Australian entrepreneur and academic Craig Wright has outed himself as Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, although many within the cryptocurrency community have raised doubts about the claims.
Having first been identified as the mysterious Satoshi in December, Wright has now written a blog and talked to the BBC, Economist and GQ, providing evidence that he is the infamous Satoshi.
Says Wright in a press release: "I firmly believe that Bitcoin and the blockchain can change the world for the better. I didn’t take the decision lightly to make my identity public and I want to be clear that I’m doing this because I care so passionately about my work and also to dispel any negative myths and fears about bitcoin and the Blockchain. I cannot allow the misinformation that has been spread to impact the future of Bitcoin and the Blockchain."
To prove his claims, Wright provided the BBC with digitally signed messages using cryptographic keys "inextricably" linked to blocks of bitcoins known to have been created or mined by Nakamoto.
Wright's claims have been backed by Bitcoin Foundation chief scientist Gavin Andresen, who in a
blog says: "I believe Craig Steven Wright is the person who invented Bitcoin".
Bitcoin Foundation founding director Jon Matonis has also thrown his weight behind Wright, saying: "According to me, the proof is conclusive and I have no doubt that Craig Steven Wright is the person behind the Bitcoin technology, Nakamoto consensus, and the Satoshi Nakamoto name."
However, the Economist has struck a note of caution, writing: "Our conclusion is that Mr Wright could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that important questions remain. Indeed, it may never be possible to establish beyond reasonable doubt who really created bitcoin."
And leading Bitcoin software developer Gregory Maxwell told the
New York Times: "It [the evidence provided by Wright] demonstrates no connection between this person and Bitcoin’s creation."