Who Really Created Bitcoin? The Dorian Nakamoto Mystery and FBI's Enigmatic Response

For over a decade, the identity of Bitcoin’s creator has remained one of technology’s greatest unsolved mysteries. While the pseudonymous founder “Satoshi Nakamoto” retreated from public view in 2010, the quest to unmask this figure has captivated investigators, journalists, and cryptocurrency enthusiasts alike. At the heart of this saga lies a controversial 2014 identification involving Dorian Nakamoto, whose case exemplifies both the allure and the pitfalls of detective work in the digital age.

The 2014 Newsweek Revelation: How Dorian Nakamoto Became a Suspect

In 2014, Newsweek reporter Leah Goodman made headlines by claiming she had identified the Bitcoin creator. Her suspect: Dorian Nakamoto, a 65-year-old Japanese American living in the San Bernardino Mountains foothills near Los Angeles. The biographical details appeared compelling at first glance. Dorian held a physics degree from California Polytechnic State University and, significantly, had been born with the name Satoshi Nakamoto before legally changing it to Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto in 1973.

Goodman’s theory seemed to connect multiple dots. The name match, the technical background, the timing—all suggested a potential breakthrough. Media outlets amplified the story, and public curiosity reached fever pitch. For many Bitcoin observers, it seemed the 12-year mystery might finally be solved.

However, the case collapsed almost as quickly as it had formed. Three years after vanishing from public discourse, the actual Satoshi Nakamoto appeared on the P2P Foundation forum with a stark message: “I am not Dorian Nakamoto.” Simultaneously, Dorian himself emphatically denied any connection to Bitcoin, stating that he had only first heard the term from his own son. The narrative that had seemed so convincing evaporated under scrutiny.

Multiple Theories: Beyond Dorian Nakamoto’s Denial

The failed identification of Dorian Nakamoto did not resolve the underlying question—it merely underscored how little we actually know. Over the years, several competing theories have emerged regarding the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator.

Some researchers maintain that Satoshi Nakamoto is indeed a single real person, likely an expert proficient in both cryptography and sophisticated computer science. Others argue the opposite: that “Satoshi Nakamoto” functions as a collective pseudonym, potentially representing a team of developers who collaborated to build Bitcoin’s foundational protocol.

Alternative candidates have periodically surfaced. Computer scientist Nick Szabo, renowned for his earlier work on digital contracts, has faced speculation—though he has consistently denied involvement. Japanese mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki’s name has also circulated in certain circles. Yet none of these theories have accumulated sufficient evidence to convince the broader community.

Notably, Satoshi Nakamoto’s anonymity appears deliberate and philosophical. It aligns with Bitcoin’s core ethos of decentralization and individual privacy protection. The creator seems to have understood that a named figurehead would potentially undermine the system’s foundational principles of distributed trust.

The Abrupt Withdrawal: What Satoshi Left Behind

Understanding Satoshi Nakamoto requires examining his final public contributions. On December 5, 2010, when Bitcoin users began advocating that WikiLeaks should accept cryptocurrency donations, the typically silent Satoshi emerged to participate with unusual passion. His message conveyed concern about Bitcoin’s readiness: “This project needs to grow gradually so that the software is enhanced along the way. I implore WikiLeaks not to accept Bitcoin. It is still a small, nascent testing community. If it is not handled properly at this stage, it will only destroy Bitcoin.”

Just one week later, on December 12, 2010 at 6:22 AM, Satoshi posted what would become his final forum message—a technical comment about software details. After this point, his email responses became increasingly infrequent before ceasing entirely. The architect of Bitcoin had effectively vanished, leaving behind only historical records and unanswered questions.

Hal Finney and the Geographic Clue

When Dorian Nakamoto emerged to deny the Newsweek allegations, observers made a curious discovery. Hal Finney, an early Bitcoin contributor and the recipient of the network’s first-ever transaction, lived remarkably close to Dorian’s home—merely a few blocks away. This geographic proximity ignited fresh speculation: perhaps Hal Finney was the true Satoshi Nakamoto.

The theory gained surface plausibility from Finney’s documented relationship with the mysterious creator. In late 2008, after Satoshi first proposed his Bitcoin concept, Finney offered technical critiques and improvements, engaging in substantive dialogue with the pseudonymous founder. Their correspondence suggested more than casual interest; it reflected deep collaboration on matters of cryptographic design.

Yet Finney himself neither confirmed nor denied these persistent rumors. Instead, he wrote retrospective accounts documenting his early involvement with Bitcoin and his relationship with Satoshi Nakamoto, leaving the speculation to swirl around him. When Finney passed away in August 2014, his family honored his wishes by placing his body in cryogenic preservation at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation—adding an unexpected layer of mystery to his story.

FBI’s Cryptic Response: A Tantalizing Clue

In recent years, investigative journalist Dave Troy submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the FBI, seeking any records pertaining to Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity. The Bureau’s response proved tantalizingly vague: it issued what is technically known as a “Glomar response,” which neither confirms nor denies the existence of relevant documents.

This response methodology itself contains hidden meaning. Troy interpreted the FBI’s cautious stance as suggesting that Satoshi Nakamoto may exist as a verifiable “third party individual”—someone whose identity the government possesses but chooses not to disclose publicly. Whether this interpretation reflects actual evidence or merely bureaucratic caution remains unclear. Troy has indicated his intention to appeal the FOIA decision, hoping to pry loose additional information.

The Enduring Mystery

The quest to identify Bitcoin’s creator has produced no definitive answers—only layers of intrigue involving Dorian Nakamoto’s brief notoriety, Hal Finney’s unexplained proximity and untimely death, FBI discretion, and countless disconnected theories. The Dorian Nakamoto case remains instructive: even seemingly airtight circumstantial evidence can dissolve upon inspection.

Perhaps the most profound observation comes from Satoshi’s own final forum post: we may never know who created Bitcoin, yet the system persists as a tangible asset that individuals worldwide continue to own and use. The mystery, in some sense, has become less important than the technology itself. Satoshi Nakamoto’s greatest achievement may not be the identity hidden behind the pseudonym, but rather the revolutionary system that functions independently of any founder’s fame or recognition.