Bitrabo Editorial
The recent HBO documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” which premiered on October 8, has sparked significant discussion in the cryptocurrency world. It proposes that Peter Todd, a Canadian Bitcoin developer, is Satoshi Nakamoto, a claim Todd has publicly rejected.
Following the documentary’s assertions, many experts have stepped forward to challenge the theory put forth by director Cullen Hoback. Hoback arrived at his conclusion based on four main arguments, as reported by Bitrabo. Among the skeptics is Billy Markus, the co-founder of Dogecoin, who is known online as Shibetoshi Nakamoto. Markus took to X, asserting, “It’s not Peter Todd bro.”
When a user inquired, “Who’s Peter?”, Markus responded, “Not Satoshi unless you’re an idiot. […] He’s one of the more OG core devs but not the creator.” When pressed further about Satoshi’s identity, Markus enigmatically replied, “Someone who is not alive.”
This remark further fueled speculation in the crypto community. Dogecoin enthusiast Doge Whisperer (@TDogewhisperer) asked Markus for an educated guess regarding Satoshi’s identity. Markus openly suggested, “Hal Finney and friends.”
hal finney and friends
— Shibetoshi Nakamoto (@BillyM2k) October 9, 2024
Assessing Markus’s Claim
Hal Finney was a prominent computer scientist and cryptographer, recognized as one of the early figures in the Bitcoin ecosystem. His significant contributions to cryptography and digital currency have made him a prime suspect in the search for Satoshi Nakamoto’s true identity, with varying opinions both supporting and disputing this idea.
One noteworthy aspect of Finney’s involvement is that he was the recipient of the first Bitcoin transaction, where Satoshi Nakamoto sent him 10 Bitcoins on January 12, 2009, as a test. He also engaged with Satoshi early on, providing valuable feedback regarding Bitcoin’s coding.
Finney’s expertise in cryptography is well-documented; he was a respected figure at the PGP Corporation and played a crucial role in creating Pretty Good Privacy (PGP). Additionally, in 2004, he devised Reusable Proofs of Work (RPOW), which tackled issues of digital scarcity and double-spending, laying groundwork for Bitcoin.
Insights into Finney’s writing style show intriguing parallels with Satoshi Nakamoto’s, including the use of British English and certain expressions. The tone and technical detail in Finney’s correspondence are quite reminiscent of Satoshi’s writings. Interestingly, Finney lived close to Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto, another name speculated in the search for Bitcoin’s creator, which has led to theories suggesting Finney might have taken the name “Satoshi Nakamoto” from his neighbor.
Overall, Finney possessed the knowledge needed to tackle the intricate challenges Bitcoin aimed to solve—such as decentralization and cryptographic security. As an active participant in the cypherpunk mailing lists, he contributed extensively to discussions about privacy, cryptography, and digital currencies.
Nonetheless, arguments against the notion that Hal Finney is Satoshi Nakamoto exist. Finney consistently denied being Satoshi until his death in 2014, insisting he was only an early adopter and contributor. He was transparent about his engagement, sharing correspondences and Bitcoin wallet details to support his assertions.
In 2009, Finney was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a condition that would have made it extremely difficult for him to develop Bitcoin while keeping his identity hidden. As the disease progressed, his ability to engage in the rigorous demands of early Bitcoin development diminished significantly.
Furthermore, Finney’s documented email exchanges with Satoshi would seem unusual if they were the same person. While some analyses find similarities in their writing, others point out distinct differences in their communication styles and coding practices.
As of this writing, Dogecoin’s value stands at $0.1089.