A new HBO documentary titled “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery” proposes that Peter Todd, a Canadian software developer, may be the elusive Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.
The 100-minute film, released on Tuesday by HBO features interviews with early Bitcoin figures, including long-time Satoshi candidate Adam Back, investor Roger Ver, Bitcoin marketer Samson Mow, and Todd himself. Creator Cullen Hoback relies on circumstantial evidence, such as postings from early Bitcoin forums, to support the theory that Todd is Satoshi. According to Bloomberg, when asked about the speculation, Todd dismissed it as “ludicrous,” jokingly stating at one point, “I am Satoshi Nakamoto.”
Todd later told CNN, “For the record, I’m not Satoshi,” criticizing the documentary as “irresponsible” and claiming it put his life in danger. He asserted that he wasn’t approached by HBO before the film’s release and wasn’t offered a chance to preview it, stating, “He is playing up a few coincidences into something much more. Ironic really: that’s a hallmark of conspiracy thinking.”
The true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, whether a single individual or a group, has been the subject of extensive speculation since Bitcoin’s launch in January 2009. The cryptocurrency has gained mainstream attention, becoming part of investment portfolios for companies like MicroStrategy Inc. and included in U.S. exchange-traded funds, which collectively hold billions in Bitcoin.
Over the years, various figures have been suggested as Satoshi Nakamoto; in 2014, Newsweek claimed it was physicist Dorian Nakamoto, a claim he denied, while the New York Times pointed to computer scientist Nick Szabo in 2015. Craig Wright, an Australian, famously claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto until a UK judge ruled otherwise.
Todd is noted as an applied cryptography consultant on GitHub and is based in Toronto. A LinkedIn profile under his name lists him as “Chief Naysayer” at Bitcoin security provider Coinkite, chief scientist at the anonymizing wallet service Dark Wallet, and chief scientist at the Mastercoin project. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Media from OCAD University in 2011.
The Bitcoin whitepaper was published in 2008, and the Bitcoin network went live in 2009. Todd has been a candidate for Satoshi Nakamoto for several years.
Despite Satoshi Nakamoto’s silence since 2011, their identity remains significant. Satoshi’s wallets contain approximately 1 million Bitcoin, valued at about $62.4 billion at current prices. Any movement of these funds could potentially crash the market. Furthermore, the creator’s identity may greatly influence the willingness of governments and corporations to adopt Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency.
