Canadian cryptographer and computer scientist Peter Todd says he has been forced into hiding following the release of an HBO documentary that allegedly identified him as the inventor of Bitcoin.
The documentary, Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, aired on 9 October 2024. It claims to unveil the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous figure believed to have created Bitcoin. The film concludes with Todd’s own statement, “Well yeah, I’m Satoshi Nakamoto.”
However, Todd has consistently denied the claims. He said that his comment was made in jest.
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Todd Says HBO Misrepresented Situation
In an interview with Wired, Todd explained that the documentary’s director, Cullen Hoback, misrepresented the situation. According to Todd, Hoback relied on dubious evidence to reach conclusion.
Todd said the film’s portrayal has put his safety at risk. It forces him to go into hiding due to concerns over threats such as robbery or kidnapping.
The controversy stems from Todd’s history of making light hearted remarks claiming to be Nakamoto. He often references the famous “I am Spartacus” scene from the 1960 film Spartacus, where captured warriors each claim to be the leader to protect his identity.
Todd emphasized that these statements were made in jest and were not intended to be taken seriously.
Just finished ‘Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery’ on @HBO by the brilliant @CullenHoback … fascinating and, at times, eye-watering journalism 😳
This final exchange with Peter Todd / Satoshi had me on my knees… it’s the laugh which can’t quite cover the subconscious panic😆 pic.twitter.com/UpdMEInoTD
— Skadooosch (@Skadooosch) October 22, 2024
According to Todd, his involvement in the HBO documentary was based on the belief that it would focus on the broader history of Bitcoin, not an exposé. He criticized the documentary for falsely portraying him as Nakamoto, a claim he believes is not only inaccurate but also dangerous.
“Falsely claiming that ordinary people are extraordinarily wealthy exposes them to serious threats,” Todd told Wired. He added that Satoshi Nakamoto likely remained anonymous for good reasons and that attempts to unmask him are reckless.
On the other hand, Hoback defended his work. He argues that the documentary was not intended to put anyone in danger. Furthermore, he told Wired that Todd and others may be overreacting, and suggested that identifying Nakamoto is important, given the figure’s potential control of a significant portion of Bitcoin’s total supply.
While the documentary’s claims generated a buzz, most in the crypto community remain unconvinced that Todd is, in fact, the elusive Bitcoin creator.
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Satoshi Nakamoto Might Have Been A Group
Last year, in an instalment of the “Many Facts” Satoshi series, which presents various pieces of evidence pointing to Satoshi Nakamoto’s potential identities, Bitcoin.com News provided evidence that the mastermind behind Bitcoin’s creation was a group rather than an individual.
One key piece of evidence is the language used in Nakamoto’s Bitcoin white paper. Throughout the document, Nakamoto shifts between using “we” and “I,” which could imply the involvement of more than one person.
Further linguistic analysis adds weight to this argument. The writing style in the white paper appears more refined and polished compared to Nakamoto’s less formal style in forum posts and emails, which indicates contributions from multiple individuals.
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