Key Takeaways
- The FBI issued a Glomar response on Satoshi Nakamoto records.
- The response implies Satoshi may be an individual, raising further intrigue.
- Speculation continues, but Satoshi's true identity remains unconfirmed.
The FBI has responded to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request concerning Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Investigative journalist Dave Troy reported on August 13 that the agency issued a “Glomar response,” a standard reply used to neither confirm nor deny the existence of records.
Troy’s FOIA request sought information on Satoshi Nakamoto, whom the FBI implied to be a “third party individual.” Although Troy clarified that his intent was not to uncover Satoshi’s identity, but rather to obtain any records the FBI might have, the agency’s response raised eyebrows.
Troy noted:
It is the bureau and not me that is asserting that this is an individual.
Theories
Since Bitcoin’s inception in 2008, speculation about Satoshi’s identity has been rampant.
Theories range from it being a single person, such as early Bitcoin contributor Hal Finney, to a group effort. Despite extensive investigation and speculation, Satoshi’s true identity remains unconfirmed.
Troy mentioned that similar FOIA requests to the FBI and CIA in 2018 also resulted in non-disclosure. This latest response continues to fuel the mystery surrounding the elusive creator of Bitcoin.
In a related development, Australian computer scientist Craig Wright, who has long claimed to be Satoshi, recently issued a legal disclaimer stating that he is not Nakamoto, potentially facing perjury charges in the UK for previous claims.
