that Satoshi’s name remains synonymous with decentralised finance and innovation.
Its not the only questions people want to know the answer to around Bitcoin.
The true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, remains unknown. Over the years, speculation and investigations have led to several individuals being considered as possible contenders. Here are the top five most prominent candidates leading with an international criminal:
Paul Le Roux, a former programmer and criminal mastermind, has been suggested as a possible Satoshi Nakamoto due to his extensive coding skills and involvement in cryptographic technologies. Le Roux created E4M (Encryption for the Masses), a software similar to what Bitcoin’s creator would be capable of developing. Le Roux’s timeline aligns with Bitcoin’s early years, but his later criminal activities cast doubt on whether he would willingly promote decentralised finance for altruistic purposes. The theory remains speculative but compelling to some.
Hal Finney, a renowned cryptographer and one of the earliest Bitcoin adopters, is often suggested as a prime candidate. Finney was the recipient of the first-ever Bitcoin transaction sent by Satoshi Nakamoto and contributed significantly to Bitcoin’s early development. He also lived near a man named Dorian Nakamoto (another candidate), adding to the theory. Despite the speculation, Finney denied being Satoshi before passing away in 2014.
Nick Szabo, a computer scientist and cryptographer, created “Bit Gold”, a precursor to Bitcoin. Szabo’s writings on decentralised currencies and blockchain concepts closely align with Bitcoin’s design and philosophy. Linguistic analysis has shown similarities between Szabo’s work and Satoshi’s writings. However, Szabo has publicly denied being Satoshi Nakamoto.
Dorian Nakamoto, a Japanese-American engineer, became a focus of media attention after a 2014 article by Newsweek suggested he was Satoshi based on circumstantial evidence, including his name. Dorian vehemently denied the claims, stating he had no connection to Bitcoin, and the theory has since been largely dismissed.
Adam Back, a cryptographer and creator of Hashcash—a system referenced in Bitcoin’s whitepaper—has been considered a potential Satoshi Nakamoto. Back’s deep technical knowledge and proximity to early cryptocurrency developments lend credibility to the theory. Despite this, Back denies being the Bitcoin creator and has consistently supported the idea of Satoshi’s anonymity.