British man denies he is Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto after investigation names him

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Adam Back, a cryptography expert, has refuted claims that he is Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin. This denial comes after a New York Times investigation pointed to Back as the most probable individual behind the pseudonym.

The report analyzed similarities between Back’s writing – in emails, forum posts, and overall style – and that of Satoshi Nakamoto. It also examined when Back was online around the time Bitcoin launched in 2009 and when Satoshi stopped being active.

Back quickly rejected the theory on X, calling it “confirmation bias.”

Adam Back denies Satoshi Nakamoto claim

He denied being Satoshi, explaining that the supposed proof was just a mix of chance and phrases commonly used by others with comparable backgrounds and hobbies.

I’m not Satoshi Nakamoto, but I’ve been interested in the potential of cryptography, online privacy, and digital money for a long time. This led me to start researching electronic cash and privacy technologies around 1992, participating in discussions on the Cypherpunks mailing list, and eventually contributing to projects like Hashcash.

— Adam Back (@adam3us) April 8, 2026

He explained that what followed was likely a mix of chance and echoes of ideas from others who had explored similar concepts. He believes Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, possessed a particular skillset and background, and that he and others had come tantalizingly close to similar designs during conversations over the previous decade.

I don’t know who Satoshi Nakamoto is either, and I believe that’s actually beneficial for Bitcoin. It allows Bitcoin to be seen as a unique type of asset – a digital commodity that’s mathematically limited in supply.

— Adam Back (@adam3us) April 8, 2026

The digital wallets thought to be owned by Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, still contain over a million Bitcoin, currently valued at about $70 billion. This makes figuring out who Satoshi is one of the most important and valuable mysteries online.

Back jokingly said he regrets not having mined Bitcoin more aggressively in 2009. He also stated he still doesn’t know who Satoshi Nakamoto is, and believes that person’s anonymity is actually beneficial for Bitcoin.

This recent effort to identify Bitcoin’s inventor hasn’t succeeded, continuing a pattern of unsuccessful attempts. Previous investigations have focused on individuals like Peter Todd, Dorian Nakamoto, and Craig Wright, but none have proven conclusive.

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2026-04-08 17:20