Key Points
- HBO’s documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery” suggests Peter Todd as Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
- Peter Todd denies the claim and expresses skepticism about the documentary’s conclusion.
HBO has recently released a documentary titled “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” which has caused a stir in the cryptocurrency community. The film suggests that Peter Todd is the true identity of Bitcoin [BTC]‘s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. This claim has sparked debate, especially considering previous speculations about Leonard “Len” Sassaman or Nick Szabo being the creator of BTC.
Is Peter Todd Satoshi Nakamoto?
The documentary, directed by Cullen Hobak, presents Hobak confronting Todd and Adam Back with carefully compiled evidence, ultimately pointing to Todd as Satoshi Nakamoto. This claim was first reported by Politico on October 9th, causing significant attention. Despite the unfolding news, Peter Todd himself addressed the allegations on X (formerly Twitter), stating emphatically, “I’m not Satoshi.”
In an email to a publication, Todd expressed doubts about Hobak’s conclusion. He implied that Hoback, who previously revealed the identity behind the QAnon conspiracy for HBO, was “grasping at straws” in suggesting him as Nakamoto.
Peter Todd’s Response and Background
Todd’s comments challenge the documentary’s claims, showing his skepticism about the speculation surrounding his involvement. He confirmed that the interview did take place but denied being Satoshi. He also found it ironic that Hobak, known for a documentary on QAnon, has resorted to a similar style of coincidence-based conspiracy thinking.
Todd’s professional background shows a strong expertise in applied cryptography and cryptocurrency development. His GitHub profile identifies him as a cryptography consultant, a role that has likely fueled his deep involvement in BTC development. Since 2014, Todd has contributed as a Bitcoin Core Developer with Coinkite, a notable provider of BTC infrastructure. He has also held influential roles within the crypto community, such as the head scientist for Mastercoin.
Despite the latest speculation, the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains a mystery. Polymarket’s data supports this, with the majority favoring “Not proven in Q4” over any definitive revelation this quarter. Meanwhile, BTC’s recent performance reflected the market’s uncertainty, trading at $62,410 with a slight 0.14% dip in the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.