When news circulated that a documentary might unveil her former husband as Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin, Patterson’s initial concern was for her parents. She feared they could become targets, pressured to disclose Satoshi’s Bitcoin fortune. “I called my dad and said, ‘Something weird has happened and it’s not any of our faults,’” she recounted. A law enforcement friend in Belgium, where Patterson resides, even advised her to seek refuge at the local police station if she felt threatened.
Ultimately, her fears were allayed, but only to be replaced by concern for another. “I was relieved for myself and my family that they named Peter Todd,” Patterson stated. “But I feel sorry for Peter Todd. Frankly, nobody deserves getting a target painted on their back.” The documentary in question did indeed point towards Peter Todd, a well-known Bitcoin advocate and developer, as the possible identity behind Satoshi Nakamoto.
Many within the Bitcoin community, including Peter Todd himself, argue that the relentless pursuit of Satoshi’s identity is futile and potentially harmful. Their stance is that Bitcoin’s strength lies in its decentralized and meritocratic nature. Changes and improvements are proposed and vetted by community consensus, not dictated by a single figurehead. Furthermore, the intense scrutiny and potential dangers associated with being labeled Satoshi Nakamoto far outweigh any perceived benefits, regardless of the accuracy of the claim.
Following the documentary’s release, Peter Todd was immediately inundated with emails. “So far, [it’s] a bunch of people asking for money,” Todd revealed. One instance involved an individual sending 25 emails in just two days, demanding Todd repay a loan. This influx of unsolicited requests and demands is just the tip of the iceberg.
Todd anticipates that “continued harassment by crazy people” will become his new reality. However, his primary worry is personal safety, which has driven him into hiding. “Obviously, falsely claiming that ordinary people of ordinary wealth are extraordinarily rich exposes them to threats like robbery and kidnapping,” Peter Todd explained. “Not only is the question dumb, it’s dangerous. Satoshi obviously didn’t want to be found, for good reasons, and no one should help people trying to find Satoshi.”
Adam Hoback, the creator of the documentary, holds a contrasting perspective. While acknowledging instances of crypto holders being targeted by violent extortion, he argues that past instances of individuals being wrongly identified as Satoshi have not resulted in significant harm. “I think the idea that it puts their life [at risk] is a little overblown,” Hoback contends.
Hoback maintains that uncovering Satoshi’s identity is in the public interest. “This person is potentially on track to become the wealthiest on Earth,” Hoback stated. “If countries are considering adopting this in their treasuries or making it legal tender, the idea that there’s potentially this anonymous figure out there who controls one twentieth of the total supply of digital gold is pretty important.”
The central piece of evidence presented in the documentary to support the theory of Peter Todd being Satoshi Nakamoto is a forum thread from December 2010. In this thread, Todd appears to be “finishing Satoshi’s sentences,” according to Hoback. The discussion revolves around prioritizing Bitcoin transactions based on fees, a feature Peter Todd later contributed to Bitcoin as a developer. Hoback also points to another forum user, John Dillon, who posted the initial request for this feature, suggesting Dillon is another alias of Peter Todd.
Despite the documentary’s claims, Peter Todd vehemently denies being Satoshi Nakamoto. He now faces the unsettling reality of being publicly associated with this anonymous and potentially powerful figure, grappling with the ensuing attention and very real safety concerns. The incident underscores the complex and often precarious nature of anonymity in the digital age, particularly within the high-stakes world of cryptocurrency.
