Satoshi Nakamoto is the name used by the person or group who created Bitcoin. Their real identity is unknown.
What we know
- 31 Oct 2008: the white paper was posted to the Cryptography mailing list.
- January 2009: the first software was released and the network started.
- Satoshi worked publicly on forums and email for about two years.
- Satoshi's last BitcoinTalk posts are from 12 December 2010. In 2011 Satoshi stepped back and others, notably Gavin Andresen, continued development.
Fake Satoshis
Some have claimed to be Satoshi. The most prominent, Craig Wright, lost in the UK High Court: in COPA v Wright (2024) the judge ruled that he is not Satoshi and did not write the white paper, finding he had lied to the court extensively and relied on forged documents.
Why anonymity helps
With no known founder, there is no CEO to arrest, pressure or follow. Bitcoin's rules are kept by users running nodes, not by a leader. The smallest unit, the satoshi, is named in the creator's honor.
Takeaway
Who Satoshi is matters less than the fact that Bitcoin does not need them. Real proof would be cryptographic, not a claim.