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Adam Back Denies New York Times Report Identifying Him as Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto
British cryptographer Adam Back has denied a New York Times report claiming he is Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin. The report stemmed from an 18-month investigation by reporter John Carreyrou into online cryptography archives. Back, a computer scientist and entrepreneur, stated he is not the individual identified in the article.
Apr 8, 6:33 AM·2m read4 sources
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British cryptographer Adam Back denied a New York Times report that identified him as Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin. The denial came shortly after the report's publication in late 2024. Back, known for his work in cryptography and as CEO of Blockstream, addressed the claim directly.
The New York Times article, authored by investigative reporter John Carreyrou, detailed an 18-month probe into the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. Carreyrou examined archives of online cryptography communities from the early 2000s. The investigation culminated in the identification of Back as the likely creator.
reporting focused on the origins of Bitcoin, introduced in a 2008 whitepaper under the Satoshi Nakamoto pseudonym.
The pseudonymous figure communicated via online forums until 2011, after which activity ceased. The New York Times piece traced technical and chronological links between Back's work and Bitcoin's development. Adam Back's contributions to cryptography predate Bitcoin, including the invention of Hashcash in 1997, a proof-of-work system cited in the Bitcoin whitepaper.
Back has long been speculated as a candidate for Satoshi due to these connections. However, he has repeatedly denied the claim in prior interviews. The report emerged from a personal anecdote shared by the reporter, involving a podcast discussion during a drive on the Long Island Expressway in fall 2024.
This led to the deeper investigation into Bitcoin's elusive founder.
his denial, Back stated he was not involved in creating Bitcoin.
He emphasized his respect for Satoshi's anonymity and his own separate contributions to the field. The British computer scientist made the statement publicly following the article's release.
