A man has publicly denied claims that he is the elusive inventor of Bitcoin, known as Satoshi Nakamoto. Peter Todd, a Canadian crypto expert and prominent Bitcoin developer, spoke with filmmaker Cullen Hoback in the documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” where he firmly dismissed allegations of being behind the revolutionary digital currency.
“I am not Satoshi Nakamoto,” Todd stated, calling the suggestion “ludicrous” while criticizing the documentary. The quest to identify Nakamoto has fascinated the internet since Bitcoin’s introduction in 2009 by an anonymous figure or group using that name.
The intrigue surrounding Satoshi extends beyond mere curiosity; it involves substantial wealth. If Nakamoto still controls the Bitcoin wallet linked to the first coins mined, the assets would be valued at an estimated $69 billion, positioning Satoshi as one of the wealthiest individuals globally.
Despite Todd’s significant contributions to Bitcoin’s development, he had not been considered a leading candidate in the longstanding search for Satoshi’s true identity. The release of the documentary has generated considerable excitement, with over $44 million wagered on a crypto betting website about who it would identify as Nakamoto.
Hoback, who has a history of investigating anonymous online identities, claims that his conclusion follows years of research and interviews. One piece of evidence he presents is a forum post by Todd that resembles one originally made by Satoshi. Additionally, Hoback references Todd’s earlier comment about having deliberately destroyed a large number of digital coins.
A prevailing theory suggests that Satoshi might have intentionally severed access to a significant amount of original Bitcoin, estimated at 1.1 million coins, which remain untouched and now worth a considerable fortune. This stash represents about 5% of all bitcoins, as Satoshi established a cap of 21 million coins total.
In response to Hoback’s claims, Todd insists that the evidence is based on coincidence and a misinterpretation of his online presence. “When I first read the Bitcoin whitepaper, my reaction was ‘Dammit! I should have thought of that,’” Todd remarked, further elaborating that concerns about potential threats have compelled him to relocate from his home for safety.