An upcoming HBO documentary looks to find out who Satoshi Nakamoto is. (Photo by Janos Kummer/Getty Images.)
Share
Key Takeaways
A new HBO documentary is looking into the identity of the mysterious Bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto.
Nakamoto disappeared in 2011.
Polymarket traders are betting on the possible reveal of the Bitcoin legend.
The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, is a mystery that has stumped the crypto industry for years.
An upcoming HBO documentary, set for release on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in the U.S., has garnered attention from the industry as it attempts to demask the mysterious figure.
HBO’s Search For Satoshi Nakamoto
Directed by Cullen Hoback, Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery will reportedly send the filmmaker across the world to understand the origins of Bitcoin and its creator.
Nakamoto, the pseudonymous person or persons responsible for creating crypto’s leading currency, completely disappeared on April 23, 2011.
A synopsis for the documentary reads: “Known for uncovering clandestine subcultures and movements through digital forensics, Hoback immerses himself with key players, uncovers never-before-seen clues, and humorously unravels Bitcoin’s chaotic origins and meteoric rise.
“Money Electric offers a thrilling, globe-spanning investigation into the intentions of Bitcoin’s enigmatic inventor, as Hoback encounters those who could be Satoshi, seeking to reveal who holds the power—and what they might do with it if Bitcoin were woven into our daily lives.”
Crypto Bets on Satoshi Nakamoto’s Identity
In the lead-up to the HBO documentary’s release, Polymarket traders have opened up a betting market for the possible reveal of the real Nakamoto. The market has received almost $5 million in wagers.
The majority of Polymarket traders believe famed cryptographer Len Sassaman could be the anonymous creator.
At the time of publication, Sassaman has a clear 36.5% lead in the market.
In second place, CEO of Blockstream Adam Back has been wagered with a 6.6% chance. Black’s work was referenced in the famed Bitcoin White Paper and was one of the first people Nakamoto contacted during the development of Bitcoin.
Behind him in third place is American software developer Hal Finney, who received the first 10 Bitcoin from Nakamato on Jan 12. 2009, has just 5% odds.
“If the documentary identifies multiple individuals, this market will resolve according to the individual which the documentary most directly depicts or presents as most likely to be responsible for creating Bitcoin,” Polymarkets said.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
