The mystery surrounding the identity of Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has taken another unexpected turn. New speculation links Twitter co-founder and Block CEO Jack Dorsey to the pseudonymous figure.
This theory is fueled by connections between Dorsey’s past activities and key Bitcoin (BTC) milestones.
The Jack Dorsey is Satoshi Nakamoto Theory
The speculation was reignited by a detailed post from popular X user Sean Murray. Murray outlined numerous coincidences and evidence linking Dorsey to Bitcoin’s early days.
“Wrote a manifesto about making a mark without leaving a trace in 2001…Jack parades himself around in a Satoshi shirt…Posted in 2003 that he is ending his dependence on the US dollar and creating a barter network,” Murray noted.
According to Murray, Dorsey was an active member of the cypherpunk community as early as 1996. He was also a known cryptography enthusiast and a skilled programmer in multiple languages. The post highlights Dorsey’s early participation in cryptographic mailing lists and forums.
It also cites a history of discussing pseudonyms, digital privacy, and financial decentralization. Further, Bitcoin.org was registered the day after Dorsey tweeted a cryptic message about sailing. According to Murray, this echoes a famous sailor’s adage in the original Bitcoin source code.
Additionally, the earliest Bitcoin documentation timestamps align with Dorsey’s known habit of late-night work. Beyond that, key Bitcoin milestones align with significant dates in Dorsey’s personal life.
Specifically, Murray highlights Satoshi’s forum activity, which coincided with Jack Dorsey’s birthday and those of his family members.
Murray’s consequential evidence includes Dorsey’s deep admiration for Bitcoin and persistent advocacy for its decentralization principles.
Murray’s theory suggests that Bitcoin was Dorsey’s “masterpiece.” He describes it as an art form through which he aimed to transform digital finance while maintaining pseudonymity rather than complete anonymity.
“The belief that Satoshi never wanted to be found is something that other people invented about Satoshi. Satoshi chose pseudonymity, not anonymity, as Jack so pointed out in a podcast with Lex Fridman. The reason why Jack would do all of the above, while not directly admitting it, is because Satoshi and Bitcoin are his art. And it’s a masterpiece,” Murray added.
Given the extensive circumstantial evidence, the theory connecting Jack Dorsey to Satoshi Nakamoto remains speculative but compelling.
Bitcoin price remains unmoved by this speculation. As of this writing, BTC was trading for $96,308, down by 0.02% since Tuesday’s session opened.
Ongoing Speculation Around Satoshi Nakamoto’s Identity
The question of who created Bitcoin has been a long-standing debate, with numerous individuals speculated to be Satoshi Nakamoto. Recently, an HBO documentary claimed to have unmasked Bitcoin’s creator five months ago, sparking further interest.
However, the documentary turned out to be speculative at best, naming Peter Todd and leaving the question of “who is Satoshi Nakamoto” unanswered.
“I’m not Satoshi,” Todd said on X (Twitter).
Similarly, a recent Satoshi Nakamoto “reveal” conference in London also fell apart bizarrely. As BeInCrypto reported, this further fueled skepticism around those claiming to be Bitcoin’s creator. Beyond Todd and now Dorsey, several other figures have previously been linked to Satoshi.
Among them was Len Sassaman, a cryptographer who passed away in 2011. Due to his work on anonymity-focused projects, he was thought to have been a prime suspect. However, his widow, Meredith L. Patterson, denied the speculation.
“Meredith L Patterson, Len Sassaman’s widow, denied the speculation that Len Sassaman was Satoshi Nakamoto in an interview. HBO never contacted her when making the documentary,” WuBlockchain reported.
Another theory involved Nick Szabo, a well-known cryptographer and creator of “Bit Gold,” a precursor to Bitcoin. As BeInCrypto reported, 10X Research pointed to Szabo, adding an intriguing layer to the mystery surrounding the true identity of the elusive Bitcoin creator.
Similarly, Craig Wright, an Australian entrepreneur, has claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto but has repeatedly failed to provide conclusive proof. Recently, he lost another legal battle regarding his claim.
Backlash Against the Speculation
While some Bitcoin enthusiasts are eager to uncover Satoshi’s identity, others argue that such speculation is harmful.
“Accusing someone of being Satoshi without providing bulletproof evidence makes you [a bad person] because you’re painting a target on them,” Security expert Jameson Lopp criticized.
Similarly, Rusty Russell, an open-source developer, warned against such speculation, citing a violation of privacy.
“Speculating on Satoshi’s identity is not just a way to increase someone’s risk of violent theft attempts: it also pointlessly disrespects his clear desire for privacy,” Russell added.
These concerns have precedent. The recent HBO documentary’s allegations about Bitcoin’s founder forced cryptographer Peter Todd into hiding, illustrating the potential dangers of such exposure.
As the debate continues, new theories emerge. Coinbase director Conor Grogan suggested that Kraken, a major cryptocurrency exchange, may hold crucial clues to Satoshi’s identity.
Additionally, concerns have been raised about the future security of Satoshi’s Bitcoin holdings. Tether’s CEO warned that advancements in quantum computing could compromise Nakamoto’s vast Bitcoin stash.
Whether Dorsey is truly the mastermind behind Bitcoin remains to be seen. However, industry experts like Mathew Sigel, head of digital assets research at VanEck, support the theory that Jack Dorsey is Satoshi Nakamoto.
“In the spirit of full disclosure, intellectual honesty, posterity’s judgment, and rigorous debate, I would like to share my strong belief: I have become personally convinced that Jack Dorsey – CEO of Square and founder of X – is Bitcoin’s founder Satoshi Nakamoto. This is my opinion, not that of VanEck,” Sigel shared on X.
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