The announcement of a new HBO documentary, which is supposed to reveal the identity of the mysterious Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, has caused a stir in the Bitcoin and crypto scene.
Hot news or cold coffee?
Blocktrainer.de already posed the open question at 𝕏 as to whether the documentary will actually bring new insights to light, or whether the metaphorical "cold coffee" will simply be reheated.
A new #HBO documentary follows in the footsteps of #Bitcoin inventor #Satoshi.
Blocktrainer (@blocktrainer) October 3, 2024
While it's not directly claimed that they've uncovered his identity, it's certainly suggested.
What do you think we can expect from the documentary? Something new and exciting or cold coffee☕? pic.twitter.com/7qPbLG7uez-
Will an entirely new Satoshi candidate be presented? Will there be new information that can clearly identify one of the well-known candidates as Satoshi? We will soon find out. However, the betting markets already have a clear favorite: Len Sassaman, a cryptographer and advocate of digital privacy, is being touted as the main candidate who could be presented as Satoshi Nakamoto in the documentary.
Who is Len Sassaman?
Len Sassaman is no stranger to the Bitcoin scene and the world of cryptography in particular. He was a brilliant computer scientist who was committed to the defense of digital privacy throughout his life. Born in 1980, Sassaman made a name for himself primarily in the Cypherpunk movement and was known as a developer of encryption technologies. One of his best-known projects was the maintenance of the Mixmaster anonymization system, which was designed to protect email communication from surveillance.
Sassaman was closely associated with prominent representatives of the Cypherpunk scene, such as Hal Finney, one of the first people to be in contact with Satoshi Nakamoto and also a possible candidate for Nakamoto's true identity. Len Sassaman died in 2011 at the age of just 31, a few months after Satoshi Nakamoto last communicated publicly. This temporal connection is one of the main reasons why Sassaman has been traded as a possible Satoshi for some time.
Could Len Sassaman be Satoshi Nakamoto?
One of the best-known papers on whether Len could actually be Satoshi was written by Evan Hatch in 2021. In a detailed Medium post, Hatch discusses various aspects that speak in favor of this theory.
The pros include, first and foremost, Sassaman's extensive expertise in the field of cryptography and his close connection to the Cypherpunk movement, as mentioned above. Sassaman was not only a talented programmer, but also had the necessary philosophical and ideological orientation that aligned with Bitcoin's goals. He had a deep understanding of privacy and decentralized technologies, both of which are central to Bitcoin. Sassaman could definitely have had access to the necessary resources and technical knowledge to create Bitcoin. However, it is still unclear where he would have gotten the economic component from. He was not known to have studied economics, especially "Austrian economics". This in turn speaks against him as a candidate.
The most frequently cited indication of Sassaman's possible identity as Satoshi Nakamoto is the temporal connection between his death in 2011 and Satoshi's sudden disappearance from public communication. After Satoshi last posted on a forum, he famously withdrew completely, leading some to speculate that Sassaman's death may be the reason for Satoshi's silence. Furthermore, Sassaman is seen as someone who deliberately stayed out of the limelight, which is consistent with Satoshi's anonymous nature.
However, there are also weighty arguments against the theory that Len Sassaman was Satoshi Nakamoto. In particular, differences in writing styles speak against it. Another key point is the public denial by his wife, who made it clear after Sassaman's death that he was not the creator of Bitcoin. Patterson argued that while Sassaman shared many skills and interests with Satoshi, he was not involved with the work on Bitcoin. She also emphasized that Sassaman was very busy with many other projects, so he would not have had the time or capacity to develop Bitcoin in parallel with his other commitments.
It's a very well-researched and respectful article, but to the best of my knowledge, Len was not Satoshi. Worth reading for the history and the conclusions about mental health, though. https://t.co/am4EG57YvC-
Meredith L. Patterson 💉💉 (@maradydd) February 23, 2021
Will HBO reveal the secret?
Overall, the theory that Len Sassaman could be Satoshi Nakamoto naturally offers interesting clues. However, it remains controversial due to the lack of concrete evidence to date and his wife's statements. The upcoming HBO documentary will certainly help to revive the discussion about the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto - regardless of who is ultimately presented. The revelation as to whether Sassaman is actually behind the pseudonym or whether the documentary merely repeats already known speculation remains to be seen. The documentary is due to be broadcast for the first time on October 8.
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