Everyone loves a good hypothetical tittle-tattle, and the latest rumour shaking the crypto world is a bold claim about the identity of Bitcoin’s elusive creator. The million-dollar question of the identity of the Bitcoin creator, who Satoshi Nakamoto is, has resurfaced, this time with tech mogul Jack Dorsey at the centre of speculation.

Sean Murray, editor-in-chief of deBanked, has put forth a detailed case claiming Jack Dorsey is Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin. He argues that the dates, facts, and patterns align, presenting Bitcoin as Dorsey’s masterpiece. Jack Dorsey co-founded Twitter in 2015, and currently is founder of Block, a financial services company within which a variety of brands exist including Square for sellers, Cash App for everything money, Afterpay for spending management, and TIDAL among others.

While some fear this revelation could disrupt Bitcoin’s momentum, Murray dismisses concerns, asserting that Satoshi sought pseudonymity, not absolute anonymity.

How did Murray prove that Dorsey is Satoshi?

Dorsey, a computer science and math major, was a confirmed cypherpunk in 1996, wore an Adam Back t-shirt in college, and engaged in cryptographic discussions. He wrote about hacking and working on cryptography late at night, aligning with the timestamps on Bitcoin's original code.

He also had a deep interest in pseudonyms, once referring to himself as "Jak," a detail echoed in early Bitcoin addresses. Notably, Satoshi accidentally logged into an IRC chat in 2009 from California, where Dorsey was based at the time.

Murray further points to curious coincidences linking Dorsey’s life to key Bitcoin milestones. The first Bitcoin transaction occurred on Dorsey’s mother’s birthday, Satoshi joined the Bitcoin forum on his birthday, and the last block Satoshi mined coincided with his father’s birthday. The original Bitcoin code included a sailor’s adage, mirroring Dorsey’s self-described passion for sailing. When Twitter was served a secret subpoena related to WikiLeaks in December 2010, Satoshi abruptly disappeared from the Bitcoin forum. In later years, Dorsey was seen wearing a "Satoshi" shirt publicly including his appearance at the Superbowl last year in February.

What did others say about Murray's claim?

Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research, VanEck, a global investment management firm, further asserted his personal belief on X that Dorsey indeed is Bitcoin’s creator. Citing a mix of technical parallels, circumstantial links, and striking coincidences, Sigel points to Dorsey’s deep-rooted interest in cryptography, his past pseudonymous activities, and his strategic silence during key Bitcoin milestones. He highlights Dorsey’s role in funding legal defences against false Satoshi claims.

Sigel argues that if Dorsey is indeed Satoshi, transparency could strengthen Bitcoin’s long-term stability, alleviating market fears over the potential liquidation of Satoshi’s 1.1 million BTC holdings. He dismisses concerns that public scrutiny could harm Bitcoin, emphasising its decentralised nature.

Nathan Frankovitz, crypto analyst at VanEck, argues that revealing Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity—if it is indeed Jack Dorsey—should not be seen as detrimental to Bitcoin but rather as a testament to its decentralisation. He criticises the notion that Satoshi’s anonymity is essential to Bitcoin’s value, calling it a rigid orthodoxy that contradicts the principles of a free and open internet.

He adds that uncovering Satoshi’s identity now is preferable to later, when Bitcoin’s value is significantly higher.

Dorsey has been a vocal Bitcoin advocate, predicting it could reach $1 million by 2030. However, in a 2020 interview with Lex Fridman, he denied being Satoshi, saying, “If I were, I would tell you.”

The mystery of Bitcoin’s creator remains unresolved, with figures like Peter Todd, Len Sassaman, and Nick Szabo also being linked to the pseudonym.

Sean Murray

Is Jack Dorsey Satoshi Nakamoto, the bitcoin creator?