A former Bitcoin developer refuted allegations that he is the real Satoshi Nakamoto, creator of Bitcoin, after an HBO documentary pinpointed him as the Bitcoin mastermind.
Peter Todd, who claimed the documentary falsely identifies him as Satoshi, believed that it is pointless to know who the Bitcoin founder is, considering Bitcoin has thrived despite the founder’s true identity, which remains shrouded in mystery.
‘A False Claim’
Todd criticized the documentary’s filmmaker for accusing him of being Satoshi, saying that it is a false claim.
He lamented that the film put him in the spotlight of public scrutiny despite his constant denial that he is the Bitcoin founder.
According to Todd, the HBO filmmaker used the Satoshi accusation to market his documentary, saying the director needed “a way to get attention for his film.”
Todd slammed the film’s director for exaggerating the evidence and stirring conspiracy thinking about the Bitcoin founder. He explained that he could never be Satoshi because, during the early days of Bitcoin, he was preoccupied with school and work.
Moreover, Todd claimed he did not know the focus of the documentary while it was in development, adding that he only became aware of its content when it was aired.
The Bitcoin Documentary
On October 8, HBO aired a documentary which claimed to unmask the real identity of Satoshi, the Bitcoin creator, who eluded everyone for so many years.
The documentary entitled “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery” showed the results of the three-year investigation conducted by filmmaker Cullen Hoback. The film’s director claimed he had successfully uncovered Satoshi’s identity.
The documentary presented proof that pinpointed Todd as the elusive founder of the popular cryptocurrency. An allegation that Todd continues to refute, saying he was misrepresented in the film.
Todd Goes Into Hiding
After the airing of the two-hour documentary, Todd decided to go into hiding, fearing that his personal safety had been compromised by the film.
He said in an interview that he received tons of emails from some people asking him for money. He added there was even an individual who sent him 25 email messages asking for assistance in loan repayment.
Todd now understands why the real Satoshi wants to remain anonymous, considering the volume of harassment the Bitcoin creator will receive.
The Search Continues
With Todd debunking that he is the Bitcoin founder, the search for the identity of Satoshi will live on and will continue to be the subject of speculation.
Over the years, numerous individuals have been identified as the Bitcoin creator, putting them in the public eye which usually led to undesirable repercussions such as intrusion into their private lives.
Featured image from HBO, chart from TradingView