- The HBO documentary states that Peter Todd, who is a Bitcoin developer, might be Satoshi Nakamoto.
- He says it’s “ludicrous” for anyone to make such claims.
- The film draws attention to compelling similarities but does not identify Nakamoto.
- The crypto community is divided, with many only dismissing the theory.
HBO has once again entered the fray with its new documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery suggesting that Peter Todd, a nondescript Bitcoin developer, may very well be Satoshi Nakamoto. Ever since the film was released under the direction of Cullen Hoback and depicted a part of Todd and raised accusations that Todd is the one behind the all-famous cryptocurrency in the world.
Satoshi Nakamoto has baffled the world ever since the concept of Bitcoin set forth by him was made in the year 2008. In fact, an uncountable number of efforts have been conducted to identify this person or institution but one thing is for sure, the identity of this person known as Nakamoto has never been legit. This in itself captures the attention of the viewers of this particular documentary but its perfect finishing, does not create its expectations on it.
Peter Todd Denies Being Satoshi Nakamoto
The movie relies on circumstantial evidence to argue that Todd might be Nakamoto. One of the central themes developed throughout the film is that Todd’s academic timetable corresponds with his use of the internet in relation to the alias’s postings. Furthermore, particular forum threads contain instances of Todd carrying on from where core members such as Nakamoto left off.
Yet another evidential aspect is provided by the fact that there is a chat log where Todd boasts of being the ‘world’s best practitioner’ at ‘how to use your Bitcoins.’ Todd admits this argument as a claim which suggests that he is not in a position to know the whereabouts of allegedly 70 billion dollars worth of Bitcoins.
“Todd maintains a divisive presence on Twitter, where he takes extreme right-wing views about issues like migrants in America and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
I gotta say, it’s absolutely hilarious to see my views on Ukraine being portrayed as “extreme right-wing”, after all…
— Peter Todd (@peterktodd) October 9, 2024
Despite this, Todd has been adamant in his response to the accusations. When asked, Todd labeled most of these accusations “ludicrous,” and on social networks also wrote, “I am not Satoshi.” He lambasted the theory commenting, “This is going to be extremely funny when you put this in the documentary and a whole lot of Bitcoiners watch it.”
Critics Call Evidence Speculative
Not embracing, still, some people have criticized the film’s claims because they are too weak to prove their opinion. Critics of this theory also state that Todd was very marginal in Bitcoin’s formative years with not sufficient knowledge to write the original white paper. Furthermore, they take note of the fact that such ‘links’ are mainly supported by coincidence and lack substance.
Don’t believe @peterktodd is Satoshi from the HBO documentary evidence (I skipped to the last half hour for the reveal) but his numerous tweets over the years about how Satoshi wasn’t perfect and just a human and how the @satoshi Twitter account amongst many others was an… pic.twitter.com/velDbVRuHv
— Ken (@solflipseth) October 9, 2024
The documentary also looks into Todd’s past, including his involvement with Zcash (ZEC) and OpenTimestamps. Although these simplify his strong position in the crypto environment, there are no connections to the original works or activities conducted by Nakamoto.
The Mystery Continues
HBO documentary attempts to connect the timing of Nakamoto’s disappearance from online forums with Todd’s increasing activity in the Bitcoin community. However, these hints still fall short of offering concrete evidence. Many viewers are left with unresolved questions and the same mystery they started with: who is Satoshi Nakamoto?
For most, the documentary does not change the popular opinion that Nakamoto’s identity should remain unknown, respecting the creator’s original intent for privacy. The theory has certainly sparked debate, but it hasn’t swayed the broader community that believes the search for Nakamoto’s true identity is a futile exercise.
As it stands, Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery adds to the list of speculative theories about Bitcoin’s founder but stops short of providing a definitive answer. While it may intrigue viewers and fuel more speculation, the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains as elusive as ever.
