A New Documentary Claims to Have ‘Unmasked’ the Creator of Bitcoin. So, Where is He Now?

A new documentary claims to have ‘unmasked’ Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic and elusive figure believed to have created cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

Filmmaker Cullen Hoback, who previously claimed to have identified the individual behind the conspiracy theory movement QAnon, alleges in his latest documentary that Canadian developer Peter Todd created the cryptocurrency in 2008 using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Hoback's evidence largely hinges on a forum thread from December 2010 in which Todd appears to be “finishing Satoshi's sentences”. The chain of comments details a method for prioritising transactions based on the fee paid, which as WIRED explained, Todd would later go on to add to Bitcoin as a contributing developer.

In the film's captivating crescendo, Hoback confronts Todd with his theory, producing evidence that he believes supports his argument. The Canadian developer and cryptocurrency expert initially laughs off the accusation, however, the documentary ends on a somewhat ambiguous note, with Todd stating, “Well yeah, I'm Satoshi Nakamoto.”

Since the documentary aired on HBO, Todd has vehemently denied the allegations, describing Hoback's claims as not only “dumb, but dangerous”. He alleges that Hoback spoke to him under the guise of creating a film about the history of Bitcoin, not the identity of its creator.

“For the record, I am not Satoshi,” Todd told WIRED. “I think Cullen made the Satoshi accusation for marketing. He needed a way to get attention for his film.”

In response to the film's allegations, Todd has reportedly gone into hiding, fearing scrutiny and citing safety as a major concern. With his ‘supposed’ involvement in the creation of the coin now up for discussion, Todd believes he is at risk of harassment and intimidation, most notably due to the enormous fortune believed to belong to Satoshi. Whoever operates the pseudonym, if it is indeed a pseudonym at all, would be on track to become one of the world's richest people—a title Todd plainly rejects.

“Obviously, falsely claiming that ordinary people of ordinary wealth are extraordinarily rich exposes them to threats like robbery and kidnapping,” Todd told WIRED. “Not only is the question dumb, it's dangerous. Satoshi obviously didn't want to be found, for good reasons, and no one should help people trying to find Satoshi.”

Hoback, on the other hand, is confident in his assertions. The filmmaker suggested that Todd's denial was all part of the plan, stating that “while of course we can't outright say he is Satoshi, I think that we make a very strong case”.

“Having had some experience with trolls and people who are trying to obfuscate their trails, it's always a challenge to find the grains of truth or the intentions behind their actions,” Hoback told Documentary Magazine. “They tend to throw so much shit at the wall that nothing sticks, but within all that is some truth, and that's what they're trying to hide. The game is finding those pieces and throwing away the rest. The signal and the noise.”

Earlier this year, Australian computer scientist Dr Craig Wright claimed to be the man behind the Satoshi pseudonym, however, his suggestions of ownership were shot down by a high court judge. Across a two-month trial in London, Wright faced extensive questioning over his involvement with the digital coin's production, with expert witnesses accusing the computer scientist of fabricating a significant quantity of the documents provided as evidence. In handing down his verdict, Mr Justice Mellor said the evidence that Dr Wright did not create Bitcoin was ‘overwhelming’.

“However, having considered all the evidence and submissions presented to me in this trial, I've reached the conclusion that the evidence is overwhelming,” Justice Mellor said via The Guardian. “First, Dr. Wright is not the author of the Bitcoin white paper. Second, Dr Wright is not the person who adopted or operated under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto in the period 2008 to 2011. Third, Dr Wright is not the person who created the bitcoin system. And, fourth, he is not the author of the initial versions of the Bitcoin software.”

Irrespective of the truth, Todd now faces mounting public pressure. Despite denying the claims and even producing evidence that appears to show him occupied at roughly the same time that Satoshi was posting to the BitcoinTalk forum, it's his name on the line. The only other viable option for the role of Satoshi is Len Sassaman, a cryptographer who has previously been linked to the creation of the coin. Sassaman tragically took his own life in 2011, shortly after the disappearance of Satoshi, leaving many loose ends open and questions unanswered.

In reality, Satoshi Nakamoto's true identity remains as elusive as ever, and Hoback's decision to spotlight Todd could merely be a tactic to drive viewers to his latest production. Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery adds another name to what is already a long list of potential suspects without providing a categoric answer for whether Todd is or isn't the man behind the moniker. His assertations, while backed up by a solid