The founder of Bitcoin is known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. This name is associated with the person or group who developed Bitcoin, authored the original Bitcoin white paper, and created its first implementation.
Here's what is known about Satoshi Nakamoto:
* Creation of Bitcoin: In October 2008, Nakamoto published the white paper titled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System." In January 2009, they released the first Bitcoin software, launching the network and mining the genesis block. Nakamoto's innovation combined existing cryptographic concepts to create the first decentralized, secure digital cash system using a blockchain.
* Active Period: Nakamoto actively collaborated with other developers on the Bitcoin software until mid-2010. They then handed over control of the source code repository and network alert key to developer Gavin Andresen and transferred related domains to others in the community.
* Disappearance: Nakamoto ceased communications around April 2011, stating they had "moved on to other things." Their true identity has remained unknown since.
* Identity Mystery: Despite numerous investigations and speculations, Satoshi Nakamoto's real identity has never been confirmed. It's unknown if Nakamoto is one person or a group. Analysis of their writings suggests a native-level command of English, possibly British English, leading some to believe they might be from the UK or a Commonwealth nation.
* Speculated Identities: Several individuals have been suggested as potentially being Satoshi Nakamoto, including:
* Dorian Nakamoto: A Japanese-American engineer living in California whose birth name is Satoshi Nakamoto. He has denied involvement.
* Hal Finney: A cryptography pioneer and early Bitcoin user who received the first Bitcoin transaction from Satoshi. He denied being Nakamoto until his death in 2014.
* Nick Szabo: A computer scientist who created "Bit Gold," a precursor concept to Bitcoin. He has also denied being Satoshi.
* Craig Wright: An Australian computer scientist who has repeatedly claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto. However, his claims have faced widespread skepticism and legal challenges, with a UK court ruling in 2024 that "overwhelming" evidence shows he is not Satoshi.
* Peter Todd: A Canadian crypto expert suggested in a recent HBO documentary, a claim he has denied.
* Jack Dorsey: Recent theories suggest the co-founder of Twitter and Square could be Satoshi, based on circumstantial links, though this remains speculative.
* Nakamoto's Bitcoin Holdings: It is widely believed through blockchain analysis that Satoshi Nakamoto mined approximately 1 million Bitcoins in the early days of the network. These coins have reportedly never been spent or moved.
The anonymity of Satoshi Nakamoto is seen by some as crucial to Bitcoin's decentralized nature, preventing a single point of failure or control and keeping the focus on the technology itself.
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