Bitrabo Editorial
A recent insight from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shared by investigative journalist Dave Troy hints at new revelations concerning the elusive Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous figure behind Bitcoin. Through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Troy sought any information the FBI may hold on Nakamoto across its various facilities.
Is the FBI Concealing Information About Bitcoin’s Creator?
Troy’s FOIA request specifically aimed to uncover any records related to Satoshi Nakamoto within the FBI’s domain. This encompassed any documentation that could define Nakamoto as an individual, group, consortium, or even a governmental body. The request sought clarity on whether the FBI possessed any information about Nakamoto, be it under the pseudonym or any potentially associated real identities.
“My request does not focus on unmasking the identity of ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’ but on acquiring any records the bureau may hold about the entity. If the FBI lacks any information on ‘Satoshi Nakamoto,’ whether as a general subject or as a pseudonym for a confirmed deceased person, I request to be informed,” Troy emphasized in the FOIA request.
In the shared response, the FBI categorizes Nakamoto as a “third party individual,” a term commonly used by US intelligence agencies to denote foreign nationals. This labeling implies a deliberate vagueness and hints at the FBI’s possession of pertinent data that it chooses not to disclose.
“The FBI persists in defining ‘Satoshi Nakamoto,’ the alleged creator of Bitcoin, as a ‘third party individual,’ a label typically attributed to foreign individuals. This stance persists despite the clarification and specificity in my request,” Troy communicated through X.
Troy expressed reservations on X regarding the FBI’s handling of his request, indicating, “This might suggest that either a) the FBI is aware of ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’s’ identity but refuses to confirm or deny having relevant records, or b) the FOIA unit is confused and misunderstood the clearly articulated request.”
The FBI’s deployment of a “Glomar response,” refusing to confirm or deny record existence, further deepens the mystery. This response methodology is legally established by the US Supreme Court, enabling agencies to neither confirm nor deny records’ existence if their revelation would significantly impact national security or privacy.
Earlier, on August 13, Troy revealed the FBI’s initial response to his inquiry. Subsequently, he shared that the FBI responded with a “Glomar response” to his query about Satoshi Nakamoto, sidestepping confirmation or denial of any documents regarding the enigmatic Bitcoin creator.
This incident isn’t an isolated case of public endeavors to identify Nakamoto through official means. Similarly, in 2018, Daniel Oberhaus from Motherboard encountered hurdles when seeking internal emails mentioning Nakamoto from the FBI and CIA. Oberhaus, like Troy, received a Glomar response from the CIA, evading confirmation or denial of requested documents to safeguard sensitive information.
In a different context, Eric Balchunas, a Bloomberg ETF analyst, notified through X that US spot Bitcoin ETFs now possess around 921,540 BTC, approaching Nakamoto’s estimated holdings of 1.1 million BTC. He projected, “US spot Bitcoin ETFs currently hold 84% of Satoshi’s Bitcoin, soon to surpass and claim the top position by Halloween.”
At the present moment, BTC is valued at $59,173.