HBO documentary to uncover Bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto next week

Key Takeaways

• HBO documentary set to reveal Satoshi Nakamoto's identity on October 8.
• The identity reveal could influence the US presidential election.

A new HBO documentary set to air next week claims to have uncovered the true identity of Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, according to Politico. 

Titled Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, the film is directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Cullen Hoback, known for his work on Q: Into the Storm. The documentary will premiere on Tuesday, October 8, at 9 p.m. ET on HBO, and will be available for streaming on Max.

If the documentary successfully proves Nakamoto’s identity, it could raise significant legal and ethical questions. Nakamoto is believed to control around 1.1 million Bitcoin, worth an estimated $66 billion at current market prices. 

With Bitcoin now firmly entrenched in global financial systems, the revelation of Nakamoto’s identity could have far-reaching consequences, potentially impacting the U.S. presidential election. 

Former President Donald Trump, has cultivated support from Bitcoin advocates. The timing of this documentary’s release could fuel speculation on how Bitcoin’s future will intersect with politics and regulatory actions.

Adding to the intrigue, several Bitcoin wallets from the early days of the token have become active in recent weeks, with around 250 Bitcoin — worth about $15 million — being moved. While the wallets aren’t definitively linked to Nakamoto, their reactivation has raised suspicions given the timing of the documentary’s release.

Over the years, various individuals have claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, most notably Australian cryptographer Craig Steven Wright, who was unable to provide definitive proof of his identity.

The Bitcoin community remains divided on whether Nakamoto’s identity should be revealed. Many argue that his anonymity is crucial to Bitcoin’s ethos and that any attempt to unmask him is speculative without cryptographic proof from a known Satoshi wallet.