Peter Todd dispelled rumors about Satoshi's identity on the eve of the HBO premiere

When it comes to who Satoshi is and whether Peter Todd is the creator of Bitcoin, the developer gives a definitive answer — no. Just hours before the release of the highly anticipated HBO documentary, the developer issued a sharp denial in an interview with CoinDesk, denying any connection to the pseudonymous creator of the cryptocurrency.

The premiere of director Kallen Hoback’s documentary sparked public interest. Clips circulated on social media before the official release, allegedly pointing to Todd as the founder of Bitcoin. However, Todd himself called such claims absurd, describing the director’s approach as an attempt to “grab at straws.” Hoback previously gained fame with a documentary about the QAnon conspiracy theory, raising further questions about his investigative methods.

Why the documentary lacks convincing evidence

Despite over an hour of cinematic storytelling, the documentary did not present serious proof that Todd is the creator of the blockchain. The director relied on a set of circumstantial observations: Todd’s youthful interest in cryptography, his acquaintance with Adam Beck (who corresponded with Satoshi), technical skills, and even the developer’s Canadian background combined with the use of English/Canadian spelling in Satoshi’s messages.

The most controversial part of the film was based on a 2010 post from an open forum, where Todd responded to a message from Satoshi. Hoback proposed the theory that this was an uncomplicated reply from Satoshi, accidentally posted from Todd’s account. Yet even the director did not dare to draw definitive conclusions about the creator’s identity.

The final segment, where Hoback confronts Todd, is built on speculation. The director quotes a post from Todd in which he calls himself “probably the leading expert in the world” on Bitcoin donations. Hoback admits this argument is weak but still tries to interpret it as a veiled confession. Meanwhile, the bitcoins mined by Satoshi remain untouched in his wallet, fueling hypotheses either about the creator’s death or his deliberate distancing from his accumulated wealth.

The confrontation moment: Todd’s sarcastic response

During filming, Hoback presents his version of events — how and why Todd allegedly concealed his involvement in creating Bitcoin. Todd responds calmly, smiling as he denies the presented theories. “I admit, you’re quite inventive with your stories. But it’s ridiculous,” the developer says.

Then Todd uses irony as his main defense weapon: “Yes, of course, I am Satoshi. And I am also Craig Wright.” This is a clear joke, referencing the well-known claimant to the Bitcoin creator title, who repeatedly claimed to be Satoshi. Todd has used this humor style before — in 2019, he told the Bitcoin What Did podcast that “everyone is Satoshi,” including himself.

Todd warns the director about the consequences of his conclusions: the material will be met with ridicule in the Bitcoin community. “This is just another example of journalists missing the point while trying to create a sensation,” the developer concludes, believing the public will see the absurdity of the assumptions. His prediction was confirmed — when the film was shown at PubKey bar in New York, attendees laughed at the idea of Todd as Satoshi.

Who else could be the mysterious creator?

Over years of speculation about Satoshi’s identity, several individuals have been in the spotlight of the crypto community. Before recent events, the most likely candidates were Hal Finney — one of the first Bitcoin developers, Nick Szabo — a well-known crypto-punk, and Adam Beck — current CEO of Blockstream. According to bets on the Polymarket platform made before the film’s premiere, most participants chose “Other/Multiple.”

Interestingly, Todd himself was not among the initial options on Polymarket. Anyone wanting to bet on him had to select “Other.” Adam Beck commented on the situation on X, reminding the public that no one truly knows who Satoshi is, so most bets are at best guesses.

All major candidates categorically deny involvement in creating the cryptocurrency. None has provided or promised to provide convincing proof of their identity in relation to Satoshi.

Past media attempts: a history of failures

This is not the first time media have tried to uncover the creator’s identity. The history of such attempts is full of mistakes and false conclusions. Journalists have repeatedly misnamed Dorian Nakamoto — a programmer whose surname coincidentally matched the pseudonym — and especially Craig Wright, who actively claimed to be Satoshi until legal proceedings forced him to recant.

Craig Wright insisted for a long time on his authorship, presenting supposed evidence that was later discredited. Only after a court order in 2024 did he update his website, admitting he is not the creator of Bitcoin.

This track record of media misidentifications of Satoshi fuels justified skepticism. The HBO documentary joins a long tradition of disappointing attempts that rely on circumstantial evidence, coincidences, and assumptions rather than solid proof. The likelihood that Satoshi’s true identity will ever be definitively established through the work of filmmakers and journalists remains minimal.