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British Scientist is Bitcoin's Secret Architect
8 Apr
Summary
- Adam Back, a British computer scientist, is identified as Bitcoin's creator.
- Linguistic analysis revealed writing style similarities between Back and Satoshi.
- Back has publicly denied being Satoshi Nakamoto.
- Back invented Hashcash, a system cited in Bitcoin's whitepaper.
A 17-year mystery surrounding the inventor of Bitcoin may have been solved. The New York Times, using artificial intelligence and forensic linguistics, has identified 55-year-old British computer scientist Adam Back as the anonymous architect known as Satoshi Nakamoto.
While Back has vehemently denied the claims, stating "I'm not Satoshi" on X, evidence points to his involvement. The investigation analyzed thousands of internet postings, revealing linguistic quirks and writing style similarities between Back and Satoshi. These include distinctive spelling, grammar, and the idiosyncratic use of over a hundred words.
Back, CEO of Blockstream, previously invented the Hashcash proof-of-work algorithm, cited in Bitcoin's original whitepaper. He was also an early member of the Cypherpunks movement, advocating for cryptography to ensure privacy. Despite his denials, linguistic experts suggest these shared patterns are significant markers of authorship.
This is not the first time Back has been linked to Satoshi. Previous interviews and documentary encounters have shown him exhibiting nervous body language when questioned about his identity as Bitcoin's creator. He denies the allegations, stating his early interest in cryptography and eCash led to innovations like Hashcash.
