Bitcoin Developer Peter Todd Denies Being Satoshi Nakamoto, Takes Security Measures
Peter Todd, a well-known Bitcoin developer, has responded to allegations that he is the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. These claims gained attention after being featured in the recent HBO documentary, “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” which sparked intense debate within the crypto community. In a recent interview, Todd dismissed the allegations, stating that they are unfounded.
Due to his public association with someone who reportedly controls a Bitcoin stash worth $74.4 billion, Todd admitted that he has taken certain security precautions. However, he declined to provide further details, stating that it is best to keep potential threats guessing. Contrary to recent reports by Wired, Todd emphasized that he is not hiding or avoiding public life. He recently attended a Bitcoin conference in Lugano, Switzerland, where a statue was unveiled in honor of Nakamoto. Todd also revealed that he plans to speak at various cryptocurrency events worldwide in the coming weeks, highlighting his continued involvement in the Bitcoin community.
Despite appearing in the HBO documentary, Todd has not been publicly confronted or acknowledged as Satoshi. He believes that his decision to avoid audio or video interviews with journalists has helped minimize attention. As a prominent figure in the early Bitcoin community, Todd is accustomed to speculation about his role in the creation of Bitcoin. Although he has recently received increased scrutiny, rumors linking him to Satoshi’s identity have surfaced in the past. Cullen Hoback, the director of “Money Electric,” presented circumstantial evidence supporting the theory, including Todd’s early digital currency experiments and similarities between his writing style and that of Nakamoto. However, Todd remains unconvinced, dismissing these claims as “ludicrous.” Hoback suggested that Todd’s public appearance is a strategic attempt to mislead, describing it as “Machiavellian” on social media.
Meanwhile, a recent investigation suggests that Nakamoto may actually be a collective entity. One piece of evidence is the use of both “we” and “I” in the Bitcoin white paper, indicating the possibility of a team operating under a single pseudonym. Linguistic analysis of Nakamoto’s writings also suggests the involvement of multiple individuals, as the writing style appears different in forums and email correspondences. Additionally, the timestamps on Nakamoto’s messages hint at the participation of multiple people. Theories about Nakamoto’s location vary, with some suggesting the UK and others California. A review titled “The Time Zones of Satoshi Nakamoto” analyzed Nakamoto’s hourly activity and concluded that he likely resided in the EST time zone. If Nakamoto is indeed a group, this would explain the involvement of multiple time zones.