Peter Todd denies accusations of being Satoshi Nakamoto amid HBO documentary controversy

HBO caused a stir in the cryptocurrency community by releasing a documentary suggesting a possible identity for Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin. Hours before the premiere, Bitcoin veteran developer Peter Todd responded firmly to filmmaker Cullen Hoback’s claims, denying any connection to the creation of the cryptocurrency.

In communication with CoinDesk, Todd described the theory presented in the documentary as “ridiculous” and accused Hoback of “grasping at anything” to build an inconsistent narrative. The director, previously known for investigations into the QAnon conspiracy theory, reportedly used a similar methodology when developing his hypotheses about Peter Todd.

Circumstantial Evidence and Cinematic Plot

The approximately 100-minute documentary traced the history of Bitcoin and other crypto projects but did not present definitive conclusions about Satoshi’s identity. The evidence gathered was mainly circumstantial, including Todd’s early interest in cryptography, his relationships with figures like Adam Back (Satoshi’s correspondent), his technical skills, and linguistic peculiarities.

The main “clue” involved a 2010 forum post where Peter Todd supposedly responded to a message from Satoshi. Hoback argued that Todd accidentally posted a reply under his own name that should have come from Satoshi’s anonymous account. Additionally, the filmmaker highlighted a blog statement where Todd referred to himself as “probably the world’s leading expert” in Bitcoin destruction.

However, the documentary remained speculative until the end, including a dramatic confrontation scene between Hoback and Todd that circulated on social media.

Peter Todd’s Denial and Ironic Tone

When confronted in the film, Peter Todd responded with laughter and sarcasm to the director’s theories. “I admit you’re quite creative. You come up with some crazy theories. It’s ridiculous,” Todd said, before adding in a clearly joking tone: “Of course I am Satoshi. And I am Craig Wright too.”

Todd made it clear that it was a joke, referencing his previous statements where he had made similar jokes. In a 2019 interview with the “What Bitcoin Did” podcast, Todd said: “I’m Satoshi, just like everyone else” — an ironic comment on the unresolved mystery.

He also mentioned that the specific scene could contain digital manipulation (deepfake), though he admitted he hadn’t watched the entire documentary. Todd’s blunt conclusion was: “When you put this in the documentary and Bitcoiners watch it, it will be very funny.”

Community Reactions and Betting Market

On social media and at community events, such as the screening at Bitcoin PubKey in New York, the suggestion that Peter Todd is Satoshi Nakamoto elicited laughter and widespread skepticism. One spectator summarized the reaction: “They left a plausible denial strong enough that you [an ordinary person] could be Satoshi.”

Before the premiere, bettors on the Polymarket platform exchanged predictions about who would be identified. Initially, Peter Todd wasn’t even listed as an option, forcing interested parties to choose “Other/Multiple.” Figures like Len Sassaman and Nick Szabo led the betting before the reveal.

Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream and apparently involved in the confrontation scene in the documentary, later posted on X (formerly Twitter) warning bettors: “For those betting, be aware that you’re betting on what the documentary concluded, which is probably not true, because no one knows who Satoshi is.”

History of Failures in the Search for Identity

HBO’s attempt follows a long line of media failures. Past reports incorrectly pointed to Dorian Nakamoto, a non-related programmer, as Satoshi. Others named Craig Wright, who later admitted in court that he was not the creator of Bitcoin.

It’s worth noting that Peter Todd was never the primary suspect in journalists’ hunt for Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity. More frequently mentioned figures include Hal Finney, Nick Szabo, and Adam Back — all of whom have categorically denied the accusations.

The bitcoins mined by Satoshi have never been moved from his original wallet, fueling speculation about the creator’s death or voluntary self-imposed access restriction. This technical detail remains one of the biggest mysteries in cryptocurrency history.

The HBO documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery” thus ended without definitively solving the mystery that has haunted the community since the release of Bitcoin’s whitepaper in 2008.