Satoshi Identity Mystery Endures as FBI Dodges FOI Request
- Satoshi Nakamoto‘s identity is cryptocurrency’s greatest mystery.
- The FBI refused to comply with a FOI request, deepening the Satoshi mystery.
- There are ongoing rumors that Bitcoin is a U.S. government project.
The identity of Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto , remains one of cryptocurrency’s greatest enigmas. Complicating this mystery are the untouched Satoshi wallets, which hold an estimated 1.1 million BTC worth about $67 billion. These dormant funds, left untouched since Nakamoto’s disappearance in December 2010, suggest that financial gain was not the primary motive for creating Bitcoin.
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Over the years, the crypto community has proposed various theories and suspects for Satoshi’s identity, with the U.S. government named. Despite extensive speculation and investigation, no conclusive answer has emerged, leaving the cryptocurrency world to continue unraveling the Bitcoin origin story.
Satoshi Nakamoto is FOIA Exempt
To solve the Satoshi Nakamoto mystery, investigative journalist Dave Troy filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the FBI, aiming to uncover information the agency may hold on the elusive Bitcoin creator.
However, the FBI’s response was less than satisfactory. It stated that the subject was exempt from disclosure while also refusing to confirm or deny the existence of any records related to Satoshi Nakamoto.
The Freedom of Information Act, enacted in 1966 , grants the public the right to access government records. However, the legislation allows for withholding information based on exemptions such as compromising national security, infringement of personal privacy, and ‘concerns the supervision of financial institutions,’ among other reasons.
Despite the FBI’s limited response, Troy noted that the agency referred to Satoshi as an individual or individuals and that the reply matched the typical response when requesting information on non-U.S. citizens.
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Undeterred by the denial, Troy plans to appeal the decision and push for releasing any information the agency holds on Satoshi Nakamoto.
Who Created Bitcoin?
The FBI’s ambiguous response to Troy’s inquiry has only deepened speculation about Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity.
Political commentator Tucker Carlson recently reignited rumors that the U.S. government created Bitcoin . Carlson suggested that Bitcoin is a CIA-orchestrated psyop aimed at appealing to liberal-minded individuals disillusioned with traditional fiat currencies.
This theory has gained traction largely because Bitcoin’s SHA-256 hashing algorithm is derived from the NSA-developed SHA-2 cryptographic hash function. However, some Bitcoiners deeply contested U.S. government ties to BTC.
Computer scientist Craig Wright first claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto in a Wired interview that was published in 2015 . Although Wright’s claim was met with significant skepticism in the cryptocurrency community, he has aggressively pursued legal action against critics.
However, Wright’s credibility took a major hit in March when he lost a U.K. court case over the Bitcoin whitepaper’s copyright. Judge James Mellor declared that Craig Wright was not Satoshi Nakamoto in a decisive ruling.
This judgment has further muddied the search for Bitcoin’s true creator.
On the Flipside
- Troy clarified that he intends to uncover the FBI‘s information on Satoshi, not to identify the entity.
- Individuals named as possible candidates include Hal Finney, Nick Szabo, and Adam Back.
- Theories on Satoshi‘s disappearance include personal safety concerns, the belief that a leader would compromise decentralization, and possible health reasons.
Why This Matters
The FBI’s reluctance to address inquiries about Satoshi fuels speculation that Bitcoin’s true origin is more complex than publicly known.
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Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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