Who Invented Bitcoin?

Nov 15, 2023

byNDAX Labs

The enigma surrounding the identity of Bitcoin's creator–known only under the pseudonym of Satoshi Nakamoto–has played a captivating role in the narrative of this groundbreaking invention. Despite the epochal impact of Bitcoin on the financial landscape, Nakamoto's true identity remains shrouded in mystery. The deliberate use of a pseudonym–a Japanese first name that translates to "clear thinking", "wise" or “quick-witted”, and a last name that means “one who lives in the middle” (could it mean “one who lives outside” i.e. of the current system? 🤔–adds an extra layer of intrigue to the persona behind the project.

Satoshi Nakamoto's deliberate anonymity has fueled numerous speculations and theories within the cryptocurrency community and beyond. The initial appearance of Nakamoto on online forums and their subsequent disappearance from public view have only deepened the mystery. Nakamoto's decision to communicate primarily through forum posts and emails, without revealing personal details, has led to widespread speculation about the reasons behind such anonymity. While some argue that it was a precautionary measure to protect against potential legal or security threats, others believe it was a deliberate choice to decentralize authority and emphasize the collaborative nature of Bitcoin's development. (One oft-cited motto in the Bitcoin community is “There are no heroes in Bitcoin”: While this may have been by design, it certainly still has to be regularly relearned...)

In any case, the void left by their disappearance has given rise to a myriad of theories regarding the true identity of this figure. Numerous individuals, including computer scientists, cryptographers, journalists, and even a mathematician at the NSA, have been put forth as potential candidates. However, each claim has been met with skepticism (or debunked–we see you Craig Wright), and the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto continues to elude the relentless efforts of web sleuths, investigative journalists, or those in the Bitcoin community who actually still care. (Very few bitcoiners expend much energy caring about this today because most feel that because the protocol has outgrown its creator, it simply doesn’t matter. In a sense, like Spartacus, we are all Satoshi Nakamoto… 👀)

Yet, the mystery surrounding Nakamoto's identity has remained an integral part of Bitcoin lore, contributing to its mystique and emphasizing the decentralized ethos at the core of the protocol. As Bitcoin continues to evolve, grow, convert detractors, and gain mainstream adoption, the quest to unveil the identity of its creator–if indeed such a quest exists–remains a soft ongoing intrigue, adding a pinch of drama–or at the very least curiosity–to the ever-expanding world of secular money.

THAT BEING SAID…

Here are some names that have been floated around… It is up to you, young grasshopper, to make up your mind. (After all, a central premise of this mysterious protocol is self-reliance, personal responsibility, and self-sovereignty.)

ARE YOU SATOSHI NAKAMOTO?

American Computer Scientist, Legal scholar and Cryptographer Nick Szabo

American Computer Scientist and Early Bitcoin Contributor Hal Finney

British Computer Scientist and Cryptographer Adam Back

Chinese Computer Engineer and Cryptographer Wei Dai

Japanese Mathematician and Cryptologist Tatsuaki Okamoto of The US National Security Agency