Does HBO Bitcoin documentary reveal Satoshi Nakamoto's identity?

Set to be released on Tuesday on HBO, the documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery claims to reveal the identity of Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto.

Filmmaker Cullen Hoback told Fast Company that the film's revelation "is unexpected and is going to result in a fair amount of controversy".

A thrilling trailer for the film was released by HBO on Thursday.

Since Bitcoin was created in 2009 by a person or group calling themselves Satoshi Nakamoto, the world has wanted to know their true identity. The crypto developer was active online, though was last heard from in 2011. 

Now, increasingly, with Bitcoin becoming mainstream - even been used as legal tender in some countries - the need to know has reached a climax. "This question of whether or not there’s an anonymous figure out there who controls a giant share of Bitcoin becomes increasingly relevant," said Hoback.

The American filmmaker has had three years of access to those closest to the mystery. He identified four or five people as possibly being the man himself or who, at the very least, might know his true identity - starting with Adam Back.

Back, CEO of Blockstream, is a British cypherpunk and cryptographer who was one of the first recipients of emails from Satoshi Nakamoto back in 2009. His name was also cited in the Bitcoin whitepaper. 

Though Hoback does more than point the finger at Back, as he presents a global investigation, interviewing key figures in the cryptocurrency space and exploring clues related to Bitcoin’s development and rise in popularity. The Big Short director Adam McKay also executive produced the documentary. 

A few of you might have wondered why I disappeared. Well, I was tracking down someone else who disappeared.

Curious who's behind Bitcoin?#MoneyElectric: The Bitcoin Mystery drops next Tuesday. It's going to be a rollercoaster. #Satoshi https://t.co/2B17FZxkqZ

— Cullen (@CullenHoback) October 3, 2024