An upcoming HBO documentary, titled “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” aims to reveal the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin. Directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Cullen Hoback, who previously tackled the origins of the QAnon conspiracy in “Q: Into the Storm,” the documentary promises to delve into the mystery surrounding Nakamoto, one of the most debated figures in the world of digital assets. The film will be released next Wednesday, October 9, with the trailer having dropped on Thursday.
Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin, famously disappeared from public view in December 2010. Since then, speculation around Nakamoto’s identity has been a constant fascination. Estimates suggest Nakamoto could control as much as 1.1 million Bitcoin—worth approximately $67 billion at current market values—making their identity a topic of significant interest.
Speaking to Fast Company, Hoback commented, “We make a hell of a case in the film, and I think that who we land on is unexpected and is going to result in a fair amount of controversy. People are going to debate it regardless of how strong of a case we made, and that’s fine. That’s the nature of this space.” Hoback also noted that the documentary gathered more evidence than they were able to include.
Speculation is rife, with Galaxy Digital’s Head of Research, Alex Thorn, hinting on X (formerly Twitter) that the documentary claims Len Sassaman as the likely identity of Nakamoto. Sassaman, a renowned cryptographer, committed suicide in 2011, and some believe his disappearance coincides with Nakamoto’s withdrawal from the public eye. Thorn also referenced a 2021 Medium post that explored the theory that Sassaman could be Nakamoto, citing his ideological commitment to privacy and decentralization as key motivators.
Polymarket, a popular prediction market platform, shows bettors favoring Len Sassaman as the person the documentary will name, adding further weight to the theory. Sassaman, known for his academic contributions to cryptography, had long been an advocate for privacy and decentralization, themes central to Bitcoin’s ethos. Furthermore, the timing of Sassaman’s death in 2011, just after Nakamoto’s online silence, has added to the speculation.
Attempts to unmask Nakamoto are not new. In 2014, Newsweek claimed to have identified Nakamoto as Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Japanese ancestry living in California. Matching many of the potential criteria—a background in math and engineering, as well as a reclusive nature—Dorian Nakamoto became the subject of intense media scrutiny. Initially cryptic about his involvement, Nakamoto later denied any connection to Bitcoin, stating through his lawyers: “I did not create, invent or otherwise work on Bitcoin. I unconditionally deny the Newsweek report.”
Despite the intense anticipation, many bettors remain skeptical that the true identity of Nakamoto will be definitively proven. A prediction market contract suggests that there’s an 89% chance Nakamoto’s identity will remain a mystery by the end of 2024. The allure of Satoshi Nakamoto’s anonymity, after all, has become an enduring part of Bitcoin’s mythology and the broader narrative of decentralization and financial independence.
