Key Takeaways
- Peter Todd has gone into hiding after being falsely identified as Bitcoin's inventor.
- The HBO documentary Money Electric aired on October 9, 2024.
- Todd denies the claim, calling the speculation dangerous.
Peter Todd, a Canadian cryptographer, has gone into hiding after being incorrectly identified as Bitcoin’s inventor in an HBO documentary. The film, Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, aired on Oct. 9 and purported to solve the long-standing question of who created Bitcoin.
The documentary lead to widespread speculation as it closes with Todd jokingly stating:
Well yeah, I’m Satoshi Nakamoto.
Todd denies the claim and has repeatedly stated he is not Satoshi Nakamoto. According to a Wired interview, Todd agreed to participate in the film, believing it would focus on Bitcoin’s history rather than try to unmask its creator. Todd explained that being falsely labeled as Bitcoin’s inventor poses significant risks, including threats of robbery and kidnapping.
Todd added that identifying him could put people’s lives in danger, saying:
Satoshi obviously didn’t want to be found, for good reasons.
Filmmaker Cullen Hoback, however, defends the documentary’s conclusion. Hoback argues that the potential control over a significant portion of Bitcoin makes uncovering Nakamoto’s identity crucial.
Despite the documentary’s claims, much of the Bitcoin community remains unconvinced that Todd is indeed Satoshi Nakamoto.
