Will the identity of bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto be revealed on May 14th? 🚨 This article is 6 years old...
Will the identity of bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto be revealed on May 14th?
2 min read
Updated: Nov. 7, 2019 at 2:52 am UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
A new website, Got Satoshi, claims to know the true identity of Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. The reveal is scheduled to happen today, on May 14, during the annual Consensus conference in New York. Probably created as a publicity stunt, the person behind the website got more than he bargained for when the wrath and ridicule of the crypto community descended upon him.
New website promises to show who Satoshi Nakamoto really is
While the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, still is and probably will remain unknown, there has never been a shortage of people claiming to be the creator(s) of Bitcoin. The latest high-profile figure that has tried to claim the Bitcoin throne was Craig Wright, the controversial creator of Bitcoin SV. Seeing how Wright’s assertions that he is, in fact, responsible for creating Bitcoin have widely been ridiculed, it’s likely that anyone making such a claim will face similar skepticism unless overwhelming evidence is provided.
However, it seems that the judgment and ridicule Wright has faced did not deter Got Satoshi, a newly launched website that claims to be run by Satoshi Nakamoto himself.
The one-page website hosts a countdown timer that runs out on May 14, when the true identity of Satoshi will allegedly be revealed. The website itself is short on detail, but the person behind the page has been active on Twitter. The user posted random thoughts and updates on the progress of the countdown timer in just over 20 tweets but has not interacted with any of his 5,700 followers.
None of the usual suspects are Satoshi, website claims
While the Got Satoshi campaign failed to attract a large audience, many were left wondering what its purpose is. Guesses ranged from a marketing campaign for a sketchy ICO, an internet troll enjoying themselves, to John McAfee avoiding legal issues.
McAfee, the creator of the eponymous anti-virus software and Bitcoin maximalist, predicting that BTC will hit $1 million by 2020, has previously claimed to know who Satoshi Nakamoto is. Last month, he promised to either reveal his identity or try and persuade Nakamoto to do it himself, but has reportedly backed out of the effort to avoid “legal troubles.”
The US extradition request to the Bahamas is imminent. I met with Mario Gray, my extradition lawyer, and it is now clear (read his letter below) that releasing the identity of Satoshi at this time could influence the trial and risk my extradition. I cannot risk that. I'll wait. pic.twitter.com/l8lTjR6fQM
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) April 23, 2019
The person behind the Got Satoshi twitter account said McAffee might be aware of who he is, but has been firm in his assertion that he is not Craig Wright. Got Satoshi’s tweets were widely ridiculed, with many Twitter users doubting that Satoshi would announce his identity in such a sensationalist way.
To those of you who keep insisting that I'm Craig Wright pic.twitter.com/WLGfa48PFH
— gotsatoshi (@gotsatoshi) May 7, 2019
The “reveal” is scheduled for 15:50 GMT on May 14, right in the middle of the annual Consensus conference in New York. And while the event won’t lack any drama, it will most likely lack the only proof that would convince everyone—the use of Satoshi’s private Bitcoin key.
See Got Satoshi’s (disappointing) grand reveal here.
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Bitcoin
$98,164.24
Bitcoin, a decentralized currency that defies the sway of central banks or administrators, transacts electronically, circumventing intermediaries via a peer-to-peer network.
Bitcoin SV
$67.8908
Bitcoin SV is a full-node implementation for Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
Craig Steven Wright, commonly referred to as CSW, is an Australian computer scientist and business professional who has been at the center of controversy within the cryptocurrency community.