finance
Adam Back Denies New York Times Report Identifying Him as Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto
Adam Back, a British computer scientist and CEO of Blockstream, denied claims in a New York Times investigation that he is Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin. The report analyzed writings and other clues to suggest Back's involvement. Back stated he is not Satoshi during a CNBC interview.
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Adam Back, co-founder and CEO of Blockstream, denied being Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous author of the 2008 Bitcoin white paper. The denial followed a New York Times investigative report that identified Back as the likely creator based on linguistic analysis and historical connections. Back addressed the claims during an appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box.
The New York Times report detailed a multi-year effort to unmask Satoshi Nakamoto. It compared writings from Back's early work on Hashcash, a precursor to Bitcoin's proof-of-work system, with the Bitcoin white paper. The analysis highlighted similarities in phrasing and technical concepts.
The investigation pointed to Back's London birthplace and his interactions with early cypherpunk figures as additional evidence.
No other sources corroborated the identification, though Back's denial was reported across multiple outlets. Back joined CNBC's Squawk Box to discuss the theory.
He explicitly rejected the claims, stating he had no role in creating Bitcoin. The interview focused on the implications for cryptocurrency history.
“I am not Satoshi.”
Satoshi Nakamoto's true identity remains unknown since the Bitcoin white paper's publication in October 2008. Nakamoto communicated via online forums until 2010 before disappearing. The pseudonym has fueled ongoing speculation in the cryptocurrency community.
is a British computer scientist known for inventing Hashcash in 1997, which influenced Bitcoin's design. As CEO of Blockstream, he works on Bitcoin infrastructure and sidechains. The New York Times report found no direct proof of authorship. The story has renewed interest in Bitcoin's origins amid growing adoption of digital currencies.
