Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto?

Satoshi Nakamoto is the pseudonym used by the person (or group of people) who wrote the Bitcoin whitepaper — the document that set out the blueprint for the world’s biggest cryptocurrency. It painstakingly detailed hi-tech cryptographic concepts that showed how digital money could circumvent the need for central banks in the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis.

A number of people have been suspected of being Satoshi Nakamoto. Some have gone to great lengths in order to try and clear their name — stressing that they had no involvement in the cryptocurrency’s creation. Others were linked to the pseudonym after linguistic analysis of the whitepaper was performed, and distinctive phrases were matched with other published works. Unfortunately, these investigations also proved inconclusive.

Some — such as Craig Wright — have actively attempted to claim that they are Satoshi Nakamoto. This Australian entrepreneur ended up trying to claim copyright on the Bitcoin whitepaper through U.S. channels, a move that was largely derided by the crypto community.

Adding further to the mystery, Nakamoto ultimately took a step back from the Bitcoin community not long after the cryptocurrency launched. They wrote their last message on the BitcoinTalk forum back in December 2010 and have not been seen since.

Although they may be gone, Satoshi Nakamoto’s presence continues to be felt through the Bitcoin whitepaper, which is available freely online. The smallest possible unit of a single Bitcoin — 100 millionth of one coin — has also been named as a “satoshi” in their honor.

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