Key Points
- Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, believes Jack Dorsey is Satoshi Nakamoto.
- The claim is based on evidence compiled by entrepreneur Sean Murray.
Matthew Sigel, VanEck’s Head of Digital Assets Research, released a comprehensive post on February 18, 2025.
He stated his belief that Twitter’s Jack Dorsey is the elusive creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto.
The Search for Satoshi
Despite many Bitcoin enthusiasts attributing the cryptocurrency’s success to the absence of a central figure, the quest to uncover the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto persists.
Sigel urges for a broader examination of his arguments and encourages a collective effort in this endeavor.
The case for Dorsey being Satoshi is built on technical similarities, circumstantial associations, patterns, uncanny coincidences, motive, and capability.
While not conclusive, the range of these connections is intriguing and deserves further analysis.
The Evidence
Entrepreneur Sean Murray, whose research Sigel cites, published his findings in 2024.
Speculation about Dorsey being the inventor of Bitcoin, however, began even earlier.
Dorsey himself denied these claims during a 2020 podcast with Lex Fridman.
Murray’s research, which Sigel found convincing, was published over a year on the deCashed website.
The articles present facts that allegedly confirm Dorsey as Nakamoto.
One such fact is a 1996 photo of Dorsey wearing a T-shirt designed by renowned cypherpunk Adam Back, whose Hashcash technology aided Satoshi in creating Bitcoin.
Back was among the first people Satoshi contacted in 2008.
Dorsey’s knowledge of the C programming language, used to create Bitcoin, and his early interest in distributed databases are also highlighted.
Additional evidence includes Dorsey’s activities during his tenure as Twitter CEO, which coincided with Satoshi’s work on Bitcoin, and the launch of his company Square’s website, which featured a logo similar to a design suggested by Nakamoto.
Reactions to Sigel’s Claims
While some Bitcoin enthusiasts believe that revealing Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity could harm the cryptocurrency’s future, Sigel argues that if Dorsey is Satoshi, it would be beneficial for the market.
His reasoning is that Satoshi’s substantial Bitcoin holdings would be securely managed and monitored.
However, Sigel’s claims have been met with strong criticism.
Many Bitcoin supporters maintain the philosophy that “Bitcoin has no CEO,” emphasizing that the community, not a single individual, governs the cryptocurrency.
Despite the controversy, efforts to uncover Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity continue.