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The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto continues to fascinate the world. This mysterious creator of Bitcoin, who was at the origin of a true revolution in the field of cryptos, remains unknown. Despite years of speculation, no one has ever managed to unravel the mystery. Currently, the HBO documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery has rekindled the debates by claiming that Peter Todd, a well-known Canadian developer in the community, is the man behind Satoshi Nakamoto. This statement quickly ignited discussions and provoked strong reactions, notably from Adam Back, who disputes this theory.
The Theory of the Eccentric Founder Undermined
During an interview, Adam Back, the founder of Blockstream, shared his opinion on the identity of the creator of Bitcoin, particularly in response to the speculations advanced in the HBO documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery”. Contrary to the claims that link Peter Todd to Satoshi Nakamoto, Back is categorical. “I’m quite confident it’s no one we’re talking about,” he explains. According to him, the technical skills necessary to create the Bitcoin protocol exceed those of the people highlighted by the documentary. Furthermore, Back insists that these discussions should not focus on a specific individual, but rather on the values embodied by the technology itself.
Adam Back also highlights another crucial aspect: the importance for Bitcoin not to have a charismatic or controversial figurehead. Unlike some tech companies led by eccentric leaders, “the fact that there isn’t a public founder makes Bitcoin stronger, less vulnerable to controversy or human errors,” declares Back. For him, this decentralized structure allows Bitcoin to position itself not as a creation, but as a fundamental technological discovery, a universal commodity.
The Errors of the Todd Theory
Beyond the general criticisms of the idea of an eccentric founder, Adam Back specifically challenged the conclusions of HBO that point to Peter Todd as Satoshi Nakamoto. The argument of the documentary is based on an interaction on the BitcoinTalk forums dating from 2010, where a message from Todd was allegedly mistaken for that of Satoshi. Todd, who entered the Bitcoin universe well after 2008, quickly refuted this theory. He calls it an error based on a misinterpretation of events. Back supports this contention and highlights the chronology of events: “Peter Todd was still a student at that time, he only joined Bitcoin development in 2014,” he recalls.
The implications of such claims go beyond a simple discussion among experts. For Adam Back, allowing unfounded theories to spread can tarnish Bitcoin’s image with the general public, especially in a time when the technology is experiencing growing adoption. “It is essential that those who truly understand the mission of Bitcoin speak out to avoid narrative mistakes,” he stated. If documentaries like HBO’s become the reference in terms of Bitcoin’s history, this could cause confusion, but also fuel erroneous narratives about what this asset truly is and what it represents for the global financial future.
Adam Back’s remarks about the HBO documentary provide more insight into a reality often overlooked: the absence of a central figure in Bitcoin’s ecosystem is not a flaw, but a strength.
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Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d’une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j’ai rejoint l’aventure Cointribune en 2019.
Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l’économie, j’ai pris l’engagement de sensibiliser et d’informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu’elle offre. Je m’efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l’actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.