In This Story
Do you recall the excitement that surrounded the HBO (WBD-1.86%) documentary that was said to reveal the real identity of Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator, Satoshi Nakamoto? It seems that the individual identified as Satoshi has retreated from the public eye, allegedly compelled to hide due to a barrage of probing questions and fears for personal safety.
Peter Todd, a 39-year-old Canadian developer who was integral to Bitcoin’s initial development, is outraged after being named as Satoshi Nakamoto in the documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” directed by Cullen Hoback.
“This was obviously going to be a circus,” he expressed in an email to Wired.
Todd was under the impression that the documentary would center on Bitcoin’s history, not the identification of its creator. Following the documentary’s release, Todd firmly denied being Satoshi, yet the relentless inquiries continued.
Currently, Todd is experiencing harassment, with his personal safety being his primary concern. Should people believe he is Satoshi Nakamoto, they might speculate that he possesses over one million Bitcoins—the estimated total held across various wallets, worth more than $67 billion—thus labeling him one of the richest people globally and a major target.
“Incorrectly asserting that ordinary individuals of standard wealth are extraordinarily wealthy exposes them to dangers such as robbery and kidnapping,” Todd stated to Wired. “Not only is that question foolish, but it’s also hazardous. Satoshi clearly desired to remain undiscovered, and no one should assist those seeking to expose him.”
What’s in the Documentary?
The documentary mainly explores the well-documented history of Bitcoin, revisiting information that has been publicly accessible for years. It retraces Bitcoin’s origins, discussing its creation and how it became a recognized financial asset.
Only in the last 15 minutes does Hoback abruptly pivot to Peter Todd, hinting that he could be Satoshi Nakamoto, the secretive creator of Bitcoin.
The crypto community mocked filmmaker Hoback for producing a documentary berated for its lack of accuracy and its focus on suspense rather than substantial content. Many felt that Hoback favored sensationalism over comprehensive research, transforming what could have been an enlightening investigation into a speculative thriller.
If the documentary is taken at face value, Todd was merely 23 years old at the time Bitcoin’s white paper was published. This claim raises doubts, as it seems unlikely that someone so young could effectively lead a financial revolution of such scale alone.
Hoback is known for previously directing the documentary series “Q: Into The Storm,” which aimed to unveil Q, the founder of the QAnon conspiracy theory—a far-right political movement that arose on the 8chan platform in 2017. Ron Watkins, a former 8chan admin labeled as Q in the series, also repudiated Hoback’s conclusions.
Hoback stands by his assertions made in the Bitcoin documentary, claiming that Todd’s demeanor when questioned about being Satoshi solidified his beliefs.
“The concluding scene is primarily about his body language—his expressions. Have you ever been caught in a lie? That’s what Peter’s reaction indicates to me,” Hoback told Wired.
