New HBO Film Claims to Identify Satoshi Nakamoto

Directed by Cullen Hoback, the documentary seeks to explore not only whether Nakamoto was a single person or a collective but also Bitcoin’s influence on global finance.

The trailer, which dropped on October 3, provides glimpses of interviews with individuals like British cryptographer Adam Back. Back, who exchanged emails with Nakamoto in 2009, has long been rumored to be behind Bitcoin’s creation—a rumor he has consistently denied.

Many in the Bitcoin community are speculating about who the documentary will name as Nakamoto. Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy, suggested that the documentary might focus on Len Sassaman, an American cryptographer who contributed to the cypherpunk mailing list where Bitcoin was first introduced. Sassaman, who passed away in 2011, has long been a figure of interest in the search for Nakamoto.

One major concern is whether the person identified as Nakamoto in the documentary is still alive. If so, they may have access to Nakamoto’s massive Bitcoin stash—1.1 million BTC, worth about $67.4 billion—and revealing this person’s identity might put them in danger. Moreover, this would mean that the coins can be moved, which could cause huge fluctuations in the market.

Although the film promises to answer some big questions regarding the Nakamoto mystery, whether it will definitively reveal Bitcoin’s creator remains uncertain. Crypto enthusiasts will have to wait until its premiere on October 8 on Max to find out.

In other news, a UK court has ordered Craig Wright, who has long claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, to publicly renounce his claim.