"Who Is Satoshi, Really?"... Ongoing Speculation Continues, Conclusion Remains Unclear

NYT: "Emails and Writing Style Nearly Identical"

Adam Back: "Just a Coincidence, I Am Not the Creator"

Satoshi's Estimated Assets Reach $7 Billion

The New York Times (NYT), a leading U.S. newspaper, has reignited controversy by identifying British entrepreneur Adam Back as the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. However, both Adam Back and key figures in the industry have immediately denied the claim.

On April 9, Yonhap News reported that the NYT spent 18 months meticulously analyzing thousands of online posts and emails in an effort to uncover Satoshi's identity, ultimately concluding that Adam Back is likely Satoshi. The NYT cited computer linguistic analysis, noting that Satoshi's unique use of British English spelling and writing habits matched Back's in 67 cases.

This includes Back's habit of using hyphens (-) in specific positions and his way of mixing British spellings. The NYT also pointed out that in emails exchanged with members of the "cypherpunk" anarchist group in the 1990s, Back shared ideas about a virtual currency that could avoid government intervention.

The Satoshi Mystery Shaken Again... Adam Back Says, "It's Only Confirmation Bias"

In response, Adam Back, identified as "Satoshi Nakamoto," immediately gave an interview to the BBC. In this interview, he drew a clear line, stating, "I am not Satoshi." He acknowledged his long-standing interest in cryptography, online privacy, and electronic money, but insisted that the NYT's analysis was a case of "confirmation bias." In particular, Back refuted the NYT's claims by pointing out, "I was also highly active on forums at the time." He further dismissed much of the circumstantial evidence presented by the NYT, saying, "It's natural for people with similar interests to use similar expressions."

Adam Back, identified by The New York Times as the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. Wikipedia

The Bitcoin industry also pushed back against the claim. Michael Saylor, chairman of MicroStrategy, the world's largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, called it a "clear mistake." He stressed, "There is a record of Satoshi and Back actually exchanging emails," adding, "The two are different individuals."

The 'Satoshi Speculation' Debate Repeats... Conclusion Remains Elusive

The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains one of the oldest mysteries in internet history. In particular, the roughly 1 million Bitcoins believed to be owned by Satoshi are currently worth about 7 billion dollars (approximately 9 trillion won), further fueling interest in the mystery. In fact, this is not the first time a candidate has been named as Satoshi. In 2024, an HBO documentary pointed to Peter Todd, but he dismissed the claim as "preposterous." That same year, British citizen Stephen Molla claimed to be Satoshi, but failed to gain credibility.

Previously, in 2014, Newsweek identified Dorian Nakamoto, but this too was proven incorrect. In 2015, Wired and Gizmodo named Craig Wright as Satoshi; although he claimed to be the creator, a UK court did not recognize his claim. Interestingly, Adam Back was one of the witnesses who testified against Wright's assertions during that trial.

Some in the industry believe that Satoshi's unidentified status itself symbolizes Bitcoin's spirit of decentralization. Back also emphasized, "Not knowing who Satoshi is may actually be a positive for Bitcoin." Despite the recurring efforts to track down Satoshi, the mystery of his true identity remains unsolved.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.